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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2146, 31 July 1907, Page 2

To tho Editor. Sir, —It is with pleasure I again riulicjo a further letter irom my opponent, Mr. Enlioy, on tlio Chinese question. . it is extremely difficult to iollow the complex nature ol an. argument, which leads to the implied assumption oi stuiiiUity to u people oi an entire colony, based on a iac'k oi knowledge of constitutional law. Surely education on tho colonial mind is incapable ol forming such absurd syllogisms. i’urther, 1 note his previous assertions remain unproven, viz.: “That Chinese' immigration is a cause oi degeneracy, and that phases of the •Act'of Constitution are iniquitous.” A proof of the first is attempted by tho time-worn argument of marriage, 1 on which a deduction of the iniquity of the Act primarily responsible for immigration, is consequently based. '•Sir, had my opponent studied any literature on this subject be would j have studiously avoided the weak argument evolved by the question of “Inter alien marriages and social degeneracy.” Tho tliome is by no means original, as all thinkers have admitted freely, firstly, that moral degeneration is “ipso facto” a prooxistant factor in the individual member of a higher race contracting such a union, and secondly, social degeneration is assuredly existant in •any institution, “denominational or otherwise,” contracting to make such binding and legal (conversion and orthodoxy being inadmissablc). This is applicable to all inter alien, marriage contracts inclusive of Chinese, whether they be the outcome ol moral perversion or personal and social aggrandisement. But when such does occur, experience in the life of nations amply proves the statement (in general and not individual instances) that the pre-exist-, ing factors such as I have quoted' above, become submerged Jin : the finer instincts evolved by Jthe offsjiring from the parent possessing tho higher hereditary moral standard, and tends, therefore, to elevation rather than degeneration. Thin tho progeny to such contracts claim the full . rights of citizenship, and gain ready acceptance to our most cherished and exclusive social mysteries, examples of which are toe numerous and apparent to invite particularising, or controversy. While fully endorsing the remark: of my opponent in the latter half o’ his correspondence, and freely acced ing to him that prohibitive legislation will settle the question. I still maintain such is impracticable under the conditions I have pointed out, and the only alternative admissable for tho happiness and general content of this colony is at present contemplated by the Government, namely Restrictive Legislation. JAMES COLLINS.