Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-08
The Anti-Chinese Legislation in Its
Wider Relations.
Baltimore Sun.

The anti Chinese bills in its new form has
passed both houses Of Congress by more
than a twO-thirds vote. As amended It re-
duces the period during which the immigra-
tion of Chinese is suspended to ten instead
of twenty wears. L. modifies the passport
and registration features of the vetoed bill,
but applies to skilled and unskilled lsborers
alike the ban OF exclusion contained in the
former bill. 1t is In some respects a more
carefully digested piece OF legislation, and
more likely to prove efficient in excluding
such Chinese as may attempt to
enter the country overland, by way
of Mexico on the one hand or Canada
on the other. Looked at in its larger as
PEGS, the anti Chinese bill is an important
piece of legislation. as It is a formal dis
carial of the weak aid sentimental op-
timism which refused to recognize the pos
sibilitY OF there being any race OF foreigners
Of too poor material for citizenship ia the
United States. 1t recognizes American citi-
zenship as q boon of no inconsiderable
value, 10 he bestowed only on such as come
up to a certain standard of moral and intel
lectual character. Taking our 4th of July
orators at their word. foreign governments
have been quite ready TO ship to our shores
paupers and Jail birds ''of every cOun-
try and every cline" That class
of immigrants we have learned to
send back 70 the European taxpayer to
EuDD0TE. ana EQ6 ul6cFlnlQaLlOn Llus Oe-
gun is extended by the anti Chinese bill,
with the view OF applying to American la
bOrers the same "prOteetion" that is at
present enjoyed by American manufac-
turers. The objection to the Chinese i'm
migrants, however, Is not that they are pau
ners OF criminals, and the few that reach
the EIstern cities are orderly, industrious,
and by no means "chesp" In their charges
for work On the other hand, they are not
cunnuh m this sf6a fn he
sidered factor in the labor market. and
can do nothing to affect the prices of labor
here. The reason why the 1,C09 800 whites
of the Pacific coast object to the admission
of vast hordes of Chinese may be briefly
stated as follows: Their low standard of
living enables them to exist
which will barely keep the soul and
body OF an AnglO-SaXOn together. They
therefore first underbid in the labor market,
and afterward, when they have accumulated
capital and become employers and manu-
fficturers, they undersell in the goods mar
ket, thus driving out of competition the
citizen, whose conception of living is higher
and more progressive. They cannot be
counted on as consumers of the products OF
others, though effective enough as produ-
GERS OF wares, such as clothing, shirts, boots,
cigars, laundry work, garden stuff, etc.
Their subOrdination to close corporations,
with whom they have contracted for trans
portation home after death or on the acqui-
sitiOn OF wealth, is objected to, such subOrdi-
nation causing them to obey the mandates
of the "Six Companies" rather than
the laws of the United States. The fact
that there are no Chinese i0ioeS brought over,
except, perhaps, by the wealthy, ,is because
the Chinaman does not come to settle, learn
our laws, adopt our customs and become an
American In any sense, as other immigrants
do, but comes on can industrial predatory
tour" to make his money and return with 1t
when made TO China. In a word, he is
viewed on the Pacific coast from the indus
trial point of view as an inVincible parasite
upon the body OF American labor, and pO-
liically as "a non assimilable dose" which
American society cannot digest. Remedial
measures are therefore thought to be i'm
peraiivelY necessary.
Though passed by a Congress in which
Republicans constitute the majority, the
auti-Cbinese bill will not, It is thought,
bring the Republican party any political
caDital: On the contrary, their opponents
will reap any benefits likely to accrue, IL the
following quotation from the letter Of
California correspondent of the New York
Nation may be taken expressing the feel
ings of the Psc fc coast: "The talk Of the
Atlantic papers about the Democratic
party being insincere in its attitude on
this question is true, l doubt not.
\ 1 can very decidedly assure you,
and sll interested. that, whether the Demo
Gratis voted from conviction or policy, they
dif vote snd formed the majority 10 our ia
vor on this question, and for this reason
they viii carry every Pacific State at the
next Presidential election. Thousands OF
life-lcng Republicans, myself included, who
never cast a Democratic vote in their lives,
will swallow the next Democratic candidate
at the Presidential election"