The herald., 1893-06-05
THE AUTHORITIES AND THE CHINESE.

The people OF the United States are
confronted just now with very peculiar
development, and we ask no excuse for
speaking OF the matter freely and fear
lessly. Congress, in the exercise OF its
sovereign power as one OF the free and
independent nations of the earth, chose
to pass the Geary bill. That measure
received the signature Of the president
and thereby became law. An attempt
was made to carry out its provisions
which brought the matter into the
courts, on averments questioning its
constitutonality. The United States
District Court for the Southern District
of New York declared the law conetitu.
tional. The question finally reached
the Supreme Court of the United States,
which auguet body, by the voice Ct JUS
tice Gray, again declared tho law con-
stitutional. The significance of this de.
cieion is much enhanced when the fact
is borne In mind that Judge Gray ie the
last man who would have been expected
to make it, ss he belongs to the dllettante
order OF juriste.
Thus the Geary act has received every
endorsement and every mark of validity
ever accorded TO any law in the United
States. That being the case, why is it
not enforced2
Those who argue for delay say that
congress, while providing for the do.
portation OF the Chinese in certain con-
tingencies, failed to provide any fund
Tor their deportation. Per contra, it is
understood that there is a limited fund
| which could be applied for THAT purpose.
II this be true, it ought TO be drawn
upon until it is exhausted. There should
be no evasion OF the law, and no trifling
with the masses IN re The People of
the United States versus The Mongol.
Here was a law made with precaution,
every word of whose tenor is strictly
within the law of nations, in those chap
ters of international law that define the
scope of the rights Of sovereign power,
and an alien element within our midst
deliberately undertakes to defy it. The
allegation that there is anything harsh
or oppressive in the Gesry law is all
bosh. There is nothing in it that is
whit more inquisitoria or vexatious than
chsracterizes the passports exacted by
most of the governments Of the world.
The exaction OF q photograph was simply
an easy method of Identification. II it
is worth while to stay in country, q
little formula like that would hold no
body back. Photography had not been
invented when the European system Of
passports was adopted, or that easy de-
vice for establishing identity would no
doubt have been preferred to the pres
ent clumsy method of personal descrip.
tion. There was no hardship in resort,
ing to such an ohvioualy better method.
But it 80 happens that the photo
graphic feature of the Geary law cut no
figure in the issue. Vevy early on his
accession to office Secretary Carlisle
took occasion TO Glide the Photographic
feature of the Aary act. He directed
that provision f5sbe ignored altogether
Thus the whole question turned Oh
whether a great government like tbs
United States would allow miserable
{ horde of Chinese to defy its laws, anC
' those simply of registration.
We are not now discussing the ques
! tion of whether it 10 good or q baC
9 thing for the people OF the United
+ States for the Chinese to remar
: within our borders. The HERALD'l
t views on that matter are prett,
9 well understood. The question-th,
q only question-is whether we hav,
4 government or not, and whether ou
t laws are made to be enforced or to b.
= laughed at. For all present purposes
= that is the question that confronts tn
9 people of the United States today. Ha
s anybody the right to arrest the opera
g tion of q law OF Congress? OF course W
It know the supreme court of the Unite
p States has, but it has affirmed tn
( validity of the law.
g II it be true, as has been so often an
1t ostentstiously announced, thst congres
Ia has made no pecuniary provision for th
1t enforcement of the act OF deportation
s why then that is ell the more reaso
rs why there should be an early speci,
aession of congress.
8 The Democratic party owes the peop
ct OF the United States two things, prim,
N rily. They are:
a a. The instant repeal OF the con
r meroe throttling and business stagna
g ing Mckinley bill.
rt (2.) The providing OF sufficient SUI
Il. of money tn asDort tn China ave,
a. mothers son OF Mongol who has dare
le o defy the authority of the Unite
in States in the matter of registration,
le who is in the United States in defan,