Speech #550154087

The case of Boyd vs. Thayer (143 U. S.. 135) holds that the nationality of the inhabitants of territory acquired by conquest or cession becomes that of the government under whose dominion they pass. and that it is not necessary for them to take out naturalization papers. Thus these cases decide beyond question that if the Philippine Islands are annexed the children born there afterwards are citizens of the United States. They seem also to decide clearly that such as were subjects of Spain before cession become citizens of the United States after cession. except such as under the treaty provisions manifest a desire to remain subject to Spain. Being citizens of the United States. they are entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens. which can not be denied them by either the Federal Government or by any of the State governments. It has been decided that 4mong these privileges and immunities thus secured is the right to come to its seat of government. free access to its seaports. right to use its navigable waters. the.rights secured by treaties with other nations. and the right to work and acquire property. Thus upon the ratification of the treaty the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands will become citizens of the United States. entitled as citizens to emigrate here. work here. and remain here so long as they choose. and neither the Federal Government nor the State government can prevent them. Sir. this presents a serious matter to those of our fellowcitizens who live by the sweat of the brow. It means that every toiler in this country must compete with millions of Asiatic laborers who are content with wages of less than 10 cents per day. It means reduced wages. and consequently less comforts and less opportunities to the laboring masses. It means the crowding of the labor market of this country with a class of laborers far inferior to the Chinese. whom we have excluded. We are told that in Manila. the capital of these islands. the most intelligent. the wealthiest. and the most influential class of natives are the 50.000 Chinese residents there. We have had our experience with the Chinese as emigrants. and we know what a great peril they were to labor. Selfpreservation demanded the exclusion of the Chinese. With the danger from the invasion of the Chinese laborers still XXXII29 fresh in our memories. there are those who favor annexing to this Union nine millions of people inferior in every respect to the Chinese. and who will then become a perpetual menace to every wage earner in this country. When this is accomplished. then the vast trusts. combines. and corporations will either employ this cheap labor or else force the American laborer to accept the same rate of wages. If American laborers refuse to accept the reduced rates and organize to prevent the employment of their Asiatic competitors. then the great army created in this vast imperial scheme will be called out to protect the" new Asiatic citizen." and will. if necessary. use the bayonet against Americans struggling only to put bread in the mouths of their children. Sir. in the great number of negroes. in the mixed classes which for years have come here from all parts of the globe. exist sources of danger which must be met with courage. wisdom. justice. and forbearance. or else great disaster awaits us. It seems to me that to add new dangers to the ones we already have before we have disposed of them is the supremest folly.