Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-09-30
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THE CHINESE AGAIN.

An immense anti-C Chinese meeting was
held at Seattle, w. T., on Monday, to dis
cuss the Chinese question. 1t will be
remembered that only short time ago
there was big raid on the Chinese at
Seattle, soon after the Squak Valley mas
sacre. The anti-Chinese sentiment has
now found vent in set OF resolutions,
stating the grievances of the people of
Washington Territory, and requesting all
employers OF Chinese to discharge them.
This request has been complied with by
the various coal mines in the vicinity OF
Seattle, and in all probability will be
complied with still farther by other
employers. What would be the
consequence Of refusing to com
ply with this request, is hard to
say. The probabilities are that such re-
fusal would be followed by scenes Of
brutality and atrocity such as were en-
acted at Rock Springs. The ground for
believing that such would be the case is
found in the last resolution which de-
twill hold themselves not responsible for
any acts of violence which may arise from
noncompliance with these resolutions"
The belief that such would be the case is
further strengthened by the fact that
some OF the speakers openly declared
that the Chinese must be expelled, by
peaceable means if possible, by forcible
means if necessary. From the speeches.
and resolutions no other conclusion can
be drawn than that the employers of
Chinese are merely given an alternative,
and it may be wise for them to comply
with the request" to discharge their
Chinese employees.
The Chinese question in Washington
Territory has assumed just this shape.
When the Government allows persons to
come to this country, no matter for what
purpose, providing, OF course, that the
purpose is lawful, have those persons
right to reap the fruits of their skill and
industry or have they not? Let it be
granted that the presence OF such persons
may be harmful and tend to create i'll feel
ing and disturbances, still no body of
men, no matter how great the number,
have the right to molest such obnoxious
persons or to bid them do this or refrain
from doing that. There is very false
impression with many that the will OF
the people, in u government founded upon
the will of the people, expressed in any
manner, has the same force and effect
rs law. Such an impression is
wrong, and is apt to produce evil.
| There is n legitimate and proper way for
the expression OF the will OF the people
upon any subject, which way is through
the ballot and the returning of men to
fill the office of legislators who will enact
such laws as the people desire upon any
subject. When the people, outside of
these lawful channels, attempt TO regulate
and control matter that can only be
regulated and controlled by the law, the
the people act lawlessly and as mob. 1t
is thus that the people in Washington
Territory will be acting ii they expel the
Chinese by force or allow any injuries to
be inflicted upon them. Under the cir
cumstances, we are glad that Washing
ton is not a State, for now the GEN
eral Government can put forth its hand
to protect the Chinese, il they shall
need any special protection. The
United States cannot afford to
permit the Chinese to come to this coun-
try and then allow them to bo massacred
because their presence, by some, is
deemed q detriment TO the workinglnan.
Ii the scenes of Rock Springs are to be re-
enacted in Seattle, or elsewhere in Wash
ington Territory, It's TO be hoped that the
military will be used to protect the Chi
nese and yindicate the supremacy of the
law, ii they cannot be had otherwise. Ii
is high time that those who think they
have right 10 order peaceable Cinnamon
here or there, or to kick or kill them as
may best suit their fancy, were taught a
severe lesson and one that will serve as
an example TO others who are inclined to
treat Cinnamon as legitimate subjects oi
plunder or murder. Things are at Il fine
pass il those whose greatest crime ap-
pears TO be industry and frugality cannot
bo protected Agitation for restrictive
legislation is ALI right, but agitation foi