Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-07-24
THE CHINESE.

IL
ton and an essential element of its
noble character, that it is intended tc
be an asylum for the oppressed of
all lands Already every race and
nearly every nation have representa-
tives among our citizens. Why is it
that an outcry is made against the i'm
migration of the Chinese? An omtcry
Of sufficient Importance TO be digniiied
by both OF the grea. political conven-
tions with place in their party plat
forms It's certainly not the purpose
| to exclude all immigration and so ig
more the chief tradition OF our glorious
history. BY doing so we should shut
the door in the face Of our kindred, for
Jonathan is brother to all IN IN who will
he brotherly. But it is objected tha:
they work for low wages. Well they
,rorL.. They feed and care for them
selves. They are never a pauper class.
Can as much be saidfor certain ones who
cry ont against tie 'haytlen cray
thurs These states have vast rcsour-
ccs TO develop, and capital is powerless
for lack Of cheap labor to unlock these
mines Of wealth.
There is always room higher up in
the emplnyments of men. 1t is Il tacit
confession OF incidence or inferiority
to utter I. fear of ''niggcr equality
or ''of cheap labor Our farmers need
cheap labor to plant and gather their
harvcsts. Oar great public enterprises
need it to perform the drudgcry of
hard toll necessary to success. Many
OF us can remember the outcry made
years ago against the poor Irish because
they preferred TO work at low wages on
American canals and railways rather
than starve in Ireland. 1t is "A shame
that they should be first and loudcst
against competitors But the Chinese
live on 50 little, Won mean to say they
are frugal. good economists. They are not
more frugal, than The poor from Ger
many, Ireland, Italy or France. And
we hold these up to our native poor as
models in this matter. to be studied
and copied, rather than driven away.
They are alleathcn people. Who makes
this objection. Strangely. it comes
from those least devoted to the
christian religion in this
land. The Christian Churches
looli upon the immigration of pagans as
a hopeful means Of their chri,tianiza-
ton. They are not afraid of the result
OF Il contest between Contucius and
Jesus either here OF in China. Many OF
them are sadly fallen. Not more so
than the sand lots rabble who raise the
cry "unclean. Is there any real reason
why i'll the words OF the sixth article of
The republican platform this nation
should limit that immigration by the
enactment Of such Just, humane. and
reasonable provisions as viii produce
that result We answer yes. There
Is a reason that conunend5 this ques-
ton to statesmen as one requiring care
tul attention. 1t is suggested in the
very able letter Of acceptance sen: by
Gen. }. a. Garfield to Senator Hoar. Il
is suggested to the dispassionatc oh
server by the fact that the Chinese rare
ly ever become citizens. Consequently
they asa people do not care to become
acquainted with our form of govern
mcnt or the genius Of our institutions.
Ill other immigrants come as fa,ni-
hes, become citizens, attend or schools
and are soon LOST in the homogeneous
nation. thoroughly Americanized. II
was the evident expectation of the foun-
ders Of the republic that the oppressed
Oi all lands who came here seeking asv-
ium would become at once citizens. and
adopt fully our civil lie and national
spirit. II true 10 the genius of our in
stltutions we can not exclude any one
of any nation because he works for
lower wages, lives more frugally or
or worships differently than those al
ready citizens But if he presistently re-
fuses the duties and responsibilities and
protection Of citizenship, we may justly
limit the number who come TO these
United States.