Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-19
ANTI-CHINEsE.
SPEECH OF HON. GROVE L, JOHN.
SON LAST EVENING
On the Constitutionality OF the Pro.
posed Expulsion Ordinance
He Advocates Its Passage.

1t having been announced that the Hon.
Grove l.. Johnson would address tie pee
pie in the Metropolitan Theater last even
ing, on the constitutionality of the proposed
ordinance, which is intended to drive from
within the city limits all Chinese residents,
a very large audience assembled.
The meeting was called to order by the
President of the Citizens Anti-Chinese As
sociation, George Murray, who introduced
the speaker of the evening, Mr.. johnson.
who spoke in substance as follows:
DR.. President and Felio,c- Citizens The
question that IS agitating the public mind
at the present time the question that is
agitating Sacramento city in common with
the rest OF the State, to me is very SIM
pie one. Either II is good that the China
men that are here should remain and more
invited to come, or else it is bad and those
that are here should be invited TO leave
and the coming of more to our Golden
State should be forever prohibited. There
is no middle ground 1t is like a felon
on your finger or cancer on your breast.
1t is either good or bad, and for one I
think it is bad. If 1t is good, we should
keep what we have and send for more: if
it is good, we should, like Colonel Bee.
make love to the Cinnamon and invite
more of them. If it is bad,
LET Us GIT RID OF THOSE NOW HERE
And prevent Others from coming and set
Ting on our fair soil. The last is NV posi-
ton. Those that are not for us are against
us. There is no escape from this conclusion
The people are engaged in great work. in
which ali classes are apparently united, viz
elf-preservation, protection of America
protection of free labor, protection of free
schools. Some people are squarely against
us these | respect for their courage and
sincerity in coming squarely TO the front.
Some are pretended friends, yet enemies
those are dangerous. and should be sum-
marily dealt with The latter remind me
of man who was candidate for the Leg
islature in the State of New York in 1851.
during the time of the agitation of the
Maine liquor law. He was an artful
dodger, and all efforts to get him to define
his position upon that question, which he
would have to vote upon in event of his
election, proved futile until a few davs be-
fore the election, when he was cornered.
He defined his position then in this way
" | am in favor of the Maine LIQUOR law.
but am opposed to its enforcement So
1t is in Sacramento at this time While all
are working for one common good, the CITY
Attorney thunders conundrums into print
instead of helping along the good cause
and at the same time pretends that he is
with us. l did not ask this position. ]
sought nothing. / did not ask to speak at
Turner Hall, did not ask a position upon
this committee, but when | was placed
upon that committee, and asked to draft this
ordinance did so, and am here new to de-
fend it. [Applause.] 1t is straightforward
in its utterances direct in its purposes
effective in its execution, self-explanatory
in its preamble, necessary in its entirety,
and constitutional in every particular
Immense cheering Its presentation
evoked editorial condemnation. This was
to be expected. The facility with which
the average editor disposes of abstruse con-
stitutional questions is wonderful, and
ought to convince all that
JUDGES AND COURTS ARE UNNECESSARY.
The pronoun "we," the imperial columns
OF newspaper, the type so black and
staring, are enough to strike terror to us
all. In Sacramento the editor is reinforced
by the City Attorney. who lacks, however
the courage of the editor, and shelters him.
self behind the question asking letter that
he dashes into print.
1t is the easiest thing in the world to
shout " Unconstitutional !" Any lawyer
any City Attorney, any editor can do that
but, thank fortune. mere shouting don't
make it SO. When General jackson
crushed corporate monopoly in the shape
of national banks, that with Briarean arms
clutched the money and liberties of the
people to its bosom that ii might fatten al
their expense, Unconstitutional was
shrieked loud and long, but Jackson
needed them not. He removed the de-
posts, and his action was sustained by the
people and the Courts When the same
soldier statesman throttled nullification the
same cry of Unconstitutional was heard
throughout the land, but with the same
result. When treason in 1861 reared its
horrid head, coercion was denounced in
like manner. When the battle born green
back gave fortune to the nation the same
Unconstitutional cry, with the same
result. Many other instances might be
cited, but these are enough.
So, to-day, when starving men and
women when paralyzed commerce: when
impoverished trade when idle workmen
when empty and silent factories; when
true political economists; when all the
people are working, unitedly to aid them
selves and their country; when the battle
is just beginning, ere its skirmish line has
assailed the enemy, the same shrill croak
arises from those who fain would defeat
but dare not openly oppose" unconstitu-
those raising this cry to point out where
the decision of the Court exists that has
construed this ordinance to be unconstitu-
ioDal. Until that is done, the matter rests
solely upon the declarations of the obiector.
1t is admitted that the ordinance is con-
itutionai on its face. and, so far as Cali
f)rnia is concerned,
THERE MAY BE SOME MAGIC IN THE AIR
That enables these objectors to discern
what others cannot, but | don't believe it.
All that is claimed is that it contravenes
some treaty of or provision in the Constitu-
ton of the United States Until some
Court of competent jurisdiction of last resort
has decided the question, no man has the
power nay, he has not the right, to declare
this ordinance unconstitutional In crimi-
nal Courts the law is to give the doubt to
the prisoner. Here | ask that the doubt be
given to the ordinance; to the people and
not to the Chinaman. Such is also the law re-
garding the constitutionality ofstatutes and
much more so of State Constitutions. Let
us examine the ordinance and see what it is
Let us read: Whereas, the presence of
Chinese within the limits of the city of
Sacramento is dangerous to the morals and
prosperity of the city of Sacramento" Is
not that true? Will any man deny it?
VIII your Judge of the Police Court deny
it? Even the papers admit it. Every one
will admit the truth of that.
And whereas, the presence of Chinese
within The city brings with it and casts
upon the taxpayers of Sacramento all the
burdens and evils necessarily attendant
upon the presence in community of va
grants. paupers, mendieants, criminals and
invalids afflicted with contagious and in
fectious diseases" Nobody will dare deny
that. Everybody admits it. Even the
man who has been in California three
weeks knows it to be true.
And whereas, the youth of both sexes
in the CITY of Sacramento are, by reason OF
the presence of Chinese in the city, exposed
to daily and hourly contamination from
them, and many have already been ruined
in body, mind and soul by participation, at
the ceaseiess urging of The Chinese, in the
horrible, indecent, wicked and bestial prac-
tees of the Chinese and by their corrupt
teachings" That's true; unfortunately
too true. DR.. g. G.. Tyrrell, one of the
committee thai drafted this ordinance. gave
us his experience as physician in this CITY
relating many sad cases where young men.
and young women also, had been de-
bauched by these hell hounds, whom they
say 1t is unconstitutional to get rid OF,
lCheers, and cries of Give it to them
Grove, II