Year: 1874

One of the undertones, if we may use the
word, Of the Presidents Message was his ref
erence to the emigration of Chinese into Cali
fornia, and especially the terms under which
these Mongols come. It is says the Presi-
dent, "a generally conceded fact that the
great proportion of the Chinese emigrants who
come to our shores do not come voluntarily to
make homes with us and their labor produc-
tive of general prosperity, but come under
contract with head men, who own them almost
absolutely. In q worse form does it apply to
Chinese women. Hardly perceptible per-
centage of them perform any honorable
labor" but their presence is . shame and
disgrace to the community. The President
says ssif this evil practice can be legislated
against it will be my pleasure as well as duty
to enforce any resolution to secure so desira-
BILE an end" In response to this admirable
suggestion Of the President q resolution has
been submitted to the House giving him power
to act.


The Chinese problem has been growing in
importance from year to year and bids fair to
become in time one of the gravest problems in
our policy. On one side Of the ocean is a vast
country that has every advantage of nature,
climate and soil and practically uninhab-
tied. On the other side is ON ancient civiliza-
ton, going back centuries before the rise Of
any modern power, teeming with population,
estimated by some at 400 900, 900 souls, suffer-
ing from all the evils Of over-population. In
other words on one side of this sea is
vacuum; on the other side an overfowing res
ervoir; and the law of nature will apply in
this case as in others, and we have the ire
sistible impulse of China to throw its surplus
population into the United States. So dense
is the population that China could send to
America more people than now inhabit this
Continent and not feel the diminution Of her
strength as much as Ireland or Germany feel
the emigration from their dominions during
the last ten years.


This is one view Of the Chinese problem,
and the question is how to solve it. Under
our statutes, especially our civil rights amend
ments arising out of emancipation and our
desire to protect the negro the Chinaman has
as much right in America as the German.
Baron Hnbner, in his admirable book, IA
Ramble Around the World" gives us glimpse
Of Chinese life in California. From him we
learn that there are between eighty and one
hundred thousand Cinnamon in that State;
that some Of them have founded large and
important commercial houses; that "the
people possess honesty and intelligence" and
the "facility with which they at once seize
and adopt the American and European rules
of commerce is remarkable. Until now the
Chinese have been nothing but birds of pas
sage. They have none Of them dreamed of
settling in America for ifc Many Of those
who come are peasants in easy circumstances;
some bring certain amount of capital,
'all vigorous arms and willing hands,
and minds ready to embrace every
chance Of success, and firm determination
to make little fortune" Unlike other emi-
grants, they come to America "with the hope
and intention of returning to China, and 90
so far as to enter into contracts with the gov
ernment or the companies that in the event Of
death their bodies shall be carried back"
The Baron observes, however, the irrepressible
conflict between the Californians and the
Chinese. The Chinese are out of the pale of
the law; 'before the courts their evidence is
refused. Those who work at the mines are
taxed to the extent Of four dollars month per
head. Without the least provocation on their
part the Chinese are constantly beaten and
robbed. No notice is taken of these iniquities.
There is not ON instance of any verdict Of any
jury being given in their favor, or Of any pun
! ishment bein0 inflicted on tha 9uiltv. No