The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-03

The Chinese question is again thrust
forward. Senator SARGENT of California, speak
ing ON Monday in favor OF the resolution recOm-
mendng to the President to cause negotiations
TO be entered into with tbc Chinese Govern
ment. to so change the existing treaty that the
great influx Of Chinese immigration to this
country should be prevented, spoke at length Of
the evils attendant ON the increase OF the num-
bers OF low Chinese in the United States. They
are certainly great, and we do not wonder that
In California, where these Orlentnls are thickest
they are regarded with other sentiments than
those of affection. They are 1lthy IN their hab-
Its. grossly immoral and destitute Of any at
tachment to our institutions. Senator SARGENT
puts the number on the Pacific coast at 10000
Of which COCO are In California, and 10000 In
San Francisco alone. But this Is on missionary
authority alone. The census gave the number
AZ 10000 In 1870, and there are now probably
about 100000 to $4,000 In the country. In all this
number there are not 100 families according to
Senator SARGENT. This suggests great licen-
tiousness among these people and the further
fact that nearly all the women are brought over
for immoral purposes shows how degrading
must be the average Chinese life IN this country.
In San Francisco, says Senator SARGENT, an
ordinary laborer cannot support his family for
less tndn " 10 t@.DU uhys Out tne tnlnuinun
will take 81 and 50 monopolize the market. Nine
tenths OF the Cinnamon who come to San Fran
cisco are brought as substantial slaves to tue
great contractors who bring them over. They
have no idea of becoming citizens, and no con-
ception, and wish TO have none, Of our institu-
tions or the duties every man owes to Chris
tian society. The women are slaves, bought and
sold for the basest uses. Wherever the China
men settle In "A town they dene II and lessen
the value Of the property there. They are the
very scum Of China, n sort OF population the
governors OF that empire are only too glad
to get rid Of. and they bring hither odious
diseases as well as debasing habits. These
people are now disembarking at San
Francisco at the rate OF 1000 week. according
to Senator SARGENT, and with 4O00c0O00 from
which to draw Oh at home, he foresodcs that
unless something Is done 20 check the supply
we shall eventually be Overrun with the undesr-
able Asiatics.
The case is undoubtedly bad, but we have no
fear of Chinese Eruption. II. however, tho
law forbidding the importation OF coolies and
women for Immoral purposes was strictly
forced and not allowed to he d. lead letter. as II
lie now, a main part Of the evils would be pre-
vented. The contractors would be unable to
pack OF ship load after ship load Of male and
female slaves to de1le each other and pollutc
whatever thing they touched. II the present
law lie not stringent enough, let It be made
stronger, for unquestionably we have rirht TO
stop the flow Of such a foul stream OF emirra-
ton. Then in the cities where the Chinese set
tie the municipal regulations should forbid their
herding together like hogs, or rather crowding
together ike vermip. But we do not see how
We can, consistently with our theory ofgovern-
ment. tell the Chinese that they must not come
70 the United States.