THE DAILY PROVINCE
JUNE 23, 1914

THE PROVINCE

p.6

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1914

WITHIN THE LAW.
-------------------

There is to be a meeting tonight in the Dominion Hall to protest against
the possibility of the Hindus on the Komagata Maru being allowed to land in
Vancouver. This is a mass-meeting and the protest to the authorities would
naturally be unanimous. Whether it is wise to hold the meeting or not is
another matter. Meetings are not always the best method of handling
extremely delicate matters which are already before the courts. The oratory
at meetings is not always strictly accurate and the points which receive the
most applause are those which stir the blood.
The Province has consistently reiterated that Canada does not desire the
immigration of the Hindus. There is no misunderstanding the position. But
there is no need to exaggerate. The citizens of Vancouver are responsible
people who recognize that the admission or non-admission of the Hindus on
the Komagata Maru is a matter for the courts. Long ago it was announced this
was to be made a test case and if the law was defective it should have been
amended then and this trouble prevented. If the law is not defective then the
Hinds can not(Sic) be admitted, but under all circumstances the people of
Vancouver will, it is hoped, act within the law. At the very worst if the Hindus
are admitted there is no work for them to do and their countrymen will have
to keep them from starving. Four hundred people more or less can not(Sic)
make such a terrific difference and they certainly do not warrant any talk of
bloodshed or rioting. That is not the way Canadians behave. They uphold the
law before all things and if the law is defective they amend it and make it
effective.

THE DAILY PROVINCE
JUNE 23, 1914

p.6

There are rumors that another shipload of Hindus is coming. There was
a ship chartered at Calcutta which was stopped by Lord Hardinge. Before
taking for granted that this ship is now on its way further news should be
awaited. But in any case whether the ship is coming or not it is the law of the
land which we beg the people of this city to uphold and not allow themselves
to be carried away by prejudice. They live by and under the protection of
these laws and must not allow themselves to be first to despise and break
them when they do not suit them. No one desires to see these Hindus landed
as we have said, but if the law is defective then it is the law which must be
amended and not broken in order to keep them out.