白鸽长音:卫三畏与美国排华运动

The Pigeon’s Remaining Songs:Samuel Wells Williams and Chinese Exclusion Movement in America

卫三畏是晚清近距离观察和参与华工出国的代表人物。在美国排华运动中,卫三畏通过公私信函、演讲、著书立说乃至集会抗议等形式,旗帜鲜明地反对过激的排华行为,为延缓排华法案的出台和客观保护华工起到了重要作用。但是卫三畏对华工的态度是复杂的,对旅美华工的印象也存在负面因素,倾向于隐性的鸽派和缓式限华排华行为,其间也不乏为贩运华工的奥利芬公司隐言以及其他疏漏言论。而晚年卫三畏的相关思想发生变化,对华工和中国的评价趋于公平客观。作为中美交往的和平鸽,卫三畏的言行值得后人研究。

Samuel Wells Williams was a representative who looked into and took part in the movements of Chinese labors going abroad. During the Chinese Exclusion Movement in America, he strongly voiced against radical measures by letters, speeches, books, even protests, which played an important role in delaying the promulgation of the Chinese Exclusion Law and protecting Chinese labors in America. However, Samuel Wells Williams ’ attitude toward Chinese workers is complicated. He was inclined to be a recessive dove with the idea of restricting or excluding Chinese labors in a temperate way. Besides, he also concealed the truths,including the Olyphant Company taking parts in transporting Chinese labors for profit. In the later years, his thoughts changed, and the evaluation of Chinese workers and China tended to be fair and objective. As the peaceful pigeon between China and America, Samuel Wells Williams’ words and deeds are worthy of future study.