Union admiral (1813–1891) who helped improve the Navy as the Superintendent of the US Naval Academy after significant service in the American Civil War. ALS signed “David D. Porter, Admiral,” three pages, lightly-lined on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, March 14, 1879. Porter writes to Reverand Dr. Newman from Washington, D. C., in part: “Not long since I read in the ‘Herald’ a very interesting report of a lecture by you on the subject of the Chinese and our treatment of them. Your utterances coincided so nearly with my own opinions that I was particularly pleased with the article. By today’s mail I send you a copy of the ‘United Service Quarterly Aeneio’ containing an article on Chinese contributed by me. The article was written some two months ago about the time when the Californians began to get excited on the subject of the Chinese Question. The article I send may serve to amuse you and perhaps make you a little uneasy about the future prospect of the establishment of a Mongolian dynasty in Washington. As you and I have both expressed friendly sentiments towards the citizens of the Flowery Kingdom, we may hope to be in high favor should we live till that time, but should neither of us live as long as Methuselah, we certainly may expect at least a present of a box of tea from his Excellency Chin Lan Pin.” In very good condition, with two horizontal mailing folds, one passing through the signature, light creasing, a mild separation to the bottom of the central hinge, and a repaired complete tear through the closing sentiment. In 1879, the slogan of the Workingmen’s Party of California was “The Chinese Must Go!,” and the anti-Chinese hysteria was reaching a widespread volume across the state, a sentiment that both Porter and his compatriot Newman seemed to have sided with: “The article was written some two months ago about the time when the Californians began to get excited on the subject of the Chinese Question. The article I send may serve to amuse you and perhaps make you a little uneasy about the future prospect of the establishment of a Mongolian dynasty in Washington.” This rise of hostility was followed by the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which would make history as the first measure restricting emigration to the United States based on race. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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