The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-16
CHINESE VOTERS.


or Hancock, we cannot say. The number is not
sufficient to make any perceptible difference in
the vote, or in any way to influence the result
but it is enough to alarm all people who have any
knowledge of the Chinese. 1t is the entering
wedge for the enfranchisement of this class, who
will not and never can be made to assimilate with
the American people and become part of the
Nation; who will never accept the benefits of our
civilization and become its upholders and extend
ers; who will never embrace the Christian relig-
ion or infidelity even, but will remain idoators
who have no regard for chastity, morality and
virtue, and no respect for womanhood; who
never assist in the prevention of crime or help to
bring offenders to justice, but look with contempt
upon all wholesome American statutes; who
swarm in plague-breeding shanties, knowing lit
tie and caring less about sanitary laws, and
bringing forth pestilential diseases; who are in
veterate gamblers and opium-users; who believe
in slavery and practice it in the hearts of Ameri-
can cities; who by a system of secret orders, aided
by intimidation and assassination, maintain such
a reign of terror that only in rare instances do
their serfs break away from them; who are
almost without affection, destitute of charity
blind to good motives, and devoid of honor; who
have no reverence for the aged and infrm, leaving
their invalids in out-of-the-way places to starve
rather than care for them; who worship only
mammon ana their Josses Of various sizes and de-
grees; who exist in such places and under such
conditions that it is impossible to keep any ac-
count Of their numbers any directory of their
names and occupations who come TO this country
temporarily for gain, and care nothing about
methods so long the end is accomplished; who
desert the temporary stopping place and return to
their celestial homes when their aims are accom-
l.-I, IL. ...s-
but only a means OF helping them to gain
competence to carry 10 China
We harbor no hatred Of the Chinese. They
have right to what they earn; it is theirs, to
take with them where they like They have
right to their religious dolatry the Constitution
guarantees it to them. They have a right, guar
anteed them by the unwritten law of the sacred
tradition that the United States is home
for the oppressed of all nations to seek this land
if they wish to become bona fde citizens. But
they come not for the purpose of securing citizen
ship, only so far citizenship will be profitable
to them; they are not trying to escape from top
preston" in their native land they are not MEM
bers of the class Americans invite; they do not
seek our country as home and an asylum from
tyranny. Having closely observed the Chinese as
they exist in nearly all the Western towns and
cities we unhesitatingly affirm that they will
make the most corrupt Of all the corrupt classes
who WELD the ballot. They appreciate the fact
that the villainous politicians will place "A cash
value on their votes. Their bosses will sell their
suffrages wholesale. They will be the means Of
electing the nominees that have the most money
and are unserupulous enough to use it, They will
be power that cannot be disregarded
This situation of affairs is causing the people Of
the Pacific slope great alarm. There is consider
able discussion as to the means to be employed TO
offset this blighting power. The result of the de-
iberations of the Chinese Commission is not
known. If the new articles open the way for alb
rogating the Burlingame treaty, it is by no means
certain that the opportunity will be improved If
the treaty is annulled there are enough Chinese
already in the Pacific States, who can claim the
protection of the Government, to cause any
amount of trouble for years to come. In looking
for solution of the politicO-Chinese problem, the
independence Ricer Side, edited by G. w. Quivey,
boldly speaks follows:
With this last addition OF the ercenary and unscrpu-
Chnaman TO the list Of voters the crowning
added the corruption OF the ballot America;
IL il time that something De done 10 purify IL. With
the ballot in the hands OF the ignorant and corrupt OF all
castles and cOlors IL is not TO be wondered ai that i'm
places question political merely question
barter and sale This is matter which should
thinking to pause and consider well whether not
remedy this Of affairs be found. As
element OF purity in politics. would not be well to in
vest the noble women OF America with the elective fran
chise? Who shall that his mother, wife sister
honest intelligent, and capable OF casting
pure and VOTE than the degraded denizens OF give
Points," the ignorant negro the besoed China
The time is fast approaching when the Indian his
tribal relations broken up, will be made Citizen and will
be- at the polls the peer Of any his ballot falling with
much weight the ballot Of any single individual.
Something be DONE and that right soon TO remedy
this state OF affairs and method better more
likely prove than the enanchisement OF the
noble, Intelligent OF our land.
1t is probable that the sentiments expressed in
this extract will frighten some timid men, who
fear their wives will be degraded by voting along
side of Chinese. We would suggest that it is bet
ter to have women the political equals of China
men than their interiors.