The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-04
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH JOHN
CHINAMAN?
From the ". y. Times.

From, the NJ Y. Times.
The "Flowery Kingdom" seems destined to
exercise speedy influence upon the civiliza-
tion of the world and especially of America.
Exactly how the Mongolian element shall be
blended with the Caucasian, and what will
be the social and political result, are pro-
blems which are attracting much attention,
not only in this country, but in Europe. If
Chinese labor could be brought hither by
legitimate emigration, no trouble would be
involved any more than in the case of emil
grafton from European countries. We are
thorough believers in the broad American
doctrine of extending welcome to all
comers, demanding only in return that they
shall as speedily and as completely as posi-
BILE cast off their natural allegiance, and
merge their nationalities in American citizen
ship.
If the Chinese question could be solved
upon this basis il would involve no difficulty;
but, unfortunately, the deportation of Chi
nese labor has fallen into the hands of job
bers, who seek chiefly their own profit. The
dense population of that country has made
the lower class very poor, and but few of the
laborers are ia pecuniary condition to come
away without assistance. Taking advantage
of their necessities, cruel and INSCRIPTIONS
men have organized what is known as the
coolie trade, and in many instances kidnap-
ping, and the grossest oppression and fraud
have been practiced. The ostensible emil
grant very often becomes marketable pro-
perty; and is publicly bought and sold pre-
cisely as slaves were. There is danger that q
new social evil, similar in many respects to
African slavery, may be introduced into our
country by the establishment of a caste de-
grading to labor
Political considerations are also involved
| These Cinnamon are brought hither in large
numbers, and placed by contract under indi-
vidual control in masses. They can be
used in the concrete politically as well as in
| dustrally, and thus be made tue innocent
| instruments of fraud The question arises
| whether this danger can be guarded against
| by legislation. We can hardly say to John
| that he shall not come to our shores unless
he comes on his own account, for we know
that he could not come without assistance. If
| he comes at all, it must be under the auspices
of some organized labor association like that
recently put in operation by Koopmanshoop,
| the Hollander
With our past experience with the negro,
there is little danger that his place will be
taken by the coolies but there is danger that
John Chinaman will be preferred to the
freedman, and that he will be overTeached
and abused. The experience OF some OF the
English colonies justifes such an apprehen-
sion, and shows that there is a tendency in
that direction wherever slavery has existed.
Notwithstanding stringent regulations have
been laid down by the British Government,
and special colonial agents appointed for
that purpose, it has not been able to prevent
the preparation of very grievous atrocities.
Recently the attention of philanthropists has
| been directed to the subject, and measures
have been initiated to secure an international
cooperation. The movement originated in
London, and contemplates active labor in
behalf of the Chinese in Cuba, Demerara,
and Jamaica. We doubt not there soon will
be o field for similar work. in more quiet
way, among our own people at the South.
Our laws, however, and the popular senti'
ment, will never permit the evil to grow to
so great an extent as it has elsewhere Still
it Is matter to be watched carefully and
! regulated.