History & Politics

The Exclusion of Asiatics

by William M. MacKeracher 1871–1913

From Sonnets and Other Verse (1909)

History & Politics

Is our renown'd Dominion then so small
As not to hold this new inhabitant?
Or are her means so pitiably scant
As not to yield a livelihood to all?
Or are we lesser men, foredoom'd to thrall?
Or so much better than the immigrant
That we should make our hearts as adamant
And guard against defilement with a wall?
Nay, but our land is large and rich enough
For us and ours and millions more--her need
Is working men; she cries to let them in.
Nor can we fear; our race is not the stuff
Servants are made of, but a royal seed,
And Christian, owning all mankind as kin.

MLA

MacKeracher, William M. “The Exclusion of Asiatics.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mackeracher/119/.

Chicago

MacKeracher, William M. “The Exclusion of Asiatics.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mackeracher/119/.

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