The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-09-11
/ may not be able to give satisfactory answers


to all these questions: but, having lived for many
years among the same class of people on the Sand
wich Islands. and carefully watched the tendency
Of the Chinese immigration to the Pacific Coast,
L feel intensely interested in this subject, and
earnestly desire to see the great Chinese problem
solved in a manner honorable to my countrymen
and beneficial to both Americans and the Chinese.
/ am fully convinced that vast numbers will
find home in America. They will ere long be
reckOned by millions. No limit can reasonably
be assigned to the number which will come, be-
cause they can find on our shores far more remu-
neratiye employment than in their own country.
Where there is a demand for labor, that demand
viii be supplied, If there is a source from which
il can be easily drawn Millions now in China
are only waiting the means Of transportations to
go to Australia, Southern Asia, Peru, America,
or any part OF the world where they can find re
munerative employment. Capitalists, engaged in
large manufacturing establishments, demand just
the species Of labor which is most abundant in
China good beginning has already been made
in California. Have thcy not labored successfully
and satisfactorily on the Ceutral Pacific Railroad
from Sacramento to Promontory Point? Only a
few days ago saw Oriental labo-ers toilinz On
one side Of the fie into which the last spike was
driven, and Irish on the other side. There met
the Orient and the Occident. While the Euro
pean laborer viii pass onward to the Golden Gate,
the Asiatic viii surely pass onward to Chicago,
New York, and Boston. Chinese laborers and
operatives are now employed in manufacturing es-
tablishments on the Pacific Coast. The following
item clip from late issue Of the Boston Trar-
eker:
San Francisco, CAL mission mills, and worth $40 in
gold, exhibition at Boston. They took the
prize medal at the California State Fair
In the California mines, although fined, taxed,
and maltreated in many ways, still they labor on
with patience and success, gathering gold dust
from Numerous regions which American miners
have abandoned. Their skill in various small
handicrafts is proyerbial- In trade they are not
inferior to enterprising Yankees, whether small
amounts or large sums requiring Investment.
There residing in San Francisco Chinese mer-
chants who are ship-owners, and who are exten-
sively engaged in foreign commerce. Every mer-
camille house engaged in the China trade employs
one or more responsible Chinese clerks and book
keepers. No clerks in California or China can
equal them as detecters of counterfeit coin. One
is always to be seen among 80 the money changers"
in the Bank Of California, where million a
day il paid out.
Looking at this question in the light of reason,
facts, and common sense, who will dare say that
the Chinese shall not be admitted to all the rights
and privileges Of American citizens upon precisely
the same terms and conditions that foreigners are
admitted coming from Ireland, Germany, and
Scandinavia? ANY other policy will work only
evil and, if mistake or error is now made, its
Consequences will be fatal in coming time. Let
statesmen and national legislatures learn wis
dom from the past history Of our country.
The limits Of this issue of your paper will not |.
allow me even to touch upon the religious and |
missionary aspects of this great question. There |
is, however, much to encourage the Christian in 1
the success which has already attended the efforts
Of the Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregational !
lists, and Baptists, in California. At the Sand /
wich Islands the Hawaiian Board Of Domestic /
Missions has vigorously entered upon a similar .
and with the most gratifying success.
These Chinese appreciate our efforts to instruct 4
them. Multitudes are now learning the English 4
language, and some have already become connected I
with Christian churches. But | must close |
Worcester, Mass, July I3Gh Isss-
~ Y. Independent.