The Evening critic., 1882-04-08
THE AsiATic PLAGUE,
Sens of the Western slope. stand
Firm Pacific Coostet's Views.

TO re EdifOr n TIE ErCGiHG Critic:
I desire a little space I'm the columns of your
lively and spirited paper In which TO give
vent TO some Of the righteous Indignation ana
charrin feel nt the recent action of the Prcsl-
dent In vetoing the bill that promised to do so
much toward the relief Of the characterization
shores Of our beautiful and fruitful West II
is hardly necessary 10 enter into discussion
Of the Chinese restriction bill. II has been
the subject Of debate In Congress for n sum-
cient longth OF time TO enable any intelligent
person 70 draw n reasonable conclusion. The
people Of the Pacific slope, who have had n
practical experience OF many years with the
Chinese, are a unit in their demand that some
relief shall be afforded them against the ever
Increasing stream OF coolie slaves that has
already well nigh paralyzcd tho arm Of free
labor In the West; and who, l ask, are the
better able TO Judge correctly OF this subject
than the people Of the Pacific themselvesY
Year after year they have waited patiently
for relief 10 come; year after year they have
knocked at the door of the Federal Govern.
ment and implored relief; year after year
they have been promised, I'm the platforms of
political parties, that their cries should bo
heard, and year after year they have been be-
trayed by those who happened to occupy very
high representative positions in those very
political parties.
/ take no stock I'm the idea that any measure
tending TO restrict Chinese immigration would
receive the approval of the President. His
message itself clearly shows his unwillingnoss
TO sign any bill that really had merit or could
be enforced. When he (the Presidcnt) under
takes TO tell tho people OF the West that they
owe their prosperity TO the presence of the
Chinese and that they don't know what they
are talking about on this subiect-when ha
goes as far as this, there is very little to be cx
rected from such n quarter Notwithstanding
the fact that he stood squarely upon platform
planned OF by the people OF the Pacific Coast.
The intelligence Of the West has been grossly
insulted by the occupant OF the White House,
but in their search for higher standard they
Will certainly not apply to the ward politicians
OF New York, or to the Puritanical districts Of
Massachusetts.
Pacific coast. Let them be true TO themselves.
Let their Representatives in Congress take n
final stand-let them show their metal. Let
the Republican Senators and Congressmen
from the West say to President Arthur and his
Cabinet, and TO Mr.. Hoar, and to all others
whom 1t may concern: "Here We are, gentle
men, as firm as adamant; we demand the pas.
sage and approval OF this BILL we are good,
steadfast Republicans, but our duty to our Ian.
gushing constituency is more to us than
party ties; we hold the balance OF power in
the Senate; we can give the House into the
hands OF the Democracy at any moment; IL
you OF New York or Massachusetts or Illinois
or any other State cannot respond to the wants
OF our people, we can be supremely indifrer-
ent 10 your interests; we decline to caucus
any longer with the Republicans of the East
until our voice is recognized; IL by such a
course important party measures are lost, you
have no right to complain, for II you can be
entirely regardless OF political consequences
should, by such course, iniure the party on
the Atlantic? Our faces are set; until relief
comes we are against the Administration, and
Will sit in Congress with sealed Inns on all no.
litical measures"
The Republicans and oil the people OF the
Pacific will make the valleys and the noun
tains ring with plaudits should their Repre-
sentatiyes take such stand. The writer of
this is proud TO say that he is personally
acquainted with II majority Of the Pacific
Coast delegation, and that, without exception
they are men Of unfaltering devotion to the
Interests of their constituencies, and IL tho
dire extremity is reached in this matter, they
are Just independent enough to adopt tho
tactics above indicated. Mr.. Editor, our
people are in desperate, awful earnest in this
matter, and every consideration of party
advantage, every issue OF public policy, must
and Will be made secondary to It's special
settlement. Respectfully yours,
PACIFIC COASTER.
Washington, April 6,