Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-08-07
WOULD REMOVE RESTRICTION To
AID Commerce.
He is Consistent With the Policy
Which FavOrS Taxing the People
to Maintain Good Wages, Yet Seek
ing the Cheap Labor Markets of
the World TO Reduce Wages.

Secretary Taft has recently delivered
an impor' ant opinion on the question of
immigration. He saws:
"Is it just that for the purpose OF ex
cluding or preventing perhaps 100 Chi
nese coolies from slipping into this coun-
try against the law, we should subject
an quail number Of Chinese merchants
and students of high character to an ex.
animation of such an inquisitorial. hu-
initiating, insulting and physically un-
comfortable character as to discourage
altogether the coming Of merchants and
students?
| Zone of the great commercial prizes of
the world is the trade with the 400 600, 900
Chinese. Ought we to throw away the
advantage which We have by reason Of
Chinese natural friendship for us. and
continue to enforce an unjustly seve. e
law, and thus create in the Chinese mind
disposition to boycott the American
trade and to drive our merchants from
Chinese shores, simply because we are
afraid that we may for the time lose the
approval OF certain unreasonable and ex.
treme popular leaders OF California and
other coast states?
"Does the question not answer itself ?
Is it not the duty of members OF congress
and OF the executive to disregard the
unreasonable demands Of q part OF the
community deeply prejudiced upon this
subject in the far west. and insist on ex.
tending justice and courtesy to people
from whom we are likely to derive such
immense benefit in the way OF interna-
tional tradei"
1t will be seen that "the 100000, 900
commercial prize" is the thing that fills
the secretary's eyes. and anything is re.
gardUd as unreasonable that stands in
the way. He underestimates the mum.
Der Of Chinese who would come in as
laborers and denounces as unreasonable
the demands made by the laboring men
Of the country that they be protected
from horde OF Chinese coolies who are
not assimilated or brought to the Ameri.
can level of living, but simply displace
American workmen. 1t is fortunate for
the country that thus early in his presi-
dental campaign Secretary Taft so clear
ly alligns himself with its capitalistic
side. For forty years the manufacturers
have taxed the whole country for the
ostensble purpose of giving good wages
to labor; but now when they begin to
reach out for the markets OF the world
they are willing that the coolies them.
selves shall come in. II the Chinese will
come with love for our institutions and
for the purpose OF identifying themselves
with our future it would be different
question, but they preserve their Orien-
talism and form a permanently distinct
class among us. Their presence is sure
to breed race troubles that will be more
hurtful to trade than any exclusion act
can be.
Many OF the republican leaders will be
in sympathy with the policy that will
food the country with cheap Chinese
labor, and an imperial policy tends to
give encouragement to the cheap labor
proposition.
The Chinese question is one that effects
the entire country, not the Pacific coast
alone or the laboring men alone. 1t is
true that the Pacific coast would feel the
evil effects OF Chinese immigration first,
and it is also true that the laboring men
would come into immediate contact with
oriental labor, but in its ultimate inhu.
ence the subject touches all parts of the
country and reaches all classes. The
question is whether we are going to build
up a strong, independent, upright and
patriotic people and develop a civliza-
ton that will exert q helpful influence
on all the world, or whether we are 60
ing to be greedy, grasping nation, for
getful of high ideals and concerned only
in the making of money.