New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-05-01


reduction in the supply of labor by increased emf
grafton, decreased immigration, and an increase III
the ratio of deaths to births caused by the reduced
comfort Of the masses. But where an unlimited sup,
ply of cheap labor can DO drawn from abroad one OF
the elements necessary TO create this counter tenden
cy is wanting in either of the cases we have sup
posed. Capital may be drawn from other avocatlOhS
to those in which reduction of wages has been e.
fected by the employment of Chinese, and the WHO
labOrers previously employed may be driven 70 oenU
occupations but so long as China can furnish sup
again the only effect of the transfer beng 10 -
capital and increase the supply OF lapoI III 80 IA
trades and thus to reduce wages IN them ISL m
II the increase of the white population II ~
long IA no check is imposed on Chinese lill %
the demand for labor cannot gam upon tne suppS'
The only effect Will be the substitution VI 'i"psoi
ian for Caucasian pOpulatl0n' .
That reduction of wages through the employment
Of Chinese labor will increase the aggregate OF pro-
ducton there is no doubt and thus far its advocates
are right Captal would be made more efficient and
new capital be attracted from abroad But whether
home capital would continue to increase at It's former
rate NAV well be doubted. The savings of employers
would be more. as their profits would be more but
the savings of the lab0TeTs (which, through the me-
dunn of loan societies, &c, become as much part OF
the active capital or wages fund of the commu-
nifty as the savings of any manufacturer would De
less. and In the case Of the Chinese, would be sent
abroad and lost tOthe country. whether tue increase
of production thus brought about is to be con-
sldered benefit to the community depends upon our
IDEA of what constitutes Statep For this IN
crease Of production we must pay high price one
of the smallest items Of which, in my opinion VIII
be lif the substitution of Mong0lians for Anglo.
Saxons goes far enough) the utter subversion OF
Repubhcanism upon the Pacific, perhaps upon the
continent.
To make places in the higher occupations for the
whites who displaced by the competition OF chi
nese labor, will require levon admitting them to be
qualified for these higher OccupatlOnsl great IN
crease of production and very large Chinese popu-
latiOn. This idea suppOses state OF society snlar
to that of which the wOuldbe founders Of the south
COnfederacy dreamed, where the labOrlng masses
are of one race, the ruling and employing classes Oh
another.
Even in society of this kind, those Of the snpe-
rioT race who fall from or are unable TO gam the
position allotted to them lHust SINK 10 the lever OF
the inferior. The great Chinese labor based empire
of the Pacific must if established have It's poor
whites just South Carolina and Georgia had theirs
But the displacement OF whites when me lhu0uuc-
tOn of Chinese labor will cause on the racine slope
great as il must be- will be slight compared with
what it would effect in n thickly-setted country.
The coolies will rather take the places OF whites VINO
otherwise would come hereafter, than of those now
there, And in the present population, the class
which will gain by Chinese labor as compared with
the class which Will lose IS larger than on the Az
lantic side. For the Pacific coast IS new country
over which its present population is scouting and
prospecting not only for that which is valuable now,
but for that which will be made valuable by greater
pressure of population. There thousands and
thousands of men who would not be counted rs capt.
talists in strict enumeration, but who hold lands,
mines water privileges, &c, which a large popuia-
tiOn and low wages would make valuable. Inc IN
forests of these with the capitalists forming,
with tine other classes to which have alluded
combination powerful as TO neutralize any ciec-
tive opposition to the introduction of Chinese; for
the General Government ties the hand OF the peo-
pie of the Pacific coast in this matter effective re-
sistance to Chinese immigration must be eXtTa.legal
And thus 1t Is that the resistance TO chinese lmn-
grafton is weakening in our Pacific States
Capital clearly pcrceives that its interests lie IN
the free admission and introduction OF these cheap
workers, and though labor may oppose II, yet, with
the weight of the General Government and the sem
timent Of the nation thrown in favor Of capital,
there can be but one Issue to the struggle In every
instance in which battle has been joined on this
matter, labor has, usual, gone to the wall Chinese
cigaT-makeTs have been beaten but the Chinese
mOnOpOze the trade to-day. The Pioneer MOolen
employment of coolies; but they were rebuilt and,
like the other wooden mills, employ as many China
men as they can. a year ago, when Chinese graders
first set to work In san Francisco. the displaced
ITishmen mObbed them; but the strong force of pO-
lcemen with which it was then necessary 10 guard
them is now withdrawn, and the Cmnaman is rapidly
taking the place of the ITishman. When, few
months since. the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
discharged its white fremen and hired coolies, the
coolies had to be Struggled aboard the ships but
they come and 90 in peace And SO on. The sticks
in the bundle are broken one by one.
PROSPECTS OF FURTHER IMMIGRATION.
All the Cinnamon now i'm our Pacific States come
from the single Province of Canton; the whole sea
board of China and Japan is yet to draw from. The
cost Of the passage is great obstacle but improve
ments in marine machinery, with the establishment
of new steamship lines will rapidly reduce ths and
the desire TO avail themselves of Chinese labor
increases among American employers, the contract
system, managed either directly or through the me-
dunn of the Chinese Companies iwhO are abundantly
able without the Intervention of special laws 10
force all contracts with their own people,, will ena
price of their own passage the Chinese Companies
and capitalists already bring over many in this way
and perfect system OF peonagc is maintained
CHARACTER OF THE CHINESE.
The population of our country has been drawn from
many different sources; but hitherto with but one
exception these accesslOus have been of the same
race and though widely differing in language, GUS
toms and national Characteristics have been capable
Of being welded into a homogeneous people. The Mon
gOlians, who are now coming among US on the other
side of the continent differ from our by rs
strongly marked characteristics rs do the negroes
while they will not readily fall into our ways as
the negroes. The difference between the two races
i'm this respect is the difference between an gnor
ant but dOcile child, and grown man. sharp but
opinionated and set in character
The negro when brought to tins country was simple
barbarian with nothing 10 unlearn the Chinese nave
civilization and history OF their own; vanity which
causes them to look down all other races habits OF
thought rendered permanent by being stamped upon
we shall have a permanent Chinese population
but population whose individual cOmpOnents Will
be constantly changing, at least for long time To
come. A population born III China, reared IN CHINA,
expecting TO return 10 China, living Whle here III
little China Of its own, and without the slightest
attachment to the cOuntry-utter heatheus treachcr
ous sensual cowardly. and cruel. They bring no
women with them land probably Will not Tor little
while yeti except those intended for purposes OF
anu Lilc CnlluItu VI lilCbc VI MIOIu
there are some hundreds in California, will exercise
upon the whole but little perceplble influence,
while they will be in all respects as essentially Chi
nese as though born and reared IN China.
To certain extent the Chinese become quickly
AmericaDized; but this Americanization Is only
superficial They learn to buy and SELL to labor, ac-
cOrding TO American modes Just as they discard the
hat. wide drawers, and thick
paper shoes for the felt hat pantaloons and boots;
but they retain all their essential habits and modes
of Thought lust as they retain their cues The China
man running sewing machine driving sand cart
or firing an engine in California is just essentially
Chnaman as his brother who, on the other side OF
tha Pacific il working I'm the same WaV. and with