The New Orleans crescent., 1868-05-20
ORIENTAL SOURCES OF EMIGRATION.

The New York Herald remarks that the
leading commercial nations are rivaling one
another in efforts to obtain the largest share
of the trade of China France, England,
Prussia, Russia, are striving in their several
ways to accomplish this purpose, and all are
watching the rapidly swelling commerce
which the United States is obtaining with the
far east by reason of her advantageous po-
sition on the Pacific coast. ''The growth of
California" says the Herald, and our other
States and Territories on the Pacific side of
the Continent, the establishment of regular
steamship communication between the con-
tinents of Asia and America, and the acqui-
sition of the Russian territory in the North
Pacific, bringing us near to Asia, have given
us every advantage over our rivals in a geo.
graphical point of view."
The same paper further observes ''In the
course of year or two one Pacific Railroad
will be completed, and in few years two or
three others, bringing in a few days the trade
and travel of the Pacific coast and Asia to
New York, and from New York to Europe.
We shall soon have, too, the magnetic tele-
graph across the Pacific, by the way of Alaska
and the Aleutian Islands, probably, to bring
us in hourly communication with a part of
the world containing nearly half the inhabit-
ants of the globe"
The Herald then proceeds to say that the
United States "will become commercially, as
they are geographically, the center of the
world" that the isthmus routes of Panama
and Suez will become of little Importance COM
paratively," and that "the bulk of trade from
Asia to Europe will pass over and be trans
acted across this continent" What is meant
by being geographically the center of the
world, and yet ON the surface of the globe,
we fail to understand. Nor can we perceive
the necessity which will compel the whole of
Europe to prefer longer route across the
North American continent to a shorter one by
way of Suez, or the valley of the Euphrates,
should these be open. But laying aside
incomprehensibiities and exaggerations,
there is enough in the probable develop
ments of American intercourse with China
to make this subject one of the most in
teresting connected with the impending future.
1t is curious to note in this connection that.
while so much is said about trade from China,
comparatively little is said or seems to be
thought about emigration from the same
over-populous country. Let any one think
awhile of the possibilities of such an emigra-
ton, swarming out of that human hive and
settling in desired regions Of the United
States, and the contemplation becomes posi-
lively overwhelming What is to stay it, if
the stream once sets to these shores? If
China breaks loose from her traditional policy
of seclusion, and unchains her interior
resources Of commerce, must there not be a
like Enchanting of her redundant popula-
ton? These suggestions have impressed
themselves on at least one Northern writer.
the author of a very interesting article on the
Mississippi river in Putnam's Magazine for
May. In concluding this article, he says:
Already vast emigration from Asia is climb.
ing the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Oa
the completion Of the Pacific Railroad it will soon
cross the lofty intramountan basin of Salt Lake; i
will descend from the crest of the Rocky Moun
tans In a flood, compared with which the pre-.
sent emigration from Europe will dwinde into
insignihcance. for that great highway across the
comment will change not only the course of the
worlds travel and traffic, but in time also affect
the direction Of its migrating races.
When the Irish shall become reconciled TO Ire
land, and good government attract the Germans
down the Danube to the rich plains of Hungary,
TO the broad praries of WaIlachia and Moldavis
to the fertile but almost unnhabited wastes of
Bulgaria; when Biddy shall get above " service,p
Patrick despise the hod, Hans refuse TO hire out"
and Pompey become land owner; then these
soft plant Orentals living on the cheapest food,
working for the lowest wages, submitting pa.
henty to poverty, to TeprOseh, and insult, will
take the places of one ard all as help" as men
ials. CHI Hi will be maid Of all work in Bos
ton and in Denvr. Ching Wang will cook in
New York, wash and iron in It. Louis sell
cigars in New Orleans, tend babies in Omaha,
draw coIks in Newport. Hop-Chang will spin in
New England, hoe cotton IN Georgia, carry NOR.
tar in Chicago, gather rice in Louisiana, do farm.
work IN Kentucky and labor on canals and rail.
roads IN every State in the Union. Those pent.up
millions Of Asia want room, want food, want the
opportunity 10 work; We, in the Valley of the
Mississippi, want labor; we must have il: we
have farms for millions, work for tens OF Millions
Here is The demand; there the supply. Those
plodding, rice eating, pOygamic. idol.worshp-
ing Orientas live on the other side of the world;
but steam will soon bring us together.