Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-07-24

spect. They can advance greatly ON
material prosperity, not only by the pro
duce Of their labor in working for Amer
leans, but by their independent enter
prise as capitalists. Indeed, tho lower
ing Of the price Of labor in America
through Chinese immigration, taken IL
connection with the almost certain rise
in price in Europe, appears to offer the
best solution of tie ycxed question o.
free trade, by placing ms on an equal OF
superior footing with Europe, in tn,
manufacture Of those things which now
require protection. 1t should seem that
Chinese Immigration, organized on the
most liberal plan, in conformity with the
emigration laws Of China and under the
responsible guidance of Chinese contrac-
tors, would rapidly raise our Southern
States TO n height of prosperity never
yet reached by them, and render possible
the completion and maintenance Of great
works necessary TO control the overflow
OF the Mississippi, and to drain unproduc-
tive aud malarious regions.
Will the price, at which thcse benefits
shall be gained. he too high? Every one
will answer this according to his own
way OF measuring the future by the
past. Bat he who sees in events the re-
sultants of social and ply steal forces, the
operation of great laws, progressive in
their action AID tending toward that
millennium when every part of the earth,
according to its natural endowment,
shall justify its existence, by contribut-
ing It's full share, as part, to the welfare
OF the whole; toward the unifcation Of
mankind by the. assimilation of the best
parts of its different races into new
type-who believe that.
Through the ages one increasing purpose runs.
will feel the least anxiety in contcmplat.
ing the future. To the ci,aug, that they
will largely outnumber he Americans,
absorbing many branches of industry
and competing in all, he will answer that
they can do SO only by being able to
compete with the European element, in
other words, by being really equally eff
cient, and thus justifying their right to
citizenship. To the assertion that their
use of opium threatens the addition of
another national vice to those we have
already, he will reply that the rapid
spread OF the use Of this drug, a use Of
only some sixty years standing in China,
was induced by natural causes, acting in
country which had reached All abnormal
condition, and that it can exist as ma
tional habit only where it is natural
necessity. The long-continued genera
tions of temperance of this people show
their normal condition, and we have little
reason to fear that halt a century of OPT
um smoking can destroy the deep-seated,
Inherent vitality of the race, or have fixed
Il as a constitutional vice upon those
who will emigrate hither. @
The political aspect of the question is
that Of the most immediate importance,
Tor many obvious reasons. Nothing is
more certain than the impossibility of a
foreign race continuing to live and in
crease in America, in other than two con-
ditions, viz, either under the animal.
breeding system of slavery, or land prob
ably only by being equally strong with
the European element, in the average of
all things which constitute strength in
this age. The ability of any people to
prosper, multiply and co-exist among us,
proves them TO possess an average equal
ity with us when measured by our stand
ard, deficiencies in some points being
compensated in others-those differences
being desirable in the same degree that
individuality is desirable. If an inferior
race, or large bodies of vicious and Grim
inal people, prosper and multiply, it does
not invalidate this rule, but rather shows
that our actual measure on certain points,
is far below our theoretical Standard
If the Chinese, having the exercise of
equal rights in fair field, should prove
themselves undesirable citizens, it would
be proof of interiority, of inability to con-
tribute their full share to the general
good, and their inability to compete with
their neighbors, would inevitably result
in their disappearances from the arena as
important rivals.
In view of all the possibilities of the
case before us, it becomes evident now,
more that ever before, how important it
is that we should turn our energies to-
ward Anericanzing the elements of our
population. A large Chinese emigration
is the strongest argument against imme-
date and unqualified suffrage With
the prospect of an unparalleled influx of
Chinese, it is of immediate importance
that we insist upon their understanding
our social and political organization be-
fore giving them voice, and this can be
done only by insisting upon residence
of several years in the country, and by
an educational test, which should not be
less than the ability to read and speak
the English language. Indeed, this is
only an additional illustration for the
necessity for an educational qualification,
in the matter of citizenship in general,
aud il should seem sufficiently clear TO
convince even the most confirmed advo-
Gates Of universal suffrage. ''''.
The danger mostt to be guarded against,
is the enactment or continuance of spec
ial legislation with regard 10 Mongolians.
Every thing which tends TO exclude them
from the rest of the community, and, in