Year: 1879




bSlfties OF Cinnamon.


The California convention for framing n
new State constitution completed its task
after long session Of 157 days, and the
result of its labors is to be submitted to the
vote of the people on the 7th of May. This
proposed constitution is of little interest to
other States except in its provisions relat-
ing to Cinnamon. 1t is to be voted OH rs
whole, and tho part relating to the Chinese
SO caters to the local popular sentiment by
it's extreme hostility to that race that it will
probably be adopted, however strongly
citizens may disapprove of some Of its
other features. That tho anti-Chinese
provisions are q mere bid of demagogues
for the naturalized vote is proved by the
fact that the foremost OF those provisions are
futile in any other view.


By the proposed constitution natives Of
China are explicitly.denied the right of suf-
frage in California. This is nero appeal
to local prejudice; it is Of no more force
than piece of blank paper equal to that
on which the interdict is printed. Only
citizens are entitled to vote. and as
our laws do not permit Cinnamon
to be naturalized it is idle and
preposterous to erect any other barrier
against their admission to the elective
franchise, so long as our naturalization
laws remain unchanged. But IT our
naturalization laws should be SO amended
as to admit natives Of China to the rights Of
citizenship that part of tho new California
constitution, which is merely futile and SUI
perAuous at atpresent, would be annulled by
the superior authority of the federal gov
ernment. The fifteenth amendment of tho
federal constitution is in these words:-
sSTho right Of citizens of the United States
to vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States or by any State
on account of race, color or previous con-
dition of servitude." Whenever, therefore,
Congress shall extend the privilege Of
naturalization to Cinnamon they will be
entitled to vote in all the States on the
Same conditions as other citizens, any State
constitution to the contrary notwithstand-
ing


The new fundamental law of California





nese which may, perhaps, be more effec-
tual. 1t forbids tho employment of China
men on any State, county, municipal or
other public work, and also torbids
their employment by any corporation
created by State laws. Hence rail-
road company, or mining COM
pany, or q gas company incorporated by the
California Legislature would forfeit its
charter or incur other penalties by employ
ing Chinese laborers. So long rs Cinnamon
are excluded from citizenship we presume
this regulation can be enforced, but. wo
doubt if such discrimination could be
maintained after naturalization. The four
teenth amendment declares that ''All per-
sons born or naturalized in the United
States are citizens of tho United States and
Of the State wherein they reside. No
State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge tho privileges or
immunities Of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any State deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection Of the laws" The exclusion of
Cinnamon from employment on any public
work in California will have two effects.
First, it will add to the burden Of tho tax
payers by increasing the cost of all public
works from which cheap labor is excluded; /;
second, il will enlarge the opportunities of
employment for the Chinese by private in
dividuols, since they will take the vacant
places of those who are permitted to work
for tho public. The amount Of labor re-
quired on public works in any State is q
bagatelle in comparison with the whole
circle Of employments.


If the people of California were capable
Of viewing their own interests without pas
sion or prejudice they would perceive that
they have great advantage over the rest of
the country in the cheapness Of Chinese
labor. 1t favors a rapid development Of
the resources of their wonderful State. It
enables them to underscll in all markets
every exportable article which their soil,
climate and mineral wealth enable them to
| produce Tho idea that tho country is in
danger of being overrun by Cinnamon is
chimerical and ridiculous. The next census
is expected to show thnt wo have fifty
millions Of people, and of that number
less than half million will be Cinnamon.
Besides, the Cinnamon who como here do
not multiply. They bring no wives, they
rear no children; most OF them intend to
return to their native country. Are we to
abandon our established policy of free
welcome to oil immigrants in compliance
with the clamor of o few imported laborers
aud the demagogues and toadies who desire
TO secure their votes2