Year: 1869

Impending Chinese Problem" Il


the2Jdy number of the Galaxy


we make an interesting extract o


two, that may be read with profit
| Leaving out all other ques tions


the capacity of America for re


ceiving emigration is at presen


boundless, as compared with tht


capacity of all the world to supply


it. An eminent English geographeI


has carefully calculated that the


two Americas are capable of sup
porting thirty six hundred millions
OF inhabitants. Room and sub


sistenee are not wanting. The
capacity for absorption of labor is


scarcely more limited. The end of
the long continued exodus from


Europe cannot be far off; to think


otherwise is to believe uniustifably
in q rapidly approaching decay of
the nations beyond the Atlantic.


Social and political reforms raising
the condition of the people, especi-
ally that of the women Of the low
est classes, the increase in industrial
prosperity, and the continued drain
of skilled labor to foreign coun-
tries, seem to be silently working
throughout Europe toward the
establishment of proper balance
between population and means of
support. X X X The faeili-
ties for crossing the Pacific is
yearly increasing; and SO is also
the knowledge of America in China.
Unless obstacles be placed in the
way, immigration will increase
rapidly; with additional encourage


nent it WILSON become enormous.


Having no rights, exposed to
continual extortion, treated with
contempt and indignity, branded
as an idolater, and charged with
every vice by his scrupulously just,
religious and virtuous neighbors,
the Chinaman, feeling that he has
no position here, seeks California
as the pearl driver does the bottom
of the sea, and returns as soon as
possible to the free air of his native
SOIL Place these Cinnamon on the
same footing with other immi-
grants, and the result will be that,
while many will return to the home
of their forefathers, a large portion
will make this the home Of their
This was and it is
the case in the Dutch East Indies,
where they were less oppressed
than in California,


Under these circumstances, if
this immigration should be proper
tionate to the necessity for relief
that exists in China, or to the ca
pacity for receiving it here; or,
again, if it should bear the same re-
lation to the parent population that
the emigration from ireland and
Germany bears to the home popu-
lation of those countries, the male
and adults of Mongolian origin on
this continent would soon outnum-
Der those of the European race.


This is q problem whose solution
is near, and we cannot too soon un
derstand the principles on which it
is to be demonstrated. The article
continues 81 s-


With an emigration from China
standing in the same ratio 10 the
home population that the drain
from Germany holds to the popula-
ton of that country, we should
have an influx of more than one
million Chinese yearly. Ten years
at this rate would place upon our
soil a preponderance of male adults
of Mongolian blood over those of
all the families of man among us.


The perception of this possibil-
ity cannot but awaken in the mind
of the true American the gravest
thoughts. The social, political and
chronological questions involved are
of transcendent Importance.


The question of the prohibition
or the heavy taxation of Chinese
immigration is almost sure to be
one OF the earliest and most bitterly
fought political issues of the far
West. The hostility to the Chinese
of the white laborers, especially of
the Irish, is already beginning to
show itself openly in the most vio-
lent acts of intimidation. But it is
not difficult to foresee that any leg
islation, which has for its object the
suppression Of any social element
or force that has once shown itself
to be a necessity in rapidly carry
ing forward the system of internal
improvements on which a large
part of our material industry rests,
must ultimately fail.


We may, therefore, assume that
the recognition Of the necessity of
Chinese labor in the far West in
sures an influx of Chinese proper
tionate at least to the extent of the
great system of public works which
will be needful for the growth
of the Western States and Terrific
ries. We shall see, further on, that
these Asiatics are obtaining strong
foothold in almost all other
branches of labor, because they an
swer the requirements better than
any other class of people. 1t is,
therefore, not improbable that they
will find their way, in large num-
bers, to this side of the Rocky
Mountains. - .- .


1t is probable that the party
warfare,of the country will leaVsthis
enormous quantity of possible po-
litical force in the latent condition
pertaining to aliens.


Gaining the rights to vote means
gaining citizenship, the removal Of
disqualifcations, and the protec.
ton of their distinctive in
terests and customs to a
degree proportionate to the number
of their votes. Having obtained
these the Chinese emigrant will be-
come, beyond doubt, permanent
citizen. ..-.


With the prospect before US, it
may not be uninteresting to glance
at the characteristics of this race,
both in countries to which they
have emigrated and in their own
home.