Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-19
The Chinese in California.

sl"Ne hOiuers nrO lno mOnopOllStS, anu cor
poratiOns, the capital and wealth, all of which
iavor this immigration here, and it is these
that ARE arraigned against the common peo-
pie. am aware that | am looking at this
question through the eyes of the common
people and laboring classes. / do not judge
II through the eyes Of the aris;ocracy, those
that favor caste aud would degrade the dig
nifty Of labor to the level Of serldom to make
distinctions In society, the rich richer and
the poor poorer. have no prejudice on
account of their race, color or previous con-
ditiOn. | object TO their immigration from
the standpoint of social economy, and safety
TO our country.
Now find here nobody who would favor
their voting. For proof of this give the
following which appears in the Jolly Giant
of Feb. 10. under the head of "A National
Disgrace"
Willard, of Vermont, said in the National
Assembly that Chinese fought to be admitted
to citizenship" We wish we had this gno-
Tamus in San Francisco for about three
months. II we hnd we would show him
what u cOnfOunded ass he made of himself in
making use Of the above language. 1t may
be that Chinaman is the equal of this YER
mont donkey. So far AS we know of the
qualities of the pig-tailed Mongolians, they
are no more worthy Of citizenship than so
many forest balloons. Willard deserves to
be choked.
Is 1t not correct proposition to lay down,
that no DISTINGUISHED class can long live in
amy republic without becoming the source OF
bitter strife and contention? While the Chi
nese do not desire il there may not be any
difficulty in keeping them out Of the right of
| suffrage. But when they become numerous
enough to be powerful it may not BIO so.
Mind you, China can spare one hundred
millions out of their three hundred and fifly
and then DO better off at home, and in the
light OF such facts no one dares to advocate
here their right of suffrage. Not only is
there this danger, but every one can see that
IL they are allowed to vote the politician
who has tho longest purse will get their
vote.
But to prove what class want these people
here will quote from II late number of the
San Francisco Chronicle:
Among the greatest of the Sins of the rail-
road managers against us is their studied
and persistent effort for years to establish
here the Chlnanan AS permanent element
d.,
otherwise 10 Cypress and degrade it.
Give Stanford X Co. the power, and there
will be no lack of Chinese labor in this state
And the following from the Call of Feb
18th:
We had hoped that tho Chinese would not
be put to that business, because we under
stood the result would ultimately be TO give
over the manufacturing of watches entirely
to the Chinese. There arc still few per-
sons who would like to SEQ San Francisco
| filled with Chinese. if they could make u
few more dollars thereby. They would be
| satisfied 10 have street after street, like Du-
pont and Sacramento, occupied 10y Chinese;
but happily nineteen-twentieths OF our popu-
lation are not of this opinion.
And the following from the Chronicle of
Feb. II, speaking of the Cornell Watch Com
pany:
Ii will carefully ascertain by experiment
whether 1t can make more money by en-
ploying Chinese than by retaining Americans.
IL il eau make one additional dollar by the
use OF Chinese labor 1t will exclude from its
workshops the last American boy or girl or
skilled laborer, even though poverty. starva-
ton and crime should follow the act. We
say it is wrong ami in defiance OF humanity,
justice aud reason, and in time will bring 10
the wealthy individuals aud corporations
"
born upon our soil, or who comes with the
intention OF permanent residence, is entitled
to labor in preference to tho Chinese. The
man or woman who is able and willing to labor
Is, by virtue OF n law us high AS Deity, rs old
iIs eternity and rs imnutable rs the heavens,
entitled to compensation that will feed,
clOtIe and educate himself and family. If,
being willing to work, lie can find no work
TO do, he Is entitled to support from the pub
lie treasury. The last dollar of the last man
is. and of right ought to he taxable for that
purpose. The man who gives to Chinese
the skilled labor OF this country steals away
the birthright of the American laborer, robs
him and his family of bread, exposes him
and them to the temptation of crime, and is
himself guilty of nm effense against society.
But if | am in error in my views on this
question, what are you going to say about
law on the statute books Of this state. This
law let mo say, would be rigidly enforced
to-day in this state did not the Burlingame
treaty interpose. "Scc. I. On and after the
first day of October, 1858, any person or per-
sons Of the Chinese or Monaghan races shall
not be permitted to enter this state" and a
penalty of fine or Imprisonment is fixed for
its violation.
The people of this state after finding they
could not execute this statute law, and after
it had entered into the political campaigns
and been thoroughly discussed throughout
the state, through their representatives pass
ed the following joint resolutions by the gem
oral assembly OF California, Fob. II, 1879.
Whereas, The presence in our midst of
large number of Chinese who are incapable
of assimilation with our own race, ignorant
Nf q "A
and who manifest no disposition to acquire a
knowledge Of the same or conform to our
habits, manners, and customs is serious
and continuing injury to tho best interests of
the state, and
" Whereas, Their employment under the
plea of cheap wages is offensive to tho exalt-
ed American idea of the dignity of labor,
detrimental TO tho prosperity and happiness
Of our laboring classes, and an evil which
should be nbated therefore be it
RESOLVED by tho assembly, tho Senate
concurring, that our senators in Congress be
instructed and our representatives requested
to use their influence and urge upon the
federal government tho adoption of such
treaty regulations and legislatlons as shall
discourage their further immigration"
Now need not say how true the repre-
sentatives of this state have been to their
constituents in this matter. The coolio bill
that has passed tho House will evidently be-
come law which will cut off large por-
ton Of Chinese immigration.
II is claimed hOre that tho Chinese slaves
and their masters embrace nearly all that
come to these shores. The coolies are the rank
and file and the slave owners-the Chinese
masters-wil make up majority of the
whole. Now is it going to be said that nine