The Portland daily press., 1879-03-12
Senator Morton's Chinese Report.

A correspondent of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial who accompanied Senator Morton to Cali
fornia, sends to that journal some extracts
from his unfinished report. from which We take
the following:
"After having abolished slavery, and by
amendments to our constitution and the enact
ments OF various statutes establishing the equal
civil and political rights Of all men, without re-
gard to race or color, and at a time wheI we
are endeavoring to overcome the prejudices of
educatiop and race, and to secure to colored
men the equal enjoyment of their rights Ii
would be inconsistent and unsound policy to re-
new and reassert the prejudices against race
and another form of civilization by excluding
the copper-colored people Of Asia from our
shores. 1t would be again to recognize distinc-
tions of race and to establish q new govern
mental policy upon the basis OF color and diff
ferent form of civilization and religion. In CAL
lfornia the antipathy to the Mongolan race is
equal to that which was formerly entertained
in the older states against the negro, and al
though the reasons given for this antipathy are
not the same and the circumstances of its exhi-
bition are different still it belongs TO the tsm-
ly antpathies springng from race and religion
As Americans, charged with the administra-
ton of the laws by which equal rights and pro-
lection shall be extended to all races and coud-
tions, we cannot now safely take new depart
ure, which, in another form, will resurrect and
establish those odious distinctions of race which
upOu US buc ldbo CtNll WHr, ana trOm
which we fondly hoped that God in His provi-
dence had delivered US forever.
IF the Chinese were white people, being in
all other respects what they are, do not be-
lieve that the complaints and warfare against
them would have existed to any considerable
extent. Their difference in color, dress, man.
ners and religion have, in my Judgment. more
to do with this hostility than their alleged
vices, or any actual injury to the white people
of California. The inquiry which the commit
tee iD3truCted make does inVOlVa
the political rights or privileges of the Chinese
AS the law stands they cannot be naturslized
and become citizens, and do not know that
any movement or proposition has been made in
any quarter recently to change the law. But
the question is whether they shall be permitted
to come 10 our country to work, to engage in
trade, to acquire property or to follow any pur-
suit. But before entering upon the discussion
OF any other principles, may be permitted to
observe that, in my judgment, the Chinese CAN
not be protected IN the Pacific States while re-
naming in their alien condition without repre-
sentation in the Legislature or 10 Congress.
"No system of labor is healthy or profitable
which is not free-in which men are not at
liberty to work for such prices as they choose
to accept. The field of labor must be open to
competition, as must every other branch of busi-
ness. The labor performed by the Chinese has
tended very greatly to the development and
prosperity of California. The testimony of
many of the witnesses went to show that but
for Chinese labor the state would not have half
the population, prosperity and production that
she has to-day, Looking at the question
broadly, and at the effect which Chinese labor
has exerted in California, running through q
period of twenty-five years, 1 am strongly Of
| the opinion that but for the presence of the
| Chinese California would not have more than
one-half or two-thirds of her present white pop
| ulstion; that Chinese labor has opened mp
many avenues and new industries for white
labor, made many kinds of business possible,
| and laid the foundations of manufacturing in
terests that bid fair to rise to enormous proper
tlons; that the presence Of the Chinese, holding
| out the prospect of labor at reasonable rates,
| induced the transfer of large amounts Of capi-
| tai and immigration to California, the most
inviting field for immigrants from every class
| Of society, including laboriDg men, and lastly
| that the laboring men of California have ample
employment and are better paid than in al.
most any other part of the country"