The record-union., 1892-07-15

a
broker-also to Chinese lawyer who is
a graduate of American colleges, who for
coin plans lawlessness, and who is close
to the Chinese Vice-Consul. The dis
guised importers also came into consulta-
ton with Customs Inspector who
seemed to be approachable. For a given
sum OF money paid to the lawyer, they
procured false certificate to be made
permitting a Chinaman to land-who was
a supposititious individual, of course.
They also secured by bribery and cor
ruption the Endorsement and approval Of
the certificate as required by law.
The supposed importers then managed
to have the chief parties to the corrupt
deal-which, it appears, is a common
method-meet in a room in the Occi-
dental Hotel, where the whole story was
rehearsed over and over again, and where
the blood money was duly paid. But
near by were witnesses and officers who
heard the whole thing, while copies of
the false certificate and of the instruc-
tons to the supposed immigrant how to
lie to the customs or ship officials, and
other matters in writing, were procured.
This expose puts it beyond all ques-
ton that Chinese and whites, and some
Of the latter subordinate customs Off
Gals, have long been engaged in defeat
ing the Restriction Act by perjury, false
personation, forgery and other means.
1t lays bare a home underground route
by which Chinese steal in whom the law
forbids to come.
The questions of the wisdom Or the
Righteousness of the Restriction Act are
not involved; whether or not the China
man is desirable in our midst is not q
matter of concern in the premises. On
these points the position of the RECORD
UNION is well known. and its years of
protest against the introduction of nom
assimilable elements is matter of
history. But here is proof positive (un-
less we are to believe our contemporary
to have lied throughout, and to have
printed a fiction) of cool defiance OF law
OF the Nation, of shameless venality,
Of official corruption, and of regular
brokerage in lawlessness that demand
the immediate attention of the Federal
authorities, and ought to result in the
!. - Il, 4 ~
breaking up of their nefarious business.
The Restriction Act is a law of the Ma
ton; Customs officials in subordinate
positions are sworn to obey and enforce
it; the peoples hope that the laws viii
be made effective must be reposed in the
officers who are made the guardians of
the legislatively expressed will of the
people. When these consort with crimi-
nails plotting to cheat the law and bar
safeguards Of the peoples government in
that direction are shaken, and the un-
healthy belief is stimulated that it is i'm
possible to enforce the laws whenever
corruptionists choose to put them aside
1t would seem that the corruption laid
bare by the exposure referred to has one
of its roots in the Office of the Chinese
Vice-Consul of the Chinese Empire,
located at San Francisco. If this be es-
tablished, the Vice Consul should be, by
demand of our Government, displaced.
The whole affair is one reeking with rot
tenness and plated with brazen contempt
for the laws of the United States. If the
lead touched by our San Francisco con-
temporary is now well worked by order
Of the Washington authorities, it ought
to result in cleaning out the corrupt cor
ners and breaking up the brokerage in
lawlessness, and in such official energy
and vigor as will command something
more of respect for the laws of the land,
especially from aliens tolerated on the
soil