The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-02
The Celestial Deluge.

Wendell Phillips looks on hopelessly upon
the progress Of the Chinese immigration, as
De Tocqueville contemplated the rising del
uge of Democracy. Indeed, the language
of the French philosopher OIL the one sub
ject may have suggested that employed by
the arch agitator upon one OF ''The Ques-
''tions OF Tomorrow" The latter repre-
sents the Anglo-Saxon and the Chinanan,
each as world power which moves onward
to its purpose as irresistibly as law OF fate
In his usual metaphorical, hyperbolical and
paradoxical way, he describes either race as a
bulwark which no deluge can submerge and
deluge which no bulwark can withstand.
Every previous conflict in our history will
be forgotten, he prophecies, when these in-
domitable races fairly meet. II Mr.. Phil
lips premises are true, his predictions OF
mobs and social earthquakes yield "a most
lame and impotent conclusion" The prob
lem is one that can have no solution except
the fate OF the Kilkenny cats
The thoughtful observer Of the resources
and needs of the country may, perhaps, form
different Judgment Of the result OF the
Chinese immigration, now numbering two
hundred thousand, and still pouring in
through the Golden Gate. He will remem-
her that the apprehensions now entertained
in regard to the Celestials, once sought to
obstruct the way Of the Irish and Germans,
who constitute so important and useful al
element in Our population. The five mil
lion immigrants who landed on Our shores
between the years 1920 and 1860, and the
one million seven hundred thousand added
to their number during the eight subsequent
years, have not interfered with any industry,
nor iostled any laborer Oh the wide field OF
our republic; but have added materially to
its prosperity and its power And the OBJ
server, of whom we speak, will reflect upon
the fact that we inhabit an almost virgin
continent-a territory capable OF sustaining
between three and four thousand millions OF
souls; that we trample under foot mineral
wealth such as cannot be exhausted by the
labors of hundred thousand years; that
the great need OF the land is labor-on and
on for countless centuries.
What machines have done for the manu-
factures Of England, immigration will do
for the agricultural development OF the
Southern States. 1t will multiply power
and power multiplied is national wealth and
greatness. So of our mineral treasures;
iron and copper, gold and and silver, marble
and slate and granite, kaolin and mari and
coal, and whatever else Nature garners in
her secret vaults, are idly awaiting the ad-
vent Of labor. If England's coal bed, but
three hundred square miles in extent, nj owes,
as we are told, 1s, 600, 900 Of spindles, what
results may we not anticipate when the vast
coal bed of the South, extending from Ma
ryland to Alabama, has been fairly opened.
and the iron fields running continuous with
it even begin to be worked?
So far as the Chinese laborer is concerned,
both Australia and California show that he
can be utilized. He is frugal and tractable.
He is peaceable, contented and industrious.
He needs direction, like every other subject
of what is called paternal government;
but he can and will work. We have always
accorded to him certain culture, refined
enough after its sort-a wonderful dexterity
of hand and ingenuity OF invention. But
the Pacific Railroad proves what hard, pa
tient, efficient work those thin children OF
the East can do. We need them among us;
and let us remember that they are entitled,
when they come, to our sympathy and pro-
lection.