Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-01-16
Written for the AyAxT COURIER -
CHINESE NATURALIZATION.

-
|, The recent decision of Judge Larre
! more. admitting to citizenship of the Uni
ted States natives of China has given ris
to considerable adverse criticism. Ii ha
I, established a dangerous precedent and that
; too. in spite of the very able and exlmus
tive opinion rendered by Judge Sawyer
whose opinion was followed by, Judg'
/ Choate. Who. probably. thinking tina
, Judge Sawyer's written decision was suf
ticient guide for all future eases Of tn,
kind. failed TO make written decision. ant
; to this fact alone Larlemore attributes hi'
deviation from the decisions of Judge;
Sawyer and Choate During the discus
. siOns in the national Congress incident f
the passage of the several amendments to
the Constitution. when the two great pO-
litical parties were divided on the question
of comforting The franchise on the negro
they joined hands in voting down propO-
siton to strike the word "White" from
our naturalization laws. and that word
still remains the great essential and
requisite in qualifying all application OF a
foreigner tor the rights OF citizenship.
Judge Sawyer made this the great pivot
upon which turned the point OF admission
or non-admisSion of the Chinese and he
held that rs the Mongolians are distinct
race from the Calicassians. and as the lat
ter race was undoubtedly meant by the
spirit OF our laws, wherever the word
white" occurs, the Chinese being Mon
golians. could not come in under thai class
and consequently bein, Ineligible. under
the law, he denied the application of the
petitioner. The Judge rs was his right.
took his position under it, Laying aside
any feeling he may have had in the pre-
misses. and ignoring any political aspect the
case may have had. Now that the consttu-
| tional point is settled. it is per-
tnent to look into the question as one OF
policy.
During the last session OF Congrp, S
strenuous efforts were made for the abrO-
cation Of the treaty with China. This
movement grew out of the restlessness Of
the people of the Pacific coast in regard to
the unrestricted influx OF the Chinese.
Senator Sargent. with Senator Booth and
Representatives Davis, Payn. LuttrelI and
Niggington, OF California. are working
like beavers to secure the passage OF a
measure restricting immigration from
China, the former Senator delivering a
mastery and unanswerble argument in
favor OF stopping this plague that will
eventually sweep the country. he taking
the ground that Congress being in tact the
treay-naking power. could revise or abro-
gate the work OF its own h,nls. they OBJ
tai"ed the sop to cerberlls' in the shape
OF an act limiting immigration. The fac,
OF all the Senators and Representatives
from the Pacific coast. irrespective of poll
ties, uniting on this one point must nltu,-
ally invite the attention of the thoughtful
10 this great question. 1t is not a matter
that mist be taken as it is painted by ORA
tors or the press: it is open to the strictest
scrutiny and examination aud an earnest
inquiry into tie cause AMI ell ct of the
question cannot fail to impress the inquire
with tie Importance. ana Necessity sAf nc
tion ny Congress looking to an abateinen,
OF the Chinese nuisance.
To make them citizens would he placing
them in position to make Amcrici, an
other China. We are compelled By force
OF circumstances to loo, at the
matter seriously. 1t is f'atSht with i'm
minent danger to the nation. China. witt,
its millions OF surplus population, coul,l
supply us with voters enough to over
whelm the combined white and negro vote
Of the country.
When we consider the capacity Of the
modern American politician for hcr,ling
and counting votes. and then the utter dis |
regard OF the Chinese for all moral or legal
statutes. either written or unwlitten. it |
gives rise to fears of the glavest nature. |
The alleged political oatraees Of the sever
al portions of the country would. rs Il
'ause or effect. dwintllc into insigniicance
n comparison with the Chinese vote.
Then. indeed. would the nation be in de-
)lorable condition. The Chinese could be
bought like cattle in the shambles and
!riren i'll regiments to the polls to do their
masters bidding. They woult overthrow
III that is good and noble in our republican
ysteni. Elections would be us a mere
arce; men. the most diSreputable. would
ide into power on the tide of the new
made vote; our system of government
would become the subject of tie jibe and
eer OF all nations. ,aE,t ,yra
But it will be said that these things will
ot occur, or il SO. we can soon remedy
he evil. Hall century since. a man
you'd be characterized as hopelessly in
ane, or in the last stages of idiQcy. We're
e to say that the negro would ever be
over in our politics, yet it is so. and
ay that if this immigration of Chinese is
OF stemmed. evils of greater magnitude
nan those have mentioned will come up-l
il us. and the decision of Judge Larre-
lore may be taken as cue by less con-.
,ientiOus Judges who can for small con-
Iteration be made to construe our laws
, that the fioOdgates may be opened 10
t in the rushing torrent of applications h.
'r citizenship, and when this comes tlsen
ill we be beyond the power of a remedy
he gnawing cancer will be at our vitals.
)rrOding our very system; the volcano ,
i'll have belched forth its lava and c0rrup-
on, overwhelming the entire country,
nethering aH efforts at opposition
Now is the accepted ti,ne-now is the
me to throttle the viper in its infancy
ow is the time to agitate this question:
DIV is the time to awaken the people TO a
'alizing sense Of their peril! Agitate I'M
the matter is understood by the nation r
gitate until the doors of Congress are
pened to us. and then let ms instruct our
.natOrs and Representatives that we want
lis monstrons iniquity. unrestricted Chi
'se immigration" remcdied Else when
! remonstrance and petitions prove OF no I,
Iail we will then be driven to the only al
rnative OF rising in our might and driv-
g these lil,els upon humanity into the .
a. or give them sufficient length of time
take their bag and baggage and deparl
olp our midst. b
@ VERlTAS. Z