Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-09-24
THE CHINESE
AND THE
CHIN A QUESTION.

Arguments of Pro-China Advocates
HAYES Veto of the China Bill-Falla-
cics Inv olved in the Veto Unconstitu-
tional Doctrine Of the Veto Menac-
ing Attitude of China Towards our Gov
ernment The Conflict Between the
Caucasian and the Mongolan Cannot
he Repressed
IX.-CONCLUSTON.
As | draw towards the conclusion
Of this examination of our relations
with China, it may be proper to speak
somewhat of the objections made to
the repeal Of the Burlingame conven-
ton by the advocates of the present
state of affairs. Few Of these merit
sober discussion; and many, were it
not for the grave import of the subject.
might well call for mirthiul derision
1t is urged that we should not propose
to cancel the treaty inasmuch as it
was forced upon China; as if a blunder
or crime once committed must he
persisted in while the evil of it broad
ems, deepens, until remedy becomes i'm
possible. We are told that Chinese
labor in our fields and shops, will
certainly benefit our industry" despite
the teaching Of nearly thirty years to
the contrary. We are informed, IN
sentimental phrase, that " ii the high
er civilization and Christian energy of
the American people of California can
no. devise means to remove the ignor-
ance, abate the prejudices, and en-
tighten the Paganism of those thus
brought to their doors, it is week in
deed" The sentimentalist being I'M
mindful OF the historic truth that the
higher civilization, which necessitates
comfort and luxury Of life, inevitably
goes to the wall when brought in
competition with the lower civiliza-
ton which asks for none OF these
and needless also of the further truth
that the real object of our Christian
energy should be to retain our coun-
try for the Christian civilization of
our own and kindred peoples, and not
to convert it into colossal remedial
institution for the eradication of the
moral deficiencies of a race so utterly
distinct that its fusion with the Cau-
casian is impossible.
Proceeding in the same strain, it is
gravely pleaded that our law should
be formulated in Chinese" for the
benefit of the immigrants, "and that
direct oversight by responsible officers
should be maintained over this alien
population, which it is the duty of
government to do" which would re-
quire the addition to our government
of special eleemosynary department.
We are also to prevent the extern
ton of opium-smoking among them,"
but are not informed how this very
desirable object is to be achieved, the
penalty of death having been insuf-
ticient to restrain the Celestials from
this vice in their own country. We
are to I" learn thoroughly the working
of their companies and guilds" but
are left in darkness as to the modus
operandi of so doing, and necessarily
so, for these companies and guilds
have a secrecy as deep as that Of
any secret societies in the world !;
these associations being one of the
means by which Chinese competition
with the white races is advanced and
strengthened. We are to " encourage
them to bring their families" but as
the advocates of this encourage
ment" sets forth in another part Of his
statement Il am quoting from an Of
fetal report) that "Chinese women
refuse to 60 any where" it is difficult
to perceive in what way the encourag-
ing process could bring forth any
tangible result.
1t is also said that we are to "in-
form them upon whatever will help
them to become better" and this is
proposed to be accomplished by " edu-
eating number of Americans in the
Chinese language for official interpre-
ters and translators," in other words
through the agency of a legion of
pensionaries of the government. l
would not have referred to this spur
OF the subject in so long paragraph
were it not that the sentences quoted
are fair illustrations Of what passes
for reasoning in the pro-Chinese mind.
They are taken word for word from
the public document, Foreign Rela-
tions Of the United States, for the year
1876. Their author was a member OF
the United States Legation at Pekin.
1t may perhaps De worm Wnlie 10
quote still further from the document
from which these extracts are taken.
1t ascribes the inflow of Chinese in
California to "the Providence of
God," forgetful that it had its begin
ming, as We have had occasion to note,
in brutal aegressions Of which We
were quick to take advantage and in
which to no small extent We shared,
upon power that had never harmed
us, and that it has reached its present
proportions because we have reck-
lessly left open the gateways of our
own land while wantonly reaching
forth to spoil the possessions Of an
other.
One further comment on this Chi