National Republican., 1879-03-01
THE CHINESE QUESTION.

THE CHINESE QUESTION.
Some Of the ancient theories of creation |
were that the world is poised upon the back |
of turtle, but somehow that belief did not |
obtain widely against the advances of intel
ligence. II Is held now that the future
character of the politics of the Pacific slope
hangs upon the pig-tail of the Heather
Chinee-and is to be determined by the ex-
clusion from or the admission of the Mon
golian into this free country upon the same
terms that all foreigners are permitted to
cast their lot among us, but we are no more
ready TO believe this, though it may be true,
than we believe that the world rests upon
the back of n turtle. This question has its
two sides and il has enlisted the attention
aud talents of philanthropists and states
men already to wide extent. WILLIAM
LLOYD GARRISON has entered the list on
the humanitarian side of the question,
urging that America is the haven of
rest of the weary millions of the Old
World who have been invited
among us by our free institutions, to share
in the blessings they dispense. He seems
TO think that Chinaman is as much en-
titled to adopt this country as au asylum
aud home as DENNIS KEARNEY or his
ancestors. Senator BLAINE takes the polt-
ical side of the issue and argues very for
chilly, and on some points quite con-
vincingly, in favor of law which will pro-
hibit the taking of the Heather Chinee
into our political system, except in very
small doses. These two intellectual glad
iators are at vigorous combat over the ques-
tion, and if nothing better shall come of
the issue, flood of light is being cast upon
both sides of it. Under a somewhat care
ful observation of the sentiment of the pub
lie press east of the Rocky Mountains we
are led to the opinion that the Mongolian,
or rather the treatment Of him in view of
the existing treaty, has secured for the
Chinese side predominance i'll his favor.
Not that any one cares specially for
the Chinese, but there seems to be pre-
vailng opinion that we should cultivate
becoming respect for and consistency in re-
gard to the theory and principles of our
Government, and the terms of our treaties
wherever they exist with foreign Powers.
There seems to be pretty widely ranged
conviction that this country cannot afford
to violate its treaties with any nation on
the footstool, under any circumstances that
look to honor and peace. The Chinese may
be all that the people of the Pacific slope
contend that they are-they are no doubt
Pagans-they may be filthy, immoral and
un-American i'll all their instincts, education,
and habts-they may refuse to become
citizens, and put on the garb and customs
of American civilization-they may be re-
pulsive and wicked in habit; but we must
bear in mind that they have come to our
shores under solemn treaty to the
preservation of the faith Of which
our Government is honorably pledged.
There is no constitutional power to abrogate
treaty or to violate its stipulations by an
act of Congress. 1t cannot under the Con-
stitution make treaties, and hence it has
no power to modify or destroy them The
constitutional treaty-making power of the
Government alone has jurisdiction over all
such questions, and hence the precpitate
attempt in this instance on the part of Con-
, gress to overleap the Constitution and as
sumo a prerogative that does not attach to
it is a mistake, and one which the Execu-
tive may feel called upon to correct within
+ the power conferred upon him by the Con-
stitution, 1t must not be forgotten in our
haste to Danish or keep the Mongolians
r from our midst that the BURLING AME
treaty, which is now in full force, provides
/ ENr A IN, fI,a nct
country and guarantees like privileges to
/ the Chinese in America.
E Now, it is suggested that if the pending
bill to restrict the immigration of the Chi.
, naman to this country shall not become 6
law it will involve, in the light of consist
ency, the necessity of amending some o
our patriotic and iraternal poetry, which
, will materially change the character of some
. of our literature. Take, for instance, the
p genial and generous verses of BRYANT
n which have been read with admiration
h. and they should be parOdized in this wise
to be consistent with the anti-Chinese bill
! should it become q law:
, There freedom at thy gates and rest
For carth's downtrodden and opprest
: A shelter for the hunted head
O For the starved laborcr toll and bread
, Except Chinese
What cordial welcomes greet the guest
BY the lone rivers Of the West
9 Except Chinesel
How man Is loved and God Is feared,
And faith is kept and truth reyered
Except toward ChinaJl
, Then again an amendment is suggested t.
= Mr.. LOwEI's couplet, so that IL will read
For thy free latch.strng never was drawn In,
'Galns any frendloss child Of ADAMS kin
: Except Chinese.
c We are in deep sympathy with our Re
y publican friends on the Pacific slope. w
?, desire TO see that section thoroughly Re
'f publican2ed. 1t was ours-but has bee
s lost to us through domestic feuds in th
e Republican party. California and Orego
# have been handed over to Democratic con
Il troll, not because Republican principles ar
$ any weaker than before, but because publ
c sentiment became detached from thos
s principles under domestic scramble 70