The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-03-15
Chinese ImmigratIon-Report Of the
Joint Committee of Congress.


The report of the Joint Special Com
mittee to investigate Chinese immipra.
ton, after referring to the resolution ere
ating it, says: s
In conducting the investigation REQUIRED
BY the resolutions, the Joint COMMITTEES yis-
tied the Pacific Coast and examined 130 wit
nesses. In conducting this examination the
Committee divided their work SO as to first
hear persons opposed to the unlimited in
PRODUCTION OF Chinese, and to this branch of
tne subject limited time was given. They
then heard the testimony of persons favora-
BILE to such introduction, and concluded by
affording time for Witnesses in rebuttal. In
the npinion Of tAe' o0.sinaisscc, IL may be
said that the resources of California
and the Pacific Coast have been more rapid
ly 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, 1t cannot be doubted
that the Pacific Coast has been great gamer.
This is true, at any rate, Of the capitalist
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, aud 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 to
laboring men and mt chanics. In the testi-
mony will be found that of lawy ers, doctors,
merchants, divines, Judges, and Others
in large numbers, speaking Of their
parent prosperity derived from the presence
of Chinese is deceptive and unwholesome,
ruinous to our laboring classes, promotive
of caste, and dangerous to free Institutions.
In the progress OF their investigation the
authorities Of San Francisco, including the
Executive, Legislative, Health and Police
Departments, to ascertain the numbers,
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 $500. The testimony
shows that the Chinese live in filthy dwell
ings, upon poor food, crowded together in
narrow quarters, disregarding health and
fire ordinances, and that their vices are cor
rupting to the morals of the city, especially
of the young. gI4q t4@eg1
Among the testimony will be found that of
some twenty oper ltives, numbering nearly
IS many trades, in which details are given in
relation to different industrial pursuits which
are either monopolized by the Chinese, or are
fast becoming so. This evidence shows that
the Chinese have reduced wages to what
would be starv. tion prices for white men
and women, and engrossed SO much of the
labor in the various callings that there is
lack of employment for whites; and young
men are growing up In idleness, while young
women willing to work are compelled to re-
fort to doubtful means of support. The
hardships resulting from these causes bear
with especial weish ut upon women.
Al 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 rub
prives pr them Of the the opiy adequate protection
which can exist in Republic for the secur-
ity Of any distinctive large class of persons.
Anindigestible 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 Republic, but becomes especially
so II political power is placed In its
hands. The safety OF the State demands that
such power shall not be SO placed.
The safety Of the class, however, seems
to depend in measure upon that power.
To anyone reading the testimony which we
painfully evident that the Pacific Coast
must in time become either American or
Mongolian. rF
Upon the point Of morals there is no Arysn
or European race which is not far superior
TO the Chinese as class. There Is no inter-
marriages between the Asfatics and the Cau-
casian race. The presence Of the Chinese
discourages and retards white immigration
to the Pacific States. It Is very clearly In evil
dencc that the number Of Chinese on the Pa
cihc Coast Is rapidly increasing, not by
births, for there are few Of these,
but by importations, so that the
,s%e S,,s. class = nn Supplied per
make their home In this country; their only
purpose is to acquire what would be COM
petence in China, and return there to enjoy
It. It further appears from the evidence
that the Chinese do not desire to become citi-
zens Of this country, and have NO knowledge
Very few Of them learn to speak our Ian.
guage. They do not desire the ballot, and
there is danger II they had 1t their head
men" would control the sale Of It In quanti-
ties largo enough to determine any election.
That 1t would be destructive to the Pacific
very generally believed BY the Witnesses.
Ths tide Of Chinese immigration IL grad
ually tending eastward, and before quarter
Of century the difieult question thai now
arises upon the Pacific Coast win probably
have TO be met upon the banks Of the Missis-
Hsippi, and perhaps on the Ohio and Hudson,
Many people Of tho Pacific Coast believe
that this Influx Of Chinese is standing
menace to republican institutions upon the
Paciacand the existence there of Christian
civilization. From al tho facts that 1hey
have gathered bearing upon the matter, and
considering fairly the testimony for and
asninnt the Chinese, tho COMMITTEE believe
/ tfc4 Hh&~ <.v.fv,f<vn IL 2a4 49,