Speech #480052989

I recall the fact that fourteen years ago. when. as the census shows. there were just ninetyfive Chinamen in the State of Massachusetts. there was a different sentiment on the part of that people and their representatives. That small number of ninetyfive Chinamen alarmed the good people of the old Bay State. and a distinguished legislator. Henry Wilson. one of the greatest leaders of her thought and politicsthen a Senator from that State. and afterward VicePresident of the United States. springing as he did from the loins of the people. and knowing and sympathizing with their wantsmade a noble and emphatic stand against Chinese immigration. Standing yonder in the Senate of the United States fourteen years ago he uttered a sentiment that will be responded to by this House today. What is that? Mr. Wilson. ofkIassachusetts. declared: I think the time has comeAnd I repeat. this was fourteen years agowhen we should have some action upon this subjectChinese immigrationfor it does seem to me at the present day that there is a conspiracy of capital in this country to cast a dragnet over creation for the purpose of bringing degraded labor here to lower and degrade our laboring men. And I think it is time to meet thpt question. Following that declaration a convention held in Massachusetts in 1870 adopted this resolution: Resolved. That while we welcome voluntary immigrants from every clime. and pledge them the protection of our laws and equal opportunity in every field of industry. still we are inflexibly opposed to the importation by capitalists of laborers from China and elsewhere for the purpose of degrading and cheapening American labor. and will resist it by all legal and constitutional means in our power. This was the declaration of the Labor Reform party. Another convention held in the same year and in the same State adopted a resolution in the following terms: Resolved. That. independently of the question as to the expediency of bringing into intimate political and social relations two adverse racesof men. webelieve it to be wrong to stimulate by artificial means the irruption into our community of swarms of Mongolians. who have neither the wish nor the aptitude to assume the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. and are brought here by interested capitalists only as so much bone and muscle to lower the dignity of labor. degrade the condition of our workingmen. and createand perpetuate distinct classes in our social system. So said the Democratic party. At the head of the respective tickets. put in the field under those resolutions. we find the names of Wendell Phillips and John Quincy Adams. names memorable in Massachusetts and in the United States.