Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-09-24
Letter from Horatio Seymour.

At mass meeting OF the " orkingmen,
held in Rochester on the 9Th inst. the fol.
lowing letter vas read from Ex-Governor
Seymour on the question Of chinese iInml-
grafton to the United States:
Urea, August 3.
SIR-I put off until this time my an-
swer to your letter asking me to speak to
a meeting at Rochester upon the subject
Of Chinese immigration. as | hoped it
would be in my power to do so. am
sorry that cannot attend. All agree that
it is grave subject 1t is one that must
be met now. Strong influences are ut
work to open the food. 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 numbers than the peo-
pie of Europe. II they continue to crowd
10, they will overthrow the customs, civil.
iaation aud religion of the whole Pacific
coast, and they will also crush down the
position of laboring classes throughout the
country. l am against this. am not
willing they should gain toothold 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 overthrow. Why
should We give up our civilization in any
part of 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 we'll as justice and humanity
calls for this; if all who labor 10 this coun.
try took the same wages and spent as little
money as the Chinese laborer, our Govern.
mcnt would be bankrupt aud business
shrink up. Well-paid labor spends freely
with the business man and fills the nation.
al treasury; but the imposts aud duties it
pays upon what it uses. This is the whole
of our financial strength as compared with
other people. II labor is brought down to
the Chinese standard, there will at once be
a difference in the condition of classes that
will end in the overthrow of the Govern.
;nent. We pay higher taxes and interest
than any other people, and, if the price Of
labor is put down to Asiatic rates, capital
will swallow up the earnings of toll more
rapidly than was ever yet done in the his.
tory Of nations. IF this is to be our future
we have lost in vain nearly million Of
lives in the late civil war.
1t is not the object Of government to
undersell others; to pinch ourselves that
we may pinch others. The great end Of
craftsmanship is to give comfort and plcn.
ty to each home, and to take care that Ia.
Dor is we'll paid. We should seek to give
happiness to each fre.sid circle, and not
to fill the Golfers Of capitalists.
1t is said by some. if We shut out Chi.
nese immigration, we do so in the face of
all our former professions. This is not so.
We invite European immigration because
it adds to our power and happiness. Eu.
ropeans do not overthrow our customs, re.
ligion or civilization. They do not bring
here any strange blood. 1t has always
been our practice to shut out 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 cndanger social or.
der or safety. We are in no way bound to
take into our social system any mischievous
or to destroy it by personal inAu.
ences. If We believe in our religious
creeds, in the form and principles Of our
then we must believe that
Asiatic creeds aud customs are baneful.-
To-day We are dividing the lands of the
native Indians into States, counties and
townships. We are driving off from their
property the game upon which they live,
by railroads. We tell them plainly they
must give up their homes and property and
live upon corners of their own territories,
because they are in the way of civilization.
If we can do this, then we can keep away
another form Of barbarism which has nc
right here.
l have no doubt that the Chinese have
useful qualities. They are said to be good
ready to do the work of men or
women, but they have not the traits which
will build upon this continent great and
heightened 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 the matter
The policy of dealing with the matter must
be as sharp as that of Massachusetts, or
New York against the coming pauperisu,.
1t must be borne in mind that under the
late amendments to our national constitu
ton, you can give them no qualified con.
dition; you put upon them no political
restraint. made necessary by their peculiar.
tiles. They can grasp the rights Of voting
and law.making despite all state legisla.
ton.
1t is to be hoped that this subject will
be taken up and discussed in fair and
temperate way by all classes. We must
not let it drift and settle itself. Unless
we are ready to give up the consequences
OF this new danger to the public peace and
the home and happiness Of our people, We
must confront the problem at the outset.
Yours truly,
HORATIo SEYMOUR.
To Elias Mapes, Recording Secretary
Of Workingmen's Assembly, Rochester.
u The Colusa Sus seems to entertain
the idea that the Pacific Coast States are