The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-31
THE CHINESE LABOR QUESTION


From the Boston Advertiser.
The interesting letter of Judge Kelley on
the Chinese labor question will attract the
attention of all who have given any thought
to the recent phases of that problem.
While his essential positions are uuques-
tionably sound, we do not agree with him as
to the feasibility of legislation to correct the
mischief which he fears. The right of every
man to dispose of his labor in his own way
is inherent and inalienable; there is nothing
in the nature of Chinaman to render him
less entitled to privilege which we claim
for ourselves, and which, under ordinary
circumstances, we cheerfully accord to the
rest of mankind. The good sense and
regard for justice in the community
must be trusted to see that the privilege
is not taken advantage of, to their
own and the public injury. No reasonable
employer who understands his own interests
chooses to fill his service with ignorant, de-
graded, and illpaid laborers, whom he has
cheated withea dishonest contract, and all
whose feelings and interests are at war with
his own. MIR. Sampson has no motive for
filling his factory with chain-gango of vicious
pagaps, who have no idea of staying with
him beyond the time of their contract or of
adapting themselves to the situation while
they remain. The risk of danger from such
importations into any civilized community
WutIS tutI0 10 u uOutTdb0 S6uS6 OI 1uStlc6 or
decent regard for the common welfare, is
nothing compared to the injustice of laws
multiplying honest contracts between men
who are competent to Judge for themselves.
While we take this position against inter
ference by legislation with such contracts
entered into by parties intelligently and in
good faith-on the same principle that we
object to fixing the hours of labor or the
price of commodities by law-we fully agree
hat 10 f,pica 30 H.
ton of unskilled and poorly paid labor in our
factories, and it is not just to force such labor
into competition with that which has grown
up on our soil. But the remedy is to be
found not in laws which restrict the power
of individuals to work out their own DESTINY
in their own way, but in the inevitable laws
of trade, modified by an enlightened public
opinion, and a considerate and just dis
position on the part of workmen and
employers. In some portions of the
country, where the opportunities
and demands for labor are greatly in excess
of the laborers, the prosecution of great
works which have wonderfully increased the
wealth of the country would not have been
possible without the associated labor which
has come here under these much-abused and
much. misunderstood contracts. But there is
no necessity for procuring labor on such
terms in Massachusetts,, nor indeed in
any OF tne oder states; and we do not
believe there is the slightest danger that it
will ever gain substantial foothold on this
side of the continent. Mr.. SIMPSONS ex-
pertinent is an exceptional one, and although
ii may prove entirely successful under his
skilful management, it is not likely to be
followed except under a like provocation
But the right to follow it is as clear and unde-
niable as the right of workmen to associate
themselves together for their common ad-
vantage.
The subject is worthy of the attention
which Judge Kelley has given it. 1t should
be treated always in a spirit which, instead
of arraying the workmen on one side and
the employers on the other, will bring intel
hgent workmen and employers together to
consider how the most equitable exchange
of advantages can be made. The genuine
labor reform will be the result, not of tri-
umph of one class over another, but of a
common good understanding between them.
1t is in the power of employers to contribute
to this by timely and reasonable concessions,
and of workmen by conceding to employers
| the rights which they claim for themselves.