The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1893-05-16
MAY Is, 1898
TUESDAY,
THE GEARY ACT.

The decision of the supreme court of
Ehe United States on the tested consti-
Eutionality of the Geary act puts Grover
Cleveland in rather sorry attitude
and, to that extent, makes Governor
Pennoyer's admonition that the presi-
dent should ''attend to his business
forceful and sensible. That the mere
motion of an attorney for the Chinese
should have the effect of postponing the
execution of the act is simply another
Instance of ''the laws delay" but has
no real bearing in the case.
The court has passed upon the only
question which could properly come be-
fore it, and declared the act constitu-
f1onal. With the sentimental side of
the matter, or the threatened Chinese
retaliation we have nothing further to
do.
It may be a hardship imposed on the
Coolie to cut off his splendid pasturage
In the field of American labor. Doubt
Less many of them will go back to China
sEs poor as they came thence, and their
comfortable competence of four or five
hundred dollars to solace their old age
be denied them. But what is their loss
wiIl be our gain.
It is a singular thing that the two
prominent democrats on the supreme
bench, Chief Justice Fuller, and Justice
Field of California should be the only
strenuous opponents of the purely dem
ocratic measure, fathered by Democrat
Iom Geary and emphatically endorsed
10y democratic house of representatives
which had a two-thirds majority of his
fellow disciples. 1t is noticeable, how
ever, that their objections were purely
sentimental and had no weight with the
majority of the bench.
What is Cleveland going to do about
It2 He already stands arraigned before
Che bar of public opinion for obstructing
the operation OF law, regularly enacted
and was endorsed by the court of last
resort, as far as the written law is con-
~Eerned. In that higher court where. the
Unwritten law is even more potent than
any legislative enactment, Mr.. Cleve-
land will be convicted of malfeasance in
office. Who but he should have known
that the Geary act was not in conflict
with the provisions of the constitution?
And, even if he doubted the validity of
the law, what excuse can he find for
saspending its operations? The fact
that the money appropriated by
Ehe Geary act is entirely insufficient to
carry out It's provisions as to deportation
e5f the Chinese laborer cannot have in
Guenced him. The great mass of the
democratic party is in sympathy with
-xlre anti-Coolie agitation, which pro-
Glivity Mr.. Cleveland and his secretary
Of the treasury seem to have ignored.
Ut is barely possible, as Dolph Hanna of
Tacoma says, that the enforcement OF
zzn act of congress has been interfered
with by counter action of the Chinese
legation at Washington. If such is the
case, an American may well take excep-
Gion, and rejoice in the decision of the
Supreme court; for, had the decision
been adverse the Chinese would have
Elad occasion to regard themselves as
nasters of the situation.
What will be the consequences? Time,
which sat last sets all things even" will
cell. In the meantime let US preserve
our souls in patience, and only keep in
xnind the fact that it is the duty of all
good citizens to obey the law of the
Eand and heartily cooperate in its en-
Eorcement
The supreme court of the United
States has allied itself with Governor
Pennoyer of Oregon in bidding Presi.
dent Cleveland ''attend to his business .