The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-25
Chinese immigration.


Thus opens an immigration which, though
now counted by the car load and noted as
something of a curiosity, may yet become,
as general as an inundation, and work
revolution in the most important questions
of political economy and social conditions.
America belongs to about forty million OF
white men. What if they should employ
eighty millions of Chinese to work upon
their estate There is certainly room for
all of them, and ample field for their labor,
which is comparatively unproductive at
home The white man would then repre-
sent capital and the yellow man labor.
Would not the joint result of productive
ness be great increase over that of the
present dayF
It is noticeable fact that the white race,
at least in America, lis becoming averse to
mental and servile labor. Domestic occu-
pations and farm work are being abandon
ed, while the professions, commerce and
the trades are over-crowded. Everybody
is becoming intelligent enough to undergo
some intellectual effort, and naturally looks
above an employment which is merely me-
chanical or muscular. Where is our labor
to come FRONT The negro element is be
coming every year less and less important,
and labor immigration from Europe grows
daily less sufficient relatively to a demand
which increases so rapidly. Labor-saving
machines are multiplied incredibly, yet
they but serve to make the human work
man more disdainful of mere physical toll.
Wages are constantly rising, but in order
to call back from the city to the field and
the factory sufficient labor to meet the
want Of our agricultural and manufacturing
\ interests, they will have to become SO high
as to render competition with foreign pro-
duction impossible. General prosperity
and national development would thus be
materially retarded by the increased intel
ligence of the people. What that intelli-
gence needs \for the attainment of great
results is an ample supply of labor.
In China the capacity for labor exists in
untold quantity, and what it wants is intel
ligence and enterprise to direct it. No
doubt the Chinese are active and industri-
Gus producers, yet, if euided>by the science
and acumen of the white race their pro-
ductiveness would be increased perhaps
four fold. If the United States had\ei ghty
millions of Chinese operatives, witlN its
forty millions of white people to apply The
principles of chemistry and mineralogy tc
their agriculture, plan their railroads and
canals, invent their necessary machinery
and tame the steam horse to their hand
what incredible result Of production might
not be expected 1.-THE white man would
own the land aud rule it, the yellow MAJ
would receive his protection and share hi
prosperity. China will not tolerate til.
missionary nor permit the entrance o
\ Christianity; here her pagan millions could
receive the gospel without hindrance. The.
: would be relieved from the terrors of
civil government based on crime and inhu
D manity, the maladies and pestilence bre'
s by insufficient food and medical ignoranc
= would comparatively disappear.
But there are grave questions on TIL
u other hand to be looked into. Would no
: this food of paganism inoculate our societ
: with its peculiar vices7 Would not poll
: tics be forever agitated by the presence c
g an element so convenient for demagogucs
6 Would not the introduction of politici
q heresy maxi ing them our equals as citizen
9 be constantly attempted, and if introduce
: would not our political and social ruin bot
n be the RESULT In a word, taking two dis
IL tinct families of the human race, who's
y blood nature has decrecd to remain uncon
l. mingled, can they properly and natural
II occupy the same land in proportions
apything like equality of numbers
J. These are grave questions, which W
81 shall not undertake to approach, but whie
u the course of events may soon settle for l
y without argument. How can the Chimes
re be kept outs They seek employment an
a pay; employment and pay await the
le> everywhe Massachusetts, wants them
IL New Jersey welcomes them; the Sout
sends gold for them /; the West yearns aft
Is them. OF course they will come unless
% wise government, should foresee evils
sufficient magnitude and certainty to justli
20 n distinction against them in our immieri
q ton laws. And though the governmel
At should be so wise and patriotic, what wou
y be the fate of it's laws when the people
ID all sections want the Chinese to come
y They will come. They are coming nov
id through a crawfish hole, it is true, but SOC
n it may be q crevasse.
s. LAYING A CORNER SToNE.-The layir