New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-30

ditions he must mako up his mind.
What is the advantage of cheap labor to coun-
tryi Is It that it enables capitalists to pile up more
capital millionares to double their millions, or man
ufacturers to enlarge their profits
Jtake IL that the only real benefit of cheap labor
il in it eevating the condition of the masses of the
people-especially the working and producing
masses-increasing their comforts, promoting their
well-beng, and furnishing them the opportunity OF
progress and development. 1t would be an easy thne
for America to obtain such cheap labor" as would
result in national decentralization and degradation.
The phase cheap labor" may In itself be quite
meaningless. That labor only is cheap, in the long
run. to people, which gives to the workngman such
returns as will enable him to live free and manly
life All labor cheaper than this is subversive of its
own existence.
Again. cheap labor may mean very little in rea-
ton to industrial prosperity. If the workingman
earns or receives 81 day. he has that sum to ex-
pend for the material of household consumption. III
he be paid at the ClfneseAmerican rate of 20 OF ~
cents day. or at the Chinese rate of 10 cents day.
he must not only reduce his consumption to the low
est possible term but all prices in all directions must
come down relatively. Labor may be cheap, IN one
sense and yet proporionatey to production ana pron
be at the same when quoted at hgher ngue'
Let nobody be led astray by the cry OF cheap LABOR as
though it would of itself bring the means OF fe whn
easier reach or elevate the general webeng Of the pop
ulation.
The Introduction Of Chinese immigrants would, in my
Judgment cheaper labor at the heavy expense of the in
dustrial and personal degradation OF the laborer'
secondarly, then, on industrial grounds important
and impressiveas well as on the ground OF race-l OBJ
ject to the continuance Of the Chinese influx 70 America
3-THE GROUND OF POLITICS.
II s not on narrow party grounds but on the broader
1Inat( m
ton appears to meIextremely Objectionable Our demo
craticrepubcan system of government is based upon
popular intelligence and conscience upon personal IN
pendence ndgmentand action II be the most broadly
based and in many respects the strongest system Oh gov
eminent in existence, it has at the same time ts WEAK
delicate feauresits pers, many ana great II, ioi
example the mass Of voters destitute OF pohca
traditions and ignorant OF the conditions OF freedo-
they were vicious immoral heathenlsh-if they were
negligent careless or about their rights ana
llberties accustomed TO political inertia they were
deficient OF what may be called political rhahV-"h'
would be the upshot Of American democracy
Even under existing circumstances, our republican
system severely tried We have tainted hordes vast
and dense in our great cities We have four millions OF
negroes the product Of Slavery We have prestridden'
hide-bound Of one sort or another We nave
fearful amount OF corruption and demagoguisn' WIN
these elemens-all OF which are among the ruhg eIe
mens herethere has for some time been reason oi up
Serious people have felt that there was
ound OF anxiety about the political future and II they
nave never allowed themselves to despair OF the Re
public" they have felt the necessity of guarding against
he intrusion OF further elements Of danger.
In this view Of the case, we afford TO admit the
Unlimited Chinese influx with which the country is
Can we afford 10 add this danger to the
ther dangers which menace our lberticsf When the
ements Of strength and weakness OF safety and peril
nearly balanced as they are at present. is 1t wise
prudent TO permit unnecessary addition Of forces
tho wrong sidei 1t is through intelligence and virtue
nat we able 10 keep the strong yet delicate ma
hinery OF republican government in existence and
rder; but n the brute mass" becomes manageable
ecause Of its volume, oil viii be thrown into confusion
1ake but suggestion on this point, which is well
orL ny Of deep consideration.
TN Chinese unpolitcd race In any sense in
hch a ,tos is understood among the European people
rom tha dawn OF history the present day. they have
listed I'm Ter oriental despotism or absOlutism-vast
,pressive and awful-at divine in Its origin and
-agop-ike IL It's action. They have through all the
res been ab ed before the tremendous and mysterious
over which r yuated their lives decreed their death
hey have had fearfuly destructive wars, in which
,yriads OF human figures have slaughtered each other
,r the benefit Of on despot another invader OF
mother one rebel eh e another but there has
cen any such thing a struggle for what is known to
he white race as Iibey-AL They have such idea
berty IL has no exist In their traditions, in their
Experience in their obsei walton, in their imagination
liberty Is conception ofl the white race, not Of the yell
Dw or red or black races The oriental idea Of govern
cent is despotsm, heaven descended despotism whose
snge or depth may not be questioned
Yet II is very shortsghted to suppose that in Of
great Chinese influx this country, the Chinese ee
1ent after IL has established itself ground and
\ our industries and become component part OF the
opulation will take part In American politics In
aliforna but few Cinnamon have heretofore become
oters but they have been finding out the power that
es in the ballot and there indications Of their pur
Ose 20 employ it, In that State, at this tme thee
hinese race by becoming naturalized, could exert al
ecisve influence in the party contests When we shalls
ave them arriving In these Northern States By the tenr
thousand and the hundred thousand, we VIII undoubt :.
div find politicians playing for their votes The China.
lan sharpghted not TO sec tho consequence tha
viii accrue to him from voting He is too initiative not
0 follow the example Of others at elect on times He'
gi be tool for demagoges, more dangerous to free-
ON and constitutional government than any they now
ossess But il would be still worse, impossible, thee
inese population RETAINED wholly from political ae-t
lon For the maintenance OF republican government
is necessary that the population as whole, should 10
1terested in political questions. This lis fundamental
ecessity in democratic republic. Under DespotSn'.
he masses must merely acquesoe in the will of the sev
racn mower but where the masses themselves constk
,te the sovereign power ITSELF they must exercise their
,neton at the the peril Of losing 1t. The very fact
1hch we are often called upon to notice and ADMIRE
hat the Chinese are submissive, obedient tractable
fielding servle race is most dangerous fact from the
merican point of VIEW 1t is not by such qualities as
hese or by race possessed of such qualities that the
ubc liberties can be maintained, that the agsressons
mower can be repealed, that the democratic idea can
realized and made durable. 1t by quite other quail
les than these that the American race has bult up the
old defiant and aggressive republic which Is the glory
4 the world
On the ground Of politics. therefore, fundamental and
lefinite as well the ground Of race and industry
object ~ the Chinese influx 70 America.
I-THE GROUND OF MORALITY.