Year: 1870




Cheap Labor Against Unwilling Lnbor-Tea


and Uhopstic. s-Grent Expectations.


correspondent of the New York Tribune, writing
from North Adams, Mass, says:-
The Celestial shoemakers continue to devote
their leisure most ardenty TO the acquisition OF the
English language. They have primers and dlctiona-
ries printed for the purpose of teaching learners of
characters In parallel columns; but they appear to
ind it more agreeable to learn by another system,
the magnitude of which seems appalling at first
thought. They inquire the name Of an article at
random and then repeat it hundreds of times till it
is firmly fixed in the memory Their foreman
had bought some cotton sheeting, which
was divided among them, each man mea-
suring his piece oy a curious motion of the arm
which seemed much more satisfactory than any test
by the unfamiliar yard. STICK. "W6at you cali ?"
inquired of them, holding up his material for
The laborious motion of the lower jaw by which
Chinaman strives to convey the pronunciation of
pause of efforts between the words, is about as
as he gets to it the first day. Yet though this
Hoosac Mountain with hand-drill, the pupils make
marvellous progress toward acquiring the language,
both for reading and for conversation. For the
technical purposes of the trade, they 1t in
trce calling all the component parts of shoe and
all the multitudnous Implements of the shoe-bench
by their proper names after day acquaintance


The Chinese are hearty eaters, requiring sup
plies of rice and fresh meat TOR their Kitchens in a
way that somewhat encourages the small Lraders of
North Adams who had been led to suppose the
shoemakers would have no demand for any mer-
chandise but rats and puppy dogs The cigar stores
and whisky shops must suffer- but their wants viii
open avenues of profitable trade. Their tea they
will probably continue to import from their native
land by the way OF California, when the sup
ply they have brought with them is exhausted.
Whether from the greater purity OF the leaves or
superior skill of their COOKS the beverage which
they drink from their pint Notwithstanding
dimnuttve cups and puerile spoons-is certainly
preferable in smoothness and deicacy of flavor to
most of the tea offered at American tables. But
aside from this it is impossible for one trained
in the ways OF our civilization to look on with SYM
pathy at Chinese banquet There is air of haste
about it with which the habit of a New York board
ing-house Western steamboat is not to be CONF
pared and the chopsticE in operation is not agree
able TO look upon. But seems probable that these
venient instrument, and so slowly rise to the high
culture implied in the exclusive use OF the fork,
50 that we may all sit down at their tables in a year
or two without feeling of nausea. An
other change which they will be sure to be driven
to as the cold months come on, will be the adoption
OF our costume, since their thin blouses, flowing
trousers, and sipshod shoes Will be quite inadequate
TO the exigences of the New England winter
climate; and so they will gain another claim on the
respect OF the tradesmen who will supply their
needs.


North Adams is somewhat surprised at the inter-
est which its local sensation has excited in the
outer world, and looks with amazement at the flock
metropolitan reporters, scarcely less strange than
the chinese themselves who have been attracted
into its pleasant valley The Crsplns are of course
unconverted: but the general Sentiment of the
townsneonle and of the observers from abroad who
have come to look at the Orientals is that of
admiration for many OF their traits The cheapness
of their labor, that its good quality is demon
strated especially strikes the New England mind,
trained is to calculations of economy; and there





respects, who predict that the way will be opened
under the Hoosac, that the sandy barriers Of Cape
Cod will be dug away that the next great railroad
across Massachusetts will be built all within the
next ten years, and all by Chinese labor.


Opposition TO MIR. Chinaman In New York-A


Narrow Policy.


mass meeting of laboring men and trades
unions was held in Tompkins Square, New
York, last evening, to oppose the Introduction
of Chinese labor into this country.


speech of Mayor Hall.


nIonn InIl than fntrn and -
afforded him pleasure to meet his hearers IN the
discussion of this coolie question II it SUBJ
tion was good to talk about on this hot June
evening But 1t was a subject OF too serious ma
Chairman as the Chief Magistrate Of this city. He
felt that the Chief Magistrate ought to be here be.
cause the object of the meeting he was sure met
the sympathies of at least four-hfths OF his
constituents. He was not here as a
politician or demagogue, but he believed
every one holding public position should be willing
to show his hand on this question and not hold his
tongue. The State OF Massachusetts the first in
the country TO introduce the black slave trade two
centuries ago, and 1t the rst in the United
States TO introduce another kind Of tawny slave
labor From the sudden Introduction OF this species
of labor in one OF the towns OF Massachusetts had
sprung this movement. The American people, it
any kind of immigration into this country. The
objection was to traders and man-specuators
bringing men here to overrun labor. Men who
here to Compete with Vi free White labor. II the WHITE
men Of the North are to tolerate this new kind OF
break down black slavery in the South, for il was
only TO a worse species OF slavery introduced
into the North. The trouble on this question COM
menced with the Burlipgame treaty. 1t was the
duty OF the statesmen Of the country have seen
1t at that time and prevented the difficulty. 1t was
by virtue OF that treaty that Mr.. Samson, of North
Adams, claimed the right to introduce Chi
nese laborers to his workshops. He held the
statesmen of the country accountable for
not providing In the treaty for this
difficulty. 1t w0Hld be impossible for
American free labor TO compete with this new sys-
tenn OF Chinese slave labor, and it was the duty OF
Congress to pass laws Immediately regulating
Chinese immigration TO this country 1t was diff
cult question to deal withand there were no one in
Objurgation or the elaboration orevOutionary ideas
He was not here TO suggest remedy; that lay with
the men in power at Washington 1t was not a uues-
tion OF cheap labor merely, but question OF moral
and social Influences in the United States After
some remarks about the vast reservoir OF Chinese
labor, and the necessity OF regulating its introduce
Jion into this country, the Mayor closed amid the
cheers OF tie audience


nEpDIDTE RXDTACJOU