THE CHINESE QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8386, 21 March 1907, Page 5

THE CHINESE QUESTION.

(To the Editor). Sir,—The decision had almost been arrived at by me that I would not again notice the letters ;,'csf anonymous conributors to this discussion. It is so easy for any person to skulk behind a pen-name and say almost anything about the man who signs his name to his letters in the public Press. It is a curious fact that, up to the present, not one of those v who claim the Chinese as a brother, has had the moral courage to let the world know who and what he is. Your correspondent, "8.A.," is amusing. It would be too much like breaking a fly on the wheel to take him seriously. "8.A." is one of those, I take it, who considers the Chinese his equal in every way. This must be so, because your corresr pondent says: "We want a man to go through the colonies teaching these doctrines (the free immigration of Chinese, Kanakas, Indian Coolies, Japanese, Syrians, Cingalese, Afghans, Malays, and any other spotted persons there may be), and brushing out of the heads of the people all the rubbish about the 'yellow peril' and 'purity of race.'" It is abundantly clear, then, that "8.A." is quite prepared to see the same sort of thing existing here in New Zealand as already exists in some parts of Australia. Let me ask "8.A." if he has ever been in Cooktown, at Thursday Island, or even in Melbourne or Sydney? If he has, then he should not have asked me the questions he puts in his silly letter. If he has not let him make enquiries, and then let him apologise to me and to the people of Masterton and this colony for having had the colossal impudence to propound the theory of free immigration of Asiatics. Just another question: Has "8.A." ever heard a description of the Chinatown of San Francisco, before it was obliterated by earthquake and fire? If he has not, let him make enquiries and then go away and hide himself as.a mean white not fit for the society of decent men atid women. "8.A." is hot alone-in his abject fear of the yellow alien. He is one of a number who have been crouching and crawling in face of the Chinese and Japanese, and who'have been saying, in effect: "We have not said anything against you, oh, Mighty Chow! We know you can trample us to death; but if you'll only forgive us for the sins of our too-spirited countrymen, we will be your creatures- and welcome you to our country, so that you may take possession and wipe out our civilisation, our Christianity and all that a white man has —through centuries of blood and tears —won for himself and his race." But "8.A." is quite wrong about my ideas concerning the poll tax, just as he is either ignorant or impertinent in other matters. I do not believe in a poll-tax; it is immoral. We have no rig'ht to take money from a source which degrades, brutalises and beastialises our people. I believe in exclusion, and to that end would impose the educational test—a polite way of getting over the trouble there might be with Britain and her treaties. Australia has already adopted this principle in dealing with spotted peoples. It would be waste of time further to argue with a person of the mental and moral fibre— if I may call it such—of "8.A.," and I will, therefore, content myself by asking him a few questions. . I don't want any equivocation or evasion, but straight "Yes," or "No," to each and all of the ,queries :~-(l). Would he like to ser every white man driven out of business in Masterton? (2). If not, why does he defend trading with the Chinese? (3). If all the people were like "8,A." and bestowed their patronage on Chinese in preference to white men because* the Chinese sold at a cheaper rate than the white man, would that not mean the wiping-oufc of every white man's business? (4) Would "8.A." be willing to have Chinese in his house and treat them as equals, introducing them to and causing them to become companions of his wife, sons and daughters? (5). Would "8.A." welcome the Chinese as a son-in-law, and be delighted to see "them all come" and become relatives of the white man in New Zealand? (6) If to advocate "race purity" is rubbish, does it not logically follow that the individual members of the family of "8.A." and of all other families of white people should become merged in the yellow, the brown and the black ] alien, whom "8.A." is so anxious to have come here and take posses- j sion of our colony? (7). Does j "8.A." say that the horrors of Chinatown once existent in San Frar.cisco, but now happily wiped off the face of the earth; the open marts of prostitution of Japan; the Little Bourke Street of- Melbourne; the Goulbourn and other streets of Sydney; the Haining Stfaet of Wellington ; and other hell-holes, should be instituted and multiplied in New Zealand? (8). Why does not "8.A." sign his name to his letters; or is he ashamed?

The greasy hypocrisy.of "8.A.," where he talks of Christianising the Chinese and other Asiatic aliens, is simply nauseating. That is the sort of wretched*peck-sniffianism that passes current among the people, who say they are anxious to take the Chinese to their hearts, but wouldn't have the Chow within a stone's throw of their own homes. Let, me here repeat and emphasise that persons like "8.A." not only identify themselves with the loathsomeness of the Chinese, but would compel us all to live down to the depths of that degradation which has always and must necessarily follow in the train of the Asiatic. Has "8.A." ever read history? If not, let him become a student, and then think shame of himself, if he has any shame in his composition.—l am, etc. J. T. M. HORNSBY. Carterton, March 19th, 1907.

(To the Editor). Sir,—Still another correspondent ashamed of his name, and therefore scarcely worth noticing were it not that B.A. requires enlightening on one or two of his' statements.: By the way 8.A.. stands for severa things, Bachelor of Arts, but no, he can't be that. B.A. is also the cry of a sheep, that is perhaps nearer the mark, for many of his statements are

\ very sheepish. Ah; now I have I struck it, B.A. in this instance stands for Blooming Ass. Well, Mr 8.A., have you never drank Indian tea? If not, it is time you did. It is much better than the Chow stuff, and would clear your brain (if you. have any), and enable you in future to write common-sense. You say, is it not possible to travel further from Christian principle, and from common-sense. • Why, you have neither, for no one who has any dealings with a Chow has any principle in them, and precious little common sense, and if you had any of the latter it should not require Mr Hornsby or anyone else to mention instances of Chow depravity. Read the "Truth" every week, and you will see plenty there to enlighten you on the subject. Only a few weeks ago two Chinamen, hailing from Adelaide Road, Wellington, were sent to gaol for offenc€.s against young girls. There, Mr 8.A.,' is evidently a piece of news you never knew before, and if you want any more I can supply you with lots of it. You are evidently lost to all shame when you defend the yellow-faced ape as you do. But enough, you are not worth wasting any more time over except to let you know that my name (and lam not ashamed of it like you, "8.A.") is— PERCY COBB. Masterton, March 19th, 1907. (We cannot publish your letter as J received, as it would not be journalistic etiquette to do so. , Any correspondence concerning our local contemporary should - be forwarded to that paper.—Ed. W.A.).