Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-26
GOV. STANFORD'S REPLY.
HE WRITES TO THE TEHAMA
COUNTY ANTI-COOLIE LEAGUE,
And While Declaring Himself Anti
Chinese. Defines His Rights
as an American Citizen.
The following letter appeared in the Red
Bluff Peoples Cause yesterday:

The following letter appeared in the Red
Bluff Peoples Cause yesterday;
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May Is, 1856.
T.. +. Lennon, Corresponding Secretary Of
the Citizens A,ti- Coolie League Of Red
Bluff, Tehdsaa County-DEAR SIR: The res
olution of your League of March 31st adj
dressed to me, is received, and has had
careful and respectful consideration.
Independently of my position as pub
lie man, request of any considerable
number of my fellow citizens would have
my best attention, and, though your reso-
buttons are directed more particularly to
affairs personal to myself, vet l am aware
that you reflect the sentiments of a very
large portion of the people of our State in
regard to the employment of Chinese.
Under the treaties existing between our
Government and that of China, the China
man is entitled to the same just treatment,
while in our country, as any other for
eigner, or as any citizen
Whether white men shall be preferred
to him in employment is a question of
humanitarianism and of private interest
Regarding that, have the right to dis
pose of my own property and my own
means as suits me best, SO long as l obey
the laws, ifmy humanitarianism impels me
or my interests incline me to employ Chi
nese labor. / hold that | have perfect
political right to do so, it being matter of
my own conscience and its dictates Ny
race prejudice, however, inclines me to my
own people, and | am deslrous of giving
them, on all suitable occasions, the prefer
ence. | have, therefore, in harmony with
my own inclinations, strengthened by your
request, given instructions to my agent TO
direct that the preference for white labor
be very carefully exerted
The employment OF Chinese among the
farmers has been, think, fairly neces-
sity, and is likely TO continue SO, because
good laborers can very soon, in the vast
unoccupied resources of our State, find
employment in something that offers bet
ter reward than common farm labor; conse-
ouently, good white labor is difficult to be
had. believe the sentiment of the people
of California is very largely hostile to more
| Chinese coming into our country also that
most of our people sincerely wish the
! Chinese now in the country were out of it !;
| and in obedience to that will, and in har-
mony with my own judgment shall do
here in my public duty, whatever l can
justly to restrict Chinese immigration.
The unemployed in California are nu-
merous, but / do not think they are I'M
employed because of the Chinese, or any
thing other than their own improvident
nature. ! have fed tramps at direct ex-
pense of over $500 a month during the
| past season on one farm, although there
was never a day during that time that we
were not short-handed of good men, and
wanted them.
| There is room in California for fifteen
millions of people, and it will then not be
more densely populated than the New Eng
land and Middle States of the East.
In conclusion, let me say to you in gen
eral terms that the theory of our Govern
ment is founded upon the inalienable
rights of man, which the poor of all others
are most interested in maintaining, and is
IN strong contrast to the paternal or mon
archical theory of government The Gov
eminent founded upon the inalienable
| rights of man, and to secure him, makes
these great principles fundamental. Laws
! triv nd G.
man can have lien upon another, and de-
termine what he shall do with his life.
liberty and rightful possessions. Whether
the owner of property shall give to those
in distress or not, is question entirely for
him to determine, settling with his own
! conscience and with his God to what ex-
tent the products of his labor, his care his
thrift, industry and economy shall be given
to the unfortunate or to the idle, thriftless
and improvident.
Without the observance of the rights OF
property, of course all inducements for
| thrift, frugality and industry would be
| wanting.
The earth yields bountifully to labor for
| al tuC HcCtSSitieS VI TIE UuilldD KIM, ana
with the intelligent direction and applica-
ton of labor will, l believe, secure-barring
the accidents of life-comfort to all.
My remedy for the evils which the poor
suffer is temperance, industry and intelli-
gence.
L trust l am not unduly egotistical in be-
lieving that my sympathies in the welfare
of my kind are as strong as those of most
men, particularly for the poor, and l have
strong faith that the time will come when
the comforts of life, at least, will be the
common belongings of the poorer people of
our country.
The wealth of individuals makes I'D the
commonwealth. The most interesting
| question in regard to it is not who owns.
| but what use is made of it. Wealth &C.
lively and wisely in use gives employment
and spreads prosperity.
| The individual prosperity is the prosper
ity of the whole, and the prosperity of the
whole results in the prosperity of the indi-
vidual. Respectfully,
LELAND STAMFORD.
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