National Republican., 1876-08-17
THE CHINESE EMIGRATION QUESTION.

he SuDlOlneQ extract from a recent IS
sue of the London Times commenting upon
the late troubles iu California arising from
the antagonism of the American laborer
for his Chinese competitor, will doubtless
be read with interest by all who hsve given
this perplexing subject the least attention.
1t says:
at becomes foreign critics to speak with
great caution upon the merits of this dispute.
1t is quite natural, no doubt, that the white
laborers of California should wish to get rid oil
their Chinese opponents, but if their interests
alone were concerned, their claims might be
summarily dismissed Congress would, we
imagine, refuse to pass protective laws merely
for such purpose. 1t would also Re q very
serious thing to decree that the United States
should he closed against any race. But the
question brings up higher considerations than
those of political economy or practical con-
venience. Most Americans may be inclined to
attach more Importance to the social and po-
litical prospects of the Union than to cheap
ness of labor. At all events the peop}Gz)f the
Pacific eoest OF America have made up SSissss Sss+s-
minds lor a struggle: hether tney> light
act iS,g:ssssS5T h xag if sye a alleys SS Of
LoLdon, Liverpool and Manchester wore peo-
pied 10y Chinese, and if the only thing tc be
said in favor of the newcomers was that their
labor was acceptably cheap"
Since the agitation of this subject in Con.
gress the fact has become apparent that
much more respectable form of hostility
against the Chinese, which has not mani.
tested itself in riotous demonstrations or
pitiless prosecutions comes from class
which looks to the social and political
future of the Pacific States. 1t is unde-
nIable that the Chinese bring to its shores
the most degrading and abominable vices
that ever disgraced humanity. Their race,
their religion and their social customs
utterly shut the m off from the Caucasian
element by a hopelessly broad barrier.
Schools, churches and daily contact with
white men have done little or nothing
toward making them act like white men.
Every cluster of their miserable novels is,
and will ever remain, little China, re-
tanning all the denominations of their abodes
abroad. For the past decade this stream of
human life has poured in upon the States Of
the Pacific IN inexhaustible floods, while
Hong Kong, Macao and Shanghae have
been discharging in almost uninterrupted
succession brothel after brothel load of
Asiatic prostitution to crafty its insatiate
lusts. Were such an influx to continue
for single generation the Chinese might
not only outnumber all the white inhabit-
ants on the Pacific slope, but be able to
outvote them at the polls. Such a pros
pect is the more alarming when we con-
slider that these States are in many
respects the finest in the Union.
Their rich gold and silver mines
are the least of their attractions.
Far more alluring is their fertile soil, their
forests, their scenery, and speaking par
ticulsrly of California, its incomparably fine
climate. 1t has within its borders the great
gateway of the Pacific, through which is
poured the wealth of Asia, America and
Europe. Such a city as San Francisco
might seem destined to be the seat of
mighty empire, and it seems only ques-
ton of time when the Pacific States will
WELD not little of the power which at
present attaches to the older Common
wealths on the Atlantic seaboard. The
Chinese question is certainly a most
momenteus one, and it is gratifying to
know that the General Government has
at last taken definite action regarding it by
appointing joint commission of both
Houses of Congress with a view of investi-
eating the subject thoroughly. Beyond
doubt the commission will discover that
this clamor from the Pacific coast is not
confined to any particular class, but the op-
position is general and bitter in the extreme
against any further introduction of this
Asiatic element, while a firm determination
appears to exist among the educated class
to use all Ia Hful means toward preventing
so promising future being marred by the
legalized invasion of such a horde swarm
ing in upon them from the most populous
human hive on the face of the earth.