The Shasta courier., 1859-11-12
SHASTA COURIER.
Oh, Ho!

we could not tbut thus exclaim, mentally, while
perusing the annexed article from the Golden
Era. We confess that we are glad that a por-
ZION of the working men of San Francisco have
been brought to feel the justice of the complaints
against the presence of Chinese in the mines,
which for years have emanated from the toll
worn and ill-requited MINER Heretofore the
working men of San Francisco paid no attention
to the loud compainings of their brothers tn the
mines. On the contrary they Joined in with
6ip-owners, steamboat men, and dealers in rice
oarse boots, in sending to the Legislature
men who would particularly represent what they
were pleased to term the mercantile interests,
and who especially took delight in defeating all
legislation intended to discourage the further
coming of Chinese to this State. They are now
beginning to experience the natural results of
their own blindness and stupidity We are glad
of it. We trust every working-man in what are
called the mercantile communities will be made
to feel to the uttermost the bitterness of this
great curse under which our miners have so long
suffered.
1t is folly for the working men of San Francis
co to talk about preventing the Chinese now
resident in California, from competing with all
kinds of labor. They are here, and under our
laws may engage in any lawful employment
The only remedy is in such legislation as will
effectuaily prevent others from coming and en-
courage the greater number OF those now here
IN rot hama
what the COurier has been contending for since
1858, and for which we have been held up, time
and time again, as an enemy of the true interests
of the State. Believing, however, that the pre-
sence in midst in great and greatly in
creasing numbers, of an inferior class of people,
who, like negro slaves can never rise to the dig
nifty of citizens, is curse whose baneful effects.
direful as they now are, will only be fully real
lied by the next generation, we shall continue,
as heretofore, to give our voice in favor of such
laws as will tend, in a humane manner, to re-
lieve our glorious young State of the blightng
presence of Chinese serfs and Chinese serfdom
"We are in receipt of circular, addressed
4" To the People of California, and headed, " Re
monstrance Against Chinese" 1t emauates from
the Cigar manufacturers of this city, and its OBJ
Ject seems to be- not only to protect the calling
of the petitioners against ruinous competition
| from Chinese labor, but to arouse the working
class es generally to the danger threatening them
! from the hordes of Celestials in California, who
are being forced by their leaders into every pur-
suit adapted to their SKILL and are steadily re-
ducing the rates of compensation to standard
at which it is impossible for American labor to
honorably subsist We have long foreseen this
evil. The Chinese possess patience, industry,
some ingenuity. and the faculty of imitation to
a remarkable degree. They are less rapid than
our own mechanics, but they soon master the
improvements which render the Caucasian their
superior, and become his equal. That they will
gradually work their way into every pursuit, if
permitted, no one can doubt. What effect will
competition from such source have upon
American industry in California? Is it the duty
of our artizans to quietly submit to rivalry and
ruin from such quarter? Should they not be
protected by Legislative enactment against so
crushing an evil? These questions are undoubt-
edly troublesome, but they must be ansWered-
They cannot longer be shirked. The circular
proposes no remedy for the evil complained of,
nor shall we attempt 10 suggest one to- day. 1t
is the first step, We are led to believe, OF a con-
certed movement of the working classes, either
to drive the Celestias from the State, or prevent
them from entering into direct competition with
white labor.