Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-03-31
THE CHINESE QUESTION.

mcnt OF the SITUATION Oh tnis cohst
and clearly indicating its opinion on
the subject OF discouraging Chinese
immigration. As its views are per-
haps shared by the religious press
pretty generally, we give space to
long extract from the article referred
to. While we deprecate violence to-
ward the Chinese as much at that pa.
per can possibly do, We must enter
decided dissent to its expressions:
1.-THE state Of the case is this: one
class of foreigners in California, the
Irish, finding that the Chinese lmmi-
grants interfere with their gains by
working tor less wages than they de-
lnand, have attempted to drive the
latter from the country. This, we
believe, is the origin and root of the
difficulty. Many other classes have
become involved in the matter. Pol
iticians, seeing in it an opportunity
to make political capital, espoused
the cause of the Hibernians, who
have votes, and some perhaps gov
erned by other and less unworthy
motives, have taken the anti Chinese
side and join In the crusade. But
more un-American and un-christian
spirit than that which has been dis
played toward the Chinese, it would
be difficult to name. 1t has been the
avowed policy of our country to in
vite from other lands not only the OPP
pressed, but all who might wish to
better their fortunes, to come to this.
The Chinese came and are still
coming in accordance, we trust, with
grand Providential design to pro-
mote their good and to assist ulti-
mately in enlightening and Christian
izing their native land. But for years
they have been prosecuted, just as
the native Christians are prosecuted
by the Mohammedans OF Turkey at
the present time. They are insulted
and stoned in the streets, murdered
in their homes and while engaged in
their honest employments, and their
houses are burned over their heads.
All the means that semi-barbarians
would employ to get rid of obnoxious
have been used to compel
these men to quit the country. If the
question were an original one, wheth.
er we should allow any foreigners to
immigrate, we might discuss it; but
this question was long ago decided,
and the one now up is whether one
portion Of the immigrants shall be
to drive out another.
1--WE shall commence next week the
publication of series of articles on
the subject. four in number. y
They are by Rev. A. w. Looms, D.
D., of San Francisco. y The
subject is to come again before Con-
gress As we'll as before the American
people, and, we doubt not, will be
decided in accordance with the Chris
tian civilization of the abe.'
The Observer is mistaken or mis-
led by prejudice when it attempts
to make its readers believe that the
Irish are the largest and controlling
element OF hostility to the Chinese.
1t is safe to say that e-tenths Of
the total white population of the
Pacific States and Territories are
to further immigration of
the Chinese. The Americans are,
perhaps. less unanimous than the
Irish, because of diversity of re-
ligious belief and greater number
being financially interested in coolie
labor, or in rentals, while some
good but mistaken persons, admit.
ting all said of the Chinese evil, are
led to overlook and tolerate it by
their zeal in missionary work. The
mass OF Americans, however, are Of
one mind on this question, but if
that paper expresses the ideas of
sufficient portion Of the Eastern
people to control Congressional &C.
ton, then indeed is our condition
pitable and ;amentable in the ex.
treme. As positive proof Of the
unanimity Of the people We will
state that in California, Nevada and
other places where there has been
occasion, all political parties have
uttered the same sentiment.
The Observer is at fault in the
that "more un-American
and unchristian spirit than that
which has been displayed toward
tue Chinese would be difficult to
name" The contrary has been the
prevailing spirit True. there have
been occasional ontrag4s that were
not adequately punished. So have
there been hundreds of whites muir.
dered by bad men. who. through
the crude condition of society or
The techpicalities of the law, es.
capped deserved penalties. But the
muia NJ tho laus ava.v-ho,o h.