Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-12-22
TIE CHINESE QUESTION.

The Chinese question which was thought to have been taken out of poli- tica by the passage of the law excluding certain classes from the country for the term of ten years, seems to become again the burning question in politics on this coast. By the interpretation given to the law by Judge Hoffman, one of the United States judges in San Francisco, there IS nothing to prevent the landing of as many Chinese as choose to come. All they have to do IS to say that they intend to become traders,
 and anyone who has the least knowl- edge of the Mongolian character can ap- preciste what tiimsy barrier this IS. Heretofore, owing to the small political importance of the Pacific coast, little at- tention has been paid to its complaints regarding the disastrous results of the Asiatic invasion, and it remained local question. But by the decisive stand taken by the Pacific coast delegation at the Chicago convention in 1880 1t was raised to the importance of a national topic, and owing to the growing politi- cal importance of the Pacific coast states it is destined to retain that position. The laboring class of California were the first to feel the blighting influence of the presence of such large numbers ot these servile laborers, ana they were the first to cry out against Il The movement attracted the attention of the world, and showed to the politi- cians and the wealthy clnss that it waf time that they paid some attention to the just demands of labor. At the com mencement of the movement California stood alone, the situation being misun' derstoOd at the east, the people of the Atlantic states believing it to be merely a question of race prejudice, but by persistent agitation and the distribution of documents showing the bad influence the comparatively small number of Chi nese were having on the material pros perity of the Pacific coast, our represen- tatives, backed by the unanimous voice of both political parties of the coast, were enabled to procure the passage of the exclusion law. Since the enactment of this law California has made rapid strides in the march of development, for the reason that the people believed this important question had been definitely settled, and thereby removing the fear of a great social ex- plosion, which, it seemed, was likely to occur if the condition of affairs was not changed. But owing to the decisions of Judge Hoffman the law has been practically nullifed, and the Golden Gate has again been thrown open to as many of the "gittle brown men" as wish to come, and it is sale to say that they will not be slow to take advantage of the opening, and once more the human yellow stream from the vast Asiatic reservoir will empty itself upon our Pacific shores. It is fortunate that this decision was rendered at this particular iuncture, for it will show to our re- presentatlves in both branches of Con- gress, who thoroughly understand the ideas of their constituents on the mat ter, the necessity of prompt and united action in the passage of law about the provisions of which there can be no doubt, and owing to the position of the two great political parties It is more than likely that they can attain thelr end, for neither party can afford to alienate the twelve electoral votes of the Pacific States.