The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-03-16
THE CHIN ESE BILL.
Discussion In the HOuse on
Wednesday.

Washington, 15.-Page of Cali
fornia) said, it had been said
that polygamy was the twin sister
OF slavery. He asserted that it was
the twin barbarism of Chinese i'm
migration. The republican party
had declared, in the last platform,
It's opposition to polygamy, and
yesterday it had shown the country
that it was willing to keep its
pledge. The question of polygamy
was but speck in comparison with
the question of Chinese or Coolie
Che would not dignity it by calling
1t lmmlgration) invasion. The
people of the Pacific Coast were OPP
posed to the invasion OF the Chinese
because, as class, they were not fit
to help build up and carry out the
genius Of our institutions. Cali
fornia wanted white labor, but
white labOrers would not 90 to a
state where One-sixth of the male
population were Chinese. He was
willing to extend his hand to every
labOrer who sought, ia this country,
to better his condition, or to obtain
an asylum from tyranny; but he
would not extend his hand to slave
brought here under contract. The
man who would might triumph for
while, but the time would come
when American labor would de-
mand protection. Proceeding then
to a review Of the provisions of the
bill, Page argued that they were in
exact conformity with the treaty
StipulatiOns. In answer to the OBJ
lection that no distinction should be
made between Chinese and Eu-
ropean immigrants, he contended
that there was nothing in common
between them. The latter sought
liberty and were willing to become
a part and parcel Of our government,
while no one ever knew of a China
man striking a blow i'll the cause
of freedom. Page argued that when
the treaty was made, the word
"labOrer' was used because "coolie"
meant day laborer, and when in
this bill flaborer' was used, 1t was
intended to apply to all kinds of
laborers. He would be willing to
leave out section II, constituting the
term laborer, considering it to be
absolutely unnecessary.
Robinson-Do l understand the
term ''laborer" to be broader than
"coolie?" All coolies are laborers,
but are all laborers coolies?
Page-In China they are.
RObinson-In California?
Page-In California they are.
Willis, of Kentueky-The bill is
simply to execute a treaty which
exists between China and the
United States. and if the gentlemen
read that treaty they will find that
the class of people who are per-
mitted to cUlne to this country are
distinguished. and the mention of
that cl4s. 5 the exclusion of all
others.
Robinson-You don't confne the
term ",abOrers'' TO coolies"
WilllS-I do not. l do not think
that the treaty does.
III e then continued his speech,
appealing to the republicans to come
to the support of the bill. Their
obligation and honor compelled
them to do 81 for the republican
party had sOlemuly promised, in
national convention, that Chinese
immigration should be checked
Should it be said that that party had
obtained votes under false pre-
fences? Was the Chinese plank put
into the platform for the purpose OF
catching votes, or as plank to no
tify the people of the country that
the great republican party was in
full accord with the sentiment of
the people Of the Pacific Coast
Page sent to the clerks desk and
had read the celebrated " Morey
letter" and President GarGeld'S let
ter Of denial, and asserted that there
was not a person who did not be-
lieve that the "Morey letter was
absolute forgery. 1t was impossi-
bic for Garfield ever to have written
such an Infamous letter as that !;
and yet, what was in that
letter beyond the sentiments ex-
pressed by the advocates of
Chinese immigration. This land
was called the land of the free and
the home of the brave. 1t was the
home of the downtrOdden and op-
pressed. 1t should be an asylum
and a refuge for men who sought
freedom from the yoke of bondage
and persecution, but it was not the
home Of millions of slaves and serfs
who came here to labor under con
tract. The protectionists demanded
protection for American industry
he demanded protection for Ameri-
can labor. Was high protective
tariff only for the purpose of taxing
the people of the country, that the
rich might become richer and the
poor poorer? Was it Gas he sup
posed it was) for the purpose OF pro,
tecting American labor? not against
cheap money, but the cheap labor
of Europe and Asia? The demo
cratic party in the House woulC
support the bill; let the republican
party do so also, and thus redeem
the pledge which it had made to the