Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-12

almost beyond belief. Mr.. Seward, in short,
has shown much industry in compilation, and
some skill, of the attorney kind, in arranging
his evidence but as regards ability to discuss
the higher considerations appertaining to the
question, he shows none.
The Chinaman is good worker granted.
Neither in what he produces nor in what he
sends out of the country does he do other
than good to it; granted. But when all is
said that can be said in his favor-and we do
not care how high the praise bestowed
upon him is-the fact remains that he is an
Asiatic, belonging, to all practical intents,
to different world from ours, having no
Traditions, tendencies, aspirations, in COM
mon with us, and therefore incapable of
matchmaking with US. 1t is nonsense to
because we do not want him to do So Thirty
years ago the prejudice against the Irish was
fully as strong in this country as that against
the Chinaman has been since. But the Irish
man disarmed prejudice, not merely by show
ing his usefulness, but by identifying himself
with the community in which he had cast his
lot Having the same religion, thesa history,
the same language, the same social habits and
customs, the same foibles, it was impos-
sible TO isolate him. 1t is very different with
the Chinese however. They are race apart
from the beginning. They have their own
language, their lown literature, their own
religion, their own philosophy, their own
habits and customs, their own views on
government and law; and none of their ideas,
beliefs, doctrines, have any point of contact
with ours. They are the most conservative
people in the world and we are the most
radical. They are the representatives of the
Oldest civilization in the world; and we of
the newest. They not only do not assimilate
with us. but if there be any truth IN the in
fiuence of heredity and the environment they
cannot do SO. Their progress, whatever it is,
must be expected to proceed from a purely
Chinese point of departure, as ours does
from an Anglo-Saxon one.
1t is not necessary to enter upon a con-
sideration of the respective merits of the two
civilizations Possibly good deal could be
said upon both sides. But the fact which
demands attention is that there are here two
distinct and fully defined civilizations, and
that they cannot and will not mingle. We
are therefore justified in assuming that if the
Chinese remain with US they will remain an
alien people, and it is as an alien people, in
capable of any real or thorough assimilation,
that they must be considered. If, as Mr..
Seward thinks, there is no danger that thew
will ever leave China in large numbers, the
question of their future may not be very
serious one. But if it is to be expected that
the Chinese emigration will go on as other
foreign emigration goes on, until we have
four or five millions among US, it
is necessary to consider what effect
this element will have upon the
body polite. Experience shows that wher-
ever an element is without the means of pro-
tecting itself politically, it will be tyrannized
over. So long as the Chinese are aliens they
will therefore be exposed to hostile legisla-
ton. But if in the course of time it should
be felt necessary for the credit of the country
and for their own defense to invite them to
become citizens, it does not follow that the
difficulty would be obviated. In such case
the probability is that that they would intro.
duce fresh element of demagogism into our
politics, and that their vote would to all
practical intents aggravate the evils of an ig.
norant suffrage. It cannot certainly be ex.
pected that they would take that active
interest in politics which presupposes some
understanding of the issues at stake. They
would use the ballot to protect and defend
themselves, and they would lend their politi.
cal influence in exchange for alliances. nc
matter with whom.
1t is impossible to anticipate the advent OF
such an element to our politics without the
gravest apprehension, in fact, and we think
it plain that though Chinese might become
citizens in law they never could become
Americans in fact. And this brings us to
I what we regard as the conclusive argument
against Mr. Stewards position. It is scarcely
necessary to point out that the :" Fatherhood
"of God and Brotherhood of Man doctrine
is merely impractical and irrational sent.
ment. 1t belongs in the category of deirious
rawlings which emanated from the French
Revolution. 1t is alike unphilosophical
and vague. No republic, no govern
ment of any kind, has ever yet been
maintained upon so essentially elastic a
principle. There must be guiding scheme
Of cix .1,lin - I,,,.I Al
result viii be as anarchic as the legendary
building of the tower of Babel. Now in the
United States circumstances determined
this question of the civilization to be selected
in advance. Anglo-Saxon colonies could not
found any other than an Anglo Saxon form
of government and society, and no matter
what foreign elements have since been added
they have one and all conformed to the model
which they found in existence.
The Chinese for the first time bring us
into contact with civilization which will
not and in fact cannot conform TO ours, and
which, however long it remains in contact
with ours, will retain its distinctive character.
And though this element may be CONNER
ciaily useful, it should be evident that if ever
it attains numerical and commercial and
financial consequence it must become an ele-
ment of weakness instead of strength, because
it is held here, and always must be, by ties of
selfish interest alone, and because it cannot
have that lively and warm affection and re-
gard for the country which constitutes what
is called Patriotism, and which is the ce-
ment which binds states together. Nor, en-
deavoring TO view the subject as broadly
and dispassionately as possible, can we
perceive any likelihood that nearer
approach to real amalgamation will be
made by the Chinese hereafter. They are
not easily nodded, and even if they were
more so than they are, many strong reasons
might be advanced against the wisdom of
seeking TO assimilate them.