St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-11

The Portland OregQnian becomes the
champion of the Chinese against the labor
agitators on the Pacific coast. This Is
about the first time that John Chinaman has
found public advocate in this country, and
it is all the more surprising that his defense
should come from an influential newspaper
on the Pacific coast, where everybody is
supposed to be an enemy to the almond
eyed heather. The Oregonian asserts that
but for Chinese labor the lands of Oregon
could not be cleared. Clearing land Is
kind of work that white laborers do not
care to perform. 1t is laborlous; grubbing
makes the back ache The white laborer
likes q softer job than land clearing. He
will not work at it for less than So day,
if he works at ALL and it does not pay the
owner of the land to clear it when such eX-
penSive wages are paid for the work. Con-
sequently the Chinese laborer fills a place
in the Oregon labor system which cannot
be filled by any other class of laborers. SO
far so good. But il is somewhat singular TO
hear the Oregonian urging a prefer
ence for Chinese labor on the ground
that il is more reliable than white
labor. The general impression respect
ing the Chinaman is that he possesses
all the characteristics attributed to
the famous All SIN. For tricks
that are dark and ways that are
vain, he has always been supposed to be
peculiar. The 0regonian asserts, how
ever, as fact which cannot be challenged
that in Oregon the Chinaman is the only
| farm laborer who respects the obligation of
a contract, and that it is because of this
quality of fidelity the Chinaman is so hated
| by the irresponsible white men who will
not work themselves. nor are they willing
that anybody else shall work. IL this be
true statement of the condition
of labor affairs in Oregon it does not argue
anything in favor of Chinese labor. but
does show that Oregon is afflicted with a
miserably poor labor system. If the Chi
nese constitute the best class of labor on the
Pacific coast then heaven help the lowest.
From the statements made by the Ore
gonian we get an insight to the causes
which brought about the shameful riots at
Rock Springs. 1t is apparent that the men
who were engaged i'll those disgraceful pro-
ceedings were lazy set of fellows who
were not inspired in their antipathy
to Chinese labor so much on ac-
count of its competition as they
were enraged that anybody in the commu-
nifty should show disposition to work.
The diplomatic correspondence between the
Chinese minister at Washington and the
state department shows that twenty-eight
Cinnamon were killed in the Rock Spring;
riot and that the damage to Chinese prop
erty amounted to S147, 74S. In a letter tC
Secretary BAYARD, notable for the cour.
tesy of its style and firmnesS of substance,
the Chinese minister, CHENG TsAo JU,
calls the attention of the state depart
ment to these lawless proceedings OF
the labor agitators on the Pacific
coast, which he describes in detail
and appeals to the United States to risC
to the high plane of international justice
and fair dealing for which it has Away!
been noted, and, rising above the narrow
limits of statutory law, adjust thi!
matter with the Chinese government upon
the principles of equity and national comfy
which prevail among all civilized people
This respectful appeal must touch sensi
tive spot in our national pride, and it woulC
be very shameful thing on the part of on
government if it was not responded to il
the same spirit in which 1t is paid. Thu
government should see to it that tn,
Chinese are reimbursed for every dollar
loss by reason of these riots, and that ever!
individual who participated in the outrage
should receive speedy punishment