The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-03-18

Page Of Cali6ornia Speaks Upon the
Measure.

Page Of California Speaks Upon the
Measure.
He Says the Democratic Win Sup
port the Bill,
And Appeals to the Republicans to
Keep their Pledges.
WASHINGTON, March 15.--In th.
House Page, Of California, said it had
been said that polygany was the twin
sister Of slavery. He asserted that It
was the twin barbarisln of Chinese Inn
migration. The Republican party had
declared in its last platform it's Opposi-
tion to polyganly, and yesterday it had
shown to the country 1t was waiting to
keep it's pledge. The question Of polyga-
my was but speck in comparison with
the question Of the Chinese coolies. He
would not dignity it by calling it N i'm
migration Invasion. The people Of the
sion Of the Chinese because as o class
they were mot fit to build up and carry
out the genius Of our institutions. Cali
fornia wanted white lab0rers, but white
lsbOren wouldn't 90 to q state where
one-sixth Of the male population were
Chinese. He was willing to extend his
hand to every ]ab0rer who sought in
this country to better his condition or
to obtain an asylum from tyranny, but
he would not extend his hand tO 4 slave
brought here under contract. The man
who would might triumph for while,
but the time would come when Ameri-
can labor would demand protection.
Proceeding then tn review the provisions
Of the bill Page argued that they were
in exact conformity with the treaty
stipulations:
In answer to IN oil lection that no dis
tinctiOn should lie made between Chi
n.se and European immigrants he con-
tended that there was nothing ut
all in common between them.
The latter sought liberty and were viii
ling to become u part and parcel OF our
Government while no one ever knew Of
q Chinaman ever striking a blow in the
cause Of Freedom. Page argued that
when the treaty was made the word
lal>Orer was used because ''COUlie"
nsant day laborer and when in this bill
the word ''lal,orer' was used it was in
tended to apply to all kinds Of laborers.
He would be willing to leave
out Of section II the term ''lalOrcr"
considering it to be absolutely unneces-
sary.
Robinson-D understand the term
l.lNrers to he broaler than CO0iies-all
Coolies are laborcr; but arc aIl laborers
Coolies:
Page-In China they are.
KObinsOn-ln California:
Paye--!n California they are.
Willis Of Kentuc:zy-The bill is SIM
piy to execute u treaty which exists be-
tween China and the United States and
i: the gentleman rc;l.is that treaty he
will find tilat class Of people W'o arc
permitted to come to this country Is dis
tilly,lis!,e,l and mention oi that cl;:>> is
Tie exclusion Oi all Nthc,s.
RnbinSon-Iou don't cUn:inc the
term laiOrsrs to Coolies.
Willis-I do not. d" not think the
treaty does.
Page cont innca i,,s Speecn appealing
to the Republicans 10 come 10 the sup
port 0f the bill. Their obligation and
honor compelled them to do So, for the
Republican party had solcnnly pro-
i,u,.nccl III National convention that
Chinese immigration should b. checked:
should it be said that that party had
obtained votes under false pretenses::
Was the Chinese plank put into the
platform for the purpose. Of catching
votes or as Il plank to satisfy the people
OF the country that the great Republic
can party was in full accord with the
sentiment Of the people "f.thc Pacific
Coast
Page sent to the clerk 5 desk and had
read the celebrated Morey letter and
President Garti.ld's letter Of denial and
asserted that there was not 4 person
who did not believe that the Mo-
rev letter was All absolute for
gerry. 1t was impossible f"r Gar
field ever to have written such an
Infamous letter :.s that and yet what Was
in that letter yOnl the senti-
mtlits expressed hy IL. advocates Of Chi
ns;e imnliy ration? This land was call
I'd the land of the free and the home Of
the brave. 1t wa, tine home for the down
trml.len and the oppressed. 1t should i'c
the asylum and refuge f"r Hlcn VIII"
sought freedom from the yoke OF bond
age and persecution hut it WAS not the
home Of the millions of slaves and serfs
who came here to labor under contract.
The protcctiOni>ts demanded protection
for American industry. He demanded
protection for American !a!Orcrs. Was
high protective tartffonly for the p',r-
pose Of taxing the people Of the country
that the rich might become richer ard
the poor poorer: Was it. he supposed
it was, for the ourp'se o! protecting
American labOr-not against cheap
n.on:y-hu: against the cheap labor Of
Eur.,,,c and Asia. the Democratic party
i'll the House would support the bill:
Lei the Republican party 4" 50 also and
thus redeem the pledge which it had
made to the country. The House had
Yesterday swept away the barimrous ,ys-
tenn OF .mly,.:,ny anl Il" trusted tina; on
Thursday when lie called the previous
question H,is other relic o: bac''arlsm
would he also swept away and i law
placed on the statute books that wculd
protect labor in this country a"ain5t the
influx of Chinese Immigration. In com
,li,iun III cnntende,l tina: twenty years
limit was not too extended.
Roi,insDn-I.>t US have All experience
Of ten wears anA il the people consider