The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-07-23
TIE CHINESE QUESTION:
COLUMBIA. 8. c.. Tuesday, July 90.
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COLUMBIA. y. C.. IueeQay, July dV.
To1HE Editor OF TIE NEWS.
I have read with great interes: your edito-
rails on the subject Of Chinese immigration.
Whilst you advocate the e1pediency Of intro
ducing this kind Of labor into the sugar, rice
and cotton fields of the South, lam pleased TO
ind you not unmindfuI OF the undoubted
advantages Of white aecessions TO our popu-
Iation. Let me suggest that this point should
be kept steadily in view. Ths Mongolian is
an experiment. The Caucasian is afart. The
Mongolian is IN expedient. The Caucasian is
principle. You may accept the Monaghan
au1iliaries. but reject not your Saxon allies.
Assn abstract proposition, Ipresume few
persona would advoc tie the introduction Of
the Chinese element intn our country. To the
rejecting mind here, such s'population must
possess few attractions. This Southern coun-
try has been the schoolhouse OF the African.
Must it become, at additional expense, the
schoolhouss Of the Asiatic slsop II this be
tie decree Of Providence. it is well, and the
teachers must do their part. But if possible,
Tor one would have our people excused from
this missionary work, and, letting charity be-
gin ct home, I would festrics tho subjects OF
reformation to our own citi1eos.
Since the abolition Of African slavery and
the system connected with it, have looked
with hope to the time when the negro element
having. by Gods ProvldsDoe. been eliminated
BY natural causes, this land of ours, with its
vast resources. should be occupied, possessed
and ruled by homogeneous and sympathetic
population, illustrating the benefits and enjoy
ing the fruits OF solid Christian civilization.
know that this consummation could not be
attained in day; but the reflection suggested
itself that it was perhaps incumbent upon us
patiently to await our redemption.
win admit that the Chinese question, hav-
ing suddenly loomed up. changes the aspect
Of things. Owing to political interference and
persste1t intermediing, and to other causes,
the labor Of the South becomes unsteady,
scarce and unreliable. The problem presents
itself for solution, how are lands Of the South
to be cultivated2 Whilst looking to the immi-
grafton from Northern Europe, and just when
our Southern proprietors had begun 20 despair
Of success in that quarter, the Chinamsn sud-
denly, perhaps proNdentially, appears upon
the field, and is soon hailed. as If by popular
instinct, as the man for the times.
confess myself startled at the striking Co
incidence. new political vista opens before
the mind, AMI the eye seeks to penetrate its
shadowy length.
One thing is apparent. 1t seems obvious
thatit is useless TO discuss the Chinese question
in the abstract The indications are that the
matter in the concrete Will soon be with US. I
shall not seek to solve problem which will
solve ITSELF Around it gather arguments pro
and con. The subject in it's bearings, imme.
date and remote, is vast one. It suggests
that we 1--we in an era Of startling changes. In
the South especially things generally are in a
strikinRly abnormal state. Hence many look
upon the advent OF the Chinaman as eminent
Iy ia keeping with the times, and they are
ready to str the political cauldron until "the
hurly-burly is DONE"
About one proposition there will bs no dis.
pute-upon the field of labor in the South
there is room for Caucas' an, Mongolian and
African. Our great want ID labor with which
to develope our resources and to augment our
productions. This is the immediate matter
with which we have to deal. The labor that
We have IS insufficient. The labor tnat We
wo1ld prefer is SOW to come. Under these
circumstances. no one devoted to Southern in
terests can consistently oppose this new labor,
which, in pressing emergency, forces itself
upon our notice. But this cluiioi my we'll
be thrown out. In accepting new element,
let us not ignoIo either the elem nt that We
have OF the element that is conceded to be
most desirable. GoJd statcsmanship will use
70 the country's best interests all the elements
OF wealth that lie within its reach.
OBSERVER.