St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-15


would be put in circulation in our own
country. The above considerations
seem to us facts that cannot be contro-
verted.
The workingmen's organization in
this state has for its main object the
expulsion of the Chinese from Califor-
mia. They propose to agitate and legis-
late against the Mongolians until they
find nothing in this state to attract
them here. They claim that the two
classes of laborers, can not consist upon
the same soil that white men with
families not only miserably subsist upon
the wages established by the Chinese,
but actually fail, in many instances, to
obtain any means of support, so pie
thoric is the labor market that the low
wages, together with merely nominal
taxes, paid by the land owners enable
them to retain their lands in vast es
tates instead of it being divided up
among small farmers; that the tenden-
cy of the Chinese in America is to make
the rich richer and the poor poorer.
In all this there are several grains of
truth. However, the lower class of
wOrkingmen only tempOrize. Physi-
cal comfort and vision of ease and
unlimited indulgence in the dim future
allay all their angry mutterings. A
grand display, a largess or IL torch light
procession, secures their allegiance to
measure which, when skillfully ma
nipulated by scheming politicians, re-
acts upon themselves and makes them
doubly dependent upon their oppress-
Ors. AS far as the detriment to our in
stitutions caused by the influx of Chi
nese is concerned, they care no more
than do those who persistently employ
them. The great majority of the peO-
pie of this or any other country cham
piOn the cause which seems to be for
their greatest pecuniary advantage. 1t
remains for the truly great to seize hold
of emergencies and turn blind farce into
beneficial and elevating channels and
thus cause the thoughtless throng to
unwittingly benefit themselves. I'm
scrupulops and selfish men have en-
couraged the Chinese to come IN great
numbers, to the Pacific coast. Equally
unscrupulout i and more dangerous men
are now demanding their expulsion,
and that violence be resOrted to if their
purpose be not speedily accomplished.
1t remains, therefore, for unselfish be-
nevolence to improve the opportunity
for the general welfare of the country.
Congress has now an opportunity to so
legislate as to aid materially in regen-
Grating the Pacific coast. 1t is to be
hoped that genuine statemanship may
monopolists who are 10y no means idle
or Indifferent. The people of this coast
can accomplish still more by magnani-
mously refusing to employ Chinese la
Dor either directly or indirectly.
Again, the expulsion of the Chinese
is but one step in the regulation of the
labor question. There must be conces-
sions on the part of laboring people
also.
That class of labOring people who are
reliable and determined to do some
thing, generally find employment at
some price, though for all kinds of work
which the Chinese are capable of doing,
the wages are very low. This class of
men feel that they are aggrieved, but
expect to gain redress by lawful means.
The loudest agitators come from quite
different class. California is overrun
with ''hOodlums," soft-handed adven-
turers and broken-down spectators.
These men ale quite sure that the ''Nob
Hillites" have absorbed the fortunes
that they ought to have, so they simply
await the time when Nemesis shall in
terpose in their behalf Such men
would be terribly chagrined to find
themselves obliged to work even at
high wages. Riot and rapine would
suit these fellows better than any other
kind of action. 1t seems to us unfair
to lay the entire blame of the present
labor difficulties in California to the
charge of any party or class of men. 1t
is the natural OutgrOwth of the peculiar
circumstances of California's settlement.
We can say this without in the least re-
tracing anything we have said or may
say of the curse of unrestricted Chinese
immigration.
The decline from flush times has
aroused the angry elements even to a
greater degree than in the East. The
wages demanded by white laborers in
this state have not been cOnsonant with
the necessary expenses of living. The
laborer is as ready as any body to seize
an advantage when he can do it. This
is the excuse that many Californians
present for employing Chinese. The
martyr spirit has never possessed them.
Principle VS. comfort and style has not
been on their docket. California has
been settled on principles quite differ
ent from those which actuated the fore
fathers or even the early settlers of our
western states. What more natural
than that financial princes should de-
mand a servile class and that the lesser
lights should ape their superiors. 1t
has been the aim of Californians to
make money bridge over duration and