As the number of Chinese laborers increased, so did the ferocity of the anti-Chinese sentiment amongst white workers. Confused by Chinese culture, many Americans perceived them as a threat to their way of life. The completion of the Central Pacific Railroad in 1869 and decline in gold production in 1870 lead to large-scale unemployment. The Chinese were first rehired since they worked for significantly less pay. Similar circumstances occurred following the Stock Market Crash in 1873.
Beginning with the most menial avocations they gradually invaded one industry after another until they not merely took the places of our girls as domestics and cooks, the laundry from the poorer of our white women, but the places of the men and boys, as boot and shoemakers, cigarmakers, bagmakers, miners, farm laborers, brickmakers, tailors, slippermakers, etc. In the ladies' furnishing line they have absolute control, displacing hundreds of our girls, who would otherwise find profitable employment. Whatever business or trade they enter is doomed for the white laborer, as competition is simply impossible. Not that the Chinese would not rather work for high wages than low, but in order to gain control he will work so cheaply as to bar all efforts of his competitor.
-"Some Reasons for Chinese Exclusion -- Meat vs. Rice -- American Manhood against Asiatic Cooliesm -- Which Shall Survive?"
Maybe implicitly [it's] a little bit of recognition of the injustice. The Chinese railroad workers were widely discriminated against. They were hired because nobody else would do the work. Chinese are faithful and industrious and, under proper supervision, some became skillful in the performance of their duty. Many of them becoming very expert in drilling, blasting and other departments of rock work." |
Wherever we put them, we found them good, and they worked themselves into our favor to such an extent that if we found we were in a hurry for a job of work, it was better to put Chinese on at once." |
Without them it would be impossible to go on with the work. I can assure you the Chinese are moving the earth and rock rapidly. They prove nearly equal to white men in the amount of labor they perform, and are far more reliable. " |
When the railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, an eight man Chinese crew was selected to place the last section of rail – a symbol to honor the dedication and hard work of these laborers. A few of the speakers mentioned the invaluable contributions of the Chinese ... " |
Make masons out of Chinamen? Did they not build the Chinese wall, the biggest piece of masonry in the world?"
-Charles Crocker, Congressional Testimony
Systematic workers these Chinese – competent and wonderfully effective because tireless and unremitting in their industry. Order and industry then, as now, made for accomplishment. Divided into gangs of about 30 men each, they work under the direction of an American foreman. The Chinese board themselves. One of their number is selected in each gang to receive all wages and buy all provisions. They usually pay an American clerk – $1 a month apiece is usual – to see that each gets all he earned and is charged no more than his share of the living expenses. They are paid from $30 to $35 in gold a month, out of which they board themselves. They are credited with having saved about $20 a month. Their workday is from sunrise to sunset, six days in the week. They spend Sunday washing and mending, gambling and smoking, and frequently, old timers will testify, in shrill-toned quarreling... "
—Alta California, San Francisco, November 9, 1868.
The Chinese laborer will work cheaper for a Chinese employer than he will for a white man, as has been invariably proven, and, as a rule, he boards with his Chinese employer. The Chinese merchant or manufacturer will undersell his white confrere, and if uninterrupted will finally gain possession of the entire field. Such is the history of the race wherever they have come in contact with other peoples. None can withstand their silent and irresistible flow, and their millions already populate and command the labor and the trade of the islands and nations of the Pacific."
-"Some Reasons for Chinese Exclusion -- Meat vs. Rice -- American Manhood against Asiatic Cooliesm -- Which Shall Survive?"