The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-05-26
The Case OF The Chinese,

The Geary law, SO called from Con-
gresham GEARy. Of California. a
Democrat. VIII" championeh It, wa, en-.
acted ost-nsItly to prevcm fur her
importation Of chinese contact l.bor-
ers.
AS a means to this end, and in view
OF the ease with which Cinnamon are
smuggIed into the country, the law
provided that all who were in the coun-
try before the law was enacted must
become registered before the sth of
May, 1893. Each CHR aman who regis
tered was required to, have his own
declaration supported by that of a
Caucasian witness to the effect that he
knew the Gilman IN to have leen in
the country before the passage of the
law. 1t was also required that each
Chlnaman registered should be photo
graphed as a means of identification.
Any Chlnaman not so registered is to
be assumed to be a contract labrorer
brought into the country since the en-
| actment of the law and must be sent
back TO China, but.may be Imprisoned
at hard labor lol one year previous to
deportation.
1t was contended that these hard and
peculiar conditions, which are applied
to no other class Of aliens, were uncon.
stltutlonal, and further that they were
IN violation of treaty stipulations with
China by which citizens of that coun.
try were to have in this country the
same rights as other foreigners, and,
reclprocally, American citizens in
China were not to be subjected to
hostll discrimination not applied to
other foreigners.
The Supreme Court has decided
that the Geary law does not transcend
the constitutional power Of Congress
IN the premises. The Justices who join
in this decision say nothing of the
merits of the law. Probably on this
point they do not disagree with the
dissenting Justices. The constitutional
point is settled, but that the act is
nevertheless an infraction of the treaty
| between the two nations is clear. 1t
was meant to be this by its advocates.
The privileges existing under the
treaty were the very things the law was
intended to nulify.
The practical questions now relate TO
what will happen. First, as regards the
| Chinese in this country, less than 5000
of the more than 100000 have com
piled with the law. Manifestly the law
cannot be enforced Immediately upon
| all the delinquents TO attempt to do
it would monopolize the time of the
courts and Of the Treasury Depart
ment for an indefinite period. Convic-
tions would fill the prisons of many
States and it would be long time be-
fore all could be returned to China.
The expense of thse proceedings would
be enormous, while the amount in the
Treasury available for the purpose is
only about $4,000. The danger is
that the hoodlums in some States will
take privilege of the virtually outlawed
status of this people to wreak upon
them terrible persecution degrading
the good name of the nation and
scandalous to humanity.
In the next place, the abrogation of
the treaty with China thus summary
and Extensively effected releases China
from. any obligations established by it
in respect to Americans resident there,
what ever their business or their con-
dition. The Government of China has
been scrupulously careful heretofore to
abide by the treaty, and more ef-
fectually than our Government has re-
strained and repressed popular preju-
dices against foreigners as violent as
any existing here. The forbearance Of
| Chinese Government in the face of
provocation has exemplary. But we
have been fully warned that it could
not be expected to survive the enforce
ment of the Geary law. Those who are
best informed, whether living here or
there, expect no further favor to-
wards Americans. Our missionary stat
ions will be broken up and abandoned
and our business enterprises driven
out
We shall have no right to complain
if these things happened. 1t will be
simply an apple alton to US of our own
rule of conduct World.
L III ~ IL