The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-05-10
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
From the Uiica Herald,


The completion of the Pacific railroad
places the Atlantic slope in direct com.
munication with the Pacific. Six or
eight days. travel will carry the dweller
on either ocean to the shores OF the 9TH
er.4sThe people of the two slopes be-
come, as it we're, next door neighbOrs.
The assimilation OF interests and popu-
lation must rapidly follow. European
immigration will find its way to the
Pacific, and in exchange for 1t we shall
receive immigrants from Asia, A gen.
Grafton will work astonishing changes,
resulting from the intercourse between
the East and the West. In view of this
fact, 1t is interesting to US TO know what
is the character of the oriental popula-
tion which we are to receive, and what
is likely to be the effect OF its introduce
ton on the future of the country.
We can only conjecture the future eX-
tent of Monaghan immigration from
the numbers which have reached our
shores during the brief period since
settlements began to spring upon the
Pacific coast-a period of about twenty
years. 1t was some time, however,
before the Chinese began to come in !;
yet, within the brief period referred to,
their nun berS have increased to about
60, 600, according 10 the figures given by
six or eight Chinese companies engag-
ed in bringing over and employing
their cOuntrymen, and over 100 OOO, aC
cordiug 10 we'll informed Americans.
Most OF these immigrants have arrived
within the last ten years. The discre-
pancy in the estimates of numbers is
accounted for by the prejudice against
the Chinese, which Induces them TO
conceal their numerical strength as
much as possible.
AS yet, emigration from China to this
country has been confined to a single
district-that of Canton. The great
Monaghan hive has not yet sent forth
its swarms. Only a few workers have
they haYe not come for the purpose OF
staying, but of ladening themselves
with treasure to be carried back with
them to the Flowery Kingdom. This
is the idea, probably, OF at least nine
tenths OF the Chinese on the Pacific
coast. They live as economically and
spend as little as possible, that they
may accumulate wealth to be enjoyed
in their native land. They do not be-
come Americanized, but retain all their
native prejudices and superstiLions, and
even maintain among themselves sort
of secret and independent government.
It is this same individuality, so tena
ciously and realistically retained here,
which renders the Chinese population
at home hostile to innovations. They
utterly refuse to adopt foreign ideas, or
to engage in anything like progressive
improvements. 1t is only by compul-
sion that the Chinese Empire has been
opened to intercourse with the outside
world. Oicourse, this intercourse works
changes, but they are slow and meet
with jealous opposition.
Many Chinese in this country, who
contemplate a return to their native
land, of course will never realize their
anlicipations. They will live and die
on American soil. Others Will follow
them across the Pacific, in constantly
increasing tide, and in a few years they
will not only be scattered all over the
Pacific slope, but become every day ia
mlltars OF the people iii tho great Mis-
sissippi basin and of the jewellers along
the eastern slopes of The AilcGanies.
The rapidly increasing iIleaiis OF ocean
transportation and the demand for la
Dor in all our unsettled territories, will
greatly stimulate Immigration. This
country will, for some time in the future,
be to the population of the overcrowd-
ed Chinese Empire, their Ell Dorado.
The natural Increase of the 500, 600. 600
of that vast Empire will permit it to
send swarms of millions TO our shores
without any perceptib!e weakening of
the supply. And as their numbers
increase here, the idea of permanent
settlement, and possibly of the build
ing up of new Chinese Empire, may
not be foreign to their thoughts. They
with them, and to provide for future
residence. AS yet, none but females of
the lowest character appear to have
been brought over. The number of
these is slight in comparison with the
males. This disprOportion OF the sexes,
however, will diminish in the future,
when the idea of permanent settle-
ment possesses the Immigrant.
Thus, 1t will be seen, we are al the be-
ginning of the introduction of new
and powerful industrial, social and po-
litical element. Civilization having
completed the westward circuit of the
world, the return tide is setting in. The
cradle of humanity is now beginning
to send its countless swarms eastward.
The two living tides meet on the great
undeveloped Pacific slope of the Amer
lean continent. The result from the
mingling of these two tides is the
problem which we and our posterity
have got to solve.