New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-26
DISCUSSIONS OF THE B1PTISTS.
HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY MEETINGS.


DEBATE on THE CHINESE BILL-sPEECHEs By
CALIFORNIA MINISTER'S.
The American Baptist Home Mission Society held
its second days session yesterday III the First Bap-
fist Church, and the meetings were largely at
tended I'm the morning after devotional exer-
cses the report of the Committee on Chinese Mis-
sOns was read by tho Rev. Dr. ii. Nj. King, ana IN
the discussion which followed several cergymen
participa ed In the report the passage of the Chi
ncse bill was Earnestly deprecated Such a law
1t said, was not demanded by any actual peril
to the American institutions or indus, rles; 1t
was brought about by an unchrlstlan race preju-
dice and the rivalry of political parties ambitious
for power and Will be an ineilaceable stain upon
our National honor" The.report added:
The number of Chinese immigrants in this country Is
insignificant in comparison with Otner Immigrant pOpu
lations very nature OF Things it mast remain
II they their native land is VITA tine expectation
OF speedy return The presence OF the paltry number
OF 100 600 Mougoians TINS vast continent, whose
coming has hardly exceeded an average OF 5000 per
annuu aud who for the most part are quot, Industrious
and frugal citizens, could not nave accustomed the aglt
ton which II has or aroused sic out0ursts OF Congres
sunal eUGuence, led to such formal restrictive legs
IatIon mad the Chinese question been mad the lin
portant pivot which may turn Presidential election
The Rev. Dr. g. s. Abbott. of Oakland Cal. be-
gan the discussion with a ten minute speech Oh
:. he Christian View of the Chinese Question"
"Ihe exegess of the Word OF God he said, " is IN
error whenever 1t asserts that our Bible teaches that
the assimilation OF different races is the ultimate
humanity OF the earth. | have never honored
sand-loIiSm,' and treat the Chlnaman with the
utmost cIvility but am not Ill favor of universal
be preserved any such basis. The family lie IS
of supreme impor and 1t cannot be sustained
III California with helOt imnligraton. In contest
for race supremacy between wnlte, black and yell
low nations. the last with 40O,0O0,000 of
pledges of vitality back of 1t, Is the
strongest. If there were such struggle the yellow
would show power OF absorption serious TO con-
template. National selfpreservati0n is a law of
nature, and immigration thal tends to diminish the
power of resistance OF given Face stock Is unde-
sirable. / am the one man In this assembly that
needs to be pitled, Tor know that stand alone,
with vast theme Oil my mind. | object to vel
coming every immigrant irrespective OF bus ca
pacity for our American HE"
Tie Rev. DR.. j. Is. Thomas, of Brooklyn, who
formerly preached i'll San Francisco spoke ne4t,say
ing III part: Brother Abbott does not believe III
God, nor the Ameica people. lie has made, how
ever tine best argument Tor such Dad case that
ever heard. Would DR.. Abbott have this Nation
become a homogeneous people 1t so, let him 10
warned b. the fearful examples of South America
and Russia. The Spanards are homogeneous, and
50 are the Russians Let DR.. Abbott remember that
Coz and not the American Congress made TINS con-
tiuent, and lie made California as much for tine
Chnaman ~ any other man. HE climate and soil
of hat state are adapted for raising silk cOcoons
rice, cotton ana tea, tine products winch tue Chinese
are most competent 10 raise. We need have no fear
of a Mongollan invasion. The ports OF CHINA have
been open Tor thirty ye airs, and only 5000 TO
:, 900 immigrants come annually TO TINS country,
while nearly million come from Europe"
II am the twelfth uryulan," replied Dr. Abbott,
" and knew | could not convince you that l was
right, but / am sure that you have something 10
think about now" lie then showed how cheaply
the Chinese would work, compelling the American
families 70 move away or starve. Dr. Abbott re-
uuested permission 10 speak two minutes and DIR.
ihomas SAID that he could speak live the entire
audience was against him.
Inc Rev. DIR. A. H. Pattes, of Sprln gield, Mass,
smoke In part as fol JWs: " once stood with DR..
| Ihonas, out have pdnd out that nine tenths of
the best Christian thought OF California against
Chinese immigration, aud that 20 my nind Is u
sumner tear the influx Of these foreigners, be-
cause it is the entering wedge between the church
| and labor. We must DC Cautious"
lone Ilr offs Tor 10
whether intense setshness Christian motives
] shall rule California. The people OF every State
would DO Affected Ia the same way, but must