Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 1.djvu/506

 498 FEDERAL REFOBTSB. �the organization of this state, been recognized by its laws. That method, now universal throughout the civilized world in the prosecution of great enterprises, has in this state recelved an unprecedented development. Its laws permit the forma- tion of corporations for any pur pose for which individuals may lawfully associate, and the corporations already formed cover almost every field of human activity. The number of certificates on file in the clerk's office of this county alone was stated at the hearing to be 8,397. The number in the entire state is of course far greater. They represent a very large proportion of the capital and industry of the state. The em- ployment of Chinese, directly or indireetly, in any capacity by any of these corporations is prohibited by the law. No enumeration would, I think, be attempted of the privileges, immunities, and exemptions of the most favored nation, or even of man in civilized soeiety, which would exclude the right to labor for a living. It is as inviolable as the right of prop- erty, for property is the offspring of labor. It is as sacred as the right to life, for life is taken if the means whereby we live be taken. Had the labor of the Irish or Germans been sim- ilarly proscribed, the legislation would have encountered a storm of just indignation. The right of persons of those or other nationalities to support themselves by their labor stands on no other or higher ground than that of the Chinese. The latter have even the additional advantage afforded by the express and solemn pledge of the nation. �That the unrestricted immigration of the Chinese to this country is a great and growing evil, that it presses with mucb severity on the laboring classes, and that, if allowed to con- tinue in numbers bearing any considerable proportion to that of the teeming population of the Chinese Empire, it will be a menace to our peace and even to our civilization, is an opin- ion entertained by most thoughtful persons. The demand, therefore, that the treaty shall be rescinded or modified is reasonable and legitimate. But while that treaty exists the Chinese bave the same rights of immigration and residence as are possessed by any other foreigners. Those righta it is ��� �