The Washington times., 1902-01-27
PLEAD CAUSE
OF THE CHINESE
Trio of Orators Argue Against
Exclusion Law.
ELOQUENT APPEALS FOR JUSTICE
Ex-senator Thurston, Mr.. Simon
Wolf, and General Howard at
First Congregation Church.

Commercial and philanthropic argu-
| ments why the Chinese should not be
| barred from the United States were set
forth at a weII-attended meeting in the
| First Congregational Church yesterday
afternoon.
Three stalwart enemies Of the re enact
ment of the Chinese exclusion law spoke
upon that question in its various phases
| They were ex-senator John NJ Thurston
of Nebraska, Mr.. Simon Wolf, &C this city
and Gen. o. o. Howard.
The probable effect of discrimination
| against the Chinese by the re-enactment
of the exclusion law upon American trade
in the great Chinese markets now OPEN
| ing up received equal attention with the
philanthropic protest against the raising
of bars against a people for fear of pos
| sible harm to domestic labor
Senator ThurstOn Introduced.
| The meeting was called by the Rev. DR..
| F. NJ. Newman. pastor of the First Con-
| gregational Church. He opened with a
| few remarks explanatory of its character
and introduced the first speaker, ex-Sen-
| ator Thurston.
| Mr.. Thurston said that the necessity
| for friendly relations with China was very
great. He declared that the United States
cannot expect the Chinese to accord this
| country greater favors than to other ma
| tiOns If il assumed an attitude which
| compelled the Chinese to regard it as un-
| just.
Mr.. Thurston then passed on to the
I t.. IL
| pines and in Hawaii. He said that Chi
| nese labcrers were needed in the Philip
| pines to 90 work which no other class
| of labc.ers could or would do so we'll
| and that in those positions they would
| never hurt American labor of any kind.
! The radical exclusion bill proposed pro-
| vides for the exclusion of the Chinese
| from the insular possessions as well as
| from the borders of the United States
| proper.
FavOrs an Immigration Law.
| Mr.. Thurston expressed leaning to-
| ward the enactment of general immi-
grafton law. through the provisions of
which the undesirable element of every
race might be denied the right to enter
| the United States, but which would make
| no discrimination against any one people
| Mr. Simon Wolf, who spoke in his usual
| equolent and forceful style, said: There
! is great market in China for American
merchants and artisans. which will be
| lost or practically closed TO this country
| II the Government offends China by con-
tlnuing to exclude the Chinese
Mr.. Wolf concluded his remarks with a
stirring appeal for the nation in this di-
rection to be guided by the spirit of the
| great brotherhood of mankind
General Howard Closes.
Gen. o. o. Howard who was the last
Of the three speakers. is one of the
sturiiest opponents of the re-enactment
of the Chinese exclusion act. Many of his
published utterances on this subject are
familiar.
General Howard spoke at some length
He took up the subject of Christian mis-
sfons among the Chinese. and told of
the methods employed in their spiritual
education. General Howard declared that
the results of this work among the Chi
nese were highly satisfactory.
The way | account for it, said Cen
eral Howard lis that as rule the Chi
nese boy Of good family has been taught
in early childhood to do right according
to code of morals known and recognized
by all Intelligent Cinnamon, and that
when he made comparison between his
own earlier teaching ard ours he might
have to lay aside certain superstitions
and practices based upon them but in the
main to become a Christian was only one
step in advance; for example, IL he had
been taught not to do an injury, lest he
be injured. it was but a step to pass from
the negative side to the positive side
which our Saviour demands, namely, DO
unto another what you would have him
do TO you. -
Relates SOEic Anecdotes
General Howard then related num-
Der of anecdotes which had come under
his personal notice of the generosity.
faithfulness, and honesty of the China
man. In conclusion. he said:
II was much Interested in what SEN
ator ThurstOn said about the Philippines
and Hawaii. for in the former | am great
ly interested. 1t was there that Col. Guy
Howard lost his life question faced
him. How could he get provisions to the
army? How could he forward sustenance
to the troops? He found the Chinese and
employed them, and they silently took
the burdens on their backs and carried
them forward. These are the people you
want to bar out.
II have given fifty-one years of my life
to my country and | claim the right to
protest against such an injustice. Ii will
be great shame to do such an in Justice.
Don't put your finger on any man Of any
race or nation. II you do God will hold
you to justice for it and Congress to
Justice