The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-09-28
,mocratic Ticket.
The Chinese Question.

The minister from China on Saturday
formally advised the Secretary of State of
his arrival, and requested him to confer
with the President so as to designate a
time for the presentation Of his credentials.
The note Of the minister, as usual on such
occasions, was accompanied BY copy of
the credentials, and an advance copy of
his presentation speech, in order that the
reply Of the President may also be prepar-
cd in advance Of the ceremony.
The Philadelphia Times suggests to the
Premier the following basis of the Presi-
dents reply to the presentation speech of
the Celestial
''Mr. Evaris would do well, perhaps, to
make draft for his chief that, after duly ex-
pressing the distinguished consideration which
we feel toward the Flowery Empire and its
people, should include the following points
First, that il Is thought undesirable 10 import
from any foreign country great numbers Of
ignorant persons, totally unacquainted with
our political system, Indifferent to its opera
lions, andincapable, underany circumstances,
of giving them an intelligent comprehension;
Second, that when such persons come simply
as cheap laborers, with none of the wants of
civilized life beyond the cheapest Of attire and
the seantiest Of food, without family ties or
any expectation or desire of forming them,
aud with the settled policy of exporting to
China, as rapidly as It aecumulates, all the
surplus earnings of their labor, their undesira-
bility Is even further increased; but third, that
49, ~A.r.h E.su
comprehension of the responsibilities Of eiti-
zenship under q republican form Of govern
ment, and who desire 10 remove hIther with
the purpose of permanent residence in the
United States, and who are likely to adopt,
in a general way, the customs and manners
Of American civilization, suck immigrants will
be cordially welcome. Il might be well for
the Secretary TO add to this that the strong
tendency Of popular feeling, wherever the
subject has received earnest and careful con-
sideration, is TO adopt R0me such practical
measures of legislation rs shall check further
importations Of the undesirable class Of Chi
nese first described, and that in approaching
the business which the Ambassador has in
charge it will be necessary TO have due regard
10 this condition of American opinion"
Mr.. jefferson is credited with express
ing the wish that sea of fire rolled be-
tween the old world and the new, so alb
horrent to him was the thought of the
corruptions which he foresaw might be
trausplanted here by too close an intimacy
between their people. The sage of Mon
ticelIo may have held extreme views on
this subject, but it is certain, we think,
that our intercourse with China has been
a disadvantage to the people Of this coun-
try They have planted here their leprosy
and their idolatry; they have extracted
from us large amount of the precious
metals; they live in filth and squalor in a
condition scarcely above that of the brutes,
and work for wages on which our own
people would starVe or necessarily sink to
level with Chinese degradation. The
Burlingame treaty ought to be abolished
altogether, or so modified as to preclude
Chinese citizenship 10 this country. Their
presence here converts into a plague
spot the locality infested by them wherever
they are found in sufficient numbers. II
is the duty of the Government to protect
her citizens from such visitation.