The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-09-18
AMERICAS BOAST
Is the Superior Position Of the ToiIers
of the land.
CONGRESSMAN GROWERS SPEECH

CONGRESSMAN CkUMEkS SPEECH
In Support Of Rigid Legislation Prohib-
iting the immigration of Chinese La.
bor-The Peace and Comfort Of Our
Laboring Men More Important to Us
Than All the Trade of the Orient.
One Of the strongest speeches deliv.
cred in the house of representatives
in support Of stringent legislation
against Chinese immigration was that
Of Representative cromer Of the
Eighth Indiana district Representing
q great Industrial section in congress,
Mr.. cromer has been especially active
In the advancement Of all legislation
advantageousIy affecting the interests
Of the wage-earner, with whom he has
shown himself to be In thorough sym.
pathy. In closing, Mr.. Cromer said:
We have no objections to admitting
foreign lands who have mind and heart
and intelligence and are ambitious to
become American citizens, If they will
renounce their allegiance to kings and
potentates, and will declare their 10y
atty to our institutions and to our gov
eminent and become genuine Ameri-
can citizens. Our country has been
the asylum Of the oppressed from 9TH
er lands ever since the Pilgrim Fathers
landed at Plymouth Rock. From the
foundation of our republic. beginning
with the early settlement Of our colo
MES. there have come to our land from
foreign countries those who loved lib
erty better than slavery, who preferred
the free institutions of America to the
despotisms and monarchies of the
countries from which they came. and
mingling their blood with ours and
assimilating with US. have become i'm
bued with our civilization until they
have become part of our body polite.
Our country has grown great and our
nation has become strong and power
full because the liberty-loving people of
other countries, the bravest and best,
have united their fortunes with us In
America to make this the best govern
ment In all the world.
No Place for the Cody.
But our civilization has no place for
the Chinese cody. He has no ambi-
ton or sentiment in harmony with our
people. He has no desire to become
an American citizen; indeed, our laws
coming He clings to the institutions
of the celestial empire. His object in
coming to America is wholly MERGE
nary. He comes here not because he
loves our institutions, not because he
loves our flag, but because he finds 1t
a good place to make and accumulate
money with which to return to his IA
tive land. He Is no benefit to our peo-
pie. He takes what money he earns
back to China instead Of investing II
here in business or using it to i'm
prove and develop our country. Cor
porations and capitalists. who place
their selfish interest above the general
good, above the interest of all the peo-
pie. may be in favor Oh admitting cheap
labor, but all who respect the rights
of others will ravor the absolute pro-
Elbition of Chinese coolies.
There are those who fear that II we
are too drastic in our legislation
against the admission of Chinese la
borers that we will destroy our friend
ly commercial relations with China
which have so long existed. They fear
that her merchants will not buy our
products nor sell to us theirs. There
may be some reason for this fear in
the minds of those who are unfriendly
to this bill. but in my opinion there is
no reason in fact upon which to base
such fear. China herself Is committed
to the policy of prohibiting the emf
grafton of her labOrers to this country.
By the terms of the treaty of 1904 she
was willing to have this policy adopt
ed. But admitting for the sake of the
argument that there is danger OF losing
our trade with China, will we neglect
our duty to our own people In order
10 hold our trade with that country?
Our first duty Is to our people at home.
Give IL Up II Need BE.
AS for myself, am In favor of pro-
tecting the American laboring men in
their rights and giving them employ
ment at good wages, even though we
sacrifice our trade with China. am
in favor of giving up our commercial
relations If need be for the good Of
American toilers and for the elevation
of American citizenship. The peace
and comfort and happiness Of our Ia
boring men are worth more to u than
aiI Of our trade with the Orient. Our
home market is more valuable to Us
than the markets of the world. But
we will not be compelled to give up
our trade with China. We will retain
1t and it will increase with the coming
years. Will we refuse to listen to the
just demands of American laborfng
men? The labor unions of this coun-
try have taken great interest in this
question and have sent petition after
petition and resolution after resolution
to members of the congress urging
them to support measure. unlimited
as to time, absolutely prohibiting the
coming to our shores of Chinese labor
ers. They have right thus to advise
members of congress. They above all
others are interested in protecting
their employment and good wages.
This legislation is for the protection