The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-11-08

PORTLAND, Ogn.. November 7,-Sincs
the Presidents proclamation the feeling
in this city is that there viii be an end to
anti Chinese riots on Puget Sound
There never was necessity for allow.
ling the outrage at Tacoma. One COM
pany OF United States military could
have maintained order and protected
property, but no organized force in the
interests OF the place was at the city's
command. What made matters woI sc
was the fact hat the Mayor of Tacoma, a
foreigner. who had lived in the town
ISIS than two years, and in the United
States not long enough to speak
English correctly, was the leader
of the anti-Chinese mob. The
law abiding citizens, and the few
large property owners. did nothing but
fold their hands and exclaim What
can we do" They feared to organize
against the mob. for the reason that
threats were made to blow up their
homes with dynamite. 1t happens,
too, that the rough element IN Tacoma,
headed by the mayor, Outnumbers the
laW-abiding element more than two to
one, as IS the case in most new railroad
towns. The chinese are weak, physic-
ally, have no courage nor weapons of
defense; the protection of the
law was not offered them, and
there was nothing left to do but
be marched outof town. They had good
reason to fear a second Rock springs
Massacre. Another bad feature of the
riot was that the Ledger, the leading
paper OF Tacoma, in strongest language
at its command, endorsed the riotous
action and counselled the steps which
we're subsequently taken. 1t refused to
publish protests against the lawlessness
over the signatures of the writers and
used all its energy to intimidate the law
aud order element in the community
The situation at Tacoma at this time is
one OF absolute peace, so far as can be
observed. There are still in the town
about fifty Chinese, most Of them en-
ployed as servants. They remain
= doors day and night
asraid to venture in the streets, because
of the threats of assassination. Nothing
more remains for the mob to do. Nearly
all the Chinese have been driven out
and their houses burned.
The United States courts have taken
up the matter of the outrages at Ia
coma. Vancouver and Tacoma, though
nearly 40 miles apart, are in the same
judicial district, and the grand jury,
now in session at Vancouver, has sum.
mOned number of witnesses from Ia
coma to testify as to the intimidation
and expulsion of the Chinese. 1t was
impracticable TO hold court at Tacoma.
With any hope of enforcing the, law
or securing justice. Still it is doubtful,
even if indictments could be found,
which is probable. that there viii be a.
conviction, because quiet citiznes will
be afraid TO testify in open court at the
risk of having their lives taken and
property destroyed by the mob.
At Seattle, the situation was much
me same as at Tacoma, with
this differences Seattle being an older
sud more substantial city, the organized
mob was met by an organization of
peaceful citizens of equal numbers and
tne Post hteIigeacer, the leading paper.
took a decided stand against the rioters.
Yet the citizens were not firm enough
and their fatal mistake was a confer
ence on Wednesday night with the
committee of rioters to arrange terms
on which the Chinese should go. 1t is
believed that the presence of United
States troops will compel peace so long
as they remain.