The New York herald., 1878-02-26
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
Report Of the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor.
STRONG INDICTMENT AGAINST JOHN.
A Good Laborer, but Bad in
Every Other Relation.
DANGEROUS TO OUR INSTITUTIONS.
Joint Resolution in Favor of Re-
stricting immigration.
WAsulxarox. Feb. o5. 1873

WASHINGTON Feb. Is, 1878.
Mr. Willis, Of Kentucky, in behalf OF the House
Committee on Education and Labor to-day made the
following report the Chinese question, accom-
panied by . resolution, which Is appended
Tho Arst treaty between China and tho United
States was ratified In July, 1874 Though 1t granted
ys. I ,mmsdia,siy .Sereai.sr .hoy began TO i'm.
migrate to The Stalo OF California Their
up to the spring Of sns year 1875 when thy psope Of
the Pacific slope became alarmed the great influx
Of this class OF emgrans and by means OF the press
and public meetings endeavored TO check IT. Inc
effect OF this excitement against tho Chi nese and the
constant danger to their safety welfare was how
NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS.
The number Of immigrants tor tho quarter ending
the Chinese agitation was 6,6sl, the highest ever
reached. The rate OF increase has been very rapid.
Dividing the last two decades into periods OF i've
years tho average number oil immigrants for
the erst period, from 1855 TO 1859 inclusive, is
certaned to De Tor tho second period. from 1860
to 1854 u IS 600 IRON 1855 TO 1S70 93ll from 1871
TO 1874, IL. 0o0 In other words, increase tor
four periods Of five years each has been at the rate Of
Pacific States is 15o 900. Accepting this as cor.
rect II will seem that ut the above rate OF increase
and after deducsing the large number who return
the Chinese popuation WILL IN the near future, exceed
the male adult population OF Americans IN those
States, and all other races combined Even 1t present
The PROBABILITY that this rate OF immigration
will continue seems we'll founded China con-
the globe Its population is ten times
greater than that OF the United States The
density Of .ni. population may bc real,ssd by re.
OF persons 10 the square mile s seventy, while In
many provinces OF the Chinese Empire exceeds 400,
and tho average Of all the PROVINCES 800. The
wages OF the laboring class in Cnina range
from So TO S. per month. Their condition is q
hard and miserable ono. They are exceedingly MI
gratory In their disposons and though Their ports
have been SO scantiy opened 10 FREQ commerce they
are 10 be found to-day In every civilized country Of
fho 6nhi n m Pi In nj IA
high wages and more liberal government. They
separated from US by comparatively narrow ocean,
which Is pacific IN spirit as we'll as in nape.
The passage can be made quickly aud cheapy, the
price being from $40 to $50, which by cvmpeli.
poor pay this small sum brokers stand ready to ad
vance the necessary amount, to bc secured by mort
gage contract upon their future wages Under these
nvilng conditions II 10 fair to presume there will be
decrease iuture, either In the extent or rapidly
of Cninose immigration.
II this be even measureably true these memorials
ana petitions present questions nf the most vital and
immediate importance. No legislation affecting the
Chinese already here is asked or desired They osmc
the result OF the efforts oil our own and other ma
tons to open China TO foreign commerce. Their claim
privileges which they have acquired under the treaty
and under the law, cannot justly be denied.
OBJECTIONS TO THE CHINESE.
1t is contended however, nrst that presence OF
Chinese has bad sepdeacy 10 degrade and to dis.
honor labor: second tner persouai habits peculiar
members OF society third, thoy cnnnot and Wiz not
assImiiate with our people, bot remain unalteraDiy
aliens In habits, words politics and aspirations The
PRINCIPAL facts upon which these propositions rest
will be briefly considered.
Ftrst-rAe Chinese laboyer Is In respects very
desirable He Is frugal thrifty. patient, cheerful and
obedient. He readily learns bis trade and experIly
performs every species OF light work. Chinese cheap
labor worked great material benefit to California
IN It's carry history, digging It's canals, devipg in It's
mines, reclaimpg It's tuie lands building It's rail.
roads, and IN various other ways contributing
TO development oil It's material resources H. there
fore money making were the only question involved
In this contest between the American and Chinese
races It would In its industrial aud labor phase be
promptly decided In favor OF tho latter The mate
rial advantages OF this kind OF labor, however, sink
into insgni incance when compared with personal
considerations at sake-tho comfort and scli.respec
the decent, honorable living OF the laborer himself
Tue Chinese laboror does not como up to the Amcr-
can standard OF industry. The central idea Of our
system is that the laboror shall possess
courage, seli.respect and independence To DO
In which society Is cast. There are habits formed
which give character; there tho great and wakeiui
kndled there Tree institutions have their
anu Inspiration. rne Chinese who come to this coun-
nor homo interests In any true acceptation OF the
words. With the conditions OF their mode OF
lie they never can have homes. They arc
willing to work for less wages than Will SECURE homesor
comfortably support white labor In thor own coun
try they WORK patiently and obedienty during twelve
thirteen hours less than one-tenth OF wnat the
poorest class OF American worKin ngmen receive. In
the Pacific States they are willing TO work Tor almost
onc.half Of the price paid to American operatives
Tncy able i've upon rice, tea aud dried fish,
Ing upon aversge oil from twenty 10 thirty Genus
day Underclothing Is luxury almost unknown to
them; what clothing they wear Is OF the cheapest.
simplest and coarsest character. They bring with
them neither wives, families nor children. One
divided, would not accom- modate five American work.
ingmen with their Iamii,es In SUCH q small place
they are packed liko sardnes IN box, and here
they both sieep eat and cook. Such place
does not deserve the name OF q home;
tender and loving Interests cluster around IT,
ana dull habit alone enaears IL 10 them An en-
"A O m la.
terial advantages, however great arising from
Chinese irugality ana industry can compensate
for the loss OF home comforts andoappanccs Of per-
sonal civilization which have always been eujoyed by
the iaboring classes OF America and from which
pendence which the highest result and best security
OF our poiiticaf system ~
PERSONAL AND MORAL HABITS.
Second--Another and more serious objection urged
against the Chinese Is that their personal and moral
habits make them Undesirable members OF society
The crowded condition which they live renders the
observance vi hygenic laws and sanitary regulations
almost ,mpossiDity. Neatncss and cleanliness is
the exception. Tho air their apartments is filed with
noisome smells ana pestilcntial vapors, threatening
disease ana death. The properly occupied by them
Is esscned IN value aud the locality itsolf is avoided
Not ouIy their personal habits, but thoir moral
ideas, methods and institutions directly antsgonize
our own. What we lovo thcy hate what we admire
they despsc what we regard as vice they practice as
virtues or tolerate as necessities
ihe religious ideas oven oi tho higher aud titled
Classes in Cuina are pre-eminenty wretched, their
superstiti0ps numerous ana Iudcrous, their euuca-
tona systems exceedingly defective ana their civil
ization efiete aud decayiDg Among tue lab0rDg ana
'co0e" classes The grade OF morals very low One
Illustration OF TINS s seen In their treatment o women
Her birtn Is commonly regarded as calamity. II not
destroyed. wnch Is not unusual, sho is regarded
slave aud suffers privaon, contempt and degradation
from the cradle 10 the tomb Instances are frequent
OF the sale for debt by parents OF their daughters aud
by husbands oil their wivos, and that, TOO, Tor The
purposes. lDianticide of girls IS practscd to
degree all parts Uf the Empire and IN some
sections 10 an alarming extent. C0ncubInage rec
ognized instii utiUn.
he sancuty and obligation OF an oath are disrc-
gardcd and torture Is often employed to extort the
truth.
Sucn are some OF the characterigtics OF the class
from which nine tenths of mmigr rants come. Re-
spectacle persons are deferred both by law and prcju
dice, and AZ rule only the most INDECENT dcspor
ate consent TO leave their native country.
THE FEMALE IMMIGRANTS.
The lcmale Immigrants are bought and sold like
chattels and practice the most revolving vices aud i'm
morality. Born and brought up under these neathon
ish Influences, with these low ideas OF labor and
vrtuc coming to country Tor the sole
purpose OF making money, without homes or