The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-02-01
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
The Views of Ghe Late Senator
Morton.

NhOF6OAs
WARRINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE paper
embOdyIng the views of the late Sena-
tor Morton on the Chinese question,
submitted to the Senate to-day, is to a
certain extent. fragmentary but the
character of the conclusions reached
by him as an individual member (and
minority of one) of the joint Congress
sional committee on Chinese emigra-
ton, are clearly shown by the follow
ing synopsis: American institutions
are not arbitrary in their character,
not mere creations of force of circum-
stances, but are based on the great and
eternal doctrines of the equality and
natural rights of man. We profess to
believe that
GOD HAS GIVEN To ALL MEN THE SAME
RIGHTS,
without regard to race or color; yet it
has taken one hundred years to estab-
fish this doctrine by legal formula in
our government, and there are still
large numbers who do not in their
minds admit its truth, and practically
deny it by preventing it from being
carried into effect. It is proclaimed
ia the Declaration of Independence and
recognized by our constitution, that
our country is open to immigrants
from all parts of the world-an asylum
of the oppressed and unfortunate.
While China and Japan, yielding to
Western civilization, and especially rec
ognizing the force of the example of
the policy of the United States, have
ABANDONED THEIR POLICY OF EXCLUD-
ING FOREIGNERS,
it is proposed that we should adopt their
cast off policy, and the same arguments
used at one time in these countries to
justify exclusion are reproduced here,
viz: That admission of foreigners in
terfered with the trade and labor OF
their people. corrupted their morals
and degraded their religion.
The strength and edurance of our
government do not depend on our ma
terial weslth and prosperity, nor will
they be insured merely by the gener-
al diffusion of education. Our only
absolute security consists in
THE DEVOTION OF THE MASSES
of the people TO the doctrines upon
which the government was founded,
and the profound conviction that the
rights of men are not conferred by con-
stitutional enactments, which may be
altered or abolished, but are the natu-
raj, God given, and inalienable rights
of universal man. Closely allied to
this great doctrine, and, in fact, its nee
essary outgrowth, is the policy which
throws open the doors of our nation
to all who desire to make our country
their home. Yet we still retain the
right to make conditions and create
safeguards to project US from pauper-
Ism, crime, and disease, and to fix the
terms upon which foreigners may be-
come citizens and participate in gov
eminent To regulate Immigration
and to prescribe terms upon which we
will admit men of foreign birth to the
exercise of civil and political rights,
is one thing; to prohibit or exclude
them in whole or in part, is another.
It is both our right and our duty to
make such regulations as will protect
the interests, morals, and safety of our
people against foreigners. And we
may further
DISCRIMINATE AMONG NATIONS,
and exact terms and conditions from
the people of one country that we do
not deem necessary as to others. We
have always made this discrimination
with regard to the right TO become cit
Izens, by permitting none but white
persons to become naturaliEed; but as
to right to work, to trade, TO live Or to
acquire property, we have never made
any distinction. To do so now would
be great innovation upon the policy
and traditions of our government, and
would be long step in denial of the
brotherhood of man, and of the broad
humanitarian policy inaugurated by
our fathers. The Limitation of the right
to become naturaliZed to white persons,
was placed in law when slavery was
the controlling in fluence in our gov
eminent, and is now retained by lin
gering prejudices growing out of that
institution. After having abolished
slavery, and by constitutional enact
ments established the equal civil and
political
RIGHTS OF ALL MEN.
without regard to race or color, to
again recognize distinctions of race and
color, by excluding the copper=colored
people of Asia from our shores, and to
establish a new governmental policy
upon the basis of color. or different
forms of civilization and religion, would
be inconsistent and unsound.
As Americans, standing upon the
great doctrines to which have re-
ferred, and seeking to educate the
masses into their belief, and charged
with the administration of the laws by
which equal rights and protection shall
be extended to all races, we cannot
now safely take q new departure, and
in another form resurrect and re-estab-
fish those odious distinctions of race
and color which brought upon us the
late civil war, and from which we fond
Iy hoped that God in His providence
had delivered US forever. Although
the inquiry which the committee was
instructed to make does not involve
the political rights of Chinese, may
be permitted to say that in my judg-
ment, the Chinese cannot be protected
ia the Pacific States without represen-
tation in the Legislature or Congress
or without a voice in the selection OF
officers. Complete protection can be
given them only by allowing them to
become citizens.
Again in considering any proposition
to prohibit Chinese immigration, this
fact should be borne in mind, that the
Chinese landing upon our Pacific coast
come entirely from the port of Hong
Kong, hence, though subjects of the
Chinese Empire, they are invested In
that respect with
THE RIGHTS OF BRITISH SUBJECTS,
and in any legislation or treaty in
which we would limit or forbid their
Landing upon our shores, we must deal
with the British government and not
that of China.
In the early days of California tlie
price of labor was exorbitant, and
these high prices made it impossible to
engage in manufactures or any pursuit
that came into competition with the
productions of other countries. It is
undoubtedly true, Notwithstanding the
ontcry against Chinese cheap labor,
that the average rate of wages in Cali
Sornia is higher than in any other part
of the ., s., and now stands largely
in the way of the developement OF the
State. 1t Is said the presence of Chi
nese in California prevents the emigra-
ton thither of white people, and there
fore stands in the way of the growth
of the State. If such is the fact (Which
i do not admit) it springs from the
persecution visited upon Cinnamon,
and the gross misrepresentation which
have been made that there have been
instances where Chinese were employ
ed in preference to whites because of
their cheaper labor, Is undoubtedly
trne, but not to the extent that oonld
furnish Just cause of complaint reQuir-
ing Legislation or political action foE