The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-19

7
come? Generally, think, from the unedu
Gated masses. For no people possess nore
attachment for the land of their sire's graves
than the Chinese. When they go forth to
other countries in search of gain, they ex-
pect to return that their tablet may also be
placed in the ancestral hall. But to the ed
ucated, enrerprising man, the way to easy
circumstances in life, if not to wealth, is
generally open here among his friends. The
history of Chinese emigration sustains this
view. If we admit that they soon acquire
wealth, and cease to be the laborers, but be-
come the capitalists, then from what quarter
is the labor demanded by this increased
capital to be drawn? Is it not from this
same class of uneducated Chinese labOrers
Thus to elevate successive importations of
Chinese is philanthropic, and if the cost mot
in money! is not too great, is greatly to be
applauded.
Their qualities sghich recommend them as
Ja6orers. 1, They are frugal people. A
business man seeking a clerk wishes to find
one free from extravagant habits. So of
other labor. A frugal laborer can hire for
less wages, and yet lay up money, Thus he
not only increases the wealth of his employ
er, but also adds his own gainings to the
general capital of the country. A frugal
man can also manage for his employer with
less waste than one not saving in his own af-
fairs A proof of the possession of this
quality by the Chinese is their ability in Cal
ifornis and other countries to supplant com
peting labor, and in their own country to
support family upon the products of piece
of ground not so-large as many private veg
etable gardens in America. And they un-
derstand the principle if not the science, of
returning to the soil that taken from it.
Science will probably give their fruits and
melons elements lacking to supply color and
aavor,) Laborers understanding this prin-
ciple will be more needed as the population
of the United States increases.
2. They are an Industrious race. My OBJ
servation, however, would lead me to think
it partly owing to necessity. If any one
! wishes to make the experiment, just employ
! by the day and leave the laborer to fill up
his own time. Here they work in their
shops from early morning till dusk, and often
in the night. And as the meal is generally
spread on the counter, or a table in the room,
no time is lost in going to and from their
meals. But this can only serve as an illus
tration where the labor is for himself and
not an employer.
3. They are a trading people, They pos
sess peculior qualities for traffic in smaller
articles, and also in the wider field of com
merce. In many Shanghai stores, and also
in Japan, in many native and foreign stores
the compradores are Cinnamon, through
whose hands passes the moneys of the firm.
And one of the banks which 1 visited in
Shanghai, as well as in Japan, was so ar,
ranged that the Tellers department is en-
tirely occupied by Chinese.
t. Where a stimulant is offered l think
they will be found to possess considerable
mechanical geai1s And this is now becom.
ing very essential element in the charac
ter of good labOrers in countries where
machinery is introduced into every depart
ment of production. But he needs a stimu,
liant to get his mind out of the rut of centu,
ries, so that he can realize the fact that the
son can do something he has not seen hi;
father do Mechanical genius the negro
had not, even in a dormant state. But il
appears to me the Chinese are usually over
estimated in this respect by the outside
world. The Japanese are considered by
some whose judgment l respect, as consid
erably the Chinamen's S superior in mechani
cal talent. They are quicker to comprehend
foreign machinery, and have carried som,
of the arts to greater perfection than thi
people. 1t is true many kinds of foreign
machinery exist here in their ruder and sim
pier forms. For example, they have tn,
spinning the loom, the plow, the cart
the wheat (rice) fan, and the water wheel
among other things, But why have thes
existed here so long without that improve
meut which so much increases the produc
ton of human labor that England can sci
her articles after the cost of transportation
cheaper in China than they can, with Chi
nese cheap labor, be produced and sold b,
the natives? This does not appear as if im
provements ceased, as Mr. Pumpelly thinks
,Ohen the desired object was attained. Fo
it seems very desirable, in country said t,
be groaning to support her offspring, tina
labor should be as productive as possible.
So accustomed are we to associate idolatr,
with barbarism, and civilization with Chris
tianity, that many when they behold nation
separated from Christianized nations, ye
possessing a true civilisation, go into rapture
over it. 1t is to this l attribute much of tn
undue praise of Chinese now filling publ
journals in England and the United States
Without wishing to detract from China,
appears that since the mission of Mr.. Bur
lingame has spread the silver veil over tn
deformities of this government, it can not b
extolled too highly. Though their civiliza
ton be their own production, how long hav
= thew had to attain it? Their ace is meas