The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-22
THE GEARY LAW.

Editor of The Call: SIR-Self-preservation
Is the first law Of nature. and If the Geary law
be amenable to the criticism sex post facto,"
SO are most OF the controlling or restrictive acts
for preservation OF national or individual life.
The striking out TO swim ii one falls overheard
Is act sex post facto," and so in fact are all
the restrictive acts passed by Congress in re-
gard to immigration of Chinese Iaborers. born
of experience and necessary TO avert greater
evils, even If at variance with the most
favored nation" clause usual in International
treaties.
So far as California is concerned, the nrst
Chinese were made welcome to our shores, ana
1t was not until after twenty-five years expert
ence OF their coming and going that their entire
and determined non-assmilation with Amerl-
can ideas, their contempt for our laws, their
contempt for the moral suasion element In our
administration OF law. their contempt 1or the
principle which with us prevents the arrest
ana condemnation of the father or molhsr,
brothers and sisters, the cousins or Inc auntS Oh
a fugitive criminal; not until the continued
and persistent attempts OF the Chinese popuia-
ton TO evade rather than OBEY munlcipai
statutes OF our cities and towns, was forced
upon us; not until II was seen that hordes OF
ablebodlrd Chinese men were taking the wage
money from our labOring women, COOKS walt
resses, even chambermaids, laundry and sew
ing -machine women; not until II was seen that
they were able to underbid all classes OF labor,
able TO earn and much more able to accumulate,
having no families to support and from that
inbred economy OF living born OF the haDd-to-
hand struggle for life III overpopulous China,
and that all OF their accumUlatlons were sent
out of the country; not until it was thus fully
realized that they were with US, but not OF US
that as aliens they came and as aliens intended
TO remain ack nowedging par amOunt RESPONSE
bility first to the Chinese Six Companies, the
Chiuese Consul and the Emperor of China,
rather than to any American authority-it was
not until all these elements of discOrd were
recognized that California found herself con-
fronted with labor and class antagonism and
emergency and then urged upon Congress and
the county the necessity OF restricting Chinese
immigration, for California bears the burden OF
that immigration, while the East sentimental
ICES upon IT,
The "Cninese Six Companies" in our midst
claim to be benevolent association. But
their benevolences seem extended rather to
shielding Chinese criminals or criminal eva
sons by their countrymen of municipal and
national laws in America, laws which Ameri-
cans respect and obey, or are forced 10 sub
NIT 10.
people wishes i'll 10 the well-meanng Chinese
here. They are recognized rightfully
under the protection OF our Government and
no loyal man wishes TO withhold that protee-
ton.
1t is the Chinese who are here as contra
bands and who insist upon coming into the
country In defiance OF lawful ell erts to prevent
them: the Chinese and their aders and abet-
tors, whether The Six Companies or others-whO
make special border patro-a pa roit o inter-
cept Chinese contraband necessary al large
annual expense TO the United States-these
are they who are solely responsible for the
passage of the Geary law.
No other nationality wishing TO immigrate,
except, perhaps, the Japanese, has such ready
and cheap access by direct ocean routes to our
borders. and no other nationality has the teem-
Ing population of the Chinese Empire, ready to
overflow upon us In such overwhelming num-
bers, with California as their dunn ling ground.
NC other nationality holds the right OF resi-
dShce among us and is yet 20 conservative and
clannish as TO their imperial allegiance-trst,
last, all the lime and for eternity besides.
America is not good enough to hold their dead.
opened and their bodies must ultimately be
laid TO rest n the Chinese Empire.
Not one In a thousand OF Americans or Euro
peans in our country has any understanding Of
the Language, verbal or written. To ordinary
Americans and Europeans the Identification OF
Chinese laborel would be as difficult as lndi-
vidual identity In flock of sheep. Their color
varies little their eyes and hair are invariably
black and their habiliments-I speak of the
Chinese laborers are IDENTICAL from the
plated queue to their thick, paper sOled SAN
dals. Thus The personal certifi cate was abso-
luIely necessary 10 keep out coDtrabands.
Under the conditions the registration certif-
cafe required by the Geary act involved no
Intended affrOnt TO the Chinese no expense to
be incurred. except by the United States.
years time was given the Chinese to inform
themselves and take the proper steps 10 insure
the orders OF the Six Companie. our Chinese
residents employed that year in collecting and
paying per capita assessmS mt and retaining
lawyers TO aid them in evading and defeating
the spirit and intent of just act of Congress-
AN OLD CALIFORNIAN,