The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-05
Chinese Immigration - the United
States.

The bitterly hostile resolutions and adj
dress adopted by the immense mass meeting
held in San Francisco in April have called
out defensive reply, in the form OF o
memorial to the President, which we print
in another place. This memorial is signed
by the presidents Of the six Chinese COM
panies and by the president of the Chinese
Young Mems Christian Association. 1t re-
lates to what is already the most disturbing
public question on our Pacific coast, and q
question which may become of deep interest
in other parts of the country. 1t is stated
in this memorial that the Chinese immigra-
ton commenced about twenty-five years ago,
and that up to this time there are only
10000 Cinnamon in the United States,
$4,000 of these in San Francisco. The Chi
nese merchants pay customs duties to our
government amounting yearly to 81, 00O, 900,
and, although public sentiment does not en-
courage investments, Cinnamon own real
estate valued at $500, 900 in San Fran
cisco alone. They also pay hundreds
of thousands of dollars in taxes for
the support Of the local government.
The great body Of the Chinese immigrants
are represented to be industrious and frugal,
and it is claimed that they have performed
the greater part Of the rude labor on the
Pacific Railroad and other similar works,
and that they are largely engaged in mining
industry. If this were the whole case it
could not very we'll be disputed that the
Cinnamon are valuable addition to our
population.
But it is alleged against them, on the
other hand, that they are addicted to de-
grading beastliness and immorality, and
that their pagan practices and filthy vices
poison the social atmosphere in every COM
munity where they are found in large num-
bers. AS q rule they have no wives, but
large numbers Of Chinese women are brought
over, who live by prostitution, corrupting
American youth, as the men corrupt chill
dren and housemaids in families where they
are employed as servants. The memorial
virtually admits that there is considerable
truth in this charge; but it contends
by way of offset that it is tho fault
of the local police authorities that the houses
of prostitution exist, and hints that these
officers IRE bribed to connive at places kept
open for the qualification Of white men. It
asserts that when few years ago the Chinese
merchants tried to send the prostitutes back
to China, and succeeded in getting large
number on board an outgoing steamer, a
San Francisco lawyer, employed by unprin-
cipled Cinnamon, caused them all to be
brought ashore on a writ Of habeas corpus,
and the Court decided that they had right
to stay. This sort of recrimination has little
force as IN argument, for the dens of shame
in all cities are supported by the men they
demoralize, and are often able to bride off,
GERS into connivance.
The right Of these people to come here
rests upon treaty, and is rs perfect as that
of persons Of European birth. The treaty
and our own laws ought to be SO modified as
to keep out the most Objectionable class.
Several changes are necessary, but
the most important is regulation
forbidding Monaghan women to be
landed at any port of this country, without
evidence that they are the wives or daugh-
tiers of male immigrants, and tho signing of
q bond by the officers Of the steamship, with
o heavy forfeiture if the women SO admitted
do not reside with the husband or father in
the ordinary family relation. Another change
which it might be expedient to make, al
though there is no pressing need Of it as
yet, is limitation of the Naturalization law,
excluding persons born in China No alter
alton Of the treaty would be required for
this, because the treaty expressly cxempts
both governments from any obligation to
naturalize the citizens of the other. Con-
gress can, therefore, change the Naturaliza-
ton law on this point without infringing
the treaty, which only secures the right of
admission and residence.
The NOMINATION OF BRIsrow would be
possible if we were to have convention of
detectives at Cincinnati.