Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-04-22
THE CHINESE COMMISSION.

The seven Senators appointed TO coll
lect evidence in relation to the manners,
customs, mode of life, condition of NOR
ais, and such other points as may be
deemed necessary with view to inhu-
encing Congressional action in relation
to Chinese immigration commenced their
labors Immediately after the adjournment
OF the Legislature, and have continued
them up to the present time. They have
had before them q number Of people TO
whom the manners and customs Of the
Chinese are familiar, ard the testimony
presented, coming as it does from relia-
BILE sources, is interesting as showing how
little we know Of people who, for
quarter of century have been scattered
thickly among US, but who from their
exclusiveness and other peculiarities,
know, the anomalous condition of society
which they represent. 1t should be the
aim of the Commission TO deal fairly
with this people, to draw evidence upon
their side Of the question as we'll as
against it, and not 90 before the National
Legislature asking verdict upon an ex-
parte showing T; and such we believe is
the line of policy adopted. 1t is very
certain that the testimony given by some
of the witnesses exhibits as great degree
of prejudice for the Chinese, as it is pos
sible for the other side to entertain against
them. If we are to believe the state
ments of these witnesses, both Of whom
are missionaries, the Chinese, as a peo-
pie, have as high a standard Of morals
as we can boast ourselves, and the con-
trary showing made by those with whom
we are brought into daily contact is
brought about by association with the
degraded of our own race. Such testimo-
ny, given by men who from their sacred
calling should be above prejudice, is not
calculated to help the case of the Chinese
here, whatever influence it may have in
affecting that given upon the other side.
But we think there will be no difficulty
in establishing by the evidence of men
whose names will carry respect, that the
presence in the United States Of any con-
siderable member Of this people cannot
but be prejudical 10 the best interests OF
the country, and it is in the establishment
of this truth that we are to look for re-
lief.
One great point to which the Commits
sion must address it-elf, must be TO
show the people of the United States the
unassimilative character of the Chinese.
They are race OF people who can never
intermarry and become thus identified
with the permanent population which
builds up and stengthenss country. They
must remain distinct race even if
Chrstianized unlike all other people
who go to form the population of this
great republic. And in establishing this
truth we can have no better assistance
than that given by the Chinese themsel-
yes. In a residence Of twenty-five years
on this coast they have shown in the
most marked manner that feature Of
sxclusiveness which repels the idea that
they can ever desire to change their re-
lgion, habits and modes of life to con-
form to the condition of the country.
4 The old adage that "when we are in
Rome we must do as the Romans do"
seems to have no application to the Chi
nese of the United States. Their religion,
code of morals, and every other feature
of Chinese life, is slightly modified it is
true, but only SO to that extent which is
forced by circumstances. And although
the Commission may fail in establishing
the fact, yet it cannot be doubted but the
code of laws which govern the Chinese
in their intercourse with each other, is
held far more binding than our own, and
that if their law and ours conflict they
obey their own and disobey our. 1t is
said and no doubt with truth, that their
tribunals enforce penalties even to death
upon those who violate the provisions
of this unknown code. The body of the
American people will not care to encour-
age the presence here of such class how
ever much it may be held desirable to
encourage immigration. The kind of
immigrants we want are those who come
here to remain, who after the lapse of a
generation or two lose the distinctive
features of the nationality from which
: they claim origin and bee me merged in
the body of the people. Such is the case
with all the immigration from Caucas
ian nations but such can not be the case
with any branch of the Mongolians.
Even were it possible it is not to be de-
sired. We have among us millions of
people OF an inferior race to whom we
have accorded full political and civil
rights and privileges, but it was done as
a birthright, as a right TO which they
were entitled as natives of the soil. But
it would be the idea of visionary to seek
to bestow these privileges upon other in
ferior races who have no such claim nor
should we care to incourage the influx of
a people who cannot hope to ever occupy
the same social position as ourselves.
Let this fact of the unassimilatiyeness OF
the Chinese be demonstrated, and we
can look for the moral support of nine
tenths OF our countrymen in the effort we
are making to rid ourselves of the Chi
nese incubus.
But although the Commission can as
sist usso far as Federal action is concern
cd, We hold to our former opinion, that
after all the true remedy lies with our
own people. Not by the commission Of
illegal acts, for oppression or mob law
would only enlist sympathy for the Chi
ne'e and forfeit that moral support which
patience and q regard for their legal
i Elali IlaIIsi IL n