The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-29
CThe Argonaut.)

For twenty years this journal, in
common with other honest and intelli-
gent journals, has fought for the pres
eryation of AngloSaxon institutions
on this Coast. We have steadily main
tanned the right of white American
workingmen to live here, and to bring
up their families here according to the
institutions and traditions of a Chris
tan Anglo-Saxon civilization. That
civilization has sometimes been in dan
ger, for q civilization which rests upon
the workingman must share in his
characteristics. If he is a slave, it will
be a Shareholders civilizations; If he is
semi-servile, it will be a semi-servile
civilizations; If he is a freeman, it viii
be civilization of free and enlighten-
ed men. Early. in the history of Cali
fornia this civilization was temporarily
degraded by the injection of thousands
of Asiatic coolies. This Asiatic faint
implanted vices and habitudes upon
our Anglo-Saxon system which are not
yet eradicated. It made many forms
of labor seem to be ignoble. 1t filed
/ our cities with hoodlums, male and
female. 1t turned many of our young
men into opium fiends and many Of
our young women into worse. 1t made
them look upon mental labor as be-
meath them. Who ever sees a white
California girl scrubbing sidewalk,
as you see white girls doing in New
York and Boston? The very idea jars
upon a Californian. Yet you see Chi
nese in this community engaged in that
and other occupations which are me-
NAL and yet not degrading.
The presence of these coolies brought
about condition which rendered many
forms of labor distasteful to young
white men and women. Accordingly,
the growth of this exotic Asiatic immi-
grafton was checked by the exclusion
laws. They have now been enforced
for twenty years in two periods of ten
years. When the first exclusion law
was passed, in 1882, 1t was passed in
the face of the opposition of the richer
class in the East. The South was in
different. The West was semi-indiffer-
ent, but inclined to side with the Pa
cific Coast. The Republican party was
divided. The Democratic party was in
different, but decided that it was good
politics to favor exclusion. Therefore
the Republican party at once conclud-
ed that it would be bad politics to
oppose exclusion. The result was that
an exclusion bill was passed. Ten
years later, in 1892, another exclusion
bill was passed, with growing OPPOSE
ton to the bill. In the East the SEN
timent was still stronger against ex-
clusion. In the West the sentiment of
exclusion was weaker. The South
was still Indifferent.
The Chinese question is again COM
ing up for consideration next May.
when the present exclusion bill ex-
pires by limitation. What is the public
opinion of the United States now con-
corning this bill? Let us classify and
summarize.
The Mckinley administration was
not in favor of Chinese exclusion. 1t
was not openly in favor of irnrigra :
ton, but Secretary Hays fiscal, politi-
cal and economic policies in the Orient
are SO elaborate that Chinese exclusion
is certain to embarrass if not endauger
them. Secretary Hay and the admin
iStration can not bring about the trea-
ties which they desire for the lnainten-
ance and growth of trade with the
Orient If they prevent Orientals from
coming here. They cannot have the
open door" when to China Hay pre-
sentS a closed door. Therefore, Scare
tary Hay and the administration will
silently cast their weight in favor of
| immigration and against the exclusion
bill. 1t may be said that President
Roosevelt is not in accord with this
policy of Secretary Hay. But he has
declared himself unequivocally In Ia
Vor of all the policies of the late ad-
ministration. Until he declares himself,
Chinese policy, he must be considered
as in its favor.
Next in Importance to the admins
tration come the religious, political,
social, and mercantile elements of tie
East. These classes have always been
in favor of Chinese immigration, and
have always been opposed to exclusion
They are more SO now than ever. They
are now actively engaged in circulating
petitions to repeal the exclusion laws
A new element in the matter is he
South. During the past ten years the
South has found that negro labor can
not be depended upon. The South is
now considering the importation Of
coolie labor. With Chinese coolies
Southern men believe that her vast
fields of rice, cotton, sugar cane and
tobacco can be adequately cultivated
and that the South will again resume
her proud position as a rival to her
manufacturing sister of the North
Therefore, in the South there is now
a large element in favor of Chinese I'M
migration.
The national Republican party, as a
whole, is not opposed to Chinese immi-
grafton. In the East the party as a
whole will oppose exclusion; the lead
ers will largely follow the lead of the
administration. In the West the par ty
will be divided. On the Pacific Coast
| it has hitherto been largely in favor of
exclusion.
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