Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-08-22
POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE CHI
NEsE QUESTION.

the Pacific coast States.
In Presidential year this is5to be ex-
peeted but the truth is, that on these
shores the two parties have been a unit on
the question of the necessity and wisdom
of restricting the immigration of the Chi
nese; at the East the membership of both
parties has been divided upon that ques-
ton, and not until comparatively recent
date has there been enkindled by Califor-
MIA persistence such sentiment favorable
to the California view of the matter that
the affirmative of the question could COM
mand majority.
The United States Senate went in adj
vance some few years ago; it passed the
Fair Restriction BILL" for which General
Harrison voted, though Democrats delight
to appeal to prejudices by arraying Harri-
son as pro-Chinese. That bill was put to
sleep in the House by Democratic opiates,
and not since then has there been any
reason to believe that a strong restrictive
measure could be pushed through the
House, until this year.
But all this pother about party records
on the question, as exposed by votes in
Congress, invokes smiles. There is really
very little in it, except political campaign
ing Everyone who has been at all OBJ
servant, knows that there hasnot been any
real party division upon the Chinese ques-
ton. Partisans have gone this way and
that, and have divided in home camps
with perfect freedom upon the whole sub
ject of the immigration of Chinese, with
out invoking the crack of the party whip.
When, however, the Democratic party
leaders set up the claim that theirs is the
only true and original Jacobs" the only
Simon-pure anti-Chinese political force,
they are just as absurd as are those i'll
advised gentlemen of the Republican party
who insist that the latter only has been
the advocate of restriction. No intelli-
gent people are to be deceived by such pro-
testations.
This, however, is to be said: the Re
publican party has always proved equal to
all emergencies and questions 1t possesses
the immeasurably greater virtue in this,
that its commitment to any policy is the
result of conviction rather than of de
sire to gain partisan advantage or attain to
power. 1t grew up as the natural off
spring of the party of freedom, and it met
the shock that threatened the integrity of
the Union with the courage that is born
alone of consciousness of right. 1t sus-
tanned the friends Of free institutions, free
soil and free men, until the attempt to dis
rupt the nation was put to death by the
sentiment and arms of loyalty to an indis-
soluble Union. After a long and deplora-
bic war it met the questions of restoring
the conditions of prosperity, of discharg-
ing an enormous debt, and of return
ing the credit of the country to a
specie basis, and it proved equal
to them. Finally it faced great question
of civilization in this matter of Chinese
immigration. 1t found its membership
divided in opinion, because of lack of true
knowledge concerning the subject, and in
doctrination with the sentiment that this
country is a free harbor of refuge. 1t be-
gan to study the Chinese question, and as
light dawned conviction followed, until
the party was able to conscientiously de-
clare that unrestricted Chinese immigra-
ton threatens the social fabric and en-
dangers industrial interests. Then came
the period of legislation to restrict. There
was not even then, in either party, such
unity of sentiment upon the subject as
was necessary, and as a consequence .abor-
tive efforts were numerous to check the
coolie influx.
The Democracy, however, as it has al
ways been the psrty.of obstruction and de-
struction, and of trimming for advantage,
did not fail to employ its usual tactics in
treating the Chinese question. 1t carae
around right in due time, but rather as a
matter of policy-so far as its Eastern
membership was concerned, than as the
result of party perception of a great
economic truth of civilization.
The new Chinese treaty is not what it
ought 70 be. Mr.. Bayard and Mr.. Cleve-
land, after dallyins with the question
three Icing years, have at last been out
witted By the shresza Chinese Minister.
They donot appear sc have beer industri-
Gus TO inform themselves of the
real needs of the case, and certain
ly the correspondence of negotiation
does not disclose any refatation
by Mr.. Baya-d of the misssAtements of the
Minister, nor any analysis and exposure of
his sophisticai method of reasoning. There
are FIVE or ak distinctly open doom in
the treaty, everyone of which ought to
be guarded SO rs TO prevent any injustice
being done to az sctual Chinese resident,
but Sc also as to eliminate the possibility
of any other slipRiag in under false pre-
tense. The treaty does not do this 1t
opens up the way te perjury, disguise and
an infinite variety Of deceit. But L is
great deal better thar the present o0Bdi-
ton Of Affairs. 1t is a song step in advance
To secure even 30 much, and it is cause
for congratul2tion that Congress has been
brought to the passage in both Houses, by
unanimous votes, Of measure
to carry the provisions of the treaty into
effect. For unsatisfactory as it is, it will
at least relieve The Federal Courts from
present burdens and simplify the method |
# identifying those entitled TO entry IN |