Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-24

the measure. The very next morning he
presented the bill, and, having the Demo-
! cratic majority firmly in hand. the rules
were suspended, the bill neither sent to
print nor referred to committee; and, de- |
spite the appeals of the California delega-
ton for time for examination, it was
! rushed through with speed that aston
ished the whole country and awakened the |
liveliest inquiry as to the cause of this new
born enthusiasm.
OF course 1t never was intended by the
Democracy that the bill should become a
law. 1t was to be used for two purposes
To enable the Administration party to say
to the Pacific coast "We are with you"
and to the great East, "the bill is intended
only as whip and spur to compel the Chi
nese Government to accept the treaty"
Ii the treaty should be ratified then the
bill could be abandoned; if rejected, the
most plausible excuse could be given
for the enactment of more careful and
elaborate measures, for which time and
consideration, it could be said, would be
necessary, and thus the pro-Chinese and
the anti-Chinese sentiment alike be
qlieted until the Presidential election
| could be tided over, for the Democracy
stands between the horns of two sentiments
in this Chinese matter, and is likely to be
tossed upon either. A scheme to stay the
new bill, therefore, in the Senate, was
put afoot. But the Republican majority
in that house was not caught mapping
1t passed the bill, and then came the
struggle to undo what had been done.
On motion to reconsider the passage, the
Democratic majority threw off disguise and
voted aye-a fact that voters in November
will certainly not forget-while the Re-
publican majority voted "nay" and subse-
quently killing a resolution to recall the
bill from the House, forced the administra-
tion into the most embarrassing Of posi-
tions. But cpe rcsa-. remained to gain
time to learn news ol the fate OF the
treaty, for if ratified, nothing would be left
for the President but to strangle his own
bantling with veto, and this he was pre-
pared to do and to excuse in a message of
the most plausible character.
Mr.. Kilgore was called to the rescue in
this emergency and as Chairman of the
Enrolment Committee, withheld the bill
from delivery to the Executive for ap-
proval, until resolutions of investigation
into this revolutionary proceeding, and a
bill in the Senate forbidding such usurpa-
tion of power, forced him to deliver the
bill. Almost in the same moment comes
news according to Democratic authority
Of the rejection Of the treaty by China,
and the President is relieved practically
from the strangest dilemma in which an ex-
ecutive officer was ever placed. 1t was all
due to his own bungling, insincerity and
demagogy upon this Chinese immigration
matter.
| Scarcely had the news of the rejection
of the treaty been received, than the pre-
arranged excuse for the failure of this Ad-
r'ri.,iat-e!ion Pet was auuUunood that 1t
was due to the Senate amendments insisted
upon and passed by the Republican major
ity, and without which the treaty would
have been worse than a seine for the car
riage of water. This responsibility the
Republican party announces its entire
willingness to accept. An issue is thus
clearly made, about which there cannot be
any sort of mistake. IfMr. Cleveland and
his party can afford to defend the wrecked
treaty and charge its death to the wise and
necessary amendment to it made by the
| Republican Senate, Mr.. Harrison and the
Republican party can also afford to meet
their adversaries upon that field.
Looked at in whatever light it is posi-
bic to place the matter, the Administration
is cast in shadow. 1t cannot before sem
sible and rejecting people make any sort
OF decent excuse for attempting to choke
| off bill in the Senate, which it originated
in and railroaded through the House, not
solitary condition having in the mean
while changed, or new factor developed.
1t cannot, in the presence of ordinarily in
telligent and fair men, justify in the
slightest degree the outrageous and revo-
lutionary act of Southern Congressman,
who but did the bidding of the Presiden-
tial council in impudently interposing be-
tween the National legislative will and
| Its execution by refusing to deliver bill
for approval or rejection, that the people
had passed through the agency of their
chosen representatives.
The whole proceeding proves Mr. Cleve-
land to be unfit to be retained as President
of the United States. If he is not him
self guilty OF the acts charged, it is unde-
niable that he was privy to them. He
has consented to usurpation of power by
one man, that put in jeopardy the laws
of the land and the liberties Of the people.
He dallied with a question that demanded |
open treatment, and to gain political ad- |
vantage clandestinely fathered measure
he intended to disown. He negotiated |
treaty SO worthless that he now confesses
its rejection is solely due to the vitality
the Senate injected into it.
EVEN the Examiner feels compelled, by
its sense of justice, to admit that the Re-
publican turnout in San Francisco Satur- |
day night was ga magnificent spectacle
There were ten or twelve thousand men in
line, and the enthusiasm is reported to
have been unbounded. 1t cannot be "follv,n
as the Eraminer terms it, that thus moves
men to prove their faith by tramping over
the worst street pavement in America.
SAN FRANCISCO AND VICINITY.
| On Saturday the Stocktons defeated the
Haverlys to 4.
Angelo Bitono is under arrest for assault.
ing ive-year-old girl.
Inspector Frank 7. Hawes has been dis.
missed from the customs service