Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-03

aacy of Judge Field for she Democrafie
Presidential domination his organs have
claimed that be 10 an original anit-Chi-
uese immigration man, and some even
90 90 far an 10 declsre BIN 70 be an ar.
den. sympathizer With the horny hand
ed" sons Of toll. Not al the sophissries
of all the brilliant writers or speakers
on the Pacific Coast can change the rec
ord nor eonvincs the people Of this slope
that be has ever been ia sympathy With
the working classes. OF thai be has not
ben subservient 10 the interests Of the
Central Pacific Railroad Company.
A Philadelphia paper. commenting
upon the action Of the Stockton Con
vention. which repadiated the eandi-
daey Of Justice Field, and pledged re
delegates TO Chicago TO oppose kis nou-
inatioa, recently alleged thai ihis action
was "on account Of bis Judicial dscis-
ion announcing unconstitutional the
barbarous act providing that Chinese
criminals should have their queues cut
OF, a State enactment revived In imita-
ton of the ancient laws imposing upon
the commission Of certain crimes the
penalty of cropped ears"
The fact Of the matter IL that the de-
cision in question was upon an ordi-
nance of the city of San Francisco. and
not upon a State law. That ordinance
provided that leach and every male
prisoner incarcer tied or imprisoned in
the county jail Of this city and county
under and pursuant 10 q judgment or
conviction had by any court having tur-
isdiction of criminal cases IN this city
and county, shall. Immediately upon bis
arrival at said county Jail under and
pursuant to judgment or sentence az
aforesaid, have the hair Of his head cut
or clipped to uniform length Of one
inch from the scalp thereof. IL shall DO
and Is hereby made the duty Of the
Sheriff to have enforced the provisions
Of this order" This ordinance Judge
Field, in an elaborate opinion, declared
unconstitutional. decision which Sc
cured for him the hearty friendship OF
the Six Companies, and Of every Chi
ness Highlander and thief who happen
cd to fall into the clutches of the law.
The regulation IN qsestion IL enforced
In the majority Of the public prisons at
the East, and IL cieanly aud sanitary
provision. Many man has been forced
on beginning term Of imprisonment
at Sing Sing. or Auburn, TO part With q
beard or moustache as highly priced by
him, perhaps, 40 a Chinaman values his
pig-tail. and yet no one ever claimed
that such a regulation was unconstitu-
tional, or an nnwarranted persecution.
The San Francisco Chronicle, COM
msnting upon this decision, says: 81 he
history of the queue shows 1t TO be
really but badge of servitude, since
the custom of wearing il, unknown in
China proper before the Tartar con-
quest, was then and thereafter enforced
b. the fsorpers. There is little doubt
, that members Of the secret organiza-
ton. The White Lily would cut of
their queues il the act would not be-
tray their identity. So much for the
reverence due the Chinese pig.tail.
Judge Fields arguments against IL
wsuid equally apply to the compulsory
removal Of Quaker's hat frsm his
head in some assembly where il Of
Tended the laws Of decorum. or TO clip
ping the lank locks of an Indian muir
derer, whose misdeeds brought him to
the penitentiarv The fact Ia the de-
cisiou never won the Jadee the respect
OF any body, and he ard his friends
know ID very well. Fearing its effect ON
bis Presidential rrospect he tried after
ward TO hedge" on that interpreta-
ton Of the restriction act which would
have called Chinese coming from China,
British subjects, and so freed them from
It's provisions. On this untsnable idea
Judge Field executed a judicial war
dance, hooking and deriding II in Ian
guage Of unmeasured contempt. and q
friend Of his brought the decision to
this office and asked that the full text
be published to set him right with the
people on his Chinese record. This in
the true inwardness Of the queue ques-
ton in San Francisco and Judge Fields
relation to IL, as few moments exam
nation would show any Eastern editor
who desired to understand the subject
and treat 1t with de cent candor."