Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-08
THE CHINESE VETO.
The Bitter Comments of the San
Francisco Papers.
w All (Ren,lhlicnnN

Inc eau (hepttotfcdnl.
The veto is perhaps the most arbitrary act
an American President ever performed.
The veto OF the "fiifteen passenger bill" by
President Hayes was a stretch of power,
but not so wanton an exercise of the EXecu
tive prerogative as the veto under considera-
tion. The President is in peculiar sense
the guardian OF treaties, and It was on the
ground of violation of treaty agreement
that the Hayes veto was based, but President
Arthur has no such refuge for escape. The
message of the President Is conclusive that
any bill he would sign would have no effect
in restricting!the Chinese from coming to this
country. He objects to the passport system
as undemocratic, but without some such
means of enforcing the provisions of the
treaty they would never be carried out. On
the point as to whether Chinese labor is
needed on this coast, the opinion OF the
people living here might be expected to
have some weight, but the President under
takes to decide this question for us. The
message is worse for the President and for
his party than If he had based 1t on the
excessive term of the prohibition. It is a
fiat contradiction OF the platform on which
he was elected, and raises the question
whether the anti-Chinese plank In that plat
form was not deliberate deceit practiced
on the people OF this coast.
The Chronicle Independent.
The detection caused on the first receipt
OF the news soon gave way to very general
determination that the fight is not to be
ended by the veto, but shall be renewed In
Congress with all the vigor that can be
brought into 1t from every quarter. The
Pacific Coast Senators and Representatives
are expected to exert all their influence for
the passage of the bill over the veto. The
Republican party of California appeals from
the action Of the President and his Cabinet
to Congress, aud most urgently asks that
body to pass the bill, the veto notwithstand-
ing. In this city, on the reception of the
news OF the veto, crowds gathered on the
streets and around the bulletin boards.
Expressions of indignation, disgust and
encouragement were universal, men
OF all shade of political
men connected with the Republican State
Central Committee remarked that meeting
of the committee had been called to organ
ize for the campaign, but that in the face of
the veto they might as well shut up shop
Dispatches are pouring in from all parts of
the interior expressing the uniform feeling
OF anger and dependency occssioned by the
action of the President. Some of them note
movements for the formation of anti Chinese
leagues to take legal steps to drive the Cal
nese from their vicinity. Others report pub
lie meetings called, and in some cases the
President hanged and burned in effiigy.
The Examiner (DenaocrGD.
The news of the veto Of the anti-C Chinese
bill, though not altogether unexpected.
came to the community as a shock painful
character for which It is difficult to find Ian
guage to describe. Our people had built
much confidence on the Chicago platform,
and we were unwilling to believe that It
would be shamefully ignored by the Presi-
dent-elected upon it-especiallY as both
houses of Congress had given It effect by
substantial msjorities. On all sides the
sentiment expressed is that no such calamity
had ever before fallen the Pacific coast.
Republicans and Democrats for the time
being forgot their partisan differences, and
all alike feel that they are confronted with
common peril. We are face to face with
the appalling fact that no apparent
remedy remains for as terrible curse
as ever afflicted a people. The Chinese
blight comes home to the heart of every man.
If our people are to descend to the level of
Mongolian civilization, it follows that they
must live as the Chinese do; they must
abandon the building up of homes, eschew
the marrying of wives and the rearing of
children, and live on rice, sleep fifty in
room on shelves, and wear Nankin cloth
The only alternative, as matters stand to-
day, is obviously between that condition of
things and an abandonment of the State un-
til relief comes. 1t Is hardly possible that
there can be two political parties on this
coast. We are one people on this question,
and as 1t overshadows all others we cannot
afford to present divided front until it is
settled. II any Democrat feels that because
1t may bring him party advantage he is
glad OF the Presidents veto, ,Ihe is not good
Democrat, and what is more, he is anything