Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-04-06

Chinese
Mr.. CURTIN said
Mr.. SPEAKER. The gravity of the ques'
ton now before the House surely enti'
ties il to all the distinguished ability
with which it has been argued. ] have
not the temerity to suppose that | can
give TO any member on this floor any
reason for change oil the judgement to
which he may have arrived from that
discussion yet representing a part ol
the people of this country, am extreme.
ly obliged to the gentleman from Cali.
fornia Mr.. PAGE in charge of this bill
for the time which il has been his plea
sure to me to express to the House my
reason for the vote which | shall give.
1t is common for gentlemen on this
floor as | have learned since have had
the honor OF seat here, TO speak OF
labor and of its protection as one OF the
cardinal duties OF representative OF
the American people; and labor, sir,
cannot be magnltied as the great source
OF values, OF improvements, and OF pro-
cress. have never heard a gentleman
on this floor advocate any bill or meas.
ure looking TO progress or development
or production when he failed to men.
ton the protection of labor as the first
duty he owed to his constituents; and
who has ever known member OF Con-
press when candidate for office who
did not on the hustings declare himself
the friend and sturdy advocate OF all
measures which might foster, prt tect,
or advance the interests oflabor? Now,
Mr.. speaker. for the first time in the
L a.. l.,s.laNin, Of fhta
ment Congress is brought face to face
with the clear and well.detned question
OF labor unalloyed by the paramount
protection of any of the diversified in.
Ierests which employ labor as the pri'
mary subject OF legislation.
This, sir, is not a question OF the in.
corporation of companies; 1t Is not a
measure giving vast domIuIons TO cor.
porations or companies OF citizens II Is
not subsidies, 1t is not money or capital
TO be protected. leaving labor to be EN-
ployed in the vast avenues of trade and
commerce, into which capital invites
labor as a mere incident to protection.
The American Congress stands today
in the presence OF a clear and well de.
fined question OF the protection Of a
class OF American citizens who most
need and deserve the munIticence of our
Government. On the western slope OF
the United States 100000 Cinnamon
take the place Of 100000 American
citizens.
Disguise it as you will, conceal or GOV.
er il with the Humanitarian principles
underlying our structure OF government,
summon from the history OF the past as
has been done on this floor during the
long debate the sublime utteTances OF
the Continental Congress through the
Declaration of Independence, what is
the question we are to meet on our
votes on this measures IL Is sentiment
and only sentiment; and IL fades before
the wonderful growth and changing in
terests of the country, its progress, its
wealth, its great future, and the true
logic Of the necessities uathe condition
Of our people and Government now,
present, "a did the silver tones of the
great bell when the fathers OF the Re.
public sealed their immortal fame in
the declaration, aud rung out the proc.
lamation of liberty and equality 10 all
humanity. And here we are in the
presence Of the question which, repeat,
IA the protection OF American labor.
DO we prefer to have 100000 Cinnamon
take the place OF 10000 American la.
borers, part and parcel of the body
polite, owing allegiance tn our Govern.
ment, with the right OF the ballot, in.
suring for their children our free edu.
cation, and with American hopes and
aspirations
/ say to my friends on the other side
If you are in favor OF protecting labor
you now have the opportunity. This
Government only answers the expecta.
tons Of its great founders, and becomes
truly state when il Is united aud per.
feet in its homogeneity and relieved
from all sectional divisions. II when we
disturb the interests of the people OF
Maine it should affect the people OF
California, and II we interfere with the
rights or interests, the happiness, or
prosperity, or fail 10 redress wrongs suf.
tered by the people Of Oregon, our &C.
ton or failure to act vibrates in Florida,
and will be felt by the people there, a.
if they were the.suiierers. When there
l. real unity aud harmony in our gov
ernmental organization we protect all
the people of all the country, and We
provide redress and remedy TO any evils
or wrongs suffered by any portion OF
the people or section OF the country.
When the people of California or OF
any part of the Pacific coast knock at
the doors of the Congress of the United
States aud present in evidence not TO
be impeached and in language OF truth
not to be misunderstood in the almost
unanimous declaration OF the people,
aud through the united voice OF all
their Representative in these Halls
that they suffer from the introduction
of foreign element not In harmony
with the rights and interests, and in
terrupt the prosperity and pursuit oI
happiness of a large body Of Ameri
can citizens who have cast their lot
there; when IL is claimed by them
that there should be preference TO
American labor over recently imported
Chinese labor; the whole people OF the
United States are touched by the ap-
YsaaI and IL IL our right as IL certainly is