Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-05-17
aEARY LAW UPHELD.
The Supreme Court Declares the Law
to be Constitutional.

of Governmental rights or mter-Na-
tiopal policy, during the past decade
is that just handed down by Justice,
Gray of the Supreme court Of the
United States, in which the constitu-
tionality of the Geory Chinese Exclu-
sion act is affirmed by a majority of
the members of that distinguished
judicial body. To what extent the
heroic measures provided for in this
act, which, by virtue of the decision
just rendered, becomes practically the
law Of the land, cannot as yet be de-
termined Certain it is, however,
that strict enforcement of its pro-
visions will be followed by serious
International Complications. BY its
express terms, this law, shorn of all
legal yerbiage, requires each and ev-
cry Chinese resident of this country
to either register or be deported.
This, the Chinese residents have, save
in isolated instances, refused to do
Hence, the question naturally arises,
are we to carry into effect a strict en-
forcement Of the provisions Of the
law by the wholesale deportation Of
refractory mongclians? Ifso, by what
means can this gigantic undertaking
be accomplished?
Congress, when it passed the act,
appropriated 100000 to make il ef-
fective. 1t is said at the treasury de-
partment. that about half OF this has
been consumed in the payment Of sal
aries of officers who were required to
look after Chinese registration, detec-
tives and the like. 1t will cost mil
lions to deport the Chinese, as the
steamship companies can and will
make their own rates. With the
treasury in an embarrassed condition,
and likely to remain so long time, 1t
is hardly probable that the next con-
gress will appropriate the enormous
amount required to get these people
back to their native land. This is the
general opinion here. There are very
few congressman in Washington, and
those who are here do not seem dis
posed to talk in very loud manner
about the matter.
There is another branch Of the case
which is interesting, and that is as to
the course OF China toward the Amer
leans who are in that country. The
general view INDUCED in is that China
will order every American to pack
bag and baggage and leave the celes-
tial empire. This appears to be reas-
enable, the Chinese government has
so far shown the broadcast generosity
in the matter, and has given this
government to understand that, what
ever may be its course, that govern
ment has no idea of retaliatory meas
ures.
The church people are considerably
alarmed, however, lest the American
missionaries may be driven from
China If they are not subjected to
persecution. They believe that the
Chinese fanatics who have shown a
disposition to drive out the mission
aries by fire, and even the sword, will
seize the present occasion to influence
the Chinese masses against them.
These are all weighty and important
questions commanding, as they have
doubtless received the careful atten-
tion of all who study or pass upon
them. In this decision of the court.
which gave legality and vitality to
the Legislative enactment, as handed
down by himself, Judge Gray in brief
ly summing up the vital points Of the
case upon which the courts opinion
was based, said: "The power Of
this nation to restrict or prohibit the
immigration Of any aliens into this
country or to require others already
here to remove therefrom was a we'll
settled principle Of international law
and was confirmed by an unbroken
line Of decisions in this court.
Congress had not transcribed any
Of it's constitutional limitations in the
act under consideration, 1t being with
in its power to determine the regula-
tions under which these aliens should
be permitted to remain here"
The mode Of procedure for register
ing Cinnamon Is similar to require
ments of citizenship and naturaliza-
tion. AS to the requirement that
Cinnamon entitled to remain should
establish that right by white witness,
Justice Gray said the lawmaking pow
er had a right to determine the char
acter of the evidence to be presented.
Justice Brewer in dissenting said