The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-08-11
THE COOLIE QUESTION.

Gle in the way of any scheme that has
for its object the amelioration OF the
present condition of the Southern peo-
pie. The degradation and continued
of the South are essen
tally necessary for the continuance OF
Radical rule and negro Supremacy
We are not surprised, therefore, to lind
them endeavoring to trump up some
pretcxt for interfering with the immi-
grafton of Chinese laborers into tho
Southern States. They have hunted
through the unread volumes of the
Congressional Globe and have discov-
cred that there exists on the statute
book law of Congress against the
importation of Coolie labolers. 1t is
boldly given out that this law is to DE
rigidly enforced against Mr.. koop-
manschaf, and that, If necessary, a
still more stringent one is TO be passed
at the next session of Congress. The
Radicals have the niger i'll hand just
now, and they are determined that no
other colored "man or brother" shall
complicate the suffrage question until
they are better satisfied that he will
vote in accordance with Radical ideas.
The law in question was passed IN
1868, at a time when the Federal gov
ernmcnt was engaged in a Quixotic
enterprise for the amelioration of the
condition of everybody whose skin
happened to be of some ether color
than white. The Yankees at that time
ware just in. the frame of mind necessa-
nv tor the enactment of Tittlebat Tit
mouse's law for ''giving everybody
everything" Some pious old women
of the strong minded persuasion led
them to believe that, while they were
setting free the black men, just as cul-
pable a trade in human flesh had COM
menced between certain others OF the
Americans and the inhabitants of the
Asiatic coast. The horrors of the
"middle passage" were repeated on a
different race amid the still waters OF
the Pacific Ocean. Hence a law was
passed against the Coolie trade rs
stringent us that which has stood so
Hong against the African slave trade
But tire law has hitherto been dead
letter. Il has been proved that so far
from the Californians dealing in Cool
les, they have exerted every effort to
keep the Chinese out of California
Those Chinese, who have come to Cal
ifornia, so far from being forced into
: slavery, have emigrated of their own
} free will, enticed by the prospect OF
, obtaining plenty of work, at rates Of
, remuneration which appear astonishing
t to Chinese mind. So far from aim
r ing at voluntary immigration, the law
l of which we speak specially provides
8 that no intention exists to prevent any
r Chinaman from exercising his undoubt
: ed light to come voluntarily to thu
s United States or to any other countr.
l he pleases. In fact, a law whicl
b should attempt anything of the kline
l would be unconstitutional and of II,
effect whatever.
S We may expect the Radicals to cxer
$ else their ingenuity to exclude from TIL
South a class of laborers SO manifest,
adapted to the cultivation of Southern
staples. If they cannot do it by lax
:, they will attempt to do it outside q
= the law. But we hope that those VIII
!, have set to work in earnest in this mat
: ter will not be deferred from their III
dertaking by Radical threats. Th
great laws Of commerce are more pc
- tent than Radical legislation. Tl
= laws of supply and demand, in labor
in all things else, cannot be violated
y the South by laws of Congress howevt
:. stringent. They kept the Africa
slave trade in full yigor notwithstani
- ing the laws of all the nations of IL
= Earth. They will keep up Chimes
= immigration, if Chinese labor is neet
>. ed, in spite of the laws of Congress
F" of any other power whatever.
l. D.
n,- ~, Is TnITrUv Tho n