Speech #500117231

I wish before it passes to put on record my certain convictionAnd by the way. in order to save time. I want to call the attention of the Senate to a good many other propositions in what I am reading besides the main pointmy certain conviction that the opinion which has come from a large body of the most intelligent people of the country. from the organs of the great denominations of Christians. from the representatives of the communities which have owed their prosperity. their power. their happiness to the respect in which the labor on which they are based has been heldI say I think this opinion is sure. sooner or later. is sure very speedily. to prevail in reversing the policy on which we now seem about to enter. That is. in passing the Chinese exclusion bill of 1882. I believe that the Pacific coast itself will come back very soon to the doctrine of the eloquent resolution framed by my honorable friend from California a few years ago as a representative of the Republican convention of his State. of which he was a leading member. It is impossible. it is incredible that a blow at the dignity of human nature. a blow at the dignity of labor. a blow at men. not because of their individual qualities or characters. but because of the color of their skin. should not fail to be a subject of deep regret and repentance to the American people in the nineteenth century.