The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-02-14
The Chinese Question in Idaho.

The editor Of the Idaho World has OBJ
tanned copy Of the Coming Struggle, -
by the Rev Milton b. Starr, Of which he
says
I'VE advise everybody who is able to
buy copy and read it, as the subject up
on which it treats is one of the most mo-
mentous Importance toevery laborer, espe-
cially. The Chinese cannot, under the law,
become citizens, and certainly no sane man
but monopolist, would have the law 50
changed as to make citizens Of them. Their
presence here is, in a moral point of view,
debasing and demoralizlng in the last de
gree, and If their immigration and impor-
tation hither be not checked, if they are
permitted to congregate upon our shores,
the blightlng effects upon the public NOR
ais cannot but be fearful to contemplate.
Another evil to be feared from their pres
esce among us Is the continual cheapening
Of labor This subject is treated Of in the
pamphlet before us, at some length, but
less fully than We wish it was Cheap la
Dor means underpald labor, and underpaid
labor means-lt Is useless to try to palliate
or disguise facts by using soft words-pov-
erty, wretchedness, want, and consequently
the debasement Of the laborer for how
can men or women keep themselves pure
when hungry and in rags 1t is impossi-
bic; yet this must be the condition Of the
honest laborer, whose earnings are less than
the necessary cost of living We attach
no Importance whatever to the idOlatry Of
the Chinese {; we are all Idolators. But
the Chlnaman differs from us in other and
very important particulars. He has no
moral standard-his customs, habits, edu-
cation, and his IAeas of government are all
directly antagonistical to ours personal
honor and honesty, and even the chastity
Of women are to HIM idle fances and vain
and foolish superstitlons. In everything
that we call civilization he is essentially a
heathe1. and unless we would have the
generations who are to come after us on
this continent become as he is, we must de-
wise some means - and the means should
be rational and humane-to stay his rapid
influx into this country. But having per-
mltted Chinese to come here, they are ell
titled to, and should receive the fullest
protection of the law, both in their persons
and property, and should also be made to
obey the Law. Their notorious disregard
and contempt Of our laws and moral code
is not more disgraceful than our refusal to
grant them laws protection. Everybody
knows that if the Chinese had been kept
out Of this country, California, Oregon,
Washington and Idaho would now be EN-
ploying hundred thousand white men and
their wives, at good wages, who have re-
NAMED away from this coast only because
every available business, occupation and
avocation, were, and are monopolized by
Chinese, and at wages upon which no Amer
lean or European can live. And who has
been protited by this outragel The monop-
olist and the money-king, and not one be-
side. Another and equally valid objection
| to the encouragement Of Chinese immigra-
| tion to this country, is the danger Of their
outnumbering MS. According to the best
information we have been able to obtain on
the subject, the first vessel bringing Chi
nese immigrants to this country, landed III
/ 1862, having on board 15O Estates. These
have increased to more than 1OO, 600, the
ninth census to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. Should the same per cent of increase
continue for thirty years longer, we should
have in the neighborhood Of hundred
millions Of these people in America. And
when we take into consideration the ex-
haustless source from which the mighty
stream Is fed, thus is not an exaggerated
view nor is it impossible that it may, il
not controlled, eventually inundate and
destroy our civilization. Certainly no sub
ject is more worthy the earnest thought OF
the American people"