Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-04-21

The announcement If the 2 ssa-"
of another Chinese restriction bli.
would be received with iecirg~ Of
uubounlcd delight by the people on
this Coast. had not the veto message
of the President cover d 50 IN eli |
gr pund Us to how that amy law
which Is likely to receive Executive
AZ pIoval viii be deficient in the
nlcaA, OF ..akIng lis q joel eff ciivo
The new bi:l reduces the term of its
operation to ten years; requires the
President instead of Collectors Of
ports to enforce the provisions for
sending back Chinese VIC come t.
this country in violation of law, and
strikes out the section providing that
DO State court shall admit Chinese
to citizens hip, and likewise the one
defining the words Chinese labor
ers" TO mean both skilled and un
skilled worknen.
There are probably few who would
seriously contend for the twenty
year clause, if, by the substitution of
ten years, the main provisions could
be retained. 1t matters but little,
now that the popular mind Is being
educated to view the subject calmly
and dispasslonately, whether the ex-
pedient is temporary or otherwise,
for it cannot be kept from becoming
a vital question of national politics,
and resolutions which deal with tie
subject hereafter must not be meaD-
ingless verbiaSe, as the Republican
party have shown their uttelances
on this subject to have been in their
so!emnly expressed declaration of
principles. If the issue Is made
fairly, and is shown to be conflict
between free and slave labor, there
will be but one result at the polls,
and with the Governmental policy
opposed to the immi grafton of serfs,
who, ignoring the privileges of our
free institutions. choose to remain
in servitude, the stream may be cas-
lily diverted from its course hear the
fountain head. Nor will any serious
objection be made to the d" modifca-
ton" requiring the President to en-
force certain provisions, instead of
the Collectors of ports, while under
our present civil service system, all
subordinates are but the echo of the
Executive. The service is likely to
be as well performed by the one as
the other, but for the sake of col
venience, it seems that the provision
was best as it stood.
When it comes to the removal of
the restriction of State courts in the
matter of naturalization of this hea-
then horde, then the pith of the
question is reached. Here there
can he no reconcilable difference
of opinion as to the operation
of the act. The negation of the sec
ton prohibiting an act not clearly
prescribed by law or custom, will
lave the effect to license its opera
ton, and we may expect-iudging
from the past-that the moneyed
corporations which now cling like
barnacles to our political fabric, will
sway with absolute power the thou
sands of voting machines which will
be literally "made to order" at par
tisan bidding, through the operation
of State courts where Chinese im-
portation may be made effective,
just as negro voters were massed
in Indiana to carry that State in the
last contest.
The bill is likewise weakened bv
excepting so-called "skilled labor
ers, and Chinese employed in
mining" from its operation. Under
this classification a large proportion
OF the most pernicious element is ex-
Guided from the restrictive clause,
and may come and go as now. The
act seems to be but the shadow of
what il should be, but as the policy
of the Administration is decidedly
opposed to any adequate remedy, We
should thankfully take what we can
get, and patiently wait for more.
News has been received here of the
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