The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-05-11
j Oh N DILLON,
~


In a speech upon the Chinese Bill in
Congress, Hon Roswell 2. Flower, of
New York, stated the matter in a telse
clear and comprehensive manner. He
said:
The question before the Heuse is, in
my opinion, a simple one. 1t can be
summed up in one word: Shall we
protect our labor, or shall we allow it
to be degraded by the cooie standard
This is what we are to decide upon.
Whether we shall afford protection 10
our laborers, or whether we will be
content TO protect our capital only and
leave labor out Reconsideration. There
is no question of principle there is no
question of sentiment the question is
solely and simply relative to the price
of labor.
The coolie system is simply system
of slavery Chinese labor is brought
here by companies for a certain sum
per capita. 1t comes to perform GER
tain work, to secure certain pay, and
finally to return home 50 much the
richer. 1t comes in the interest oI
those who are obliged to employ labor
1t comes to aid those who have mines
to work, or railroads to build, or facto.
ries to be manned, or labor of any
kind to be done. II is brought and
brought by capital to increase the
profits of capital it is a wage-saving
wage reducing machine
bought and worked in the interest oi
capital. The tool itseIf-the China.
man-is the passive instrument III the
hands of masters. He sells himself
from home, from friends, from family
to further the selfish schemes of his
employer. He places himself in the
hands of his purchaser.
He does not come with his wife and
children to find p ornament home, but
expressly for tic purpose of taking
back to his wife and children some 7ol
the comforts of which he has deprived
our citizens. Not like the European
immigrant, who brings us wealth and
love OF liberty, he comes to take wealth
away. and to stamp upon labor the
servile characteristics of his race.
These are the facts. Can there be
any romance or sentiment in a matter
of this sort?
No country can send US any of her
goods to be sold to the disadvantage of
our producers. No country can bring
IlO pIOuuClS Ol us lCOQS anu WORK
shops to compete with ours in home
markets. No land can encroach upon
our manufactures or deprive them of
their profits. No foreign competition
can reduce their rate Of gain. China,
that land of poverty and wealth, that
miracle of cheapness, can send all her
labor TO grind down American wages,
while the products of capital can come
no nearer ours Than 80 per cent. tariff
will allow | do not discuss tariff:
do not discuss equal rights; I do not
discuss American citizenship. But
when hear Republicans who will go
to the polls shouting, Protection for
American industries ~ when l hear
the men who boast OF their kind pa
tronage aud fatherly protection to
American labor; when | hear these
men protesting against a bill looking
tothe expulsion OF pauper labor from
ourmidst; when l hear them sound
the trumpet OF coolie system and the
principle OF freedom together when L
see them attempting to deprive the
American laborer OF his employment
by introducing a lot of helots > when
l see them trying to drive our. native
born and adopted citizens from their
vOcations by the aid of mercenaries
when | see them advocating protec-
ton and at the same time importing
labor machines free OF duty, l can
neither doubt their Inconsistency nor
trust their disinterestedness.