Page "James A. Garfield" Paragraph 71

Another issue in the Election of 1880 was Chinese immigration ; those in the West, particularly California, were opposed to Chinese immigration, considered antithetical to normal economic growth in that region.

Easterners, such as Senator George F. Hoar, took a more philosophical and religious stand in favor of Chinese immigration.

On the eve of the election the Democrats widely published a letter — allegedly over Garfield's signature — which favored Chinese immigration, in an attempt to affect the outcome of the election.

The timing of the letter's publication, some obvious inconsistencies in the letter's wording, and even the handwriting itself, led many to believe it to be a forgery.