Speech #470038674

I vote for this bill after thoroughly considering its merits fron the peculiar standpoint of one himself the son of an adopted citizen of this country. While the very foundation of our Goverment rests upon th at grand declaxation of human rights "that all men are created equal" and that "they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. among which are life. liberty. and the pursuit of happiness." yet I believe that we can and ought torecognize no claim u pun hnnman society or any form of civil government as valid which does not rest upon thojust principle of a corresponding duty discharged as a proper return for the demands made upon hunran society. This Republic owes its marvelous growth. its wonderful development. its preeminence amongthe nations oflour modern tiures largely to the influx of immigration froni the Old World. an immigration totally different froni that which found its way to the Pacific coast from Asia. The European immigrant. akin in rce to the population of the American colonies which were originally sdttled by Europeans. became then. and still becomes. an indistinguishable part of our population. He adopts American customs. and. what is arore. American ideas and love of personal liberty . he assini lates with and disappears entirely among the nativeborn. making all that is worth preserving of American life and thought the sacred heritage of his own children. The schoolhouse. the workshop. the avenunes of commerce become the scene of this peaceful transformation of kindred elements into a harmonious body that bids fair to establish in due time the most powerful. the most enlightened. the most progressive nation upon the face of the earth. But not so with the Chinese immigration. past. present. or fuitrre. The Chinaman does not inquire hito our liberal ideas as underlyiug the American system of government. he does not mean to become a willing contributor to the support of our iublieschools . lie has nodesire tobuild a ]ioure and raise a family aiong us. nor would it be desirable. politically . soial I. or morally. that he should do so. because he does not ubarige ris social and political views so as to conform to the enlarged sphere of thinking afforded him by our system of popular governient and social life. even his bones go back to his native country. The advent of the Chinese to this country. in my opinion. partakes more of the character of a peaceful subversion. a possession of conquered territory by paid and hired armies of submissive laborers owing allegiance solely to a foreign power. and regardless of the future or prospects of the eantiful territory temporarily occupied by them.