The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-29
VOL. XIV-..NO. 46.

first time that visit has been paid to
Penang by so distinguished representa-
tive of the United States of America.
We therefore avail ourselves of this oc-
casion to bring to Your Excellency's no.
tice that formerly no restrictions were
placed on emigration from China, but
latterly restrictions have been imposed,
and we solicit Your Excellency's power
full influence on our behalf to advocate
the removal of these restrictions, and thus
restore the intercourse between the two
nations to its former footing. Should
Qour Excellency be instrumental in re-
opening the ports of America to free en-
igration from China Your Excellency's
name will ever be held in grateful re-
membrance.
GENERAL GRANTS ERPLY.
General Grant said it afforded him q
special pleasure to receive the address
which had just been read. He was about
to visit China, having received warm
invitation to do so, and he was anxious
to see with his own eyes the institutions
and people of that country. To be met
with a welcome from Cinnamon in this
colony, therefore, was gratifying. There
was one point in the address in reference
to the passage by Congress of bill re-
strcting the emigration of Cinnamon to
the United States. He knew nothing of
such bill except what he had read in
the telegraphic despathes in the last
English newspapers. He had been ab-
sent from the United States for some
time, and was imperfectly informed of
the public sentiment which had support
ed its passage. In all questions like this
there were demagogues who, in America
as in other countries, pander to prejudi-
ces against race ar nationality, and favor
any measure of oppression that might
advance their political interests. A
good deal of the antipathy toward peo-
pie of other races in the United States,
of which we heard so much, was dema-
gogery, and did not represent the better
feeling of the country. In this question
of Chinese emigration there was some
thing to be said in favor of those advoca-
ting bill limiting emigration of the Chi
nese to America. In his earlier years,
when young officer in the army, the
General said he spent some time in Cal
ifornia and saw there something of the
beginning of Chinese emigration to the
United States, and he heard then objec-
tions to that emigration on the part of
good people. The settlement Of Cali
fornia was the beginning of this whole
agitation. He remembered very well
the objections he then heard to the Chi
nese emigration. 1t was not to the Chi
naman coming to the United States, but
to his coming in condition of slavery.
CHINESE AND NEGRO SLAVERY.
lie hoped when he visited China 10
look into this question more closely, to
see for himself the practical operations
of the Chinese emigration to the United
States, as it was question on which he
felt the deepest, affecting, as it must in
evitably do, the welfare of the nations.
But the gentlemen who presented this
address could well understand the objec-
tions ON the part of the American peo-
pie to receiving emigrants who came,
not rs citizens, but as slaves. On that
point Americans would naturally feel
strongly. 1t was in the order to free one
race from slavery, to put an end to
condition of things that was degrading to
both races, black and white, that we
fought long war, losing a great num-
ber of lives. with an enormous waste of
treasure. This was a terrible sacrifice
he questioned if any nation ever made
greater one. 1t was to suppress slavery.
Having made these sacrifices to free the
negro it could not be expected that the
Americans would consent to the revival
of another form of slavery in which the
Chinaman and not the negro was the
victim.
THE SYSTEM OF IMMIGRATION.
AS he understood this question of Chin.
ese emigration the Chinese did not come
to the United States as the people of
other nations-of their own free will, to
enjoy the benefits and the protection of
the American government to have the
benefit of their industry, and accept the
responsibilities as well as the benefits of
residence in America-but as dependents,
slaves of companies WHO brought them as
merchandise, held them in practical bon.
dage and enjoyed the fruits of their labor.
As consequence the Chinaman in Amer
lea was not member Of our society, on
the same footing with other races, entitled
to all the benefits of our laws, with
chances for improvement and prosperity
but the slave of a company. He felt
sure that the Chinese gentleman who
had honored him with this address and
who represented the fourishing Chinese
community of Penang would agree with
him that emigration to the United States
under those circumstances was not an
advantage to us, and was a wrong to the
people who came under such degrading
conditions.
AMERICA AND CHINA.
This, in brief, said the General, with
out going further into the question, was
the objection, to Chinese emigration on
the part of Americans, who had none
but the kindest feelings toward the Chi
nese people, and who would extend to
them, if they chose to make their home
with us, the welcome they extended to
the rest of the world. He mentioned
tboca viay, NOT nc hoorinu op tho hill