The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-08-18
Ex-Governor Seymour on Chinese Immigra'
ton.

ton.
The working masses of the North are just
now deeply interested in the probable influx OF
Chinese immigrants, and everywhere IN that
section the sub bject is being discussed. Recent
". mass meeting of workingmen was held at
Rochester. N. Y, when the following letter was
read from Ex.Gov. Horatio Seymour, in which
that distinguished statesman discusses the evils
which must attend an immense inundation OF
the Chinese upon this country. The letter is
addressed to the Secretary of the Association
inviting Gov. Seymour. to address the meeting
UTICA, August 8.
SIR: put off until this time my answer to
YOUR letter asking me to speak to meeting at
Rochester upon the subject of Chinese imnli-
grafton, as I hoped it would be in my power.tAo
do so. l am sorry that I cannot attend. All
agree that it is a grave subject. 1t is one that
must be met, and it must be met now. Strong
influences are at work to open the flood gates
and pour in upon US the worst classes of over
crowded China. They can get to our shores at
less cost, and in greater numbers than the ,peo-
pie of Europe. If they continue to crowd in,
they will overthrow the customs, civilization
and religion of the whole Pacific coast, and
they will also crush down the position of labor
ing classes throughout our country. l am
against this I am not willing they should
gain foothold here. No nation in Europe
would suffer such an invasion. If Britain,
Germany or France should allow anything of
the kind, their government would be over
thrown. Why should we give up our civiliza.
tion in any part of our country for that OF
Asia?
It is said we want cheap labor. We do not
want cheap labor, but well-paid labor. Inter
est, as we'll as justice and humanity, calls for
this If all who labor in this country took the
same wages and spent as little money as the
Chinese laborer, our government would be
bankrupt and business would shrinkup, Well
paid labor spends freely with the business man
and fills the national treasury by the lmposts
and duties it pays upon what it uses This IS
the whole source of our financial strength as
compared with other people: Iflaboris brought
down to the Chinese standard, there will at
once be a difference in the condition of classes
which will in the end overthrow our govern
ment We pay higher taxes and interest than
any other people, and, if the price of labor is
put down to Asiatic rates, capital will swallow
up the earnings of toll more rapidly than was
ever vet done in the history of nations. If this
is to be our future we have lost in vain nearly
a million of lives in the late civil war. 1t Is
not the objectof government to undersell others,
to pinch ourselves that we may pinch others.
The great end of craftsmanship is to give conf
fort and plenty to each home and to take care
that labor is we'll paid We should seek to
give happiness to each fireside, and not to I'LL
the Golfers of capitalists.
1t is said by some, if we shut out Chinese
immigration, We do so i'll the face OF all our
former professions. This is not SO. We invite
European immigration, because it adds to our
power and happiness. Europeans do not over
throw our customs, religion, or ciyillzatlon-
They do not bring here any strange blood. 1t
has always been our practice to shut out any
immigration that is hurtful. We send back to
Europe criminals or IPaupers:, by virtue OF State
and national laws. Every city and town guards
against incomers who endanger social order or
safety. We are in no way bound to take into
our public system any mischieyous elements, or
to destroy it by personal influences. If we
believe in our religious creeds; in the form and
principles of our government, then WV must
believe that Asiatic creeds and customs are
baleful To-day we are dividing the lands of
the native Indians into States, counties and
townships. We are driving off from their
property the game upon which they live, by
railroads. We tell them plainly they must
give up their homes and property and live upon
corners of their own territories, because they
are in the way of our civilization. If we can
do this, then we can keep away another form of
barbarism which has no right here.
I have no doubt the Chinese have useful
qualities. They are said to be good servants,
ready to do the work of men or women, but
they have not the traits which will build upon
this continent great and high toned power.
We must not judge of those who come here by
those who stay at home. We get only the dregs.
There is but one way of dealing with the mat
ter. The policy of exclusion must be as sharp
and as vigorous as that Of Massachusetts, OF
New York against the coming pauperism. 1t
must be borne in mind that, under the late
amendments to our national Constitution, you
can give them no qualified condition; you put
upon them no political restraint, made necessa-
ry by their peculiarities. They can grasp the
rights of voting and law-making despite all
State legislation. 1t is to be hoped that this
subject will be taken up and discussed in fair
and temperate way by all classes. We must
not let it drift and settle itself Unless we are
ready to give up the consequences of this new
danger to the public peace and home happiness
of our people, we must confront the problem at
the outset. Truly yours,
HoRATIo SEYMOUR.