Smyrna times., 1879-02-26
The Chinese Emigration Question.
j S. d., an London Spectator.

The opposition to Chinese immigration
has been peculiarly discredtable to this
country. 1t arises from an entirely mis-
taken notion of the relations of labor TO
capital. 1t exists among such persons as
seek through trades-unions and organized
strikes to create an antagnonism between
labor and capital, or to secure for labor in
some special branch practical monopoly.
In principle the opposition to the free i'm
migration of Europeans, and especially ot
Irish citizens, many years ago, was precisely
identical. 1t was urged that the cheaper
labor thus introduced would, degrade, de-
morallze and pauperize American labor,
and drive the more intelligent Americans
from many branches of employment. All
know how bitter the contests were at that
period, and how intense for a long time
Was the hostility to the foreign labor arriv-
ing on our shores. But experience re-
moved in great degree the misapprehen-
sion of American workmen, by proving
that the greater supply of unskilled labor
only enabled the skilled laborers Of this
country to command higher wages and
more regular employment. Within the
! thirty years since the immigration from
Europe became important, the wages of
! American laborers have been decidedly in
creased. Hence we hear no more Of hos
| tility to the importation of labor from
Europe; but there is now, especially on the
| part of those who were until recently con-
sidered the unskilled laborers of this
country, peculiarly bitter feeling toward
! the sOcalled barbarians who come from
China. This opposition has not been shown
! generally by persons of American birth.
In the main, it is the hostility of the i'm
migrant from Europe to the immigrant
from Asia-the hostility of the man who
rcjoices because in this country he can get
higher wages than he could get in Ireland
10 tho other man who hopes in this country
to get higher wages than he could get in
China. The feeling is perhaps not un
natural, especially with the ignorant. Il
requires some knowledge of history anC
some knowledge of economy to perceive
that larger supply Of labor Of the lowe
grades will inevitably advance the wage
and enlarge the opportunities of laborer
of the higher grades. But political con
siderations have given tone and bitterness
to the controversy. Ithas been represented
as impossible for any party 20 succeed il
the Pacific States, unless it gave countenanc
to the most extreme measures of hostilit,
to Chinese immigration.
Meanwhile, if the Chinaman has an ex
| tld pdCh vi CdTlS Ill his sleeve, ana Il pIl
vate purpose Of his own in the game, he i
probably satisfied. The treaty, which wa
irksome to China, is to be abrogated unde
circumstances which will give China JUS
grounds for complaint toward this country
,, 1t is to be abrogated under circumstance
which will enable the barbarian, if he S
pleases, to exclude American commerc
from the Flowery Kingdom, in which tha
commerce had begun somewhat sharply t
compete. 1t is to be abrogated just at
time when American influence seemed abou
2 tosecure greatlyincreaseda advantages for th
commerce and industries of this country
! and when it seemed not improbable ths
I consumers, many millions in numbe
would speedily be found for American pr
1 ducts, American cotton and cotton good
:, American wheat and -four, and America
< manufactures. 1t has been the policy
= China to exclude foreign influence as far 8
6 possible. European influence it has for til
: most part succeeded in excluding. IT
r United States is now kind enough to set u
u a barrier against its own future influence
I China, broader, higher and more endurir
II than the Chinese Wall itself.-N. y. IT
n Eupp