Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-04-06
From the Virgins. .Advertiser.l
A New Question.

The connection OF our country with CANA
is rapidly assuming practical importance not
realized by most of our people. The recent
treaty stipulations negotiated by Minister Bur-
lingame between this country and the Celestial
Empire, must produce results which will be
felt over the whole country. China has
population of more than 400, 100000 human
beings. It's Surplas population would double
that of the United States Already California
counts them by the ten thousand, and with
the completion of the Pacific Railroad we may
expect the tide to roll in an increasing volume
eastwards. The price of a days labour in
China is ten cents; here it is ten times that.
This will be sufficient to entice many thou-
sands of that industrious race to compete with
the lazy negroes for situations as farm laborers,
domestic servants, mechanics, &c.
From Admiral Semmes' interesting book,
"Memoirs of Service Afoat," we make the
following extract. He says:
GA few years back, and China was sealed
book to US. Our merchants were confined to
certain factories outside of the walls of Can
ton, and We were permitted to trade at no
other points. But since we have gotten
glimpse of this wonderful people, we have been
astonshed at the extraordinary productive
ness and vitality of Chinese commerce. We
have been amazed whilst we have looked upon
the wonderful stir and hum aud hustle of so
immense hive of human beings, all living
and prospering by the mechanic arts and COM
merce. The Chinaman as born to industry as
naturally as the negro is to slOth. He is the
cheapest producer on the face of the earth,
because his habits are simple and frugal
The proof of this is, that no Western nation
can sell its goods in the Chinese market. We
are all compelled to purchase whatever wo
want from them, for cash. When we can
work cheaper than the Chinese, we may hope
to exchange our manufactured goods with
them, but not until then.
Singapore is miniature Canton, and the
visitor, as he passes through its streets, has an
excellent opportunity of comparing the indus
try OF the Chinese with that of other nations.
AS free port, Singapore is open to immi>
grafton from all parts of the earth, on equal
terms. There are no jealous laws, guilds or
monopolics to shackle the limbs or weaken
the energy or enterprise of any one. Free
competition is the presiding genius of the place.
The climate is healthy The English call it
the Madeira Of the Eest, and the European
artizln can labor in it as we'll as the East
Indian or the Chinese. All nations flock
hither to trade, as has already been remarked.
Now, what is the result Almost al the
business of every description is in the hands
of the Chinese. Large Chinese houses mo-
nopolize the trade, and the Chinese artizan
and day aborcr have driven out all others
Ninety thousand Of the one hundred thousand
of the population are Chinese.
''Now that the czclusiveness of China has
been broken in upon, and the emigration per-
mittcd, what destiny awaits such people
in the workshops and fields of the Western
World Already they arc filing up the States
on the Pacific coast and silently, but surely,
possessing themselves of the avenues of in
dustry in these States, thrusting aside the
more expensive European and American
Iaborers. They will cross the Rocky Noun
tains, and effect, in course of time, similar
revolution in the Western and Southern States.
In the latter States their success will be most
triumphant; for in these States, where the
negro is the chief laborer, the competition will
be between frugal;ty, forecast and industry,
on the one hand, and uselessness, Indifference
to the future, and laHiness, on the other"
When the tide Of population and wealth
which is now pouring into this country from
the East, is met by the swelling food Of
Asiatics from the West, the grandest concep-
tions of material progress of the statesman
and capitalist of this day will sink into in
significance. The owners of real estate in the
South should keep an eye to these movements
in the West as well as in the East In our
Judgment, they point Enthusiastically, and at
no distant day, to the rapid and permanent
enhancement in value of Southern lands. The
Mobile Tribune suggests that subscription
of half million dollars be raised to inaugurate
the movement of Chinese to that State.
SATURDAY NIGHT Somebody gets off