New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-19
TIE CHINESE QUESTION.

which he is perhaps moro thoroughly informed
than any Of the numerous magazine and newspaper
writer's and lecturers who nsructing their country
men Oh John" and his merits and characteristics. In
opening his lecture Mr. Pumpcly alluded TO the import
ance of the subject the geographical position OF China
the early history Of that country its resources the DIS
tngushng characteristics OF Its civilization. showing
that the range Of natural resources ana OF the industries
by which they utilized covers nearly all those known
in Western countries aBd many Others that foreign to
us He then showed how the principles npon which the
whole social aud political organization of the empire is
constructed and continued substantially follows:
The Chinese to-day number over 4OoOOO,OOO Tins third
of the Inhabitants OF the globe is crowded into
rs large as the United States east OF the Mississippi
The population treads so closely unOn tho limit OF
the capacity of the soil support lfe that widespread
famine and death mark those years when the production
falls below the average. Life Is there continued
struggle, and is maintained only by unccasing toll
which represents, probably, not less than sIxten;hs Of
the amount Of manual labor performed in the world
After nation has reached this point 1t may be possible
for 1t to continue to exist for ages but unless IL have re-
lief In the emigration Of its excessive population. 1t must
remain stationary. retroCrado intellectually and
morally and DO gradually forced. by the incessant
struggle for life. into the grOssest matorialsm. China
has reached this turning point. We IN her civilization
and present condition what point may be attained by
entirely isolated people, after thousands OF years in
OF the countries best adapted to the development Of man.
and sim operating the natural influences under
which this growth effected The barrier raised by
the exclusive policy Of the Government. rather than by
the people OF China has been swept away and the great
Of this age have reduced the value OF dis
lance that the geographical element IN her isolation
absolutely disappearing
Fortunately for China and the world, our civilization
represented by two noble men, Arson Burliagame
and frederic Bruce. Being free from tho prejudice Of
race and national Jealousy they united In inducing the
enabling China TO lis strength Both OF these
believed fully the future OF that country To Mr.
Barngame fell the glorious mission of bringing the
two civilizations INTO harmonious political intercourse
The results obtained by him show how nOby he fulfilled
his task quote lis words The question was whether
Chnaman shall have his natural rights against that
horrible doctrine that because he is called heather,
therefore Christian may spoil hn while Tor Us II ~
freedom Of the Pacific" Truly by his death the oppressed
OF all races have lost an earnest sympath1cr ana the
world "A champion Of right.
We have seen that the physical influences existing IN
China have produced population which, IN ITS political
organization its commercial character aud It's universal
diffusion of education. is much In accord with the
OF this that III these essential PARTICULARS taken
together it differs less from the West than do many OF
the Western nations from each other Are the conditions
naralel with the growth of the Westf The mineral re-
sources Of China varied as our own the area OF
cOalcd is second only TO that OF the unteu states
The localities containing distributed through
almost every province Of the coast and interior Inc
number OF localities in which the dlnUr6nt 9iTS =" ron
very great and the may be said Of the other met
"a western
deposits Of salt which, through arteSan wells of great
depth have for centuries yielded enormous quantities OF
that mineral There few vegetable products belong
ing to North tropical aud temperate zones which do
not grow in China There Is no lack or native raw ma
Far north as The 4Oth parallel. She possesses
equaed systemic internal water-communicauon foreign
ana probably also in the far west and sail with Their
cargoes TO any part Of the world Finally M land con
tains an neXhaustble store Of labOr-nO less than at
least One.third of the human rdcca population that
probably performs nearly seyenenths OF the productive
81 ,t1I IL la had u flDn
the aid OF labor slng machinery
Thus far have considered the possible development
OF the Chinese their own SOIL but IN direction in
which they Will compete with u.s. chiefly through their
numbers. and 10y borrowing OUT experience. We viii
another direction which they would have very decided
advantages over our own and all Other races Inc most
les Taking tho Enc under the equator to be
aud coo lat it is only l2i But comparison OF the
conditions Of the inhabitants Of the yaiiOus climatic
zones that the energy excrted In exciting and
utilizing the produetivcDes Of the soil stands
ratio aud decreases as wo approach the equator The
southern races without Labor Where these regions CON
tribute 10 commerce. 1t rs chiefly under tho stimulus OF
the lash. wiededby the children Of the North but his
tory j. teaching not 10 look III that direction for de
yeOpment This large portion Of the globe must IN the
natural course of events become peopied by inhabitants
who have energy and industry necessary TO enable
them TO survive the attriti0n OF races.
But there is another phase Of the Chinese question
which affects much more nearly than those which wa
have considered. mean that which relates 10 the con
sequences OF Chinese Immigration 10 the unSu Sttes
In 1913 two Chnamen aud one Chinese woman landed IN
reports sent nome DS hese PlohceIs ies.yu IN 'nc NJ
OF nearly 5000 In 1851 and OF more than 1900 IA
Legislature of California advised the passage Of state
law taxing heavily the Chinese, ana urged that de-
nand should he made By the State for the prohibition Of
immigration by Congress. While the legislative com
miitce was quareng the alternative of heavy tax
alton expulsion. the white population went to WORK
with dreadful earncstncss Resolutions passed by
meetings throughout the mining districts prohibiting the
persecution. which they subjected to every out
rage, driven from their claims robbed and buehered
~
OF Immigration IN 1853 to less than 1903, rs
against 1852 Tho on! number Of arrivals up to
July Is6s was iI aud of departures, ij,Ss7 and
that tine there were about CiOOO on the coast There
are now 10000.
Their history during tho past 20 years has been
record Of persecution. BY the Legislature they have
been subjected to heavy taxes levied else ;cut
off from legal protection by being denied the right OF
giving testimony where white man Is cOncerued and
cuded from every occupation which the white does
not consider beneath his dignity In the mining districts
they have been permitted To work only those dggngs
from which the stronger race could not earn livelihood,
and often driven FROM these, OF robbed and murdered.
when by stroke OF luck the abandoned places turned
out he rich in gold Here too, they at the mercy
of bands Of rulans who collected the taxes which they
forced TO again to the legal collectors surely
one would suppose tina; people 30 prosecuted must be
distinguished by traits OF the worst character and nst
be drag on the prosperity OF inc country Inc facts
show quite the The records OF tue Police Court
san Francisco for the year IsG show only l6s conyic
tons OF Chnanen as agalnst2lo "hite men ihs Ws
IN proportion to population less than Ohe'thrd the
amount OF among the Chinese that existed among
II is by.word that tho Chinese dig gold and carry
Il 10 China, wishOut spending more than traction OF
INC amount i'm s country. But tho truth Is That the
amount Of gold dug by t baa never been more than
s3OO00 s5OOOOOO yearly I'd that this taken from
ground which Americans cannot WORK, ana thdt seven
enths paid out for taxes. waterrghts, food ana
transportation 10 Americans. ..
Their moral condition not 10 be worse II II Ia
as bad AZ that which exists among large bodies oil our
own race when removed from the restraints o home IN
nneucp These 10000 Cinnamon been forced 20 form
a world and Government Of their own. In everything
which affects their interests they govern themselves.
and there is abundant evidence that their ScInpOsed
rcpati0ns affecting the relations Of labor 10 capital,
punishment Of crime. execution OF contracts, caro- OF the
sick and lablItatIOn Of tho needy rcmaIkAbo Tor
their simplicity and efficiency.