The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-09-26
FIELD AND THE CHINESE.

| Chinese immigration. His decision
the gist of which was stated in THF
! HERALD of Tuesday, goes to some
what greater lengths than the opIn
ions of some other judges who have
ruled in this matter. The Justice
| is a Pacific coast man. Naturally ht
has imbibed more or less of the race
prejudice that is so prevalent IN the
west, and being also as much Of
a politician as jurist, it was to be
expected that popular ideas would
have influence upon his mind
There are very few full-grown, and
perfectly developed citizens of the
Republic who are not to greater or
less degree demagogueS. The bench
is little less free from demagogy
than the forum or the stump,
though the effort to hide it is more
pronounced. Justice Field being
true American in parentage, birth,
education, training, impulse and
sentiment, he must feel as the
Boston Post does when it
declares: "When we deny the right
of people of all countries to come
to our shores as long as they behave
themselves, we are taking new
grounds for the United States of
America, the asylum for the OPP
pressed, the land of the brave and
the home of the free" Yet Judge
Field, having certain aspirations,
would not dare oppose the ''new
grounds" even if his personal
prejudices were not aroused
against the Chinese. Like
the distinguished statesmen
in Congress who, when the
infamous anti. Chinese bill was up
for discussion refused to speak upon
it, or spoke in its favor against
convictions and ideas of American
policy, sentiment and declarations,
because they feared the mob behind
them, Judge Field would keep
silent or lean away from what he
felt to be the true American theory
of Republican government. This is
refined demogogy, andit is grevious
to feel that so many of our judges
and statesmen are afflicted with it.
When we boast that this country
is the asylum for the oppressed OF
all nations, We are Dragging on q
falsehood. 1t is the asylum for all
save the Chinese. The amended
boast makesAmericans confess they
are towards, and growing in fear Of
the world. Formerly they defed
all, and invited every body to come
here and enjoy the benefits
of free popular government
and participate in the pros
p8rity Of the richest AID best OF
lands; now we quail before the in
coming of few thousand insignIf-
cantChinese, and say we will try it on
a few years more with the other for
eigners. Perhaps one Of these days
it may be deemed necessary to shut
out the natives of some other coun-
try, though that is hardly probable
from the fact that the lowest of the
nationalities can be utilized by the
! demagogues who cannot control
the Chinese to their personal
gain. We believe the time
will come when no immigra-
ton will be desirable, and discour
aging if not repressive measures be
necessary, not only for the protec'
ton and preservation of the govern
ment, but as a matter Of justice tt
native citizens. But that time is
vet in the distance. We need moi
fear it so long as there are broaC
prairies that do not know the touch
of the ploW, and while there arr
| States and Territories whose popula
ton does not amount to more thar
one or two persons to the squar,
mile. When the time arrives TO
closing the asylum" it will be mani,
and honorable to shut all gates a
once. 1t is cowardly to begin now
and shut out the weakest and leas
dangerous of all immigrants.
Of course Justice Field is the mer
| interpreter of a law that Congress
has enacted. He is not responsible
for tie statute. 1t is hoped that on
of these days, when public senti
ment changes and there is a wheel
!. ing into The ranks again in thi
matter, thejudge will be able, shouI
he come before the people as can
didate for a position that he
known to want, to show that he wa
not Influenced by popular prejudic
in making his decision.
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