The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-01
GENERAL RosecTans ON the Chine.c.

General W. S. Rosecnns has many
friends and acquaintance in West Vir.
ginia, where he figured carly in the war,
and where he is kindly remembered by
many Of our people. lie now represents
q California district in Congress, and during
the late discussion Of the Chinese prohibi.
ton bill he made some remarks on it. Just
before the vote was taken in the House.
The General is a Democrat, but in this
matter he discarded politics and appealed
alike to Democrats and Republicans to
unite in this measure Of justice to the PEG.
pie Of the Pacific coast and the whole coun.
try. He processes to have studied the sub.
iect dispassionately tohave had originally
but slight sympathy with the prejudice
against the Chinese but to have been con.
yerted by his experience and observations
in California to the belief that the con.
scryation OF our civilization demands that
the immigration Of these people to our
shores should be restricted within the
terms Of the bill passed by Congress. He
summed up his reasons for voting for the
bill as follows:
Because they send away 10 China, never
TO be returned, by far the largest part OF
that balance Of profit which white laborers
would retain among us;
Because practically they are, and always
will remain, Chinese subjects, alien to our
civilization, laws, customs, municipal life,
modes OF administering justice and OBJ.
tanning evidence in courts Of law;
Because they practically set up their
own government within and unknown TO
our laws;
Because, unlike immigrants from Euro.
pean countries, they are not permitted, but
are forbidden under the most terrible pen.
alties, by their government from renounc.
ing their allegiance to their own ruler, and
commanded bH their ancestor-worship to
send home to China the very bones Of those
dying abroad;
Because, even it were otherwise, general
Ignorance Of our language, uncomfortable
hereditary habits, customs, and modes OF
thought and life would leave them practiC-
ally and indefinitely Asiatic;
Because they are Introducing among us
some fearful diseases and degrading vices;
Because they furnish fearfuliy large
percentage Of criminals, and impose on us
excessive difficulties in the detection and
punishment OF crime among them;
Because it is practically impossible to
prevent the criminal, diseased and pauper
classes Of Chinese from being poured in
upon us, il any OF the lower classes are adj
mittel;
Because their presence here excludes
much more desirable population from
filling our country with our own people
and immigrants OF our own race, having all
the general habits, customs and ideas OF
liberty, law andg government appertaining to
GENERALIZATION
Because the Chinese already here form
but the vanguard OF an industrial army OF
Asiatic labOrers, impelled by an irresist-
able impulse TO better their condition,
which, unless prevented, will overrun our
country and degrade our civilization.
To show that General Rosecrans does
not misrepresent the sentiment OF the Pa.
cific coast in these positions, we may refer
to the fact that in 1870, when a vote was
taken in California on the direct PROPOSE
ton, "shall the Chinese go?" out Of
$4,000 votes cast in that State, only S3s
voted no" Who ever heard of such
unanimity as this where there was not a
real grievance underneath demanding a
radical remedy.