Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-05
From the Boston Advertiser.
The Chinese in America.
TESTIMONY OF AN EYEWITNESS UPON THEIR
RIGHTS AND WRONGS.

agitstor. Denis Kesrney, gave the question OF
Chinese immigration prominence that " has moi
hitherto acquired on this side of the kocky Noun
tains. II is probable, however, thst the whoie
subject will soop come before the Senate for con-
sderstion, when the grave questions involved WI
demsnd in their treatment profound wisdom ana
the highest qualities of craftsmanship. Especially
will il hehoove senators not 10 act hastily, and
above all not in a manner which shall convey an
impression that 1t Is acting under menace from
an ignorant and uDthinking mob. The question:
like most other questions, has two SIDES ana seems
to be inadequately understood ~ the peope IN
| general of the Atlantic States. IL Is not my IN
| ,eption however, in this communication, 10 at
| tempt to enlghten them upon MS poliucal Aspects
| uf indeed were competent to do SOL, but simply
10 call attention to some OF the prosecutions TO
| which the Chinese have been subjected during the
psst TWENTY-FIVE wears in this Christian land. |
am moved TO the performance of this unpleasant
tack partly BY a sympathy which cannot wholly
repress for defeuceless and prosecuted race thai
nossess many admirable qualities, as well as some
vices. and partv because am not quite prepared
| 10 see the United government officially pr oclsim -
as bv the abrogation Of the existing treaty IT Nir
tually would do--that our republican institutions
| are a failure.
cen wears from 1851 TO 1870, and, during one
half Of that period, having occupied a position
that brought me much in contact with the Chinese,
| feel that may, with proprleiy say word IN be
half of this much-wronsed people, whom uni.
| formly found deserving OF kindness and oerstion
| have not a copy of the treaty existing between
the United States and China brfore me, but as
| sumo that il contains the customary clause guar
snteeng to the subjects OF the latter empire, who
NAV choose TO emigrate to this republic, the same
privileges and protection that accorded to citi
xens of the most favored nations. | will further
state, as a matter of fact, that whatever the pre-
else terms of the treaty may be- it was one of GU,
own seeking, and, at the time Of its ratification
was regarded as . signal triumph of American
diplomacy. What here follows will show whether
the United States government has. altogether, full
filed its obligations, and which of the high con
tracing parties has the best reason to complain
The history Of Chinese emigration to the Pacific
coast is too well known to require to be restaed,
but the abuses that have been heaped upon that
race are not generally understood. A catalogue
of the atrocieus crimes l. at have been committed
upon these unofending people Whose great OF
fence has been a willingness to work for the best
wages obtainable) BY the lawless class generally,
and particularly by the San Francisco hoodlums,
would, if enLumeraied with the utmost hrevIty,
ill many sheets of the size of the Advertiser, and
would form the darkest chapter in the history OF
modern civilization. | shall not attempt TO CLASH
fv these crimes but will contne myself to re-
citsl of some of the prosecutions that these people
have suffered under the sanction of law.
|. The constitution of the State of Ca ifornia
did, for many years, and, for sught know, does
now, contain a prov ision that the testimony of
Mongolan shall not be allowed In the criminal
courts of the State, where the accused party is of
the Caucasian race. This provision in the organic
law, which would be disgrace 10 any age and
any civilization, placed the unfortunate MOngo-
liam compe ely at the mercy of his Caucasian
haters, who might with impunity commit any vio-
lence on his person. or any crime against his prop
erty, provided, only, that no white man was pres
ent to bear witness to It's commission. The bane-
full effects of this abominab BILE provision were man
ifest Immediately. and have been continued. | do
not know the fact, but there be but little
doubt that there are, to-day, in California penn
Tertiary Chinese who are expiatlng offences com
mitted by Caucasians.
2. At the first session Of mistake mott of the
California legislature, law was enacted impos
ing a monthly tax Of four dollars upon every for
eign miner, provided such foreigner had not been
naturalzed, or had not declared his intention to
become a citizen Of the United States. As the
Chinese were Ineligible to citizenship, it is perfect
" obvious that this law was enacted with direct
reference TO them. As matter of fact no eau
casian was ever subjected to this unjust and I'M
warrantable imposition. When it is considered
that the mineral lands belong to the United
States the fsgrancy of the transaction il ap
parent. An ugly feature of this harsh law was
the frequently bafbarous manner of its enforce
ment, the tools, blankets and provisions of the
delinquent being often seized TO satisfy the greed
of the tax collector, who in general, was sus
pected of pocketing the lions share Of the money
collected.
g. BY legislative enactment miners were per-
mted to make such local mining laws as they
saw fit, said laws being held valid by the courts.
Now, one would suppose that, having paid the
TAX assessed for the privilege of working the
mines, the Chinese would be allowed to work any
unappropr lated mineral ground which thew might
| select. Not SO. BY the local mining laws they
we're, almost without exception, excluded from
participating in the benefits of the mines, exc.pl
nv purchase of claims from white men. Old,
abandoned diggings, or such rs were thought to
he vslueless, they were permitted to woik un
molested.
4. BY State law, a per capita road tax of
several dollars was levied upon the adult male
population. This tax was payable in cash, with
The alternative of working it out on the roads,
under the direction of the road master. Upon
its face. this was an equitable law, but pract
cally IL was means, in the hands of unscrupu
lous men, OF much extortIOu. 10 the mining
counties there were very few roads, except such
as nature had made; and If stream was bridged
or a ferry maintained it was invariably done by
private enterprise, and was supported by tolls.
The Chinese, who are a timid race and have no
appreciation of their rights under the law. were
often compelled to pay this tax, IN cash, which
pocketed by the roadmaster.
D.. The State poll tax. of about four dollars
per head, was mildly exacted from the noble eau
casian, but relentlessy so from the Mongolian.
6. Next in enormity to the mining tax was a
law, made operative exclusively upon the Chi.
nese, compelling every one of the very large num-
Der of those engaged IN the business to pay a
monthly tax for the privilege of catching fish in
Gods broad waters. Inc Greeks, Italians, NAL
tese, Sicilans and Portuguese were the Caucasians
chiefly employed in this productive industry but,
being voters, they were not included in the bill.
In 1861 the lucrative office Of collector of this
tax was held by man named Bell. 1t WAS popu
lsry believed that the tax and the office were Gre
ated expressly for his benefit, and that the State
receives obly very small percentage of the funds
collected, if, indeed, anything. In 1852 The Hon.
r. F. Perkins father of the late Alderman S. G.
Perkins, was member of the State senate from
San Francisco. Soon after the organization of
the Legislature he introduced bill in the senate
repeating the obnoxious law, and accompanied its
introduction with speech in which he severely
anmadverted upon the character of the man who
held the Office OF collector of said tax, and also
upon the motives of those who had been ;nstru.
mental in creatingit For his manly defence of
the Chinese aud bold denunciation of their on.
pressors, Mr.. Perkios assaulted and beaten in
the vestibue of the senate chamber; and he final
" succeeded in procuring the repeal of the odious
law.
Besides the State oppression and municipal ex-
tortion practised upon the Chinese the federal
government was lured into the same degrading
service, the war tariff imposing upon the Chinese
very unequal share Of the public burdens. These
are few of the more conspicuous extortiops
practsed upon the Chinese under the State and
national law, and think it will be conceded bv
all fsr-mipded men that they present a catalogue
Of WEAKNESSES that are a disgrace to the Ameri-
pan Nut nil or nd