Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-08-18
THE CHINESE PROBLEM.

1t may seem to be work of superero
cation for political Conventions to pass
resolutions in opposition TO the continu-
ance Of Chinese immigration, and asking
Congress legislation to prevent the
further incoming of the Mongolian
crowds. Public sentiment in this State
is so much one way the opinions of such
a large majority Of our citizens are known
to be in opposition to their further in
coming, that to some it may seem that
the expression of this opinion by assem-
bled bodies Of men, whose chief object in
coming together is to nominate candi-
dates for support by their respective par.
ties, is merely waste Of time. When
the popular sentiment is divided, part
holding one way and part the other, there
is opportunity TO discuss the issues upon
which there is room for honest difference
of opinion. But when men are of one
mind there is no field for argument.
With the exception Of n few, very few,
who derive direct benefit from the pres
ence here Of the Chinese in large num-
bers, the people of this State hold that
some measure Of relief must be found to
check the tide which steadily flows upon
us.
To this end the expression must be di-
rected. 1t is not through acts of lawless
violence, through the dissemination Of
race prejudices, or through any system of
persecution that the sympathy of our
countrymcn and those holding the reins
of governmental power is to be awakened.
Any act of violence, any course ofoppres-
sion, any system pursued which is not
thoroughly consistent with that respect to
law and order of which we, as Ameri-
leans are Justly proud, will fail of its OBJ
ject and awaken sympathy the other way
Our relief must come through peaceful
legal means alone, aided by the silent
power which Il well directed public senti-
ment ever cxcrts. Hence it is proper
enough that public opinion let it be un-
animous as it may, should find expression
through representative bodies of men,
What we condemn, is the attempt to
make political capital out OF n condition
of affairs for which all parties and all men
are TO certain extent responsible. The
first Chinese immigration to this State
was met with warm welcome. The
pioneers OF California who saw the first
arrival Of this hitherto exclusive people
at San Francisco, little dreamed the day
would come when each fresh arrival
would be looked upon as an additional
curse to prosperity OF the commonwealth.
Few Of the men of 40 and 80 intended
to make this State permanant home
they were like the Chinese aAivals, in
tent only on making what they could in a
time to which they had Fixed limits, then
to return to Eastern homes. They in
tended to strip the land of its riches and
hasten away, just as the Chinese have
ever done. They did not forsee that the
day would soon come when their de-
scenden:s would battle with the success
ors Of those whom thcy welcomed so
warmly, for labor and bread. TIE State,
in its first years was intensely Democrat
ic, and the Democracy of California were
ruled and led by the Southern wing of
the party, her representatives, in both
branches Of the National Legislature be-
ing the most plastic kind of dough faces.
But the race prejudice Of the early Culi-
fornia Democracy was not turned toward
the Chinese. The statute books Of the
State were blackened with laws for the
return Of fugitvcs from labor, and the
time allowed to those who had brought
slave negroes here to work in the mines,
to claim and take back their slaves was
extended from year to year, but no legs-
lation was then deemed necessary against
the Chinese. Indeed, it was sough. to
lcgalizc the coolc traffic, by tho passage
Of laws that contracts for labor made ont
of the State should be enforced in it, and
that shining light Of the anti-Coole De
mocracy, Col. Phil. Ronch, was the chief
advocate of this infamous measure. 1t
was the miners who first saw and made
public the dangers OF Chinese immigra.
ton. They saw them crowGinS into the
mines, picking up every piece of ground
that could be worked with small out
lay, and they knew that in Years to come
the mines would be exhausted that field
of Independent labor abridged, and the
State and its people receive no benefit
therefrom. But the Chinese card has
been trump for the Democrats, and the
temptation to play itagain proves irresist-
ible.
What we want, and what we must
have in this matter is calm and temper
ate action, with no attempt on the part
of either party to shit its responsibility
or saddle responsibility whore it does
not belong. 1t matters little which party
was in fault, so long as it now sees i Is er-
ror, and aims to retrieve it. Relief from
this evil if it be one, must come from the
whole people and not from any party
What is most needed is to bringto the no.
tce of the government the true bearings
Of the case. That will not be done by us
ns Republicans nor as Democrats. but as
citizens. And Mt the proper time us cti-
zens we should do it.
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