The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-02

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49,
SIXTY cIIINAMEN Is ONE ROOM
white workingmcn particularly. BE
tween you and me, good reader 1t
was largely the cry Of the demagogue
Scratch a property holding Californian
today. and ten to one you Will IND
him quietly, but none the less positively,
n pro Chinese man. He will shout anti
Chinese with the best Of them for busi-
ness, political or other prudential rea-
sons. but he knows and will admit to
intimate friends that Chinese labor has
been the making Of California, and thai
without it the state would not have
been what she is in this year Of our
Lord 1889 The lands that have been
reclaimed. the grapes that have been
harvested. the railroads that have been
built and the wines and fruits exported,
are the result Of the plodding, uncom
planning. industrious and poorly paid
John Chinaman You might as well say
that the South Atlantic states should do
away with the services Of the negro as
that the Pacific slope should Danish the
almond eyed Celestial Today, even, they
are necessities; not creatures merely held
on suiTerance. They can do and will do
what the white man cannot and should
not. They are the scavengers Of the cities,
the safety of the country. There are
times in the vineyards, the hop fields, the
fruit groves. that thousands of men are
necessary at once. for a week or two
weeks. say a month, in the year. For
that time are they needed, and only then
White men could not exist on one months
work i'm twelve, but the Chinese can. It
will be a perplexing problem to solve,
how the California grapes and fruits can
be harvested when John Chinaman IS nc
more. met Dennis kearney today on
the fashionable thoroughfaro that IS
named after him and the late general
The sand lots orator is little down at
the heel at present, but he is blatam
and bold as ever. "What should
we do with thcm?" he said angri-
ly in answer to my questions
throw 'cm in the sewer; they're II,
earthly good If they were not here.
white men could have employment and
this country would DO populated 10y
Christian and Caucasian workers. Put
the Chinese out altogether, and Their
would lock from the east an army OF
white laborcrs who would be credit &c
the state. who would be the consumers
rs well as the producers, which ia,
Chinese are not. who would spend
their money where they earned it, which
the Chinese do not; who would improve
society. not degrade It, and who would
= help the general cause Of humanity.
Now this argument Of Dennis kearney
is the regulation argument Of the day
Perhaps it is the strongest side Of the
case: 1t is certainly the most popular
But the interesting fact remains, that
thus far no one has been discovered who
can fiji the bill, who can take the place
Of the heather, for with him the coun
try has been developed and agriculture
and ,iticulture made profitable With
out him it would be an .mpossibility
Mark YOU, please, this letter is not an
argument for the Chinese. Far from 1T
II is beautiful dictum aud a most &C
ceptable one, that this glorious country
is for the Caucasian. not the MongOllan
for tho Christian. not the Pagan; for ia,
brightness OF American progress, moi
for the darkness of Chinese superstition.
Heaven speed the day that It may come
TO pass, but we must look at things rs
they are. not as we would wish them tC
le And in things as they are we fine
Tho pig tail a very large. important and
by no means lovely element in California
life. II you would see the Chinaman al
his best and worst. you must look him
over in his own house in San Francisco.
have seen him in his haunts night ant
day. in the cool Of the evening and IL
the bright light of the morning, anc
know him fairly well Within com
pact area Of twelve blocks is Chinatown
here located. and yet within that area
nearly 10000 Celestials live. or ratheiI
exist Iney nerd together hike rats, ana
their mode Of living is little above
the animal The Chinese joss houses,
theatre. restaurants. opium joints
and gambling bells have been frequently
described, but they can give little idea of
the rocking depravity Of the place. For
two or three dollars guide will take a
couple through the entire town. and the
excursion takes from 8 in the evening
until in the morning. IL is all a fear
full picture, but the white man or woman
is treated With marked respect, and can
10 anywhere without fear Of robbery or
physical harm. In one three story build
ing 800 Cinnamon will live the rooms
being arranged like the forccastle of a
ship, in tiers Of hunks one set above an
other One large room is for eating, an
other for cooking. and all the surround |
ings, while more or less clean. are dark,
dingy and barren The CeleStials fairly /
swarm in these places. and their heather
ish jabber is puzzle The theatre rs the
place 10 see John Chinaman at his ease.
Itholds about 2.00oand is densely packed
night after night The visiting white is
allowed 10 sit on the stage. The play
usually lasts for three or four weeks, and
Is given in sections OF two or three
night No scenery is used. and
hldeous band Of musicians twang
at hideous lot of ear splitting
shs'rpwents while the actors perform.