Speech #500003097

I have met the opposition of my own people in defending the Chinese from violence which naturally arises from race hatred and prejudice. But I have long since seen that we can not live with the Chinese. Seventeen years ago last Julythe question arose in this Senate Chamber as to whether the Chinese should be naturalized. It was a fierce and protracted discussion. it continued over the 4th of July. and after the subject was fully discussed. the Senate almost unanimously decided that it would not allow them to become citizens. while in the beginning of the discussion Senators were nearly unanimous the other way. Since that time I have had an opportunity to observe the Chinese and to reflect upon the question. and I find that it is an allimportant and a new question. so far as the people of the United States are concerned. but so far as our race is concerned it is but the renewal of the conflict which commenced at the earliest period of history. It is a curious fact that the races of Western Europe havenever been able to wrest one acre of ground from the Asiatics. while the Asiatics have alwaysbeen advancing upon the Europeans. They have several times invaded Europe and supplanted large sections of its population. but Europeans have never supplanted the inhabitants of Asia at any point. The descendants of the armies of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane are still in Europe. The descendantsof the vast hordes of Huns who overran Europe centuries ago still occupy the lands they gained by conquest. Ten millions of Turks remain. in Europe in possession of the lands they acquired by arms from the Christians. Great Britain has overrun 250.000.000 Asiatics. but she has yet to acquire the first farm in Asia. The natives are there. She may overrun themwithher armies. butshe can not supplant them.