Anti-Chinese Rhetoric

The following are articles containing Anti-Chinese political rhetoric and mentions of Anti-Chinese legislation leading up to the Chinese Massacre. It's fair to say that newspapers reflect the sentiment of the population. But it must also be stated that newspapers influence sentiment.  The Los Angles Daily News was more vocal about Chinese immigration than the Daily Star.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 46, 23 February 1870
Now and then.-- Let it be remembered that the men who were loud and furious in their declamations against negro slavery because it cheapened and degraded white labor, are the very men who now clamor for the importation of Chinese labor, on the ground that it will cheapen white labor.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 64, 16 March 1870
Our State Assembly has inserted in the new Quarantine Act a provision requiring every Chinaman, on landing, to be vaccinated by an officer who is to receive $10 for the Job, and prohibiting the removal from the State of the remains of dead Chinese, under the penalty of another $10 in each case. At which the San Francisco Bulletin, the especial champion of the Mongolians, waxes wroth and says that the true motives of this additional legislation is not for the promotion of the health of "John" Chinaman, but to make money out of him and discourage his emigration. Our cotamporary(sic) having argued the case to his own satisfaction can now take a rest.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 66, 18 March 1870
The Assembly passed the bill prohibiting the employment of Chinese laborers on public works, and forfeiting all rights of franchise and aid to corporations employing them. Also, to pay unsettled expenses of geological survey.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 125, 27 May 1870
CHINESE RIOT.
Speaking of the late Chinese riot in San Francisco, the Chronicle says:
The Chinese riot on Sunday will convince many of our citizens who have heretofore been inclined to look with favor upon a class of people whom they considered a timid and much abused race, of their true character. It is but an earnest of what may be anticipated when this timid and law abiding race shall become strong enough numerically, to oppose the authorities. The riot was caused, not by great injustice of long suffering, which might be palliated or glossed over by the popular designation of "revolution," but in consequence of a single difference of opinion on a matter of business. One class of Chinese desired, it seems, to monopolize a certain portion of the washing business to the exclusion of a minority, An appeal was made to the Chinese magnates. The decision did not accord with the views of one faction, and they appealed to arms, and riot and disorder ensued. The whole affair illustrates a dangerous element in the Chinese character. They are cunning, vindictive, cruel, and unscrupulous; caring little for life and regardless of consequences in the insatiate fury. Experience confirms the general opinion that the Chinese are an undesirable and turbulent element in a community such as ours; they are now restrained by the police authorities, but will soon attain numbers sufficient to defy any force. Shall they be permitted to increase in numbers? The people of California have it in their power to settle the question in the negative. By earnest and united effort; a little sacrifice here and there; and preference for white labor instead of Chinese, and the whole matter could be settled within a year. Let the people discard Chinese employees and rely upon white labor and their own energies. Many Chinese are employed at low wage as luxuries which can be easily dispensed with. Some such united effort on the part of the people, who should prefer the advancement of their own race, would effectually prevent the rioting of Chinese, in competing for patronage that should in every case be denied them.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 138, 11 June 1870
White Labor Vs. Chinese
We have always thought well of the man who said that the Chinese were the Negros of the Pacific Coast. That the author of that remark was a farseeing man none can or will deny, and however much we may have sympathized with our friends of the Atlantic States in the disorganization that has resulted from an inundation of Negro discussion and agitation, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that Chinese agitation and discussion is equally dangerous to the people of the Pacific, and may lead to as much disorganization as has resulted from the contests over the negro in the States of the Atlantic. Already the subject of Chinese labor has entered into the politics of the State, and in the future the statesman or politician who can steer clear of its reefs by adopting a non-committal policy, is an imbecile, totally unfit for any public position. Let those who have aught to ask of the public, adopt the non-committal policy as much as they choose, and they will find that the people cannot and will not be deceived. The opposition of the bone and sinew of the Caucasian race of the Pacific coast to Chinese immigration is so bitter that nothing short of absolute repudiation of the Chinese with their Pagan barbarism, will induce them to favor any man or party that may ask favors at their hands. We may talk about the power and influence of capital as much as we please but the great power of all countries is in the concentration of the masses. If such has proved to be the ease in the monarchical governments of Europe, where the active influence in the government is confined to the favored few, and where the laboring element is not felt by the rulers, except where disaffection, produced by want and neglect, forces them into threatened or active revolution, which with one or two exceptions, has for the past century, resulted in concessions from the governments to the masses or laboring classes, until in some at least of the crowned head nations, the right of suffrage has reached almost the entire male population, how much more must we expect the influence of the working men in a Republic like ours, where every man is armed with a ballot, to fix the politics and policy of the country. Riches in all nations and Countries are confined to the few; poverty at least in contradistinction to riches, is the inheritance of the many. It is clear therefore, that when the masses choose to use the ballot in their own interest, they can and will dictate not only the policy but the rulers of the government.
That the working men of San Francisco understand their power is shown by the recent defeat of the million dollar subsidy proposition voted on in that city. They were not willing to vote a subsidy with which to pay for the importation of Chinese laborers, they asked the question directly of the railroad company, "will the road be built by white, or Chinese labor?" The company evaded the subject, and answered through its President in such a manner as showed clearly that the great bulk of labor would be performed by Chinese, and the working men of the Bay City turned their backs upon the propagandists of Chinese labor, and the  subsidy was defeated, thus showing the power through the ballot box to protect themselves, and in San Francisco at least they were above the seductive influence of the gold of large monied corporations, unaided by a single leading journal in that city, where the press follows the lead of capital, the workingman fought and won their own battle, and while we honor them for the valor displayed in the contest. We congratulate them upon their victory, and assure them, that if they are only true to themselves it will be but one of many brilliant and decisive victories that labor must, and will win, when battling for justice and right, and in which pledge them our cordial sympathy, and hearty co-operation.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 163, 13 July 1870
Chinese Bagnios
While our worthy City Fathers are studying the science of city government, and discussing grave and important matters in council, once a week, they would do well to take some steps to rid the city of the Chinese bagnios that exist in Negro Alley and other parts of the city. Half an hundred or more of these horrible wretches live in dens six by ten feet long on both sides of that street, and make night hideous with their yells and broils from dark until daylight, disturbing and annoying quiet people, for several blocks, in every direction from that locality. There is upon the ordinance book a city law prohibiting persons from keeping noisy and disorderly houses, but the city government appears to be too weak and indolent to enforce its own enactments, and no efforts are made to enforce ordinances, or to protect citizens from the nuisances brought to their very doors by the vile creatures. The Chinese are not the only class of prostitutes that should receive the attention of the public authorities. There is, we believe, a statute prohibiting the renting or leasing of houses for the purposes of carrying on prostitution, but no efforts are made to enforce the law, and property holders are daily violating the statute and outraging decency by renting tenements, situated in the very heart of the city, to prostitutes of the most abandoned character. Every day the cry escapes the mouths of citizens: Will the time ever come when law, order and decency will be enforced; and if so, when and by whom, and how much longer will a patient people be forced to wait.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 1, Number 39, 16 July 1870
CONGRESSIONAL
Washington, July 11, 1870
Accompanying was the bill for the limitation of the time of sojourn or of number of Chinese arriving in the United States, by permitting each state to prohibit the residence of Chinese within their limits, or to place such restrictions thereupon as it may think proper, or by the exclusion of the Chinese from the States and Territories of the Union, except as travelers and merchants.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 176, 28 July 1870
THE ALTA AND MOBS.
Fearing its Chinese pets may come to grief the Alta has been treating the workingmen of San Francisco to a dissertation on mobs, and reminds them that any violence on their part will be promptly met and punished by the government. While the working men are justly indignant at the constant influx of Chinese, and the usurpation by them of the trades and occupations upon which the white laboring men must rely for the support of themselves and families, they are not so much incensed at the Chinese themselves as they are at the party that has made itself their champion, and, for selfish purposes, attempted to degrade white labor by forcing it in contact with Mongolian civilization. The working men are a power in this country that neither government nor party can afford to despise, and the Radical party, chagrined and mortified at the loss of that power, are attempting, through such organs as the Alta, to further degrade and outrage the working element by treating it as an unlawful mob, governed by no higher motives than those of bloody vengeance. The laboring organizations of this and other States are not for unlawful purposes, however impracticable and threatening the language of the few individual members may be. They are composed of earnest, honest men, who seek in unity of purpose and concert of action, the protection of law, and the right to earn for themselves an honest livelihood by the sweat of their brows. Their organizations do not mean blood and death to the Chinese, who are less responsible for their presence here than the Radical party has used the treaty making power of the government as an inducement for them to immigrate. Those organizations mean revolution in the simple and lawful manner provided by the constitution -- the ballot box. They mean that men who have in the past been the laborers that produced the nation's wealth; the voters who placed the men in power who shamefully abused and betrayed them; the soldiers who fought the nation's battles, have determined to vote for and elect such men, and such men only, as reflect their views and interests. They have it in their power to elect men to the control of government who will abrogate offensive Chinese treaties, who will pass all laws necessary to stop their pestilential immigration, sweep income taxes, high tariffs, in the interests of whiskey, iron, and other "rings," from the statute books. They mean honest administration of the Government and equalization of taxes and needful reforms. If the Alta considers such to be unlawful mobs, then the organization of working man(sic?) are mobs, but while denouncing the organizations of law abiding citizens as mobs, the Alta should remember that it is the bantling of a mob; that when a mob attempted to seize the government of this State, it applauded the act, and tears of virtuous joy were shed by it, over the mock trials and death struggles of the white victims of a murderous mob in San Francisco. And the whole history of that journal, although San Francisco has been the scene of more violence from mobs than any other city on the Pacific coast, the Alta never found their acts so violent, brutal or dangerous, as to merit or provoke it's condemnations. The mob has ever been its friend, when white men are the objects of its fury; for such the Alta had no word of compassion. Their property might be destroyed and themselves strangled and tortured to death, and the Alta would applaud. It is only when Chinese are, in its opinion, in danger of being mobbed, that its voice is raised in the name of law and order; for them it labors, sympathises(sic), and weeps tears of anguish, that they are not the ruling power. For the white man it has neither tears, sympathy nor respect.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 219, 16 September 1870
COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
The City Attorney read a law imposing severe penalties upon Chinese houses of prostitution, and presented an Ordinance imposing licenses upon houses of prostitution graduated according to the districts where kept.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 2, Number 226, 24 September 1870
ASSAULT ON A CHINAMAN. -- A day or two since, Yo Hing, a Chinaman well known in Los Angeles as a cigar merchant, and as one of the leaders of one of the Chinese Companies in this city, visited the La Puente Rancho on business. Returning, he, with a companion, also a Chinaman, stopped at a hotel at El Monte and sought a moderate amount of the liquid refreshment imbibed alike by Caucasian and Mongolian. While waiting to be served, a man, white man, came in and sans ceremonie grappled a chair and unmercifully belabored Yo Hing and his companion. No arrests have been made at this writing.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 1, Number 118, 16 October 1870
A DECIDED IMPROVEMENT. -- The large lot at the head of Los Angeles street, cornering on both Negro Alley and Arcadia street, and owned by the Hon. Antonio F. Coronel, was surveyed yesterday, preparatory to the erection of a fine three story brick building, which will cover the entire lot, and have a front of one hundred and sixty-nine feet on Sanchez street, and eighty-five feet on Negro Alley.
This is a long step in the right direction, no more decided improvement has ever been attempted in this city by a private individual that this building will be, when completed. The thieves, cut throats, and prostitutes, who have long infested and disgraced this locality, will disappear with their adobe dens, and give place to buildings and citizens, who will be a credit to the City of Los Angeles.
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GOOD SUGGESTION. -- Now that the work of cleaning out the filth and corruption of what is generally known as "Negro Alley," a name which will recall to the minds of our citizens the disgraceful scenes which have been enacted in that locality during the past years, has been Common Council we would suggest to the community, that it's name be changed to that of the public spirited founder of the improvement of that street, and that here after it be known as Coronel Place.


Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 2, Number 294, 11 May 1871
More of the Chinese.
A Chinese Doctor has entered suit against a white man to recover a sum of money due him, the proof resting solely on the testimony of the doctor. This is another case to test the right of the Chinese under the recent acts of Congress, and to see whether the State or United States laws will be acknowledged in the Courts of California. There are some very stringent enactments in the Congressional acts respecting persons who shall deny all the rights of citizens to any one, on account of race, color, or being an alien, and should the justice of the peace, or any other man deny such rights to this Doctor Lo Po Tai, it is his intention to invoke all the pains and penalties provided for the occasion. This is a case similar to that of Sheriff Jackson, of Trinity county, and the result, as the Call says, will be looked forward to with considerable interest, and its decision will set at rest the right of a State Supreme Court to decide against the laws enacted by Congress.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 147, 22 June 1871
Twelve Hundred More.
Twelve hundred Chinamen per month, and twenty-five women. The month before last we had 1,222 for good measure. 14,400 Pagans brought annually by Uncle Sam to insult the mechanics and workingmen of the United States; not only to insult, but to starve them and their families, and so degrade the laborers calling as to make it loathsome to work.
This is a sad reflection.
The whole fabric of our Government rests upon the industry and intelligence of its people. We have high tariffs to prevent ruinous competition with our manufacturies; that our people may have enough for their labor to make it respectable to work; we lavish millions of dollars upon free schools, that every generation may be wiser than the last; we extend the right of suffrage to white and black that they may feel the country is theirs and be proud of American citizenship. We brag of our inventors, the mechanics of our country, and call them the bone and sinew of freedom's happy land, and we praise our Government as the cow that gives the splendid bucket of milk and then, in the midst of our glory, it kicks it over by giving to the Chinese steamer a half million of dollars to bring the heathens here to compete with our own people. And this is called a government of the people -- and the people who work still throw up their hats and shout to office the rascals that inflict this punishment upon them. -- [People's Journal.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 148, 23 June 1871
960 more Chinamen arrived at San Francisco from over the sea last Monday morning. 960 fewer white men needed in the country.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 3, Number 335, 25 June 1871
The Democratic Platform Resolved, By the Democratic party of California
...
Eighth -- That the failure of Congress to repeal the odious income tax, the maintenance of a vast army of tax-gatherers to harrass(sic) the people and eat out their substance and the failure to respect the importation of Chinese coolies, whose competition tends directly to cheapen and degrade white labor, constitute a catalogue(sic) of grievances for which a radical Congress will be held justly accountable.
...
Twelfth -- That we believe that the labor of our white people should not be brought into competition with the labor of a class of inferior people, whose living costs comparatively nothing, and who care and know little about our churches, schools, societies and political institutions, and that we are, therefore, opposed to Chinese immigration; that Congress, by its legislation, having sought to foster such immigration, and to prevent our local authorities from interfering with it, and by its attempted abrogation of the foreign miners' license tax, deserves our severest condemnation, and has given us another illustration of its intention to concentrate all power in the hands of the General Government.
...
Resolved, That we heartily indorse the Democratic State administration, and declare it eminently entitled to the confidence and approval of the whole people.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 166, 15 July 1871
It is no wonder that the People's Journal, the organ of the working classes on the coast, laments the evils arising from the Chinese immigration so steadfastly encouraged and fostered by the Republican party and its creature, the present administration. Perhaps it goes too far in its assertions, but it is only anticipating the state of affairs which must come into existence if the pet policy of cheap labor and partial legislation in the interest of capitalists is kept up. The Journal, alluding to San Francisco, has the following:
This is now the headquarters of the most degraded population on earth, and our advice to those is to go any where sooner than subject themselves to association with the Chinese hordes that are now filling up our city, making of it another Hong Kong, worse, if anything, than the original city of that name in China.

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 171, 21 July 1871
The Radical party, as represented by the majority in Congress, has, at the expense of the people, subsidized a steamship corporation in order to enable it more cheaply to import the degraded offscourings of China to compete with white labor, and yet the Republicans of this state pretend to be opposed to Chinese immigration. Do they go back on their principles, or is this only a "departure" in a Pickwickian sense, adopted for the purpose of deceiving the laboring classes, who could not otherwise be induced, under any circumstances, to support a party which has always and persistently ignored their rights and interests?

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 3, Number 356, 21 July 1871
Democratic meeting at Gallatin.
The Democratic Club of Los Nietos met at Gallatin yesterday.
...
Dr. O. W. Bush, candidate for the assembly, who denied the insinuation of a gentleman who had preceded him, to the effect that he was out forward by "a ring." The gentleman then declared his position on the general issues of the day, as at the Monte meeting, denounced "Chinese immigration," and pointed out the pernicious results. His remarks were received with great favor and applause


Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 195, 18 August 1871
Circulate the Documents
By calling at the office of the DAILY NEWS, Democrats from the country can be supplied with Senator Casserly's great speech on the Chinese Evil; copies of the infamous Bayonet Bill, passed by a Radical Congress; a searching Pamphlet on the Naturalization Question, showing where Radicalism tends; and other documents.


 - - - - - - -  Massacre Occurs October 24, 1871

Los Angeles Daily News, Volume 3, Number 295, 14 December 1871
The Chinese Question.
In the Assembly, on Saturday last, Mr. Andrews, of Shasta county, introduced the following concurrent resolutions, which was referred to the Committee on Federal Relations:
Assembly Concurrent Resolutions instructing our Senators and Representatives in Congress to the adoption of such treaty regulations and legislations as shall discourage Chinese immigration.
WHEREAS, The presence in our midst of a large number of Chinese, who are incapable of assimilation with our own race, ignorant of the nature and forms of our government, and who manifest no disposition to acquire a knowledge of the same, or to conform to our habits, manners, and customs, is a serious and continuing injury to the best interests of the State; and whereas, their employment under the plea of cheap wages is offensive to the exalted American idea of dignity of labor, detrimental to the prosperity and happiness of our own laboring classes, and an evil which should be abated. Therefore, be it.
Resolved; By the Assembly, the Senate concurring, that our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives requested to use their influence and urge upon the Federal Government, the adoption of such a treaty, regulations and legislation as shall discourage their further immigration to our shores.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 4, Number 42, 18 January 1872
John Chinaman. -- A concurrent resolution has been introduced in the Legislature, requesting the California delegation in Washington, to urge the passage of a Congressional Act to authorize the collection of a tax of $4 per month, on Chinese miners in California.

Los Angeles Daily Star, Volume 4, Number 71, 21 February 1872
Our Chinese Population, a Curse to the Country.
In the Legislature resolutions have been introduced and ordered engrossed proposing a tax upon Chinese miners, The passage of the resolutions is advocated on the grounds that there are now about 50,000 Chinese in this State, with the probability of a large increase, who throng the avenues of industry, greatly to the prejudice and injury of the white laboring classes, and that they are preventing the immigration of a better class of people to this coast. It is also estimated that the annual amount drawn from the mines of California and shipped to China reaches the enormous sum of $7,500,000 -- all of this goes to a class of people who are diametrically opposed to us; who pay no taxes; purchase no real property; make no improvements and who in no other respect save alone to advance their own interests are identified with the people of California. We think that the legislature should not only levy the proposed tax, but not resting there, should instruct the California delegation in Congress, to use every effort to secure the passage of a general law prohibiting their immigration to this country. In California the Chinese, like a lot of leeches, are sapping, the substance of the poor and laboring classes, and will unless checked thoroughly undermine the very foundation of our industrial system.
Their habits and mode of living, enables them to subsist upon the most meagre and scanty allowance of food and consequently a class of labor that is civilized and accustomed to live decently, cannot possibly compete with them.
Instead of investing the large amounts of money that they are thus enabled to accumulate, to develop and assist in improving the country, it is shipped to the country from whence they came and to which they expect to return, when there is no longer a chance to rob the laboring whites of this country of what legitimately belongs to them. While the immigration to this country of the people of nearly all other nations is desirable; and notwithstanding the acquisition of industrious, enterprising and law abiding citizens who come to cast their lots permanently with us, from whatever country, are at all times valuable and welcome, it must be admitted after the thorough experience had with them, that the Chinese are a hindrance and a curse to the country.

All Articles Courtesy California Digital Newspaper Collection,
Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research,
University of California, Riverside.


Sing Yu
Marshal William Warren
The Torture of Sing Yu
The Carriage Event
False Accusations
The Abduction of Yut Ho
Commentaries on Chinese Prostitution
The Anatomy of Los Angeles in 1871
The Affray
The Chinese Massacre of 1871
The Aftermath
Analysis
Anti-Chinese Rhetoric
Anti-Chinese Violence
Anti-Chinese Sentiment In Advertising