Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-08-19
tFrom New York observerl
THE CHINESE QUESTION
BY THE REV. ALBERT WILLIAMS.

BY THE REV. ALBERT WILLIAMS.
On the Atlantic as well as thC
Pacific side of the continent, / SCI
the subject Of Chinese immigration
is exciting an unusual interest,"
This subject seems to be fast as.
sumine the character and form of Q
national question. 1t is not, indeed
new, but it is just now taking uE
new and increased proportions =
Like all other subjects of a public
and general nature, this question
calls forth differing views and con-
clusions. A lack of information,
or of reflection, or perchance pos
tive strong prejudice arising out
of some selfish conclusion, may ac-
count for much of the present con-
fusion on the subject. Since the
question, as fact and providential
problem, is upon us, it becomes us
to consider and treat it according
to its real character and impor-
tance.
The "Chinese question: what is
it2 Chiefly, as looking to aproba-
BILE large increase of Chinese immi-
grafton, it concerns the matter of
labor, of competing labor, also the
incidental matters of citizenship
and suffrage, and the additional
complication of q mixing of races.
A few simple statements Of faces
will throw light upon this whole
question and its solution.
First, the Chinese, as a whole, in
coming over to this country, have
no intention of becoming perma-
nent residents. At most, their pur-
pose and habits is to remain from
three to five yearss to fulfill their
contract or satisfy their desire of
gold, and then return to their own
country. While their aggregate
number is kept good or increasing,
there Is constant change of com
ing and going. "Dead or alive"
according to the common phrase,
"the Chinaman must GO back to his
native land" This is in accordance
with their family traditions, which
are strong as the iron bonds of
Braminical caste. In the transpor-
tation of the coffined remains of
deceased Cinnamon from the Pacif-
ic coast to China, there is no incon-
siderable employment furnished to
commerce. Only the male popula-
ton, also, except in very few in
stances, and these confined chiefly
to the mercantile class, emigrate;
while their families, left behind,
make a reason for their temporary
stay among us.
Again, the Chinese generally
evince no wish or disposition to
become citizens of the country
They are content to come to our
open fields of enterprise stimulated
with the opportunity ofrewards far
greater than those of their own
land; to our mines, our agricultur-
al manufactures to all our multi
piled business ayocations and they
remain a longer or shorter time,
fulfilling their own plans, and all
without forming any permanent at
tachments to the institutions of the
country. A few, in the prosecu-
ton of trade or other established
business, may protract their So
journ beyond their usual period,
but only with a common general re-
suit. They are among us, but not
ofus They are among us as Ia
borers, producers, and consumers
as well--laborers Enthusiastically,
chiefly. That is all.
And, in this relation Of labor,
lies the fact not only, but also the
justifying reason, of Chinese immi-
gtation. An important principle is
i'll the coming of these
of activie, industrious and /
patient operatives The science Of
political economy teaches us that
life as the aOealth ofa nation. The
head, the hand of human activity, |
is essential to development. Man
is the actor ofthe worlds progress.
All natural advantages and apti-
tudes are passive, inefficient, fruit
less, in answering the demands of
and social life. Mans
wants can be supplied only by
mans efforts. A larger domain,
with abundant resources and a high
er civilization, enlarge the scale of
social requirements. The agency,
which meets this demand,
must be looked upon as a command
ing benefit. The cause, whatever
it may be, which stimulates and as
sists the needed supply, stands in
the place of a great benefactor. +
Now, in the view of this general
it seems to me there can
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