The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-03-22
The Chinese-Report Of the Congress.
siOnal Committee.

The report of the Joint Special Com
mittee to investigate Chinese immigra-
ton, after referring to the resolution Gre
ating it, says:
In conducting the investigation required
BY the resolutions, the Joint Committee Wis
Tied the Pacific Coast and examined 100 wit
nesses: In conducting this examination the
COMMITTEE divided their work so AZ to first
hear persons opposed to the unlimited in
PRODUCTION of Chinese, and to this branch of
the subject . limited time was given. They
then heard the testimony of persons favora-
bic to such introduction, and concluded by
affOrding time for witnesses in rebuttal. In
the opinion Of the Committee, it may be
said that the resources of California
and the Pacific Coast have been more rapid.
~ developed with the cheap and docile labor
OF Chinese than they would have been with
out this element. SO far as material pros
perity is concerned, it cannot be doubted
that the Pacific Coast has been great gamer.
classes. If the inquiry should stop there, If
1t should be satisfied by the certainty that
money Is made out of the present condition
Of things, and not look to the present or
future moral or political welfare of our
Pacific States, it must be conceded, at least,
that many enterprising men find their profit
In Chinese Immigration, and the general re-
sources Of the Pacific are being rapidly de-
velOped by means of Chinese labor.
The Committee found that laboring men
and artisans, without exception, were Op-
posed to the influx of Chinese, on the
ground that hard experience had shown that
they are thereby thrown out of employment,
and the means of decent livelihood are more
difficult of acquisition. But the opposition
to Chinese immigration was not confined 10
labOring men and mechanics. In the testi.
mony will be found that of lawyers, doctors,
merchants, divines, Judges, and Others
in large numbers, speaking Of their
own observation and belief, that the ap-
parent prosperity derived from the presence
of Chinese is deceptive and unwh0lesome,
ruinous to our laboring classes, promotive
Of caste, and dangerous to free Institutions.
In the progress of their investigation the
Committee called before them the municipal
authorities of San Francisco, including the
Executive, Legislative, Health and Police
habits and modes of life of the Chinese in
San Francisco. The number of adult Chi
nese residents in that city average at present,
during year, about &, 600. The testimony
shows that the Chinese live in filthy dwell
ings, upon poor food, crowded together in
naAro quarters, disrcgarding health and
fire ordinances, and that their vices are cor
rupting to the morals of the city, especially
of the young.
Among the testimony win be found that of
some twenty operatives, numbering nearly
as many trades, in which details are given in
relation to different industrial pursuits which
are either monopolized by the Chinese, or are
the Chinese have reduced wages to what
would be starvation prices for white men
and women, and engrossed so much of the
labor in the various callings that there is q
lack of employment for whites; and young
men are growing upin idleness, while young
women willing to work are compelled to re-
sort to doubtful means Of support. The
hardships resulting from these causes bear
with especial weight upon women.
Az the safety of republican institutions
requires that the exercise of the franchise
shall be only by those who have love and
appreciation of our institutions, and this
rule excludes the great mass Of the Chinese
from the ballots as necessary means to pub.
lie safety, yet the application Of the rule dc.
prives them Of the only adequate protection
which can exist in Republic for the secnr.
ity of any distinctive large class of persons.
An indigcstible mass in the community, dis.
tinct in language, pagan in religion, infe-
rior in mental and moral qualities and all
peculiarities, is an undesirable element
in a Republic, but becomes especially
80 s,ndt Political power s placed in its
such power shall not be SO placed.
IN danond in a uooenro ,,po,, fhof v,owor
r. anyone raaa;mr tho tostinnrv .sh;ph 10
law before the two houses - vii, hnco,,,e
painfully evident that the Pacific Coast
MongnIisn .e 'A'"'' ''AS"n "
GI,,on tho ,,o;rt ~ moral. tho-o ;.ro A-,o,
or E,,ronaon roce rh;n1, g. nn+ fas s,,raayy;n.
to the Chinese AZ n class There il no oi inter-.
marriages hetwecn tn" As;ot;cs and tho w.,
cas;an rsce The ,r.sonca of .ha w 1h;uaSe
disconraoes and retards s White ;mm;nrat; Hs0
to the Pacific States If ia verv clearly in evi.
Sercc thst the ~,,,ohar 20 CI,;yne.o ~ .h ~ ~
c;fic Coast is raniSIv u ;ncreas;ne v mt t hx
h;rths for there are few - "t thes ny
Int hv ;mnortot;ons q" th.t MS ~,
anne Hnef,mcated i''' class "a .unnIied ne ne
netuallv. The Chinese do not p come pI to
nm une i ~ ~ no acnm;rn n,s .Sot h OILY
petancs in t;ns and rot,,rr thara ~ ortn
uce f ~ a, anu se' tn '1 .h' " SaJoy
that The chinese AZ n"t desira - heceo n;ti
.ens of this co"ntrv ond hava w ~ Snnuia .o.
of 81 snnreCat;n for o,,- ny ;nst;tw.;s
Verv few of them learn to sneaE onr Ian.
rnage. They do not desire the ballot and
there is danger If thew had it their III head
vnonO ,uo,,ld control tho colo ~ ~ IN c,,ont;