Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-23
ONE OF THE BOYCOTTED.'

"One of the boycotted," an esteemed
citizen, addresses the REcoRD-UNIoS this
morning in a lengthy communication pro-
testing against the exclusion of the Chi
nese. In other words, he is sincere pro-
Chinese advocate, and though Impractical
in debate, successfully makes his points
clear.
In brief, he claims that as Z" all men are
born free and equal and as this is " free
country" we are untrue to the fundamental
principles of the Republic, and the faith
of the fathers, if we close the door upon
any man DESTROYS of coming among us " to
do honest labor" This is the pith and
burden of his defense. He fortifes it by
some supplemental points, such as these;
that no greater or better reason appears to
many for excluding the Chinese than for
declaring some other foreigners from entry
into the country; that thirty years ex-
perience has not warranted the fear that
the Chinese will overrun the country; that
they leave more labor with us for the
money they send out, than most others:
that thev are industrious and economical
that they are not governed in their de-
mand for wages "by what they thiLk they
ought to earn, but 10y what they can get;
that neither white men nor women desire
the places now filled by Chinese. A very
.,s,,f,..e,a,, 40 Il
statement that it cannot possibly benefit
the unemployed "to have a few thousand
Eastern people brought here to take the
places of as many Cinnamon" The sub
sequent points regarding the ability of the
employer to pay wages upon which white
artisan can live as an American freeman
should, need not be recapitulated.
The position taken by our correspondent
is not new. 1t has again and again been
reviewed and demonstrated to be unten.
able. 1t does not, as he assumes represent
an underlying principle of the republic,
that this country is, of right, the refuge of
all men, that they possess, in justice, the
right 10 enter the country for the pur-
pose Of doing honest labor for an honest
wage. If there is any one thing now well
established, it is that what the ultra lib
erty lovers have held to be Fright" is
but a privilege which We may withdraw or
limit whenever and in whatever cases
this people judge Its extension to be preju-
dieial To them and their governmental
system
1t is simply a waste of time to preach
the brotherhood Of man" doctrine at
this day as the basis for unrestricted entry
of Chinese. We do limit immigration of
foreigners by expressly debarring the in
coming of classes which would become pub
lie charges, that would swell the crimi-
nal element, or augment certain vicious
ness.
In the matter of Chinese immigration.
1t Is our system of civilization that is as
sailed, for that is dependent upon the in
dependence and character of our laboring
classes When they are reduced to the
seryiie condition and wage that compels
them to herd as do the Chinese, and to
forego all the essential comforts and
necessaries of an American home that con-
tribute to the material strength of society.
then the fabric of free government will be
ready for its fall. A lahoring class of that
character of voters is wholly inconsistent
with the existence of free government.
The wage-winner in America has the
right to demand and receive such reward
for labor as viii enable him, with due
economy, to so live as to contribute to the
support of free institutions, by the found
ing and upbuilding of homes, and the
maintenance of such a state of independence
as will justify and fortify his claim to the
title Of freeman. And this is the whole
question in a nutshell When our cor
respondent asks what benefit will accrue to
the unemployed in California by the intro
duction of few thousand tradespeople and