Speech #470037293

On yesterday the Republican members of this House were almost unanimous in proving to the cousitry that the Republican party. when it made a pledge in national convention. did so with the purpose of fulfilling it. It has shown to the people of this country that with the Republican party platfo runs were not intended as siniply "1 molasses to catch flies." They declared that polygamy should be driven from the land. and I was glad to see the almost unanimous support given to the carrying oat of that pledge. relieving the people of the United States of as great an evil as perhaps there is in it. with the single exception of the one whi(h I have risen for the purpose of discussing. The question of polygamy. sir. is scarcely to be spoken of iii compiarison with this question of Asiatic coolyin. I will not dignify their coming here by the title of immigration. but will call it wa is inreality. aniuvasion. The late President ofthe United States when ie used the word "invasion" knew full well the purport of that which bespoke. Since this bill has been introduced in the House not three months have passed. yet there has come into the State of California alone durin that time over six thousand of thosepeople. Mr. Speaker. it is unnecessary for me to inform this Hens) andthe country that the people of California. as well as of the oth( r Pacific coast States and Territories which are afflicted by this Chinese immigration. are unanimous in favor of this bill. One week ago. on Saturday last. the people of those three States. representing a population of over a million of intelligent people. met in all their different towns and hamlets and unanimously petitioned Congress to pass this bill. whichwas then pending before the other branch of the National Legislature. A million of people. of freemenmen many of whom crossed the continent in former years. braving the toils ann terrors of an overland journey. others who went round by way of he Horn to reach that land of promise. men who went there under the belief that the Congress of the United States would guarantee to every State of the Union a republican form of governmentthose men and their children now petition you for the suppression of this intolerable evil. It may be asked why we are opposed to Chinese immigration and what is the necessity for the consideration and passage of this bill which some of my friends. even on this side of the House. regard. I believe. as a very harsh measure. We are opposed to Chinese immigration. first. because the Chinese are a people eminently unfit to become desirable citizens in a country the people of which cherish the genius of free institutions. as is the case with the people of the United States. And I advance this proposition. Mr. Speaker: that it is a fundamental principle of government that we have the right to legislate for our own best interests andto say whether we shall admit as immigrants to our shores a class of people to whom we are unwilling to extend the rights of citizenship. Before I get through I think I shall be able to succeed in demoustrating the fact and convincing some of the members of this House at least that this people because of their habits and characteristics are unfit to become not alone citizens of the United States but even inhabitants thereof. I believe.