The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-06
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
IL IL Farther Debated 1T \ Meeting u
M Assembly Hall, &@ge "

~ II Farther Debated At \ Meeting In
Assembly Hall.
Another we'll attended meeting Of work
ingmsn WAS hold at Assembly hall last
night to discuss the Chinese question. Al
dsrman Marcus Lisanes. who responded TO
tho invitation extended to the business
men to attend, was called to the chair.
Michael Corbett acted a. secretary. Chair
man Ltssnsr stated that II anybody had
anything 70 offer for the good Of the pro-
clad 10 hsar Il. I. II. Gildea said the views
expressed by the speakers at. the previous
meeting were supposed to govern those who
signed the memorial to congress. Among
this reasons given for not wanting tho
Chinese was that they were dirty In their
habits. Great stress was. laid on the fact
tho Chinese houses. The Chinese might
not consider these odors bad. No n
would sny that 4 German Was
dirtier than any other GLASS Of people. Yet
il one not accustomed to the odor were to
60 in 4 Germans house when krout was
cooking. or limburgsr choose wal on the
olor. The Chinese had been denounced as
vampires and bloodsuckers. That was 9
charge no workingmen should mako. A
workinRman's only capital was his labor.
II by means of il u Chinaman earned one
and then went away to enjoy il somewhere
He merely mentioned these things to show
his position. All would agree that the only
true reason for not wanting the Chinaman
was because there was not room for him in
this country. There Was not room for the
~workinRmen that were here. Even if the
fell from the w~orkinRman's table, thers
were no crumbs to drop, and in some cases
no tables for them to drop from.
Chairman LissRer asked the meeting il 1t
was desired to adopt the, views they had
just heard. A motion to adopt them WAS
made and was about to be put when j. H.
Boacher,, who had Just come jn. asksd what
peated in substance what he had said. Mr..
Boucher said Mr.. Gildea had not correctly
read his remarks as they wore delivered at
the previous meeting and published the
following day. He repeated what he had
already given as his views, That there was
America If he intended to be 4 citizen and
help build up the country. Mr.. Gildea said
if there was any mitigating circumstance
about this Chinese business it was that the
Chinese did not come here to be citizens.
Tho meeting voted against. adopting MIR.
Gildea's views, but accepted IN n%mondmeat
by Mr.. Boucher that it was the sentiment
of those present that unless the Cinnamon
como here to affiliate and help build up the
country they were not wanted.
At this point Martin Bitsch asked If there
was not q law which prevented the Chinese
becoming citizens. Mr.. Boucher did not
think there was, bat MIR. Corbett said while
found in an amendment to tho constitu-
tion. He was glad there was, and was
sorry to see such a thing advocated as max
ing o~itizens of tho Chinese. Mr.. Boucher
said that looking at the thing from a broad
American standpoint, There was not a nan
descent. There were no Americans but the
red men. If the Chinese came to this
country with the same intentions as other
foreigners, all right. But they came az
slaves. American laborers could not COM
pete with them because it was imnossible to
live as oheaply. So long as the present
conditions lasted he was opposed to the
ment to the constitution said there should
be no slaves. Yhore was only one thing to
do and that was to toll the Cinnamon il
they want to come here they must bury
their religion, cut off their queues (Which
was part of their reliRion), bring their
women, raise their families and become
citizens, and they would be aa welcome Al
any.
Thomas Purcell said he had spent con
siderable time on the Pacific coast; til,
Chinese work in this country WAS a slave
trade and nothing else; the very signs OF
their doors told what company they be
long to; they did not come here to be citi
zens, though they would if they wanted
he was glad that they didn't want to; Their
were too many foreigners who wore under tn
thumbs of the politicians TO want any mor'
of them in tbs shape OF Cinnamon. MI
Boucher endorsed the latter sentiment IN,
added that most OF the labor troubles il
this country were due to foreigners.
Patrick H. Burns, who stood alone a
the previous meeting. again argued agains
terrupted oncs or twice by some one laugh
ing, when Mr.. Boucher appealed to al
present to allow Mr.. Burns to proceed with
out Interruption. Thu discussion was KEEP
nm until n late honr-