, 1880-03-21

THE CHINESE.
In nearly every discussion of the Chimes
question too much stress has been laid upo
individual objectionable features. It lis eithe
the immoralities Of the Mongolians, their dis
eases, uncleanness, vicious habits, paupe
labor, or their condition as coolies, that ar
urged as reasons why their reception anon!
us should be discouraged, it not prevented
All these characteristics are Objectionable
enough, not only against the Chinese, bu
would be just as strong against any othe
nationality that seeks our shores, if it coult
he shown that they we're possessed Of them
Nevertheless, all combined have not the forc'
Of the more general phase Of the Cllines'
question, namely: the antagonism Of twt
totally lissimilar and irreccncilable system:
Of civilization, as all argument why tht
further spread OF the Asiatic system should
be stopped, by every method of peaceful re
sistance. This broad and philosophical view
Of the subject is at last beginning to attract
attention, and was recently discussed in the
| Californian magazine in such a forcible
and dignifed manner that we use some OF its
points in presenting the subject to our OWL
readers.
These two civilizations which have met on
| the Pacific Coast are Us far apart from each
other as the two peoples. It is apparent at q
glance that their elements and character
istics are radically diverse, and are so
grounded and established BY the evolution OF
centuries that there is no point of contact
between them that is not hostile to the hope
Of unity or even of sympathy. Neither can
absorb the other, and in the course Of time
one or the other must in the nature Of things
give way. The Chinese have now
been in this country for thirty-three
years, during which time they Aare
been subject to the influences Of our
Government laws, religion, society, and
manner Of thought and are to-lay as unin-
fuenced by them as the inhabitants of the
moon. They have brought their own re-
ligion or superstition, and set up their own
temples and gods, They hold themselves
! anenable to their own Chinese laws, and
subjects of the Chinese Government. Their
modes OF life are the same asthose Of their
ancestors OF forty centuries ago. Even It
they were willing to adopt the forms of our
civilization, which they despise, they are in-
capable Of doing so, owing to the force of
the habits and heredity which have been inn
pressed upon them through tmmemorial
centuries, running far back Of the birth Of
the Anglo-Saxon civilization, Other peoples
come here and readily adopt the methods of
our civilization, become Americanizel, take
their places in the great mass of humanity as
good citizens, and in course Of time are i'll
distinguishable from the native-born. The
fhfnoCA
not absorb q single characteristic of our
civilization
The writer in the Californian to whom
we have alluded illustrates the rapid spread
OF Chinese Influences in a very forcible man.
ner. He shows that the first whp came were
1ab0rers OF the lowest order, who only
worked under the direction of superiors, and
the superiors at that time were Americans.
Now there are thousands Of Chinese proprie-
tors and managers who direct the labor of
their fellows, and who have entered into
competition with American employers, COM
pellfng them to employ labor of the same
grade. Wherever they refuse to employ
Chinese labor it entails loss, and only serves
"to multiply Chinese proprietors and new
openings, aud the Chinese continue to pour
in as before" They are learning to use the
accumuIations of years as capital stock,
and are already controlling nearly all
the shoe and cigar factories Of San
Francisco, and driving former employers
from their business. In the way Of garden
ing none put few Italians are left to con-
tend against them, and they even begin to
appear rs farmers and landed proprietors. |
Even the American who employs Chinese as !
laborers hnds that he Cannot compete with |
these, because the Chinese farmer brings !
raw recr uits from China for his farm, BY a |
process unknown to the American; and, !
being bound to him by contracts made in
China for term Of years,-which to break
involves more to them than life itself.-they
gladly and faithfully work for three dollars
a month";" What is the result of all thise
White emigration to California has come to
q standstlll, and thousands of white 1aborers
are quitting California and moving into the
Northern Territories, where but few China
men have yet penetrated, for Chinamen are
never pioneers, but waituntil others have pre-
pared the way, and then come in and thrive.
Ihe process Of displacement has thus begun.
and unless Chinese emigration is stopped it
must continue at the expense Of the white
race; for it Is one of the lessons Of experience
That, while the higher type of man may con-
auer the lower and govern him for time, if
Ehe lower can produce.as much by their labor.
produce it cheaper, and live on much less,
ne superior race will in time become like |
hem OF disappear.a
This is the core Of the problem that con-
ronts the Am merican people unless Chinese
is checked At present we are en-
'ouraging the peopling Of this country with
IN inferior race, and one which always will !
'e inferior; with race which has nothing
common with our civilization, and never
an have; with a race which can almost
'ork Tor nothing and subsist upon nothing; |
'1th race that is 1oathsome and filthy to T
De last degree; aud with race which in six
housand years has not yet attained to the