The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-07-20
iLGortespondqr'ce.
Eas For the DemOerat.l
A WOrkInEman on the Chinese Labor
!, ID. Question.

f1El rE-.E ~saFa July 9, 1870.
ED. DEMocRAT-Sir: I take the hber-
ty of sending you these lines, expressive
| Of the views of a laboring man on the OBJ
lects aimed at in the introduction of Chi
nese or cooie laber into the United States.
This subieet iE one which every labor
ing American ssould investigate carefally
and minutely, laying aside all preconceiv-
ed notions ponder on it, and trace its
every bearing and final result uPon white
labor IN America.
After careful investigation Ke find the
| two great objects aimed at IN the lntroduc-
/ ton and employment of Chinese in the
| United States, are these: 1st, To cheap
en- labor by superceding the Caucasian
with the Asiatic, thereby making the rich
richer and the poor poorer, the most po-
tent means that could be employed to
build up a monied aristocracy. I'd, To
employ the coolies as a means OF control
ling elections and securing political power
and ascendancy. The gripping capitalists
money changers and mOnopollsts who OF
late years have run our government to
their own personal interests, are yet un-
satisfied with the vast income of their cap
ital invested in railroads, manufactures
and mining operations protected by spec
ial laws, shielded from competition as they
are with all the advantages that legisla-
ton has given them. With all competl-
ton IN trade banished by enormous tar
ifs, they seek yet another and more power
full auxiliary by which they are more able
to triumph over labor. The seek to open
the food gates of eastern Asia, and pour
in upon the laboring American the sur
plus and degraded millions of China. They
seek to place on equal footing with the
intelligent thinking, yet laborlng Amerl-
can, who in time of need has rallied IN de-
tense of his country and flag; who has
ever been a good citizen and contributor
to the welfare and happiness Of his coun-
try. The Chinese pauper, 'whose relg-
ion is Pagan, and whose civilization Is As
iatic;" ;" whose fidelity to country IN time
of danger is very questionable; whose
ideas Of liberty and notions OF citizenship
are those of a people whose lives have
been lives of slavery and servltude, and
who seek nothing higher or nobler IN life
than the mere qualification OF animal
wants and pleasures, yet this IS the COM
ing man" in the minds Of some people,
This is the element we are engrattlng into
our political and social systems to an alar-
ming degree, and upon whom we have so
recently bestowed the ballot. The monop-
olist seeks to bring this element into COM
petion with white laborers, and the result
of such competition is easily foreseen, for
the Chinaman will labor and thrive
upon wages wherewith an American
would starve, and once here IN numbers,
they will monopoliZe every branch OF Ia
Dor, and drive the American out OF en-
ployment. And again, even if We pay
them wages upon which other laborers
would hardly subsist. 1t is still far IN
advance of the price of labor in China, and
the result would be that the United States
would receive a greater immigration from
China than from the rest of the world put
together, and with the means Of transpor-
tation afforded, by the nineteenth century
Cinnamon would swarm in America like
locusts over Egypt.
Now let US view them as q lever of pO-
htical power, dependent upon their EN-
ployers for their employment, they would
become the willing instruments and means
IN the hands of the monied power where |
with to forge the fetters of slavery for |
American freemen and freedom. This ell |
ement would prostitute their citizenship |
and vote as so many serfs who do their |
masters bidding. Thus and by these |
means does the monied power Of America |
seek to build up q wealth that shall put |
to shame the colossal grandeur of an orr |
entail world. Then will American citizen
ship have become a sham, American liber |
ty mockery, and the America by-word |
among the nations of earth; and, once in |
this shape, nothing short of revolution by |
force would accomplish anything. But |
the old proverb says, "an ounce of preven-
tive is worth pound of cure So in this |
case, the evil may be remedied by prompt |
and vigorous action, but if suffered to go |
on, viii at last become intolerable 1t be-
hooves. us, therefore, one and all, as good |
citizens, as laboring men, to use our ut
most endeavors to stay the progress of the
evil. '-e e..r
Now Is the time for action;
To-day and not tomorrow!
And again, as the poet says
Aetl acti in tine living present.;