The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-20
CAN THE GrARy LAW BE EXECUTED?

II IL one thing TO pass law for de-
porting the Chinese from the country
| and for that law 20 be declared consu-
tutional ana 1t is quite another for 1t to
! be executed. There are many and great
obstacles in the way Of the Geary law
which will go far towards preventing 1t
/ from being carried out.
/ There are 1O7. 40 Chinese I'm the United
! States. according to the last census re-
turns IT is estimated that 1t will cost
s75 a head to send them back TO China,
( and that would mean an expenditure by
! Congress- Of 1888. G25-an enormous sum to
take out OF the Treasury at any time for
any object not absolutely demanded by
the Government. but especially at this
time. when the finances OF the country
/ are in such a precarious condition. Ihe
necessary appropriation Of that amount
/ OF money will be sufficient 10 delay the
execution OF the law for some time to
come, as it cannot be voted until Con
gress meets.
There is also another question TO be
considered. and which may cause a de-
cided revulsion of sentiment regarding
this Chinese deportation business before
the meeting Of Congress and before the
Treasury will be IN condition 20 spare
the above mentioned sum Of money. Ihat
IS the almost certain retaliation in kind
on The part Of the Chinese Government.
That the Celestial Emperor will retaliate
hardly admits Of doubt, and this VIII
mean severe hardship 20 great many
American citizens. a large colony OF
whom are now I'm China engaged in bust
ness. while most. If not all, Of them have
their interests there 50 deeply rooted that
Il will mean ruin TO them 10 have to sud
denly pull up stakes and leave. Besides
This all our missionaries will have 10
come home. diplomatic intercourse VIII
cease. and China, with which the United
states for one-haif a century sought com
mercial intercourse. will be an unknown
land so far as this country is concerned.
Now the great question 10 be considered
g. VIII il pay the country TO deport the
Chinese at the immense cost which VIII
result on account of that deportation?
After ALL the Geary act was only passed
in response to a sectional and selfish
demand from a very small portion of the
country Some Of the Western States
want the Chinese TO go, only because
they work more cheaply than other Tor
eigners located in that part of the Union.
But that these States are only governed
bv selfish motives. and care nothing about
any other section of country, is shown
bv the fact that they all voted to give
the franchise 10 the Southern negroes
despite the protests of the Southern peo-
pie for the purpose Of humiiating ana
degrading the South as far as possible.
This they did, and. though the enfran-
chised negro is far greater evil than the
disfranchised and harmless Chinaman,
they fastened the first upon the country,
and now ask the country to go 10 vast
expense and involve itself in serious COM
plcations so that they may be relieved Of
the latter.
1t will be perfectly right for the Gov
eminent Of the United States to pass laws
preventing the country from being over
run by hordes Of the lower classes Of
Chinese, just as it should pass laws to
keep cut the scum of European and other
countries, but it will not pay to spend
millions of the public money and ruin
thousands Of American citizens, and, at
the same time, violate the foundation
principles Of the Republic, to send home
only about 10000 Chinese out OF the Co.,
100000 population of the United States.
merely to please a few Western States
The President and Secretary Of State
have decided TO do nothing Intn Con-
gress meets and gives them the money
to carry out this law. As several months
will elapse before that can be done, it is
probable that better feeling may prevail,
and the Geary law will be modified at
least to the extent Of giving the Chinese
more time in which to register. The
present law will cost the Government
far more than ever will be derived from
its execution