Year: 1867

CooIie Labor.


Ed. RECoRD-In 4 former article TOOK occasion
to speak of the dignity of labor, aud the true
blty which the principles of our government are
calculated to foster and build up among the labor
/ ing masses.


I If tha. article contained healthy moral senti-
nlents let it be understood that such were intended:
and when one man becomes the servant of another.
he thereby contracts to obey the will and do the
bidding of the master; contract sometimes lost
sight of, or ignored altogether. Politicians have
/ ignored morality quite long enough; reformation
is needed. But you ask, Do really understand
observer as reasoning for the honor and dig
nifty of labor and at the same time placing it in
competition with Cooliesm and peouage?-


Really" Mr.. Editor do not think you do. But
the answer TO this question involves principles
which hang upon nice points, and it is well for Us
to keep our eyes open, lest while yielding to our
prejudices be led into error as sometimes hap
pens The peonage 10 which you allrde under
stand to be the employing of native Indians, and
becoming responsible to them for such food and raj
ment they will be satisfied with. Two hundred
years experience prove conclusively that the des
tiny of the North American Indians is slow bat
certain extinction. While they remain, they must
have subsistence, and having taken their lands
from them it becomes duty to provide for them.
If, therefore the early settlers of California made
friends with certain tribes of Indians for mutual
benefit and protection, taught them to labor and
employed them, giving them satisfactory
pensaion for their services, and still remain true
to the original compact, it strikes there is in
such course more to applaud than to condemn.
And in the struggle of humanity for life and its
pleasures peonage, Gas you call it, can no more
come in competition with white American labor,
than ignorance can compete with science.


As to the hordes of Asia who have iocked to our
shores in great numbers, whether their presence
here be productive of good or evil it is state of
affairs for which we are indebted to the wisdom
and sagacity OF the Democratic party. So long as
that party remained in power, and their tax gath
ering officials reaped the pecunary benefits derived
therefrom, the thing was lovely. and John China
man necessary to support the State govern
ment. Now however, since their glory has depar-
ted and every other hope has fed the old leaders
double on the track to throw the Union ranks into
confusion. The movement and its object are too
well understood to be carried out that line. 1t
had its origin in mob violence, seized upon TO
pander to the selishness, jealousy and prejudice of
ignorant rabble. and is adopted as the political
text of those whose conduct during the war to put
down rebellion. to say the least, did not win the
confidence of the people. Under such leaders the
most righteous cause would be crushed by its sur
roundings. As political movement the question
has no sympathy from Inc, and | should pity the
weakness of Union man who would desert his
fOu in of TTr,inn IN 10 In
power under any pretence whatever, those who
styled the noble army of the Republic Abolition
hrelings." Il the people of China come here by
virtue of treaty stipulations, their emigration may
be limited by Congressional, not by State action.
Our most powerful weapon woald be by petition to
Congress. But if they come here in violation of
treaties or laws, our remedy is in the courts. But
it would seem the annihilation of Chinese laborers
is the grand panacea that is 10 all the polit
cal and domestic ills the Caucasian race is heir to.
If this be so, so ahead; scatter frebrands arrows
and death; demolsh and devour; make a clean
sweep of the pig tail Celestials, and when the nsa
table NAV of jealousy has been gratifed then pro-
claim to the world that the boastng Caucasian has
found more than a match in the Eastern idoator.
1t is a strange inconsistency that the fighting sup
porters of the defunct C. s. A., on the other side
of the mountains. and their Quaker spirited abet-
tors in California are both trying to make capital
out of the poor Chinaman. The only difference is,
the former would bring him in, the latter would
drive him oat.


But does Chinese labor necessarily come in con-
lct with white labor? If am not willing TO do
piece of work when reasonable compensation is
offered me shall style him an unfair competitor
who has the good sense to accept the offer which
refused: Men by the hundred are to day bumming
around the country, too proud and lazy TO work for
reasonable wages, and if there be any other class
that are long out of profitable employment, will
you please show them to me? The American la
borer Is not under the necessity of accepting
nerative wages, nor is he obliged to purchase a
homestead or have none. Congress says, take a
homestead without price; pay the cost of survey
and eutry-make it your home. and it is yours.
This is the policy which presents Inducements to
till not only our valleys but our mountains with an
intelligent. prosperous and desirable population
but if men will have a whole loaf no bread, and
starve in consequence. that need not affect my
stomach nor are we obliged to Ga without home
steaGs because we cannot get the best. Finally
let it be understood that neither Cooliei>m pc
onage will affect my support opposition of mel
for official position in the coming political contest
On this question have nothing further to say.


OBSERVER.