The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-07-31
THE CHINESE IN AMERICA.
Their snfustbiIisy with Other Ma
tiOns-Their National Pride
Their Coming Ensress Into the
Atlantic Statess

| 4nCtF tNHNS1DBERsy WIN VtEne,E IL q
tiOns-Their National Pride
Their Coming insress Into tn
| Atlantic Statess
Correspondence Of the Boston Journal
SAN Francisco, july 1.-The peol
le Of the Atlantic States, unaequainte
with the ChiXse population, regard the
immigration to this country in the sam
light they would the importatiorr of a
eequal number of the negro race frol
Africa.
But the Chinaman and the negro ar
human beings Of very unlike charat
ter and nature. The difference betwee
the two races is as the difference betwee
an jntensS y ignorant but docile chile
plastic aud plant as clay in the hand
OF the potter-and a grown man, shar
but very narrow.minded, opinionate
and fixed Sn character. The negro, whe
brought to this country, is simple barba
rian, with nothing to unlearn, and who's
highest ambition is to imitase the supe
rior race in words. acts and manners
The Chinese have a civilization an
history of their own; a vanity whicl
causes them to look down on all othe
races habits Of thought rendered per
maneut being stamped upon uncountee
generati ms.
To& limited extent til e Chinese be
csme quickly Americanized; but thei
Americanization is only superficial
They learn to buy and sell, to labor ac
cordiug to American modes, just as they
discard the umberella-shaped hat, wide
trow>ers and thick paper shoes, for ths
felt hat, pantaloons and boots; but they
retain all their essential habits and modes
OF Thought just as they retain their cues
The Chinaman tending hop field, dig
ging ditch, oS firing an engine in Cali
Iornia, isjust as essentially a Chinaman a:
his brother on the other side of tho Pa
citic, working with the same tools as
his father worked with eighteen hundred
years ago.
THEIR NATIONAL PRIDE.
The American and English mission.
aries, who for thirty-fve years, at a cost
of six millions of dollars, have with but
trihing success been laboring in China,
know full we'll how Intensely this people
are welded to the costoms and habits of
their ancestry; how unwavering their
trust in the religious faith and cerimonies
which have come down to them from
time ilnmemorial.
The Chinese, rs people. are SO
much like Americans as to believe that
heir o'ye civilization, political economy,
social usages aud religious creed are gu
oerior 10 all the world beside, and that
hey are superior race. We make the
same claim for ourselves. In the Chi
,aman's view, the difference between
lis civilization and ours is all in his ia.
'or. We claim, and Of Course with JUS
ICE, that the difference is all in our favor
We judge China and her civilization
" the masses of her most il!;.eratc and
egrated population now on our coast
rney with equal justice, judge of us and
ur civilization by the associations of
orecastles, deadfalls and railroad gangs.
There are a few intelligent. well bred,
jhinamen among US, but the masses are
rom the lowest class in China. But
here are some things which give to the
west Chiuaman certain concions dig
:ty which claims respect. For exam
.e, he knows he has country. Time
'as when men were proud to say, Il am
Roman citizen.' With equal pride
e face the world to say, I am an Amer
IAN citizen" The Chinaman, with the
onfdence, claims to be subject of the
Sun of Heaven"
We are proud Of our extensive territory.
asst prairies, mountains, lakes and riv-
is. In all these things the Chinaman
as right to boast of his country !;
II hina ia as large as the United States,
ven stretched to its utmost extent
y our Fourth of July orators. A Chi
aman might ask you to open the map
f North America and leaving British
lmerica out Of count, to add together
II the square miles Of all other divisions
{ this continent from the North Pole to
lie Isthmus of Panama and then with an
zcusable pride of national glory he could
ltorm you that the domain of his En-
error is equal to all that.
THEIR POPULATION AND ANTIQUITY.
The Chinaman has not only great
ountry, but he belongs to a great peo-
le. We Americans are numerous peop-
!. and are rapidly increasing. Some
We years ago. while in the northern part
this State, among my earliest acquain-
lnce was a young Canton merchant
ho had early come out as superintend-
lg agent for his contrymen, who were
iniug in Siskiyou and Del Norte coun-
es. He was thoroughly educated in his
Tn, and anxious to become familiar
ith ou, language. One day, while
irving to impress him with a proper
of the power and greatness
the American people, he suddenly
rought me down by inquiring
"Well my learned friend. what is the
;act population Of your great and hon
able conutry2"r ...... -.-,.s.. ...v-.~
AT that time our census returns did
1t give over 33,OOO,O00; but wishing
make ali impression / used quality
6 word to help me over few millions,
ID answered .' About 40,000,0OO."
is face wore a look Of mingled pity
ID contempt, as he replied: s.@.5-
" Sir, the one province of which | am
native, numbers 4O.00O,00O, and our
bols empire numbers 400,000,000."