National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-14

free and the home of the brave. If Russia
had made such a law, it would be quito IN
harmony with her institutions If every
nation in Europe made such q law, 1T would
call forth no surprise But this country pro.
fesses to DO liberal and enlightened. And
when nation proclaims universal freedom
and liberty IL ought to mean something.
Such law in tho face of the declaration of
independence becomes other a farce or makes
that declaration national lie. 1t works far
moro harm to the United States than to
China, for the latter country loses nothing by
such law Except as a rub on her dignity,
while the fair name, and even the honor of
the United States, Is compromised by 1t.
] must plead ignorance in regard TO the
passage of the anti-Chincse bill, which prac.
tically prevents all Chinese from coming into
this country; no doubt those gentlemen who
favored the bill were actuated by the most
profound patriotism and disinterestcd stateS-
manship, but it does not take the brain of q
Webster to SEQ the injustice of law which
prohibits Chinese who arc already In the
United States from becoming her citizens.
TO make 1t palmer to those who do not and
will not look Mt the law in its proper light,
| give this homely illustration.
A good and benevolent man makes proc
lamation TO tho city of Washington, invit-
ing one and all to partake ofhis hospitality.
great multitude accepted this invitation
and they were all kindly welcomed. The host
noticed, however, that many came from par
ticular district whose costumes and manners
were distinct from tho rest. lie saw also q
scowl on the face of his right-hand guest
(the convivial Irishman), and began to feel
uneasy; but his proclamation had boon issued.
How could he retract it2 At last = happy
thought struck him, and he decides to send
three men TO treat with the headmen OF that
district II so happened that tho rulers of
that district were mon who knew very little
Is..Ns Nt.,V., al la
regard to those things, and were easily
satisfied. SO tho three men returned jubilant,
having accomplished their work.
Another proclamation was issued immo-
diately allowing only select few from that
particular district admittanco to the house,
although the people of that district had al
ways been Just and friendly toward him.
Pretty soon one of tho guests proposed that
| those men from the excluded district who
were already in the house should go hungry
that atrocous law which prevents Chinese
from becoming citizens). 1t was carried
amid many bumpers and "be jabbers."
! Turning aside from moral grounds let us
Wow the law purely from business point of
view, and, starting from two automatic
propositions, try to decide the matter fairly.
| If the Chinese in tho United States have and
arc likely to BIO a benefit to the country, then
thoy arc entitled and ought to DO allowed the
rights of citizenship and negatively il thoy
| nave Dben uSIrlneuD 10 tne DnlIcu OIaIcs,
then the law may be considered wise pro.
vision.
Have they been benefit or detrimcnt ?
Let the railroads and the mining interests Of
the Pacific coast reply. Are they more de-
graded than other races? Let the criminal
statistics of California tell the story. Are
they intellectually inferior? Search tho
reports OF the high schools of New England
and the following colleges and universities
| Harvard Yale Amherst Columbia Lafay-
cite, Lohigh, Massachusetts, institute of tech
nology, Stevens, and II. p. l., of Troy.
Though laboring under the difficulties of a
foreign tongue their average was higher
than that OF American students.
Why then should this unjust discrimina-
ton DO made against tho Chinaman, and why
should an intelligent Chinese be denied those
rights of citizenship, accorded oven to the
most ignorant and bigoted from all European
nations? Can this be specimen of the
honor and fair play characteristic of the
Anglo Saxon race? 9. w. TsANG.