New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-07
OH CHINESE.

While we have given some time and Thought
to the problem OF Chinese Immigration, we
have not attained final solution, and have no
Opinion respecting it that We seek to impose
on others. It may be that further knowledge
and consideration will induce us to unite in
the demand that this immigration be stopped,
though our present leaning is adverse to this.
But whatever may or should be done as to
future soiourners from the Flowery Land,
there are certain intermediate propositions
which no republican or true democrat, no
American of Revolutionary faith or stock, and,
above all, no Christian, can possibly demur TO.
They are as follows:
I. The Chinese already in our country were
fully authorized to come among us. Our laws
our customs, the genius of our institutions,
assured them a welcome and the fullest pro-
lection for their persons and property For
every case of robbery, abuse or maltreatment
of Chinaman in this country, our Govern
ment owes full reparation, and cannot, without
gross perfdy, refuse to respond favorably to
any demand for indemnity which China may
see fit to make.
H. Since it is notorious that the Chinese are
habitualy abused, maltreated, robbed, and
every way wronged, by our countrymen, while
the laws of the States wherein they are mainly
found conspire against them by refusing them
opportunity to testify in courts of justice, it
would be idle to set mp that these wrongs are
the forbidden acts of n few bad men. Cali-
fornia, as a body polite, makes herself the
accomplice aud shield of the wrOng-dOers
III. The pretense that the Chinese on our
Pacific Coast are slaves is false. Having no
money at home, and accustomed to work there
for 50 per month, they are solicited by capital
lists or Spectators who tell them, 1--WE will pay
" your passage to America and allow you to
" work it out for 81 per month that done, you
"can sell your labor to whOmsOever you Will
" for $50 to $50 per month (which they do.
This contract may be usuriOus, but the poor
fellows close with the best terms offered them,
and are no more slaves than is any one who,
being in debt, contracts to work it out.
". Most of us profess to be Christians, after
some sort, and expect the conversion of China
to Christianity. But every Chinese who spends
a few years in America, and then returns to
his native land, Gas nearly all who survive
do, becomes inevitably an obstacle to the con-
version of his cOuntTymen. He says to them
" Never believe what these missionaries tell
" you about Christians and Christianity. /
" have tried them thoroughly, and know by
" sad experience that they are ruffans, rob-
" bers, and cruel tyrants, abusing the weak
" and helpless stranger as no true disciple of
" Confucus ever did or will do. Beware of
" them y Five thousand pious missionaries
may wear out their lives commencing Christi
anity to the Chinese without counteractng all
the evil that the Californians have already
done.
V. While we do not finally decide that Chi
nese Immigration is q good thing, we are
strongly moved to do so by some of the argu-
ments by which it is resisted. Thus Hon.
Eugene Casserly, Democratic U. s. Senator,
in his recent speech at San Francisco, says:
cit the duty OF every class Of men 70 unite to pre-.
vent tho introduction OF the Chinese. II they come In
contact only with the common aborers to-day tomorrow
they viii be In competition with the mason the brick.
layer the carpenter and the machnist for they The
NJ sa Iao ~ e STape % S S o Js
pied by Wells, Fargo Co.. the stone of which in
China, and was built by Cinnamon Men who can do
chaucs injury TO the State, and he would unite
with any party That would use energetic means TO Keep
them out Of the country There only party that
could be depended upon for that purpose and that was
The true old Democracy"
If this be sound, logical craftsmanship,
then the Chinese have only to become idle,
lissolute clumsy and rapacious, to render them
valuable acquisitions to o rising State. Let
hem combine to ask more for their work than
others do, or to do less for the money they re-
eive, and they will be welcomed to our soil
md to Democratic fellowship.
Mr. Casserly boasts that his party is the only
dependence fox energetic means " keep them