The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-09-04
Communicated

In view of the increase Of population by the i'm
migration of Chinese, too much precaution cannot
be taken to prevent the spread of epidemics OF
contagious diseases. The Chinese IN their own
country are often swept off by thousands, and 50
little notice is taken of it by the survivors, that
they really consider it a matter not worth reporting
to the higher authorities. Neither do they take any
steps to prevent a recurrence of Il similar scourge.
They seem to have no dread of Infection. Cases
of small pox are known to exist in dwelling houses
where large families live, eat, and sleep. Now
that they are docking to these islands in such con-
siderable numbers. il behoves the Board OF Health
or its agents to see that the recent act passed : to
provide for the Sanitary Condition OF Dwelling
Houses is strictly carried out. A Chinaman, IN
like the Japanese, does not believe in cleanliness.
Their ordinary ablution consists OF passing aadamp
rag over their bodies, without even removing their
clothes, washing their teeth, ~scraping the tongue,
and if time and circumstances will permit, having
the head shaved. The do not assimilate them
selves to the enjoyable douche or the refreshing
plunge. OF course there are exceptions to the rule,
but they are very few. One would think that
those who lived amongst foreigners for years as in
California for instance, that they would obtain
notions of cleanliness. But such appears not to be
the case. The Hon. james A. Garfield, when be
visited San Francisco two years ago, to examine the
Chinese quarters. said the law should not permit
the spread of what be called a g plague On bis
return to the Eastern States the following verba-
ton report of Garfeld's remarks were published.
Look on the plague spots in San Francisco to-day.
in them. I have seen, IN a space no greater than the
length and height in this sleePing-car berth, in a Chi.
twelve Chinamen. In that space they actually lived
iai doubled upJ and they cooked. ate, slept, and, in q
word, lived. they cooked with a little lamp a mess of
food is very cheap, and q mere pittance in the way Of
earnings on the street viii supply them food and clothes
for an indefinite time. A few cents per day is more 10
them than q dollar to the commonest American laborer.
them as it would q pestilence. This is not all. They
have no assimilation whatever 70 Caucasian civilization
The negro assimilates with the Caucasian. He wants all
that we want. He adopts our civilization, processes our
rsiigiSns, WORKS 9h., for s3r4S Our wages erod and is a 3 customer for
figure Of physiology we can take him up in the circula-
ton of the body polite and assimilate him-make a man
the least degree with the Chinaman. And this brings
upon Congress and the country for immediate attention
and solution; is; what w shall SaIs we do with reference to Chi
them. Shall we continue the treaty under which they
are immigrsting to our shores?
This was stated long before Garfield ever
thought of becoming President, and no doub,
when he does assume that high Office he will put
in practice what he has preached before, regarding
Chinese immigration. The present administration
OF the United States has already appointed and
dispatched a commission to China, instructed "a
negotiate a new treaty with the Chinese Govern.
msnt. abrogating the clauses permitting unresirict-
ed immigration to the United States.
The Rev. De Witt Talmage recently delivered a
lecture on the s. C Chinese Question: in the course
Of which he said. referring to the Chinese in San
Francisco, " what is wanted is a Stonewall Jack.
sons raid through Chinatown. . . . If Con.
gress should keep them from coming here for a
thousand years, it would not cleanse the pool Of
iniquity that is here. Make Chinatown cleanse it.
self, or rout it out by law He concluded by say.
ing, : the Chinese question is going to be settled. .
We only hope that a similar policy to the above
be adopted in Honolulu. To use an old adage,
] "Prevention is better than cure.n