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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 1890)
VEST SHORE. 987 Russia has again demonstrated how far she is as a nation behind the spirit of the nineteenth century. In 1882 an edict was issued denying to Jews the right to own or lease land, to own mines, to enter the army or engage in any of the professions, practically mak ing them social outcasts and closing the door of in dustrial progress. The execution of the decree was suspended, but now, to satisfy the clamorings of igno rance, prejudice and medieval barbarism and intol erance, the czar has ordered the decree to be enforced. It is said the result will be that a million of theso persecuted people will leave Russia, the majority of whom will seek homes in the United States. Do we want them? Have we not already more European ignorance, degradation, immorality and un-American ideas than we can well manage ? That theso people are Jews is no ground of objection to them, for, as Americans, we have learned well the value of the He brew as a citizen, but that they, as a whole, represent a mass of humanity such as will materially affect the condition of the nation. Were these only to bo con sidered, even though there be a million of them, the case would not be so serious, but they have been pre ceded by even greater numbers of various nationali ties, the harmful effects of which have already mani fested themselves in a most alarming manner. It will take us years to assimilate the constituents of our nationality as they exist to-day. Self-preservation de mands that we be not a catch basin for the Bcourings of other nations. Good republican papers published in localities that would feel the effects of withdrawing from the Cana dian Pacific and Grand Trunk the special privileges enjoyed by them, protest against such action on the ground that freights would not bo so cheap as now. These low freights are secured by the competition of foreign roads with domestic roads. If it bo a good thing to secure cheap freights in this way, why not cheap goods? The railroad industry is the largest in the United States and is entitled to protection as much as woolen mills, rolling mills and cotton fac tories. Every argument that is brought forward to support the tariff, applies equally well to the question of granting foreign railroads privileges that render them competitors of our own roads in the transporta tion of our own products. Advocates and apostles of high tariff stultify themselves by insisting upon free foreign railroads on the ground of cheapness. If we are to have cheap freights at the expense of our rail roads, let us also have cheap goods at the expense of our other industries. In an excess of outraged virtue and moral indigna tion a Portland gentleman has caused tho arrest of two Chinese for conducting a lottery. Such action was scarcely looked for from the gontlcman in question, and an investigation of tho circumstance reveals the fact that he is a regular patron of Chinese lottery and a few days ago had a ticket supposed to draw a largo prize, but which, when presentod to tho Mongolian proprietors of tho gamo, simply drew an exclamation of " No sabbe I " Aroused to a high pitch of moral en thusiasm by such heathen ignoranco ho lodged com plaint against tho lottery dealers for illegal practices, and is entitled to the thanks of tho community. There is nothing specially noteworthy about this except tho fact that it explodes tho common notion that high moral ideas are not to bo looked for among tho habit ual patrons of Chinese lotteries. A few months ago President Barrillos, of Guate mala, sent delegates to tho Pan American congress whero tho principle of arbitration of American differ ences was discussed and adopted. Hardly had tho congress adjourned when President Barrillos violated the spirit of that resolution in the most flagrant man ner, and to further his porsonal ambition noodloHsly precipitated war between his country and San Salva dor. Poetic justice scorns certain to ovortako him. His army is suffering defeat, his capital is in immi nent danger of being capturod, treachery and rebellion confront him, and thero scorns a certainty that ho must lose his life or becomo an exilo from his nativo land. Tho lovers of pcaco can not paint this picturo in too vivid colors for the nations of America. The violent methods now being rcHorted to by tho union iron moulders of San Francisco must alionato from them the sympathy of the public, whoso gwd will and approbation they should ondcavor to retain. Disclaimers of responsibility for tho violenco of indi viduals can not bo mado with good grace by tho lead ers of tho union so long as they como to the aid and defenso of every man who gets himself into trouble because of lawless conduct. To " hato tho sin and love the sinner" is an attribute of tho Almighty only. Although it is rathor lato in tho season to begin a campaign, tho czar has given way to his angor and threatens dire things to Turkey. Behind tho Porto stands tho tripplo allianco and as tho czar knows that wrath comes easy and money comes hard and that it takes far moro money than wrath to carry on such a war as ho would havo on his hands if ho attacked Tur key or Bulgaria, ho will probably cool off. Tho editors of Oregon aro cordially Invited to call at tho West Siiohk office whon attending tho annual session and at all other times when in Portland.