The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-08-03
SHALL SKILLED FOREIGN LABOR
BE EICLUDED?
W u CONSTABLE
W. p. CONSTABLE.

/ will endeavor to- present a few
reasons to show that the exclusion of
foreign skilled labor would be disad
vantageous to lie people of the United
States. Aimos; very country i'll the
world has mechanics who excel In
soue particular urauch, while the
United States possess those who excel
in almost all. The reason OF this ex-
cellencs Is due to the fact that our
country is the only one to which skill
ed mechanics come, and, consequent
ly the United States gets the benefit
of the skill of all other nations, ami
her mechanics are Intelligent enough
and willing to adopt any new thing
that is good. and, indeed generally
improve upon it. Take an instance
out of many; the revolving p sUoi was
introduced into this country from
Eugland; the Americans saw that il
WAS useful, and In a very short time
the clumsy British weapon was
changed into the Colts revolver. The
natives OF China, japan and Hiudoo-
stau can manufacture much better
steel than We Can, and in many other
points they are much superior to us,
though IN most respects far our infer
iors. Italy excels all other nations in
painting, sculpture and music. The
Toledo rapiers and Aibacete knives
made in Spain cannot be equalled in
this country. Mr.. Borrow who was Il
missionary in Spain and published a
history about his experience in that
country, says in his book that he was
u very strong man, and that he struck
with all his power on a hard stone
wall with Toledo rapier aud only
succeeded in hurting his shoulder. and
Yet the edge of the weapon was not
Injured. He also says that one OF
point touched the hilt, aud when re-
leased it would spring back again to
it's former shape. Fulton would never
have succeeded in making the Cler-
mont move by steam power on the
waters of the Hudson had he not
made himself acquainted with the eX-
periments of Solomon DE Caus, Papiu
and many others. Some may say that
the admission of foreign skilled labor
brings down and lowers the wages OF
the native American; this may be and
il partially true III tile case OF uuskili-
ed labor, tho without iG the rdilro ads,
mines, canals, ETC., would not have
been developed. In this case the ouly
danger is from an excessive influx OF
foreigners. No danger OF this kind
can arise from the admission of the
skilled laborer. Such u man can COM
mand good wages in any country, and
1t is by no means likely that persons
so situated would immigrate to this
country in numbers sufficient to 10 wer
the rate of wages. From the histories
OF China and Japan we can learn
some useful lessons on this subject
The people of China were very learn
ed and civilized many Thousand years
ago; they were acquainted with the art
OF printing, the manufacture of paper
and gunpowder, and also the use of
the mariners compass many ages be-
fore these things were known in
Europe. Notwithstanding these ad-
vantages, in consequence of their
policy of excluding foreigners and
having no dealing with them, they
remained stationary and until re-
Gently were in no single respect more
advanced then they were four thou.-
and years ago. 1t is true that they
nov have railroads and partially ad-
NIT foreigners, but it is against their
will and because they were forced to
do SO by the English at first and af-
forwards by the Russians. The case
OF Japan was at first much like that
OF China; they lived by themselves
and excluded all foreigners except
the Dutch, and even these were never
permitted to land, but were kept as
prisoners under guard on small is
land until their commercial business
was ended. When Commodore Perry
visited Japan OH peaceful embassy
in the steamship Mississippi, the Jap
anese being q very Intelligent people
Immediately found out that the for
eign Americans knew many things
with which they themselves were
totally unacquainted; 80 that they
with great wisdom made Il treaty with
the Americans, opened their ports,
invited foreign artisans to teach them
and also sent a number OF their
brightest students to the Universities
OF the United States and Europe.
They reaped the advantage of this
conduct in their recent war with the
vast empire of China as every one
knows. They first purchased war
ships and guns in America aud
Europe, then by means of foreign
ShiIlCu ihOOEcTS Uuilb navy ydEus sIllpe
and guns, and finally learned to do all
these things for themselves. The con.
sequence of this wise policy is that
Japan has advanced more in the last
twenty or thirty years than in the
preceding forty centuries, and from
being All inconsiderable and almost
unknown country, has now become
very strong and formidable to her
enemies, and an ally much to be de,
sired by any power, and has ma q
herself respected by all nations and
bids fair to become one of the princi.
pie powers on earth. The Chinese by
pursuing the opposite policy and ex.
Guiding foreigners, and keeping rs
much as possible to themselves have
remained stationary and have made
no advance, save such rs forced upon
them. In more ancient times the
Chaldeans, Assyrians, Egyptians
Persians, Greeks and Romans at
tanned very high degree OF civiliza
ton because they did not keep them
selves isolated, but having each in
turn conquered many nations, they
adopted whatever they found useful
AS an instance the city of Damascus
WAS celebrated for its sword blades
which were far better than those oil
any other country; when the King oil
~ Il 4