THE CHINESE IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5165, 11 October 1877, Page 3

THE CHINESE IN AMERICA.

(Prom the London and China Express.) An article ou the Chinese in America, from the pen of M. Justin Araero, which (as already noticed) has recently appeared in the Revue dc France, gives in a succinct form the more important features connected with this question, and is of interest as embracing the views of an impartial judge on the subject. If we pass over some slight errors into which he falls, as, for example, speaking of Dr. Legge as the author, in place of the translator, of the Ske-King, M. Amero deserves the credit of having collected in an attractive form a large number of facts tendiog to place the question of Chinese emigration to the United States in its true ligjit. This question, it is justly pointed out, is merely one based upon economical considerations and trade rivalries. At the bottom of much of the reproaches which are heaped upon the Chinese there is a question of money as much for the American capitalists as for American laborers, a question of commercial or industrial rivalry for the one, of wages for the other. John Chinaman, the author holds, is considered to have a great many faults because he is less wanted at the present time than formerly, and is seen to be prospering too well, and to be able to compete only teo successfully with the white population. This is, no doubt, true up to a certain point, but it is still impossible to deny that the Chinese in America have many objectionable qualities which may reasonably be disliked—some of which, are pointed out with accuracy by M, Amero himself. Among the most serious is their habit of establishing everywhere they go a species of imperium in imperio, by means of which the Chinese are kept under the headmen of the secret societies, instead of under the laws of the place. In California this evil is found to exist in much the same way as in Singapore, Penang, Hongkong, and in fact everywhere where Chinese are nominally under foreign rule ; and it will always cause special difficulties in dealing with them and treating them as upon an equality with other citizens. It is at this point we believe that there will probably be much more trouble iu connection with the Chinese question iu America than is likely to arise merely from its economical aspect. Though the laboring, or rather the “rowdy” population may be averse to the Chinaman, and disposed to deal harshly with him, the large mass of the respectable and influential citizens are on the side of fair dealing towards him, and will put down the attempts at ousting him by brute force. But it will rest with the Chinese themselves whether they can obtain in America equal justice with the other citizens ; as, so long as they combine together to obtain special political and judicial advantages, so long, iu the nature of things, will they find themselves the subject of special administrative and judicial restrictions.