Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-04-26

| Pots 70 these n,arauding invaders!
Must We, IN order 70 show that We b.
iieve In the universal brotherhood OF
man and fatherhood of God, and in
order to have it understood that our
country Ii the land of the free and hons
OF the oppressed, permit them to matt.
tan IN The midst Of our populoos cities
their ioathsoms dens reeking with lust,
Cline and pes:ilencs. spreading dsease
oetfislny tns morals of our youth, and
driving our home laborers out of en-
p.oyment. Sir, / cannot subscribe 70
the doctrine. Believing it to be our
duty 70 maintain and perpetuate our
Tree institutions and the moral charac-
Ter OF our people on which they depend.
hold, sir, that II Is both our right and
duty TO prohibit the coming among Us
OF any class of persons IN any way in
imicaI or antagonistlc TO them, even
though those persons were willing 10
sever all allegiance to the land of their
birth. Cnquestiolably We have that
night and power when those Persons
cannot and will not rsnouncs that al
leeiance. Most other foreigners coming
among us bring their families and pro-
perty with them, cas-. their lot with Us.
conform to our habits and customs, es-
tabiish homes and rear and educate
their children, become citizens. and help
ON the general prosperity of the coun-
try. They become attached to the prin-
ciples of our Government, and are ever
ready to 60 forth in its defense. But
not SO With these Chinese. Time and
association have no influence on them.
They remain the same and Interchangeable
forever.
But We are told that that the remedy
IS in our own hands; that if we would
not smyloy them they would cease to
come. No doubt of that. The capitalist
who employs this sort of labor because
he can get it more cheaply, and thus
sends the amount of the wages paid
therefor ont of our circulation into a
foreign land, 10 a very shortsighted pol
iticai economist, and does himself AS
well as his coOntryme.. g eat INJUSTICE.
30 also IN the man who buys rufolXn-
made merchandise in preference to the
domestic article on the same principle,
and he does himself and his laborln2
countrymen a gross injustice. Bot.
without legislative restrictions and dis
ordinations protective of our home in |
dustries and labor, these things will 60
on. aud the interests of American labor |
will continue to suffer. Now, sir, il |
seems to me that if Congress should |
interfere in the latter case. it should |
also in the former. Precisely the same |
principle is involved in the one case as |
in the other. | can see no reason to |
justify legislative protection to our la |
boring classes against competition with |
-" the paupsr labor of Europe" that |
does not call as loudly, yea, more |
loudly, for the like protection against |
competition with the servile labor of |
Asia. l canuot see how the advocates |
of protection or the friends of Ameri- |
can Republioanism can consistently |
vote against this measure.
But again. sur. it il said it will give !
ofense 10 the Chinese Government and |
bring about a severance of our present |
favorable commercial relations with |
that nation, and result in the loss of |
our valuable Chinese trade. do not |
believe it, Mr.. Speaker. but il it does,
50 let it be. We cannot afford to bur-
ter away the blessings Of American lib |
erty and the dignity and glory of |
American free labor for any such pal |
try and sordid consideration.
In the hope of reaching an early vote |
and triumphant passage of tbs bill,
l now Yield tho floor.