New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-01

Certainly If there is such trade, one Wouu tllnh
it would be that of type-settng yet the composition
upon the English newspapers published in emma h
done with great swiftBess and tolerabe correctness
by natives who are ignorant of the meaning OF any
word they set up And know there is at least one
man in San Francisco who contemplates the impor
tation of number of these printers under contract
for term Of years. The great objection in his mind
and insuperable objection at present is the feel
ing that this would arouse.
The great characteristics of the Chinese az
laborers are patience and economy-the hrst
makes them efficient laborers. the second cheap
laborers. AS q rule they have not the physical
strength of Europeans, but their steadiness makes
up for this They take less earth at spadeful than
an Irshman but in days work take up more
spadesfull This patient steadiness peculiarly adapta
the Chinese for tending machinery and for manufac
turing. The tendency of modern production is to
greater and greater subdivision of labOr-to confne
the operative to part of the process, and to re-
quire Of him close attention patience, and manual
dexterity, rather than knowledge, judgment, and
Skill 1t is in these qualities that the Chinese excel
The superintendent Of the cotton and wooden mills
on the Pacific prefer the Chinese to other operatives
and IN the same terms the railroad people speak OF
their Chinese graders saying they are steadeT work
longer. require less watching and do not get up
strikes or DRINKS And one of them is reported
as DOl5Ung JDaJ ne would yet have Cinnamon build.
ing and running his locomotives
CHEAPNEss OF CHINESE LABOR.
But the great recommendation Of Chinese labor ia
its cheapness. There people in the world who
are such close economists the Chinese. They will
live and live well, according to their notions, where
an American or Englishman would starve. little
rice suffices them for food little piece of pork
cooked with 1t constitutes high living, an occasional
chicken makes it luxurious. Their clothes cost but
little and last for long while Go into a Chinese
habitaton and you will see that every inch Of space
is utilized. A room ten by twelve will bunk dozen
besides afordDg workshop, kitchen, and dining
room. Pass through their quarters in the towns and
you will that nothing that possibly DO used
is thrown away, unless it be human labor. China
Of course as other people, like Injuries, and IN
dulge in them far as they can but their standard
of comfort is very much lower than that OF our own
people-very much lower than that OF any European
immigrants who come among us. his TACT enables
them to underbid all competitors in the labor
ket Reduce wages to the starvation point for our
mechanics and the Chinaman will not merely be
able to work for less but to live better than at hOme
and to save money from his earnings. And thus in
every case in which Chinese comes into fair compe-
tition with white labor the whites must either retire
from the field come down to the Chinese standard
Of living Let us take the history of one trade to
show what must be the result in all for which Chinese
labor is adapted and into which it is introduced:
About 1859 or 1860 Cinnamon first began to be en-
ployed in the manufacture of cigars branch of in
dustry which then supported quite number OK
white workmen in San Francisco. These, of course,
took the ALARM formed unions adopted resolutions,
published appeals, and sympathetic cigar dealers
hung out signs, No Coolies employed here" But it
was no avail the Cinnamon quickly learned the
trade mot as easy a the uninitiated might inn
sgne), could work cheaper. and did work cheaper,
and have completely driven out the whites. Large
quantities of cigars now made in San Francisco,
but made entirely by Cinnamon. They commenced,
of course by working for Americans but, on learning
the business many Of them set up for themselves the
Chinese employer having the same advantage as tho
Chinese workman, in being able to get along with
smaller profit; and on Jackson, Dupont and Pacifc-
SITS are many large Chinese manufactures OF cigafs
while in many fetid dens underground and out of
sight the patient Chinaman rolls the fragrant Ha-
yanas or cheap vecenters" which are to regale the
nostrils of the Mecans who deSpise him. This is
the history of other trades in California and from
present appearances will shortly be the history Of
many more.
HOSTILITY TO THE CHINESE-UNEQUAL TAXATION.
That the Chinese population of our Pacific Coast
is not now much larger is due to the feeling that has
existed against them. This feeling has been very
strong but at the present time is weakening, or
rather is being counteraced. The early Chinese i'm
migrants did not into competition with any
class or settled interest great small. AS washer
men, cooks and servants they supplied the need Of
female labor did dispace it, for there was COM
paratively none in the country to dlsplace. Nor in
the diggngs did they struggle with the white miners
for the rich claims for such struggle could havo
had only result; but followed them the jackal
follows the lion, contented with dIggings whichths
whites did not consider remunerative G? had aban-
doned, but from which their economy and industry
enabled them to extort large returns After placer
mining district has been utterly exhausted and aban
doned by whites it will, for long time, be worked
by Cinnamon. and with apparently satisfactory
suits, though, for obvious reasons they endeaYor to
conceal their earnings as much as possible.
But though the Cinnamon were thus cOntented
with the white mans eavngs, their presence from
the first developed n strong adverse feeling which
found expression not only in legal enaetments but
in many acts of oppression, violence, injustice and
imposition Foreign Miners License Law was
early passed, which compelled Cinnamon engaged IN
mining to pay monthly tax of 81 head. Ostensiby
the law applies to all foreign miners but one ever
dreams of collecting it of any one but Cinnamon.
But il must be said, in justice to the white miners
that the sentiment which dictated this and kindred
legislation and which condOned if it did not Justify
She numerous extra legal eXactions and outrages 70
which Cinnamon have been subjected was ~
merely blind race-hatTed a dog-ln-themangn
feeling provoked by seeing other people enjoy that
which they could not themselves. Their reason,
ing ran thus: Though do not want the
poorer diggings. which the Cinnamon are workingoUt,
we should have a for those of our own race who
will follow us. The day will come when wages in