The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-11

1Ex.Governor Seymour ON the Cooli'
Questfon-Letter 20 the Working
Men At Rochester. -
i Alta mas meeting Of the workinl
men, heldat Rochester mthe 4th inst
the following letter was read from Elk
Governor Seymour on the question o
Chinese immigration TO the United
States - FEEE 4 ~
I EF CfICl, August, 1870. .
ri put off until this time my
answer to your letter asking me tc
speak to meeting at Rochester upon
the subject of Chinese immigration, az
| / hoped it would be in my power to dc
80. | am sorry that | cannot attend.
All agree that tits q grave subject. II
is one that must bemet, and it must be
met now. Strong influences are at
work to open the hood-gates and pour
in upon us the worst classes of over.
crowded China. They can get to our
shores at less cost, and in greater mum.
bers than the people of Europe. II
they continue to crowd on, they will
overthrow the customs, civilization and
religion of the whole Pacific coast, and
they will also crush down the position
of laboring classes throughout our coun-
try. | am against this. | am not will
ling they should gain a 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 over
thrown. 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 as well as justice and
humanity calls for THE. If all who
labor in this country took the same
wages and spent as little money as the
Chinese laborer, our Government would
be bankrupt and business would shrink
mp. Well-paid labor spends freely with
the business man and fills the national
treasury by the imports and duties it
pays upon what it uses. This is the
whole source OF our financial strength
as compared with other people. If
labor is brought down to the Chinese
standard, there will at once be a differ
ence in the condition OF classes which
will in the end overthrow our Govern.
ment We pay higher taxes and in
terest than any other people, and if the
price of labor is pu, down to Asiatic
rates, capital will swallow up the earn
iugs of toll more rapidly than was ever
vet done in the history Of nations. If
this be our future, we have lost in vain
nearly million OF lives in the late
civil war. Ii is not the object OF the
Government 10 undersell others, TO
pinch ourselves that we NAV pinch
others The great end craftsmanship
is to give comfort and plenty TO each
home, and TO take care that labor is
well paid. We should seek to give
happiness to each fireside circle and
not to ill the Golfers of capitalists.
1t is said by some, if we shut ont
Chinese immigration, we do so in the
face OF all our former professions. This
is not SO. We invite European ilnmi-
grafton, because. it adds to our power
and happiness Europeans do not over
throw our customs. religion or civiliza-
ton. They do not bring here any
strange blood. 1t has always been our
practice TO shut out any immigration
that is hurtful. We send back to
Europe criminals or paupers, by virtue
OF State and national laws Every city
and town guards against incomers who
endanger social order or safety. We
are III no way bound 10 take into our
public system any mischievous elements,
or to destroy it by personal influences.
II we believe in our religious creeds; in
the form and principles of our govern
mcnt, then we must believe that Asiatic
creeds and customs are baleful. To-day
We are dividing the lands Of the native
Indians into States, counties and town
ships. We are driving off from their
property the game upon which they
live, by railroads. We tell them plain
ly they must give up their homes and
property and live upon corners of their
own territories, because they are in the
way of our civilization. If we can do
this, then we can keep away another
form of barbarism which has no right
here.
| have no doubt the Chinese have use
full qualities. They are said to be good
servants, ready 10 DO the work of men
or women, but they have not the traits
which will build up on this Continent a
great and hish-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 be as sharp and as
vigorous as that OF Massachusetts or
New York against the coming pauper-
ism. 1t must be borne in mind that,
under the late amendments of our ma
tional Constitution, you can give them
no qualified condition; you put upon
them no political restraint, made neces-
sary by their peculiarities. They can
graspthe rights OF voting and lawmak-
ing despite all State legislation. 1t is
10 be hoped that this subject will be
taken mp and discussed in fair and
temperate way by all classes. We must
not let it drift and settle itself Unless
we are ready to giveup the consequences
of this new danger to the public peace
and home happiness of our people, we
must confront the problem at the outset.
Truly yours, HoRArIo SEYMOUR.
To ELIAS MAPEs, Recording Secretary OF
Working Mems Assembly, Rochester.
The Population Of Cincinnati.