The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-03-17
A SERIOUS QUESTION.

This country must before long become awakened
to the very practical question Of our connections
with China. Minister Burlingame and his diStin-
guished deputation from the ''Flowery Kingdom"
have made treaty stipulatiOns between the two
countries which are Of great Importance; but there
are other aspects of the subject to be looked at
China has a population of not less than four hun
dred millions of human beings. Let it be cousid-
cred that this vast horde is crowded upon the
shores of Asia, confronting our own possessions on
the Pacific They can stock that part Of the con-
tineut and probably will do it. There are now not
less than sixty or seventy thousand in California
and that they will appear soon in large numbers
this side of the Rocky mountains, as soon as the
Pacific railroad is completed, may be regarded as
a certainty The bearing of this strange upturn
ing of Chinese in great numbers over various parts
of the United States upon the great questions of
labor, of politics aud religious enterprise is one
that no intelligent person can pass by with indif
ference We know not how to introduce in a short
space the materials furnishing so much food for
reflection on this subject, better than by quoting
passage of some length from that interesting book
recently published by Admiral SemmeS, entitled,
{" Memoirs Of Service AfoQt. He says;
"a few years back, and China was a sealed
book to us. Our merchants were confined to GER
tain factories outside of the walls of Canton,
and we were permitted to trade at no other points,
But since we have gotten a glimpse of this won
derful people, we have been aStOnShed at the ex
traOrdnary prOductiveneSS and vitality of Chinese
commerce. We have been amazed whilst we have
looked upon the wonderful stir and hum and bus
tie of so immense a hive of human beings, all liv
ing and prospecting by the mechanic arts and COM
merce. The Chinaman Is born 10 industry, as nat
lrQlV as &e negro IS to sloth He is the cheapest
producer on the face Of the earth, because his
habits are simple and frugal The proof of this is,
that no Western nation can sell Its goods in the
Chinese market We are all compelled TO pur-
chase whatever we want from them for cash.
When we can work cheaper than the Chinese we
may hope to exchange our manufactured goods
with them, but not until then
Singapore is a miniature Canton and the viSi-
tor as he passes through its streets has an excel
lent opportunity of comparing the industry OF the
Chinese with that Of other nations. As a free
port Singapore Is open to immigration from all
parts of the earth, on equal terms. There are no
Jealous laws, guilds or mOnOpOhes to Shacke the
limbs or weaken the energy or enterprise of any
one Free competition Is the presiding genius of
the place. The climate is healthy, The English
call it the Madeira Of the East, and the European
artisan can labor In it as we'll as the East Indian
or the Chinese All nations flock hither to trade,
as has already been remarked Now what is the
result? Almost all the business Of eUsry description
IS az the hands Of the Chinese Large Chinese
houses paoaopoiize the trade and the Chinese arti-
gan and dqg-laJorer hare drjreR oUt al others
Ninety thousand of the one hundred thousand Of
the population are Chinese.
Now that the excluSiveness of China has been
broken in upon, and the emigration permitted,
what a destiny awaits such people in the work
shops and fields Of the western world Already
thsy are Filing up the States on the Pacific coast,
and silently bit surely, possessing themselves Of the
aueaues of industry IL those States, thrustng aside
the more expensive European and American la
borers They will cross the Rocky Mountains,
and effect in course of time, similar revolution
in the Western and Southern States. h' the lat
ter States Their success 1oiU Be most trlumphdRt;
for az these States Chers the negro Is the chiet Ia
bOrer, the competition ,0ili Be bet0esR fugaHy fore
cast and industry on the one hand, and usefulness
Indifference to the future and ldzRess, on the other