The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-08

Memorial to Congress to Prevent
His immigration.
CALIFORNIA; GRIEVANCES.

COAST presented the lolfowng memorial ana IN orieI
speeches advocated legislation in redress Of tho
grievances against which the paper is vigorous re-
monstTance -
The citizens OF California, and more especially OF
San Francisco think they the presence OF a
great danger They regard the question OF Chinese
Immigration as one OF national importance, fraught
with grave consequences the Republic aud Of press
ing Importance to our Western coast.
A STARTLING AND ANOMALOUS QUESTION.
The questions presented new, startling and
so anomalous that cannot DO surprised that they
little understood in those parts OF the nation not
brought in immediate with this strange people,
and that the consequences OF Chinese immigration
not fully appreciated by those who have not been called
criticize this condition OF affairs when remember that
great change has been wrought IN public opinion in
our own community. In the earlier settlement OF our
State u was an almost universal sentiment that Chinese
immigration was desirabe we reflected upon our
broad empire, US vast resources, It's nexhaustble
primal forests, It's immense and varied mineral uc
posts, Its broad area oil productive lands, and
ANXIOUS desire for speedy development we regarded
with favor the OF what we believed would
be patent and willing workers. We looked upon the
Chinese as industrious and lawabidng, aud hoped to
find in them the solution OF many OF the cmbarrass-
mcnts resulting from our then isolated position.
coMMERCE, RELGIoS AND CIVILIZATION
We looked 10 the opening up OF profitable Oriental
development OF Asatic trade Our Christian people
thought they saw the opportunity Of missionary labor
and regarded Il as provienal that this immigration
won introduce To Aiatic millions the Christian re-
lgon and extend 10 them the blessings Of civza-
tion We haed the ratification Of the Buringamc treaty
advance in the right direction, ngratuatcd
ourselves that the Chinese government had departed
from its traditional policy OF isolation In all these
things we have been disappointed and wc realize
how entirely have misunderstood the character Of
the people whom we have invited TO our shores and
how widely we have miscacuiatcd the effects oil their
presence among us. The sentiment OF opposition 10
Chinese immigration Is 10 day California an almost
universal II is expressed in the resolutions all
political parties finds ueranco IN The entire press oil
the State, is entertained by the intellectual business
and labor classes, whe every honest
Christian clergy IS forced to admit that the
version OF an intelligent Chinese adult tho Christian
faith would be MIRACLE and that the ago Of miracles
has past, and all classes OF society the opinion
that Chinese immigration contains within il the clc
ments oil danger our material interests and dcstruc
tion 10 our civilization.
| COMPARATIVE NuMBgHs
The entire white population Of California, Oregon,
Nevada, Washington Territory aud Arizona is in round
numbers IL 100000 The Chinese now resident among
are not less than 10000 San Francisco contains
200 900 white people aud 40 900 Chinese Chinese mmi.
grafton has from some received a impulse
Asiatics are pouring IN upon alarming numbers
Between 5000 anu 4, 900 month coming Steam
charter TO bring passengers San Francisco from
the class now thronRing our coast it wou seem as
pirates. and the government of China making San
Francisco Botany Fay for her criminals Tho popu-
lation of China is variously estimated at from
States numbers 40 Oo0 600 China could spare twice or
thrice our number and only feel grateful relief from
its redundancy Of population. This age steam
OF cheap and rapid transportation. II costs
less money for the immigrant TO cross the
ocean from China TO San Francisco thnn to
cross the plains from the Mississippi to the Pacific:
Considering the ovsrcrowded population Of the Chinese
Empire the scant wages, tho struggle for existence
the limited protection Afforded TO life and property In
contrast with the opportunities afforded In
pied ard fruitful domain the high wages paid for labor
the ample guarantees afforded by our laws to lie and
is there not reasonable ground to fear gration IN
such overwhelming numbers to peril the best In
tercst OF people and the very existence Of
our civilization and the pcrmanence OF our republican
INSTITUTIONAL
DANGERS cHixRsR MxrGRArIox
In estimating this danger must not DO unmndful
OF the character OF tho people whom we consider
ing and must not Ignore their history OF blood and
rapinc their excursions Of conquest and the hcrrid
scenes OF their nternecine We do not discuss
them as an interior people, for remember that
Empire and their civilization reach back some thou
sands OF years beyond that Of Europe America We
know their accomplishments IN tho science OF govern
ment their achievements In arts, and taught by
our contact with them not to underestimate
the subsle.y OF Their intellect nor the re-
industries. In this argument we are called
upon to discuss tho practical questions involved
in the character Of the immigrants we receiving
aud the elect It Will have upon our own people and
Institutions These opinions arc formed from
observation in San Francisco and other parts of CALI
fornia and estimate their present and future value
citizens of this from tho experience and
observation OF the twenty-five during which time
we have been brought in contact with them. In the
very heart of San Francisco within square OF it's
municipal buildings, nearly 40 600 Chinese are congre
gated; there they dwell and ply their vocation Il Is
come
depart to their various occupations in town and
try The houses, streets and alleys Of SIX central
blocks arc thrcnged with this multitude OF strange
People, in Dress language habits, manners aud prr-
entirely distinct from anything that Ia seen else
where in America; such hive Of busy industry such
ccsspoo OF Nth; such hell OF vice and crime; such
poverty, misery, squalor, filth and disease is 10 be
nowhere else upon the American Continent Here
the Chinese merchant ana trader exposes his wares.
Here the mechanic pu-suos his trade thousand
criminals hide and plot thousand prostitutes
ply their vocation like swarmng OF Norway they
excavate passages under the Streets and deep
into the ground they swarm together unlike human
beingsthe trader the artisan, tho gambler the opium
eater and 'he prostitute form scething mass. From
this centre the laborer goes forth to his employment
the domestic servant hts daily duties Hero are the
Chinese six companies who govern this population;
here they have their tribunals their prisons
their hospitals, their opium dens thor gambling hells
their theatres and their joss houses, Hero they py
their OF tau and lotteries their schemes
OF viilany and depreciation upon the community,
stupey themselves upon OPIUM practice their unnatu-
raj dcbauchercs In defiance OF all laws OF morality
all municipal ordinances Tor their government and
control
WHY rnE EVIL CANNOT ne AnArxp.
be asked II such things exist why are not our
ordinances OF health and police cnlorccdY We answer
that the Chinese defeat all such laws by the inert
power Of numbers and the force OF non-rcsistance;
they accept imprisonment in our County jail az re.
lief and regard IL home OF luxury It's bread beef
and coffee Is fenst compared to the famine their
spacious and com portable than their crowded dens
the prisoners IN our State Pcntcntiary nearly one.
fourtn are Chinese 10 whom imprisonment prefer
able 20 freedom in their land in asylums jas
hospitals and paupcr houses the Chinese are largely
represented Their syphitc diseases are horrible be.
yond any power OF language to dcscribc leprosy tho
most terrible OF all contagious is unknown among
them eight Of these unforunacs having been dragged
from their hiding places the Chinese quarter are
dying IN our pest house Coolies are imported and
held 10 forced labor In defiance OF the spirit OF our
laws Young girls are purchased from their parents
imported 10 our coast and ndcntured to lite OF an
fanny; bought sold and transferred, or held 10 mis-.
ccilaneous intercourse by bills Of SALE merchandse
for prostitution IS with them recognized and egti-
mate occupation with these unfortunaes death rs the
only relief from lifc OF slavery aud shame.
CRIMINAL AND INDUSTRIOUS CLASSES
Among the Chinese there Us now developing a GRIM
ina class that not only laws defiance but are
breaking from the restraint Of the Chinese SIX com.
panes aud by thor numbers and their are
becoming equally dangerous the better Chinese as 10
the whites and live OIL their countrymen BY black.
mailing enforced BY threats and violence supplement-
ing their means OF subsistence by indiscriminato
thlevihg and pliIage There Is another and better
class OF Chinese, men who are sober Industrious and
law abiding, in Their way useful TO the community in
which they live From this class comes our domestic
servants iarm hands and laborcrs, In reclaim
ing swamp lands, building bitches tor irrigation ana
upon railroads; IRON among tncsc comes the cheap
lain uon vof