Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-01-27
Mitchell on the Chinese.

senator Mltcnell, In MS able speech
in support of his bill to abrogate all
existing treaties with China and abso-
lutely prohibit the immigration OF
Chinese, except diplomatic, consulate
and other officials, is thus reported in
the Chicago Herald:
Mr.. Mitchell describes the Chinese
as menacing the occupation of this
country as the locusts occupied
Egypt. He spoke of them as having
established within the United States,
in violation of fundamental law, in
defiance of municipal regulations, in
direct antagOnism to right, and JUS
tice, and order, and decency, system
OF human bondage more detestable,
moro degrading, more polluting, and
more destructive morally, socially, po-
htically and physically, than had ever
been that OF African slavery in. its
worst days. With the Chinese, per-
jury was crowning virtue, while
hypocrisy, deception and fraud were
instruments of common employment.
And yet the people were told, from
year to year, in Congress and else
where, that they were powerless to put
an end to that prodigious evil, because
it would be necessary to modify the
treaty stipulations with the Chinese
Empire. He declared that rather
than submit to such an Oriental pesti-
lence it would he better that every
line of treaty stipulation with the
Chinese Empire which obstructed its
prevention should he swept away.
There were between 10000 and 3OO,-
600 Chinese in the United States,
probably 200, 900 of them being in the
State of California, and hundreds of
thousands more would come by way
OF Canada on the Canadian Pacific
line OF steamers and railroads. They
would flow in like water from a sieve.
There was but one opinion on the Pa
cific coast in relation to this matter,
and that opinion was that the real
remedy for the evil was that proposed
In the bill which he had introduced.
1t was the absolute duty of the United
States to strike down, at once and for
ever, every barrier in existing treaties
which interfered in the slightest de-
gree with the absolute exclusion of
Chinese in the future.
1t is notorious on this coast that
every material statement made by
Senator Mitchell, as reported, is true.
As to the probable or exact number of
Chinese on this. coast, and in the
United States, there may be error on
one side or the other. The high
Chinese authorities place it at 200, 1000.
1t may be greater or less. They are
not very willing to contribute infor-
nation concerning their own country
men. But the accuracy as concerns
numbers is not an essential point, ex-
cept in so far as it might prove that
the Restriction Act does not prohibit
their coming as it is interpreted by
the Federal Courts in San Francisco.
1t is manifest to all who study the
matter, that there are more Chinese
ON this coast and in the United States
at this time than ever before. Yet
for several years the Restriction Act
has been the law. But whether the
number be 100000 or 100, 900, the ma
terial facts stated by Senator Mitchell
are notOriously true. They have u
law and code of their own, in viola
ton of the laws of this country, by
which they make common sale OF girls
and women for tho most polluting
purposes. They have their highbind-
ers, who are simply so many hired
ruffians and assassins. They have
their dens Of vice and disorder-tan
shops, opium joints, and brothels.
The police and the courts are power
less in dealing with them unless the
transgressor be arrested in the act !;
and the trial Of Chinese defendant,
unless his own countrymen are to the
prosecution, is a farce. Perjury to
them is IL pastime, and to screen the
guilty of their own company, they do
not hesitate to make the proof in
court against some unfortunate be-
longing to another and hostile COM
pany, to the purpose of his conviction,
although the victim is entirely inno-
cent. As Senator Mitchell declared,
socially, politically and physically,
their effect upon our country is more
detestable, more degrading, more pol
luting, and more destructive morally,
than was that of African slavery in its
worst days. And he correctly voices
the almost unanimous sentiment of
Oregon and this whole coast upon the
question.-Portland News.
Never allow stale flowers to remain
in sick room.
Scatter powdered alum on shelves