New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-05
THE CHINESE LABOR QUESTION.

VIEWS OF JOHN STUART MILL, THE ECONOMIST
AyIGNoN, France, Oct 49, 1853.
DEAR SIR: The subject on which You have
asked my opinion involves two of the most difficult and
embarrassing questions Of political extent
and limits OF the right OF those who have first taken pos
session OF unOccuped portion OF the earth surface to
exclude the remainder OF mankind rom lnhaDng H. ana
the means which be legtimately used by the more
improved branches OF the human species 10 protect
themselves from being hurtfuly encroached upon ny
those OF lower grade in civilization the Chnese lnml
grafton into America raises poth tnese quIstois 10
furnish general answer to either OF them would most
Concerning the purely economical view Of the subject
entirely agree with yOu and II could hardly he better
stated and argued than II is in the article In The NEW
YORK TRIBUNE. That the Chinese immigration, II II
attain great dimensions must be economically injurious
n Te I their a and reduce them to lower state Of
physical comfort and wellbeng, have no manner Of
doubt Nothing be faaciOus than the attempts
make out that thus to lower wages is the way 70 raise
them, that there is any compensation IN any eeono
cal point OF yew 10 those whose labor Is displaced or
who obliged to work for geaty-reduced remuhera
ton On general principles this state OF Things Were II
migrants ground that with their habits III respect
to population only temporary good Is lone 10 the onl
nese people by admitting part of their surplus numbers
while permanent harm is done in more CIVILIZED ana
improved portion Of mankind ,,, =,
But there much also to be said on the other side ls
it jusabe TO that the character aud habits OF
the Chinese are ptble Of Improvement Tile in
stuons of the United States the most potent means
that have yet existed Of spreading the most pO tant
eaments of down 10 the poorest and most ig
nOrant Of the labOring masses III every chinese chIu
were cOmpusorly brought under your schOoI syhtem,
under still mere effective one II posspic anu Ape
abnese popnlation be in time raised the level Of the
Cmerican believe, indeed that hitherto the number
OF in America has not been very great Dut
this Is the case long hat 49, as the thesc
do not come families and settle, but those who come
are mostly men, and return to their native country he
evil hardly reach great magnitude as 10 require
one kind Of restrictive measure seems to me not only
desirable but absolutely called fOrthe most stringent
laws against Introducing Chinese immigrants as Coolies,
T. e. under contracts binding them TO the service OF par
enar persons maj al Sof f and though know that
the legal invady OF such contracts does not prevent
them from being made, cannot but think that pains
taken TO make 1t known TO the Immigrants tlat such
engagements not legally binding, ana cspe-
sy into theme that "d mode At least D Of mm
grafton would receive considerable chscK ana IL
does not seem probable that any other mode among 50
poor population the Chinese can attain such dline
sions to compete very inJurlousiy Win american
merous Chinese Of becoming familiar with the better
and more civilized habits Of life, Is one OF the pest
the Chinese in their country, and which il does
not seem to me that it would be right TO withhold from
them. am, dear Sir, yours very sincerely, a.,
To Henry George, esq, san Francisco. j. S. MILL
SECOND LETTER FROM MR.. MILL,
DEAR SIR: presume am indebted to you for sending
me the number OF The chicago Tribune which commented
ton Nothing could clearer frer than the edito-
rial statement OF the which, in my OPINION pagh
grade OF civilization than the existing inhabitants But
fnever said that in America and in the present cre'i
stances of the case ought 10 be done My letter on the
subject of California citizen who had asked my opin
ion, much misunderstood that cannot Du,
think the copy OF my letter which L understand
appeared in the newspapers, must have been
a mutlated one. 1 distinctly declared that IN
NV opinion the right course to be adopted
is to endeavor by education TO bring the rising genera
ton of Chinese up the level OF Americans III there's
little or rising generation the Chinese not being per
manent settlers), said that in that case their coming
could be no such evil TO the labOrng classes as 70 JUSTIFY
it, prohibition while the opportunity II gives OF convey
ing ideas OF civilized country lnO the heaI
of China is an advantage to the people OF China OF when
III said do not think would be right TO deprive them
The only mode of immigration which said that
thought should be prohbitedis the bringing over Cnese
as Coolies under engagements TO work for particular per
sons which il form Of compulsory labor, or, III other
words, OF Slavery. L au oear OH, you I very
truly ~ D. D. MILL
Horace White, esq, Chicago.