Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-07-21
The Chinese.

SPEECH OF SENATOR WILSON, on THEIR IMPoRTA-
TIoN.
During the recent debate in the U. S. Senate,
on the question of striking the word .'white" out
Of the Naturalization Bill, Mr.. Wilson, of Massa
chusetts, said
"Now, after what has been said here to-day
on the right hand and on the left, in regard to
Chinese immigration, wish to say a word. l
believe that God made man in his own image,
and of one blood. Wherever there is man
throughout Gods heritage, recognize him as
man belonging to the brotherhood of humanity,
and will protect and defend him. will stand
by his rights at any cost and at any sacrifice,
whether man comes from ASIA Europe, or the
isles of the seas, whatever be his language or
his religion or his faith, if he comes to these
United States. | would throw over him the
shield and protection of equal law, would meet
him like brother, and treat him like man that
God made and for whom Christ died. We have
men in the interest, not Of humanity not Of the
Chinaman, not of the country but merely i'll the
interest of money, who are importing these CHI
nese They act as the old slave traders did, who
sent New England rum to the coast of Africa,
and bought men and brought them into the coun-
try, and consigned them to perpetual slavery
We have men engaged in the business of im-
porting Chinese coolies, and their vile business is
increasing. These people from China are brought
here under labor contracts for long terms OF
years, by which the importers make fortunes.
They are Drought mere anu tilelr labur soiu uuol
provision that they are to be carried back to
China dead or alive. They have no interest in
the country, and their labor is antagonized
against the labor of the free people Of the
United States. This fact stands out before us,
and we ought to correct it, We have had the
experience of this kind of labor in Peru, on the
Gliano Islands, in British India, in the West In
dies. But few weeks ago members OF the
British Anti-Slavery Society, composed OF per-
SONS who have watched the effects OF all these
| f,..., tl,a hatyi
for our country at all times, in peace and in war
| WHO have been for the interests of humanity
| steadily and strongly, sent here their messages
| to lis warning us against the balefu effects OF
| this system. | introduced on the 18th day OF
| December last bill to break up this traiic.
| Two months later, on the 18th day of February
| | introduced modified bill, which went to the
| judiciary committee.
That committee have reported bill of theil
| own. want to see that bill taken up ant passed
| | have not heard man in either House or Con
| gress who has declared himself opposed to 1t
| i take it there is nobody will oppose it. | wan
| to break up this trade system want to ell
/ trely eXtirpate it, and then the Cinnamon, like
othe men in the world, come here as individuals
our country is open to all. A great many bat
people have come here, but with them grea
many good people, All countries have aided il
building up this great nation. If Cinnamon oi
their own account choose to come here, withou
these labor contracts, to cast their lot with TIN
people of the United States, we must protec
them, we must treat them as human beings, w
must shield them from all harm. We mus
carry out legitimate doctrines-the doctrines
to which We stand pledged-and we must CIV
them the rights of American citizenship, for 1t l
not the interest of the country to have any degra
ded classes among us. We believe in Gods Hol
Word We believe our government was found
ed upon the sublime doctrines of the New Tes
lament, that our Constitution and our idea
come from the New Testament. This we be
lieye this we must carry out this we must at
upon; and think il requires lis to put an enc
before the close of this session, to this systel
that is casting over CHINA country OF chea
labor, a country of paganism, a country with
civilization wholly distinct from our own-a dra
net, dragging these people together, taking 81
curity from their families and bargaining TIN
!, they shall go back after many years service
either alive or iii their collins. II is time to pi
an end to that, and then il the Chinaman CONT
! here as the Englishman comes, as the Germa
, comes, as the lrishman comes, we must accel
him, and treat him kindly and well, and prote
him by our laws. Sir, no wonder that under Il
labor contract system there should DO ankle
and apprehension. No wonder that the worl
ngmcn of this country, who are earning tw
three and four dollars day, should be alarme
The laboring men of this country i'll spite of Q
that may he said here or elsewhere, have sec
no eight such prosperous years as the la
, eight have been, and they have mac
more progress than in any other period of oqua
length in onr history. Now, say, when tines
4 men are at work, when they have their hoin'
, | when they have good furniture iii their house
when they have their children in the school
when they have their pews in the cllurche
when they are looking upon their little ones
the hope that they will have an easier and brigli
| or future than they themselves have had in d
years past when so many of them worked Fl
twenty, thirty, forty or fifty cents day in Il
Q burning suns of summer and in the frosts
n winter-no wonder that they feel apprehens
and anxious. 1t is not surprising that tn
should say and do foolish things would $
Q to them. one and all, that while they 10,
anxiously at the matter they should do right, tn
should be just they should treat, who may cor
here as brethren of common Father, but ins
1t upon it that the capital of this country in
I. seliishness shall not make the tour of the glo
!. to gather up the cheap labor Of the world al
bring it here under labor contracts, to redu
At their .earilg and take the bread from t
tnenths Of their cl .llren.