The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-03-29
CHINESE IMmIGRAT1Oy.
HON. y, GEoRGE.

HON. J. z. GEORGE,
In the Seaqfe Of tie United States Monday,
Maroh 6, 1882.
Mn. PRESIDENT: / have many reasons
which impel me to give my most hearty
support to this bill, as well as the amend
ment proposed by the Senator from Oregon
| [ Mr.. Grover and TO the amendment offered
by the Senator from California, Mr. Far
ley.l | shall mention now only two
shall give it my support, first, because the
white people of the States mostly affected by
Chinese immigration with almost entire
unanimity desire its passage. For the pres
ent, at least, the evil and wrong intended
to be remedied By the bill are in the main
local, spending their greatest force on the
| Parific States. These States complain, and
think they complain justly, of the effects
| of Chinese immigration upon their welfare
and prosperity. These complaints are real,
based on actual grievances of a most serious
character. They do not have their origin
in mere sentiment and theory; they are not
mere apprehensi0ns of injury 10 come here
after; but they set forth wrongs now being
/ felt, evils now being endured. Taess
wrongs and these evils are not temporary
or ephemeral. They have existed for many
! years, and, if continued, threaten perma-
| nently to affect the welfare of those States
and the happiness of their people.
The existence of the evils arising from the
presence Of the Chinese in these States is
not matter Speculation or argument, but
1t IS shown by actual experience. These
States have had, and are now having, in
their borders a practical demonstration of
the effects of Chinese immigration. Their
people have seen the Chinese in all the
walks and pursuits of life in which they are
engaged, and in their social relations,
and In their religious life They have
observed the influence of their pres
ence among and their contact with
the white race on the morals and
material welfare of those communities.
They have had the opportunity of enjoying
the blessings, if any there be, arising from
Chinese labor and Chinese association, and
they have been compelled to submit to and
endure the Inconvenience and wrong occa-
stoned by this labor and this association.
They have watched and observed the dispo-
sition and capacity of the Chinese for
progress and advancement and their capa-
bilIty for assimilation with and incorpora-
ton into our own people. And their verdict
Is ON all these points against these immi-
grants.
NCI baIu1sy SiI3 iie tx Ap6Ei6HC6 anu OD5ST-
vation of the people of the Pacific States,
and their judgment founded on these data
are entitled to the greatest weight and
influence on our deliberations They ought
to determine our action, unless we propose
to discard the lessons of experience for the |
speculstions of sentimentalists or the theo-
rles of humanitarianism which considers |
rather what the world ought to be than |
what it is or can be.
If it were true (Which 1 denyl that this |
bill is in conflict with the logic OF the |
political theories in regard to she rights of |
mankind. which have heretofore prevailed |
in this country, that is no insuperable |
objection to its passage. do not deny that |
every measure should be weighed and |
considered in the light of accepted and |
recognized principles, but / do deny that
every measure, however necessary to the |
welfare and the happiness of the people of
the United States, however accordant to
the teachings of experience and history,
should be condemned because it conflicts
with the theories of a speculative and |
Utopian scheme for the administration of
the affairs of this world.
Our Government has attained its present
astonishing grandeur and vigor because it
is the result ofthe growth aud development
of Anglo-Saxon ideas, put into practical
operation by Anglo-Saxon common sense. It
has not grown according to rule prescribed
by an ineXoTable logic, reasoning from
premises which assumed an ideal perfection
in human nature and attainabe in human
institutions. Our Constitution is the work
of men, intended for the government of men,
not of angels or demi-gods II recognizes
human frailties and human passions, and
seeks no unattainable perfection. 1t was
made by the American people for them
selves and their posterity, not for the human
race. 1t was ordained by the American peo-
Pile for their own happiness aud their own
welfare, and the welfare of of such Others as
they should choose of their own free will to
admit to American citizenship. That our
institutions are stable; that they attain the
ends of good government-security to life,
liberty aud property, the progress and hap
piness OF the American people; that they
can stand any strain, however great, occa-
stoned by unlooked-for and calam!tous
emergencies is because they were evolved
and were modified as circumstances de-
manded, aud were not the result of the
a pTiori reasonings of political theorists.
The foundations were not laid according
to the exigencies and needs of the people.
The superstructure may be patchwork, but
the different pieces are so dovetailed into
each other, so skillfully joined, that the
weakness of one part has up to this time
been counterbalanced by the united strength
of the whole. In short, sir, may well say
that the excellence, the strength, and dura-
bility of Anglo Saxon political institutions
results from the fact that they are both
illogical and inconsistent. 1t is, therefore,
no good reason why we should not relieve
the people of the Pacific States OF the great
evil of Chinese immigration, so ably
and fully presented by their Senators
here; no reason why we should not
adopt the amendment of the Senator
from California prohibiting the naturaliza-
tion of natives of the Chinese Empire, that
we do tolerate the presence of another infe-
rior race, and have conferred on them the
privileges of American citizenship and inn
posed on them the discharge of its high /
duties. l prefer, sir, to expose myself to
the charge of inconsistency rather than to
disregard the known wishes of the white
people of the Pacific States and to incur
the hazards and dangers to which they are
exposed.
fwillnot discount their Judgment, formed
from hard experience, in favor of the specu-
lations of a humatarian philosophy. Be-
sides, sir, it is not so clear that our Consti-
tuition with all its great strength and vigor,
after embracing the African, can take in
with safety even the more enlightened coun-
trymen of Confucius.
Second. / give to this bill, and the pro-
posed amendments, my hearty support for
another reason. It will really and truly
protect American labor It furnishes no
sham protection in the shape of tax levied
on all the labor of the country for the bene-
ft of the capitalist, in the hope (often if I
not always vain one) that be will divide
it and give some small part to that incon-
siderable number of laborers whom he en-
ploys
This bill protectects the American labor
er directly and clearly, and not in a round
about and secondhand way. 1t gives this
protection BY its own force. and the vigor of
It's own benefeent provisions, independent
of either the magnanimity or the charity
of another, and that other too directly in
terested in withholding the protection.
As so we'll shown in the very able and ex
haustive discussion of this subject bY the
Senator from California, Mr. MILLER.
the Chinese laborer has an advantage over
the American laborer This is an undue
7oos v,f4f fRf,r.