Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-16
Lcgi.IatIon Against John Chinaman.

The colony of Queensland has the Chinese
problem on its hands in much graver form
than that which perplexes our friends on the
Pacific coast. Chinese immigration with them
is a comparatively new thing, but it has pro-
gressed so rapidly that the colony now con-
tains nearly 10000 Chinese. all adult males,
to POO, 900 Europeans of both sexes and all
ages. Immigration is now going on at the
rate of 5000 month. and it is fast becoming
a question. as the Pail Mall Gazette states it,
whether Northeastern Australia is TO remain
an English colony or become Chinese settle
ment It is thought that the famine now
raging in some sections of China, coupled with
such information as may reach the Chinese at
home of the success of their countrymen
abroad, will conspire to swell the immigration
and increase the difficulties of the problem.
The presence of this large Asatic element in
the mining districts has had, as might be ex-
pected, disturbing influence upon the peace
of the colony, and there have been serious
collisions not only between Chinese and Eu-
ropean miners, but among the Chinese them
selves. The colonial government has sought
to protect itself-in the emergency thus thrust
upon it-by levying tax of $50 on every
Chinaman landing in Australia, license fee
of the same amount for every store opened to
supply Cinnamon and "A tax of SIS for every
lllltI y TlRlll. IL NdS hlNo lTOpOStu W my u
heavy duty on the principal staple Of their
food-rice. The home government however
not seeing how such proscriptive legislation
could be reconciled with the treaties existing
between England and China, refused consent
to the bill. Subsequently it withdrew its op-
position TO the poll-tax, there being a prece-
dent for that in the case of Victoria. But the
colonsts insisted on having all their points
conceded, and having again passed the bill in
its original shape, the consent of the home
government has finally been received. The
Pail Mall Gazette urges in defence of the
course pursued by the Queensland colonists,
that Cinnamon so there not to settle, but TO
get what gold they can and then depart; that
the Chinese rush is exceptional and not con-
templated when the treaty was framed and
that it has never been presumed that 80, 600
Englishmen would be permitted to proceed
into the interior of China and there work
mines without let or hindrance. But the Ga
zette is sufficiently answered by one of its
| correspondents, who asks, what if his lmpe-
rial Majesty at Pekin were to retaliate by
charging an export duty of js an ounce on
| tea, also $50 on every Euglishman before per-
mitting him to land and $50 per annum for
! the privilege of trading in China? Would
there not be serious difficulties with China
| in that case! The Gazette admits that the
| complication comes at an awkward time, just
as the English government is endeavoring to
obtain for Europeans the full enjoyment of the
right 10 travel throughout China and start
agencies in the large towns. Obviously, il
| one party to treaty chooses to break through
its provisions. it has no Just ground for CON-
plant if the other party follows its example.
The Queensland method has its advantages
over the California plan Of pelting Cinnamon
in the streets, and making an occasional bon.
fire of their settlements. But neither prac-
tice is in harmony with treaty obligations
and if England or America chooses to erect
barriers against the Chinese, she may look fol
the erection OF counter barriers. The trouble
seems to be that the Western nations, after
being at considerable pains to batter down the
Chinese exclusiveness, find the currents of in
tercourse flowing somewhat too strongly in
their direction. The situation has its incon
veniences, but it is scarcely worth while tc
set entirely at naught the simplest principles
| of Justice.