The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-07-21
COolie Labor.


The recent introduction into a shoe
manufactory in the town of North Ad-
ans, in Massachusetts, of about seventy
five natives of China, called Coolies, who
were brought there from California for
the purpose of taking the place of other
workmen in the same establishment at re-
duced prices, has caused unusual excite
men; amongst the laboring class of people,
not only in that State, but throughout the
entire country. 1t is regarded by them
disastrously interfere with the labor wages
of the American mechanic. It is likely
the political economy of this country
We do not ourselves propose, at this time,
to discuss it, but will submit to our
readers the following extract on the sub
ject from a speech made by one of the
brightest intellects in this country, GEO.
ii. PENDLEToN, at bis home at Clifton,
near Cincinnati, on the 10th of last Sep
tember, in reply to call of his friends,
irrespective of party, who bad asked him
for an expression of his views on the va
rious topics of the day:
1 object to its adoption because it is part
and parcel of a scheme to food the country
with forced importation of an immense
Inor 0E g 4. j Al +
a second time to bring into our midst an
alien race and to repeat in more difficult
form the social and governmental questions
which have SO unhappily divided our pee
pie.
Their skilled laborers get three or four
dollars per month, and with this they seem
content. They work from daylight till sun
set and have but single holiday in the
year. Their food consists of rice, salt, few
vegetables and sometimes fish. The plan
proposed is to bring immense numbers of
these people here to supply the demand for
labor in the fields, and the factories anG the
shops. We in Ohio have not appreciated
the Importance of this movement.
protest against II nO,o, IN TIME, before it
is carried out-before we are confronted with
duties and obligations and interests growing
out of their presence. They are an alien, an
inferior and idolatrous race. They have not
our tastes, or habits, or manners, or devel-
| opments, or religion. They are not fit to
become citizens or to enjoy tho right of suf-
| frage. Amalgamation would iDiure both
their race aud ours. Isolation will give rise
to the great troubles. England, Ireland,
Germany. Norway, France have an over
| flowing population Of our own race, similar
to us in blood, in manners, in habits, and in
l,,xIa fotE II
reliant. self 'repecting people. They are fit
| to become citizens. They will mix with us,
| and our commingled blood is purer for the
| association. Let US invite them with open
arms to come US. Let US people our
country with the best races of men.
But the Chinese will give us cheap labor
CHEAP HUMAN LABOR. despise the word
1t signifies a crime and shame 1t signi-
Ties squalor, degradation, ignorance, vice.
Are not laborers men--our fellow men p
| They bave bodies to clothe and stomachs to
| feed, and minds to educate, and spirits to
elevate, and old age to provide for They
have homes which they love, and wives
whom they cherish and children whom thew
hope to make worthy citizens-the honest
fathers and virtuous mothers of succeeding
generation. Aud can you remember these
duties and see these aspirations can you
contemplate the patient hopefulnesS of cheer.
ful and contented, because fairly compensa-
ted industry, and talk of CHEAP LABOR q
Labor is too cheap now. Labor does not
| receive its just reward. This country needs
skilled laborers. Jealous industry-it needs
that such labor shall not be cheap, but that
it must be 6ountifully rewarded. o o
1t must command the efforts of an advanc-
ing civilization, and the favor of Just God.
until at last the human intellect, and hand
and blood, as they constitute the nobler,
SHALL also be the better paid member in the
partnership of labor and capital.