Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-17

labor. 1t has come to despise the doing of
nearly all kinds of work in which Chinese
have been engaged. Skilled labor has
been kept away from us by the presence of
the Chinese. 1t appears only where there
is demand for it. and of late the demand
in California has been slight.
In this anti Chinese agitation we are in
transition stage; We are changing from an
old to new system-new to California
1t is duty to ourselves and such white
wage-winners as are still with us, to pro-
ducers and to consumers, to create the least
possible friction, and to inhict upon the
industries of the State the minimum of
harm, for some temporary injury always
results in the passage from one industrial
system to another Take the single in
stance of house service. 1t is now so
largely performed by Chinese that the
serving girl is rarity here, and those at
the East who would gladly come to the
State for fair wages have found the way
blocked by the Chinese. Now desirable
laborers always migrate slowly. They
will not come to us until assured that they
viii better their condition.
Recognizing this fact some years ago, a
society was formed in Colusa county to
promote and materially assist the immi-
grafton of white house-servants and farm
labUrers, and for time it had good sue
cess We believe the editor of the Colusa
San was at its head, aud that the organi-
cation is not yet dissolved. That associa-
ton was the most practical anti-Chinese
organization ever formed in the State. 1t
brought into single county from the East
three or four score house-laborers who dis
placed just as many Chinese. But the
Chinese did not go out of the homes in
which employed until the Caucasian APP.
peared. A proper thing to do now, while
the Chinese agitation continues, and should
until ample restrictive measures are ac-
corded, is to organize for the active pro
motion of means to supply the places of
Chinese laborers. Sacramento can do her
self honor and supplement the effort ofthe
worSingmen by seconding the Colusa
scheme and organize means for filling the
places of displaced Chinese
With the oncoming of the season when
outdoor labor will be in demand, the
friends of agitation will meet counter
current arising out of the natural law of
self-preServation, and if they are wise they
viii not come into conflict with it by stub
born resistance, but will rather meet the
necessities of the case and accommodate the
movement to it. This will be the part of
wisdom. To punish the whole State use
lessly will be the part of folly. The Chi
nese here came by our invitation and con-
nivance up to time when the evil of the
unequal competition between white and
Chinese labor developed. In the mean
time our own labor element was democrat
lied or driven out. \ change in condi-
tons has been resolved upon, and wisely,
but the application of the means should
not be so violent and hasty as to do any
serious injury to the industrial and pro-
ducing interests of the State. The cause
Of American civilization will not be adj
vanced by infieting self-punishment Our
determination to be rid of the undesir-
able Chinese need not recede by single
step. Our appeal for trained and reliable
labor to snpplant the Chinese will testify
to the people of the East of the honesty,
sincerity and infiexibility of the move.
ment against the class that degrades labor
and belittles the citizenship of the wage
winner and from the malign influence of
which he is entitled to be relieved.