Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-01
The Chinese as LabOrers---Mhy we
Can't Get Them.
What this Labor Will Cost---0bjec-
tiOns TO it Answered.
Labor is Scarce in the South, and
the Chinese Must Be Had.

SAAAAAlDtL VI NDAhI4GACE Al LAAN IL - =
of the Chinese immigration scheme
Gen. Miles entered the stand at pre-
cisely s O'Clock, was received with ap
plause, and spoke as follows:
ARRIVAL AT SAN FRANCISCO-HI
MEETS FRIENDS.
In the fultiilment of my commission
/ repaired at once to California, but
iOund that the object of my mission
was well known before my arrival in
san Francisco. Travelling a distance
Of more than 5000 miles, fully eX-
pected to find myself in city whose
customs and people would prove en-
tirely strange TO me, but such was not
the case. On the contrary, / found IN
san Francisco many friends, nuI%
Der of whom were old Mississippians,
who welcomed me cordially, and tC
whom here desire to tender my &C.
knowledgment for the courtesy SC
universally shown me. Through the
kindness Of the people, and the in
tense interest they felt for our welfare,
every facility was shown me for the
prosecution of my mission. A steam
tug, 3 train Of cars and every other
facility was extended me. With these
facilities l had the opportunity Of see
ing large numbers OF Chinese labOrers,
"a well as Chinese merchants, and
American and European merchants
who are engaged in Eastern COM
merce; many OF whom had resided for
a long time in China.
HE SEES THE CHINESE IABORER AND
Is SATISFIED WITH HIM
In the first place, l gave my atten-
tiOu to a close, searching, and critical
examination of Fhe capacity Of the
Chinaman to perform labor. lie Is
engaged in California in many differ
enr occupations. l saw him in the
washhouse, in the kitchen, in the
diningroOm, on the farm, on the rail-
road, in the shot tower, at the rolling
mill, at the smelling furnace, and in
the wooden factories. Everywhere
his work j. done well. NOiSelessly,
silently, quietly, he performs the duty
assigned him, and with wonderful
degree of adroitness and skill. He is
now almost the exclusive builder of
railroads on the Pacific slope. He
distances all competition Is q washer
and ironer. He is an excellent cook.
He Is the best diningrOOm servant in
the world. The most delicate and
beautiful fabric l ever saw, he makes
in the two woolen factories at San
Francisco. lie Is a persistent and eff
ticient labOrer on the faTia. He per-
forms with eXactness and skill the
most delicate duties OF the shot tower;
and in the rough, heavy work of the
rolling mill and smelling furnace he
seemed fully equa! 10 any task as
signed him. Moreover, his 3uickness
OF comprehension enables him 10 un-
dsF5tend almost intuitively the most
delicate sna complicated machinery,
and he manages Il almost from the
first like one who had served : regu-
lar apprenticeship. After watching
him closely, / came to the conclusion
that Wbatever a white man or black
man can 90, he can do also. Ap-
plause.
HE Is ESPECIALLY ADAPTED TO 1HE
SOUTH.
But most especially do l consider
him III labOrer for this region. In
the FIRST place, hs We2rs " the shadowed
livery of the Furnished Sun ~ DhOm
he is a neighbOT and near bred" He
comes from a country where sugar
cane, rice and cotton are largely pro-
duced. Neither our climate nor our
productions would be new to him.
Like the European Immigrants who
are so rapidly peopling the North
west, the Chinaman in coming here
would be following iSothermal lines.
And theai too, his patient, never-tiring
industry, tit5 hiU eminently for that
peculiar species of agricultural labor,
where, from twelve 10 fourteen months,
are required to make and gather a
crop.
He MUST BE TREATED WILL TO NJ
FULLY UTILIZED.
But while the Chinaman is patient,
labOriOus, tractable, submissive as a
child under kind treatment, he l.
proud and sensitive, and though he
does not resent blow or harsh Ian
guage, grows mCrOse, sulky, ineffi-
cient, when either are applied to him.
He must be dealt with fairly and
treated kindly. He is an educated
man. Quick, sharp and intelligent.
he cannot be circumvented or cOZened.
lie prides himself upon the antiquity
Of his civilization, and thinks his
country the front country Of the
world; does not believe in the right
OF eXpatriatiOn, and only consents to
hire for a term Of years in order to
earn in this country Of high wages,
during that term, a sum OF money
that Will keep him through life in his
country OF cheap living. This is the
Chinaman in miniature, as ! saw him
and learned him. Ny deliberate con-
VictlOn Is that, for the present at least,
and possibly for all time he is not
only the best and cheapest, but per-
haps the only labor we can get to fill
up and cultivate our waste and unoc-
cupied land.
CAN WE GET THIS LABOR?
If tive United States Government
does not interfere We can. In small
quantities for next year, afterwards as
many as we wish.
Alter having satisfied myself that
the labor would suit Us, l directed my
attention to the question of enoOurag-
ing immigration.
Bear in mind that those who are
well of, and have means, do not want
10 migrate; and that those who want to
come and work for term of years
are not able to pay transportation and
subsistence from China here; but they
are willing and anxious to enter into
a contract in China, fairly worded.
stipulating for fair wages for a period
of five years-that out of the total
sum TO accrue for the FIVE years labor.
enough shall be advanced by the party
who makes the contract with them.
20 pay all expense growing out of
their transportation and subsistence.
and that the balance of the wages
stipulated for shall be paid to the la
borer monthly, quarterly, or annually
as may be agreed upon.
A HE COMPLETES HIS ARRANGE
NENTs HE Is CONFRONTED RY THE
HATEFUL BOUTWELL, LETTER.
Finding this disposition to exist, 1
made arrangements to send to China,
bv the steamer TO leave San Francisco
on the 4th of September, and 70 con-
ract with as many as transporta-
ton could be found for. Some
$3.50 OF 10000 might have been