The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-31
SOME OPINIONS ON CHINESE
EXCLUSION QUOTED

To the Editor of the Advertiser: Your
aIluslon to my connection with the re-
cent meeting to protest against the eX-
tension of the Geary Restriction Act, in
today's issue prompts me to ask space
Tor rejoinder A discussion with you,
even If permitted, would be useless.
merely wish to say that in this time of
apathy regarding human rights, when
ordinary appeals for pity and sympathy
In behalf of defenseless people are dis
regarded. it is a comfort to recall the ut
terances upon this subject made by noble
men whose names are still Venerated in
this community. 1t may be that their
words are yet potent to stir hearts not
absolutely hardened by our nations re-
cent abysmal course.
In 1879, less than three months before
his death, William Lloyd Garrison thus
wrote to Blaine: Against this hateful
spirit of caste l have earnestly protested
for the last 80 years, wherever it has de-
veloped itself, especially in the case of
another class, for many generations still
more condemned, degraded and oppressed;
and the time has fully come to deal with
1t as an offense to God and a curse to the
world wherever 1t seeks to bear sway.
The Chinese are our fellowmen, and are
entitled to every consideration that our
common humanity may justly claim"
In 1899 Phillips Brooks wrote 1.-THE
legislation on the Chinese Restriction Act
Is most humiliating, and demands the in
dignation and remonstrance of every cit
izen who cares for justice and his country
and humanity. Surely all good men must
desire its repeal"
And 1ngersoll however unorthodoX he
may have been in theology, showed in
this paragraph that he had the true
Christian spirit: II am opposed to the
Geary bill. Above all statues rises the
figure Of Justice, and above all religions
is Humanity. I give to all others the
rights that / claim for myself without re-
gard TO cOmnlpYiO or -
In 1882 James Freeman Clarke declared
that THE whole spirit of this crusade is
opposed to the spirit of humanity" and
after describing the Chinese, asked Are
we, then, ready to exclude such a people
as this?' adding: Lowell, in his Com
memoration Ode, makes our country say
that she has room about her hearth for
all mankind Shall we who profess to be
In advance of other nations go back to a
poor medieval system of exclusion?
The politician calls this sentimentalism
but the true statesman knows that such
sentiments of justice, brotherhood and
honor are the foundation rocks which
support the republic. Let these be taken
away to satisfy the cry of partisans, and
all that is strong and good in the nation
goes down Into ruin
Senator Hoar also bore this testimony:
THESE measures not only violate our
treaty engagements with a friendly ma
ton, but they violate the principles upon
which the American republic rests, strik-
ing not at crime or even pauperism, but
striking at human beings because of their
race, and at laboring men because they
are laborers." And I could quote mary
other similar testimonies from exalted
ethical authorities.
Let me cite a nnal protest from the dis
tinguished lawyer and jurist, David Dud-
ley Field, which is remarkable for its
prophetic insight, confirmed in a measure
by events since his death. He said in 1893:
I'm our own history we see unmistakabe
proofs of a strong flood tide setting in
towards federal sovereignty. To go no
further than the Chinese deportation act
of the last session, enacted and upheld on
the plea of federal sovereignty, 1t needs
no prophet to foretell that if the founda-
ton of that enactment be not dashed to
pieces, the incoming century will see this
nation either broken into fragments or
converted into a consolidated republic,
another name for despotism which would
be but a prelude to anarchy, and but a
prelude to an empire, and that but an
other name for an emperor and military
dominion"
In a better day, when justice and con-
science shall surmount the base politics
of the present, surely one would rather be
included with the unselfish souls above
quoted than to enjoy now the praise of a
time-serving generation.
w. L. GARRISON.
Boston Dec 26 1901