The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-07-15
CHINESE

One side of the Chinese labor ques-
ton has been exclusively treated by
Mr.. John Swinton, in the New York
Tribune. If his essay is published in
all the editions of the Tribune it will
go far towards creating in this country
a sentiment adverse to the Chinese inn
migration. We give below brief out
line of Mr.. Swinton's statement:
am opposed to this unlimited influx
of Chinese immigrants.
am opposed to American working
men surrcndering the different branches
of industry to Chinese operatives.
] am opposed to any such "cheap Ia
Dor as we should obtain from the Chi
nese. a
am opposed to the movement which
has been begun at North Adams-and
which threatens to increase till the
whole country and all its interests and
prospects are profoundly affected by it.
am opposed to it on grounds of,
Race; =, Industry; 3, Politics; 4, Mo-
rality.
The deepest dividing line betw cen
men, deeper than politics or religion, is
race. The Germanic, Celtic and Latin
races have grown side by side for thous-
ands of years, all developing a progress
i've civilization. These combined races
are the strongest and soundcst, the most
progressive and aggressive i'm the world.
The Chinese or MOngolian blood is q de-
PRAYED and a base blood.
The Chinaman works for one -tenth of
the wages demanded by the American
workingman.
/ doubt, on many accounts, if the
American would succeed as COMPETE
tor with the Chinaman on any terms.
But he would certainly have no chance
whatever on any other terms than by
the abolition of the household, and by
denying himself appliances of personal
civilization. So that, to use rude IL
lustration, we may look on the industri-
al contest between the American and
Chinese races as n contest of the bunk
against the bed-the roast rat against
the roast 6eef-the broadcloth of a
of Coole-the enjoyments of indus
try against its hardships-the better
side of life against its baser.
What is the advantage of "cheap la
Dor" to country? Is it that it enables
capitalists to pile up more capital. mil
lionaires to double their millions, or
manufacturers to enlarge their profits !?
take it that the only real benefit of
"cheap labor" is in its elevating the con-
dition of the masses of the people-cs-
pecial1y the working and producing
masses--increasing their comforts, pro-
noting their well-being, and furnishing
them the opportunity of progress and
development. 1t would be an easy
thing for America to obtain such cheap
labor" as would result in national de-
moralization and degradation.
The phrase "cheap labor" may in it
self be quite meaningless. That labor
only is cheap, in the Tong run, TO peo-
pie, which gives to the workingman
such returns as will enable him to live
free and manly life. All labor cheap
er than this is subscribing of its own ex-
istence.
Our Democratic Republican system
of government is based upon proper in-
telligence and conscience, upon person
al independence in Judgment and action.
If it be the most broadly based and in
many respects the strongest system of
government in existence, it has at the
same time its weak or delicate features
its perils, many and great. If, for ex-
ample, the mass of voters were destitute
of political traditions and ignorant of
the conditions of frcedom-if they were
vicious, immoral or heathenish-if they
were negligent, careless, or unconcern-
ed about their rights and libeFties-if,
accustomed to political inertia, they
were deficient of what may be called
political vitaiity-what would be the
upshot of American Democracy?
Even under existing circumstances,
our Republican system is severely tried.
We have tainted hordes, vastand dense,
in our great cities. We have four mil
lions of negroes, the product of slavery.
We have priest-fidden, hide-bound
masses of one sort or another. We
have fearful amount of corruption and
denagoguism. With these clements
all of which are among the ruling eie-
ments here-fhere has for some time
been reason of apprehension. Serious
people have felt that there was ground
of anxiety about the political future :;
and if they have never allowed them