Speech #550156841

If this. sir. is what the opening up of China means. I beg leave to say that I can not grow enthusiastic over the prospect. It means. sir. that American capital is to be diverted from the development of American resources and the employment of American labor to the development of Asiatic resources by the employment of Asiatic labor. It may mean vast fortunes to a few syndicates of American capitalists. but where will there be any profit to the American people when the vast agricultural and mineral resources of China are poured out into the markets of the world in competition with the products of American labor? Why should we heap higher and heavier the burden of taxes on the American people. why should we maintain a vast army and navy to defend distant possessions. why should we waste the flower of our youth in the deathly Tropics. why should we maintain military rule over conquered provinces 10.000 miles from the seat of government. why should we embroil ourselves in European quarrels and bring the nation into perpetual danger of war merely that we may open the way for American syndicates to crush American industry with the weight of Asiatic competition? Sir. once before the effort was made to unite American capital with Chinese labor here in our own country. but the American people declared that this unholy union should not be consummated on American soil. It is now proposed. that the nuptials shall be celebrated in China. but the American people are not only required to dance at the wedding but to pay the fiddler.