Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-24
PASSAGE CT TIE CHINESE BILL IN
THE HOUSE.
The Chinese bill passed in the House

remarkable vote The total number OF
Representatives is 293. Of these no more
than 242 voted at all on the bill,
This shows that public sentiment at the
East has nos come round to the California
view of the Chinese question, for had sucn
a change OF opinion taken place it is GER
tain that 81 Representatives would not
have evaded a vote on this question, as
they have done. The peculiar conditions
under which the bill has been passed
indicate that nothing but the polltl-
cal considerations saved it. 1t was
the fear of losing the votes of the Pacific
Slater, and scarcely any other influence,
which secured for the bill the very partial
support it had, and the very unwilling
neutrality which prevented it from
being ANONYMOUSLY slaughtered. And
this analysis also shows that the state
OF feeling about the measure is SO far from
being unanimous, that the Presidents
assent cannot be taken for granted.
He is in a position to perceive clearly the
political implications of legislation, and he
is practically independent of public opin.
ion. The diplomatic view of the case is
likely to impress him, moreover. and the
commercial view may be utilized against
the bill also. The question with him, sup
posing that hs is candidate for re.elec.
ton, is, whether he will lose more in New
England than he will gain on the Pacific
Coast, by signing the bill. For it must be
realized that however grave and serious the
dangers of Chinese immigration may ap
pear to Californians, the Eastern people do
not regard the question with any thing like
the same earnestness, and in fact do not
believe that the California view is correct.
They attribute the latter mainly to the
glamour of local prejudice, and the dema-
gogism of loeel politicians and journals.
They point to the actual numbers Of the
Chinese among us, and to the fact that
they have not appreciably increased for
several years, apd ridicule our apprehen.
sions as pueriie and insincere, born of
the tendency to truckle to Sand Lot
threats, and having no greater significance
than to placate the "great unwashed for
the sake of their votes. The argument of
Mr.. George F. Seward that if the Chinese
had or could have votes, the Chinese ques-
ton would disappear, is no doubt regarded
at the East as exceedingly cogent and
keen. For the people in those States have
observed the manner in which their own
politicians pander to every voting element,
and how respectfully they treat every such
element, and they not unnaturally con-
clude that if the Chinaman had the ballot
he would not need defenders long.
Even so intelligent a journal as the Ma
ton takes sides against the promoters of
the bill, and expresses the opinion that
there has never been anything in recent
politics so absurd as the terror, real or
"affected, about the numbers of the Chi
"nese, except the pretense of the San
" Francisco hoodlums that they compete
"with them in the labor market There
sis hardly lazy vagabond or tramp in the
"United States who does not try to be-
"lieve that the Chinaman is keeping him
"out of work" Thus we see ole of the
most enlightened of American journals de-
claring it's belief that the San Francisco
hoodlums complain of Chinese competition.
And this shows how little the Nation
understands the hoodlum. The latter is
by no means the person to complain of
Chinese competition, for he does not work at
anything himself, unless it be crime, and
though he is always ready to maltreat the
Chinese, he despises them too thoroughly
to dread their rivalry. But when such
paper as the Nation takes this view it is
evident that our eloquent Senators and
Representatives have not succeeded in
changing Eastern opinion on the subject,
and that the California view is unpopular
OF the Atlantic seaboard.
Aud in view Of these facts and consider
atoms it may be rash to assume with any
confidence that the President will sign the
bill. Probably the best hope of his &C.
quiescence lies in the obvious fact that
Congress has undertaken to shuttle all the
responsibility en- to his shoulders. Under
such circumstances man of spirit might
conclude that he would not be trapped in
such way, and might sign the bill with
out any reference to his own convictions.
Should he sign it, however, there will be
no reason for special rejoicing, for the
measure is at best tentative, and it is
quite questionable whether it will produce
any appreciable improvement in the exist
ing situation. We are disposed to believe
that it will not have been month on the
statute book before the community in
whose interest it was passed will have dis
covered that it does not really touch the
root of the evil from which they suffer.
and that it only provides for Glow and
tedious change, which may occupy the life.
time Of a generation.
As means, therefore, of putting an end
to popular clamor, we fully expect that
the new bill will turn out disappointment.
1t will effect but momentary quiet, and
when the uncertain and tedious nature of
the cure proposed is generally realized,
we shall not be surprised if the Pacific
Coast becomes more explanatory, objurga-
tory and insistent than ever. 1t does
not seem to have occurred to the astute
and supple politicians engaged in the ne
gotiations that case of this sort called for
a really practical measure for a measure,
il short, where merits could be perceived
and estimated from the day it went into
effect. ANY other kind of legislation
was certain in the nature of things to
fail of effect, yet our representatives eti-
deutly believe that when the President