Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-15

time it has reached the proportions OF
great nation, and until the question of its
future status is no longer doubtful in any
way. But now that there are fifty millions
of Americans now that the settlement OF
the whole continent by the children Of its
present occupants has been provided for 4;
now that all the advantages derivable from
mere numbers have been secured; it is
becoming serious question whether the
time has not arrived to recognize the
termination of the construction stage IN
the rational life, and to adopt such changes
as will facilitate that process of crystalliza-
ton and thorough assimilation which is
essential to the formation of durable
and coherent national structure. 1t is at
this juncture that the Chinese question has
arisen, first to startle the country by its
apparent antagonism with what are CON-
monty regarded as permanent governmental
principles, but as we think, ultimately to
compel serious and dispassionate analysis
VI GUS HuOlC 5leddlioL, "ip1 O hASW W sAAS
determination of the problem we have
above indicated.
For it is very certain that in the end
the logical results and implications of Chi
nese admission or Chinese exclusion must
be applied to others than the Chinese, and
must control the future of the country.
Free admission of this element involves
renunciation of the principle of distinctive
nationality involves the adoption of
system of union discarding the most
powerful of all social and governmental
bonds, namely, the ties of common Ian
| guage, common traditions. habits, sYmpa-
thies, ambitions, amusements and desires;
and fixes the status of the republic as that
of loose confederation, whose cohesion
must be constantly endangered by the in
crease of the separate race-elements CON-
posing it. On the other hand the exclusion
of the Chinese cannot but be the initial
step in a new national policy, the funda.
mental objects of which are to shut off the
foreign feeders to the population of the
Union to thus bring the nation into that
condition of stability most favorable to the
completion of the assimilative processes
and in this way to strengthen all the links
in the chain of social and governmental
influences which give to nation its one.
ness and it's individuality, and which in
sure it that indissoluble harmony which
the most skillfully devised confederation
can never possess.
Between these two policies the American
people will have, sooner or later, to make
their choice. At present they are drifting
on in the line of the frst-named policy.
The influence of the founders of the re-
public is upon them. They are not yet
cognizant of the dangers which further
pursuit of a course never intended for more
than temporary guidance, must entail.
The Cave of Adullam may still be used as
an illustration. When David was mere
adventurer, struggling desperately for re.
cognition even as petty robber chieftain,
it was good policy for him to attract to his
standard all the disconnected, reckless and
lawless elements in his neighborhood. But
if after he obtained the throne of Israel he
had continued the Adullamite policy, and
still sought to bring these elements into the
country from all the surrounding nations,
he would have unquestionably done evil
instead of good to his cause and his peo-
ple We, however, have maintained the
Adullamite policy with SO blind persist
ence that when its further application
threatens to food us with an element clear
ly calculated to inflict great injury upon
us, our cages and statesmen cry out that
we must not oppose this influx, because to
do SO would be to run counter to the Adult
lamite principle.
These people say, az if they had thereby
settled the whole question, that " it has
"always been the policy of the republic to
invite immigration" and that to adopt
any other course would be in some way
hereticaJ or reasonable. But this kind of
objection really has its origin in that stupid
conservatism which rejects all changes
merely because they are changes. The way
to meet this kind of argument is to say that
the time has come for abandoning policy
which has completely served its purpose,
and which henceforth can do US no good.
We stand no longer in any need of foreign
immigration. We are wealthy, prosperous,
populous, containing within ourselves all
the resources with which to build up a solid
national structure. If we are to 90 on
foreignizing ourselves continually as we
have done hitherto, however, we shall be.
come heterogeneous instead of homogene-
Gus, and the national feeling will be weak
and Enthusiastically the greater we grow in
numbers and territory. Already strong
tendency toward the perpetuation of for
eign national distinctions is to be observed
among us. The admission of the Chinese
would increase this tendency, and we de-
sire to record the conviction that if the
Chinese are thus admitted the policy which
refuses to restrain them will eventually give
them the ballot. This would instantly
convert them into a political factor, and
while degrading the suffrage it would make
American politics still more of a scramble
in which the most INSCRIPTIONS find the
greatest opportunities.
To make a nation it is necessary to Sc.
cure conditions under which the whole
people shall grow up in the same general
directions. They must have the same his
torical education, the same political schools,
the same objects of national pride, the
same national standards, the same liter
ature, the same language, the same habits
and customs. 1t is only by such complete
amalgamation and discipline and education
that the homogeneity desired can be OBJ
tanned. When the body polite is like
reservoir into which dozen great streams
constantly flow from different sources, it
will always be disturbed, muddy, full of