Show CHINESE labor labon IN THE WEST THE completion of the great continental highway which brings the pacific and the atlantic oceans and all the intermediate territory into such close connection is likely to force the question of chinese labor upon the attention of the country already in california it has become a subject of considerable sid erable interest many see little to hope but much to fear from the influx of the chinese if their views be correct it is a peril which not only menaces california but the whole country the railroad brings brings the eastern states into such close connection with san sall francisco and asia that only ten to fifteen days more will be required to import laborers from china than are now necessary to bring emigrants from europe they have come by thousands to california and thou though h driven from the mines that americans P and eur europeans 0 deem valuable they contrive to live and save money by working in the streams and placers which the dominant race has deserted such a current of emigration will not remain in I 1 n california it will set eastward the force of circumstances will push it in this direction the european laborer in the east will not work for less than two or three dollars a day but the chinaman will work for less than a dollar the latter is frugal and patient and as industrious as a beaver he will live where one of the so called superior race woula starve his food is a little rice and he eats meat but seldom ile he indulges in no dissipation but is simple abstinent and very economical in the building of the central pacific railroad rall Eail road he has hag ben found a most efficient and relia rella reliable ble ule laborer the san sau francisco rim Tim times essays says thau thai there are who have been on that work vork who are betler better at aligning roads than many white men who have been educated in the business and they will strike a truer line with the unassisted eye P than most white men can with witti the use of instruments it is said too that they are not the inferior of the white laborer in point of strength and capacity for work this point was tested by the central pacific company A party of irishmen and a party of were pitted against each other in blasting through hard rock for a tunnel bets were freely made that the white men would come out winners but at the end of the day when the work of each party vas nas measured it was found that the had burrowed further into the rock than the others and were moreover less fatigued the presence of chinese in large numbers in the western states and territories will inevitably work a great revolution in labor works will be accomplished which without their aid s and aslaber as labor now costs would be lef left t they are adapted for almost any species of labor ag cooks they are said to be better than any nation save the french as mechanics they are remarkably skillful and as clerks they are reliable these are excellent qualities and as a race they possess them to a wonderful extent their good temper patience docility and intelligence are themes of comment among those best acquainted with them yet politicians in california are particularly ticul arly hard on the chinese their popularity depends upon refusing them every privilege and right which other races however profligate and worthless bemb members ers of them may be enjoy to the fullest extent the prejudices of the voting people govern them because their election to places of profit and power depend upon them hence in that state they are treated like dogs they are chased abused robbed and abominably maltreated mal treated by men and boys their terror affording only amusement and even the dogs are set upon and taught to bite them and yet those thos 0 who thus torture this race call themselves christians and mock and denounce them as idolaters idol idola tors aters and he athens we have seen it urged against the chinese that they are bound fast in the swaddling clothes of superstition from which they show no disposition to emancipate themselves but who can expect them to do otherwise under the treatment which they receive the very name of christianity must be dis gusting to them with such examples of its fruits before them as they are too often compelled to experience cling to their heathenism they would be little less than idiots not do so under the circumstances men may prate to them about american civilization I 1 free and enlightened institutions the spirit of progress and advanced christianity until doomsday but they will fail to respect or attach any value to these high sounding phrases and professions while they are treated like wild beasts humanitarians will doubtless take up this question it is one that will force itself upon the attention of the nation the decision must come the true and only correct method of settling it is to treat them as human being bein gsand sanci as fast as they prove themselves capable grant them the rights of citizenship these are willing to work and work cheap at any kind of drudgery if the anglo saxon is superior being which he affects to behe can with safety assume the direction of this class of laborers he can employ them to good advantage and instead of living a life of drudgery himself higi self seif he can cultivate his brain and direct and manage their labor to his own and their advantage if he treat them kindly and pay them honestly he will do more to convert them to his religion and wa ways Ys than years of preaching with a contrary practice would do and he need not be afraid that their degradation vices or barbarism will hurt him |