The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-31
American Fairness.

A few days ago a Chinese tea merchant
named WoNG Long. who keeps a shop on
Doyers-st. in New York City, told his Chi
nese friends that be did not believe the
Geary law would be enforced. and for his
reason said 1T is against the fairness Of
the American people" Under some cir
cumstances such statement might make
Americans feel proud, but just now 1t is
better calculated to bring blush to their
cheeks. What has American fairness to
do with it? American fairness did not
prevent the passage and enforcement OF
the Scott law. and even the champions of
the Gesrv law admitted that it had done
a great injustice to a large number OF
Cinnamon. American fairness did not
prevent the passage of the Geary law.
American fairness did not prevent the
supreme court from holding it constitu-
tional. How could American fairness
prevent its enforcement even if IL
so desired? This is one of the cases in
which the theoretical justice and largeness
OF mind of the American people crate
hsrshly against the ugly facts of their in
justice and narrow mindedness. 1t is
simply astonishing how they can calmly
rise superior to all considerations of JUS
tice aud humanity when they take the
notion.
The objections made to this bill, both in
congress and out oft, were not and are
not based on friendship for the Chinese
or any desire to encourage their immigra-
ton to this country. Neither did those
who favored the bill in congress assert
that they had any desire to send out of the
country those who were lawfully here.
They simply proposed to subject
those who were here to
kind of treatment not given to any
other human beings in this country
for the purpose of avoiding the fraudu-
lent importation of others. 1t was a
proposition 10 do an unjustifiable thing to
secure what was considered desirable
result, and some congressman, like Sena-
tor PALMER of Illinois, had the courage to
stand up and protest against any such
breach of our established principles as
making an arrested person prove that he
is innocent, excluding testimony except
that of white persons" subjecting a man
to i'm prisonment for year and Danish
ment for life if he is found without"
certificate that he is a lawful resident OF
the country. And what is more, this
registration was to be done within one
year from the passage of ths law, and the
law is not vet published and circulated
its constitutionality was not passed upon
until after the year had expired. Now.
under the law, those Cinnamon who came
here under the treaty stipulations must
be sent out of the country because they
did not register"
Why did they not register? On account
OF undue faith in American fairness"
Their lawyers told them that the law
would certainly be held unconstitutional,
and they believed it. If this result had
been anticipated the law might not have
been enacted. Senator DoLPH, who cham
pioned the measure in the senate, said: II
do not believe at the end of year there
will be any Chinese laborers in the United
States found without a certificate" He
was mistaken. lie did not realize how
much faith the simple ceesnals would
have in American fairness. There is
nothing to be gained by indulging in vain
delusions now. If there is any feasible
way of stopping the action of the law it
has not yet been made public. The evil
appears to be accomplished.