The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-04-20
The Veto of the Chinese Bill.


Our neighbOr of the
thinks the veto is just the
thing, though he doe mt commend the
reasons given therefor in the message,
or, " the timidity of its positions or the |
weakness ofits arguments" He thinks
that, inasmuch as the Declaration of
Independence declares that all men
are created free and equal and are ell
dewed with certain inalienable rights,
among which are life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness" therefore the
Mongolians have an indefeasable right
to transcend the bounds of their habita-
lions fixed by the Creator and to come
in swarms and by ship loads to our
shores, though they have no purpose
to become citizens nor to adopt the
manners and customs of our country
or to affiliate with our society, and
though they be loathsome, leprous-
breeding race, still Congress has no
right to exclude them from our shores
for year or even a day. And this he
would have his readers understand has
been the settled and unalterable posi-
ton of the great Republican party for
over quarter of q century, for he says: ::
"Tue vetoed bill, reintroduced, is at
war in spirit with every platform of
the Republican party from 1856 to
1880" 1t is certainly gratifying to learn
at length where that party stands upon
that great question, and that the viz
tuous Indignation expressed at the SEN
timents imputed to their candidate in
1880 by the famous Morey forgery was
not real, but put on merely for the oc-
casion. But to our view the statement
of the Rep. Dem. statesman hardly
tallies with the facts of history. Let
us see. Upon this subject the Repub-
lican national platform of 1880 de-
clared:
SO. Since the authority to regulate
immigration and intercourse between
the United States and foreign nations
rests with the Congress OF the United
States and the treaty-making power
the Republican party, regarding the
nese as a matter of grave concernmenl
under the exercise of both these pow
ers, would limit and restrict that lnlnlI-
grafton by the enactment of such just
humane and reasonable laws anC
treaties as will produce that result"
That would seem to indicate that the
Republican party were not so much
opposed to placing restrictions upon
the pursuit of happiness by the Mon
golians who might look for the coveted
prize in this direction.
In his letter of acceptance Genera
Garfield fully endorsed the aboye plank
of the platform. He said of it:
1.-The material interests of thil
country, the traditions of its set
tlement and the sentiment of our peo
pie, have led the government to Offe
the widest hospitality to Immigrant
who seek our shores for new and hap
pier homes, willing to share the bur
dens as well as the benefits of ou
society and intending that their pos
} terity shall become an undiStingulsha
ble part of our population. The recen
movement of the Chinese to our Pacifi
coast, partakes but little of the quail
ties of such an immigration, either IL
it's purposes or its results. 1t is to-
much like an importation to be WeLc0ne
without restriction too much like an in
| vasion to be looked upon without so
licitude We cannot consent to ALLOW
any form of servile labor to he intro
duced among us under the guise @
immigration. Recognizing the graVi
3 ty of this subject, the present admins
tration, supported by Congress, ha
sent to China a commission of distin
> guished citizens for the purpose G
| securing such modification of the eX
e isting treaty as will prevent the evil
i, likely to arise from the present situs
ton"
I, 1t looks, really, as though that part
had not entirely maintained Il consist
, ent record on that question, and bu
two short years ago they were or pre-
placing restrictions upon their Chimes
brothers pursuit of happiness, for thei
platform most clearly and emphaticall
{ recognizes it to he not emily tho righ
but the duty OF Congress to do SO. Bu
that was an emergency. They wante
l the votes of the Pacific States and q
a usual they resorted to false pretense
to secure them. They have alway
: made high sounding pretenslons
: being the especial friends of the work
: ing men, but the protection they wOul
give them is that of the lion for tn
! lamb or the vulture for the dove. The
I have now throws off their disguise an
S declared in favor of unrestricted CHI
: nese Cooie labor In the mines, on th
farms, in the workshops, factorits an
4 everywhere. American laboring mel
: how do you like the outlook?