The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-04-07
DEMAGoGICAL LEGISLATION.


TuE present as well as previous congresses
have been in the habit of enacting statutes
calculated TO benefit only few of the citi-
zens of this country, and the laws most
frequently as referred to, originate in mere
demagoguery, without reference to princ'-
pie or the constitutional limits thrown
around legislation. The President did
an exceedingly wise thing-vetolng
ing the anti-Chinese bill. Thiscongress has
distinguished itself by the passage OF two
remarkable bills the anti-poygamy ana
ant-Chinese bills. Various and pecu-
liar have been the comments of the press
upon these bills, but the sober second
thought of the nation seems to be against
them. Both were conceived in dema-
goguery, both were passed hastily in res
ponse to mere sentiment and both are
fundamentally and constitutionally wrong.
AS long US our constitution declares that
freedom of religious convictions, no
matter how prostituted in our
opinion, shall be sacred in the
United States of America, and UNI
nteriered with, Jews, Mormons, Moham-
medans or what not, cannot rightlnlly be
attacked or troubled, But an absurd de
mand coming from the gentle residents OF
Utah has occasioned the enactment OF the
anti.polygamy bill. 1t may be right OF
grossly wrong, but it has been run through
Congress with haste that very lew bills
experience. 1t seems to us that it would
have been much wiser to appoint
first commission, and then intel
ligcntly legslate upon the evils to
be corrected, but in response to the public
cutlery, the mere clamors of an untinking
populace, the bill in its present shape was
passed. The anti-Chinese bill, which the
president has just vetoed, is of the same
character. 1t has been contended by the
first men of the country, and with reason
too, that the present Chinese bill is moi
only unconstitutional generally, bu,
violation Of the provisions of oul
treaty with China. And 80 the presi
dent properly reasons. If we are the
refuge of nations, if this country
is as supposed, an asylum for the oppressed
of the world, any laws looking to the ex
cusion of any particular class or race, ar,
not only absurd. but in conflict with tn,
/ recognized and just principles of our gov
eminent. The whole question has ariser
| simply from the cry of the hoodum, dead
beat element of the Pacific coast, which the
shrcwdness and activity of the Chinese
laborer has distanccd and the enact
ment of such laws is but the entering
wedge to the depravcl and senseless sen
timcnt not worthy of any rational legisla
tors notice The president has displayed
his good sense and is entitled to the esteem
ofthe nation for vetong u bill so ilagrantly
erroneous and so thoroughly calculated to
deprive us OF many and growing CONNER
cial advantages, to say nothing of its pro
priety as mere matter of right
A less Objectionable bill will
now be substituted. If the United
States are not able to stand any in
ilux of foreign immigration to which the,
may be subjected, if we have not room
for ali, then every class of immigrant
should be excluded. 1t is not right or ra
tional to declare that one set of laborer
shall he admitted and another set excluded
and we therefore have persstently dcprc
Gated this anti Chinese legislation. Bu
back of all legal reasons and reflections /
the fact that such legislation as this spring
from purely dcmagogca spirit, is tn
outcome indeed of merely disposition OF
the part of legislators TO toad,
to the demands OF howlin
and thoughtlcss mob. In this ligh
the passage of such laws is to be Regretted
and those voting for them to be con
demncd, II is u matter of congratuatio
that we have president sufficiently re
moved from the influence of popular clam
or to place u veto on all such enactmcnts
From one end OF the country to the othc
almost without exception, the pulpit ant
press have denounced this anu.Chinesc bill
and the anti-polygamy bill is of equally al
objectionable character They are but eN
amplcs of the extent to which demagogica
legislation will reach, and we will Away
he found in opposition thereto,
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