The Portland daily press., 1870-07-07
The Collie QucssfOu.

Gen. Butler, 4 his speech at Woodstock,
CT, on the Fourth of July, after referring to
the introduction of nesto slavery into this
country, which finally "envelored us in tenn
pest and storm, the consequences of which
no wisdom could forecast, and tom which no
power cov'd shield" spoke thus of the CT
nese labor question:
What was the philosophic cause for this
great effect? The light of. experience now
teaches, because an unhomogeneous, an I'M
natural, an unproductive because uneXpend-
ing system of labor and class of laborers had
been introduced among us not by volunteer
immigration but by forced importation tend
ing to raise up two classes of sOciety-the
very rich and the very poor, the industrious
and the idle who feed without retuin upon
industry-both incompatible with true repub-
ican institutions.
Would it not be wise, then, for our states
men to examine with care, to foresee, as far
as Heaven has permitted men 10 pierce the
future, what will be the effect, what the re-
suit, and where the end we shall reach by the
importation by contract or purchase of labor
ing men, and, more than that, from a semi
barbarous one; men who are to be tasked la
borers only, forever, and who are therefore
not men but merchandise? Shan we wait I'M
III lhS oyoICih VI COulltiCt ldUOT HIS taken as
deep root ia our soil as that other system of
seryile labor had done before we foresee and
check the evil? We deal not now with the
industrial and economic view of the question.
but with the far broader and lander one of
its hIgh political aspects. Let us not, by any
means, hinde- or prohibit the voluntary COM
ing to this country of oil men who choose to
add their labor, their energies and their in
dustry in aid of our own. No one ever COM
nlainn1 nff
own free will. From his so coming arose
neither wrong nor danger to .eedom or the
perpetuity of free institutions; but the negro
brought here as commercial speculation.
wrought the so great difficulties from which
The country has so suffered. The highest prr-
suit in this country is intelligent labor. 1t is
not reputable to be without regular and con-
slant employment. Who so works with head
or hands is here the nobleman. The cunning
aralsan IS tne prince: All here are equal-all
are sovereigns. 1t is, therefore. the highest
province OF craftsmanship, the lo..iest duty
OF patriotism, the hope of freedom, and the
promise OF the regeneration of nations to take
care that IN America labor be neither degrad-
ed nor enthralled.
Gen. Hawley followed Gen. Butler, and re-
Piled to his remarks Oh Chinese immigration:
don't knew" he said, show to 90 to
work to lock. the doors of the United States.
we nave done what we could and stopped
anne riIcan slavery. l wish the Chinese had a
letter education in regard to American insti-
buttons. 1 wish they cord bring with them a
better religion; but l believe they all can
read. With our flag over me, and the New
Testament in my hand, l say, let them come"
lie \ she'd that they were in better condi-
ton, but he did not see how he could shut the
gates against any down-trodden people who
wished to fee to the protection of American
institutions. He said he world occupy the few
remaining moments in urging on his iellow-cit
zens the great Importance of keeping open the
gateways of the U. States to the free access of
all immigrating people. He would ever regard
our interest against the least approach to the
slave trade, but corld see no injury to any of
our useful institutions in encouraging indus
trial immigration to orr shores from every
part of the earth. He would keep the gate
open and the stream as pure as possible, and
let it flow. We must counterfeit any evil that
may threaten us by our living examples of
good. We must impress pure and unde-
filed religion on all who may come to us; and
if any go back to their own lands they will
carry to their neighbors the blessings of our
free institutions. He world not dare to lock
the inviting gates of America against a srfer-
ing world.