The Russellville Democrat., 1880-03-18
Her antipatby to toreipn intercourse

Her antipathy to foreign intercourse
 became positively insupportable to tho l Western civilized Powers when she sci
 herself to work to suppress the snug
 gling of opium into her territories by
 the East India Company. The Chinese
 Government became alarmed and dis.
 gusted at the rapid progress which the
 consumption of this baneful drug was
 making among the people, and deter.
 mined to stop its illicit importation. In
 carrying out the measures adopted, 1t
 was deemed necessary 10 destroy all the
 opium then in the empire, and the for eign merchants of Canton were forced to
 hand over for destruction about S10.000,-
 900 worth. This was staxing the patience
 of foreign sinugglers too far. Their
 Government came to their aid, and by
 their bombardment of few populous
 cities and the destruction of anunknown
 multitude of junks. the stiti-necked Elm 1 peror was brought to his senses, and a | thriving trade in opium was established l between India and China. For several years after the introduction of the opium Improvement" the Western Powers, ourselves among toe number, were knocking at the doors of the empire for diplomatic recognition. The tactics em- ploycd were of a singular mixture of force and persuasion; and during the diplomatic melee Russia and ourselves managed to get double share of the chestnuts at the expense of English and French fingers. At the same time the great Taeping rebellion broke out, which was thought by the foreigners to promise great advantages to the future of China. It was conveniently given the character of semi-C Christian movement, toward the religious regeneration of the Chinese people, although its instigators were really more atheistical than the or thodox BuddhIsts. After ravaging some of the most fertile spots of the empire for years the rebels were subdued, and peace once more reigned. The good re- suits to China from this burst of activity in her intercourse with foreigners were not perceptible to intelligent Chinamen. They had become a nation Qfppium smo- kers, and the best lands ofthe empire were converted into desert. The na- tional jealousy of foreigners was not at all diminished by this outcome, and, al- though number of ports were tn rown open to foreign trade, the admission of foreigners into the empire was more strenuously opposed than ever.
 Since the close of the foreign crusade against China, commercial intercourse between that and the outside world has considerably increased. The Chinese merchants are shrewd and enterprising, and, it is said, are rapidly gaining mo- nopoly of the trade of many Eastern ports. They have made their appear ance in this country, and the Chinaman as an immigrant has become familiar among us. In the latter character he has become an object of intense hostility to those with whom he competes for a livelihood.
 The Chinese immigration in it's incipi- ency was hailed as the precursor of Chi nese regeneration. A return stream of occidental enlightenment was expected to flow back to the secluded land through the medium of returning emigrants and the home correspondence of those who did not return. But it was soon discov- cred that the Chinese emigrants were not missed at home. In country so teeming with inhabitants, the vacant places of few hundred thousands, or even few millions, produce no percep- tible thinning of the crowd. It was also discovered that the Chlnaman was too industrious and too frugal for the occi- dental laborer He was willing to do good deal of work for very little pay, and yet he managed to save something out of his wages. In other words, he could flourish where the Anglo Saxon would starve to death, and the inevita- ble result of his unchecked immigration must be to crowd out the latter. The result of these discoveries has been to establish a conviction that certain re- strictions on intercourse with China are necessary in other countries, if not desir- able in China. It IS now pretty gener- ally believed that while foreigners are introducing improvements into China, The laws of foreign Powers ought to compel the Chinese to stay at home to receive the benefit of them. The work ing population of the Pacific coast are resolute in declaring that the Chinese must go. and are now doing their utmost 10 secure their exclusion by law from every field of labor. After so persistent ly demanding room for our enterprise in China, no sooner does the Chinaman give us a chance to show our superiority on our own soil than we inform him that we cannot stand the test. Intelli- gent Chinamen, of course, conclude that what we call foreign intercourse is very 
 Since the increase of commercial in- tercourse attempts have been made to introduce railroads and teiegraphs into China, but they have been steadily re- sisted. The Chinese officials are aware of their advantages, but they are unal- terably opposed 10 the admission of for eigners into the country. More espe- cially are they hostile to the acquisition of land by foreigners. A few years since Viceroy of one of the provinces con tracted with certain parties to construct short telegraph line, but the undertak- ing was forbidden by the Imperial Gov ernment. The foreign representatives insisted on the Viceroy's observance of the contract, and the line was built. Parties at Shanghai quietly bought up strip of land extending from that city to another not far distant, and built rail- road upon it. The road was operated for time, but its completion only Inten. sified the determination of the Govern ment to withstand the introduction of railroads. While its projectors were fiattering themselves that It had secured he approval of the people, the latter