The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-19
THE CHINESE QUESTION


Viewed From a New standpoint-A Pos
sible Solution.
EDITORS HERALD: The press OF the
United States has been teeming with
articles discussing the Geary law and
the difficulties besetting its enforce
ment. The salient points of this Discus
sion are too we'll known to need recapit-
ulation. The whole trouble lies before
our people with its every detail brought
ont in strong relief by the light thrown
upon it by the ablest writers in the
land, all OF whom agree that the atti-
tude of the Chinese towards the Geary
law has forced upon this country stu
alton without precedent and utterly in
compatible with the dignity OF self
respecting nation. Congress may, and
probably will, convene at an early date
in session extraordinary and take this
question up, but our people will not sub
NIT to a humiliating toning down of the
law, and therefore our lawmakers will
not attempt to render it stingless
to please the Chinese and handful of
scared missionaries and their sympa-
thizers. Neither will they repeal it
since the supreme court of the United
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not in conflict with treaty obligations.
What congress undoubtedly will do, and
do it quickly, too, is to vote an appro-
priation to carry into effect it's strict en-
forcement regardless of consequences.
The Chinese are having their innings
now, and are no doubt enjoying our
present quandary and sore discontinue,
but their leaders, who are diplomats by
training and by nature gamblers, are be-
ginning to feel the ultimate outcome of
their gigantic game of bluff. They must
know that congress will not emasculate
the Geary law to please them, and still
less repeal it without first giving it
fair trial. The Sherman act and the
Mckinley bill are examples proving that
we do not pass laws one day and change
or repeal them the next. We are not
nation of tritiers and our Celestial friends
are very likely convinced of that fact.
The chances are that the Chinese gov
eminent and the Six Companies would
in the end condescend to do a little
graceful crawfshing if by 30 doing they
could avoid conflict with Uncle Sam
and save their pride an0 purses. 1t is
passing strange that as yet no one has
offered any suggestion tending to show
them an easy way how to get out of their
present cm de sac with flying colors and
pigtails unruffied.
The great mormon leaders did not
hesitate to organize and execute
wholesale exodus from Nauvoo TO save
their church and people when sorely
beset by trouble. But forbidding ma
ture and savage man had to be faced
and conquered to gain freedom, peace
and plenty. Who can tell the terrible
cost of it? But here, at our very doors,
Mexico, that great and generous sister,
stands ready to receive all corners OF
good report and asks no questions as to
their country, color or condition. She
needs means and men to develop her
boundless natural treasures and offers
cheap lands, friendly shelter, full pro-
lection of her very liberal laws and the
best of climates to all.
The very different conditions prevail
ing in the United States are bound to
impose upon our people policy which
cannot find acceptance in Mexico for
generations to come. The time has ar
rived in this country when the people
must control or be controlled by immi-
grafton. Not go in Mexico She has
lands and room for millions of colonists.
Her northern as swell as her southern
states are very spsrsely settled. Our
Chinese friends now living in this state
could go down to Osxaca, and one and
all of them settle in some district bor-
dering on the Pacific coast and their
presence would hardly be noticed. Under
no circumstances could they come in
competition with native labor, because
native labor in Western Oaxaca is ex-
ceedingly scarce, most unreliable and
absurdly cheap. An able-bodied Indian
earns not more than 371a cents (about %
cents American money! per day and