Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-05-14
The Chinese Question.

Business is stagnant and the white laboring
classes are greatly dissatisfied in San Francisco
Among the various manifestations of discomfort
by the workingmen anti-Chinese meetings.
The clamoring of these men must be needed
They constitute the great majority of the voting
population, and, through the ballot box, are all.
powerful If they misapprehend the facts they
must be shown where in they err and the truth
pointed out. The Chinese question ought never
to be made part of political platform. 1t does
not belong to politics, bat must be treated as q
commercial and industrial problem to be solved
perhaps, by the teachings of experience. The
Chinese already here were privileged to come
under our laws and the genius of our institution
They violated no statute in coming, and being
here, are entitled to the fullest protection of per-
son and property. Self-respect, to say nothing
of proper regard for the rights of human be-
ings, compel us to this course. We doubt very
much if any convincing demonstration can be
made OF the proposition that it is the Mongolians
who are responsible for the present hard times
among the day laborers of San Francisco. Our
personal experience is confined to this section.
We have thought at times that if no Cinnamon
had ever worked the mines of this county there
would have been more white men here to-day.
One thing is certain, that if no Celestial miners
were in the county our accounts of gold dust
would be meager indeed. Admit that they have
worked ground that white men otherwise would
have washed up, the evil has been done if evil
it was. Their diggings nowadays, if such as
Caucasians would covet, are bought at a high
figure, and where the European will not deign to
dig the patient toiler from the Flowery land pro-
cures scanty subsistence 1t is the production
of dust that makes times lively in mining sec
ton Our experience is that the Mongolians
will mine where white men will not and snepd
most of their earnings right here We think our
tradesmen will substantiate us in this. 1t may
be different in San Francisco and the agrcultu-
raj sections, but we see good reason why it
should. Our mines are hardly touched, not five
per cent. of our farming lands are cultivated.
There are farms to improve, streets to grade,
ditches to dig, railroads to build and swamp
lands to reclaim. Silk, cotton, tobacco and
every staple Of temperate and semi-tropic climes
VIII be source of astonishing prosperity when
ever the patient industry necessary for their
production can he procured. Does it not sound
strangely to hear that thousands OF men are out
Of employ at the bay city when more than
ninety millions of acres of farming lands are un-
improved in this State? If laborers congregate
in excess, about the cities just such fluctuations
IN chances for employment will happen Farm
ing communities don't experience them. We
think it more than likely that John Chinaman is
unjustly blamed. Let us live more cheaply en-
gage in greater diversity of pursuits, aud in
the flush times that will follow Wen hear no
more of anti-coolie societies. John will perform
the work that white men will not for the wages
that can be paid with profit to the employer.