The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-23

have little reason 70 fear that half a century
OF opium smoking can destroy the deep
seated, inherited vitality Of the race, or have
fixed it as constitutional vice upon those
who will emigrate hither.
The political aspect of the question is that
OF the most immediate importance, for many
obvious reasons. Nothing is more certain
than the impossibility of a foreign race con-
tinuing to live and increase, in America, in
other than two conditions, viz, either under
the animal breeding system of slavery, or
(and probably only by being equally strong
with the European element, in the average of
all things which constitute strength in this
age. The ability of any people to prosper,
multiply, and co-eXist among us, proves them
to possess an average equality with us when
measured by our standard, deficiencies in
some points being compensated in others
these differences being desirable in the same
degree that individuality is desirable. If an
inferior race, or large bodies of vicious and
criminal people, prosper and multiply, it does
not invalidate this rule, but rather shows that
our actual measure, on certain points, is far
below our theoretical standard.
If the Chinese, having the exercise of equal
rights in fair field, should prove themselves
undesirable citizens, it would be proof
OF lnteriority, of inability to contribute their
full share to the general good; and the in
ability to compete with their neighbors would
inevitably result in their disappearance from
the arena as important rivals.
In view of all the possibilities of the case
before us 1t becomes evident now, more than
ever before, how important it is that we
should turn our energies towards Ameri-
canlzlng the foreign elements of our popu-
lation. large Chinese emigration is the
strongest argument against immediate
and unqualified suffrage. With the
prospect of an unparalleled influx of Chi
nese, it is of immediate importance
that we insist upon their understanding
our social and political organization before
giving them voice, and this can be done
only by insisting upon a residence of several
years IN the country, and by an educational
test, which should not be less than the ability
to read and speak the English language. In
deed, this is only an additional illustration of
the necessity for an educational qualification,
in the matter of citizenship in general, and it
should seem sufficiently clear to convince even
the most confirmed advocates of unqualified
suffrage.
The danger most to be guarded against is
the enactment or continuance of special legis-
lation with regard to Mongalians. Every
thing which tends to exclude them from the
rest of the community, and, in a greater de-
gree, everything which denies to them-as
do practically the laws of California-the
common rights of humanity, not only
affects seriously the character of the
aliens and retards the growth of the region
in question, but reacts most injuriously on
the European element, producing these
moral evils which were the worst results of
slavery with us-a reaction which is the curse
following everywhere intercourse between the
European and non-European races. To sup
poseethat whole State or nation is able to
rise above all prejudice of race, to look upon
such question from a cosmopolitan stand
point, is almost the same as supposing
the average intellectual level of the people
to be on an equality with that of its most libe-
raj minds; but it should not be demanding
too much to expect to find this quality in the
lawgivers of land which claims that "all men
are created equal" especially should we look
for it in the consideration of a question which
presupposes an influx of Chinese by millions.
This work is handsomely printed and
bound, and it is embellished with number
of engravings and maps of the authors
routes
--Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfnger send us
'"The Pigeons Wedding" by Harriet B.
McKeever. This is pleasant little book fol-
children, nicely printed on fine paper, and
bound in holiday style, and altogether worthy
of better pictures than the badly drawn and
tawdry colored Autographs that are given az
illustrations.
j. B. Lippincott & Co. send us, bound
up together in pamphlet form, ''Magdalena,
translated from the German of E. Marlitt, and
''The Lonely Ones" translated from the
German of Paul Heyse. These Interesting
stories are reprinted from Lippincotfs Maya.
EiHe, where they attracted considerable atten.
ton.
From Turner Brothers & Co. we have
received ''The Cabin on the Prairie" and
planting the Wilderness" the two first
volumes of "The Frontier Series" by Rev.
ard. These are interesting stories of adven-
ture in the far West that will suit the taste OF
numerous boy readers.
-Messrs Roberts Brothers send us a spe.
cimen page of their holiday edition of Shake.
speare's Midsummer Nights Dream, which
will be issued about the first of December.
The feature of this book will be the illustra-
tions in silhouette by P. Konewka. These
are twenty-five in number, and the beautiful
specimen before us more than justifes the
expectations formed from the favorable no.
tices in the European papers. These illus
trations created decided sensation in Ger,
many and England, where they were pub
lished about year ago; and the novelty OF
the idea, no less than the remarkable grace
and poetical feeling of the designs, imme-
diately gave the unknown artist most en-
viable reputation. 1t is astonishing that
such results should be accomplished with