Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-29
THE LATEST CHINESE DECISION.

CHICAGO, Aug. S.-The recent decis-
ion of the United States Circuit Court
at Boston, virtually admitting Chinese
laborers to land and reside in this coun-
try, has proved the theme of almost
universal comment by the Western
press. The press Of New England ia
strongly inclined to indorse the decis-
ion. The sentiment and judgment Of
the Western press on the sub. cot OF Chi
nese immigration and the recent re-
markable decision may be fairly judged
by the following editorial, which ap-
peared in the columns of the Tribune D.:
"The first legal test of the anti
Chinese Act, passed by the last ses-
sion of Congress, has just been made in
the United States Court at Boston,
Judge Nelson delivering the decision
and Judge Lowell ooncurring. The
case was in the nature of an informa-
ton brought against John q. Douglas,
master of the British bark Erne, for
landing at Boston one All Hong, al
legged to be q Chinese laborer, contrary
to the Act of May, 1882, which makes
such an offense misdemeanor, punish
able with fine and Imprisonment.
The decision of the court sets forth that
All Hong is Chinese by race and Ian
guaRe; also in appearance and dress; that
he Is of Chinese parentage, but was
born in Hongkong. a Chinese island,
but held by England, and which is the
subject of Great Britain. He was
shipped in December last at Manila az a
carpenter under articles which obliQat-
ed him to serve for ten years. The yes
sci arrived at Boston ON June 9Th, and
on the 18th All Hong deserted and re-
fused to return, whereupon the captain
subsequently, paid him of, discharged
him and much to the delight of the
nese laborer was landed upon our
shores, notwithstanding an act of Con-
Rress f0rbids it. Two questions were
raised in the prosecution-Arst, whether
carpenter is labOrer in the sense of
who IL not subject Of the Emperor of
China can be excluded by the act.
There was no ruling upon the first ques-
ton, and as the ruling on the second
rendered 1t unnecessary, that ruling will
be surprise to the country. Those
who have read the act will Mt once con-
olude, without any disrespect to go dig
nified a court, that it has strained its
language, distorted it into meaning
which its language does not and was not
intended to convey. We quote from
the decision of the court:
The term Chinese laborers," as used
in the Act mast, therefore, have the
same Specification as when used in the
treaty, and must be held to mean the
subjects of the government of China, to
which the provisions of the treaty re-
lafA For this - 4 L.
opinion that the inhibitions of this Act
are not to be construed as applying to
persons OF the Chinese race who are not
within the Chinese empire. A Alb
follows that the defendant cannot be
Act, and IL therefore entitled to be dis
charged.
THE ACT of Congress is most explicit
in its declaration. 1t forbids the land
ing of any Chinese laborer from any
foreign port or place. That would seem
to be explicit enough to fit the case of
any Chinese labOrers who seek to land
here. were they from Pekin. Hongkong
or Patagonia. There is no question
that All Hong is a laborer, and there Is
no doubt that All Hong ia Chinese la
borer. Even the Court could not 90 90
far as to claim that he il an English
man because he was born in Hongkong
after its oession to England. There Is
no doubt. then, that he is a Chinese la
borer coming from the foreign port of
Honokong.'
The Springfield Repnbiieaa. discussing
the decision we'll says: The only refer
ences to the treaty in the Act are made
in justification of those sections which
require those Chinese who are not Ia,
borers TO bring passports with them.
These references do not seem to require
the limitation which our judges have
applied 70 the scope of the whole Act.
However conscientious the court may
have been the decision is not in accord
ance with the intent Of the Act, which ID
clear enough for q child TO understand.
Under that decision the whole laboriue
population OF Hongkon0 might be
dumped into the port of Boston aud the
Act completely nnllifed. The object of
the Act WAS TO protect American labor
from Asiatic competition. Tho decis-
ION OF the Circuit Court of Massachns-
stts, in part at least. defeats the Act, and
removes one degree Of protection from
AtDCkAo k1 taQOf. We o0QOB NQ0tu6L
other Circuit Courts would sustain this
Judgment. With all respect for the
Court il will be hardly possible to con-
vince The majority of the people of this
country who have not sentimental affil-
iations with Asiatic coolies, that il has
not strained point to the verge of a
bubble 10 let All Hong remain in Mass
achusetts, Notwithstanding that the
Act Of Congress explicitly says that be
shall not. II such decision il TO stand
a. good Law, then will IL be the frsi
duty Of Congress to amend the Act, %
that Chinese sentiment in the Last
cannot get through il or around il, fol-
| il the Court is correct, the Act IL no.
worth the paper on which il 10 writer
for the purpose Of keeping Chinese Ia
borers away Who are not subjects Of tn
Chinese Emperor"
.Mr. smith," said a Boston grocer
the other day to an old farmer Who hat
long been Q customer of his, II have
received several complaints in regard Y
that butter ! bought of you." "Nor
Indeed, IL tasted very queerly to me
What could have allied iti'' "wsil, nov
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