The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-03-01
Chinese Exclusion.
BrtAn's COmmOner.

For several years various pretexts
have been resorted TO in certain
quarters in the hope of cultivatiDg
sentiments favorable to a material
change, II NOS actual repeal, OF the
Chinese exclusion act. This sgita-
ton has now taken on serious pro-
portions and is supported to con.
siderable extent by the socalled
Chinese boycott. In the opinion OF
Americans having some acquain-
tanoe with the situation in China
this boycott was not instituted so
much in the spirit OF resentment as
for the purpose Of bringing pressure
to bear to secure modification OF
the exclusion law.
In the opinion OF well informed men
the excuse for this boycott will be re-
moved whenever 1t shall be demon.
strated beyond a doubt that the
American government will not yield
its position in protecting the Ameri
can laborer from the death dealing
competition that will come from any
material change In the exclusion act.
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 Pa.
cific coast would feel the evil effects
Of Chinese emigration fret, and it is
also true that the laboriDg men
would come into immediate contact
with Oriental labor, but Its ultimate
influence the subject touches all parts
Of the country and reaches all class-
es.
The question Is whether we ere 60
ing to build up sstrong indie .Iendent,
upright and patriotic peoph and de-
velopa civilization that will. exert a
helpful influence on all the world, or
whether we are going to be greedy,
grasping nation, iorgetiul OF high
ideals and concerned only In the
making OF money.
Aside from present-day pretexts
Chinese immigration is defended by
those who believe that universal
brotherhood" requires US to welcome
to our shores all people OF all lands.
This Is the sentimental argument ad-
vanced in favor OF Chinese immigra-
ton. There is no more reason why
we should construe brotherhood"
to require the admission OF all people
to our country than there is that we
should construe brotherhood" to
require the dissolution OF family ties.
The family is q unit; it Is the place
where character and virtue and use-
iulness are developed, and from the
family a good or evil influence eman.
stes. 1t is not necessary nor even
wise that the family environment
should be broken up or that ali who
desire entrance should be admitted
to the family circle. In alarger sense
a nation Is family. 1t is the center
Tor the cultivation OF national charac-
ter, national virtue and national USE
iulness. A nation is under no obliga.
tion to the outside world to admit
anybody or anything thatEould In
iuriously effect the national family;
in fact ii ia under obligation to itself
not to do so. The influence OF the
United States will be much more
potent for good II we remain a homo
geneous nation with all citizens in
iull sympathy with all other citizens.
No distinct race like the Chinese can
come into this country withoutexcit-
ing friction and race prejudice
which will made it more difficult for
us to exercise a wholesome influence
upon the Chinese In China, not to
speak OF our influence In other ma
tions.