The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-11-22
CHINESE EXCLUSION,

As the time f,r the next Sess.on q
congress % e,nvene draws nearer m
teres; in the gu si-n q exclusion Of
Chinese from this country Is increas-
ing. The present law excluding CHI
uese immigration. known as the Geary
.aw viii expire mex, May. wAen
it is recalled with VIVA, ,enacity the
passage oi the original exclusion law
was opposed by many Of TIE Eastern
senators. who by the way were some Of
the ables, men in the senate there Is
ground sor the apprehension that this
most salu,ary and beneficial law may
fan u re-enactmeR,.
On the Pacific cast there : no ques-
lion Of wast position the delegations
from this sscsion Will ,aAe on the ques-
tion. Senator's and congressmeu from
the Pacific states will stand as a
untn in the effort TO keep tina, law
upon our statute books. They are we'll
aware o. the danger 70 cur civilization
and well being OF an unrestricted
influx Of this cheap and wholly un-
desirable horde Of Oriental labor Ex-
perience has been the scho0 Of our
teaching and our determination that
the barrier OF exclusion shall no. be
destroyed is deeply rooted. The great
danger Is that representatives from
those sections OF the country where the
Chinaman has not as yet made his
presence felt may BE- persuaded that
the danger from Chimes immigration
IS not sufficient to warrant the pass
age Of this drastic MEASURE against
one particular nationality. These mem
bers OF congress must have this ques-
ii6n placed before them in a forc!ble
manner and must be made acquainted
with the sentiment or this section on
this matter. Our state, city. commercial
and lab;r organizations should unite
in formulating the facts behind this |
demand and forward It 10 thlse repre-
sentaives in c-ngrass to ssst them F,
in securing the support Necessary to |
the r=-enactment OF that law
Mayor PheIan, of san Francisco, n /
an article in the NJrtl American Re- 1
view treats tbs subject at some length /
and in a mastery manner In his clos
ing sentences he says exclusion is not /
a mere labor question nor a race ques- /
ton It Is an American question az .
fscting the psrpetuity Of our insztu-
tions and the standard Of our ciyillza- /
ton. The Chinese viii not be assiml-
lated. Thdr earnings are carried home
To China They come 10 this country to /
bleed ii. They make NJ Improvements
here and contribute nothing to the per-
manent wealth Of the nation. They
live meanly, work nigh, and day. take
neither rest n1r any pleasure, feed on
s.- 81 80, 5,,-.ir =, .l, er.-ss-. ,,,l
cheapest mode, and accept wages
which would be inadequate for the ne
cessities OF white laborers. II We are
70 have unlimi ed coJ,ie immigration
We must expect TO have the standard
Of Ife lowered in this country Such /
a prospect is int0lerabIe. Chinese i'm
migration threatens the welfare Of the
nation, the decency Of the home. and
not only the comfort and dignity bur
the very life Of white labor. We in
California are familiar with The evil
and our minds are made Up, but the
case must be presented properly and
vigorously to congress Talk about
this country being an asylum for the
oppressed Of all nations Is nonsense
in considering the Chinese question.
The clolle comes here. not for political
I 1fl1r-ty but p, max. rogva,, ,t-F,f.t, no
takes back with him TO China. He is
not oppressed. but he IS an opprss)r.
He is not refugee. he is an invader"