The herald., 1893-06-13


country law solemnly enacted by con
gress, signed by the president, and con
firmed by the supreme court OF tn
United States, has been permitted TO re
main q dead letter. The Chinese 81,
companies have shown that they are NOR
powerful thsn the lawful authorities G
the United States.
We do not enjoy the role OF CaBsandra
but we cannot forbear telling what will
surely happen II this express law O.
congress is not enforced. 1t will hav'
been the first time In the history Of thu
United States that one OF its laws duly
enacted and conforming to the constitu.
ton by the decision of our highest cour
OF last resort has not been enforced. L
thiH law has no validity what law has
If lot Of heathens can bid defiance tC
the laws OF the land, why may not the
Caucasian element do likewise? Let us
even assume, for the sake OF argument,
that the Geary act is an obnoxious law,
and that it ought to be repealed. Yet
1t WAS General Grant who said that the
right way to bring about the repeal OF a
bad law 10 to enforce 1t. At the same
time there was nothing mealy-mouthed
about Grant. Hewas always ready to 20
pretty nearly as far as Lord Strafford,
the thorough" OF the First Charles, of
England.
II this Geary law is not enforced there
will be trouble. There is no occasion
for mincing our words, as we desire to
avoid a great catastrophe instead OF in
citing it. III the authorities neglect their
duty in the premises there will' be
bloodshed. And, what Is more, the
whole labor element OF the country will
be enlisted on the anti-Mongolian side,
with countless hundreds OF thousands of
people who do not believe in peonizing
the labor of the United States. We
think we know exactly what we are
writing about. We deprecate it, but
cannot change the inevitable. The guilt
will rest on the heads of those who fail
to enforce the law. Congress can do
much to simplify the situation and avert
peril. 1t will probably tell the execu-
tive authorities to do their duty, and
see that they do it, or repeal the law.
OF the lattsr there is just one chance in
ninety millions.
AS to the silver question, another
grave duty will devolve on congress.
The goldbug conspiracy has taken on
ovsrshsdowing proportions. 1t is as
sumed that the wishes of Wall street
will absolutely dominate the whole
matter, and that silver will be offered
up as an innocent victim OF capi-
talistic greed. We beg to express
grave doubts of this outcome of
this long mooted controversy. The en-
tire decentralization OF silver as a cur
rency means the beggary of nine out OF
ten Of the enterprising citizens of the
world, and the confiscation OF their en-.
tire substance to form part of the usu-
fruct of the bondholders, coupon clip.
pers and people of fixed income. The
crusade against silver is being pursued
with remoresless malignity, notwith.
etanding the fact that there were at the
latest report only three hundred thou
sand ounces OF silver bullion in the New
York markcG ass against elk million
ounces at the same time laet year. Sill
yer mining has been already nearly
throttled by these cormorants. The
howl about superabundance of silver
is lie--part of the artificial olamor that
hae been maturing for months. Whether
an American congress will lend itself to
the work Of discrediting silver remains
TO be seen. OF course every Democrat
appreciates the sterling honesty OF Mr..
Cievelsnd's attitude on the silver ques-
tion. lie quite naturally shares the
ideas of the section from which he halls.
His opinions will be treated with pro-
found respect, but it by no means fol-
lows that they will be overruling.
The special session of the fifty-third
congress will also have the tariff to deal
with. Fortunately on this momentous
issue there are now no differences of
opinion amongst Democrats. From
president down to the humblest citizen
they are all in favor of the repeal Of the
Mckinley bill and its replacement by a
moderate and we'll considered measure,
which will involve material reductions
in customs duties, with, as its guiding
inspiration, free raw material and heavy
imposts on luxuries. These are key
notes that will strike the popular favor
between wind and water.