The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-08-25

Seymour on the Coolie Cues
tion--yLetter to the WOrlsingmenf at
Isochester. , e e
AT mass meeting of workingmen,
held at Rochester on the l4th inst, the
following letter was read from ES
Governor Seymour, on-the question
of Chinese immigration to the United
States:
UTICA, August 5.
SIR, put off until this time my
answer to your letter asking me to
speak TO a meeting at Rochester upon
the subject of Chinese immigration,
as I hoped It would be in my power
to do so. / am sorry that / cannot at
tend. All agree that it is a grave sub
ject. It is one that must be met, and
epces are at work to open the flood
gates, and pour in upon us the worst
classes of overcrowded China. They
can get to our shores at less cost, and
in greater numbers than the people of
Europe. If they; continue to crowd
in,. 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 country. i am not
willing that they should gain y, foot
hold here. No nation in Europe
would suffer such an invasion. If
Britain, Germany, or France should
allow anything OF the, kind, their gov
ernments would be oYerthrown. Why
should we give up our civilization in
any part of our country for that of
| of,4ASia 2sdI li94I -EH 5ElEit 5si
1T is said we want cheap labor
We do not want cheap labor, but well
paid labor. Interest, as well as JUS
'tice and humanity, calls for this II
all who labor. in this country took the
same wages and spent as little money
as the Chinese laborer, our govern
ment would be bankrupt, and bust
ness would shrink up. .Well-paid la
Dor spends freely with the business
man and fills the NATIONAL treasury by
the impests, and duties, it pays upon
/ what it uses. This is the whole source
/ Of our financial strength as compared
4 With other people, I 4abori is brought
down to the Chinese standard, !, there
will at once be a difference in the con-
/ ditionl OF. classes which will in the end
1 overthrow our government. We pay
I higher taxes and interest than any
I other people, and, il the price of la.
Dor is put down to Asiatic rates, CAPT
tai will swallow, up the earnings o.
toll more rapidly than was ever done
I in the history of iiations!1 If this il
d to, be our future we have lost in Yaii
nearly, a million of lives in the late
! civil war;, 1t is not-the object of gov
I ernment to undersell others, to pincf
3 ourselves that trwe may pinch Others
The great end of craftsmanship is tx
+, give, e,comfp fort and plenty to, each home
and to take care. that labor. is wei
paid. We should seek to give happi
ness to each ifreside circle, and to fiji
the'eoffersl of capitalists z ESQ II
/ d tits said by some, ii we shut on
/ Chinese immigration, we ,doss0 in tn
, face of our former professions. Thi
!, is not so. we invite European immi
grafton, because it adds to- our pow e
and Happiness. Europeans do no
!. overthrow our customs, religion o
: civilization. They do not bring her
p any strange blood. 1t has alway
been our practice to5shlt cut, any i'm
!; emigration that iso hurtfuls I'VE sen
back to Europe criminals and pauper
5 bv virtue Of State and Natlonal law
7 ifEvery city and town guards agains
Z 11ineomers WhoIendmger social orde
! or safety. asWe are in NO, way fbeun
: to take. into, oIqr public system, an
e mischievous elements, or to destroy
> Fly personal Influences. If we befiev
4 tirii ours religious creedsl; in the forl
land principles of. our9 goyernmen
: then, we; must believe that sAsiati
s creeds and customs are baleful., TT
Y day we are dividing the lands Of til
E native Indians! into States. countis
and townships. u We are driving o
q from. their property the game upo
:, ! which they live, by railroads, w
: tell them plainly they must give u
y their homes and property and live VI
I5 'on the eornerspf their own territoFie
.- because they care ins the owayl of oil
g civilization; Ia II we, can do this, the
5, we can Keep away another form I
e bafbarism which has no right here.
df9 have nei doubt that the Chine:
q hhave useful aualities.sgT They, are ssai
: to be good servants ready to do, tt
l. work of men or women, but the
D have not fine traits which will bull
Is upon this Continent d great and higl
ID tehedpower. q We must not Judge
Il those who came here by those wi
IS stay at home. We get only; the dreg
.e There is but one way Of dealing wi
IS the matter. The policy of exelusio
.u4 must, be as sharp and nd1asgvigorous
st that of Massachusetts, ors New, \ OF
n against the. coming. pauperism.
l. must be borne in mind. that und
MI the late amendment to our nation
ss Constitution; youDeanp give them /
te,I qualified conditions y ouI put upi
h them no political restraint, made me
8. essaFy by their peculiarities. Th'
III can grasp the rights off voting al
Of lawzmaking despite all State legisl
il ton. i is to be hoped that this sn
ie ject will be taken up and discussed
ID a fair and temp perate way by all clas
Of es.i We mastnot let it drift and ST
In nbtleiitself.. aUnessl we are oready
,JI give. up the, consequences of this me
danger to the public. peace, and hoT
tt Happiness Of our people, we mu
&c dacoHffoht tile problem at tile outset,
si1lsgA EaG 8isefTruly, yours, b9bgto
ne lse, b. edt 10 .lsusg HoRATIo; SEYMOUR.
ee To ELIAS, MAPEs, Recording Secret
at ~ OF Workingfnen's Assemb
sefuoR Rochsstefra IL 2fOnI 9ij3Ii b5i4
C-ti, ri aE4i4 ss44 ~ Il--lii
~ uoad suolskknriilkSiirns the e5I Issues. sri u
- The RadiesfState CenYentionadol
4. y ed a platform composed of six resol
~ tons, hut theyfdid not therein cleal
., andedistinetly express the opinion
- sa5 the party on any Of the qpestio
i which are Of the. most vital inter-
vi to9thee 20 me PeoPIe,o 4sl'aI adl lsA3
They nassad q resnlntion unnn