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cortuption, and conspiracy, and the evasion of the spirit and in-
compel them to do so. To do otherwfae would mean their star-
tent of the law.
vation.
There is no "me1·chant class" in the sense ,ve use the word;
Mr. President, the people of the Pacific coast do not desire
they are traders among themselves and as a rule in a small way.
to maltreat, to persecute, or to deport the Chinese now within
They are of the coolie class (with rare exceptions) and on a par
our borders. They recognize their rights under the treaty to
only with the laboring class, and receive no greater considera-
remain and enjoy them until they voluntarily leave, and hence
tion, save on account of their weal th, for which the Chinese have
do not desire to interfere with them. But we would and will, if
the profoundest r espect. When the coolie laborer desires to return
possible, prevent the further incoming of this race or the return
to his native land, be lie a laborer in the field, factory, or house-
of those who shall voluntary leave.
hold servant, he becomes a merchant by paying into some trad-
We would have this nation follow nature's laws and integrate
ing establishment a matter of $50 or $100 and departs foi- his
a higher type of our civilization, one more distinct, special, more
native land.
American, and would protect its evolution from all danger, real
If he shall desire to r eturn he is provided with the certificate
or threatened. We would first take care of ourselves, recogniz-
for that pmpose; if not, he sells it to one of bis kind, posts him
ing that in so doing we were making our "greatest contributions
in regard to localities, and when he comes he presents his cer-
to the welfare of humanity."
tificate, and if: his identity (which is exceedingly difficult to de-
In other words, Mr. President, we would not permit the purity
termine) is questioned, he unhesitatingly commits perjury, is
and sweetness of our national waters to be contaminated or pol-
set free, by the " sacred habeas corpus" writ ( a process unknown
luted by the mingling of its pure streams with the iml?ure from
in Asia), and when the time set to determine his identity shall
any source whatsoeve-r. vVe would first use of them whatever
have arrived he has disappeared, leaving only an utterly worth-
portion we require and then permit them to fl.ow on and to the
less bond made acceptable under the law by the false oaths of his
fullest extent possible purify the noxious streams of less fortu-
bondsmen.
nate conditions
Sir, I would prevent the shame and outrage of these daily im-
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positions upon our people and their demoralizing influence.
0
From whence emanates this sentiment of opposition to their
exclusion? Can it be possible that in this land of intelligence
and plenty that this opposition should be instigated by the sordid
motives of a few that prefer immediate gain to the perpetuity of
our civilization and institutions, the peace and prosperity of the
masses of our people? Is this objection from a commercial
standpoint? If so, let me inform those high-minded patriots,
with a lively appreciation of their own interests, that they know
nothing of the character of this race. The Chinese do not now
1101· will they purchase from any source anything whatsoever
that they can do without; they will purchase from the cheapest
source; they will sell to us all they have, if we will pay for it,
for the reason that they are confronted with conditions that
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