The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-08

a population more than doubled, could be lioui-
dated with $1S. 600. 900 in 1876. Then ca1ne the
first outcry against the Monaghan. and. If you
will remember it came simultaneously with
great commotion in financial and industrial cir
cfes which ended in depression of trade aud COM
msrce The demagogue was with as then as
now and from that time on his howl has been
heard in the land as lean seasons followed fat
ones. It was discovered the Chinaman, who had
taken nobodys place. but had made place for
himself and thereby had made hundreds of
places for others, responsible for all the ills
and travails of the people"
ut is said that the Chinese now occupy places
which but for them would be given to the white
boys and girls that their labor is cheap and
causes low wages"
THAT they can live on few cents day. and
so forth, interrupted Consul Bee. 81 know the
burden of that complaint, than which none was
less we'll founded. My assertion is that the
Chinese do not shut out white boys and girls, or
men and women. for that matter; and. further,
that if the Chinese were now taken from the
State panic would ensue and demand for
labor arise that could not be filled. and which
would result in the permanent ruin OF innumera-
BILE enterprises. There is not skilled or unskilled
labor enough in the Pacific States to take places
that would be made vacant by the Chinese leav-
ing. 1t has been tried to substitute white boys
and girls in the cigar factories. A training
school was established year or two ago. and
what was the result} About one hundred boys
and girls offered themselves to take the places OF
$500 Chinese cigar-makers That training school
is a thing of the past Tell me who would DICK
your hopsa Fifty thousand bales of them are
gathered on the Pacific coast) Who would DICK
your fruit, your grapes and berries should the
Chinaman go? There are some thirty thousand
Chinese engaged in agricultural pursuits on the
Pacific coast Who will take their placesf
About ten thousand are house-servants.
Is there an equal number of white
young women ready to take their placess
Mark what the agitators say They don't want
places for themselves. No, they wantrthem for
our daughters, GU. boys, our laborers. our mo-
chanics.' but our people cannot be found when
the Chinaman does go. Next. let me say word
as to cheap labor You will find that wherever
the Chinaman works he went there originally
because the white man could not exist at the re-
enumeration which the employer could afford to
pay. Chinese cheap labor. therefore, mazda the
places. So long these places could support
cheap labor only the high priced white labor did
not lust after John Chinaman's berth, but the
very moment the Chinese did get prices equal to
those paid to Caucasians the demagogue was
ready to prove that John Chinaman kept white
people out of work by working for lower wages
Take the case of house servants. A good clearly
Chinese may earn $25 to $50 month"; sum
equal to that paid to white domestics. Can that
be called cheap labor9 The Chinese took domes-
tic service years ago because white girls could
not be had; they cannot be had to this day to
supply the demand. Does he, then. keep white
girls out of places by working for smaller wagesf
But DO you doubt that there is a servant girl in
California who does not think her lot embittered
by Johns invasion into the realms of the kitchen
and chambers"
''rhen your position is that the Chinaman is
still necessity
Most decidedly" said the Consul-general
sTnere are number of industries which de-
pend on Chinese labor alone others do so partly,
and in still other places, where white labor could
and would be employed, it cannot be obtained
The proof is simple enough FOR year or more
the agitation has been progressing in this city,
It's white population is unit in sentiment on the
Chinese question, ard what is the practical re-
sulta We have here $500 cigar makers. The
product of their labor finds market as well as
ever. We have 1900 boot and shoe makers! and
not single mandatory has stopped for want
of orders Some l. 400 Chinese are engaged in
the laundry business. The municipal authori-
ties have passed ordinances, so that it may be
truly said that wash houses are conducted under
difficulties. Do you think John would bear up
under them if thrifty housewives did not now.
as heretofore, vouchsafe him their continued
supports Fully LOCO Chinese make underwear.
shirts, overalls etc., and despite the agitation,
there is no glut in the market in these lines
Caesar burned his bridges when his army had
crossed. The Pacific coast people are attempting
to burn theirs while they are still crossing"
"As to the immediate causes of the present
agitation. does the alleged failure of the restric-
ton act, in your opinion have any effactfa
1.-THE assertion that the restriction acfYEs
ming the flame. Ever since its passage our focal
newspapers have devoted space daily to recitals
as to the manner in which 1t Is said to be evaded
It has been a standing grievance and like the
charge against the police officer that he is rever
there wnen he is wanted, this alleged failure of
the law more than once has furnished pretext
for evasions of the law the part of Caucasians.
The ignorant masses argue that inasmuch as the
general government seems unable to give the re-
lief to which the masses believe themselves en-
nd lait hat of rhar
else. Every anti-Chnese speaker commences
his harangue: Now that the restriction act is a
failure"
lis it failure. in your opinionP
'FactS will tell again. The greatest number
of Chinese at any time in the United States was
in 1868, when we had 100000 From that year
on there steady decrease can only show
the figures of later years Thus, from 1879 un
til May g. 1882 the date on which the restriction
act was approved. the excess of departures over
arrivals was H. 726. The act was to go into force
ninety days after approval and during that pc
riod there arrived at this port about 18. 900
Chinese of which number, however, 6. 600 were
for the Canadian Pacific railroad and 1900 for
Honolulu. Since the restriction act went into
effect--that is, from August 1882, to date--the
excess of departures arrivals IS a. 393
There are now about $4,000 Chinese in the
United State. according to the records of this
consulate"
'.There is another point in connection with
the restriction act and that is the alleged
looseness of federal courts in habeas corpus pro-
ceedings; has that been one of the causes of the
present agitatonW
1T has certainly contributed its share to the
general discomfort" replied Owyng Ming.
ssWhen a law has been passed for the special re.
lief of people, after years of agitation. and the
people do therenpon discover that the officials of
the government charged with the administration
of the law are negligent and adverse to its
forcement such discovery must necessarily have
an embittering effect. Some one has told me
that to the American people nothing is more ag-
gravating than the fact that q popular statute,
the enforcement of which wond please every
body, is not enforced. I, therefore. lay large
share of the blame of the existing i'll feeling
and bitterness at the gates of the newspapers of
the Pacific coast who, in the fact that some
nine hundred or less Chinese effected landing
three years have found warrant for saving that
the restriction act is a failure, and who have
iterated and reiterated that statement with We.