Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-30
The Presbyterians and the Chinese Ex-
clusiOn Law.

In the General Assembly of the Presby-
terrain Church (South) on Saturday last
the conclusion was reached after Discus
sion that it would not become that
body TO pass the resolution which Rev. q.
w. TRAwL. of New Orleans. had offered
several DAYS previously petitioning Con
eress 20 repeal or modify the Chnese-ex-
clusion act known as the GEARY law. The
General Assembly. therefore, forbore to
take action on the subject. We are glad
that The southern General Assembly has
thus manifested its respect for the powers
that be, and by ITS non-action conceded
that the learned lawyers who passed the
GEARY law knew what they were doing when
they spread 1t upon the Federal statute
book. We repeat that IN the Senate the
vote on tho law as it now stands was
yeas 80. nays Is. and in the House of
Representatives yeas 1856, nays n. OF
these 1856 affirmative votes Isl were cast by
Democrats.
But notwithstanding the action OF the
General Assembly OF his own Church, Rev.
j. A. BRysoN appeared in Washington city
last Saturday and figured largely in the
proceedings of the Northern General AS
sembly touching the GEARY law. We have
stated above how the vote stood in each
house of Congress on the passage of that
law, and the reader knows that the Su-
preme Court of the United States has de-
cided it to be n constitutional one; ana
yet the Northern General Assembly, ig-
noring these facts and setting itself up as
a body superior to Congress and the Su-
preme Court, declared the law TO have
been enacted "in contraycntiOn OF treaty
obligations" or. IN other words. reversed
the decision of the Supreme Court, so to
speak. The members of the assembly
must have voted without knowing what
they were voting for, or else they would
never have set themselves up as better
Judges of constitutional questions than the
justices Of the highest Federal court.
Treaties are the supreme law of the land.
. The Northern General Assembly also de-
clared the GEABY law to be IN violation OF
the traditions (whatever these are) and
fundamental principles OF our govern
ment and in disregard of the just rights of
the Chinese already in this country, as We.
"a reproach to our Christian civilization.
Our" Christian civilization Is the very
thing that demanded the enactment OF the
GEAaY law. These utterances or deliver
ances are not credltable 10 our northern
Presbyterion friends. The Congress OF the
United States-the most powerful nation
on the face OF the earth-is asked to repeal
n law on the ground that, in the opinion
of the Northern General Assembly, not IN
the opinion of Congress or the Supreme
Court. that law will offend the heather
Chinee" aud cause him TO drive all the
Americans ont OF his " fowerv realm"
Let US suppose that Congress should
make haste thus to abase itself; wha
would be the impression made upon the
minds of the Chinese at home? Why. thai
the United States would never dare t(
pass any law which the Chinese considered
Objectionable. American missionaries anc
American property-rights in that far-ot
country would thenceforth be treated will
the contempt with which we would thu
have invited them to DO treated by GU
unwlse and unfortunate attempt so t
shape our legislation as to please the mos
hopelessly heather people on the globe
Think of it. the American Congress re
ouested by an American church to repea
law of that Congress on the ground tina
if it is not repealed American missionarie
may be slain Was ever such reason
given before for such proposed action
Is China country with which we cal
afford to enter into treaties ?-when on
Constitution makes treaties the supreme
law OF the land anything in the Constitu
ton or laws of the United States or am
State to the contrary Notwithstanding
Shall we uncover IN the presence of sucl
barbarians, or speak with bated breatl
when we come to legislate upon subject
in which they are interested? No, -
any man attempts to haul down tn
American flag. shoot HIM on the spot.
Whispering humbleness" would not II
such q case become the authorities of tn
greatest of all the nations of the earth,