Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1877 — Chinese Immigration – Report of a Joint Committee of Congress. [ARTICLE]

Chinese Immigration - Report of a Joint Committee of Congress.

The report of the Joint Special Committee to investigate Chinese immigration, after referring to the resolution areatlng it, says: In conducting the investigation required by the resolution*, the Joint Committee visited the Pacific Coast and examined 180 witnesses. In conducting thia examination the Committee divided their work so as to first hear persona opposed to the unlimited introduction of Chinese, and to this branch of the subject a limited time wa* given. They then beard the testimony of persons favorable to *uch introduction, ana concluded by affording time for witnesses in rebuttaL In the opinion of the Committee, It may be eaid that the resources of California and the Pacific Coast have been more rapidly developed with the cheap and dociie labor of Chinese than they would have been without this element. 8o far as material prosperity is concerned, it cannot be doubted that die Pacific Coast ha* been a great gainer. This is true, at any rate, of the capitalist classes. If the inquiry should stop there, if it should be satisfied by the certainty that money is made out of the present condition of things, and not look to the present or future inoral or political welfare of our Pacific States, it must be conceded, at least, that many enterprising men find their profit in Chinese immigration, and the general resources of the Pacific are being rapidly developed by means of Chinese labor. The Committee found that laboring men and artisans, without exception, were opposed to the. influx of Chinese, on the ground that hard experience had shown that they are thereby thrown out of employmen', and the means of decent livelihood are more difficult of acquisition. But the opposition to Chinese immigration was not confined to laboring men and mechanics. In the testimony will be found that of lawyers, doctors, merchants, divines, Judges, and others in large numbers, speaking of their own observation and belief, that the apparent prosperity derived from the presence of Chinese is deceptive and unwholesome, ruinous to our laboring classes, promotive of caste, and dangerous to free institutions. In the progress of their investigation the Committee called before them the municipal authorities of San Francisco, including the Executive, Legislative, Health and Police Departments, to ascertain the numbers, habits and modes of life of the Chinese in San Francisco. The number of adult Chinese residents in that city average at present, during a year, about 35,000. The testimony shows that the Chinese live in filtny dwellings, upon poor food, crowded together in narrow quarters, disregarding health and fire ordinances, and that their vices are corrupting to the morals of the city, especially of tlie young. Amoug the testimony will be found that of some twenty operatives, numbering nearly as many trades, in which details are given in relation to different industrial pursuits which are either monopolized by the Chinese, or are fast becoming so. This evidence shows that the Chinese have reduced wages to what would be starvHtion prices for white men and women, and engrossed so much of the labor in the various callings that there is a lack of employment for whites; and young men arc growing up in idleness, while young women willing to work are compelled to resort to doubtful meuus of support. The hardships resulting from these causes bear with especial weight upon women.

At the safety of republican institutions requires that the exereise of the franchise shall be only by those who have a love and appreciation of our institutions, and this rule excludes the great mass of the Chinese from the ballots as a necessary means to nubile safety, yet the application of the rule deprives tliem of the only adequate protection which can. exist in a Republic for the security of any distinctive large class of persons. An indigestible mass in the community, distinct in language, pagan in religion, inferior in mental and moral qualities and all peculiarities is an undesirable element in a Republic, but becomes especially so if political power is placed in its hands. The safety of the State demands that such power shall not be so placed. The safety of the class, however, seems to depend in a measure upon that power. To anyone reading the testimony which we lay before the two houses it will become painfully evident that the -Pacific Const must in time become either American or Mongolian. Upon the point of morals there Is no Aryan or European race which is not far superior to the Chinese as a class. There is no intermarriages between the Asiatics and the Caucasian race. The presence of the Chinese discourages and retards white immigration to the Pacific States. It ia very clearly in evidence that the number of Chinese on the Pacific Coast is rapidly increasing, not by births, for there are few of these, but by importations, so that the same uneducated class is supplied perpetually. The Chinese do not come to make their home in this country; their only purpose is to acquire what would be a competence in China, and return there to enjoy it. It further appears from the evidence that the Chinese do not desire to become citizens of this country, and have no knowledge of or appreciation for our institutions. Very few of them learn to speak our language. They do not desire the ballot, and there is danger if they had it their “ head men” woula control the sale of it in quantities large enough to determine any election. That it would be destructive to the Pacific States to put the ballot in their hands was very generally believed by the witnesses. The tide of Chinese immigration Is gradually tending eastward, and betore a quarter of a century the difficult question that now arises upon the Pacific Coast will probably have to be met upon the banks of the Mississippi, and perhaps on the Ohio and Hudson. Many people of the Pacific Coast believe that this influx of Chinese is a standing menace to republican institutions upon the Pacific and the existence there of Christian civilization. From all the facts that they have gathered bearing upon the matter, and considering fairly the testimony for and against the Chinese, the Committee believe that this opinion is well founded. They believe that free Institutions, founded upon free schools and intelligence, can only x be maintained where based on intelligent and adequately-paid labor. Chinese Immigration involves sordid wages, no public schools, and the absence of the family. We speak of the Chinese as they have exhibited themselves on the Pacific Coast for twenty-five years past, and as they are there at the present time. They show few of the characteristics of a desirable population, and many to be deprecated by any patriot The problem Is too important to be treated with indifference. Congress should solye it, having due regard to any rights already accrued under existingtreaties and to humanity. But it must be solved in the judgment of the Committee, unless our Pacific possessions are to be ultimately given over to a race alien in all Its tendencies, which will make of It practically provinces of China rather than States of the Union. The Committee recommend that measures be taken by the Executive looking toward a modification of the existing treaty with China, confining it to strictly commercial purposes, and that Congress legislate to restrain the great influx of Asiatics to thia country. It is not believed that either of these measures would be looked upon with disfavor by the Chinese Government. Whether thia b so or not, a duty is owing to the Pacific States and Territories, which are suffering under « terrible scourge, but are patiently waiting for relief from Congress.