Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-09
Pubsie Debate In Ashiaoa'
frcr the Dispatch.l

|
frer the Dispatch.l
The annual public debate OF the
washington Literary Society, Of Ash
land. was held last Friday night in the
College chapel. The sdifice was FLIED
at an early hour with an attentive audit
ence. the elite Of Ashland society being
present. ..x. pov
Mr.. Sturgis, the president, Mr. y. u.
Harris. introduced as the orator Of the
evening Mr.. I. W. Page, of Albemarle--
subject. /" A Political Change" In q
" ell.written address Mr.. Page pro-
ceeded to show the changes which nave
come about during this century, espe-
cially in politics, as evidenced by the
independent vote Of the Muswumps IN
the last presidential election. de then
investigated the causes that led to this
change, and in conclusion showed the
great improvement in morals when IL
betokened.
The subject for debate was then
read
Resolred, That Chinese Immigration
Should be Prohibited.
NJ. C. G. Herring, Of Virginia, came
forward as first on the affirmative TO
take up the cudgels against the
Heather Chinee."
After very pleasant introduction as
to the importance of the question MIR:
Herring took up his subject, and showed
how tho Chinese, though one OF the
oldest nations OF the world, had yet
made little or no progress; how they
were " the same yesterday, to-day, and
forever" He then showed how China,
with its five hundred millions Of inhaol-
tants, could soon overrun America with
| its fifty millions, and he claimed that
great evils would result from such a
state of affairs.
Mr.. j. f. Howison, Of Ashland, in
fnely.written and gracefully-delivered
speech, urged the negative side OF the
question. He first showed that the
Chinese so far from having been at a
standstill, had made great progress IN
civilization and the arts. Then, after
brief discussion of the ethical side o.
the question as to the moral right o.
of this so-called /" land of the free " tC
exclude the needy, be urged that the
Chinese make good citizens, and urgeC
the fallacy Of the objection to Chinese
immigration, especially dwelling on tn
need of &" Chinese cheap labor" Mr.
Howison was applauded to the echo
and his speech was probably the best
received Of the evening.
Mr.. II. II. Joyce, Of Virginia, on tn
affirmative, called attention to the fac
that commingling brings with it assimi
lation, and said that the Chinese Away
drag down to their own level those will
whom they associate. As a proof o
this he mentioned the Tartars, VIII
many centuries ago conquered tn
Chinese, but were themselves conquered
by the low morals Of the conquered
So, he argued, America, instead o
elevating the Chinese to her own level
will be dragged down to their inferio
level. lie then went on to show tn
many vices of the Chinese, opium-eat
ing, &c.
Mr.. NJ. S. ShackelfoId, Of the mega
tive, in closing the debate, came for
ward with an able argument. Who
said he, is it that wishes to exclude tn
Chinese from America? Simply To
lowest element Of the immigrants from
other countries. Mr.. Shackelford ridi
culed the audacity Of these men. Ill
also undertook to prove that most o
those who oppose Chinese immigration
are influenced by personal motives, a
is shown by their vacillating policy
and in conclusion argued that Americ'
has treated most rudely the great PEG
pie of China, not only by constant in
Justice to her immigrants, but also b.
the treaty.
After the debate refreshments wer
served and the promenading and fes
tivities we're kept up to late hour.
n X