The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-14
CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT
REV. III. w. KELLOGG CRITICISES
PRESENT MEASURE.
He Lived for Many Years on the Pa
cific Coast--Eastern Ideas Amuse
Westerners.

J
/ pending before the United States Senate.
/ He said in part:
/ 1T is because Of the moral issues of this
\ problem that / consent 10 introduce the
subject at this time, although il has been
| my practice for years 10 consider cur
/ rent events in connection with the even
/ ing discOurseS, such may appropriately
/ relate to the great religious and moral
! questions OF the day. l would arraign the
l bill now before the United States Senate
\ as unnecessary, unwiSe and unjust. HaV-
\ ing lived for years on the Pacific coast
\ had opportunity to study this problem in
| very practical way and l became greatly
\ interested in ii. l am amused and amazed
\ at the ignorance displayed by so many
/ concerning the merits of this question
The action of the House of Congress
\ seems to every one who is at all interested,
/ TO say the least, a very singular piece of
| legislation. In the first place it is so un-
! necessary We are sufficiently protected
\ until the present law expires We have
/ exclusion now that is constantly decreas-
\ ing the Chinese population and to an extent
/ which Is greatly disturbing many of the
/ interests of the coast. It is a feeling often
! expressed on the coast to-day that the
future of that great country is a problem
/ this need not state. But the Chinaman is
/ going fast as there is any demand and
| faster. The conditions which prevail in
| the Pacific islands exist on the coast to
/ great extent The coast greatly prefers
/ the Chinaman to the laborer which we
/ tolerate in the East for the same kind of
| work
But this is only trifing part of the
problem involved. I am confident that the
! American citizen at large has not awak-
/ ened to the seriousness of the question,
/ or there would be such a protest against
/ this unwise, unnecessary and unjust act
/ as would make some of the promoters
/ tremble with fear. / wish the question
/ might be considered on its own merits,
/ free from passion. This perhaps is asking
| too much in the present sensitive condition
| of labor But some time the people of this
| Nation
suggest ii is complicated question and
| the complications are far-reachng. There
are commercial and religious problems in
vOlved which are vital TO this Nation. L
would not advocate unrestricted immigra-
| ton from China. / 90 not know that it
| would be perilous to our institutions and
people, as some maintain but | am suf-
| fciently fearful to think it safest to
restrict. But / would have restrictions
which are just and equitable. We need not
! go farther than this in order to protect our
interests and we certainly should not.
PROTECTION FOR LABOR.
THE only reason for the proposed legis-
lation is that the American laborer might
be protected. This is right. am in for
this always. We will never allow our Amer
lean educated laborer to be crowded down
into conditions which heather degradation
compels. But if this is the end sought
and it is the only reasonable and just apol-
| ogy for restriction then let it extend to all
| nations and peoples alike. Why not? Why
| discriminate against a helpless race in the
| interests of others equally unworthy? This
| Is the question which our statesmen must
| answer or run the risk of the condem-
| nation of the American judgment, and who
| Is willing TO suffer such? Let Europe and
Asia stand alike before our doors. Let the
| conditions be the same. If there is any
| preference to be made on the grounds of
| real merit it would be in favor of the Chi
| nese. / say this after years of residence
among the Chinese on the coast and years
of residence in our Eastern manufacturing
| cities. L must confess that in point of
| morals, obedience to law, reverence for
| republican institutions and temperance
in fact, good behavior in general-the Chi
| naman Is saint compared TO those who
| come TO us from many parts of Europe.
/ We all know that these Europeans settling
in our great cities, are the greatest menace
| to our democratic form of government.
! They breed dissensions and brood anarchy.
| and are an element more dangerous by far
than the Chinaman | have witnessed
| which Chinatown is a heaven. At least
| If we are to restrict on moral ground, it
would be against Europe and not Asia.
But is 1t on the ground of wages? I do
not think this is properly understood. There
is no laborer in America who is striking
for larger wages than this same John
| Chinaman. 1t may be he can live on small
pay. but those who hire him are we'll aware
Of the fact that he does not He is better
paid to-day than are the laborers who are
hired In this very city, who come to us from
Europe.
Now, if restriction should be placed on
Chinese immigration sufficient to protect
| American labor and make il just, all the
world would approve. but let IL be iust
This would not exclude students or schol-
ars or business men from China. 1 cannot
understand why these are to be excluded
by what right or sense of Justice? Who
dare attempt to answer il? These do not
compete with American labor. No. it is be-
cause Chinese exclusion is a cry which
is inclined to gather votes that these poll
ticians willing to go to all lengths to
show their zeal. / say this with no de-
sire to be harsh in Judgment but on what
other ground can account for unjust
action.
OPEN DOOR IN CHINA.
I'VE have been demanding open doors of
China. We have been willing to join with
Europe to maintain our demand We have
landed troops on Chinas soil that we
might have our claims honored We de-
mand il for the American missionary and
Tor the american merchant; We are will
ing to force our religion and our commerce
on China, and our commerce has often
turned in destruction and ruin. Now for
US to shut our doors TO China and claim
to be Christian nation seems real
strange to say the least. One of our great
| statesmen not long ago, before Eastern
audience. declared that as a nation we
were ready to be guided by the Golden Rule
i'm conduct toward the nations of the
earth. The audience applauded, and, listen
ing. you might have heard the whole Ma
admitted to a new plane of life / believe
that our statesman spoke the judgment of
the Nation l think our statesmen are for
/ getting. / am amazed that they so soon
| forget. Are we not fresh from the battle
fields where we have sacrificed wealth, and
| expect it, and if do we are mistaken.
| ! cannot see why our men are presuming
so much on the ignorance and incapacty of
the Chnaman. Is it not known that China
has mighty merchantmen to-day capable of
understanding this whole matter? Such an
I inlnHiCiOnS n1O a
! ruin our chances with China than all the
difference which might occur i'm a too lib
eral policy toward her people. This is seen
by the protests that are coming from the
business men Of the Pacific coast Who is
so blino not to see that in the near flu
ture the Pacific ocean will be the great
thorOughfare OF commerce. This has been
/ events. The world is seeking the untold
wealth of the Orient For us 10 be so fool
ish now seems ridiculous. China is too val
liable. and will see it.
The other influence which is to conserve
the interests of China is religion. The
Christian church is there Has gone to
stay. Gone with the conviction of a divine
commission. The church of America will
have something 10 say on this question
speak but when the American church
does speak il will be i'm the interests of
justice and right, and then let the vote
/ hunter look out. Ii is only safe for an
/ American statesman to have the conscience
of the American people back of him
have no fear of the outcome if only our
people have time To- think. The danger is
i'm the hasty action that this Congress
| seems bent upon. Wealth and religion. the
afrsfv,