The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-08-20
REPUBLICAN TICKET,
DopeINa The CHINESE QuEsTIea.

Both Hancock and English, in
formally accepting the Democratic
nominations for President and Vice
President, dodge the Chinese ques-
ton. Hancock treats it with silent
contempt; English has but one SEN
tence about it, which is utterly desti-
tute of meaning. 1t reads: "The
toiling of our own people will be
protected from the destructive com
petition of Chinese, and to that end
their immigration TO our shores will
be properly restricted. This is the
vague language of the man who
hopes to be the next Vice.P President.
The man who expects to become
President by the votes of all the
Southern States. and such as he may
secure from doubtful Northern States,
has not a word to say on the subject.
What English says is unimportant.
Under our constitution the Vice Pres
ident can exercise but little power
and less influence, less than Senator
or Representative, for he can only
vote in the Senate when it is neces-
sary to decide tie vote OF the Sena-
tors. But the President is invested
"by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate" with the power to
make or mend or change treaties.
The President has the first say. The
sense of the Senate is not taken until
the treaty is made ont and sanctioned
by the President, or if it is an
amended treaty, until the changes
proposed are agreed toby the Presi-
dent. After that the Senate is called
upon to either confirm or reject the
action of the President. From this
stand point it is clear to all minds
that the opinion entertained by Han
cock on the Chinese question is of the
utmost Importance, while that of
English is of no consequence at all.
Why then is Hancock SO con-
temptuously silent on an issue so
vital to the Pacific Coast, and Eng.
lish, whose views can have no con-
stitutional force, put forward to say
something which means nothing.
Let us examine this matter closely.
President Hayes has sent three com.
naissioners to Pekin, charged with
the duty of procuring the consent OF
the Chinese Government to such
changes in the Burlingame treaty as
~flFso far restrict the immigration ot
Chinese subjects to this country as to
relieve the workingmen and women
of the United States, and especially
of the Pacific Coast, from the ruinous
competition with this class of servile
labor. The work of this commission
cannot be completed before the ex.
piration of the term of office of Pres.
ident Hayes. IF Hancock should
succeed Hayes in the Presidential
Office he will have to pass judgment
on the work of the commission. II
it is satisfactory to the Senate he
will approve it and the Senate will
confirm it. The Senate is now com
posed of forty-two Democrats and
thirty four Republicans, aud on the
4th of March, 1881, when Hayes
successor takes the oath of Office
will probably stand as it does now,
that is a Democratic majority OF
eight. Of the whole fortyltwo Dem
ocratic Senators the Southern States
will have thirty-two. These thirty
two will control the Senate, and dc
tate their Chinese policy to the Pres.
ident. What is the sentiment of the
S.ueh'cn' this question? The poiiti.
eiansS Of ttat section have always
been the inffexible advocates of cheap
labor, and they are yet, and Chinese
labor is the cheapest in the world.
It is of unlimited supply, and an
unrestricted importation of it would
soon enable the Cody traders to un-
derbid the colored iaborers and break
down all competition.