The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-04-14
THE VETO AND THE REASONS.

Since last issue the Message Of the Presi-
dent, offering his objections to the bill to ex-
ecute certain treaty stipulations relating to
Chinese, has come to baud. He takes the
pesitions that this bill conflicts with the
treaty and that nation is only justified in
repudiating treaty obligations when they are
in conflict with great paramount interest.
Generally, with a power able to cope with
the one SO repudiating this is taken as q suf-
ficient cdusi beli and leads to open rupture
Of amicable relations. The President holds
that In this case the objects of the American
people can be attained without violating the
treaty and by proceeding in strict accordance
with Its letter and spirit. This kind Of a bill
he intimates he would approve. His objec-
ton were mainly that the suspension of i'm
migration for twenty years was an unreason-
able term and net contemplated by the COM
missioners who made the treaty; that the re-
quirement of registration and passports for
Chinese now hele Is discrimination against
the Chinese government with whom IL is
stipulated that the Chinese who are here
shall be entitled to all privileges conceded
TO subjects of the most favored nations and
that the system ofpassports Is undemocratlc,
Is going into disuse, and should be avoided
that the bill emitting to provide for the
transit across our continent or the putting
into our ports Of Chinese travelling to or
from other countries works unnecessary
hardship and is violation of international
law; and that the pbraseology of the bill
shuts out class Of skilled labor not contem-
plated In the treaty. The President fuather
argues that great advantages have accrued TO
the Pacific Coast by our commercial rela-
tions with Asia and thinks All unreasonable
suspension Of immigration would drive the
trade and commerce of Asia into more
friendly hands. There was no attempt made
to pass the bill over the veto and bills have
since been introduced placing the restriction
at ten years and covering the tenable obiec-
tions offered by the President.
The veto raised a storm Of indignation on
the Pacific Coast, principally in California,
which found vent in meetings, speeches, and
editorials of more or less common sense, and
the Democratic press Is exultant in the
claim that the Coast is solid for Democratic
Congressman and Democratic Presidential
Electors. This Is a somewhat premature
computation Of unmatched chickens. While
we do not regard all the objections offered,
good, we believe the President pointed out
some vulnerable and grievous defects in the
bill and that his objection to the time of
suspension Is right. His intimation that an
amended bill will be approved is so plain
that 1t CAM be misunderstood, so that
while sudden popular anger fomented and
stirred by designing politicians, temporarily
makes much din and dust, 1t is probable q
better act will be passed this session and
the sober second thought will leave q more
the rude and crude frenzy of distempered
impulse. Mr.. Arthur has been condemned
as machine politician. he is certainly
free from that odium in taking position in
which no possible political advantages were
to be gained and where there is at least the
peril OF loss. 1t could not strengthen him
with his party 10 oppose the measure because
his party is on record as against Asiatic in
vasisn. Let us therefore be just enough to
draw the logical and honest conclusion from
the evident facts, and that is that the Presi-
dent exercised the veto power in the con-
scientious discharge of his duty as Chief
Magistrate, when 10 have approved would
have been popular and polite. We have no
apprehension but that a restrictive bill will
be passed and approved this session and
that 1t will be better one than that which
has Just failed.