The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-10-16
THE CHINESE QUESTION CALMLY
CONSIDERED,

ing gigantic proportions elsewhere
and every mail brings fresh ac-
counts of clouds upon the horizon.
The latest and most startling news
is that of the Chinese Imperial edict
of the 18th of July, measure far
more sweeping than had been ex-
pected and one, the effect of which
would be to quash British trade with
China at blow.
''No Chinese merchandise or
goods of whatever nature are TO be
landed upon British soil and Chi
nese subjects are given three years
In which to return TO their own
homes "
1t remains to be seen whether this
hysterical outburst Of celestial
wrath has much sinew behind it, but
it is evident that Britannia, in the
horns of Il dilemma between Austria
liza and China, has overestimated the
patience OF the Chinaman.
1t is also probable that the Aus
tralians have magnified the extent
of Chinese incursion. Mr.. Hayter,
Government Statist of Victoria and
one of the highest authorities, is
quoted in letter to the ''Times" of
August oath, as saying that there
are only 1000 Chinese in all Aus
tralia and far from pouring in of
late in ever increasing swarms" they
have steadily diminished in number
ever since the yield of gold began
to fall off and at such a rate that in
80 years there would be no more
Chinese in Australia.
The same writer puts down the
agitation in great measure to the
weakness of colonial politicians who
are driven to it by the working men
or linen who never do a stroke of
work. but whose votes are of great
Importance at election times.
The Chinese live where no one
else can, work abandoned gold
claims, and do what no one else
cares to do. They carry away
money, but they cannot remove the
soil which they have turned from
wilderness into a fruitful field.
In Singapore and the Straits Set
Elements Chinese merchants control
the labor market and the greater
part of the trade.
1t must certainly be admitted
from such elementary considerations
as sthese that there are two sides to the
question, but even supposing the evils
of Chinese immigration TO outweigh
the benefits so much as to render
prohbitive legislation advisable, it
will not suit England to lose the
Chinese trade in order to keep the
peace with the Colonies.
The foreign tonnage entered and
cleared at Chinese ports in 1887,
reached the enormous amount of
22,000,000 tons; tUO thirds being
British. If England has to embark
in another Chinese war in order to
keep the market open, she willproba-
bly, want to know how much the Colo
nies will help to pay the bill, and
the best way to sift the Chinese agi-
tation in Australia would be to know
how much they would pay to be
rid of them.
Now that the bubbles of Hawaiian
Legislative discussion have subsided
without boiling over upon the head
of the Pake, time for reflection
upon this subject, together with a
careful scrutiny of the progress of
events in countries larger than these
Islands, will do our statesmen no
harm.
The question is being regarded
here from two different points of
view:
First, but perhaps not foremost,
Is 1T Christian action for the "mis-
sionary party to "sit" upon their
Chinese brother?
Second. Is it policy to do so?
In regard to the first point it
would be perfectly just and right
and according to Christian principle
for Government to prevent the
immigration of a class of individuals
who injuriously affected the morals
or the prosperity of the body polite,
but it is clearly the duty of those
Christian leaders of our community
who so largely contributed to the
establishment of the present Govern
ment to see that an honest state
ment of proof is made out upon this
count, especially as they have given
the Chinese no vote or voice in the
affairs of country where they own
much property.
In regard to the second point of
policy, would it not be as well to
look back as we'll as forward. /
am told the Anti Chinese agitation
is twenty years old. If it had been
successful then would it not have
greatly dwarfed the country's de-
yelopment9
The great need of the islands to-
day is a thrifty and enterprislng
population to colonize the waste
lands and to supply cheap labour
and cheap produce. 1t is very
doubtful whether any other people
can be found who will fulfil these
conditions to the same extent as the
Chinese.
The white man who has crowded