The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-12-07

I have always been opposed to the
admission of Chinese to the United
States. I am now, and can see. no
possible reason for change of opinion
in the future.
The Chinese exclusion act should be
kept on the statute books and the an
nouncement that certain class Of cap
italists are already making extensive
preparations to bring in shiploads of
the Mongolians after the first of May
next should be warning to congress
not to permit a moments lapse of this
wholesome law.
We have as great q right to protect
ourselves from a population which is
morally degrading and economically
destructive as we have to enact tar
ifs to save our working people from
the competition Of the cheap labor of
foreign countries.
The presence Of the Chinese would be
ruinous to both skilled and unskilled
labor, and would add nothing to our
citizenship. On the contrary, it would
be means of undermining the repub-
lie, which depends so much for its Sue
cess on the intelligence and patriotism
Of the people.
Thirty-five years after the civil war
we still have most harassing race
problem, frequently resulting in blood
shed, and continually menacing BUSH
! ness and social affairs. The colored
people are in the United States to stay,
and it must be the constant effort
through the generations to fit them by
education for the full duties of citizen
ship; and this is enough for us and
| those who come after us to undertake,
without opening our arms to thou
sands and possibly even millions Of
yellow men, who are positively non-
! assimilative with our people and our
| institutions.
Men who come here without a
thought Of becoming citizens of the
| United States, and without a. single
qualification for citizenship, but who
would come down upon US armies from
a land where men are cheaper than
horses as beasts of burden for the pur-
poses Of working for less than our own
people and making up for the pecuni-
airy difference by living In degrading
squal0r and immortality. = :s.s1..as,.. ...
The1 rule of generous welcome which
lsheAs IT, = si.s eio
countries. Who cone ne Her ,ea Us ri
their own condition. and to Join in the
spirit OF material effort for the >devel-
opment Of our country, does not apply
to- the yellow hordes whom China is
glad to spare, and whose whole pur-
pose of immigration is merely sort1id,
and thousands of whom come as the
practical slaves Of the ship companies.
1t would be an outrage Of incalcula-
BILE dimensions to invite by law specu-
lation in Chinese and make the coun-
try the dumping ground for a popula-
ton that has no pride of country, ma
tive or adopted. Let China take care
OF her own, and the republic her own.
We have plenty to do in that line. The
fact that the people of the Pacific
coast, who have surely had sufficient
opportunity to observe and arrive at
intelligent conclusions, are against Chi
nese immigration, is an unmistakable
index to congress of the proper course.
! Let our gates be hinged so as to
swing outward, so that we may over
! IuiA IAe SdIlIl WlL1ln the limits OF our
constitutional forms if we desire to-.
and not inward, so that there may be
no effective barricade to the entrance
to non-republican immigrants, non-re-
publican institutions.
The Chinese type of civilization
transferred to this continent would
certainly bring no happiness. peace or
advancement; certainly no promotion
of liberty and independence. On the
contrary, it would degrade labor and
education, which are prime among GU,
bulwarks. To allow the Chinese ex-
clusion act to lapse would be to de.
prive the active people of the next gen
Grafton of the benefits which have &C.
crued to the people in the last twenty
years from wise legisla ton. Indeed
the people of the present would be
struggling in less than year under 8
condition which would be as undesira
BILE as the slavery system which this
country spent so much blood an6
| &1 oIo1ich .