Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-09-08
AcnrCuETunAI.


Ex Gov. Seymour on the Coolie Cues
ton.
At a mass-meeting of the working men.
held at Rochester on the 4th inst, the fol-
lowing letter was read from Ex-Gov SEy-
MoUR on the question Of Chinese immigra-
ton TO the United States;
UTICA, Aug. 8, 1870.
SIR: put Of until this time my answer
TO your letter asking me to speak to a meet
ing at Roche ster upon the subject OF Chi
nese immigration, as I hoped it would be
in my power to do SO. am sorry that /
cannot attend. All agree that 1t is grave
subject. II is one that must be met, and
1t must be met now. Strong influences are
at work to open the fiood-gates and pour in
upon us the worst classes of over-crowded
China. They can get to our shores at less
cost, and I'm greater numbers than the peo-
pie of Europe. If they continue to crowd
in. they will overthrow the customs, civ
iization and religion of the whole Pacific
coast. and they will also crush down the
position of laboring classes throughout our
country. l aru against this. / 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
Governments would be oyerthrown- Why
should we give up our country for that OF
Asia?
1t is said we want cheap labor. We do
not want cheap labor. but well-paid labor.
Interest a. well as justice and humanity
call for this. If all who labor in thi, coun-
try took the same wages and spent a little
money as the Chinese laborer, our Govern
ment would be bankrupt and business
would shrink up. Well paid labor spends
freely with the business man and fills the
national treasury by the imports and duties
it paws upon what 1t uses. This Is the
whole source Of our financial strength a.
compared with other people. If labor i
bought down to the Chinese standard there
will at once be difference in the condition
OF classes which will in the end overthrow
our Government. We pay higher taxes
and interest than any other people, and
ifthe price of labor is put down to Asiatic
rates capital will swallow up the earnings
oftoil more rapidly than was ever yet done
in the history of nations. II this Is to be
our future we have lost in vain nearly
million of lives in the late civil war. 1t i
not the object of Government TO under>ell
Others. to pinch ourselves that we may
pinch Others. The great end of statesman
ship Is to give comfort and plenty to each
home. and u take care that isbor i we'll
paid. We should seek to give happiness
10 each fire-side circle, and not TO Ill :he
Golfers of capitalists.
tits said by some. il we shut out Chinese
immigration, we do 80 in the face ofall our
former professions. This il not so. We
invite Europe immigration, because it adds
10 our power and happiness. Europeans
do not overthrow our customs, religion or
civilization. They do not bring here any
strange blood. 1t ha always been our
practice 10 shut ont any immigration that
i hurtnll. We send back 10 Europe Grim
inals or paupers, by virtue of stare and
national laws. Every city and town
guards against incomers who cndanger
social order or safVry. We are in no way
bound TO take into our public system any
ni>chevou> elements, or 10 destroy 1t by
personal influences. five believe in our
religious oreeds; in III sform and princi-
piles OF our Government, then we must he
heye that Asistic creeds and customs are
baleful. To-day we are dividing the lands
of the native Indians into States, counties
and townships. We are driving of from
their property the game upon which they
live. by railroads. We tell them plainly
they must give up their homes and proper
" and live upon corners OF their tcrrltor-
les, because they are IN the way OF our civ |
ilization. If we can do this. then We can
keep away another form Of barbarisIn
which has no right here.
have no doubt the Chinese have useful
qualities. They are said To be good SER
wants, ready to do the work of men or wo-
men, but they have not the traits which
will build up on this Continent a 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 this matter
The policy of exclusion must De A. sharp
and a. vigorous a. that of Massachusetts
or New York against the coming paupcr-
ism. II must he borne i'll mind that. IN
der the late amendments TO cur national
Constitution, YOU can give them no quail
fed condition; you put upon them no po-
liiical restraint, made necessary by their
pecularities. They can grasp the rights
ofyoting and law-making despite all State
legislation. II 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 il drift and settle itself
Unless we are ready to give up the conse-
quences Of this new danger Of the public
peace and home happiness of our people,
we must confront the problem at the out
set.
Truly yours, HORATIO SEYMOUR.