The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-04-13
60
DEMAGOGICAI. LEGISLATION.


The 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
demagogucry, without reference to princl-
pie or the constitutional limits thrown
around legislation. The President did
an exceedingly wise thing-vetoing
ing the anti Chinese bill. This congress has
distinguished itself by the passage OF two
remarkable bills the anti-polygamy and
anti 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 as our constitution declares that
freedom of religious convictions, 10
matter how prostituted i'll our
opinion, shall be sacred in the
United States of America, and un-
interfered with, Jews, Mormons, Moham-
medans or what not, cannot righttully 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 or
grossly wrong, but it has been run through
Congress with haste that very few bills
experience. 1t seems to us that it would
have been much wiser to appoint
first q commission, and then intel
ligently legislate upon the evils to
be corrected, but in response to the pubic
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 not
only unconstitutional generally, but
a violation of the provisions of our
treaty with China. And so 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-
clusion of any particular class or race, are
not only absurd, but in conflict with the
recognized and just principles of our gov
eminent. The whole question has arisen
simply from the cry of the hoodlum, dead
beat element of the Pacific coast, which the
shrewdness and activity of the Chinese
laborer has distanced and the enact
Of oil, lou 10 lint
wedge to the depraved and senseless SEN
timent not worthy of any rational legisla-
tors notice. The president has displayed
his good sense and is entitled to the esteem
ofthe nation for vetoing bill so fagrantly
erroneous and so thoroughly calculated to
deprive us.ot 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
flux of fsreign immigration to which they
may be subjected, if we have not room
for all, then every class of immigrants
should be excluded. 1t is not right or "a
tional to declare that one set of laborers
shall be admitted and another set excluded,
and we therefore have persistently depre-
Gated this anti Chinese legislation. But
back of all legal reasons and reflections is
the fact that such legislation as this springs
from purely demagogical spirit, is the
outcome indeed of merely disposition on
the part of Legislators to toady
to the demands of bowling
and thoughtless mob. In this light
the passage of such laws is to be regretted
and those voting for them to be con-
demned. 1t is. matter of congratulation
that we have president sufficiently re-
moved from the influence of popular clam
or to place a veto on all such enactments.
From one end of the country to the other
almost without exception, the pulpit and
press have denounced this anti-Chinese bill
and the anti polygamy bill IS of equally an
Objectionable character. They are but ex-
amples of the extent to which demagogical
legislation will reach, and we will always
be found in opposition thereto.