The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-02-06
e Cincinnati Commercial has this edi-

The Cincinnati Commercial has this edi-
torial
The Anti-Chinese Bill is conceived in
the spirit of rampant Know Nothingism.
A quarter of a century ago it was the
Germans and Irish who must 60; now it
is the Chinese. The bill that he's just
passed the House is a disgrace to Ameri-
can legislation, and is begotten of the
meanest political motives and the fool
ishness of ignorance.
We also find the following in the Com
mercial:
Treaties made and ratified are as oh
ligatory upon Nations as are contracts
binding upon individuals. The same laws
and rules of construction that govern the
one are of equally binding force upon the
other That the United States can abro-
gate the Treaty of 1868 without violating
her National honor it is difficult to see
Should an act of Congress be passed at
tempting to effect this, the United States
would still be held bounden by the pro-
visions of the treaty. Treaties are brok-
en-often so-but this renders them only
voidable, not necessarily void, and that,
too, at the option of the injured party
AS sop to the clamorous politicians on
the eve of approaching elections in the
closely divided States of the Pacific slope,
the bill will be eagerly seized by aspiring
candidates of both parties, and, perhaps,
serve purpose. That it will stand the
test of law is an entirely different ques-
tion
There is good deal or loose reason
ing, and great deal more loose writing,
on the vexatious Chinese question. Be-
cause it suits the whims or preiudces of
tho Pif1anC of tho tofa Of G-olIop
Coast to drive out the Chinese, is no rea-
son why a Nation that has always boast
ed that it afforded home to the oppress-
ed of all Nations should listen to the
clamor or crafty the appeal Because it
is either for their imagined or actual ma
terial prosperity affords no valid reason
why Congress should violate treaty sa-
cred by every obligation of National
honor.
The most himsy objections are raised
by the enemies of the man with the pig
tail. They can not deny their industry,
| their frugality, the excellency of their
labor and their entire competency for
the positions they engage in. They send
their money home Well, it is their own,
and who has better right? They GER
tainly earned their money, and it is hard
for free American to see why they can
not do as they choose with it. This right
was never denied to the Irish and Ger
man immigrants, many Of the latter of
whom amassed fortunes in America and
retired to Germany to enjoy them. So
do many rich Americans go abroad to
live and spend their money, but who ev-
er before heard of any objection to their
right so to do? 1t is urged that the Chinese
ere filthy; but so are many of the lower
classes of all Nations, as the slums of all
our large cities will abundantly attest
They use opium Other Nations use to-
bacco, and worse-whisky, rum and gin
The effects of opium only harm the per-
son using it, but the effects of whisky de-
moralize the community, bringing more
wretchedness on the drunkards wife and
family than injury on himself.
The act referred to as before Congress
provides that the number of Chinese i'm
migrating upon single vessel shall be
limited to- fifteen. The treaty provides
for unlimited immigration. That such
an act would be violated in number of
ways is highly probable for the ingenuity
of man would devise some means to OBJ
viate such law if it were found to pay.
A greater number of vessels would en-
bark in the traffic. So long as there is
demand there will not be much trouble
about the mode of supply"
A dispatch from Washingt ton City, pub
lished in the Cincinnati Gazette says
"The Chinese Minister has declined to
interviewed on the subject of an anti
Chinese bill by the House. His repre-
sentatives, however, freely state their
views, which, in substance, are that the
Minister is not surprised; that he under
stands the necessities of politics; that it
is not within the province of the lower
house to abrogate treaties that nothing
to interfere with reciprocal relations be-
tween China and the United States will
come of this attempted legislation, and
that if anything should happen, it will
be easier for China to exclude from her
markets %, 900 barrels of flour shipped
in one week from San Francisco than it
will be for the United States to abrogate
the Burlingame treaty. The measure in
its present shape and at this time can not
pass the Senate, and escape the decision
of the Supreme Court on its unconstitu-
tionality. The knowledge of this fact by
parties in the House makes their vote
valueless as a verdict on the Chinese
question. Should the law pass, it would
be impracticable so long as the Burling-
anne treaty remains in force. In this
agreement mutual advantages of free
migration and emigration OF citizens or
subjects, respectively from the one coun-
try to the other, is recognized, and priv
ileges, immunities, and exemptions of
citizens or subjects of the most favored
nation are assured to the Chinese"
Righteousness exalteth nation but
sin is reproach to any people. When
the National Convention at Cincinnati, in
1876, passed that anti Chinese resolution,
we believed the party had taken the first
step on the road to the devil; we believe
SO still.