Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-17
JUDGE NATURE AND BOYCOTT.
They are Fointedly Considered and Some
Conclusions Drawn,

San Francisco Alta. April 10th
One OF the Superior Judges in this city
has written to a member of the State Boy
cotting Committee a carefully considered
and deliberately penned letter, indorsing
in his personal and judicial CAPACITY the
boycott, and illustrating it by definitions SO
solemnly put as to certify their kinship OF
style with the formal deliveries of the iu-
dicial bench.
In reviewing this impressive and thought
full letter, we desire TO reaffirm our often
expressed belief that there is not a white
employer in California so lost to all regard
for his country and his race as not To prefer
peaceful and willing change in our labor
system. Not one, in our Judgment. would
stand for moment against reasonable
appeal and in the face of competent and
faithful white labor asking employment
But the reasonable appeal has not been
made. This profier and proof of the pres
ence OF such white labor have not been es.
tablished.
In all human affairs there figures the
word and blow. Here the blow has pre-
coded i'll order of judgment, and the result
is growing antagonism. which we regard
as entirely unnecessary to a proper and
speedy settlement and needed change in
the labor system. We have never adver.
tised California TO the world as a State
whose people have to be forced TO do right
whose mercy and charity and love of thei.
own kind are exploited only under the feal
of torch and club. We believe the great
tranquil masses here to be as susceptible tc
the pleadings of humanity, as bountift1l in
their unspurred charity and as full o.
patriotism and public spirit as any people
on earth. Therefore it is that we proposed
with this people, in regard to the Chinese
the reasonable word first, that they might
have the glory of demonstrating to the
world that no blow need fall TO force them
into exhibiting the Just and generous side
of human nature. Then, again. we are no
fond of any tyranny. We do not enjoy The
forcing OF any human being to obey oul
will or think as we think or do as we do
We invade no mans house to dictate how
he shall order his household, because W,
wish to keep our own safe from invasion
| and this right of ours can be maintained
| only by protecting it in others.
Now this Superior Judge joins a larg,
! number of well-meaning people in indors
ing the boycott. That is their privilege ane
his. 1t is novel weapon. 1t seems to u.
as resort that lies necessarily at the begin
ming OF revolution, and one that should
not De USED without counting the cost
Men will willingly, on an appeal TO theil
reason, do things that they will refuse to d.
under a show of force, and if the force over
power them there is left behind a rankIiue
and rooted hate that sleeplessly watches
for chance to make reprisais.
So 1t must be remembered that on tn,
other side of the boycott proposition Their;
IS an equally well-meaning body of citi
zens, non-employers and non-patrons q
Chinese, who do not propose that this
method of settling grievances shall get q
foothold in this republic.
The Superior Judge who writes the letter
in question iustifies boycotting as modern
| instance by many a wise saw derived from
history, and he sums up its final vindica
ton in this sentence: The practice of en-.
forcing conformity to the moral sentiments
and material interests of communities by
the social, political and commercial estra.
cism of those who violate such sentiments
or invade such interests is as old as civil
cation, and is indeed the vital principle oil
its growth"
That is the doctrine of massacre. It is
the about face and march back to the DAYS
OF persecution. Under that practice of zen
forcing conformity to the moral senti-
ments,' held by the majority of commu-
nifty, the fires of persecution burned the
bodies of martyrs, until the rights of the
minority came to be intrenched in written
constitutions. Pythagoras taught the ex-