The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-22
DEFENDING THE CHINESE
New York Ministers Take Occasion TO
Flay Political Demagogues.
DR.. Edwerd Payson Draws an Eloquent Picture
of Chinese Intelligence and Says We Can't
Keep Out the Pagan Immigrants.

NEW YORK. May 21.-The Chinese ques-
ton was discussed by the Rev. Madison
T.. Peters this morning at the Blooming
dale Reformed Church Dir. Peters said:
lin the name of God, who, of one blood
made ALI nations of men to dwell on the
face OF the earth. protest against our un-
manly. un-Americsn and unchristian
treatment of the Chinese. They are hu.
man beings, having tho same parts. affec-
tiops, passions and the same material
rights as other men have. When we need
ed cheap labor to develop our country we
begged the Chinese to come. In 1S44 our
government began to coax them to como.
The Chinese came against oil their preiu-
dices, and our treatment of them hos been
one long scene of prejudice. briokbats.
taxation ana robbery.
Tho Chinese are no worse than the
Same number of the same GLASS
of any other nationality in our
midst. l bespeak for the Chinese
American fair play. Having simply failed
to register. because they were misrepre-
sented by counsel as to the constitutional
ity of the law, there is no reason why the
discretionary power of the authorities
should not be used TO extend temporarily
the period of registration. IL we have .
Christian civilization let us present II to
the Chinese in a Christian way. We send
missionaries and money to China, and pro.
fess deep interest in them thousands OF
miles away, and there they are an interest
log object TO us. but at our doors we avoid
them, and the very ministers VINO make
the most eloquent pleas for the Chinese In
China will. without protest. allow the
Chinese In America to become the victims
OF political cruelty. IL the Ch;Deman had
u vote our demagOgues In Congress would
profess great love for the Chinaman, and
they would 90 around on election day with
an opium pipe sticking from their pockets"
Rev. DIR. +. Z. Payson. one of the most elo-
quent of the Presbyterian clergymen OF
New York. preached at the old Canal
street Presbyterian Church this morning
OH the Chinese exclusion law, recently adj
judged as constitutional by the United
States Supreme Court. as unjust and rn-
christian. He began his sermon by review
ing briefly she history OF the Ch;nese en-
pire and its contributions to the world.
WHAT CHINA HAS DONE FOR Us.
1T has given to the world" he said,
teas, spices and silks and inventions. gun
powder and the mariners compass. i do
not hesitate to cay that it has given more
varied benefits than any other nation of
the earth. The Chinese have proved them
selves TO be strong intellectually and CON-
mercially. as has been shown by what they
accomplished In the ten years following
the war carried on by the Christian nations
of Europe and the United states. which re-
suited In the breaking down OF the Chinese
wall of exclusion. and the admission or
Christian missionaries. In those ten years
the Chinese made their exports double
their i'm ports ana they have shown them
selves TO be the equals. as merchants and
diplomats. of any nationality on the face
of the EARTH
DIR. Payson then exhaustively argued
what he claimed TO be the injustice OF the
exclusion act. which discriminated against
the Chinese, and yet admitted the imml-
grants from Europe. I'VE combine with
the European nations to break down the
consistency, we build a wall against the
Chinese" said he. "We. children OF ,mmi-
grants-we immigrants OF lG20-say TO the
immigrants OK 1898: 'You shall not come
here When did we acquire this right
The Inherent and Inalienable right of men
to change their homes and allegiance as
recognized in our famous BurlinGame
treaty with China in 1868. Let me read you
assertion of that treaty. IL says:
"The United States ana the Emperor OF China
cordially recognize the inherent and inalienable
right OF men TO change their homes and allegi-
ance. and also the mutual advantage OF free ini-
migration OF their citizens and subjects, espe-
cially from one country to the other, for pur-
poses OF curiosity, trade or as permanent resi-
dents.
Nv ell do remember the Joy with which
the news OF the signing o. this treaty was
received. By the terms of this treaty the
United States induced the Chinese to come
to our shores. aud In later years, when the
hoodlums of San Francisco protested
against Chinese Immigration, this govern
meDt, in g. second treaty. asserted that
while it could and would regulate Chinese
immigration. It would never prohibit il.
Thus have we, Christian nation. broken
faith with China. whom we. in
orr righteousness designated as a
nation of pagans. But even it we had tho
right to exclude and deport the Chinese.
we have not the power. No act OF Con gress
can keep them ont. You might as we'll try
to stop with n rail fence berd OF buffalo
fleeing from o prairie fire, or dam the gulf
stream with bullrnshes. The principles of
Christianity say that we must welcome all
the strangers within our gates to our
schools and churches. and teach them the
lessons Taught to us by Christ. We have
tried 10 convert the Cinnamon. Many have
been converted. yet l say you cannot
convert him and then pitch him into the
Pacific; and you cannot call him brother
and than sov soet outfU