The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-08-02
7 7
W. c. DUNTON,
HENRY LANE,
CHARLES VI. BLISS,
uur Duties TO Immigrants.

Une of the most perpleAlhS l"es'ion'
which we have to meet at the present day,
is that Of the relations of capital and la
bor In Europe that matter is now
Clearly defined, and the only disturbing
element to the present system rs the I'M
settled condition of the subject in Amerl-
ce What influence it might have upon
the question among our neighbors across
the sea. were the matter finally settled IN
America upon basis essentially different
from theirs, we can only surmlse tor the
certainty is absolute that there must be a
Kind of commercial equilibrium through
ont the world. That is one Of the mat
tiers which regulates itself in the end. 1t
now appears that our labor question will
be settled upon the European PLAN so tar
as cheapness of labor is concerned and
Chinese emigration is likely to be an i'm
nortant agency in effecting the solution.
The influx of the Chinese into this coun-
try naturally causes some alarm, but
their coming is inevitable as a sequence
of the demand for labor as evlnced in the
hich prices offered for unskilled labor as
compared with other countries. We may
as well accept it as fixed fact. They are
coming. Labor strikes will rather hast
en- than retard the movement Political
and social ostracism are powerless to.pre-
vent it. Hostile legislation would be on
ly a dam of bulrushes. This new class OF
immigrants will come and continue to
capitalists find it to their advantage to
bring them here, and John Chinaman
finds it for his advantage to come. And
that will continue to be the condition OF
things until the demand for labor Is Sc
nearly supplied in our country, that the
price of unskiled labor is approximately
equal to its price in other countries
When that time arrives some of the dith'
cult questions arising out Of the relations
of labor and capital will be settled. But
in the meantime we are to have all those
annoying uncertainties and unfortunate
fluctuations which pertain to revolutions
peaceful or violent. And these Difficult
ties we should meet calmly and obyiate
them as best we may. But the practical
thought is this. How can we best avert
the calamties which threaten to over
whelm our country by the sudden influx
of such large and dangerous element o.
ignorance, superstition and idolatry
The safety of our institutions may be en-
langered. Shall We endeavor to stay
this tide of immigration ? Such endeavor
would be as futile as protest against ;
thunderstorm. But we may educate
civiize, christianize. The efforts of phil
anthropsts and patriots should now b'
directed to that end. We believe pat
riotism has broader field of labor, ant
more effective agency for good to thu
country than the mere readiness to grasl
the sword in her defense when endanger
ed by outward foes. We are to-day as {
nation in more danger from unasslmilatet
internal elements than we could be from
the pressure of hostile nations, all abou
us, allied to effect our ruin. What w
need first is popular education - educa
ton in science art, literature, history
and the spirit of our institutions. Ant
one of the first steps toward that assimi
lation, which is necessary to good citizen
ship, should be in merging all foreigI
languages in the common language of thu
country. No community Of naturalizec
foreigners can be valuable citizens so lonI
so long as they retain distinctive lang
uage and foreign customs. For the pur
pose of obiterating distinctions of nation
atty, and merging in one common broth
erhood and patriotic interest in our com
mon country our public school system
invaluable. Let that be cherished abov
all.