The Portland daily press., 1878-10-03
If the Union was worth fighting for il is
worth paying for.
The Chinese Embassy.

The chief of the Chinese embassy is re-
ported to have expressed his belief, on his ar
rival at San Francisco, that great ard good
nation like the United States would not break
its solemn treaty stipulations. Nor could he
bring himself to believe that a people who
sent missionaries to China to preach good
will to all men and to teach benighted peo-
pie justice, charity and the practice of good
works, could be guilty of numbering China
men because they labored for low wages.
Evidently the Chinese minister was indulging
himself in irony-indulgence which will be
imputed to him as a sin by Kearney and his
following. But even we, upright, enlisht-
ened, and liberal as we know we are and
vociferously proclaim to be, are compelled to
ask in our reasoning moments if there is not
a just Ieproach in the sarcastic compliment of
the Chinese minister.
For it is not to be denied that we forced
ourselves upon China against her will. We
compelled her to open her ports to our ships,
and cajoled her into making treaty Of i'm
migration. Then an American commercial
company enticed Cinnamon over to this
country in order to supply the needs of labor
in California. The supreme Caucasians who
colonized the Pacific coast wanted railroads
built, and, as they were too busy or too proud
to do the work themselves, called in the help
of the men with pig-tails. Now that the rail-
roads are made the Californians insist that
the Chinese shall go back to their own land.
1t is said that the Celestials do not contribute
to the wealth of our country; but statistics
prove that they are industrious, are creators
of wealth, and labor hard on farms, in factories
and in domestic service. The persistent and
malicious researches of their enemies have so
far only proved two things: the Chinese men
do not drink whiskey and so bring no money
to the bars of San Francisco; the Chinese
women-the bad ones, for the good ones
mostly remain at home interfere with the
trade OF Caucasian prostitutes. Thus the on
ly substantial complaints against the Chinese
are that they add nothing to the gains of the
bars and brothels of California. If neglect to
contribute to the support of these dminishes
the wealth and productive industry of ma
tion these pagans are greatly at fault, and
'sthe Chinese must co."
1t is we'll to consider these facts in the
case now there is Chinese Embassy in
Washington, sent there to revise the Burlin-
game treaty. 1t would be only fair play if
they should insist upon its fulfiillment. But
that they have not asked. They simply de-
sire that the relations between the two coun-
friaa oh oil hn r1lapa6 onntahlo
This affords the proper opportunity for a
calm discussion Of the situation. If there be
any evils attending Chinese immigration they
can now be remedied. But we certainly
should not emulate that Chinese exclusive
ness we have so long condemned. Above all
those who are our people by adoption, who
have found in this land refuge from poverty
or oppression, shorld not strive to close our
gates against others seeking the same asylum.
The fear expressed, in some quarters, that
the Chinese may over-run US is an unworthy
one. 1t is confession that our much-vaunted
civilization is a failure, that people whom
we have been accustomed to regard as stupid
and unprogressive are better acquainted with
the means of gaining livelihood, more famil
lar with the proper methods of providing for
the preservation of lite and liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, than are we. We,e
these people savages, possessed of rude
strength and vigorous vitality, this fear of
them would be less ridiculous. But the ac-
acknowledgement that nation which we have
repeatedly stigmatized as unprogressive and
effete can successfully compete with us on
our own ground is shameful confession, and
one that we heartily believe the American
people will not make.