Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-09-03


high as tiityfive dollars by the advo-
Gates of Chinese immigration, some
times as low a. ten dollars by its op-
ponents. The truth appears to be
| that the actual rates of the steamship
company is about thirty dollars from
Hong Kong To San Francisco, and
| about ten dollars ON the return.
] find in a sworn statement made by an
| expert i'll the business, that in sailing
vessels the Chinese can be brought to
California, for fifteen dollars each.
Under conditions hitherto existing, it
is plain that the Chinese will continue
to increase on the Pacific coast.
But there is another and novel as
pect Of the Chinese question which
gives renewed and multiplied force to
every argument used against this
| Asiatic invasion. AS we have seen,
China for many hundred years dis
couraged the emigration of her peo-
pie. We have seen, also, that the
barriers she huilded to shield her
empire were broken down by force
and fraud in which, in the later days
ut least, We had our share. We have
seen, too, that the Chinese intellect,
the Chinese character, is strong, Wig
orous, patient and far-sighted; and
that rs diplomats the statesmen
OF China have held their own with
those OF every other nation in the
world. This people thus constituted
have now reached a point where the
policy of four thousand years is mani
testify reversed, and China, instead OF
standing upon the defensive, is upon
the verge Of, ii she has not already
adopted, an aggressive policy.
The signs of aggression are neither
few nor obscure. As already re-
marked, on her own coasts and in
neighboring regions she has sup
planted the enterprise Of Europeans
and Americans. The process is now
being extended to our own country
and, if continued, will soon constitute
upon the Pacific coast a power too
strong to be overcome by policy or
war. The Chinese Steam Navigation
Company is about to establish steam
line direct to Havana, which at once
will control the Chinese trade with
the Atlantic seaboard and the Spanish
main, and provide a means for the
easy transport of Chinese immigrants
to the United States, the West Indies
and South America. One hundred
and forty thousand Of these, it is
stated on apparently good authority,
have already found a place in Cuba.
Within the past few months, we have
witnessed the Inauguration, with the
steamer Hochung, of direct trade in
Chinese steam-vessels between Hong
Kong and San Francisco. The OPP
portunities afforded by a favorable
public opinion and thoughtless gov
ernmental action, both in this coun-
try and Europe, have enabled China
to avail herself OF the latest and most
improved resources, whether for peace
full or warlikc purposes. Hundreds Of
the best OF her young men have been
educated in Caucasian schools; the
scientific works of Europe and Amer
ica have been translated into her
language for the use of her officials.
Armories have been established on
Chinese soil for the manufacture of
improved firearms for Chinese troops.
China has defeated the Russians in
Kashgar with muskets from the ar
senals of Europe, and mounted Krupp
guns ON the earthworks that guard
the inlets to the great rivers. And
within the past few years she has
equipped navy which, with the
single exception OF that OF Great
Britain, carries heavier and more ef
fective ordinance then that OF any
other nation in the world. And it is
this nation, possessed at the present
time Of population of upwards Of five
hundred millions, increasing at the
rate OF one per cent. per annum or
one hundred millions in twenty years;
it is this nation, hemmed in on all
sides, save that of the sea, and whose
soil has already reached the limit OF
productiveness for its people; it is
this nation, whose sway has never
permanently receded from any region
over which it has once been held; it
is.this nation with which we are now
brought face to face, and which We
smite with one hand, while with the
other we open wide the gates to its
inflow upon our territory.
Il it not time we sought to protect
ourselves against the influx OF such a
! country, the possible. aggressions OF
such a powerY But in what way shall
the inflow be stopped and its reflux be
secured? Considered with reference
to the iormalities and technicalities
OF diplomacy, the subject is perhaps
not free from complexity. Examined
with reference to expediency, to the
broad equitie. which, with nations as
with individuals, should be Of con-
trolling authority, the case grows COM
paratively clear. Sweeping aside all
sentimentality and all technicalities
woven by diplomacy, or rather by the
lack Of it, the most direct method is