Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-08
THE CHINESE MEETINGS AT THE EAST

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THE CHINESE MEETINGS AT THE EAST.
The dispatches recount the raiding of
several Chinese opium dens in Chicago,
and the disclosure of the fact that one
woman was poisoned to death in one of
these pits of iniquity. The people of the
East have not had the bitter experience
of California in this evil of the opium
habit. We can wish no i'll to our country
men on the Atlantic side, neither can we
regret that some hideous examples of the
contamination of Chinese contact arc to be
found at their threshold The CHASTITY
exposures of the horrors of the opium
joints in Chicago may be compensated for
by the conviction that will probably fol-
low in the Eastern mind that California
has not misrepresented, in any degree, this
terrible evil. 1t is Chinese in its origin;
is fostered by Chinese, and but for the
Chinese could easily be crushed ont. 1t
Is very easy thing for the Chicago au-
thortles to suppress the few Joints in
that city, and no greater difficulty need be
experienced in New York or Philadelphia,
but IN California it is a widely different
matter. Here the Chinese are very nu-
merous, and to keep track of all their
crimes and illegal devices to corrupt is
quite beyond the capacity and vigilance of
our people.
Contemporaneous with the breaking up
of the opium dens of Chicago there is re-
ported an attempt to manufacture SYM
pathy for the Chinese. This takes the
form Of meetings called at various points
IN the East to express the sense of the peo-
pie regarding, and to protest against out
RACES upon the Chinese This is but thin
disguise, however. The meetings are en-
gineered from below the surface by pro-
Chinese emissaries. Assemblages TO pro-
test against violence to Monaghan resi-
dents could be called here, and would be
Just as outspoken rs those at the East can
be. The right sentiment of this people,
and it is uppermost, opposes and con-
dennis unqualifiedly any violent treat
ment of the Chinese, the forcible
driving of them from one point To
another, or any assaults upon their per-
sons or property. There is reason for Cali
fornians to be sensitive upon the question
OF these Eastern meetings. They will have
no voice in them, therefore, no misrepresen-
tations or misstatements-and there will be
many-can be corrected on the spot. The
mere fact of an opposing sentiment in
California to Chinese immigration will
be magnifed and distorted into
enmity that goes about red-handed to slay.
The actions of hoodlums here and there
on the coast-and which are not so fire.
quent or atrocious as distinguishes marked
lawlesSness on the Atlantic side-will be
held up to Eastern view as representative
OF the conduct of this people toward the
Chinese, and there will be no one to give
Lbs lie on the spot, as there should be.
We have the consolation of knowing that
time will justify this people, but it will
require patience-and we have been
very patient, and viii continue TO be. We
very much doubt il the older communities
o. the East would have borne, rs has Calf
i'rna, for over thirty years the ills of
tle chinese invasion with less of murmur-
ln5 or as few outbreaks OF passion. No
question can be agitated as has been the
Clinese issue and not be made the vantage
ground Tor some lawlessness on the part of
men iniiamed by passion or aetuated by
brItal instincts. More sickening outrages
have Teen perpetrated in the midst of the
civilization of the East than against
aliens on this coast The Chinese have
beaten, tortured and butchered each other
here, maintained secret tribunals, defied
the laws, conspired to enslave human
beings, bought and sold their own flesh
AID blood, made life a matter of assassin's
barter and truth the shuttlecock of per-
Jury, and yet no protesting meetings have
ben called by the sentimentalists of
the East, while California history is |
dotted all over with records of
public protests. But what can lie |
done by californians in the premises |
Nothing but to continue to be patient; to |
adhere to the laws; to frown down vio-
lence in any form; to see to it that the
Chinese have the full protection of the |
laws; TO make it matter of assurance !
that no man within our gates, citizen or
alien, is deprived of single right secured I
him by law or by treaty; to continue to
m lnfully and fearlessly present our claims |
for relief, and by our conduct testify to the !
sincerity, honesty and lawfulness of our
purposes. Any other line of action will I
play into the hands of the pro-Chinese ad- |
vocates and postpone desired relief.