New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-06
LILLE CHINESE RLPORT.

The report of the Joint Special Committee
of Congress on Chinese immigration, an alb
stract of which we have already printed IS
far from encouraging to those who have
hOpcd that no i'll would come Of one of the
most remarkable heglras OF modern times.
The Committee examined 1870 witnesses III
California, and the testimony taken covers
1,2O0 printed pages. Tine report, upon the
whole, would hardly seem to favor continual
ton of the immigration The Committee agrees
with the Anti-Chnrse CallfOrnlanS, ana re-
cards this particular influx of foreigners rs IL
standing menace to republican institutions and
the existence upon tn" Pacific coast of Chris
tan civilization Those who largely employ
Chinese laborcrS were unanimous i'll tcStliyng
that they had been very useful IN enhancing
the material prosperity of the coast hut even
by witnesses of this class the social and moral
evils of such population were admitted. lie
ligious teachers who were examined dwelt
upon the opportunity of Christianzng so
many hcaihens. Laboring men, taking the
material view, complained of the influx, be-
cause it made work difficult to get and wages
low.
The Committee is of opinion that unless this
j
in time become Monaghan, and cease to be
American There is no numerical limit winch
can be put to these invading hordeS. The
supply at home is incxhaustlblc. The fact Is,
however, that for some reason the lmmlgra-
ton has been occasionally checked, either
through natural or political causes, and 1t may
he checked again. The Chinese may stop com
ing here of their own accord, and may go
elsewhere. A legislation designed to meet the
various social evils which follow from their
presence in California wOnld he very likely to
deter them from immigrating almost alto
gcthcr. 1t must be admitted. likewise, tor the
testimony is overwhelming upon that point,
that they are rcpulsive in many OF their nab
its that, for the present. ut least, they are
willing to work at very low wages; that they
hold their women even here in condition OF
revolving slavery; that they adhere to their
idoIatrous and half-ciylizcd customs, being
also cruel to their sick and poor, and with
VERY loose notions about murder ami robbery.
OF immigrants from all other foreign lands,
of Irishmcn, Scandinayians, Germans, apart
from the civilization and the religion when
they bring with them, we have made or eX-
pcct to make, good American citizens. me
question to be settled, and tins can DE dohe
only by actual experiment, Is, whether by
proper treatment, by judicious legislation, and
by an honest and benevolent purpose, we can
do fer the Chinese what we have done Tor
other aliens. Ii we cannot, If they are to re-
main forever aliens in the land, the sooner
they stop coming here the better. We do not
80 much want to know what they are now "a
what NAV be made of them. Upon this point
il i, too soon to come to a decided opinion.
TO the few Chinese IN tins part of the coun-
try. the same objection can hardly be urged
which is made ia San Francisco. The MGngoans
here have made us little trouble and, as il
rule, have proved sober, pcaccabc, and IN
duStrlous Still, we have had NOTHING to do
with them in masses. In San Francisco they
have become n marked constituent element of
population, perhaps too SPEEDILY and under
unfaycrable circumstances. Their immigra-
ton has been stimulated by the money made
out of it, and in this respect has been alb
normal, and possibly it has been sclishly
and fundamentally encouraged IN China.
Legislation may modify its unfavorabc fca-
lures and reduce it 10 more wholesome pro-
porticnS. But 10 direct attempt can be made
to arrest it altogether BY Il special prohibition
and probably no citizen OF California would
ask Us to go SO far
The solemnitcs of ordaininS and installing Sen