The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-10-23

TEE CHINESE QUESTION.

Did ii ever occur to Californians, and
other residents Of the Pacific coast. that
there was two sides to the Chinese ques-
ton! While all of the political parties
are of one accord in resisting Chinese i'm
migration while the merchant. the me-
chanic and labofer are doing all in their
power to discourage, dishcarten and drive
from the country these men, lid they
never think that China might retaliate in
kind? Let us briefly sec how the case
stands China is one of the oldest empires
of the world, and her traditional policy
has been one of exclusion. Her trade and
commerce was carried on by her own in
habitants in their own peculiar way. This
traditional policy, this exclusive trade, has
only been given up by so-called ''treaties
of friendship and Interchange" wrestcd
from her after the defeat of her armies by
foreign powers. Under and by virtue of
these treaty stipulations, dictated to her bv
christian governments-th term seems al.
most ironical citizens of the different
states of Europe and OF the United States
have been permitted to freely enter the
country for all purposes, more particularly
for those of trade. The discomforts and
dissatisfaction caused thereby has been ten.
fold greater than could De caused by un.
limited Chinese immigration to this coun-
try for century to come. With the Eu
ropean and American came their methods
of doing business, and means or instru-
ments of transacting the same. In order
to do Il profitable business, goods must be
transported up and down the navirable
waters and the most impro> ed appliances
therefor were introduced The steamer
became the transporter, and these must be
managed by Europeans or Americans.
What was the result? The steamer alone
threw out of employment larger number
of Chinese than the whole number of i'm
migrants OF that nationality now in this
country. Yet the suffering caused thereby
was borne uncomplainngly and no attempt
was made to Cypress or expel the foreign
cr.
Nor is this all. The last census shows
less than sixty-four thousand Chinese in
this country, while China has over half a
million of European and American resi-
dents on her soil. When Chinaman comes
to the United States, he becomes imme
diately subject to our laws, is compelled to
pay taxes on his property and conduct Lin.
self, in every respect, the same as if he was
native born citizen of the country. A
foreigner in China stands upon altogether
a different footing. He is not subject to
their code of laws, but carry their own
laws into all parts of the Chinese empire.
Surprising that China should turn the tables
and retaliate in kind, what would be the
effect upon the commercial prosperity of
this country? Yet she has the same right
to discriminate against citizens of the
United States, there resident. as California
has to discriminate against and Cypress the
Chinese immigrant resident within her
borders. Outraged beyond all endurance.
certain Chinese merchants resident in San
Francisco, have submitted the FOLLOWING
proposition: We propose a speedy and
perfect abrogation and repeal OF the pre-
sent treaty relations between China and
America, requiring the retirement of all
Chinese people and trade from these
United States and the withdrawing of all
American people and trade and CONNER
cial intercourse from China" This, they
sarcastically add, will perhaps, give to the
American people the opportunity of pre-
serving for longer time their civil and
religious Institutions, which, it is said, the
immigration of the Chinese is calculated to
destroy" This, in our Judgment, strikes
at the very root of the matter, and suggests
food for reflection TO the people of the
whole country, and, also, considerations to
which proper weight have not, heretofore,
been given. We should, AS people. be
willing to concede to the Chinese living in
this country the same rights we demand
Tor our citizens residing in China.
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