Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-08-10
THE CHINESE QUESTION.

which the people of this coast have to deal IS
that of the Chinese 1t is especially trouble
some from the fact that capitalists ana all
those who are interested in the employment
of labor, will use that Kind OF service which
will yield the greatest profit, and having the
sanction of law for the importation and en-
plovment of the Chinese, they will, in spite
OF any protests which may be made, still con-
tinue to encourage the immigration of these
Monaghan coolies. Philanthropists and the
orists may reason in regard to the amellora-
ton of the condition of the worklngmen,
they may point out way by which the CON
aict between capital and labor can be averted
and they may earnestly seek to put IN prac-
tee their good intentions and their conceits.
But the experience OF all ages Is that, IN this
struggle of life, the great majority of people
conform to those practices, which IN their
ayvn Indictment will conduce most to their
own individual gain The strong will Cypress
the weak. The rich will add to their accum-
ulations and grow more and more misery IN
their dealings with the poor. Most people
are magniicently liberal when it costs moth
ing but the expression of an opinion, or
when they are not agitsted by any dread OF
contributions But when their hberallty IS
tested by the sacrifice Of some comfort or the
expenditure Of their own substance, they are
shocked at the extravaganza Of the age and
the i.nprovidence of the needy. Very many
persons or this coast are only indirectly
affected by the employment Of Chinese labor,
such are professional men, officials and nearly
the entire population of the middle classes.
Competition between the different elements
of the working people does not affect their
comfort or gain, except for their advantage IN
cheapening the services OF nenials. There
are some notable exceptions, of course, for N
every community there are men of broad and
liberal views, who are willing to make sacrl-'
fees for the benefit Of the less fortunate, but
these are only exceptions TO the rule that
everybody looks out for number one. From
this selfish standpoint, then, it is immaterial
TO large part OF our people what view or
action is taken in regard 20 this question.
The insecurity Of property and the continued
annoyance arising from the strife between the
labor elements make counterpoise for all the
advantages to be gained from it. The two
classes then directly interested and antago-
nistic to this Chinese problem, are the. labor
inS men on the one side, and on the other the
men who are engaged in the employment OF
labor on large scale; such as railroad co-po-
rations, manufacturers of certain commodl-
ties and the farmers. 1t is somewhat anus
ing to note views Of the farmers on this sub
ject when their private interests are brought
in contact from opposite stations II the
Chinaman has a little garden OF his own IN
which he cultivates vegetables for the mar
kets, and is thus made a competitor of his
Circassian neighbor in the sale OF his produce,
then in the estimation OF the latter the Chi
nese are curse to the country and should be
driven from our shores; but If our Circasslan
friend depends on Chinese help for the Guilt
walton of his soil, and to do all the drudgery
connected with farming, and he employs John
at about one-half the price that he would be
obliged to pay for white labor, then the Mon
golian is blessing to the country. No one
Is moro severe in invectiyes upon the low
Irish, Dutch, italian and hoodlum for their
z.buse OF the Celestial Our sympathies are
altogether with the poor laborer who is brought
into competition with the Chinese, and we
believe it would be better for al were they
not here. But they are here. The question
is not as to their coming, but as to how their
coming may be stopped. They are industri-
Gus, frugal, temperate, patient and possessed
OF greater powers of endurance than any other
class of people in the country. They are here
too under the sanction Of the laws OF our coun-
try, and are as much entitled to the protec-
zion of those laws as any other class OF for
eigners. Suppose the same prejudice existed
toward the Irish, Dutch, Canadians, or any
other class of foreigners, would it be possible,
or would such a thing BIO thought of, as
driving them out Of the country by force or
preventing them from getting employment.
It is true that their civilization and our civil
ization are altogether different and that we
are trying to build up an American not
Chinese civilization, but liherality and
freedom are fundamental principles in our
civilization, not oppression and barbarian.
There is only one consistent way to get rid Of
the Chinese and that is by the obrogation OF
the Burlingame treaty, and every attempt to