Cornell University Library
JV 7285.C5A5 1885

Report of the Royal commission on Chines

3 1924 023 463 940

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GAYLORD

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REPORT

OF THE

ROYAL COMMISSION

ON

CHINESE IMMIGRATION

REPORT AND EVIDENCE.

OTTAWA :
PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION.

1885

PREFACE.

Owing to the limited time at the disposal of the Commission Mr.
Jusice Gray, believing that thereby the work would be expedited, decided
to bring out and personally superintend the printing of his Report at the
same time as that of the other Commissioner was being printed. As a
consequence, each report is paged independently in Roman numerals-
At the close of the first report, (page cxxxiv), the second report com-
mences, and at the close of the second report, (page cii), the Minutes of
Evidence and Appendices will be found, paged with Arabic numerals. In
referring to the volume, therefore, it is only necessary to remember that
the first one hundred and thirty-four pages are devoted to that portion of
the Report signed by the Chairman, (Mr. Chapleau) ; that one hundred
and two pages follow devoted to that portion signed by Mr. Commissioner
Gray, and that the Evidence, Appendices and Index are paged with
ordinary numerals.

At the end is an analytical Ind'ex to the Minutes of Evidence and
Appendices. A succinct narrative of facts, by it the reader may learn not
■only where testimony is given in respect of any subject, but also all
that is said on any subject.

To the Report proper of the Coinmissioners there is no index.

It is usual to give at the end of a report a list of the witnesses. This
course is not adopted because the names of all the Canadian witnesses are
set out in Mr. Commissioner Gray's report p. li. The need of such a list
disappears when the witness's name heads the page as in the present
volume.

In the enquiry at San Francisco in 1876, evidence was taken respecting
the Chinese immigrant in all parts of the world, from San Francisco

to Melbourne ; the subject was literally surveyed " from China to Peru ; '
and the Commission to the Canadian Commissioners called for all infor-
mation attainable respecting it. When the page-heading on the odd
page instead of " Enquiry at San Francisco " is " Chinese in Australia," or
the "Chinaman in China," &c., the general heading of "Enquiry at San
Francisco " will be as it were read over the other — the substituted head-
ings being used for the purpose of more rapidly guiding the eye to the
matter below. Had there been room at the top of the page, and were it
necessary to be so explicit, the general heading would have run : Enquiry
at San Francisco into Chinese immigration there and wherever it has
gone, with the view of obtaining information to guide in forming a.
judgment respecting that immigration in British Columbia.

CONTEIN^TS.

The Commission Y

•Commissioners' Repobts :

Hon. Mb. Chaplbau's vil

Hon. Mb. Justice Gbay's page 1 follows Enquiry at San Francisco p. cxxxiv

Minutes of Evidence :

San Francisco 1—41

British Columbia 42 — 151

Return of Excise Duty collected from Chinese on cigars manufactured 151 — 153

Statements put in 153 170

Portland 171—177

List of Appendices :

A. Absthact of evidence taken before a Joint Comimttee of the Senate and House of

Representatives of the United States in 1876 I79 ^36

B. Communication from Rev. Philip Dwyer AM., of Victoria, B.C., which accompanied

his views on the Chinese question 361 — 362

C. NUMBEBS and occupations of Chinese in British Columbia 363 — 366

D. Nabbative of visit to Chinatown, San Francisco 366 — 370

E . Nabbative of visit to Chinatown, Portland, Oregon 370 — 371

F. Text of the Amendment to the Restriction Act of 1882 371—375

G. Judgment of the Hon. Mr. Justice Gray on the Chinese Tax BUI, passed by the British

Columbia Legislature on the 2nd September, 1878 375 — 383

H . Calbndab of Chinese cases brought before the Victoria Police Court 383—388

I . Retubn of convicts sentenced to the British Columbia Penitentiary from Ist January,

1880, to 30th June, 1884 389—393

J . Statement showing amount of taxes paid by Chinese in Victoria from 1st January,

1879, to 31st December, 1883 394

K . Numbeb of Chinamen who have paid Provincial Revenue Tax 395

L. Numbeb of Chinamen, Indians and whites employed at the salmon canneries 395

M . Retubn showing the number of immigrants who have arrived and settled on the

mainland 396

Statement of coal exported from Victoria and Nanaimo, British Columbia 396

Passengebs arriving at Victoria, for four mouths of 1884 396

N . SuMMAET of Customs' Revenue collected from Chinese firms for the fiscal year ending

June 30th, 1883 397

Summaby of Customs' Revenue collected from Chinese firms for the fiscal year ending

June 30th, 1884 398

Imposts from China (direct) into British Columbia 398

Numbeb of passengers entering Victoria, B.C., whites and Chinese 398

Numbeb of persons represented by goods passed free of duty under the head of

settlers' effects 399

O. Cobbespondencb 399—404

p. Nabbative of visit to Chinatown, British Columbia 404

Q . Rbpobt of a decision rendered by the Hon. George Ogden Hoffman, of the United

States District Court, in the matter of Tung Yeong on habeas corpus 405 — 409

R. Retubns showing number, occupation, sex, &c., of immigrants recorded at the Pro-
vincial Immigration oflBce at New Westminster 409 — 410

S. Chinese Immigration in the Sandwich Islands 411

Answers to questions by Secretary of Foreign Office, Honolulu 411 — 412

Foreign Office notice— regulations respecting Chinese immigration 413

Text of an Act to regulate the landing of passengers arriving at the different ports

in this Kingdom 413

T. Postscript to Chief Justice Begbie's evidence given on page 71 414

COMMISSION.

On tlie 4tli of July, 1884, the following Commission was issued : —

CANADA.
LANSDOWNE.

Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen,
Defender of the Faith, etc., etc., etc.

To all to ivhom these presents shall come or whotn the same may in any ivlse concern .

Greeting: — Whereas, during the last session of the Parliament of Canada, a motion was made
as follows : " That in the opinion of this Hovise it is expedient to enact a law prohibiting the
incoming of Chinese to that portion of Canada known as British Columbia," which motion was
withdrawn on a promise made by the Right Honorable the Premier on behalf of the Government
that a Commission should be issued to enquire into and report upon the whole subject of Chinese
Immigration ;

And whereas We deem it expedient in the interest of, and as connected with, the good
government of Canada to cause such enquiry to be made ;

Now, know tb that We, by and with the advice of our Privy Council for Canada, do by these
presents nominate, constitute and appoint the Honorable Joseph Adolphe Chapleau, Doctor of
Laws, one of our counsel learned in the law, and our Secretary of State of Canada ; and the
Honorable John Hamilton Gray, Doctor of Civil Law, a Judge of the Supreme Court of British
Columbia, Commissioners to make enquiry into and concerning all the facts and matters
connected with the whole subject of Chinese Immigration, its trade relations, as well as the social
and moral objections taken to the influx of the Chinese people into Canada.

And We do hereby, under the authority of an Act of the Parliament of Canada, passed in the
thirty -first year of our reign, chaptered thirty-eight and intituled "An Act Respecting Inquiries
Concerning Public Matters," confer upon the said C(^imissioners the power of summoning before
them any party or witnesses, and of requiring them to give evidence on oath, orally or in writing
(or on solemn affirmation, if they be parties entitled to afBrm in civil matters), and to produce
such documents and things as such Commissioners deem requisite to the full investigation of the
matters into which they are appointed to examine.

And We do order and direct that the said Commissioners report to our Privy Council for
Canada from time to time, or in one report, as they may think fit, the result of their enquiry.

In testimony whereof, We have caused these our Letters to be made Patent and the Great
Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed :

Witness, our right trusty and entirely beloved cousin, the Most Honorable Sir Henry Charles
Keith Petty -Fitzmaurice, Marquis of Lansdowne, in the County of Somerset, Earl of
Wycombe, of Chipping Wycombe, in the County of Bucks, Viscount Calne and Cain-
stone, in the County of Wilts, and Lord Wycombe, Baron of Chipping Wycombe, in the
County of Bucks, in the Peerage of Great Britain, Earl of Kerry and Earl of Shelburne,
Viscount Clanmaurice and Fitzmaurice, Baron of Kerry, Lixnaw and Dunkerron, in the
Peerage of Ireland, Knight Grand Cross of our most distinguished Order of St. Michael
and St. George, Governor-General of Canada and Vice-Admiral of the same.

At our Government House, in our city of Ottawa, this fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-four, and in the forty-eighth year of our
reign.

JBy command,

G. POWELL,

Under Secretary of State.

REPORT

CHINESE IMMIGRATION

KOYAL COMMISSION.

To His Excellency the Governor-General in Council:

'We, the undersigned, having been appointed by a Royal Commission
dated the 5th July, 1884, to make enquiry into and concerning all the
facts and matters connected with the whole subject of Chinese immigra- p^guin"'' ""*
tion, its trade relations as well as the social and moral objections taken to
the influx of the Chinese people into Canada, and to report to the Privy
Council for Canada, from time to time, or in one report, the result of our
enquiry, have the honor to report as follows : —

On the 9th of August we met at Victoria, B.C., when the Secretary First ineeting in
submitted all papers received and evidence taken at San Francisco.
Commissioner Gray approved of the proceedings at San Francisco, and it
was agreed the same should form part of the work of the Commission.

PRELIMINARY.

The first sitting for the reception of evidence was held on the 1 2th of f '^^'' sitting to

° _ ^ _ liear evidence.

August, after due notice had been given in the newspapers.

The public was then admitted to the place of hearing. Ample arrange-
ments had been made for the accommodation of the press. Proceedings
were commenced by the Secretary reading the Commission, after which
the Chairman said :

" British Columbia has repeatedly by her Legislature, as well as by her 'i'lie Ciiairman

^ •' •' o . > J states tiie cireuni-

representatives in Parliament, solicited the Executive and Parliament stances out of

. wliicii Commis-

of Canada to enact a law prohibiting the incoming of Chinese to sion arose.

British Columbia. Nothing was done in that direction until last session

of Parliament, when Sir John Macdonald, speaking in answer to a

motion asking Parliament to enact a law in the above sense, pledged

his Government to issue a Commission to look into the whole subject

during the approaching session, and to consider exhaustively its trade

relations, its social relations, and all those moral considerations which it

is alleged make Chinese immigration undesirable, with the view, as he

PRELIMINARY.

Points on which
information is
asked.

stated, of putting the Government and Parliament in a better position to,
deal with the subject. It will also be a part of the duties of the Com-
mission to examine the evidence submitted in Australia, California and
Washington, and to condense and collate it and to submit it with its
report to Parliament, so that the Parliament of Canada may have, in a
convenient shape, together with the researches of the Commissioners, all
the information which the legislative bodies of the United States and
Australia had when they undertook the work of legislating on this ques-
tion. This proposition of the Government met with the unanimous consent
of Parliament. The Commission has been named in fulfilment of that
pledge. The scope of its functions is co-extensive with that of the pledge of
the Premier. It has made researches in "Washington, and is in possession of
the evidence and papers submitted to Congress. I visited San Francisco
and have carefully examined the differnt points submitted to the Commis-
sion by the light of what is to be seen there, and have taken the evidence
of those who should be well informed. The Commission is now opened
here for the purposes indicated in the Order in Council, which has been
read, appointing it. The Commissioners wish for the fullest information
on all matters submitted to them, viz : —

"(1.) The advisability of passing a law to prohibit the incoming of
Chinese into British Columbia or Canada.

" (2.) The advisability of restricting the numbers coming in or of regu-
lating it, and the best manner of effectually carrying out such object.

" (3.) The social and trade relations between the people of British
Columbia and Canada generally with the Chinese, both now and in view
of the anticipated early completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, as
well as the effective completion of the other public works about to be
undertaken.

" (4.) The moral considerations which arise out of the residence and
contact of the white people with Chinese here and elsewhere.

"The Conimissioners have already, by letters, invited the Executive
Council of the Province and the Municipal Council of this City, and other
representative officials, to give them whatever information is within their
control on this important subject.

" I have only to add that it is the intention of the Government to brin<'
in legislation next session and I venture to express the hope that all
classes of persons, those favorable to Chinese immigration as well as
those opposed to it, will place before the Commission any facts or observa-
tions which will throw light upon the subjects with which the Commission
has to deal.

" We now invite all those who, by their representative character, have
a right to speak in the name of the people of the Province or in the name
of the Municipal Council, to aid in this investigation. We also invite
those who are connected with boards of trade, or who are engaged in larwe
manufacturing, mining or other industrial enterprises, to put their views

Government in-
tends to legislate.

All classes invited
to give evidence.

PRELIMINARY.

and any facts within their knowledge before the Commission. We further
invite those who are engaged in the pursuit of agriculture or stock-raising
to give us such information as will enable us to judge of the question as it
affects their interest ; and finally any information upon the moral questions
from all sources will be received and considered by the Commission. The
Commissioners propose to visit as many of the leading sections of the
province as the limited time at their disposal will permit, and will be
happy to receive a visit from any persons wishing to speak with them
on the subject.

" The Commissioners wish especially for facts, and invite all who feel dis- Facts specially-
posed to put their views or give any statistical information on paper to
hand it into the Secretary of the Commission.''

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray: "I have very little to add to the remarks
made by my brother Commissioner, the Hon. Mr. Chapleau.

" I think it is very important in British Columbia, deeply interested as Necessity of tin?
yre are in this question, that the people should remember that many mem- "^"i^"^'
bers of the Dominion Parliament have had no information on the subject ;
and that it is essential they should be informed in a shape and way that
would justify them in passing a prohibitive or restrictive Act. They will
have also to be put in possession of proof that would justify them before
their constituents, in the event of their supporting a restrictive measure
against the Chinese.

" The object of the Commission is to obtain proof that the principle of re- object of the
stricting Chinese immigration is proper and in the interests of the Province Commission..
and the Dominion. Evidence on both sides is required to arrive at a just
decision ; this is what the Dominion Government seeks in the present
case, and it ought not to be thought unreasonable in British Columbia that
a Commission should be appointed to collect such information as would
'-lead to a right conclusion.

" Sitting as a Commissioner I have to hear the evidence on both sides,
and fairly report it to Ottawa, feeling assured that the people of the Pro-
vince will give the Commission every opportunity to obtain evidence
bearing on the subject."

We then proceeded to call witnesses in British Columbia.

During the investigation in British Columbia, San Francisco and else- witnesses.
where, thirty-one witnesses were examined vivd voce, and thirty -nine by
sending out printed questions, which are set out in the Minutes of Evi-
dence. Many to whom these were sent did not reply, but among
those who did will be found persons of all classes.

Statements in writing were received from those who preferred thus to statements in
record their testimony.

An elaborate enquiry was made by a Joint Committee of the Senate The great onquiryr
and House of Representatives of the United States in 1876. An effort
was made to procure copies of this mine of information on the subject,
for the use of Parliament, but as will be seen by Appendix [O] without

PRELIMINARY.

'Guiding aim in
milking the con-
densation.

Documentary.

All the literature
«n the question
.read.

Commissioners
inrestigate for
themselves.

Preparedness of
mind with which
Commissioners
came to consider-
ation of this
question.

Visits to Chinese
quarters.

Marginal notes.

success. The evidence as printed extended over some twelve hundred
pages. This has been condensed. Counsel or managers appeared heiate
the Joint Committee and the witnesses were examined and cross-
examined. To have noted the transitions from direct examination to
cross-examination would haye greatly lengthened without adding to the
value of the condensation, in making which the aim has been to give,
as much as practicable, in the words of the witnesses, and in a com-
paratively few pages the result of long examinations.

In addition to the evidence we have described we have availed ourselvcB
of much that is documentary. Any documents which we deemed of suffi-
cient importance will be found either set out in the report or in ihe
Appendix. We have further read all the literature bearing on Chinese
immigration, and the issues raised in connection therewith, which the
Library of Parliament and the most diligent search elsewhere placed
within our reach.

As the California Reports are not found in the Library for recent years
we print in the Appendix a judgment of the Honorable Judge Hofl&nan,
bearing on the interpretation of the Act of 1882, and for a similar reason
we produce the Act of 1S84, amending that of 1882.

In British Columbia, in San Francisco and in Portland, the Commis-
sioners investigated for themselves the Chinese question as presented in
each locality ; discussed the problem with leading men of all classes, some
of whom, while expressing themselves freely in conversation, did not wish
to put their opinions on record ; others, for difiFerent reasons, could not be
examined ; and the Commissioners came to the consideration of this
question, not only furnished with the information derived from the evidence
given, but with the advantage of having discussed it with judges,
merchants, statesmen, mechanics and laborers, amongst the whites, and
with Chinese officials. In British Columbia we visited Victoria, Nan-
aimo. New Westminster and Yale.

A brief account of what was seen among the Chinese in San Francisco,
Victoria and Portland will be found in the Appendix [D, E and P].
His Excellency the Consul General of China paid a visit to the Commis-
sion at the Palace Hotel. After courtesies were interchanged, he en-
quired particularly respecting the Commission, and the veto powers of
the Dominion and Imperial Parliaments. The Consul General expressed
a hope that the enquiry would be impartial, and he was assured it
would be.

In taking evidence on large questions and printing it as given, the
same subjects will again and again recur, but as seen by different minds.
The mastery of the whole is greatly facilitated by marginal notes, and
accordingly marginal notes have lieen made.

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

CHINESE IMMIGRATION ELSEWHERE THAN IN CANADA.

We were directed by our Commission to enquire into all facts and Extent of
•' . enquiry,

matters connected with the whole subject of Chinese immigration. We

have accordingly made ourselves — as far as possible through books —

a,cquainted with it as it has existed in various countries.

Happily there was an opportunity of studying it on the spot in that An opportunity of
'^^ •' i^^ •' , , ■ studying the qties-

State where it has appeared on the largest scale and under circumstances tion in the light
■ . . T, • ■ , .o, 1 1 • A 1 X 1 T of the past, the

analogous to those existing m Jtsritish Columbia. And not only so. in present and the

the State in question there had been as a consequence of agitation a great
inquest on the subject nearly eight years ago. That had been followed by
still more violent agitation. The Federal Legislature had passed
two successive Acts dealing with it. One of these Acts came into operation
in 1882. The other was passed at the last session of Congress. In
California for some time there had been railway communication with
the Eastern States, and one of the great difficulties in the way of procuring
white labor had been removed. Here was an opportunity of studying the
question in British Columbia in the light of the present, the past and the
future — for the present of California may prove the likeness of the future
of British Columbia ; of studying it, as we have said, on the spot ; of
testing the depositions of 1876 by the experience of eight years ; of talk-
ing with and examining leading men who had, on one side or the other,
taken part in the agitation ; of enquiring into the eifects and effectiveness
of the several Acts, and of seeing, so far as the opinion of the deliberate
and passionate advocacy of others were concerned, what had been the
influence of those tests of truth — sober second thought and time.

Accordingly in July one of your Commissioners and the Secretary pro-
ceeded to San Francisco.

THE ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

On arriving at San Francisco we at once put ourselves in communica-
tion with leading men and persons who had in a sense made a special
study of the question. A few who could speak with peculiar authority ^^^ Francisco
were asked to give their evidence. They readily complied and, ^bJJd.^"^ "^^^
.save in two cases, a short-hand writer took down verbatim what they
deposed. One of these exceptions was Mr. Babcock, a leading merchant,
a man of great wealth, and an employer of Chinese labor. Mr. Babcock
could not fail to impress anyone with whom he might be brought in con-
tact as being a man of great independence of character and scrupulous
honor. His evidence was summarized, the summary submitted to him. See m. e., p. 13.

PROGRESS OF QUESTION IN CALIFORNIA.

and- he endorsed it. The President cf the Immigration Association of

California, a man who had taken part in the agitation, and who was at the

moment actively engaged in bringing in white immigrants, was a most

valuable witness. On the subject of the relative criminality of Chinese,

the Chief of Police, a detective, and a Police Magistrate were examined.

In regard to charges of personation a late collector of customs was seen.

The Chinese side of the question was given by His Excellency the Consul

General for China at the port of San Francisco, and by Colonel Bee, the

Consul, while on the general question, Mr. Walcott Brooks, an Asiatic

scholar and traveller, of high repute in San Francisco, was heard.

Progress of the A glance at what may be called the progress of the Chinese question in

Chinese question _,,.. i-a

in California. California will be useful. At first the Chinamen were welcomed.. In

See p. .S39, Ap. A. 1852, said a witness before the Joint Committee, they marched in our
fourth of July processions ; in 1862, they dared not show themselves; in
1872, had they dared to appear on the scene, they would have been;
stoned. The Joint Committee mentioned above met at San Francisco to
report to Congress on the character, extent, and effect of Chinese immigra-
tion. They met at the Palace Hotel in October, 1876, and a very full
enquiry took place.

Vague ideas on One feature of the early stage of the enquiry is worth noting. On a

questions capable . , i ,. , • , , ,

of being settled point which was capable oi being settled to a demonstration, the vaguest
with certainly. ., . , ^ r. ■ ., , ,„ °

ideas, even m the case or eminent men, prevailed. We allude to the

Chinese popula- number of the Chinese population in California. One put it down at

116,000; another at 150,000, and another a;t 250,000. Not dissimilar

were the estimates formed of the number of Chinese in British Columbia..

One contractor told us there were 3,00.0 in Victoria.

Two independent Now, there were two independent sources of information which

sources ot infer- i it i

niation. yet, when compared, tallied and thus tested each other. The census

showed that in 1870 the Chinese population of the whole of the

United States was 63,199. Of course, there may have been an enormous

increase in six years. That increase was, however, known. From the

records of the Custom House, a tabular statement had been made of the

arrivals and departures of Chinese from 1860 to 1876. Accordinc' to that

statement the excess of arrivals over departures, from 1870 to 1876 was

Chinese popula- 54,595. This, provided none had died, would give 117 794 If we p<;ti'
tion in the U.S. in , .i i i i , . j.^ y.c c=.vi

1876. mate the annual death rate at two per cent, on an average population of

90,000, this would give 12,600 for seven years, and 12,600 subtracted
from 117,794 leave the result of 105,194. The tabular statement betweea
1870 and 1876 is capable of being tested. If that statement for the years,
from 1860 to 1869 inclusive is compared with the census for the period,
we find a substantial agreement. If the tabular statement was right for
these years, it was likely to be right for the years from 1870 to 1876. No-
one, indeed, disputed the correctness of the figures for these years.

This 105,194 has to be spread over the United States. The bulk
of the Chinese population is on the Pacific Coast; but not nearly all
In 1870. according to the census. California had 49.277 ! Nevarlo q i en

POPULAE FKELIN6.

Oregon, 3,330 ; Idaho, 4,274 ; Montana, 1,949 ; the fraction remaining yo™|^^°^'|"

being distributed among the other States. Did the same proportion hold f"^ "* California

in 1876, the number in California might be about 80,000. How accurate

is this reasoning will be seen by the number of Chinese in the whole of

the United States in 1880, according to the census of that year, viz. :

105,465 ; in California, 75,132.

Yet language of panic was held respecting the immense number of these Unreasonable

X o • mi 1 excitement con-

people. This language was heard in the halls of the enquiry. The mora) sequent on a false

J. , . . ., . , , . , . , T , ■ , , idea of the num-

01 this as it strikes us is that this question can be discussed with calm- bers of Chinese.

ness and dignity, and certainly without that excitement which is born of

the fears of a rising deluge.'

Some 75,000 Chinese in a State, not then counting a million inhabitants,

may have been a danger, may have menaced the interests of trade and

labor, and in city and county may have had a degrading and demoralizing

influence. But if so, the proper way is to lay the finger on the sore place. The proper way

. . „ .,■,-, 1 • , to discuss a pubUc

and not rave about imagmery facts nor assail with wild assertions and question; get at

irrational vituperation, a whole class which like other classes contains good
and bad.

Perhaps, however, a deep insight may discover a kind of justification
for a sentiment which had the complexion of terror. Looking at the
history of countries where two races have existed side by side in any ratio A great que
of proportion as to numbers, are there possibilities in Chinese immigration ■„.,

to explain this panic-like state of mind, by a reference to an instinctive
appreciation of a real and momentous issue unconsciously veiled under
violent accusation and trivial controversies ? The people sometimes, as
it were, scent danger in men or measures or movements, without being
able to analyse the source of their alarm. They conceive violent aver-
sions or apprehensions, or both, and their causal faculty leads them to
cast about for reasons for their sensations to satisfy themselves and others,
and these reasons generally partake more of the character of invective
than of logical deduction. This is a question which will naturally come
up hereafter.

It is a serious step to take, to exclude any law-abiding workers from A serious step to
„ , , , . ,. . . . , .1 . • exclude law-abid-

your country as a held to wm a living m or even to hamper their ingress ing workers.

save on sanitary grounds ; it may be quite right, however, to adopt one or But there may be
other course ; there may be good reasons for doing so. But in the theae^should b"
interest of what is expedient as well as just, these are the reasons to be ^ ^ ® '
found out and produced, and not rest what should be a grave act of
statesmanship, and what might prove a wise and far seeing course, on
indiscriminate abuse.

It is not improper to say that the Chinese have no votes, that they do ^^ ^^^^ j^^ fg^jp
not speak the English tongue, that they do not belong to a nation p^'^^-
which, when her subjects are insulted or damnified, can hold high lan-
guage, and the commonest sentiments of manliness, not to speak of
chivalry, suggest the reserve of expression which the weak may claim
from the strong.

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Mistaken
violence.

Chinese judged
by an unfair
standard.

Sweeping
generalizations.

Things innocent in
themselves re-
garded as serious
objections if not
crimes.

There may be a
strong case for
Gfovemment in-
terference.

A Nevada miner's
view of the case.

The very violence with which the Chinese are assailed creates in many
minds a prejudice in their favor and in any case is unworthy of civilized
men. To say of men the bulk of whom are marvels of frugality, industry,
and — save for the use of opium — temperance, that they are all thieves
and scoundrels defeats itself.

The truth is the Chinese are judged by an ideal standard. They do not
get the benefit of the doctrine of averages. They are not measured by
that charitable rule which justice no less than humanity leads us to apply
to all other men. If one Chinaman steals, it is concluded that all are
thieves. If a man of this temper were to read the tragedy of Tchao Chi
Con Ell he would at once cry out : " What a depraved people these Chinese
are ! Here is one of their most popular plays founded on treason and
murder by a great minister, who puts his master to death, kills all the
royal family except the daughter of the King, and afterwards determines
on the death of her child, born subsequently to the massacre in which her
husband perished." He would work himself up into a state of great
indignation, and give vent to sweeping ethnological propositions, forget-
ing the plot of Hamlet, of Macbeth, of Richard III, and oblivious of the
daily revelations of the newspapers. Not merely are they judged by an
unfair standard and painted blacker than they are, things innocent in
themselves, because different from what we are used to, are in the true
spirit of barbarism, treated as badges of degradation. A Chinaman shaves
the front part of his head and wears a queue. He cuts his clothes somewhat
differently from western peoples. His boots are made on a different plan
from ours. To that tyrannical and narrow judgment ever found confident
and aggressive where ignorance is supreme, the pig-tail, the shaving the
front part of the head, the blowse and shoes, are all so many marks of
inferiority. Yet the laborers of one of the most civilized of nations wear
the blowse ; and as to shaving the front part of the head, shaving the chin
might, from an absolute stand-point, appear as ridiculous, while amongst
ourselves, in these days of overstrained nervous energy, nature frequently
imposes a denuded front, and goes even farther stUl, without the aid of a
scissors ; nor is it so long ago since queues were seen in the drawing
rooms of St. James and Versailles.

But though a man's logic is weak what he advocates may be sound, and
when you have covered some or all of his arguments with ridicule and
discomfiture it does not follow his cause lies prostrate with himself.
That the Chinese immigration is a bachelor immigration ; that the China-
man can live in a space and on food wholly inadequate for a white laborer •
that they are independent of and indifferent to all the comforts of life
as they are understood in white communities ; these, which are admitted
facts, may be serious not merely for the laborer but for the nation, and
it is our duty to probe the facts to the bottom. Senator Jones, of Nevada,
tells of a miner who put it this way to him :

"It is immaterial to you, as far as your own position is concerned, who
the workmen may be that are under your control ; but to us it makes a

A MINERS VIEW.

vast difference. I work a thousand feet under ground. I go every morning
and take my lantern a thousand feet from the cheery light of day, and
work hard all day for four dollars. On that hill-side there is a little cot-
tage in which my wife and four children live. The forces of our
civilization have, in the struggle for an adequate remuneration to labor,
given me enough to support that wife and those children in the decency
and comfort in which you see them now. I have separate rooms in which
the children may sleep ; my wife must be clothed so that she does not
feel ashamed in mixing with her neighbors ; the children must be clothed
as befits decency and order and the grade of civilization in which we live,
and we must have a variety of food to which we have been accustomed
and a taste for which we have inherited from our ancestors.

"While my work is very arduous I go to it with a light heart and
perform it cheerfully, because it enables me to support my wife and my
children. I am in hopes to bring up my daughters to be good wives and
faithful mothers, and to offer my sons better opportunities in life than I
had myself. I cheerfully contribute to the support of schools, churches,
charitable institutions, and other objects that enter into our daily life ;
but after I have maintained my family and performed these duties not
much is left of my wages when the week is ended.

" How is it with the Chinaman? The Chinaman can do as much work No wife, no
underground as I can. He has no wife and family. He performs none of ^ '''
these duties. Forty or fifty of his kind can live in a house no larger
than mine. He craves no variety of food. He has inherited no taste
for comfort or for social enjoyment. Conditions that satisfy him and
make him contented would make my life not worth living. * * *

"You have got some thousands of workmen here in exactly the same Th^ Christian
position I am. When these are driven out, what will be the situation ? way to Chinese
You have a society now that is governed by patriotic instincts ; a society Novels.
that maintains civil government ; maintains schools and churches, and all
the ins^'itutions of civilization ; all around you are the houses of American
workmen whom you know, whose language you understand, whose tradi-
tions, hopes and fears are common to our race, whose gods are your gods,
and whose affections are your affections. What will you have in their
place? Instead of them you will have Chinese hovels, Chinese huts
everywhere ; and, instead of an American civilization, you will have
got a Chinese civilization, with all its degrading accessories, precisely as
you might find it in China. Around you would be a population of Chinese,
with Chinese tastes, Chinese language, and Chinese customs.

" By the genius of our people, and by the aid of the machinery which we
have invented, it has been made possible for the American workman to
have a certain share of the products of industry which is much larger
than in any other country. Without contributing anything toward this Cliinaman comes
the Chinaman comes in, taking advantage of our skill and of our toil and advant^e of con-
of our struggles, and drives us from the fields of industry which we have ditions created by
created and which our race alone could create. "

This language is clearly not the language actually used by any miner.
But it none the less expresses the miner's sentiments. We have heard
such sentiments, and Senator Jones here condenses many a harangue from
his white workmen.

Nor is it, from their point of view, an unfair way of putting the case,
while if there is danger anywhere of such a change in the character of a
population, small or large, who would say it is a thing of which a
statesman is not bound to take note ?

ENQUIRY AT SAN PEANCISCO.

A searching and
complete examin-
ation.

United States
legislation
against Cliinese
laborers.

Calilomia, whicli
had no existence
thirty years ago,
a State as large as
France.

Although the time it was possible to remain in San Francisco was
short, a very searching and it is hoped a complete examination of this
question was made. The enquiry of the Joint Committee of the Senate
and House of Representatives of the United States, already alluded to,
had been carefully studied, as had been much other literature Eight years,
had elapsed since that enquiry had taken place. It was important to
know whether the gentlemen who then testified still adhered to their
testimony. Meanwhile, as will be more particularly referred to later on,
the Treaty relations between the United States and China had been
modified. The date of the new Treaty, is November 17th, 1880; of its
ratification, July 18th, 1881. An Act roughly described in the newspapers
as " the Exclusion Act," but which might more accurately be described
as the Chinese Laborers Exclusion Act, was passed May 6th, 1882. More
than three years and a half, therefore, had gone by since the first decided
step towards exclusion was taken, and more than two years since a
most stringent exclusion Act, so far as laborers were concerned, was
placed on the statute book. An amendment Act — which is reproduced
in the Appendix (F) — was just coming into operation.

Here it .should seem were conditions more than usually favorable for
judging, in the light of experience, the whole question, as it presents itself
in Canada.

There was still a good deal of feeling on the subject of Chinese
immigi-ation.

We were in a new country, a State as large as France, a State which
had no existence thirty years ago, a country, moreover, of peculiar climate
and peculiar geographical features, and we first directed our enquiry to the
influence of Chinese immigration on

THE DEVELOPMENT OP THE COUNTRY.

Development of
country.

The forty-niners.

A railway a
necessity.

The Chinaman
comes forward i
a laborer.

California, like British Columbia, without a railway must have, sa
far as direct communication was concerned, remained isolated from the
life and commerce of the greater portion of the continent. Between her
and all that is meant by " western civilization, " rose two immense chains,
of mountains. More than this there are vast tracts of but partially settled
land between the mountains and the Missouri.

Such enterprising spirits as the Porty-Niners could not but early con-
ceive the idea of overcoming what might well have seemed the impass-
able barriers of the Sierra Nevada. In the absence of a railway the
State could not grow, could not be developed, could receive no immigra-
tion, except in units. The practised eye discerned at a glance the wealth
of her soil, her mineral wealth— but what were these if there were no
laborers 1 She must have a transcontinental line and, again like British
Columbia in this, her development could not be secured by a trans-
continental line alone. She must have local railways. Transportation
from one part of the State to the other could only be made easy for

RAILWAY BUILDING.

-commerce and travel by these. As it were to illustrate the apothegm

that the time produces the man — the Chinaman who had come to California

as to "the land of gold," presents himself as a laborer. As we have

seen, he was welcomed. Friend and foe bear witness to his faithfulness

and his patient industry.

Mr. Low, a former Governor of the State and minister to China, whose Ohincse labor

' ' nad been of great

evidence is summarized in this volume, said that "up to the present Chinese advantage.

labor had been of great advantage to the State, looking at it in dollars and ^"'^ P- ^^- ^P- ^

cents. By reason of our isolation, the laboring classes of the Eastern

States and of Europe could not get here." He goes on to testify that "on

the Central Pacific Railroad four-fifths of the labor for the grading was ^gS^bor^l'r'''''

performed by the Chinese." He adds, that in the work of reclaiming q^?^®'^'''"

swamp lands — the tule-lands as they are called — much the larger portion

was done by Chinese, "for two reasons: first, the labor is cheaper; and,

secondly, it is an unhealthy sort of work, because it is in malarious

districts, and the Chinese seem to be constituted something like the negro ;

they are not afiected by malaria as Anglo-Saxons are." The witness then

makes a statement to the effect, that he was one of the Commissioners

when the Pacific Railway was in course of construction on the western

side of the Sierra. He was on the road when they introduced Chinese

labor. "They first started with white and they came to a stand-still. First started with

They could not get enough to prosecute the work.'' They were then aey^'ame'^toi

ofiering $45 a month and board for white labor. Things came to a stand- stand-stiU.

still. The foreman unwillingly consented to take enough Chinamen to

iill the dump-carts and hold the drills, while white men held the horses and

struck the drills. In less than six months they had Chinese doing every- in less than six

thing, and the foreman said that, taken together, the Chinese did eighty per Chkiese d^ng^

cent, as much as the whites, while the wages of the former were $31 a ^^^'^ '"*'•

month and they boarded themselves. To the white laborers they gave

$45 a month and board.

Mr. Crocker, one of the five proprietors of the Central Pacific Railroad,
said, they went on for a year and a half with white labor. They adver- Advertised but
tised thoroughly but could not get more than 800 men. They got Chi- thSS whitf "'"
nese and found them good all round ; " and to-day if I had a big job of
work that I wanted to get through quickly, and had a limited time to do
it in, I should take Chinese labor to do it with, because of its great relia-
bility, steadiness and aptitude and capacity for hard labor." He goes on
to say that their powers of endurance are equal to those of the best
white men, and that they proved themselves equal to the best Cornish
miners in using the drill. His evidence is so striking we give an extract
from the original report :

" Q. How long have you been in the State ? — A. I have been here
twenty-six years.

"Q. What has been your business? — A. For the last fifteen or sixteen
years I have been building railroads.

" Q. Did you commence the construction of the Central Pacific with
white or Chinese labor ? — A. We commenced with white labor.

men.

See p. 313, Ap.

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Builders of Cen-
tenLPacifiG. road
at first pnqjjB^ifief
against Chinese.

Never covQd get
more than 800
white men.

IDfflciency of
Chinese labor.

Chinese power of
endurance equal
to that of the
best ComiBh

"Q. How long did you continue it ?— A. We never discontinued it;
we have always employed white labor. j r i u t

"Q. I mean how long did you continue with that kind oi labor exten-
l sively 1—A. We continued about a year and a half, when we found we
could not get sufficient labor to progress with the road as fast as wa^
necessary, and felt driven to the experiment of trying Chinese iabor 1
believe that all our people were prejudiced against Chinese labor, and that
there was a disposition not to employ them. * ' v

"Q. You mean that the railroad people were prejudiced ^A. Yes,
sir ; especially Mr. Strobridge and myself, who had charge of the con-
struction, more particularly. I had charge of the construction, and Mr.
Strobridge was under me as superintendent. He thought that the Chi-
nese would not answer, considering what they eat, and other things, and
from what he had seen of them ; he did not think they were fit laborers;,
he did not think they would build a railroad. We advertised very
thoroughly, and sent circulars to every post office in the State, inviting
white labor, and offering large prices for that class of labor, but we failed
to get over 800 men. Our force never went much above 800 white
laborers, with the shovel and pick, and after pay day it would run down
to 600 or 700 ; then before the next pay day it would get up to 800 men
again, but we could not iiacrease beyond that amount. Then we were
compelled to try Chinese labor, and we tried them on the light work,
thinking they would not do for heavy work. Gradually we found that
they worked well there, and as our forces spread out and we began to
occupy more ground, and felt more in a hurry, we put them into the
softer cuts and finally into the rock cuts. Wherever we put them we
found them good, and they worked themselves into our favor to such an
extent that if we found we were in a hurry for a job of work it was
better to put on Chinese at once. Previous to that we had always put on
white men ; and to-day, if I had a big job of work that I wanted to get
through quickly, and had a limited time to do it in, I should take Chinese
labor to do it with, because of its greater reliability and steadiness, and
their aptitude and capacity for hard work.

This is surprising enough ; but what follows is even more astonishing.
Yet that the smaU-boned and unmuscular Chinamen held their own
against the best miners in the world, if they did not beat them, is
established by two or three unimpeachable witnesses.

" Q. What are their powers of endurance 1 — A. They are equal to the
best white men. We tested that in the summit tunnel, which is in the
very hardest granite. We had a shaft down in the centre. We were
cutting both ways from the bottom of that shaft. The company were in
a very great hurry for that tunnel, as it was the key to the position across
the mountains, and they urged me to get the very best Cornish miners and
put them into the tunnel so as to hurry it, and we did so. We went to
Virginia City and got some Cornish miners out of those mines, and paid
them extra wages. We put them into one side of the shaft, the heading
leading from one side, and we had Chinamen on the other side. We
measured the work every Sunday morning, and the Chinamen, without
fail, always outmeasured the Cornish miners : that is to say they would
cut more rock in a week than the Cornish miners, and it was hard work,
steady pounding on the rock, bone-labor. The Chinese were skilled in
using the hammer and drill, and they proved themselves equal to the very
best Cornish miners in that work. They are very trusty, they are very-
intelligent, and they live un to their contracts."

CAPACITY FOR HEAVY WORK.

Mr. Strobndge, the superintendent, who is described by Mr. Low as a Central Pacific
1 • T • 1 i> 11 , 1 1. 1 n hmXt by ChineBC.

" smart pushing Irishman, a^d who utterly retused at first to boss Chi-
nese, gave testimony similar to Mr. Crocker's. The road he satys was
built virtually by Chinese labor. His evidence is not less remarkable
than that of the previous witness and we extract a few of his answers .

" Q. You had draiege of the work, had you not, pretty much, of the
whole of Centrar Pacific Railroad 1 — A. I was superintendent of construc-
tion.

" Q. That gave you the supervision of all the labor on the road ? — A.
Yes, sir.

"How did you commence that road? — A. We commenced it with
white labor.

" Q. Did you change to any other ? — A. Yes, we changed to Chinamen.
I advertised extensively for men, wanted several thousand, and was never
able to get over 700 or 800 men at one time. We increased finally to Unreliability of
10,000. A large number of men would go on the work under the ad- ""'''* '"'"*''•
vertisements, but they were unsteady men, unreliable ; some of them
would stay a few days, and some would not go to work at all. Some
would stay until pay day, get a, little money, get drunk and clear out.
Finally we resorted to Chinamen. I was very much prejudiced against
Chinese labor. I did not believe we could make a success of it. I be-
lieve Chinese labor in this country on that kind of work, never had been
a success until we put them on there ; but we did make a success of
them. We worked a great many of them, and built the road virtually
with Chinamen, though the white labor increased very much after intro-
ducing Chinese labor. We made foremen of the most intelligent of the At one time work-
white men, teamsters and hostlers. We increased, I suppose, to 2,000 or lo^O^d^hlnes^*"*'
2,500 white men. At that time we were working fully 10,000 Chi- laborers,
namen. '•

" Q. Then you changed your views»as to the Chinese as laborers 1 — A.
Very much.

Mr. Strobridge, as will be seen in reply to further questions, confirms
what Mr. Crocker says as to the Chinaman's capacity for heavy work :

" Q. How did you find them to compare in that heavy work on the
Sierra Nevada tunnels, deep cuts and rock-works, with the white labor
you had ? — A. They were equal to the white men.

" Q. They were equal to them ? — A. Yes.

" Q. You had tests occasionally made there, as I read at the time in white and Chinese-
the newspapers, between white labor and Chinese ? — A. Yes. '^'""' tested-

" Q. Who generally came out ahead 1 — A. When they were working on in drift the white ;
a drift, as they sometimes did, if there was any difierence it was with the t^nn^uif ch^
white men ; but the key of the situation was the summit tunnel, which came out ahead,
was very hard rock, and we undertook to stock that with the best of
white men. We considered them to be at that time superior to China-
men, but we were unable to keep the work filled with white men, although
we only worked eight hours. We worked in eight hour shifts, and as we
could not keep the work favorable we put in a gang of Chinamen.
Finally, before the work was half done, perhaps, I do not recollect at
what stage, the Chinamen had possession of the whole work. At last the
white men swore they would not work with Chinamen anyhow.

" Q. In that particular tunnel, or all along 1 — A. In that particular
tunnel, not on the other work. We always had gangs of white men. We
employed all the white men we could get so long as they would work.

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

No white man
turned away.

Perhaps a case in
which Chinese
labor provided
work for white

Do white laborers
employed on rail-
ways settle along
the line?

See J. C. R., p.599,
and p. 304 Ap. A.

.Southern Pacific
constructed not
altogether by
Chinese labor.

" Q. Would you always give white men labor when asked for it ?— A. I
do not think there was ever a white man turned away for want of a place,
to my knowledge."

Now, here was a case in which work was probably provided by Chinese
labor for white men— a thing not at all inconsistent. Mr. Evans'
evidence given below proves that the same thing occurred iu his experi-
ence. Every hour of delay in completing the line was a loss in wealth
and convenience to the people of California, and to workmen or others
looking to a home on the shores of the Pacific. In other industries we
shall see that the contention is made that but for Chinese labor in a
given branch there would be no room for white labor, because competi-
tion with the East would, without the Chinese, have been out of the
question.

Before leaving the subject of railway building it is desirable to call
attention to the evidence of Mr. David D. Colton, the Vice-President of
the Southern Pacific Railroad. His evidence is specially valuable, because
of the light it throws on the effect of a railway built partly by Chinese in
settling up the country. One of the points made by persons opposed to
Chinese is that their employment in the construction of a railway leaves
the country without the advantages of a certain percentage of settlers
sure to have been left behind by white laborers. The assumption that
white laborers employed on a railway settle along the line they help to
construct is gratuitous. The army of men employed by the contractors
in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, from Moosomin to the
Rockies, went back like a returning tide when the contract was fulfilled.
Mr. Colton's evidence shows what we might expect, that the moment the
railway is constructed settlers pour in. To build a line must be a means
of settling up the country through which it passes, and if it can be con-
structed more rapidly by Chinese labor than would be the case were they
not employed their employment must hasten settlement. A portion of
Mr. Colton's evidence is as follows : —

" Q. Are you the vice-president or the president of the company ? —
A. At this time I am the vice-president.

" Q. You have constructed it by Chinese labor I believe 1 — A. Not
altogether.

" Q. I mean principally ? — A. A proportion of it ; the heads of the
construction departments were white laborers.

" Q. The construction of this road gave employment to a great many
white men ? — A. Yes, sir.

'' Q. You had no government subsidy, I believe, in aid of the construc-
tion?— A. No, sir; excepting the land subsidy.

" Q. What is the length of the road from Lathrop ? — A. Prom Lathrop,
or rather from Goshen, between four and five hundred miles of the Southern
Pacific line proper has been constructed.

" Q. A good part of it through a farming country 1 — A. A great por-
tion of it.

" Q. It has opened up that vast country for settlement ? — A. It has.

" Q. What class of people are and have been settling there since the

RAILWAYS PIONEEES.

road was built ? — A. What you might terra an average class of the immi- wiiite settlers
grants who settle up all our new Territories and States. the building of

" Q. White immigrants 1 — A. Pretty much all white. There are very *^® ''"®-
few of any other kind. They are mostly from the Western States ; some
.are Europeans."

The North-West, along the line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, dupli-
oates this experience. After the line was built settlers went in, and now
for many miles on either side it would be hard to find a homestead.

" Q. Could you have constructed that road without Chinese labor ? — Without Chinese
A. I do not think it could have been constructed so quickly, and with q^jokSess or cer
anything like the same amount of certainty as to what we were going to tiiinty in building
accomplish in the same length of time.

" Q. You had several thousand laborers on the road? — A. Yes, sir.

" Q. Could you have obtained that number of white laborers? — A. I
think not.

" Q. Has it not been your experience since your connection with the
Central and Southern Pacific Railroads that you could not obtain white
labor ? — A. We certainly could not in that number.

" Q. What has been the effect of the construction of these railroads Opened up
upon the settlement and building up of the country? — A. From my oi'ianl'that would
stand-point I shink it has done a great deal for this State and coast. It otherwise have
lias been the means of opening up thousands of acres of land that would
otherwise have lain vacant for a long time to come.

" Q. Have the settlements followed the railroads ? — A. Yes, sir ; and
constantly increasing. Our railroad construction is the reverse in this
country from what it is in any other. They are built in other countries
to take people out. Here we build a railroad so that people may go into
the wilderness and settle it up.

" Q. The railroad is the pioneer? — A. Yes, sir. Many districts where Railway the
there were twenty-five and thirty miles between each settlement, or farm P'""'^''r.
house, are now being settled up.. Take the San Joaquin Valley railroad
campared with three or four years ago. One car would then go up the
valley. I have been on the train when there would be but two or three
passengers for the last twenty-five or thirty miles of the road. Now it
takes four cars to do that business.

" Q. What has been the effect upon the prosperity of the State of the
■construction of lateral roads ? — A. I think most favorable in every way.
Lateral roads by themselves would not be profitable to railroad propri-
etors, but they would be of great advantage to the country they would Lateral roads had
open up. I think as a rule they have advanced the value of lands from ^"'iuTof'lan'd 200
200 to 1,000 per cent. Much of the land in the Salinas Valley, for to 1,000 per eent.
instance, was offered to us at $2 an acre, for which they are charging now
$2.5 and $35 an acre since the road was built through that country.

Mr. Colton is as unhesitating as Mr. Crocker and Mr. Strobridge as
to the Chinaman's capacity for hard work and as a laborer generally.

" Q. What is the capacity of Chinese and their inclination to do hard capacity for hard
-work ? — A. I have never placed them in a position where they did not, to work,
use a common expression, fill the bill.

" Q. Did you see the work done on the Southern Pacific Railroad after
it was completed ? — A. Yes, sir.

" Q. I»o you know what kind of men were employed there ? — A. I have 75 j^ gg per cent, of
stated that 75 or 80 per cent, of our construction force were Chinamen, instruction force
I think it is proper for me to say h^re,, that so far as my knowledge goes """^ '
there was never a white laborer who wanted work who was refused.

2

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

" Q. What wages did you pay them : the same as you paid the Chinamen T

—A. No, sir ; we paid them as a rule twice what we paid the Chinamen.

" Q. You paid them twice as much 1 Did they do twice as much work ?

—A. No, sir ; but they did teaming and certain classes of work. I have

Chinamen cannot never seen a Chinaman who could drive a team much. Teamsters and

drive teams. all that department we give to white men. When we are building a

bridge, or trestle work, " it is in the hands of white laborers, and all the

labor done about it, outside of carpenter work, is given to white laborers."

See J. C. R. p. 720, Mr. West Evans save evidence iust as emphatic, just as clear in its

and p. 318, Ap A. ° •" -, , n j.^ jxi ■ *

ring of certainty. Such testimony can leave no doubt ot the efliciency ol

Chinese labor on railways.

" Q. Have you been extensively engaged in building Railroads ? —
A. Somewhat extensively.

" Q. What labor have you used on your works generally 1 — A. In the
manufacture of railroad-ties I have used white labor ; in building railroads
I use mostly Chinese labor.
White labor for " Q. What kind of labor is most satisfactory to you? — A. Chinamen

railway ties; Chi- . \. j.j. j.- £ j.- ii

nese labor build- gi'^e US better satisfaction generally.

ing roads. •' Q In railroading ? — A. Yes, sir ; in railroad building.

" Q. How extensively have you been engaged in getting out raUroad-ties ?
— A. I have been in the business ever since the Pacific Railroad was-
started. I think that was in 1863.

" Q. Supplying that company and others ? — A. Yes, sir.

" Q. How many white men do you employ in your busiest time 1 —
A. Probably from 400 to 500.

Here again is a case where Chinese labor provided employment for
whites, for if the building of the road' were not going forward there
would be no necessity for ties.

Hard to get white " Q. Are you the West Evans who advertised evtensively in a news-
laborers, paper a year or two ago, for white laborers 1 — A. Yes, sir.

" Q. What success did you meet with 1 — A. I got very few.
" Q. How many did you advertise for 1 — A. I wanted a hundred.
" Q. How many did you get ? — A. Twenty or thirty, I guess. I sent
more than a hundred up to the work, but they would not work when they
got there.

" Q. For what reason ? — A. They thought it was too hard work.
" Q. How many did you retain ? — A. From twenty to thirty ; possibly
thirty.

" Q. Did they work by contract or stated wages '? — A. They worked in
building the railroad by the month, and in making ties they worked by
the piece.

"Q. Which road was that ? — A. The Mendocino road.

If surplus of white " Q. Do you think there is a surplus of white laborers in the State ?

h^?a''not°be^'lble A. I have not been able to employ it. I want men now and cannot get them,
to employ it. " Q. What wages do you pay men for labor ^—A. In building the road

we started men in on |40 a month and board. If a man was found to be
worth more, we paid it to him.

"Q. Do you think the Chinese have been a benefit to the State?

A. I think so.
Could not have " Q" Cr''ea% SO ?— A. I do not see how we could do the work we have

achieved so much done here without them ; at least I have done work that would not havps.

without the Chi'

done without them.

nose. been done if it had not been for Chinamen, work that could not have been.

RECLAMATION OP WASTE LAND.

" Q. White men can do any work that the Chinamen could do 'i —
A. Oh, yes ; but, understand me, I tried to get white men to do this
work and failed."

Not merely did railway work offer itself to this laborer ; millions of Tuie-iands.
acres of tule-lands were in the state. These lands, formed by the delta
of the Sacramento and St. Joaquin rivers, and tide-waters are, as the story
of Egypt shows, the most productive that can invite the farmer's toil. They
are very extensive. Mr. Brooks calculates that there are 5,000,000 acres of
such lands Forty bushels of wheat to the acre is an average yield on the
lands formed by the winter freshets, while root crops of all kinds
flourish with extraordinary luxuriance on the land reclaimed from the
overflowing tide. Mr. Seward tells us that in 1876 only 5,500,000 acres
. of land had been brought into cultivation of all kinds. Much of this is
subject to total failure of crops in consequence of droughts. Redeemed
swamp land is liable to no such danger. California is already a great wheat-
producLag State. According to the author just referred to, it is destined
to produce at an early day far more wheat than any other State in the
Union. No rain falls during the harvesting season. Grain may be
stacked with impunity in the open field or piled up without thatching or
cover of any kind. The climate and the fertility of the land reduce the
cost of production to a minimum. The farmer has, moreover, the advan-
tage of safe transportation. The reclamation of tule-lands and the irriga-
tion of higher lands — these are the means by which California is to
attain preeminence in agriculture. 150,000 acres of tule-land were igo,ooo acres of
reclaimed in 1876. These lands are reclaimed by building dykes, ed In'^one yei?!""
gates and ditches, to prevent the overflow. The plan was to con- Chinese employed
tract by the yard with some Chinese merchant, who supplied the men. a head nSm ^'^
Mr. Roberts, President of the Tide Land Reclamation Company, testified
as follows : —

" Q. Could you reclaim these lands with white labor 1 — A. Not success- Land could not
fully at this time. I do not think that we could get the white men to do ^^'^'^^T'^^t
the work. It is a class of work that white men do not like. We have the Chinese,
tried them to a certain extent. The special advantage of Chinese labor
in work of that kind is owing to the contract system. They form little
communities among themselves, forty or fifty or a hundred, and they are
jointly interested in the contract. We could not get white men to do
that. They would not be harmonious and agree among themselves, but
the Chinese form little families among themselves, do their own cooking,
live in little camps together, and the work is staked off for them sepa-
rately. We first give a large contract to one or two Chinamen, and they
sub-let it in smaller contracts ; that is the general system. White labor
could not be worked in that way at all."

The witness created some surprise by stating that the land utterly Value of
waste before becomes worth from $20 to $100 an acre. The Chinese had land from ¥20 to»
by their labor in all directions added eighty or ninety millions a year to
the wealth of California.

Mr. Solomon Heydenfeldt also gave very strong testimony as to the

^^'^'^ ENQUIRY AT SAN PKANCISCO.

useful part played by Chinese in the reclamation of tule-lands, as well as

in every field of labor they entered. Mr. Brooks tells us that a former

Surveyer-General of the State of California computed the wealth for

which the State was indebted to Chinese labor in the building of railways

and the reclaiming of tule-lands at $289,700,000.

•Only by Chinese It is established by incontrovertible evidence — indeed there is no evi

could tule-lands dence on the other side — that only by Chinese labor could these tule-lands

claimed. have been reclaimed. Whether or not white men could have stood the

the malarious atmosphere, while working up to the middle in water,

and a cloud of mosquitoes round their heads, they could not have been got

to do it. Even at the present stage of Californian history it is clear

these lands can be reclaimed only by Chinese. That a day will com^

when white men shall be willing to do that work there can be equally

"Climese specially little doubt. But the Chinese, as one of the witnesses explained, on
fitted for tule- ,_ ■ , • , . ■ , ■„,.-, ^ , , ,

And reclamation, physiological principles are specially fitted for such employment, Isecause

they seem less afiected by air weighted with poison than white men.

Until labor has become a drug in the market no white man can be got

to go into this work of tule-land reclamation, and, therefore, granting for

May fairly be the moment that in the case of work white men will do, a government

whether a govern- should step in and exclude Chinese immigration from interfering with it,

vent Chinese labor °^ limit the interference, it may fairly be questioned whether we have

being available. ^^^^ ^^^.^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^ which Chinese immigration is an unqualified benefit.

Let tule-lands lie For if, in the absence of Chinese, these tule-lands would be left to the

jiniversal loss. mosquito and the bull-frog, this would be a great loss to California, and

therefore, a great loss to the world, and, therefore, also a loss to every

working man on the habitable globe. At a glance it seems as if it was

only the man who owned these tule-lands, who was enriched when, for

what he paid a $1 an acre or nothing, he gets after thoroughly reclaiming

it an average of |75 an acre. Seven or ten million dollars in reahty were

So much added to ^^ ^ single year (1876) brought to swell the wealth of mankind, available

S| area'^o^f''thr' ^°^ ^^^ "^^ °* *li« laborer as well as the capitalist. There had been

world. added 150,000 acres to the bread-producing area of the world.

In this case the Chinese laborer can in no way come into competition
with white labor.
The tule-land ^^^ "^ suppose then, that the companies engaged in the reclamation of

have'chfnamen,"^ tule-lands require a given number of Chinese laborers, it is in the interest
TSalTwec-'"' of every white man, and the working man, no less than the rich man, that
-tions. they should have them, unless there are countervailing considerations of

a moral or political character. Moral and political considerations may
far outweigh material ones. Most important are these aspects of the
present enquiry, and they will be dealt with later on,
■Their opponents ^r. Briggs, who is opposed to Chinese immigration, admits that the
beS'VvCTy'ta-'' Chinese "have been a very important factor in the development of the
?n tlTdevXp"' P"^^^" '^°*^ °^ California, and in the development of the resources of the
Suntey.**^ state up to a certain period. I think," he says, "the time was when they

were greatly needed """* -lirl Tnnrh rrnnrl "

DEVELOPMENT OP COUNTRY.

It would not be just to Mr. Briggs or to the section of public opinion
he represents to leave his evidence here.

Q. " If you look back in the history of California to the time when these Thinks it would
great public works did not exist, would you not find that the bringing in Chinese had never
of Chinamen, for some time any way, would have been a useful plan? — come.
A. I cannot say that, because I believe if the Chinese labor had not been
available, that labor would have been brought here from other sources. I
believe our public works would have been carried on as in the Eastern
States twenty-five years ago. True, it would have been more difficult and
work might have been retarded, but future development of the country by
them would have been of vast importance to the State, whereas with th
Chinese, when the railroads were completed, their mission was ended."

This is the most extreme position taken up by the anti-Chinese party.
In answer to another question he took a more moderate view •

" I think the Chinese have been a very important factor in the
development of our public works, and in the development of the resources
of the state up to a certain period. We have outlived that day. The
building of the overland railroads, and the interior roads, required a pe-
culiar kind of labor ; laborers who would follow up the work and live in
a very primitive way, board themselves, take care of themselves, without
families ; labor that was always to be relied upon, and hence I believe the
Chinese have done a great deal of good to the State. I think we derived
a peculiar advantage from their presence here in early days ; but we
have outlived that day ; we have finished these works, and now this Chinese now in-
labor must go into other channels, other industries, into agriculture, to'ys Mdgirls!''''^
viticulture, factories, etc., and take the places which otherwise would be
filled with white laborers in the towns and villages, and in the country,
to an extent that almost prevents the whites from finding suitable employ-
ment. They now take the place of boys and girls that are growing up in
this country. I believe that the peculiar advantage derived from this
labor has been outgrown."

The positions it will be seen are quite distinct. The one position is Different theories-
that the Chinese in building transcontinental and local railways were pecting Chinese,
almost indispensable, but that now they are injurious ; the other is that
the country would have been ultimately better had it never seen them.
There are those who think the Chinaman's usefulness is gone, if he was
not from first to last an injury. There are again those who think he has
been, is and will be useful.

Men, like Mr. Babcock, say that in a new country cheap labor is a in a new country-
necessity, and a witness before the Joint Committee who was against necessity.
Chinese immigration argued that in a new country cheap labor was
analogous to protection to infant industries. Indeed, Mr. Babcock
goes so far as to say that cheap labor instead of driving out labor provides
a market for it, and we shall see that under certain conditions this pro-
position is sound, though there is a lurking fallacy in the sense attached by
some parties to the word labor.

The mere political economist might ask what is the meaning of such
evidence taken at a grave enquiry 1

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Has a govern- The theory that a government has nothing to do with the rate of

ment anything to ^ ^ -j. ■ i- „alniilatpd

do with regulating wages may be good political economy, but it is not caicuitn-cu

the rate of wages ?^^ commend itself to wage-earners, and is not likely to be acted

on by the government of a country where wage-earners have a potent

voice in the constitution. Nor, indeed, would it be acted on by a wise

statesman, however unchecked his power. It is, however, a dangerous

thing to encourage the idea that a government can be paternal and be

useful. But there is a wide distance between the conviction that govern-

If wages are ment can do everything and that it ca,n do nothing. If it can be shown

natamfcoLpl""" t^at wages are lowered not by a healthy and fair competition between

mideouTfor'" fellow citizens, but between the citizens of the State and aliens whose

fntCTfe^n™*^' standard of comfort is below what the ordinary decencies of life require,

who have thrown aside every weight which could impede them in the

race of competition, then a case would be made out for the consideration

of the Government. At the same time there is the peril of the delusion

Wages cannot be taking hold of the mind of the wage-earners, that wages can be indeiin-

indeflnitelyraised. .^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^ moment wages rise to that height which sends profits

below the rate of interest plus a fair return for risk and exertion on the

part of the capitalist, the speculation will be abandoned, and production

in that particular industry ceases. The stoppage of production diminishes

the general wealth of mankind, and in that diminution every man,

laborer as well as capitalist, shares, and the laborers immediately

thrown out of employment lose in addition what they would have earned,

at current rates, during the time they are out of employment, had they

If an industry can been employed. If, therefore, an industry can be carried on at a profit

Chinese which with Chinese labor which could not be so carried on with white labor,

would'haTc'to be then it is in the interest of the working man and in the interest of

query °areThey the whole community that such industry should be worked by means of

there"? ^^^'^^'^^'' the Chinese, unless, as we have said before, there are counterbalancing

considerations. The character of the labor, whether free or servile, would be

But moral may an element of great importance. If the labor employed be truly servile,

con^dCTatfons."'^ in the end it can only be attended by a curse. It may enrich a few

Influence of individuals, but it infuses a virus into labor relations and the community

generally which no wealth or prosperity can outweigh.

The evidence establishes that Chinese are as a rule brought under
an arrangement something like this : the money is advanced them to
cross the ocean and they agree to pay so much in return. Owing to
the structure of Chinese society on the Coast this undoubtedly looks

Chinese contracts like contract-labor, but it is not ; it is wholly different from the contract
is it coolie labor ? ' • i , -r-, t . ,

by which coolies are carried to Peru. It might be properly described

in a familiar phrase — assisted passage — only that the assisted passage

in this case is a private arrangement. The objectionable feature about

it is the manner in which the repayment is enforced.

An ugly feature. Mr. Frederick F. Low, whom we have before quoted (and there could

he no higher authority), gives evidence as follows ■

CONTRACTS WITH LABOREE

" Q. How is the contract enforced here? For instance, a Chinaman The \vay the con-
lands on our shore ; there is no law here to enforce a contract made *'^*'" "** enforced,
abroad. By what means do they compel the Chinaman to pay the price
per month to the Six Companies. — A. You can very well conceive that
Chinamen coming here, ignorant of our laws, language and customs, with
these Six Companies or any one firm or company telling him what his
duties are, with the surveillance that they exercise over him, and with an
arrangement which they are supposed to have, in fact I know they have, Arrangement
with the steamship companies, that no Chinaman can purchase a ticket TOmpaiS.e™*''*
to return home unless he brings a certificate from the heads of these com-
panies, that he is free from debt ; it is very natural that he will pay his
pro rata per month until he works out his debt.

" Q. The Pacific Mail Steamship Co., a common carrier, subsidized by
the general Government, refuses to take a Chinaman home unless his
associates say he has paid his del >ts ? — A. Not only that company,
but all companies — other companies aside from the Pacific Mail.
There was a company here, of which Macondray & Co. were the
agents, and complaint was made to me Ijy missionaries on behalf of
the Chinese. I remember going myself to Major Otis, who was the
head of the house of Macondray tt Co. I told him I thought
it was a great outrage that they should put this exaction upon
the Chinese. Otis said ' this is the custom ; it has been in existence for
years ; the Pacific Mail Co. do it, and if we do not conform to the custom
all the trade will go over their vessels and we will not get any.' I presume
it is the custom that exists to-day."

Then on all the large works, such as tule-land reclamation and railway Contracts for
building, the contract is not between employes and employed but between works,
the employer of labor and some " merchant," — really, of course, a labor-
broker. On tule-lands the contract is made at so much a yard, and the Contract as to tule-
eniployes need care little about the fitness or unfitness of individual men; i'^yird!'* ^° '"""'*
on a railway it is different — so much a month being paid each man — and
•one witness, a, railway contractor examined at Portland, said that when a On railways the
man was objected to, the boss Chinaman instead of removing him from the ftopted!
road transferred him to another gang, and they were all so much alike
that the deception was not easily discovered.

A great deal of evidence was taken in 1876, and some by ourselves, on character of

the character of the Chinaman as a laborer, and in his praises — and the laborers.

praises were well deserved for many humble virtues — his " docility '' is

dwelt on and his " reliability," and one of the reasons given why the labor The "reliability"

1-11 • 1 1 T >i T , of '''^ Chinaman

was so reliable was that the contract was with the " boss and not with on railways may

the men. Therefore, if the boss had to have a certain number of men at

the railway the fact that ten of his men might be sleeping off an opium

debauch would not prevent ten others being in their places. One of the

witnesses, a railway contractor, who said he never saw a Chinaman

drunk, said he had seen them on his line under the influence of opium.

The staying power of the Chinaman at railway work may, therefore, have

been deceptive, and it is only just to the white laboring man to point this

•out. Still the evidence can leave no doubt that the majority of them are

'Capable of hard toil. At heavy work as well as at the lighter labor in

^^■^"^ ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

the towns it is proved that they show themselves more " reliable " and
more " docile" than white men. A Government cannot look at a citizen;
of a free country as a mere tool in the hand of capital. The jade is much
more docile than the charger and eabh is useful in its place.
JabOT to be useful ^ country is not developed merely by work. The character and habits
detrimrateTto th °* ^^^ workers are of importance, as well as the incidents attaching to the
country. labor, and men like Mr. Briggs, Mr. Pixley and others hold — as a railway

sub-contractor already referred to as examined at Portland held — that
though the railway may pay more for white labor the country gains in
settlement. This, however, is stated as an ct priori theory not as a pro-
position established by facts, and we have seen it did not hold good in the
case of the Canadian Pacific Railway. And if the railway be not built
there will be no settlers with characters to consider. We have seen above-
that railways built by Chinese labor led to the settlement of whites in the
country through which the railway passed. There are other standpoints
from which this question must be viewed, which command a more-
extensive outlook, and one more fruitful of suggestion.

MININi;.

Mr. Seward calou- "N"ot only as a railway builder but as a miner the Chinaman has played
latcs that the '' '' i ■ i i i

Chinese miners of a large part in California. So early as 1861, mining claims had been

have paid the bought by Chinese miners to the extent of i!pl, 350,000, and 8:2,160,000 had

been paid by them for water rates. They had to cope with great difficulties.

They had to face oppression on the part of ruffians and submit to hostile

taxation. Bat no thought of receding occurred to them. An Act in \85'2

Partial legislation provided that a license of i}'i a month should be levied on foreigners working

^inesc. in placer and quartz mining. It also provided that companies employing

foreigners should pay the tax, and that foreigners not paying the license

could not sue or defend in the couits. In another year this tax was raised

to )J4 a month. The next year it was augmented $2 a month. The tax was

clearly intended to drive the Chinese miner away. In 1861, an Act was

passed which was so worded as to exclude the Chinese miner from taking

metals from the mines or holding a mining claim, " unless he shall have a

license therefor of $i a month." 8uch taxes honestly administered would

have been burdensome enough, but it would seem that by dating licenses.

Even the laws back the collectors were guilty of great oppression. Mr. Speer, the

SlSsteredf^ ^ author of " China and the United States," (juoted by Mr. Seward, gives a

picture of still worse conduct. The collectors made the most illegal

demands, and " if the men refused to pay, they struck, stabbed or shot

Cruelty and them : perhaps tied them to a tree and whipped them," or drove them

oppression. in i? i ■

forward, the collector from his horse laying on a horsewhip until they

reached a town where still more grinding tyranny could be exercised.

But still worse recitals might be given, and a Committee of the two houses.

of California, which met in 1862, reported that eighty-eight Chinamen had.

still the Chinese been murdered. Notwithstanding, with the pertinacity of their race and
miner held on. .,.,.™ ,, i . .„ ,.

its indifference to danger when m pursuit of any object, they held on..

HOW CHINESE GET ON.

They are admirable miners whether at digging or placer mining. For the
one purpose they are patient in toil, as all the evidence proves ; in the
other case there is, as one of the witnesses explains, a similarity between
placer mining and rice culture, in each case the workman squats on his
hams and is exposed to the sun. Mr. Sneath, who was examined before the in certain eases of

T' r^ • -r- T 1 ■ -ii 1- •• hydraulic mining

J oint Committee, testified that m certain hydraulic mining where a mine a mine will pay

will not pay with white labor, they can make it pay with Chinese. He when it will not

gave an instance in which two hundred Chinamen were employed and

where without such labor the mine would have to go unworked.

Mr. Degroot, whose evidence will be found summarized on p. 357,

Appendix A, having declared his belief that the presence of Chinese had

been detrimental to labor interests and mining industry, says :

" My attention was first called to this fact as long ago as 1853-4, when I White indiffer-
was acting as collector of the foreign miners' tax. At that day we had a great Chinese to placer -
deal of river-bar mining, and placer mining of every character, that would mining,
pay from $3 to $6 ; it would average $4 or $5 a day to each man ; but
that was hardly considered white wages then, and the community gener-
ally was indifferent as to the presence of the Chinese, and thought it was
well enough to let these people come in and work that character of mines,
believing that it would not pay white labor then and probably, never
would. The Chinese went on, and by their method of mining they cov-
ered up a great deal of good ground. They prevented white men from
coming in because they did not like to mine near them, and in that way
a good deal of mining-ground was lost which we will never be able to work
out. Subsequently they began to increase and to be employed as laborers
in the mines — that is, to be hired. This went on increasing. We thought
at first they could not be employed to advantage in certain classes of
mining, or in any class, but it was found that they could. They were
hired first in placer mines, and then in drift-digging to some extent, and
finally in hydraulic mining to very good advantage, except for moving
stones and working in the pit ; and as they became educated to the busi-
ness they greatly displaced white labor, and now we have them employed
in every kind of mining as laborers at good wages. This operation is con- From being placer
stantly going on and displacing white men. The result is that the country ^pioyel'hfall
all through from Kern River to Shasta, a distance of five hundred miles, kinds oJ work and
is full of villages in a state of decadence. It is true these villages were "^ ^°° ^*^^
partially depopulated along about 1857, when the surface placers were
considerably exhausted and a great many miners left and went to Fox
River and elsewhere. Many of them returned afterwards, but in the
meantime the Chinese labor was substituted and when they came back
they found that their claims were occupied. They found their position Miners returning
as laborers occupied, and they drifted away again ; left the mines instead elafms'tod them
of working them, staying and building up homes. In that way the Chinese occupied,
have come in and do nearly all of what is now called river-bed washing,
turning the channels of rivers and washing them. There is a class of
white men, residing in the mines from the first, who have made it a busi-
ness to take up claims and sell them to the Chinese, which is in contra-
vention, of course, of the laws of the country, and also of the local laws
of the miners ; but the miners leaving, these local laws have not been
enforced, and these white men who do not like generally to work very men whofoontrary
well have made it a business to take up claims and sell them to the to law, take up
Chinese. When they are once inducted into these claims, these men who to'c^fnese. ^"^

XXX

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO

'The Chinaman
once he gets in
goes ahead.

Is it better that
abandoned mines
should be worked
by Chinese or left
idle?

The Chinaman
does not break up
new ground.

sell them remain and exercise a sort of protection over them. In some
places there are very large numbers of them. In the vicinity of Oroville
there are between three and four thousand Chinamen mining upon the
public domain who have obtained their claims in that manner."

It seems hard and unreasonable to complain that Chinamen came to
work abandoned mines. It will be noted how they made progress. From
being hired first in placer mining they go on " to be hired in every kind
as laborers at good wages." This is what takes place in every branch
of industry, and experience shows they gradually gain on the white man,
who has neither their temperance nor their frugality.

On no ground of political economy can a principle be found for ex-
cluding these people from the mines. Does it not, too, seem better that
abandoned mines should be worked than left idle ? It must be better —
certainly for the time. The miner would answer, for we have met the
answer — " That's all very well, but I regard that abandoned mine as a
refuge when luck is low." As to the employer of labor, when the labor
is there, has he not a right to utilize it ?

It will be well for the reader to note here, because it will come up
again, this peculiarity of the Chinaman — he does not break up new
ground, and on this hang important issues.

THE FIELD AND VINEYARD.

It is because of
Chinese labor
that California
can compete with
the granaries of
the world.

The Chinaman not
a great success as
an agricultural
laborer.

• Steadiness of
Chinese labor.

Col. Bee, the advocate of the Chinese, before the Joint Committee says :
that when the harvest opens the Chinese dot the fields from one end of
the State to the other, and he contends that it is because of this that Ca^
lifomia can compete with the granaries of the world. This last argument
is a two-edged sword ; for, paradoxical as it may sound, living labor by
which a State might mount as on wings to enormous wealth is attended
with a fearful Nemesis in no distant future.

It is not, however, as an agricultural laborer that the Chinaman shines.
Mr. Easterby tells us they do not seem to understand horses as well as
whites. They are employed receiving the wheat into the header wagons,
where there is a scarcity of white labor. Mr. Badlam says,' he has
met very few who like Chinese labor on farms. " For the wheat crop Chi-
namen are not of any use."

But Mr. Hollister (see page 326), who deposed in 1876 that he owned
75,000 acres of land and 50,000 sheep, puts Chinamen ahead of all other
laborers. On them alone, he says, the farmer can rely. They adapt them-
selves to all work. Without cheap labor agriculture would cease to be
followed.

There is a quality, however, which makes them attractive to at least
some farmers. They are not liable to the starts and impulses of white
men. Mr. Easterby says: "For instance, sometimes where there
are white men only employed, if one or two knock off it stops the whole
gang. The Chinese when employed will stay as long as you keep them.''

FRUIT-GROWING.

There is a field of country life, however, in which the Chinaman seems The Chinaman
to be peculiarly at home. California is one of the richest fruit countries and the fruit
in the world. Strawberries, nearly equal to the English strawberry, ^^'^ ™'
flourish all the year round. California plums are famous, and the peaches
attain a great size, but are inferior to those of British Columbia in flavor ;
they want delicacy. Its apples are not comparable to those produced
elsewhere, but its pears are hardly equalled, while the grape flourishes
with a luxuriance which leaves the valleys of la Champagne and the vine-
yards of Burgundy behind. Already its wines have attained a reputation. The wines of

The soil and climate of California are, in the opinion of many, better than a-lready a reputa-

' r . tion. (Seward, p.

those of France for grape culture. Every year it is contended is there 69.)

a comet year. The wine-growers assured us that the climate is perfect,

that the grapes ripen fully and without fail ; that there are no early frosts

as in Germany or France to hasten the picking. A Joint Committee of the Chinese called for

Legislature of California reported, so far back as 1862, that with cheap ini862.

labor California could supply all the wine required for home consumption,

besides sending large quantities abroad. " A portion of Chinese with

white labor would add incalculably to the resources of the State in this

particular branch." Already the impression prevailed that California

was destined to be a greater wine-producing country than France.

"The wine crop of France in 1849 was 925,000,000 gallons, valued at
$100,000,000. In 1853 she had in vineyards 4,873,934 acres, giving less
than 200 gallons to the acre, making about 8,107 square miles or an area
of 250 miles in length by 32 in breadth. California contaiias 188,981
square miles, which would give 120,947,840 acres, so that if only one-
twenty -fifth of our area should be planted with vineyards we should have
an amount equal to France. We have a fresher soil than that of France,
and a better climate for grape-culture, and we could produce larger quan-
tities of wine and of better quality than is grown upon worn-out lands."

The report goes on to say that the wine trade would soon be second only to
the mining and farmmg interests ; and then a splendid vision rises before
the Committee's mind, in " the production of rice, tea, sugar, tobacco and
dried fruits of every description," if only cheap labor were at hand. Events
have, to a large extent, justified these confident anticipations. For the
first nine months of 1876, 561,033 gallons of native wine were exported
from California ; the recipts for the same time being 1,266,736 gallons,
and 43,050 gallons of California brandies. Mr. Henry Gei-kes stated in
1876 that his vineyard produces annually about 150,000 gallons of wine ; See p. 336., Ap. A.
that California had 40,000,000 of vines growing, of which three-fourths
were in good bearing condition; and that the crop of 1875 amounted to
about 8,000,000 gallons of wine and probably some 80,000 gallons of grape
brandy. One vine-grower says that Chinese laborers are employed in all Chine-se employed
parts of the business, that they quickly learn to prune and take care of business of vine-
the vine, and that their labor is indispensable. Mr. Hill, whose evidence gee p. 337., Ap. a.
"will be found summarized, having given the usual good character to the
■Chinamen for temperance, industry, honesty, efiiciency and docility —

^"^^U ENQUIRY AT SAN FEANCISCO.

"creating no trouble whatever "—says, that in his district some five
hundred Chinese are employed in the vineyards. On being asked whether-
white labor could be got to do the work, he says ;
A witness says " I do not think we could. I think it is one of the industrial resources

w^lTh^e tobe o* ^^^ country which would have to be abandoned if it depended on white
abandoned but for labor. There are certain seasons of the year when large accessions to the
Chinese labor. ordinary number of hands is required, when the crop is ripening, and i
do not think white men could be got on the spur of the moment to do the
work."
H^dreds, a wit- He adds, that but for Chinese labor the business in Sonoma valley would
would be ruined have to be abandoned, and hundreds would be ruined. Some idea
labo°" ™^^^ may be formed of the value of Chinese labor in that section of the State
from this fact : in four years vine-growing has increased the value of
property from $40 to $200 an acre. A competent witness, Mr. J. M.
Curtis, states that nineteen-twentieths of the grape-picking is done by
Chinese.
The whites do not The white laborer, moreover, it is said, does not like the business of
usiness. g^^^^pj^^g ^^^ squatting on his haunches all day picking berries, grapes and
currants. This sort of work " strikes him as unmanly," as does hoeing
and weeding, but the Chinaman takes kindly ' to the squatting' and
stooping posture. Another witness testified that a very large amount
of fruit which would otherwise go to waste was saved by Chinese labor.
It was admitted by those antagonistic to them, that without the Chinese
the harvest could not be got in.
Strawberry Chinese are employed on every strawberry ranche in the state, and the

fruit-growers declare they could not get on without them. " Yet," says Mr..
Gibson, "with this industry carried on almost exclusively by Chinese cheap
labor, our strawberries cost more by the pound than in New York, Phila-
delphia or Chicago. If our producers had to pay white laborers two dol-
lars a day for far less efficient service than the Chinaman gives for one
dollar, or one dollar and twenty-five cents a day, who could afford to eat
the fruit when brought to market 1 As it is, even employing Chinese
labor, our producers pay as much a pound or basket for picking as is paid
by the producers in New York, Delaware or Maryland."

Mr. Brier a large fruit-grower, gave evidence to the following effect : —

Impossible at pre- The Chinese mostly perform labor that is disconnected with team work ;

carry on'fru?t almost every other kind of labor in the world, except in connection with

business without the running of threshing machines, the Chinamen perform, more particu-

See p. 299, Ap. A. larly in the fruit business. I regard the Chinaman as superior to any

other nationality as laborers in their own departments. At the present

prices it would be impossible to carry on the fruit business with white

labor. The Chinese are more skilful and reliable than white men. They

will stay until they learn their business. "White men will not do that ;

you cannot keep them. If the white man amounts to anything, he will

soon acquire enough to start in business for himself. I employ Chinamen

because I would not have boys nor girls from the city. If somebody

would board them and put them in my orchard to work, I would not have

them, from what I know of them. I could not afford it. There is too-

HOP-PICKING : BOOTS AND CIGAES. XXX1H

much competition to make people who are wide awake employ boys. If
I undertook to work boys at all, I would take boys from the needy class.
It is a matter of certainty that employers and farmers cannot work boys
to advantage. In my business I pay Chinamen $1 a day, and they board
themselves. I furnish them with a house and wood. At present prices
of fruit we could not raise it without Chinese labor. I think the employ-
ment of Chinese labor in this department, axid all other departments, has
kept up the price of white labor.

The evidence is that hop-picking could not be carried on without Hop-picking.
Chinese. Two thousand two hundred Chinese were in 1876 engaged in ggg p, 231.' Ap A-
canning fruit in San Francisco and 2,500 in sellmg fruit and vegetables.

This is a subject on which, were we reporting in the interest of Califor-
nia, it would be necessary to dwell at greater length. But enough
has been said to show that, as regards a very large industry in this State,
the Federal Legislature took a serious, though it may be a justifiable
step, when it committed itself to exclusion ctf Chinese labor.

MANUFACTURES.

When we come to manufactures, the evidence is that many of the Evidence that

many of the manu

manufactures now in existence would not exist but for the presence of the faetnres would

not exist but for

■Chinese Colonel Bee, in his answer to our second question, gives a his- the Chinese.

tory of the rise of Chinese manufactures. From being employes as
boot-makers, cigar-makers and the like they went into the business them-
selves, and we visited shops ' where we saw Chinese using the latest

improvement in machinery for the making of boots. Before the Chinese Before Chinese

'■ •' ■ 1 ■ I! labor was utilized

labor was utilized in manufactures the boots were goo m the mam irom in boottrade boots
,, , ■. . , ,1 • ii J j_i i came from Massa-

Massachusetts, and it stands to reason the price was the sum 01 tlie cost chusetts.

of making them, the cost of transit, and the profit to the producer and
distributor. By making them in San Francisco one of these items was
saved, perhaps more, for in some instances the producer and the distributor
were one, and there can be no doubt boots fell by a very large percent-
age. According to Mr. Lessler's statistics (page 337), in 1876 there were Number of Chi-
fifteen boot and shoe factories employing 1,892 whites and 1,970 Chinese.

The same thing took place in respect of cigars. Instead of importing cigars in the same
them from Havanna they made the Havaiina at home. During one mahufaturcedln
year in one district of California 114,-598,000 cigars were made by Chi- ^^'^ ^"^'''■
nese labor. This gives some idea of the magnitude of the trade. One wit-
ness said the internal revenue tax was paid on 9,300,000 cigars a month-

The woollen and jute bags manufactures are among the foremost Woollen manufao
industries. In the woollen manufacture only 2,000,000 pounds of wool
are used and 38,000,000 pounds are exported, competition with Europe
as yet being out of the question. In two mills there are 600 hands
At first some whites and Chinese were employed, and it seems instead of whites displacing
Chinese displacing white labor white girls have taken the place of
Chinese, and the witness said he found American boys and girls just as
good as Chinese.

ENQtJIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

moit*o/tifihZnds ^" the jute factory most of the operatives are Chinese. The evidence
lee pSfip. A. "*^^® *° *^® "ff®"* *^at Scotch girls had been imported to do the work but

went away, and that this business could not go on without Chinese labor.
See p. 291, Ap. A. The witness from whose evidence we gather these facts respecting

woollen and jute manufactures swore that at first there could have been

neither woollen nor jute bags manufactured without the Chinese. No

white operatives could be got.

" Q. Of the whole number of your operatives how many are Chinese? —

A. I should think about one-half, exclusive of the Pacific Jute Factory.

fectora^Ifmo^t"'* There the number is almost entirely Chinese, except the foreman. We

entirely Chinese, tried there to have Scotch help — white girls. We imported them for that

very purpose, but could not keep them a fortnight. They ran away, and

we could not keep them, so that we have very few now.

" Q. Would you still be able to go on manufacturing without Chinese ? —
Chinese indispen- A. I think it would be prejudicial generally to our factory. I would say,,
as to the Pacific Jute Factory, that it could not go on without Chinese
are labor.

" Q. What is the difierence 1 — A. In the Pacific Jute Factory the looms
so much heavier that very few women can run them.

" Q. Do women run those looms in Scotland ? — A. Yes, sir ; whether
they are stronger there or how it is I do not understand ; but it is very
hard work. We are in direct competition with them.
120 employed. " Q. How many Chinese do you employ ? — A. In the jute factory, I

should judge, about 1 20.

" Q. How many persons own this jute factory? — A. I should judge
about thirty.

■'iJSff*"**'^ *"** ""^ " ^' ^° ^^^ ^^^^ ^® "^^P* "P *°'" ^^^ benefit of thirty white persons and
120 Chinamen? — A. We have not asked particularly to have the tariff
kept up, except that we introduced the industry and we found that we
could not compete without Chinese labor.

" Q. The cost of bags to the farmer is the cost of production with the
cost of manufacture added 1 — A. Not at all.

" Q. If it were not for the tariff, bags from Scotland and Hindostan
would be likely to absorb the market here ?— A. You might have a bag
that would cost five cents ; but if there was no local factory it might cost
twenty cents.

" Q. I am speaking of the competition between Dundee and Hindos-
tan ?— A. Suppose you have no local factory. You might have to pay
twenty cents, as you did last year."

Spofen rf""" '^^^ manufacture of jute bags has an important bearing on the export

wheat. of wheat. Wheat in bags is less likely to shift during a long and it may

be tempestuous voyage than when in bulk. Shipowners and insurers have,

therefore, insisted that wheat shipped to Europe shall be shipped in bags!

Anything that would lower the price of bags would directly benefit the

farmer, directly and indirectly the whole State. Manufacturing the bags

in the State has, of course, lowered considerably the price of bagging.

Now, this industry could not be carried on without the Chinese.

The President of the San Jose Woollen Mills says :

See p. 296, Ap. A. " When we are running full we employ about twenty white hands and
our business gives employment to eight or ten white men outside. ' We

UNEELIABILITY OF "WHITE LABOR.

employ about sixty-five Chinese. About three-fourths of the expense of

running the institution, including the labor performed in selling our

goods, is paid to white labor, and about one-fourth is paid to Chinese. Chinese necessary

We employ Chinese because it is necessary to compete in our business, pete mccessfuily.

To our white help we have to pay wages far in advance of what is paid in

similar institutions in the Eastern States, with which we come directly

into competition. To Chinamen, on an average, we pay less. A year

and a half ago we compared our pay-rolls with several factories in the

East, and I found that in our business and in theirs there was but very

little difference ; that with our high-priced white labor and low-priced

Chinese labor, we average with them. They are twenty per cent, under us

at this time.

" Q. How are you able to compete with them under these circum-
stances 1 — A. I do not know that we can compete with them next year,
but we have been able to hold our own pretty well by having the advan-
tage of the market in the selection of our wools.

" Q. Would your business of manufacturing have been started, or now
exist, without Chinese labor '? — A. It could not be carried on without it.

" Q. The work, then, that is being done would not have been done at
all 1 — A. The work that is being done would not have been done at all.
If the Chinamen were taken from us we should close up to-morrow.

"Q. You say the reason why you are compelled to have cheaper labor Without the
than white is on account of the difficulty of competition in your business have to close iip,
with Eastern products 1 — A. Yes, sir ; that is the difficulty.

" Q. Does the difficulty arise in no degree from competition here with
other manufacturers ? — A. If there was no competition with the East, and
all the other mills here employed this cheap Chinese labor, we should have
to do it too ; but if we all agreed upon it here, and there were no mills in
the East, we could employ white labor.

" Q. Does not the expense of transportation, etc., give you the control
of the market among your various mills here ? — A. No, sir ; it does not
give us the control.

" Q. Then, notwithstanding your cheap labor, you find difficulty in com-
peting with the mills in the East? — A. Yes, sir."

In this connection the summary of Mr. Morgenthau's evidence should Even with Chi-

nese cheap lahor,

be read (page 330). hard to compete

According to Mr. Lessler's figures, about fifty per cent, of the laborers
employed in San Francisco are Chinese. Mr. Badlam's evidence (page
231) shows how widely they are employed.

The manufacture of cordage has been secured to the State by Chinese
labor and 6,500,000 pounds are consumed on the Coast, nearly all of
which is made in California from Manila hemp.

In the manufacture of soap and candles, and matches, the alleged cause Unreliahility of
of the transferrence of the work in the main into Chinese hands is the
unreliability of white labor ; while the Chinese competition in broom-
making, now an important industry, commenced by four or five Chinese
employes going into the trade themselves. Mr. Pixley, whose brother
was driven out of the business, thus explains how it was done ;

" The capital required was not large, and the result was that the six How the Chinese
or seven. Chinamen, under a white man, took up the business. They were iffactaring™ ™^'^"
required to keep a horse and wagon to dispose of their wares. This

XXXVI

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Is Chinese cheap
labor equivalent
to protection to
infant industries ?

As manufactures

get established
hinese labor can
be dispensed with.

White labor would
be gradually intro-
duced.

Asiatic trade
stimulated by
Chinese.
See M. E., p. 10.

See p. 290, Ap. A.
See M. E., p. 13.

Gifts of the
Chinese to
-California.

horse was kept in a stable. The Chinese lived in the same stable _with
the horse, fed and cooked for themselves in an upper loft, and slept there,
and so reduced the wages that much, thrusting in this particular instance
my brother out of his employment."

Mr. Low (see page 187) contends that Chinese labor enabled men to
start manufactures, and inclines to the belief that as the manufactures
get firmly established and organized the tendency would be to use white
labor. He compares Chinese cheap labor to protection, and uses the usual
argument in favor of it :

" After a manufacture gets firmly estabhshed, after they get skHled labor,
and get apprentices who have learned the trade, perhaps the tariff then
may be lessened, or may be taken off altogether, because it can then
successfully compete with manufactures from abroad. So, too, with regard
to manufactures here. But for the Chinese I doubt if we would have had
any manufactures, or they would have been small as compared with the
present. The very fact of the Chinese being here, and that their labor
was procurable at a moderate rate, has induced the opening of manufac-
tories, and perhaps now or shortly, as they can get apprentices at work,
the Chinese labor can be dispensed with.

" Q. Do you think that that result would work out of itself naturally,
that is to say, white labor to be introduced and crowd out Chinese labor ?
Would that result gradually come about, or will it be necessary to cut off
Chinese labor in the first place 1 — A. I think it is gradually coming about.

" Q. Without interference ? — A. Without interference. It may be that
public opinion has some effect, but I know in these shoe factories they are
gradually working boys into the factories, so that where they had two or
three hundred Chinese laborers they have not one hundred now, and they
are supplying their places with white labor."

We do not go into a number of other industries, believing that enough
has been said for our immediate purpose.

Mr. Briggs was asked what effect the Chinese had had on trade with
Asia, and his reply was that they had stimulated it and had increased the
volume both of exportations and importations. The Chinese merchants
stand high everywhere. Mr. Babcock, who had constant dealings with
the Chinese, said he never lost a dollar through one of them in his life.
When the Burlinghame Treaty was made with China Mr. Bee declared a
man could count all the American merchant marine engaged in the trade
upon his fingers. Now, 400,000 tons were engaged in the Chinese trade.
For the first nine months of 1876, according to th« Commercial Herald,
exports to the value of .?2, 211, 798 were sent out of San Francisco to
China alone.

Thus it is clear that California is indebted to Chinese cheap labor for :

1. Early railway communication with the Eastern States.

2. Getting large tracts of land early under cultivation.

3. Perhaps for the existence — certainly for the existence at its present

magnitude — of fruit-growing and vine culture.

4. For the reclamation of large tracts of tule-lands.

5. For the rapid progress of its manufactures.

6. For stimulating the Asiatic trade.

DOMESTIC SERVANTS. XXXVU

We say nothing about the amount they pay into the public treasury, as
miners, hawkers, etc., nor the amount they necessarily, apart from direct
and indirect taxation, drop to swell the public wealth. Mr. Babcock ^^^e M. K., p. la.
calculates that they spend $900,000 a month.

Of all the gifts, however, which the Chinese have given the State of The Chinaman as

" ' ' ° adomeatic.

California that, for which many seemed most grateful and about the char.

acter of which, with hardly a qualification, all are agreed, is the domestic

servant. This, too, is the ground on which the fiercest skirmishes of this

battle have taken place.

The universal testimony is that they make good domestic servants. In Make good

■ domestics.

fact there could not be stronger proof of it than this : most of those

who attack them and say they should not be employed as domestic

servants are like Condamine's cordelier, whom his convert to fasting

and temperance, found feasting at supper, with three or four dishes and

a couple of flagons of wine. The cordelier laughed, and said he preached

as he did for a crown but would not put his preaching in practice for one

hundred thousand. When a man denouncing the Chinese is asked why he

employs them in the character of domestic servants, his answer is

because he cannot do without them, and we fear it is a gratuitous

assumption that white girls could be found if the Chinese were away. One

witness after another praises the Chinese in this character, and we have

ourselves seen that they are admirable servants. From 5,000 to 6,000

are employed in San Francisco alone. Mr. Briggs, while bearing testimony

to their efficiency, makes a very awful charge against them : -^" awful charge.

" Q. What is their character? Are they clean and efficient as domestic
servants ? — A. For many years they were about the only domestic servants
we had here, and my observation is that generally they are quite as
efficient, and as useful, as white servants ; and quite as reliable.

" Q. What about their personal character? Are they cleanly or repulsive
or what 1 — A. Those Chinese servants who enter homes are cleanly in their
habits ; there is no objection to them on the score of uncleanliness.

" Q. While white help in houses is scarce, would it not seem to you to
be very important, especially to the women of a community, that this sup-
ply of domestic labor should not be interfered with? — A. The moral
influence of Chinese upon children is a wretched thing, and if a family has
children it would be almost suicidal to permit the Chinese servants to
associate with the children, or to have charge of them. I think the
objection to them is made on that score as much as any other. Instances
are not rare where these male servants have debauched children, and
with their lack of moral standard the only restraint would be fear of
detection."

We are bound to say there is no evidence that they are more prone to No evidence tfiat
so revolting a crime than other peoples. Instances occur in puritanical prone'toovSra^ng;
England of coarse and brutal natures violating children of even tender " ' ™'
years. Of course a Chinaman, any more than men of other nationalities
or different civilivation, is not the proper person to have about female
children, and instances have occurred in Caucasian countries which
would suggest that sometimes a male attendant would be better than

3

XXXVlii ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

a female attendant for little boys. The evidence is overwhelming that
no white girl can be got to go into the country, away from society and
far from the church-going bell ; and what are isolated country homes to
The gross. charges do? If these Chinese domestics were dishonest and grossly and revoltingly
Chinese domestics immoral as so many contend, without giving evidehce to support the
contention, it is not possible to conceive they would be welcomed mto
so many homes as cooks and in other positions. Is it not certain we
should have heard of Chinamen beijig lynched? In the South when
negroes violated women lynching was put into operation, and a man would
be as loth to, let the outrage become public in the case of his wife as in
that of his child, while there could be no difiference of degree in the
passionate sense of wrong. Nevertheless it is possible that even here
it may be right to put down the dam. But, if so, let it be put down on
grounds that will bear examination.

We have seen that the Chinaman was welcomed and that he did a
Questions raised S^°^ work. Several questions were raised by the witnesses we exam-
in evidence. ijjg(j jj^ g^n Francisco, and all bear on the subject of the immigration of

Chinese into British Columbia. Were there coincident with this bene-
ficent action on the part of Chinese laborers evils peculiar to Chinamen,
and of such a gravity as to make it doubtful whether the State would
not have been better without their help ? Is the condition of things
produced and now existing in consequence of that labor such that
a wise man might well wish the sound of its pick had never been heard in
Is China a ground California ? Is it practical to contemplate China at all as a source whence
ToaSble or desira- a western population should desire to have its numbers swelled? Although
^rniCTMite ? ^V *o *^^ present Chinese labor may have been useful, are there, looking

to the future, dangers which should attract the attention of statesmen ?
These general questions embrace a number of minor ones.

The problem calling for solution is one so complicated, touching at one
point principles of justice and government, at another affecting great
material interests ; at one time opening up ethnic and national vistas which
force the mind, in any degree prone to the "malady of thought,'' to move
along the plane of cautions far-seeing statesmanship ; and again raising
such momentous social and industrial issues, that any body of men called
on to deal with it, should have before them the complete materials for
forming a judgment on the merits of every charge made against the
Chinese, and the soundness of every theory put forward by their advocates
and friends. Now, to understand the Chinese immigrant you must be
acquainted with him at home.

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Several witnesses examined before the Joint Committee, and some
•of the witnesses examined by ourselves, gave their views respecting
the character of the Chinaman in China. The impression is wide-
spread that this is intimately related to the matters with which we
have to deal, and it has an important bearing on the question whether the
Chinese belong to a race inferior to our own. Mr. Crowley declares they See M. E., p. 23.
are " a nation of thieves," and many witnesses affirm that they have no Sweeping charges
respect for truth. One witness swears he has known them openly to falsehood,
practice revolting crimes. That unmentionable oflfences, infanticide, the
sale of female children, cruelty, idolatry, gross superstition, and low and
degrading customs prevail is sworn by several witnesses. Yet, perhaps,
the statesman would not be deterred by one or all of these charges, even
if established beyond doubt, from encouraging Chinese immigration, were
he certain that it brought men and women of whom or of whose children
^ood Canadians could be made.

A glance afc China and Chinese history would be useful if only to get
rid of the idea that the 400,000,000 Chinamen are a huge swarm of repul-
sive barbarians. From the nature of the case, China was sure to be Chinese neeeasa-
either overpraised or too adversely criticised. She had attained a high or over-blamed,
civilization when Europe was savage. When Marco Polo and other early
travellers visited the Middle Kingdom, its roads and canals must have
struck them as furnishing a wonderful contrast to the highways of com-
merce at home. The theory of the government of China and of its social
organization would naturally appeal to superficial but sympathetic minds
such as Voltaire's, while the perfection of its despotism would blind the
glance of men like Montesquieu to some excellent things of which it may
fairly boast. It is remarkable that those who know the country best
speak most favorably of its inhabitants. But even the pages of the eulo-
^st cannot hide the stagnation which prevails, the dwarfing effects of an Palpable blots in
indurated self-complacency, the evil growths of over-population, the tion?^^* "^^ "'^
treachery and cruelty, the want of respect for human life, the absence of
natural affection in one direction, side by side with family devotion in
another. But few blots, however, can be pointed out as disfiguring
Chinese civilization, the counterpart of which cannot be found, at one time
or another, in great European races and nations.

To say that the Mandarins are materialists is true ; to say that the
people are sunk in the grossest superstition is equally true ; but one has
not to go to the East to find materialists, and we have seen superstitious
nations grow into states in which every charm of civic life and heroic

xl

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

pig-tail.

onfucius.

Let western ideas virtue was found. The character of the Chinese merchant, held so uni-
oe engrafted on 1.4.

China, and she versally high : the industry and frugal virtues of his poorer countrymen,
mayhaveabnl- j o 1 j o • i,- v, j +•„«

liant future. also universally admitted ; a system of government in wliich eaucation

and scholarship hold a place they hold nowhere else, a place they have

held for nearly 3,000 years ; these and many other things mentioned by

travellers and historians— and which set the Chinese in the front of

Asiatic races — might suggest the conclusion that let but a few western

ideas obtain a strong footing in China and the Chinese people would have

If so, a Chinese a brilliant future. If so, it might follow that a permanent Chinese immi-
immigration ' ° 1 i_ 1, + • f

might be useful, gration would be desirable, because sure to lose those characteristics

which now repel.
Chinese history There is much in the past and present of China to account for the very

Chinese character, qualities which make the modern Chinaman singular. Nothing is pro-
bably to the popular mind considered so characteristic of the Chinaman as
Origin of the the queue — the pig-tail. What surprises the thoughtful is that he won't

give it up. Yet, that he is not without plasticity the queue itself proves,
for it was imposed on him a few hundred years ago by an intrusive
dynasty.* It is a badge of conquest. On the other hand an in-
vincible conservatism is shown by the fact that the same power could not
prevail on Chinamen of the better class not to torture the feet of their
daughters into deformity.

Confucius, who has made so profound an impression on the Chinese
nation, stands out as one of the three or four grandest men of the world.

Yet, bv setting so much store by ceremonies he is probably in great part
By giving so much '•' ° r. ^, ■ i-i-ii?

importance to responsible for the stationariness of China, and by giving the weight of
ceremonies killed ^
originality. his authority, example and earnest injunction to the worship 01 ancestors,

he undoubtedly contributed to make the modern Chinaman unwilling to

live permanently, or to die, out of the Flowery Land. One of the charges

most frequently brought against the Chinaman is that he does not come

Reason why to remain. The reason of this is but imperfectly understood. It is not

emig?ite'^to"settle patriotism. It is the cult of the wor.ship of ancestors. Not only does

arwestora °* * Chinaman worship his ancestors ; he expects himself to be worshipped,!

and it is this desire to be worshipped which causes the Chinaman before

he leaves for other lands, to make an agreement that if he dies his ashes

shall be taken back to his province. One of the reasons why he returns

* When the Manchus captured Leaouyang the townspeople who were spared
recognized the authority of the conqueror and shaved their heads. This Is the
first occasion on which the 'pig-tall' is distinctly referred to. Henceforth, It
became compulsory on all who wished to escape death, to shave their heads on
the approach of the Kunchns.—Boulger's History of China, vol. II., p. 209.

t " In some portions of the Empire convicts are sent out from prison each
morning to beg their daily bread. At the small market town of Yun,-poo which is
in the vicinity of Canton, a convict from Nankin used to find employment either
as a porter, or a Sedan-chair bearer, or as a farm laborer. He was very anxious
to be permitted to return to Nankin to die there, so as to receive the sacred rites
of ancestral worship from his posterity."— Gray's China, vol. I., p. 70.

WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS. xli

at intervals undoubtedly is that he may worship at an ancestral grave

himself.

This superstition which is hardly worthy of the name of the noblest of Ancestral worship
^ . . . „ Mis a large patrl-

human sentiments — filial piety — has important bearings on the future of otism.

the Chinese race. It keeps province apart from province, for it is not to

China but to the confines of an ancestral graveyard that the Chinaman

wishes to go home. The rise of a real patriotism, with all its ennobling

influence is hindered, and for those who would desire (and there are some

who would) a large and permanent Chinese immigration, it imposes a long

interval between the present and the consummation of their hopes. For Unless the ChineBe
^ ^ character should

grant that the Chinaman is more plastic than he seems, he does not remain undergo a radical
° ^ .... change they can-

sufficiently long in any foreign country to give his plasticity a chance, not hecome per-

msiiioiit sglu6ts>
It is hard to deal seriously with those who complain that he will not stay,

for the very same persons will grow querulous over the fact that he is here ;

and se>eral seemed even to regret that he insisted on taking his ashes out

of this continent, as though as they could not have a living Chinaman

en petTnanence, a dead one was better than nothing.

The evidence from books is that this ancestral worship is often gone Ancestral worship
through with heartless levity ; that a coffin of a father will sometimes be throng heart-
exposed to the weather for months ; yet had one dared to touch an exposed
limb a whole village would rise. A broad generalization cannot be made ggg Medhurst
from a few circumstances. One of the reasons why Chinese criminals like ^P- '^' '*^'
to emigrate is because if they commit crime away from China and are
convicted, only themselves will have to bear the penalty, whereas in China
the father and mother are liable to be punished for the ' misconduct of
their children. Mr. Medhurst says :

" This duty, although called filial piety, must be considered more as a
general rule of conduct than as the expression of the sentiment of afiisc-
tion ; it lives in their most ancient annals and is enforced by their earliest
and greatest philosophers. It has survived dynasties and revolutions,
and to day it is the most powerful principle in the Chinese constitution.
It is sanctioned by law and public opinion."

- "We had intended at the close of this paper in which we reflect whatever

is said, bad and good about the Chinese, by western travellers, to call a

witness for them in the person of Colonel Tcheng-Ki-Tong, military

attache to the Chinese Embassy at Paris, and to give his remarks on the A Chinese witness

•^ *-• ^ ^ on the worship of

various points concerning which Europeans had either written with sur- ancestors.

prise or condemnation. But it will perhaps be convenient to quote here

one or two of his observations on the worship of ancestors, which he ^^^^g^^J^^

truly calls the base of the moral life of China. In a society like that of ^^^' l^^- P- 8^-

Europe he thinks that perhaps he should apologize for the Chinese view

of the constitution of the family, which is considered as made up of the

living members, and of the souls of those of its members who are dead.

" The dead are not forgotten." To forget the dead — this belongs to the The dead are not

West, where, as a rule, people know nothing of their ancestors beyond China.

three generations. The ancestors call themselves the old people (les

^"^ THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

vieuxj. Poor old people! he cries, in fact less cherished than the antique
S'hon^"n|'th^°'^ tapestry which decorates the sumptuous staircase of a new mansion. He
^^^- had visited cemeteries and had cursed the immortelies hxmg around —

those flowers without perfume and without freshness, which do not wither
and which symbolize the hypocrisy of a pretended remembrance. These
immortelles dispense with the necessity of returning. But roses — ^they
would only live for a morning. He then contrasts the way the Chinese
treat their dead. " We carry our dead to the fields, to the hills which
surround the towns and cities, as high up, as near heaven as possible, and
the tombs which we raise to our ' old people ' will remain there in the
The ChinoBe carry i"idst of immortal nature for ever. The dead sleep in peace!" He proceeds
choice'^t^^ots ^t^ *° relate how the ceremonial worship of ancestors takes place twice each
field or hill. year, in the Spring time and Autumn, how it is instinct with grati-

tude and clothed with solemnity, how families are thus drawn together,
how the temple of the ancestors of families of consequence is suffi-
ciently large to have apartments for those members who do not dwell in
the same town, how these temples raised in the midst of the country
sometimes serve during summer as rural villas, how families frequently
ancestors™'^* ° have reunions there, as on the occasion of a marriage or at the period of
the examinations. "All the joys of the family are thus celebrated in the
family, in the midst of its ancestors, and as it were at the home of absent
ones who are not forgotten."

There is another thing about which we think there is much misconcep-
tion, and which, while possessing attractive and useful features, has an
evil influence, politically and otherwise — we mean the mode adopted
by the Chinese Government to encourage education. Perhaps it would
be more correct to describe it as the mode of recruiting the public service.
Chii»S '°° '" Education is made the only avenue to all • posts of honor and import-
ance. This has the excellent consequence that education is spread abroad
among the male population. It is to the glory of China that when the
mass of the English and Irish people could not read, much less write then-
names, education was widely diffused in the Ancient Empire, where, as
^dSy'diffiS witnesses before the Joint Committee testified, and as the Abbe Hue noted
in China. i^ 1854, all Chinamen with rare exceptions can read and write. "Primary

education,'' says the Abb6, " penetrates even the floating dweUings which
Hue, vol. i., p. 122. in thousands cover the rivers, lakes and canals of the Celestial Empire."
Gray.Toi. i., p. 167. ^or is the education of women so much neglected as so many suppose.
In the south of China seminaries for the board and education of young
ladies are numerous. We shall see that there are women of considerable
culture who devote themselves to music, and remind us of a class of Greek
girls to which Pericles owed his beautiful and inspiring companion. When
SuTungP'o was banished for crossing the Emperor's will, we read that his

sWerablet'uTitre. ®^® ^^® ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^"^^^^ ^^^ accomplished giri " Morning Clouds,"
who sweetened his banishment and inspired those songs which to-day are
sung by those whtf could not name his persecutor. But, to return to the

SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.

xliii

examinations. They make every student a place-hunter from his
youth; and as taking a good degree is pretty certain to secure suc-
cess in life, this is hailed as a great achievement would be in other
lands. Though there is no system of national education and no course
of study is prescribed by the Government, the curriculum is the
same ; and at the most critical period of mental growth a profound, '*"'^' '"'• '" ^' ^^^'
not to say slavish, admiration for the wise men of ancient times is incul-
cated. The books of these men are supposed to be immeasurably superior
to anything later times could produce. Such teaching would of itself destroy once destroyed"
mental independence ; but when we remember that the more brilliant the
mind, the more certain is it to look to high government employ, can
we wonder that the literati of China originate nothing? ' The education Gray, vol. i., p. 170.
■ consists in the study of moral philosophy and of an unscientific past, f^^cation
and the metaphysical speculations are, as might be expected, exceed-
ingly crude. The Four Shoos play an important part in Chinese educa-
tion. In the first of these, the Lun-Yu, we have digested conversations
between Confucius and his disciples ; the Ta-Heo is the great learning ;
the third, the Chung- Yung, or doctrine of the mean ; and in these three we
have a record of the doctrines and sayings of Confucius by his disciples.
The fourth consists of the works of Mencius. The object of all four works
is to teach men to be virtuous, that they may successfully discharge their
political and social duties. When the student has mastered the Four

Shoos he studies the classic on Filial Piety. He then enters on a study Thestudcutpasses

•' . . •' from the Four

of the Five-King, which embraces cosmology, ancient history, poetry, and Shoos to the classic

„ . . , , , . , rN, on Filial Piety,

etiquette. Confucius attached, it is said, great importance to the She-
King (3), a collection of poems which he thought fitted to mould the
national character. The fourth — the Le-Ke, or record of rites — deals '■'he Le-Kc.
with national ceremonial, and the knowledge and practice of its teachings
are thought essential to social order and the promotion of virtue. The
fifth — Ch'un Ts'ew, or Spring and Autumn — is a history of his own times and
of several reigns preceding it. When the student has gone through a
course of general literature he is supposed to be fit to pass an
examination for the first degree, corresponding to our B.A. — examina- uie'flTatd**''"^ **""
tions for which are held throughout the Empire twice in every three years. ^^ throughput
For the second, or what may be called the M.A. degree, examinations are every three years»

held once in every three years. The qualification for obtaining this degree a. degree examl-

, ., , J? J. 1 T -i. -J. £ nations once

IS to write two essays, compose a poem oi twelve lines, recite or write from every three years.

memory a portion of the Sacred Edict. Two or three days afterwards the

names of the successful candidates are classified according to merit and „ , ^ . , ,

^ _ Further trials of

posted. There are a half a dozen further trials of strength in the compo- strength.
sition of essays and poems, and on the final day out of ten thousand can-
didates perhaps not more than one hundred remain. We saw the president
of a, club in San Francisco, who told us that when he was examined

12,000 competed, of whom 11,940 went back with sorrowful hearts.

' '^ , , J. , Kvds of the

At a glance all this seems most commendable. But remember that of the system.

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

SIX, ten or twelve thousand who go up, each one has during the plastic
period of life had his mind fixed on a government place. Are the sixtj
who get their degree highly educated after the standard of China ? Per-

ism and abule." ^P® ^^^ better men — for only sixty can be chosen — have been rejected.
Here, there is at once seen to be scope for favoritism and abuse. There
must necessarily l)e injustice. It is conceivable that of ten thousand two
thousand would come fully up to a fair standard of merit. Is there
nothing more behind ?

Som't&atureof ^ moment's reflection must convince anyone familiar with human na-

suchTsystem.'"*" t^re that corruption would bore into such an educational system. In 1869,
Tmg-ta-jen, the Governor of the province of Kiang-su, a man of great

Memorial of Ting- authority and position, in a memorial published in the Pekin GazpMe,
referring to the results of the present public examination system, says :

" To speak, for example, of the one province of Kiang-su, of the office of
Tau-tai, there are only two or three vacancies which can be filled apart
from the throne. Of the offices of Chih-fu, Chih-Chow, Chih-hien, Tung-
chih, Tung-pau, only some tens can thus be filled, while there are about
sixty or seventy men expectants of Tau-tai, and more than a thousand
for the other offices. But to put a thousand and more in several tens of
offices must be the work certainly of a distant and undetermined future.
Even in the selection, according to the order of time, and the fulfilment
of requirements for temporary posts, unless it be those who have been
expectants for more than ten years, none can get a single years office
Those who are nimble-footed and manage to advance sooner, must either
Tendency ^. put , tVV ^°™^ T'^ scheming their way, or have friends in a position
a class unreliable *» ^<'ip t"em torward. How can such a class, by nature unreliable and
Xe""'''''' '"'" 'f,^"'' ^^ «^xpeoted to cherish the people ? Supposing that, in the course
of tenor more years, they obtain one year'.s office as a substitute out of
this one year must come the expenses of the preceding ten and more years
In a short term of T ''^°^^^''\^f.f''^'. t^f. ^'^^^ °^ maintaining a family, and returning
office favors must favors ; and besides, m this one year of temporary office, provision must
l^^^I^tX be made for the future. To place dogs and sheep before a hungry tTger
for the future. and expect him not to seize and eat them, although you should make a
, • ! °T °i Pf ^«^*^°g ^™ ^i*h a stout bow and poisoned arrows, would cer-
WiUiamson, vol.1., tamly be to expect an impossibility. And so these men, having no fixed
source of income and consequently no fixed purpose of heart, are not
simply villains ; their very penury is the reason of their becoming so."

Magistracies sold. ^^^'^ testimony is true of the whole Empire. Poverty on the part of
the Government has led to the disposal of magistracies not by competition

See Boulger's ^"^ ''^ ^Tl . ""T"'"' Z^"" ^'^^ ' ^''^ ^°P^^"' ^''^ °f China, and

^'W f 3^2s'"'- '' , ■ ^ ^^*'* P^*^^^^ °* C*>i^««e historians, says of that

■ -P- •• country thirty years ago that corruption of the public service had alienated

the people , that justice was not to be found-to the rich it was knocked

down to the highest bidder; that offices were sold to men who had never

passed an examination and who were wholly illiterate ; that the value of

Why Mandarin.s "^06 was the means to extortion. Hence the evils, the squeezing of Man

weXn civka- Sarins, and the sale of justice which strike e^-ery traveller and fills the most

*-"■ hopeful and the best-intentioned with despair. Hence, too, suggests the Rev

tion,

CORRUPTION. SALE OP OFFICES. xlv

Alexander Williamson, "their apprehension of the advance of European
civilization. These," he cries, " are the literati who stir up the common
people against missionaries and foreigners. These are the men who with
the threat of reporting them to the Mandarins, annoy and squeeze Chris-
tian converts and such native merchants as may be seeking to introduce
improvements. "

The scholar who attains the second degree, or M.A., is qualified for a man of letters,
any office. There are two degrees yet to which only an M.A. may aspire.
Once in three years the ambitious repair to Pekin to be examined by the jjo^ entrance ia
Doctors of the Hanlin College. Three hundred are elected out of some gouegefthe^nu"
ten thousand ; the three hundred are again examined in the presence o(''^ate """'^'^''^
of the Emperor and a few chosen to fill up the vacancies in the college,
whence the ministers and other high officers of state, are, as a rule,
recruited.

When Khan Maneu, the brother of the great Kublai, asked what was Meaning of " a
" ' , , , , , , , , , man of retters."

understood by "a man ot letters, and added : " Are there any other than

doctors ? " "A man of letters," replied a Chinese servant, " is a man

capable of settling all the difficulties which are to be met with in the task MaiUa quoted by

ly 11 I • 1 1 • ,> nil I 1 1 Boulger, vol. i.,

01 government, and a doctor cannot be compared with mm. The ladder p. 499.

to statesmanship has been hurriedly described ; and just, as with ourselves,

up to a recent period the educated man was he who had given his days

and nights to the Latin and Greek classics, so in China, "the man of cation and culture

letters," the right hand of Empire, is he who has devoted himself to the

fathers of Chinese thought and to the writings of the literary giants who

flourished in the Augustan age of the Sungs.

As we might expect the gallant and scholarly Mandarin before quoted
sees nothing but good in the Chinese system of securing the best and
most cultured minds for the higher offices of the state, and theoretically
securing the ablest and most instructed attainable for all posts. Nor will
his remarks be less instructive if the reader notes the evidences of that Chinese seU-
self-eomplacency which is a national characteristic, the result of centuries °° ^'

of isolation from western countries, and early preeminence and superior
civilization, as regards the tribes and nations around. Only indomit-
able belief in their own superior civilization could give the Chinese the
force to cling to their Eastern costume and all their Eastern habits in the
midst of a population to whom they know such things are offensive.

In this man, highly educated, who has lived and travelled much in Eu-
rope, we see the self-complacency of his countrymen and their contempt for
western methods. After ten years study of Christendom, democracy fills Democracy fliis
him with contempt. He points out that in China there are four classes scholar with con-
of citizens : the literati, the agriculturists, manufacturers and traders. ""' '
The literati occupy the first rank as the class which thinks. The agri-
culturists come next, and the manufacturers stand third. But the two first
are the classes esteemed and honored. All four, however, are permitted
to take part in the public examinations which confer rank. This right,

?lvi

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

»e truly says, is as democratic as any principle which exists in any part of

the world, and he is astonished it has not been adopted in western

countries " where the immortal principles (the rights of man) have not

yet ensured the best of governments or the least imperfect social state."

Literary degrees He then points out that the degree of B. A., or that of Doctor, or a

rights and pri- licentiate's degree does not merely indicate the extent of knowledge of its

taelelfi'*'^''*'" possessor; these degrees are titles to whiph rights and privileges are

attached. He is annoyed at the little respect paid to University degrees

in Europe, and, as we have already indicated, he seems at first sight to

have the best of it.

" After ten years' residence, after much study, I ask myself what prin-
ciple there is in the institutions of the western world really worthy to be
No principle in called democratic or liberal ? I see none, and no one has shown me one
tion as democratic ^o thoroughly democratic as the right of admission of all the citizens to
Sons wMoh^nfer ^^^ examinations which confer rank. People speak much of universal
careers'to'S?." sufirage, but it is a weather-cock which turns to every point of the com-
pass (une rose des vents). It is a principle without principles ; and on
a given day or hour to suppose that it can manifest itself as Isy a decree
is to form a curious estimate of public opinion. Strange thing ! One
could not propose the election of academicians by universal suffrage with^
out becoming ridiculous, but legislators are chosen by it. I believe it
is more difficult to choose good legislators than good academicians.
What can culture What are we to think ? * * If you are poor, having no other riches
do^OT a manHn" ^^^"^ ^^ honorable name and the ambition to bear it worthily, can you by
Europe! study alone and scholastic achievements, assure yourself a name and place

in the functions of the state ? Can you raise yourself by the credit of
your knowledge alone 1 Can you by it conquer a single right ? Can you
obtain by it alone honor and power ? In China, yes ; in Europe, uo.

" It is not without reason then that I pretend that our customs are
more liberal, more just and more salutary ; for the more instructed are
the most wise, and these are the ambitious men who (in Europe) disturb
the public peace. Eequire before a man can fill the first offices of gov-
ernment the reputation of the highest literary merit, as for great military
A Chinese pana- Positions you demand tried bravery, honor, knowledge of the art of war,
dom^M*^troubles ^^<^ 3"*"^ ^'^^ suppress those domestic troubles which open the doors of
of Europe. ministers of state to intrigue and injustice. Here is the secret of the

stability of our peaceful Empire." It will be observed that it seems to
him an advantage that the Chinese system puts an imperial collar round
the scholar's neck. He fails, too, to see that a man of genius in modern
times has only to achieve to reap his reward.

He proceeds to say that China has uo system of public education.
" Our government understands liberty better than certain western coun-
tries where education is compulsory, without directing it to any specific
end. Government has no control but on the examinations. The candi-
Part played by ^^^^^ ^^'^ submitted but to a single law, the most tyrannical of all, they
literati. jjj^gf, know."

DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE IN CHINA. xlvii

Havina; described the Chiinese system of education he tells us the ContraBt between
° •' the life of educa-

life of a lettre is passed in examinations. He adds with scorn ted men in
^ China and

that " at twenty in Europe the time has arrived for most to put Europe.

their studies on one side and begin to forget them. We, on the other

hand, ambition a new grade to which will correspond an increase of

honor and fortune. The' Chinese official hierarchy is not founded on

seniority but on merit. * * No one thinks in China of despising a

young chief of a bureau because the chief is necessarily more capable than

the sub-chief. Power and place by seniority is a mistake ; it is not the

bald head which makes merit, and the young attaches have shown me the

inefficiency of a system of seniority so that I can appreciate the wisdom

of our government in suppressing the cause.''

The ovation which awaits the successful student having been described,

we are told that in China as well as in Europe the voice of the people Voxruy/mli,

^ ^ ^ ^ vox del,

is the voice of God, and this voice is heard in the councils of state when

necessary. " The people are in fact represented by the literati who go

from the provinces to the capital ; and although they have no official

title they have the right to address, in the name of the people, requests Literati renre-

in which they lay bare things necessary to be done. * * If," says this ^™' '^^ people.

astute Asiatic, "China ever should change-her political customs and adopt if chlna ahould

one of the modes of national representation in vogue with western peoples, g^ntotive govern-

mindful of her traditionary homage to scholarship, she will give the right to ha™e anliduca-

vote only to those who shall have distinguished themselves by study and tionaltest.

probity."

One of the consequences of this system, aided by the determined isolation Systeniproduces
^ .7 5 J men who mistake

to which China has been for thousands of years devoted, is to produce men pedantry for

*' ^ statesmanship,

who mistake pedantry for statesmanship. The monopoly of trade with

China granted by Royal Charter to the East India Company expired in
April, 1834, and the Chinese authorities had all their feathers of self-
complacent arrogance ruffled when they learnt that the merchants of
Canton instead of being the agents and representatives of a company were
entitled to the direct protection of a remote potentate. Their policy
towards foreigners became at once one of intensified and unqualified hostility.
The opium traffic was made the subject of diplomatic controversy and ■^°,^lK''''' ^°'- "'••
Chinese hostility, the Mandarins doing what has been often done in western

countries in regard to contraband luxuries, keeping most of the confis- Was the first

, foreign war an

oated drug. But all foreign traffic was aimed at — a traffic hated in opium war?

Pekin and which but for the corruption of the Mandarins would never Boulger, vol. lii.,

^ pp. 24, 38.

have been allowed to find a footing. Ultimately war broke out. It is

known as the Opium War, but Boulger makes out a strong case for the

theory that the Chinese were not so much opposed to opium as to foreign

intercourse, and that the war was really one for a right to trade with

China.

Among the prominent men of the day was Commissioner Lin, and it is Commissioner

laughable to read his moral speeches. One of his class, with English war

xlviii

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Moral pyrotech-
nics in diplomacy
and war.

Boulger, vol. Hi..
p. 315.

What the literati
consider states-
manship.

How to deal with
the obstinate
English.

Boulger, vol. iii.,
p. 159.

Mandarin corrup-
tion.

See note Boulger.
vol. iii., p. 159.

The literati.

Giles' Historic
China, pp. 89, 106,
108.

Edinburgh Re-
view for October,
1884.

Legge's Chinese
classics, vol. iv.,
parts 1 and 2.

Educational sys-
tem fatal to a real
public opinion.

Pursuing litera-
ture for ulterior
• ends corrupting.

ships within view, wrote to his master that the barbarians required
to be brought, as religious people amongst ourselves would say, into
a more spiritual frame of mind. Speaking of Lin, Boulger says: "He
has been called a statesman, but the claim will not be allowed at the
bar of history. He was rather a typical representative of the order of
literary officials to which he belonged. Statesmanship is in their eyes the
carrying out of political plans in strict obedience to a groove of action
laid down in antiquity, and the able man is he who can most eloquently
enunciate great moral truths, which he probably does not carry out in his
own life, and which without practice and the demonstration of vigor will
avail but slightly to keep an Empire together." Keshen who, after Lin's
disgrace succeeded him at Canton, wrote to the Emperor of the obstinate
English : " It becomes necessary to soothe and admonish them with sacred
instruction, so as to cause them to change their mien, and purify their
hearts." Since the pills against earthquakes sold by Addison's quack
there has been nothing like this. On the ruin of Keshen his property was
confiscated, and his great wealth showed how he had improved his oppor-
tunities after the true Mandarin fashion. In the inventory we find
after 270,000 fcaels weight of gold, 3,400,000 taels height* of sycee silver,
and 2,000,000 taels weight of "foreign money, come four pawnshops in
Pechihli, two at Moukden ; eighty-four banking houses ; together with
pearls, silks, clocks, precious stones, and what not.

Among the literati we find those who can write with true humor and
quiet satire. They compose poetry, and with respect to a statement made
l)y a reviewer of Boulger's history that the stagnation of China is due
to the fact that the Chinese are without imagination one has only to read
their literature to see they have fancy. That the humblest individual in
the Empire, provided his record is unsoiled, may aspire to the liighest position
short of the throne is undoubtedly a most democratic principle, and the
feeling that any ofiice is open to their children provided they have suffi-
cient genius and industry, goes far to reconcile the Chinese to a yoke which
yet has proved sufficiently galling to lead to outbreaks and rebellions.

There is, too, this qualification to official tyranny. Riots inevitably
follow an attempt to stretch power too far. A violent demonstration in a
district and the Mandarin is recalled and it may be ruined. Certainly
for a time his career is checked.

The worst efieots of this system of education have not been indicated.
It dries up a fruitful source from which elevating national impulses
might come. It is fatal to the existence of a real public opinion. It deprives
the people, in times of oppression, of their only chance of a great and
effective champion. The robber makes friends with the watch dogs by
feeding them. There is something, as history shows, specially corrupting
in pursuing literature for ulterior ends. The most ennobling of all things
when followed for its own sake, where it is made the thrall of power or

' Tael : weight, IJ oz. avoirdupois.

THE CHINESE PROBLEM. xlix.

the tool of ambition, character tends to the nadir of degradation. The Chinese
Moreover the Mandarins are all badly paid and this of itself would lead to
grave scandals. Mr. Boulger says :

" The Chinese Empire presents for our consideration one of the most Problem pre-
complicated of existing problems ; and the subject is of growing rather cMifrae Empire.
than waning importance. In dealing with its history we are not discuss-
ing the fortune of some Empire that has long disappeared, nor are we
seeking to discern the future of a race which has lost or forgotten the
capacity of government ; but we are treating of a state and a people that
apparently were never, during the long course of their national existence
more powerful and flourishing than they are at this very day."

Travellers do not support this roseate view. They tell us that Mandarin ^irr, vol. i., p. 264-
corruption has plunged China in anarchy and misery. Mr. Boulger him- ^.^.^y vol. i., pp.
aeft says, that the governing classes on the eve of the first foreign war ^6. 27.
appealed to "national instincts that had long beem dormant, because
consistdhtly discouraged." Even the truculence of the Chinese to foreign- wiUiamson, vol.1.-
ers seems to be instigated by those who repress their aspirations after ^'^' ^^' ^®®"
a larger life.

It would be impossible that a system by which in many cases an
educational test is necessarily applied should not produce remarkable men.
As a fact no period of Chinese history has been without some striking p^^od has^pro-
characters, and there have been not a few really noble ones. The great duoed remarkable
Kublai owed much of his success to his Chinese secretary Yaochu, who
became his constant companion and favorite minister. This eminent and up- :^prf^t°mini3ter.
right Chinese scholar had been tutor to the young prince, who learned from The duties of a
him wise principles of government and often received from him sage ad- Boulger, vol. 1.,
vice and fruitful suggestion. Yaochu, in reply to his royal pupil, summed P- ^°-
up the duties of a prince in eight maxims : " Regulate your household ;
study the sciences ; honor the sages ; cherish your parents ; revere hea-
ven ; love the people ; incline yourself to good deeds ; and keep flatterers
at a distance."

There is no newspaper press. The Pekin Gazette is what its name im- S»%3^°'" '■' ^^'
ports. When we remember that this Court Circular and government record
has been in existence since the closing years of the ninth century, long ohfna.^'.^sg.""
before the art of printing was known in Europe, before the dawn of the
renaissance, when great warriors and kings could not write their names,
and the monks of lona were copying the works of the Venerable Bede, it '^^ ^^l
is surprising that no popular newspapers have arisen. The people are kept Paa*s1n|°evente^ °^
in complete ignorance of passing events. Defeats, when the Chinese are de-
feated, are recountedas victories. True, ina country abounding in newspapers
we have seen the same thing take place. All that was necessary was for
the government to seize the telegraph, supervise the post, and exclude
foreign newspapers. In each provincial capital in China a Court Circular is
published daUy, which contains the names of visitors to the viceroy's
palace on the previous day. Under these circumstances one is not sur-
prised to learn that the news-letter, which flourished in England before Gray,vol.i.,p. 179.

The Chinese peo-
in com-

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Boulger, vol. iii.,
pp. 4M-512.

Chinese treachery
and misrepresen-
tation,

Chinese prowess
a la Falstaif.

How grievances
are ventilated.

Such local public
opinion as exists
in China created
by the " literary
And gentry."

Jan. 10th, 1871.

Mr. Low on this
public opinion.

the halcyon days of journalism, plays an important part in China.
But the writers are, it seems, untrustworthy. The battle of Chan-chia-wan
where, according toan arrangement with Mr. (afterwards Sir) Henry Parkes,
an amicable settlement was to take place, but where with Chinese treachery
it was determined to make another stand to bar the hated foreigner from
Pekin ; where the French under General Montauban (afterwards Count
Palakao) having assailed vigorously the Chinese left, and the English
under Sir Hope Grant, having pressed their right, and Probyn's horse
having routed a large body of mounted Tartars, the Chinese soldiers
gave way before the advance of the infantry with the Sikhs in front,—
describing this battle, in which there had in truth been stubborn fighting
on the part of the beaten army, one of the news-letters said the English
and French had been thoroughly whipped ; "out of every ten men,eightior
nine were killed." A most ludicrous and lying travesty is given of the
march on Pekin. Prince Tseng is delighted that the " turbulent barba-
rians" have entered the Yuen-ming-yuen palace and issues orders to the
garrison of Pekin to kill them all. Five thousand are slain. Five thousand
escape. But they meet Prince Tseng's army. A battle and four thousand
turbulent barbarians killed. One thousand taken alive. " The prince put
out the eyes of 200 of the most able-bodied, or else cut off their noses."
The writer of course declares that the statement that the Emperor and his
ministers had fled is a falsehood.

The Chinese in San Francisco have advanced beyond their countrymen
in the Flowery Land. They have two newspapers printed in Chinese.

Placards are resorted to as a means of ventilating grievances. Sometimes
an oppressed individual will sit near the door of his oppressor and proclaim
his wrongs to the passing world. This custom is common in India and
was up to a century ago practised among the Keltic peoples of Europe.

Under such conditions as we have already indicated there can be no na-
tional public opinion. Such local public opinion as exists is the creation of
the class of " literary and gentry," which stands midway between an army
of interested officials and the dim masses. This middle class is composed
of those who have been admitted to the public examinations and have
drawn blanks. Mr. Low, writing thirteen years ago from the United
States Legation at Pekin to his Government, says that they play a useful
part by advising the lower classes and managing local concerns for the
Government.

" This class creates the public opinion of the country which exercises a
controlling influence over the officials, and is usually powerful enough to
thwart the intentions and nullify the action of the officers from the Em-
peror down, whenever popular rights are in danger of being invaded or the
people unduly oppressed. So powerful is the influence of the literati that
all officials endeavor to conform their action to the popular will, and in
this view the Government of China is essentially democratic in practice."

Colonel Tong, who proclaims himself, with a sneer, an admirer of the
European newspaper, says it helps to pass the time agreeably. The in-

NO LIBEETY OF PRESS.

fluence of newspapers on the public mind he does not rate high. If people ■S?'"Jf des deux

would always read the same newspaper it would be different. The news- 1884, p. 606.

paper tells us what has taken place when it is well informed ; it sometimes the influence of

risks stating what has not happened, "but under all reserve." This is, "^^^p'^p^'^^-

perhaps, the only interesting thing in the paper, and to-morrow it will be

denied. The world in which the newspaper preaches is impalpable {insai-

sissable), capricious. What pleases it to-day will displease it to-morrow.

Watch the infatuated people who read journal after journal and then cry :

■" There's nothing in the newspapers ! " As for the serious articles they

are never read except by their authors. The newspaper, the colonel says,

is an institution very useful, very precious for those who write.

With great complacency he points out that no newspapers, such as No liberty of the
ithose published where there is absolute freedom of the press, exist in
China ; and he adds : '' there are great Empires even in Europe where
this liberty is not complete." But he contends that though China has
not liberty of the press she has a public opinion.

The Book of Odes (the She-King) edited by Confucius is, according to the Confucius' Book

__ of VPTflPR

-essayist, the origin of the journal in China. The sovereigns of China have
: always been kept informed of the state of public opinion, with reference
to the acts of their government. For centuries the Council of Censors has
existed. The duty of this council is to make the sovereign aware of the
state of public opinion in the various parts of the Empire, and its reports
are a journal whose readers are the Emperor and the high oificers of
state. These reports have latterly appeared in the Pekin Gazette.

" Liberty of the press does not exist in China because it would be Reason ^iiy
•contrary to the idea we have of the character of historical truth. For us Uberty of the press
there is no contemporary hi^^tory. History deals with the annals of china,
dynasties, and so long as the same dynasty occupies the throne, it is not
permitted to publish a history of it. The history is written by a Council
of Literati. * * It can readily be underst'ood that it is necessary to
keep these documents secret, in order that they may be a faithful repro-
duction of the truth."

In the innocence of his heart he considers that this Council of Censors,
which is composed of the most renowned among the literati, who are
entitled to say everything they desire, to take note even of rumors,
realizes the ideal after which the European journalist strives in vain.

" The Official Gazette is, as a rule, seen only in official circles. The people
are absolutely ignorant of what passes in the political world."

Since the opening of the ports attempts had been made to found journals j,^^.jg attempts
on the European plan, and the example was followed in the provinces, j^^^^^l^'' '°''*^
But local journalism died a violent death, and no one has attempted to
give it a resurrection. ForeigHers continue to print newspapers,- in
Chinese. The most widely read of these are published, the one at Shanghai,
the other at Hong-Kong.

There is, the colonel tells us, another kind of journal. The Chinese are pri™te journals,
accustomed to write their impressions of travel, of important events and

lii

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Anything political
cannot be publish-
ed while the dy-
nasty under which
it was written
nxjnains.
Both conserva-
tires and demo-
crats in China.

Revue des deux
Mondes, June 1st,
p. 611.

Railway got rid of.
Giles, p. 121.

the like. But if in doing so they deal with political questions, their im-
pressions, while the dynasty under which they are written is on the
throne, cannot be published. Though they have no organ of opinion, con-
servatives and democrats are found in China ; the partisans of the old
traditions who would on no account make concessions to the spirit of
innovation, and those who though they could never sympathize with
western democracy, desire to serve the popular interest in such a manner
that the people may reap some benefit.

Most instructive is it to note the mental attitude towards European
institutions of this highly cultivated Chinaman. It seems to him an
excellent thing that in the Empire of which he is an officer there is no
liberty of the press.

The railway laid down between Shanghai and Wusung was bought by
the Chinese Government only that it might be got rid of. Mr. Giles, in
his book " Historic China,'' gives for this course reasons which are wholly
at fault. The real reason is given by Colonel Tong in the Revue des deux

Why railways
have not succeed-
ed in China.

The railway goes
straight on and
would disturb
the tombs of
ancestors.

Telegraph
between London
and Pekin.
Giles' Historic
China, p. 121.

Mr. GileB suggests
that the Chinaman
may yet enter on
the path of pro-
gress with incon-
Tenient speed.

Double their num-
bers in a century.

Desire for male
children strong.

" The railway has not succeeded, although it is a wonderful mode of tra-
velling. But however marvellous it may be, is it useful ? Up to the present,
no. Therefore it has not been undertaken. Moreover the execution of
such a work would greatly disturb our customs. We hold above every-
thing to the traditions of the family, and among them there does not exist
one more dear than the worship of ancestors, and respect for their tombs.
The locomotive overturns everything in its course ; it has neither heart
nor soul ; it passes like a hurricane. Our people are not, therefore, of
a mind to be invaded by the iron horse ; and in truth we cannot be very
angry with them for this, seeing that the French Institute refused to
believe in the project of Fulton for impelling ships by steam. You can con-
vince only the mind, and it is better to demonstrate slowly by facts an
important truth than by trampling on traditions and customs to violently
introduce improvements."

A telegraph line has, however, been laid between Pekin and Shanghai, and
the electric link connects the capitals of the British and Chinese Empires.
"For many years past," says Mr. Giles, " the Anglo-Saxon has been urging
upon the Mongolian the necessity of moving more rapidly along the path
of progress. It will be well, if in the coming centuries the Mongolian
does not advance with more speed than is actually consistent with the
worldly interests of the Anglo-Saxon." Without the aid of immigration,
and in the face of internecine conflicts the Chinese doubled their numbers
in a century. In 1743 the population did not, according to Grosier,
exceed 200,000,000 ; in 1842 according to Sacharoff it had reached 414,-
686,994. They have a power of work which surpasses that of any
western race. They attach the greatest importance to marriage. As
among the ancient Jews, the more children a Chinaman has, especially
male children, the more he is reverenced. The desire for male offspring is
as strong as it was among the children of Judah when in their own land..
This is a natural outcome of ancestral worship, which is the pivot

POSITION OP WOMEN. liii

Oil which Chinese civilization turns. Theoretical monogamists, they ^9 "^'^f^ " ^^'^'"^''^

° ^ ' _ *' wives.

yet take what are loosely called "second wives," but who in reality

are only concubines. The custom is for the parents to choose a See Gen, xxi., 21,

"^ . . and xxxviu., 6 ;

wife for their son, a custom which prevailed amongst the Jews, and Deut. xxii., 16.

In cases where the wives are unsuitable, the husband soon proceeds eonoubtoea
to take a second or third " wife." The fact that the children of legitimate,
these concubines are legitimate renders the word polygamy not unsuit-
able to describe the plurality of women attached to the couch. Until
children are born the so-called second wife is no more than a servant in
the house, and though motherhood improves her domestic status she has no
legal rights. The position of women in China is deplorable ; the oppres- ^"chfna" aep™ra^
sion of the system of concubinage, according to one traveller, is so great ''i®-
that affianced maidens have committed suicide to save themselves §,5*^?' 7°^- '■' pp-
from marriage with its tyrannies and jealousies. The supernumerary
"wives," though they may be sometimes more loved than the lady who is
supreme in the household, are from the point of view of individual dignity
in a far worse condition. They can be discarded ; sold ; and made the
slaves of keepers of houses of prostitution.

Gray says : " I have often known it (plurality of women) to result in a Ciray.vol. i.,p.l8o.
husband expelling from his house and selling one of his wives upon the
false accusation of a rival. Naturally, therefore, many Chinese ladies are
opposed to matrimony. In one street alone — the Shap-pat-kan street in the
Honam suburb of Canton — I knew four families in which there were ladies
who positively refused to marry upon the ground that should their husbands
become polygamists there would remain for them nothing but a life of
unhappiness."

" Masters can sell female slaves either to other gentlemen as concu- Gray, vol. i., p. 243,
bines, or to the proprietors of brothels as public prostitutes ; or they can,
I apprehend, use them for the gratification of their own lusts. Occasion-
ally a master marries one of his slaves. Indeed it is not unusual for a
barren spouse, if she have an amiable and good-looking slave, to suggest
to her husband that he should take the girl as a second wife."

This custom reminds one of Sarah's conduct. Finding herself growing
old, she induced her lord to marry her bondmaid Hagar, in the hope that
the divine promise of offspring might not fail of fulfilment. Archdeacon
Gray tells how a lady named Tung Lou-shee, who resided in the western
suburb of Canton, proposed that her husband should marry a young and
prepossessing slave, although she herself had borne several children to him.
Her own growing infirmities impelled her to this course. She stipulated
that the husband and his youthful bride should live in a neighboring house.
Now let us hear our Chinese witness on this subject :

"Woman is not in China the large factor in amusements that she is in
Europe. She pays visits to her female friends ; she receives theirs in
return. But from these meetings men are excluded. -Thus one of the
causes which excite and produce the pleasures of European fashionable
life, in a word the best part of western amusements is suppressed in the-

4

liv

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

organization of Chinese society. Men meet together frequently but no
woman is present ; nor do they pay visits to ladies outside the circle of
their families."

Colonel Tong defends the seclusion of women :
Defence of the "You may compare political institutions, you cannot compare social

seclusion of customs ; these are like colors and matters of taste. That each one takes

women. ^^^ pleasure where he finds it, is a proverb which entirely expresses my

idea ; for in that case one always finds it where he takes it. But it is
probable that our legi.slators, in diminishing as much as possible the
Thinks the number of opportunities for bringing men and women into each others

Chinese legislators presence, have acted in the interest of the family. There is a Chinese
i^'ions'Sn which proverb which says, 'out of ten women, nine will be jealous.' On the other

the sexes can meet hand, men are not perfect. The peace of the family is therefore exposed

have acted m the , , , "^

interest of the to great danger.

family. u j jjg^^g already said that Chinese institutions have but one end — to

secure social peace; and in order to realize this, the single principle which
appeared worthy of a paramount place was — to banish opportunities.
This is not, perhaps, the highest bravery ; but among the brave how many
fall ! The remedy in cases of adultery is summary execution without any

adultery .^" °^^^ ° process of law. It is the celebrated ' Tue-la ! ' expounded with so much

cleverness by Alexandre Dumas fils. This right of a husband, where

his dignity and authority are gravely compromised, I will certainly not

. dis23ute. Yet I follow the opinion of our sages, that it is better not to

catastrophes in arrive at explanations which, however just the punishment may have been,

married life. spoil existence, for, as a rule, the man will have loved the woman who

deceived him, and painful memories linger after the vengeance is past."

Divorce suits. Many will sympathize with him in thinking that the remedy which

consists in taking a barrister and an attorney to plead in public a cause
which pride and magnanimity alike would prompt to hide from the coarse
curiosity of the rabble, offers but poor consolation. This is to give a certifi-
cate to the man in his character of betrayed husband, and nothing in the
situation of the divorced excites compassion still less inspires respect.

" There is then only ennui and catastrophes in western society as

it exists to-day. Personal experience, and what I have read, have

thoroughly enlightened me on this subject. I do not, however, share the

Soltwomen'^dl °pi'^°*i °* ^ ^^^S^ number of Europeans who hold that most women

™ivc^h™i?\ul- deceive their husbands. This must be an exaggeration, although a lady

ba;nds. once said to me it was the luxury of marriage, and that men accustomed

themselves to their new existence with resignation. I am no lonwer

that ZrrTages are astonished that marriage is so rare (ahandonne) ; it will soon be no more

so rare in Europe, than a simple legal formality approved by the notary. This doubtless

will not be a step in advance, but I grant it will be very amusino-."

The colonel continues. The sacrifice they had imposed on themselves

was in conformity with their opinion of the nature of man— man,

, . who originally inclined to virtue, falls through evil example and

Women and wme , •,!,,,,, ° cji.a,mjjie, aiiu

classed by Confu- becomes soiled by " the dust of the world." Confucius classed among

gerous things. dangerous things woman and wine, and m Europe when u. scandal arises

the first thought is "who is she ?" The West thus supplies at once the

exemplification and the commentary ; "Who is she?" This is a phrase

which would have no application in China.

FLOWER BOATS AND FEMALE MDSICIANS. Iv

Mark the sense of superiority, in the following paragraph : —

" I am certain that our manners and customs have never thus been
olosely observed, the tendency being to criticise them and to find them —
Chinese, that is to say, extravagant. Their great defect, and every sin-
cere mind will agree with me, is that they are too reasonable. Grown-
up children are like those of tender years, they do not love the price of Chinese customs
■wisdom. This is the true character of western society : people are °P}5^ *°° reason-
«.shamed to appear wise. They may desire to be so, but they follow bad
examples as though to do so were a distinction. Such pleasure perverts ;
it is playing with fire. We have remained serious. Ah ! it is a strong
expression : but who desires the end should take the means, and if we
have happiness in the family, it is because we have suppressed tempta-
tions. Gaiety suffers a little, but good morals are maintained. And then,
now that travel is so easy — we have Europe."

He passes with a rapid pen over the dark exceptions to this idealized
picture, and takes up the subject of flower-boats. He vehemently denies
that these flower-boats are brothels,* as some travellers have described
them. Archdeacon Gray gives the same account of them as Colonel
Tong. One of the favorite pleasures of young China is to organize parties
■on the water, chiefly in the evening, in the company of women who Flower boats not
■accept their invitations. These women are not married ; they are musi-
cians, and it is in this character they are invited on the flower-boats.
On these boats is found everything that a gourmet could desire ; and
in the freshness of the evening, after a cup of tea deliciously perfumed,
to listen to the sweet voice of a woman, accompanied by the tones of melo-
dious instruments, is not considered in the light of a nocturnal debauch.

"These women are not regarded from the point of view of their morals; Female
they may be in this respect what they wish ; that is their afiair. They musicians.
«xercise their profession of musicians, or dames de com,pagnie — the name
is of no importance ; and they are paid for the services they render as
one pays a doctor or a barrister. They are .generally instructed, and
some of them are pretty. When they unite beauty to talent they are, of
■course; much sought after. The charm of their conversation is then as These women
much appreciated as their musical talents, and numerous subjects are sometimes highly-
devised to submit to their judgment. Verses are addressed to them, and
3iot a few are suflSciently cultivated to reply to the rhythmic gallantries of
the literati."

He declares that to say that in the meetings on these boats anything
happens more than he has described is absolutely false. The female musi-

*" The most gaily decorated of all boats, which have curved fronts painted in
.arabesque, silken lanterns suspended from their roofs, whilst looking-glasses,
pictures and verses of an amatory character inscribed on parti-colored paper,
decorate their sides — are those sinks of Iniquity called flower-boats. The wretched
female inmates, bedizened in tawdry finery, tottering on their deformed feet,
appear at the doors, and on the decks, beckoning' the passers-by, trying to entice
them by their allurements to enter. These degraded females are at an early age
purchased from their parents * * and are retained in bondage until worn out
by disease and profligacy. * * Their career of vice is usually commenced at ten
years of age. * * In short, the profligacy practised in China unabashed by all
-classes is most appalling." — Sirr, vol. I., pp. 71-2.

Ivi

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

The artists also
receive at their
homes.

The pleasures
which ruin and
impoverish prac-
tised in the East
as well as the
West.

Tendency to
density of popu-
lation.

The wealth of
China not devel-
oped.

Williamson, vol.
i., p. 324.

Williamson, vol.
i., p. 441.

cians are often, invited into private houses, to play after dinner. " If these-
musicians were women of bad character they would not be allowed to touch
the threshold of our dwellings, still less come into the presence of our
wives." The artistes also receive at their homes. You invite them to-
receive you to dinner. You order the dinner and you bid your friends^
Such usages, he says, show that the attractive part played by woman is
highly appreciated in the Middle Kingdom. Everywhere the human,
heart is the same, and no doubt many romantic adventures lurk behind.
these invitations. " At first it was only the desire to hear the music, but.
this music is so perfidious ! Confucius well characterized it as among
dangerous things; the sound of the voice lingers in the memory; the
invitations are renewed, and he who seeks fresh opportunities of meeting;
the lady cannot be altogether indifferent." One glides into romance, and
pleasures which ruin and impoverish are practised in the China as well a&
in the Europe.

Early marriages and plurality of women in the house must tend to mak&
population increase at an enormous ratio. If, therefore, foreign or iutestine-
wars, or great calamities, such as epidemics, should not mercifully keep
it down, the Chinese will have to break away beyond their own borders,,
ancestral worship notwithstanding.

China might, however, support a much larger population than at present,
if only she could find room for them. Her wealth is not half developed..
Coal which is found in every province in China was certainly used there
before it was known in Europe. Travellers of the 1 3th and 1 4th century
tell how in far Cathay " black stones are dug out of the mountains, which
stones burn when kindled and are used by many persons in preference to
wood of which there is abundance."

Mr. Williamson, in his journey through Chih-li and Shan-si, describing-
the country beyond Chang-lang-chou and the Tai-yuen plain, says this last
is most fruitful, "abounding in fruit trees and cereals, and dotted over
with cities and market towns. The mountains on either side of it, if the
statements of the people are to be credited, abound in coal, iron, and lime,
while other minerals probably exist." Surely, he cries, such a country
cannot long remain closed to the outer world. The country which excites,
his enthusiasm has only 253 persons to the mile while its neighbor Chih-li
has 475. The coal of Joong-chi-hien, after coming 700 li (about 233 miles)
down stream to the great gate which divides Shen-si from Hanon, is sold
from the boats at 250 cash per picul of 133 pounds, or about |5.55
a ton of 2,000 pounds. The hills in the south of Po-shan-hien
are rich in minerals. "Coal-pits yielding extremly good coal are found in
all directions." These hills are rich in the precious metals. But this is
the common story of Williamson and others as regards every prov-
ince. Yet little of this wealth is availed of. The Mandarins at one place
said that if they permitted mining for gold they were afraid disturb-
ances would occur among the miners. Chinamen of enterprise, full of

CHINESE DIGNITY AND AEEOGANCE. Ivii

■desire to work the mines, say tliat there would be no use in doing so as

they would be sure to be squeezed by the Mandarins, and the art of Squeezing Man-

•' _ .. . darins.

:squeezLng is understood even in the palace of Pekin.

Tor thousands of years the people have been kept in such ignorance The people kept

. . ^1 . „Ti T. ■ ■ 1 ™ mgnorance.

that they imagine all other nations tributary to China. When British

men-of-war were moving up to dictate terms to " the son of heaven," those Explanation of

... ,, , , . Chinese arro-

whom curiosity impelled to the shores thought that they were bearing gance.

tribute. If one wants to plumb the full depths of Chinese self-complacency
and arrogance, he should read the history of British relations with the
Empire from 1834 until the Treaty of Nankin was signed. All the diplo-
matic and warlike resources of the Empire were exhausted to prevent the
humiliation of receiving an English Embassy on equal terms. Arrogance
and dignity sometimes overlap each other. It is impossible not to admire

the conduct of the Chinese Government, when a present was sent from Ene- Dignified conduct

'^. . . ° of Chinese Gov-

land to Minister Sung Tajin as a token of gratitude for his kindness to ernment.

Lord Macartney's Embassy. The present was returned to Canton with a
haughty notification that a Minister of the great Emperor dare not so
much as see a gift from a foreigner. This recalls Elizabeth's saying
that her whelps should wear no other collar than hers. But it is nothing
short of childish when Viceroy Loo writes to Lord Napier that the great
Ministers of the Celestial Empire, " unless with regard to affairs of going
to court and carrying tribute, or in consequence of imperial commands, Chinese Reposi-
are not permitted to have interviews with outside barbarians." The 287. '
E,ussian Embassy to Pekin, which is one of the most remarkable events
in the early years of Taoukwang's reign, was treated on terms of inferior-
ity. When Mr. (afterwards Sir James) Matheson demanded an inter-
view with the Chinese officials and pressed the grievances of himself and

his brother merchants on them, one of the Mandarins seized hold of him An insolent

iVIandarin.
and passed the right hand round his neck, signifying that he deserved to

be beheaded. Matheson promptly seized the Mandarin and subjected Bouiger, vol. iii.,

him to the same process twice. Up to 1840 nothing had occurred p-'^-

to shake the faith of the Chinese in themselves, and in the majesty Chinese seu-com-

of the great Emperor; nor even now do they find in our persons piacency.

and institutions any evidence of superiority. We have already seen that Chinese morals.

a Chinaman of the highest culture, who has lived for ten years in Europe,

and who speaks and writes with elegance the most delicate of continental

tongues, regards Chinese as superior to European civilization.

The vilest crimes are laid at the door of the Chinese. The picture china of to-day

given by every traveller is one that calls up the Lower Empire. The Empire.

Abbe David says sorrowfully, as he leaves Pekin, that the natural affec- apf A., 'pp. 194, 228,

tions do not seem to exist in Northern China, and the description of ^^'

another Jesuit missionary, M. Hue— a description which leaves them ^e^Ch^ne^se wfth

■without virtues and only makes them rich in vices — is well known. Wil- hardly a virtue.

liamson, who travelled over great part of China, declares that he found

them everywhere morally false and foul. One traveller after another

Iviii

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Sirr, vol, ii.,p. i20.

The Englishman tfeUs us they are detestable liars, and that dissimulation is universal.

m Lmna, p. iJ7. •" ' -.tt-it

WiUiamson, vol. More than one insists that they are all thieves. Mr. Williamson says :

'■' ^'''' " There is no truth in the country. Falsehood and chicanery are their

hope and their weapons. Scheming has been reduced to a science j
deceit and lying placed upon the pedestal of ability and cleverness."
Sirr, evidently a man of high character, having praised the filial
piety of the Chinese, says : " It is with reluctance we are forced to-
state that we firmly believe there is not a nation yet known to exist on
the face of the globe whose inhabitants are so habitually and systematic-
ally profligate as the Chinese, vice of the most revolting kind being
openly practised and indulged in without shame, or incurring punish-
ment for the crime committed. Chastity is unknown among the lower
orders of women, and is only preserved among the higher by rigid seclu-
sion and the want of opportunity."

This last statement would be a fair inference from Colonel Tong's.
remarks already quoted.

Sirr continues : " The degradation of women in China is, alas, absolute

and complete." " Often," says Williamson, describing agricultural sights,,

Williamson, vol. "we were amused to see queer teams, viz.: a cow and ass, a mule and

■' ■ ■ horses, and once or twice a woman, all drawing together ; the whole

household had turned out, man and beast."

The evidence is overwhelming that they are cruel. But charitable-
Cruel, ibid, p. 261. institutions do exist. Mr. Sirr gives a very full description of the-
Shanghai foundling hospital for female children, which is conducted evi-
dently on the same principle as that one whose padded box received from
the hands of their father the children of one of the most eloquent, if not,

Charitable the greatest of writers, the author of " Emile." He also tells us of

institutions. ...

Sirr, vol. i., p. 218. an institution, which provides for the sick poor, and the burial of the-

unclaimed dead, which is supported by voluntary contributions. It has,

branches throughout the city and suburbs. In the largest of these old

and young are received. The young, when not too ill, are instructed by a

schoolmaster, who is paid out of the funds of the hospital. Some of the

old and infirm receive out-door relief. The coflSns are strongly and

neatly put together, and on the lid is inscribed the name of the institution,,

with a number which indicates how many have been used. There is a.

space, of course, left for the name. In 1848, 6,080 coffins had been

Sirr, vol. i., p. 219 thus given away. Mr. Sirr says :

" The burial is conducted with decent propriety. The coffin and funeral
might shame Christian England, when we reflect on the manner, ofttimes
indecent in the extreme, in which our paupers are consigned to mother
earth, when buried at the expense of the parish."

Gray, vol. ii., p. 49. Archdeacon Gray tells US, that the foundling hospital at Canton will
accommodate 500 foundlings. It is supported out of the salt-tax. A wet
nurse is prescribed for every two infants, but he says the children are.
badly fed, as the large death-rate incontestably proves.

HUMANITY AND INHUMANITY. lix

"As a rule the foundlings are female children. When they reach the age Gfray, vol. ii.. p. 54.
of eight or ten months they are sold. The purchasers are supposed to be
childless married people, or to be anxious to bring up the children to be
wives for their sons."

He adds that the children are sometimes bought by persons who intend Gray, vol. ii., p. 51
to sell them at the age of puberty as slaves or for baser purposes. There
is an asylum at Canton for lepers which will bold from 400 to 500 Asylums (or
■ inmates ; and several anchorages are set apart on the river for boats to bllndf ^°^ ™ ^
accommodate others when this institution is crowded, as it usually is.
There is also an asylum for the blind and the aged and infirm. The
inmates of some of these institutions are sent out to beg every day. At
Wing-shing-sha there is an asylum for lepers which will contain 200
inmates, founded more than two centuries ago by a benevolent man of the
clan Yhu. At Chong-poo-hom, Archdeacon Gray found another asylum,
where the inmates seemed to live in comparative comfort. Everywhere
asylums and anchorages for these unhappy people are found. The author
whom we have so frequently quoted, and who is regarded as an authority
— Archdeacon Gray — says, there is little pity in the hearts of Chinamen
for the afflicted, and that benevolent institutions founded or supported
by private individuals owe their origin and sustenance to other senti-
ments than the "pious feeling of willing sacrific." These good works Motives for
are done "to ensure the favor of the gods," and sometimes to secure Chinese charity
the favor of the Emperor. In 1872, a banker who Had given much help
to the sufferers from the floods at Tien-Tsin, was raised to the rank of
Provincial Treasurer, and his parents to the first grade. He then gave
10,000,000 cash (about $14,500), and the suggestion was made that an
imperial tablet or scroll should be given him. This is a rare and splendid
honor. The Chinese, like the Jews in the time of our Lord, regard dis-
eases, bodily or mental, as inflicted by the gods for sin, with the difference
that the doctrine of the transmigration of souls confines the inference
made by the Chinese to the individual suffering.

There are no lunatic asylums in China, and no workhouses, but there No lunatic;
are it seems institutions where, in the winter, beggars can obtain food and tbid, p. 5a
shelter. Boiled rice, during a severe winter, is sometimes doled out to
the hungry people. In all walled cities and in many towns there are
imperial granaries, whence in time of war or famine rice is supposed
to be retailed at a reduced price. But travellers tell us that these grana-
ries are suffered to remain empty, that it is rare to find more than a mea-
sure of rice in any of them, and that many are in a ruinous condition.
Mr. Gray insist s that the motive which leads to the creation of these insti-
tutions is not benevolence, but self-preservation. In dealing with a nation
it is, perhaps, as hard to judge motives as in the case of individuals.

In forming a fair opinion this must be remembered : that no social Qnalifying cir-

I. • /-II • • ,"11 • oumstanees.

intercourse can take place between foreigners and Chinamen m China. Medhurst, p. 29.

Therefore the foreigner cannot see them at their best, and from European

Ix

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Chinese not so
black as they are
painted.

Medhurst, p. 168.

Instances oJ
cruelty.

Boulger, vol. ili.,
pp. 71, 222.

Ibid, p. 487.

Ibid, pp. 508-20.
Ibid, p. 598.
Ibid, p. 616.

Gray, vol. ii., pp.
47, 55.

Infanticide
practised.

The nature of the
charge of infanti-
cide.

countries of high civilization the traveller who did not happen to come
in contact with their social life has gone away making exaggerated
charges of every kind. Mr. Medhurst, Consul at Shanghai, who points
out many of the blots that other travellers have marked, says, neverthe-
less, that there is "every reason for concluding that the Chinese are not
so prone to evil and so dead to good as they have been made out to be."

The charge of cruelty is, however, established. The Chinaman
will contemplate the infliction of torture or death in its most repul-
sive form and munch his rice unconcerned. The massacre, in 1828, of
the French crew of Le Navire, who took passage in a Chinese junk for
Macao ; the massacre of two crews, whose ships had been wrecked on the
coast of Formosa, by the Formosa Mandarins ; the conduct of the soldiers
who, with concealed weapons, took passage on board the Thistle, and killed
all on board ; the cowardly treachery which charactized the abandonment
of the defence of Pehtang;* the murder of men who would have been
regarded by any European nation in the character of heralds, or at worst
as prisoners of war ; General (Jhing's cruelty, which nearly led to
the resignation of Gordon ; the brutal murder of the Wangs by Li Hung
Chang, futai of Kiangsu, after he had sworn to their personal safety; want
of pity for the wretched; the barbarously cruel punishments inflicted on
criminals — these things, and they could be added to indefinitely, show
callousness to suffering — cruelty, as it were, on principle.

As to the charge o\ infanticide it is established by universal testimony,
and the only room for doubt is as to the extent to which it obtains. On
this head the author just quoted says :

" There are towns and districts where infanticide is practised, in some
to an infamous extent, in others to a less degree ; there are others again
where it is not known at all as a habit, and in the majority of cities I am
inclined to believe that it is a crime no more indulged in than is the case
in some European towns, and then only with the object of concealing
another act of frailty."

He adds that if there is any distinction to be mide it is in favor of the
Northern and Midland as against the Southern and coast provinces. The
swarm of children gives the lie to its universal practice.

Yes, certainly, to its universal practice. But the charaie is not that
every infant is killed, or that every female infant is killed. Either
charge would not need rebuttal ; it would carry its absurdity on its fore-
head. The charge is that where poverty is great, or the family of girls

* " While the garrison had resolved not to resist an attack, they had contem-
plated causing their enemy as much loss as If he had been obliged to carry the
place by storm by placing shells in the magazine which would be exploded by the
moving of some gun-locks put in a spot where they could not fall to be trodden
upon. This plot, which was thoroughly in accordance with the practices of Chi-
nese warfare, was fortunately divulged by a native more humane than patriotic."
—Boulger's History of China, vol. HI., p. 487.

INFANTICIDE. Ixi

already thought too large, the murder of female children is pursued on
principle and with impunity. Archdeacon Gray says:

"The female children of Chinese parents are, in some instances, put to Gray, vol. i., 5.. 232.
•death. Many reasons are assigned for a practice so wicked and unnatural, pp. 50, 51. ' '
Poor people plead their poverty as an excuse. They contend that it is Reasons given for
better to put their infant daughters to death than be obliged, as is, alas ! PJJ.'i'PS ^'''"^'Ijij
the case with many, to sell them as slaves or for the base purposes of
prostitution. Infanticide is, however, not confined to the poor, * *
but though it is more or less practised by the nation, some Chinese
regard the crime as one of a most diabolical nature."*

Colonel Tong stoutly denies that infanticide prevails. He refers to the Colonel Tone's
. . '^ rebuttal of the

charge with indignation, says the love of parents for their children is the charge of infanti-

same the world over, and points out that the laws of the Empire punish

infanticide, and in the next place that there are foundling hospitals.

Then, the midwife who carries to one of these institutions a child found

abandoned, or who gives information of an infanticide, is paid a fixed

.^um. When such a crime is committed, not only the immediate author

-of it, but the head of the family and even the neighbors are punished.

" It is a rare thing to hear infanticide spoken of in the towns and cities, in the country
where the means of earning a living are more abundant than in the coun- ^^^yj^^^^'-^^^^^.j.
try, while in the country certain customs exist which favor the educa- tendencj' to
tion of children. In every family, the moment a male child is born the ^'^"^ '" ®-
■custom is to choose for him her who shall be his future wife. The parents
take from a neighboring family a little girl, who is educated at the same
time as her future husband and in the same house. She is brought up
as if she belonged to the family.

"There is, for poor parents, another custom to escape from misery, and The child may be
to protect the lives of their female children : the sale of the child to a rich ^o^"^.'" ^ "^'"^
family in which she will serve as a domestic."

He assures us we need not be shocked at the word sale, because when Masters give a

small dower to
these girls grow up they get a suitable fortune, are married, and they be- their female

* " Let us take a case to illustrate the phases of national feeling With regard ^ case which
to it. In the spring of the year 1872, a woman who resided in the western suburb ^^y flliacide is
■of Canton was seen by a neighbor to drown her adopted female child in the regarded.
"Wongsha Creek. The neighbors informed the elders of the district of the murder,
and the accused was immediately seized and imprisoned in the back room of a
neighboring temple. On the following day .she was arraigned before the elders,
-and excused herself that the child was sickly. On the entreaties of her husband,
who in the most importunate manner begged for her pardon, they liberated the
murderess, for by no other name can she be designated . The elders were thus
lenient, although a governor-general who some twenty years before had ruled
over the united provinces of Kwang-Tung and Kwangsi had issued an edict
■declaring that all mothers found guilty of a crime so unnatural and so diabolical
as infanticide, would be severely punished. In 1848, the chief justice or criminal
.judge of Kwang-Tung issued an edict, in which he condemned it in very strong
terms. In this edict the attention of the people was directed to the teachings of
nature, with the view of reproaching them for such acts of barbarity. ' You
should,' he said, ' consider that insects, fish, birds and beasts all love what they
produce. On leaving the womb they are as weak as a hair, and can you endure
instantly to compass your offspring's death?' "—Gray, vol. I., p. 232.

Ixii

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Chinese abstemi-
ous as regards
intoxicating
drinks.

Williamson, vol,
i., p. 200.

Many victims
of opinm.

Williamson, vol.
p. 7.

Gray, vol. i.,p.233.

Unrestricted
power of parents
over children.

Gray,vol.i.,p. 242.
Slave bMkers.

come free. They can receive all the rights which maternity confers, and
their origin is no reproach. Such usages are to be accepted and not con-
demned. They favor large families. There are numerous poor families
who keep all their children with them and lavish on them the most tender
care. The mother working in the field will carry two while she works-
bent to the earth, the one on her shoulders, the other in the folds of her
dress, " and they smile at the birds flying around them while the poor
mother pursues her heavy toil."

All this it will be seen is no answer. It is in the nature of what
pleaders used to call confession and avoidance. It would be quite as much
to the point to cite how Virginius slew his beautiful daughter to save her
from the couch of Claudius.

At home as abroad the Chinaman is remarkably abstemious. Tea seems
from a very early period to have been the national stimulant. But their
novels prove that whiskey was drunk. Whiskey stills exists everywhere.
Williamson in his journey from Pekin to Che-foo found in several places
large manufactories of ardent spirits ; and unless the Chinese nation is
more peculiar than it is possible to believe, where whiskey is drunk drunken-
ness to some extent will prevail. It is habitually drunk at least at two
meals as may be seen in San Francisco. Travellers have met with drunken.
Chinamen. A late king drew out a life of drunken debauchery. Still
Chinese intemperance does not lie in this direction. Travellers meet irt
all classes with victims of opium. The Abbe Hue gives a graphic picture
of a Mandarin who travelled with him hopelesly lost to the vice, and
Mr. Williamson tells us of a whole town given up to its degrading spell.
Elsewhere he mourns that opium is gnawing at the vitals of the Empire,
and destroying thousands of its most promising sons. Mr. Medhurst re-
grets that the vice is general and has been gaining ground, nor is it
possible to regard the Chinese as a temperate nation.

Where infanticide prevails to any extent it needs little evidence to con-
vince that the sale of children for small sums frequently takes place.
Colonel Tong tell us children are sold. Nor does there appear to be any
law to restrain parents in the exercise of authority over their offspring.
They are sold ; sons are taken as bondsmen for their father's debts ; some-
times children voluntarily sell themselves with the view of relieving their
parents' difficulties.

A prominent Chinese witness who said there was no slavery in China,
must have meant such as existed in the Southern States. Slave-brokers
are met with every day in Canton. The ranks of slavery are recruited
from ruined gamblers ; by kidnapping ; and, worst of all, by profligate
parents selling their children. Mr. Gray, describing a sale at Canton,
says : " I remember two bright-looking youths being sold by their profli-
gate father who had gambled his means away. The eldest lad fetched
$50 and the younger $40. The old slave-broker offered one of the youths,
to me at the advanced price of $350."

SLAVERY. AN UNWARLIKE RACE. Ixiii

" The usual price of an ordinary able-bodied slave, male, is about $100. ?i^'^?;J°'- '■■ pp-
Persons when sold as slaves generally fall first of all into the hands of slave market
brokers or go-betweens. Such characters are either aged men or women.
Before buying slaves, a dealer keeps them for a month on trial. Should
he discover that they talk in their sleep, or afford any indications of a
weakness of system, he either offers a small sum for them, or declines to
cornplete the purchase. The broker is made to take the slave into a dark
room, and a blue light is burned. Should the face of the slave assume a
grefinish hue in this light, a favorable opinion is entertained. Should it
show a reddish color it is concluded that the blood is tainted by this loath-
some disease [leprosy].

" The slavery to which these unfortunate persons are subject, is per-
petual and hereditary, and they have no parental authority over their off-
spring. The great grandsons of slaves, however, can, if they have suffi-
cient means, purchase their freedom. Slaves, although regarded as mem-
bers of the family, are not recognized as members of the general com-
munity. They cannot, for example, sue in courts of laws. In short, they
are outside the pale of citizenship, and within the reach of the avarice, or
hatred, or lust of their masters."

Colonel Tong's papers would of themselves show that the Chinese are Chinese not a
not a warlike race. He sneers, surely not without cause, that the chief
gifts offered by the western world to China, on the opening of the ports,
were fire arms. More than once he points out what the ideal of the Em-
pire is — peace and to keep pauperism at a distance. Early as history
goes with Europe did they fall into the practice of buying off invaders. But But not cowards,
they are not cowards ; they can fight ; and perhaps it is a blessing that
they are not warlike. The Mongols who followed the great Genghis,

effected the conquest of China and made Kublai Emperor of the Middle character as

^ ... - warriors.

Kingdom, owed their supremacy to their discipline and close study of the Boulger, vol. i.,

art of war. But they owed much to China " where the art of disciplin- j^staiices of

ing a large army, and manosuvring in the field, had been brought to a Chinese valor.

high state of perfection many centuries before the time of Genghis." The

Mongols carried the art of war further than any Chinese commander,

than perhaps any in the world up to that day, yet the Chinese checked

them near the Yu Mountains. Coming down to modern times they rbid, in., 86.

overthrew no unheroic foe at Yangabad ; they brought the fierce moun- Ibid, ill., 97.

tain daring of the Miaotze into quiescence ; and in the first and second

foreign wars they showed at times soldierly qualities ; as when the

officials at Tinghai, though admitting that resistance was useless, replied ^^^<^' "i'. HG and

to the summons to yield : " No surrender ! " or as when their noble con- Und, 111., 181.

duct won the praise of English officers, and, to use the words of an English Tbid, ill., 179.

tar, they stood to their guns " right manfully." At Canton they fought

well under fire ; and Boulger looking back on the events of the war of

1842, and having pointed out that the Chinese were often no better than ibid, in., 20o.

a badly armed mob, says on no single occasion did they evince cowardice.

Their defeat was inevitable. But they proved they could fight well

even when victory was practically impossible. In the winter of 1856 under Are °°°^

they displayed great endurance and bravery in the face of an enemy they

Ixiv

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Chinese bravery.

Boulger vol. Hi,
p. 512.

Williamson, vol.
ii, p. 299.

Chinese timidity.

"Williamson, vol.
li., p. 360.

Hue, vol. i., p. 21.

An apologist for
Chinese institu-
tions.

Revue, 15th June,
188i, p. 829.

The Chinese
■workman.

could not defeat, and Archdeacon Gray tells how during Sir Michael
Seymour's bombardment of the Bogue forts the Chinese fire brigade were
seen energetically at work, under the fire from the ships, trying to put out
the spreading conflagration. At the battle of Chau-chia-wan the Tartar
cavalry charged the French guns right gallantly, and so impressed was Sir
Hope Grant with the obstinacy of the foe, that he ordered Sir Robert
Napier to join him with as many troops as he could spare from the Tien-
Tsin garrison. Under Chinese Gordon they showed what they could do
if they had able commanders.

On the other hand they could not stand the cold steel, appeared to fear
personal contact with the European soldiers, and at Chinhai fled panic-
stricken, though even here many bravely preferred death to safety by flight.

Williamson says of some native troops he saw in a valley near Ping-
ding-chow that they were fine looking fellows, " good raw material if their
officers were worth a rush ; it is the ruling class in China which is utterly
rotten." The same writer tells us, however, how he and a friend, the one
with a stick the other brandishing the handle of an umbrella put a, whole
" celestial mob '' to flight. He gives us the broad statement that in danger
the Chinese are apt to become utterly useless, and this opinion is echoed
by other travellers. The Abbe Hue describes an incident in his own
experience which is an exact parallel of that recounted by Mr. Williamson.
He and his companions were annoyed by a curious crowd which pressed to
the door of their chamber in the hotel. One of them went to the threshold
and addressed the " multitude" in a few words, accompanied by a gesture
so energetic and commanding that the crowd was seized with panic and
saved itself by flight.

Such timidity may be the result of long centuries of despotism. But it
may be referable to race peculiarities. Besides long centuries of despotism,
are themselves the result of certain qualities in the people.

Colonel Tong's articles are peculiarly valuable. They say all that can
be said for China by a man whose instincts and interests impel him to
defend his country and countrymen. The very tone — if it can be caught
in a translation — helps to an appreciation of the Chinese character.
Mr. Medhurst says that an anglicised Chinaman is detestable ; if writing
in the same mood as Colonel Tong it might be said that a gallicised China-
man is surely charming. We shall now let the colonel speak on one or
two heads on which he has not yet been heard from. To show how happy
the Chinese laborer is, he quotes, from a book by Mr. J. Thompson,
published at Paris, in 1877, the following passage on the workmen of
Canton : —

" In despite of these terrible needs, work even for the poorest workman
has moments of interruption. When seated on a bench, or even on the
earth, he smokes and speaks quietly with his neighbor without being in
the least put out by the presence of his employer, who appears to find in
the smiles and happy character of his workmen elements of riches and
prosperity."

THE STANDARD OF COMPORT. IxV

Mr. Thompson describes the quarters of the workmen, and it will be The workmen's
'^ ^ _ ' quarters in

seen (Appendix D, p. 369) that they correspond with what the Commis- Canton.

sion saw at San Francisco.

" In making the round of the workmen's quarters, one easily under-
stands how much more populous this city is than would at first appear.
For the most part each workshop is a kitchen, a dining-room, and a bed-
room. It is on his bench the workman breakfasts ; it is on the same
bench he sleeps at night. There all they possess is found. * * But
of all their treasures the most precious consists in a good share of health
and a contented heart."

This description of the Chinese workman is exactly the same as the l-'ow standard of
hostile white man gives.

The Chinese workman is content if he escapes from the agonies of hun-
ger, and if he has such health as permits him simply to live and to enjoy
in a country so perfect, that the mere fact of living in it constitutes in a despotio^^'"
itself real happiness. China is, according to him, a country where all is ""^'^ '^'
established and ordered by men who know exactly what they ought to
know, and who are paid to prevent the people troubling by seeking
ambitiously to quit the condition in which Providence has placed them.

Colonel Tong also quotes the following from " Chinese Sketches " by
M. Herbert A. Giles, attache to the Consular corps of Great Britain : —

" It is generally believed that the Chinese are a degraded and immoral Chinese industri
race; that the inhabitants of China are absolutely dishonest, cruel, and happy! '^^ ^'^
at all points depraved ; that opium, a scourge more fearful than gin,
causes frightful ravages among them, and that its course can only be
arrested by Christianity. A residence of eight years in China has taught
me that the Chinese are a people of indefatigable industry, sober and
happy."

Again, the same author writes :

"The number of human beings who suffer from cold and hunger is The life o( the
relatively far smaller than in England, and from this point of view which chlnl compared
is of great importance, it is necessary to recogJiize the fact that the con- wl^hthatof the
dition of the women of the lower class is far better than that of their England.
European sisters. Wife-beating is unknown ; the wife is subjected to no
bad treatment ; and it is unusual to address her in that coarse language
not unusual in western countries."

Colonel Tong says that a Chinese workman can live on four cents a day, Chinese workiheu
'^ ■' 1 /-< 11 can live on four

and that his wages are never less than twenty cents a day. Generally cents aday in
the workman's wife does something, either selling small articles or work-
ing in the daytime in neighboring houses.

In the provinces throughout the vast Empire the whole land is culti- Cultivators of the-
vatqd, and field-labor employs a large portion of the population. All the ^°' '"^
cultivators of the soil are well oif, whether they are owners or only
farmers. The land-tax is very small, not being on an average more than
twenty cents a head, and it is a rule that the farmer pays no rent in bad

Ixvi

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Small farms in
'China.

He also cites M. de la Vernfede :

"We have travelled through the provinces ; we have seen an immense
population arrived at such a density that the land cannot in certain
places hold them, and they consequently build and cultivate gardens on
rafts; we have seen provinces having 100,000 square kilometres contain-
ing 50,000,000 of inhabitants and well cultivated throughout their entire
extent."

In Pechili, he tells us, the land is very much divided ; agriculture is
carried on on a minute scale, but the intelligence with which it is directed
prevents the great inconveniences of very small farming.

The farms, small and large, with their great trees look like bouquets of
flowers in the midst of vast plains yellow with rich harvests of grain.
The cheapness of manual labor makes culture in alternate rows (par rangee
alternative) possible. " The land is admirably cultivated and gives magni-
ficent results."

Rich and pretty
■Chinese Tillages.

'Chinese pleasures.

"In wandering along the shores of the Yang-Tse-Kiang we have seen
rich and pretty villages succeed each other without interruption, a popula-
tion active and laborious, showing in its countenance as well as in its
actions that it was content with its lot."

He then contrasts the miserable villages on the Nile with " the pretty
villages we have traversed in the Hu P^ or on the shores of Lake Poyang.
Economical and sober, patient and active, honest and laborious, the people
of China have a power of work which surpasses that of most western
nations. Here is an important factor which should not be forgotten in
questions relating to the higher politics."

Dealing with the pleasures of his countrymen, Colonel Tong says that
among the many questions regarding China which have been addressed to
him the one which he had oftenest heard was whether people amused
themselves in China.

Are there " Do they amuse themselves '! Then it must be a charming country,

amusements? Ah! to be amused! what a civilized expression, and how difficult to trans-
late it ! I replied, one day, to a clever woman who put to me this eternal
question: 'What is it to be amused?' She thought I sought to embarrass
her, and she answered : ' What you do at this moment, for instance. You
are amusing yourself now.' It was now my turn to be embarrassed, or at
least to seem so. 'Yes,' I cried, 'this, then, is to be amused ? ' 'Certainly.
Well,' she added with a charming smile, 'do they amuse themselves?' and
I was compelled to admit they did not amuse themselves in that way.
Indeed they do amuse themselves, and amuse themselves very much —
those who are not devoid of intelligence, or at the least of good humor.
InteUigenco plays Intelligence plays an important role in our pleasures. * * * Our
.an important part out-of-door life is not organized like that of Europe. People do not seek
sures. ^^^^ ^ '"^' distractions and amusements away from their own homes. Chinese in
good circumstances have so arranged their houses that they have no desire
for factitious pleasures, which are a proof that one is not pleased at home.
* * * They do not believe that cafes and other places of public
resort are necessary in order to pass the time agreeably. They have

AMUSEMENTS AND FESTl^'ALS. Ixvii

adorned their homes with all that a man of taste could desire : gardens,

in which to walk ; kiosques, where they may find protection from the Marrying young

summer heat ; flowers to charm the senses. Inside all is arranged for oious^eravity'°

family life. Frequently the same roof covers several generations. The

children grow up, and as they marry very young they are soon grave.

They think of useful amusements, of study, of conversation — and the

opportunities to meet are so numerous !"

Feast days, the colonel writes, are held in high honor in China and are Feast days,
celebrated with great spirit. First, you have birthdays, and they occur
frequently in families. These feasts are celebrated generally by banquets ;
presents are given to the subject of the celebration ; this is one of the
consequences of such meetings and it is not wanting in charm.

They have also great popular festivals. There is the feast of the new popular festivals,
year which everybody takes part in. He then describes several festivals
at the head of which stands the feast of lanterns. The flowers which are
endowed with certain allegorical powers are feted, and each flower has
its anniversary. Letters go from family to family containing invitations Refined pleasures,
to come to enjoy a beautiful moonlight, a charming view, a rare plant.
Nature always forms an element in the festival, which concludes with
a banquet. The guests are also invited to compose verses, which remain
the records of the evening. During the fine weather excursions are in
vogue. People go especially to the Buddhist monasteries where they
find everything they can desire ; magnificent mountain scenery, exquisite
fruit, and the best tea. The Buddhist monks, it seems, understand to
perfection how to receive " parties," and to do the honors of their
establishment.

One may well pause here to note the low tastes of these coarse barba-
rians ; their childishness withal ; grown up people inviting other grown
up people to come to look at a full moon, a charming vista, or a rare
flower !

" Promenades to the environs of the town, when one can make them, Promenadesto the
are very frequent. They generally give rise to some poetic efiusion. It is |,ndc^ties°^ towns
our way of making a sketch."

Having given a description of visits to mountain scenes and trips by

water, and spoken of the position of women, he turns the tables on his

Western friends.

The description of the charge on the buffet at a great official ball may European man-
'^ ° . ° ■' ners criticised by

well parry the thrust of " barbarian " made against the Chinese. He points the " t.

out with the utmost reason, that if he were to note that in Europe when

those who compose the highest classes are admitted into the presence of the

head of the State they do not sit at table but struggle with warlike fury,

he would perhaps not give a faithful idea of European manners. Yet, he

says, this is the way travellers have taken notes in China.

" But I return to the hungry ones who wait the opening of the doors ; guvnor
it is all so grotesque, and I invite the disciples of the realistic school to
contemplate this scene which one might call the mSlee of the dark coats.')

Ixviii

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Ho w to get out !

Dullness of fash-
ionable private
balls.

The world of art.

High aim of
artists.

Art the only thing
which escapes the
fascination of gold.

Then he describes the rush and the crush ; the row of black-coated
gentlemen who cannot get near the table ; the serried rank of those now
satisfied who try to get out. Crowded and crushed they at length escape
from the melee having had bumps raised on them, and their sides dug into
by struggling elbows — but fed ! He does not speak of those who remain
until the servants politely request them to give place to others ! " I have
never," he says, " been at a ball without witnessing this battle."

At the balls of the fashionable world, our Chinese critic thinks a man
cannot amuse himself as much as at the official balls. They are cold,
stiff, and irritating. In the fashionable world it is difficult to find simpli-
city and distinction united. If you are not a dancer you have abundant
opportunities for ennui. An air of indifierence pervades this grand world.
It is sometimes icy. The dance proceeds in silence ; some groups speak in,
low tones ; people go, come, enter, disappear. They meet without appear-
ing to recognize each other. All appear preoccupied. Generally people
seek some one who is not at the ball. What a comedy, this world of the
drawing room !

This "barbarian", who sees so clearly the faults in the social organization
of Europe which have struck thoughtful Europeans a hundred times seems
to escape with relief to the world of art — " that privileged society where
each one is neither noble, nor bourgeois, nor magistrate, nor barrister,,
nor notary, nor attorney, nor functionary, nor merchant, nor bureaucrat,
nor man of property, but only artist and content to be that. To be an

artist ! " — he exclaims — and what a fool he will seem to some

" that is the only ambition which would make it desirable to belong to
European society ! '' He does not admire barristers and attorneys.
400,000,000 Chinese do without them, and yet titles to property and con-
tracts are not the less regular. But admiration for artists is without
reserve, for they are the only men who propose to themselves a high aim ;.
they live to think, in order that they may show man his grandeur and
immateriality. They move him and inspire him with enthusiasm and
awake his dormant faculties by creating for him works in which thought,
glows and beauty gleams. Art ennobles everything, elevates everything.
What matters the price paid for the work 1 It is not the number of
dollars which will kindle the passion of the artist as it inflames the ardor
of the advocate. No : the only thing which escapes the fascination of
gold, is art, whatever the artist may be. That is essentially free, and
therefore, is it worthy to be esteemed and honored.

Having eulogised those fine spirits who live for art, he says the artists
of all countries reach the hand to each other over dividing frontiers and cry
" shame " on those politicians who would fain separate them. The human
mind moved by the bold impulses of inspiration is neither controlled by
distance nor passports. The more the soul is elevated, the more humanity
seeks to become transfigured into fraternity.

Senator Jones, in his zeal against the Chinese, denies that they have

ORIGINALITY OF CIVILIZATION. Ixix

invented anything, and seeks to wrest from them the doubtful honor of Wiio invented

JO' ^ printing and gnn-

having found out the secrets of "villainous saltpetre." He cites Prof essor Powder !
Draper, who gives the credit of the invention to the Arabs, and backs up
Draper by the weighty authority of Mr. Mayers.

" Therefore I conclude that the Chinese never gave us these discoveries,
notwithstanding the sneers that I have seen in some newspapers since,
and the confident tone with which the Senator questioned me as to who
else could have made them. And I would say, further, that there is
scarcely a single piece of machinery, howsoever useful, howsoever ingeni-
ous, working in China to-day. The only enterprise the Chinese have
shown in the way of railroads has been in tearing up the only railroad
ever built in that country, a railroad built by foreigners and afterward
bought by the Chinese authorities in order that they might tear it up."

Now, Colonel Tong naturally takes quite a diflferent view. Considering
how little communication existed between China and other nations, he
says it is surprising the Chinese know as much as they do. Excepting
geography and astronomy, 'all the other arts, they profess, are the result
of their own investigation. China, he claims, is the only country on china has evolyed
the globe which can boast that it has evolved its own civilization, its own civiliza-
They had imitated no one. Chinese civilization is found nowhere save in
China. The Chinese. theatre is as original as that of the Greeks. China
forms a world apart. Yet he throws out a sigh rather than a hope that
science might yet throw to men this great message of peace : " Ye are
brethern ! " Western civilization is a new edition revised and corrected
of previous civilizations. "Ours no doubt has submitted to many editions,
but we find it sufficiently corrected, and in any case we have no editor -^^j^^^ pg^^i^ ^^.^
who contemplates the preparation of a new one." They were reproached J^^ch^glf ^°°'^
with beiing stationary. But when people are well ofi", as well off as possible,
are they certain by changing from the present to find a better future f
He then claims that the Chinese invented gunpowder; and, after his
manner, gives a little thrust at the West. " People do us the honor to
admit we have invented gunpowder. But here is where we differ from
our western brethren. We employed it for fire-works, and only that ^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^^^^
we made the acquaintance of westerns we should never have applied it " a palpable hit."
to fire-arms. It was the Jesuits who taught us to cast cannon. " Go and
teach all nations."

He also claims the invention of printing and the magnetic needle. So printing and the
early as A.D. 121 the Chinese books define the loadstone, and a century "^as^^ '<"""'
later explain the use of the compass. Powder, printing, the compass, silk,
porcelain — these inventions (and some of them cannot be denied the
Chinese) he holds give theni a high rank among civilized nations. The
monuments of this civilization belong to an epoch when Europe did not ^^yg^^^y ^^
exist ; a civilization contemporary with the old dynasties of Egypt, and China,
the Chaldean patriarchs, having been founded in the early ages of human-
ity, and having suffered no change for a thousand years. A Greek his-

0

Ixx

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

torian of the second century is the first outside writer to speak of China
as a country whence silk, raw and manufactured, was exported. Chinese
history mentions a Chinese Embassy sent in the year A.D. 94 to seek to
open up some relations with the western world.

The veil lifted
from the isolated
Empire in the 8th
century.

A settlement of
Jews.

Chinese not an
inferior race as
that phrase is
usually under-
stood.

Europe before the
dawn of science
as benighted as
China to-day.

" It was in the eighth century that the veil which covered the Chinese
world was raised. It was in this century that the Empire commenced to
have relations with the Arabs, and this is the epoch whence our existence
in the world of history dates. The accounts written of the sojourn of the
Arabs in our country, accounts written by themselves and which have
been translated, bear witness to the prosperity of the Empire, and compel
the belief that one thousand years ago China enjoyed a brilliant civiliza-
tion. It is probable that the Arabs learned our arts and appropriated
our discoveries, which were afterwards introduced into western countries
and there perfected. This is an opinion which I think I have clearly
demonstrated."

Though the Chinese did not make voyages into distant western coun-
tries, there can be no doubt that other peoples settled amongst them.
Two centuries before the Christian Era a number of Jews found their way
into China. This was under the Han dynasty, " one of the most flourish-
ing epochs of the Empire.'' Williamson gives a most striking narrative
of his visits to Jewish synagogues. Colonel Tong quotes an account of a
visit to the Jewish colony by a Jesuit in the eighteenth century not less
interesting.

In bidding adieu to Colonel Tong we may point out this rule that
you must judge a race by its highest and not by its lowest members. A

race that produces a man who can learn a language like French a

language having nothing in common with his own — and write that
language in such a manner that Th^ophile Gauthier need not blush to
have the style attributed to him — such a race can be no very inferior
race, whatever else it may be. It may be played out, or in the course of
playing out ; it may have lost hold of the principles which in other days
gave it brilliancy and power ; the corruption of its government, its social
and political organization may have numbed its moral and intellectual
vitality ; but an inferior race, as this phrase is usually understood, it can-
not be.

Let us remember the dark blots which an observant eye can see in
European civilization, its political defects, its social ulcers, the misery
and crime. Let us remember also that the one thing which so markedly
separates Europe from China is essentially modern— physical science.
Before the fruitful method of the Baconian philosophy introduced a new
era, before the telescope of Galileo guided the mind through the solar
system, Europe was as backward in science as China is to-day, just as
much given up to superstition, just as cruel. It seems but yesterday that
torture was practised in England, and we know what English goals were
before Howard swept away those habitations of cruelty. Mr. Gladstone's
greenest laurels he won exploring and exposing and reforming Neapolitan.

ALEXANDEE THE GREAT AND CHINESE FLATTERY. Ixxi

j)risons. The Greeks had no physical science, as we understand it. They
-had the drama, literature, philosophy, sculpture, painting, oratory. The
Chinese have a drama, and though they have neither sculpture nor ora-
tory, they have painting of a kind — painting in which there is no shadow C!hincse art.
and which has a quaint excellence of its own. Their silks and porcelain
have never been surpassed. They have had their philosophers. They
have poetry, and a highly organized social life. If Chinese are to be excluded
or dealt with in a way different from that accorded to other immigrants
it must be on some more rational ground than the charge that they come
from a barbarous country steeped in vice and overrun with crime.

And here, perhaps, we are brought face to face with the core of the
wliole question. How comes it that this people, one of the earliest to
become civilized, have remained unchanged, as Colonel Tong boasts, for a
thousand years 1 There are, certainly, limitations to development in the
individual man. In the lower animals we see that each species is confined
within clearly defined bounds. Why should there not be likewise deter-
mining grooves for different races of men ?

Mr. Brooks takes our breath away when he suggests that China may Chinese adulation
have been peopled for 1,000,000 years, and that the Chinese were uncon
trolled by foreign influence for 360,000 years. The earliest mention we
have of China, unless it should be held that it is alluded to in the earlier
prophets, is in a Persian work entitled Zeenut-ul Tuarikh. Somebody „ ^. , „,■
has said that had Alexander the Great known of the existence of China '^"l- *•' pp- 2*^-
he need not have wept because there had come ah end to his career of
-conquests If one may trust the Persian author, Alexander was marching
against the Emperor of China, who entered the Grecian camp in disguise.
He was discovered and brought before Alexander, and explained his con-
duct by saying he was anxious to see the greatest of warriors ; that he
knew he could be no object of dread to such a man, and that even if slain
the Chinese would raise another sovereign .to fill his throne. " But of
this," he said, with true Chinese flattery, "I can have no fear, as I am
satisfied Alexander can never be displeased with an action that shows a
solicitude to obtain his friendship." China was spared, a treaty con-
cluded, and a tribute imposed. The Emperor returned to China, but
reappeared on the third day with an immense army. Alexander prepared
his forces for battle. The Emperor of China, with his suite, went towards
the Grecian prince, who asked him why he had broken faith. "I wished,"
said the Emperor, " to show the number of my army, that you might be
satisfied I made peace from other motives than an inability to make war.
It was from consulting the stars. The heavens aid you. I war not with
them."

The Chinese adulation was successful. Alexander released the Emperor
from paying tribute. The Emperor took his leave and sent the master of
iihe world presents of jewels, gold, and beautiful ladies.

This story is not without verisimilitude. It is treated as historical by
X.0 less grave a person than Sir John Malcolm.

Ixxii

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Maortin's China,
vol. i., p. m.

Condition of
China, 2000 B. C.

Chinese History.

Antiquity of
Chinese civili-
zation.

Legge's Chinese
Classics, vol. v.,
parts I and 2.

When we go beyond 2000 B.C. we get into the mythical period of;
Chinese history. Meng-tse, the Chinese historian, speaking of the condi-
tion of China under the Emperor Yu (B. C 2208), says the country was;
desert and the men savages. The low lands were covered with water..
The high lauds were covered with wood and bush, and abounded in wild-
beasts. Yu devoted his life to draining the land. He set fire to the.
forests, in order to clear the land and drive the wild beasts away.

The manufacture of cotton was not known until the second century
before Christ. It is quite clear that China was, long after the time of
Yu, occupied only by wandering savages or pastoral tribes, with here and,
there a city or camp. The heads of tribes, as in other countries at a like
stage, would be spoken of as princes, and wars among themselves wouli
keep down population. How the various principalities came to be united
under one head analogy enables us to guess, but the peculiarities of
Chinese historians make it impossible we shall ever know the real facts..
Gibbon says, " China has been illustrated by the French," and another
historian points out how they have always been foremost to recognize the
innate strength and greatness of the Chinese nation. This is quite true.
But many of them have certainly been at fault in seeking to give authen-
ticity to records which have unmistakable mythic characteristics, and
whose chronology can be successfully assailed, not only on historical but
a priori grounds. M. de Guignes says, that one of the sources of error
is that the Chinese historians have " given to their ancient characters the
acceptation they acquired only in later times." We see the same thing
in Ireland, where the chiefs of tribes and clans were spoken of as kings.
So the Chinese " characters now translated emperor, prince, city, palace i.
meant no more than chief, district, camp, house. So far from this Empire
having an existence 3,000 years before the Christian Era, it has not been
united together in a durable manner above 529 years B.C." China had
an existence long before this, and what de Guignes must mean is that the.
Empire, in its present form, is not earlier than the later years of the
sixth century, B.C. One historian tells us that in 1766, B.C., there were
3,000 feudal principalities in China.

The Chinese boast of being "the sons of Han," and look back on the
men of that dynasty (B.C. 202— A.D. 190) as the great builders of cities,
to protect them against the less civilized tribes. But China is not only
the oldest civilized Empire extant, it is the only civilized country in
existence whose civilization takes us back ;to a period more than 2,000
years before our era. Confucius was born 550 B.C., and in his Ch'un-ts'ew
he gives us an account of the twenty-one independent principalities into
which China was then divided. If so colorless a production can be said
to give a picture of anything one might say, it paints for us feudal China.
But the fact is we must look elsewhere for truth which Confucius sup-
presses. For instance, he never lets his readers know that the Lords of
the Great States of Ts'oo usurped the title of King, which was equivalent

PAEALLELS WITH JEWISH CUSTOMS. Ixxiii

to renouncing their allegiance to the dynasty of Chow. Without discuss- ,^'J'j' ^°'- '•- pp-

mg the value of the book it is enough to say it shows us a civilized nation

progressing towards unity before Romulus had climbed Mount Palatine.

Muh-Wang, the fifth king of the Chow dynasty, was fond of magnificence

and built gorgeous palaces aud temples. This monarch said of himself ; See Legge's C 'un

1.^ ,. . . . ,. , , , ■ , . . Ts'ew.partl, pp.

" My disposition inclines towards what is wrong, but my resource is m 86-90.

my mijiisters, who should check me when I swerve from the straight path."

The eclipses recorded by the Chinese attest the veracity of the historian

and the correctness of his dates on the whole.

Who were the people who first settled China ? To what race do they
belong? What is the secret of their national longevity? Professor Douglas
in his admirable paper on China in the Encyclopmdia Britannica says they
belong to the Mongol family. Mr. Martin says they are a branch of the
Scythians.

One thing is certain they came from the same parent stock as the

Hebrews, or from the same or a neighboring place. The supreme god

the ancient Chinese worshipped corresponds to Jehovah, and the parallel

customs are numerous. To-day the farmers in China prepare their

grain for market as the Israelitish husbandman used to prepare it in „

° 111111 Williamson, vol.

the days of David. Prisoners are shackled as they were among the ii., p. 104.

Jews. When a child is born he is wrapped in "swaddling clothes" having 2ChTOn.xxxiii, ii;

been previously washed with water in which the rind of green gingen

a herb called the gold and silver flower, and the leaves of the Whampu Ezekiei, xvi., 4.

tree have been boiled. The mother is required to stay at home 100

days after the birth of a child and for the same cause — she is regarded

as unclean. To a favorite child the father presents " a coat of many

colors " as did Jacob to Joseph. The Jewish parents chose a wife for Gen. xxi., 21,

their son; so do the Chinese parents to day. Among the Jews as among the judges xiv.,'2. '

'Chinese to-day the father had unlimited power over his children, and the ^ ^'"^f^' '^•' ' •

young Hebrew was often taken as a bondsman for debts contracted by his Numbers xxx., i.

father. The Chinese father has more power over his daughter than over

his son ; so had the Jew. Colonel Tong seems to think that the Chinese

Emperors borrowed the custom of having eunuchs from the Arabians. But

if we had no history the theory is too improbable to be received. We find in

the Chinese Court eunuchs rising to posts of distinction just aswe do under

Hebrew sovereigns. The same intimacy exists between the Chinese noble

-or prince and his servants as we find exemplified when David, on hearing

of the death of his child, ceased to fast and weep, and the storyof Naaman

and the little Israelitish captive will at once suggest itself. On the birth of

«, male child a rich Chinaman will give a dinner to the poor, who are bidden

■as in the parable. In their lamentations for the dead, the Chinese rival in

length and loudness the ancient Egyptians, or the professional mourners

who chant the keen at an Irish wake. The Jews in the same way " wept and Mark v., 38.

wailed greatly," and " made great lamentation." Sackcloth is worn by the Acts viii., 2.

-relatives of the deceased, and no mourner cuts his hair, or beard, or his jq,, xvi., is, 16.

nails, during the first seven weeks' bereavement. We learn from Herodotus j^Sf ili!r8.' ^^ '

Ixxiv

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

2 Samuel, xix., 2

2 Samuel, iii„35;
Jer. xTi., 7 ; £zck.
xxiv., 17.

Matt, ix., 23.

2 Samuel, xxl., 9-

14 ; 2 Kings, ix.,

28-34.

Ps. Ixxlx., 2 ; Ec.

vi.,3.

Deut. xxii., 13-17.

See " China "

Encyolopsedia

Britannica.

that the same customs were observed by the common people in Egypt^
and the conduct of Mephibosheth during King David's absence from his
capital points to a like custom among the Jews. For seven days after a
man's death his widow and children sit on the ground and sleep upon mats
spread on the floor near the coffin ; nor is any food cooked in the house,
the neighbors supplying the common necessaries of life. We find the
same custom among the Jews in early times. On the seventh day of
mourning for the dead musicians are placed within the porch of the house,
who play doleful tunes. Matthew tells us how "Jesus came into the
ruler's .house and saw the minstrels and people making a noise." All
ancient nations, and the Jews furnish no exception, attached the greatest
importance to the rites of sepulture. So do the Chinese, and death by
drowning, or even in battle, involving the loss of these rites, is considered
a calamity. Hence the Chinese proverb : "Better a dog and peace than a
man in war."

Their views respecting the seat of passion and emotion correspond to-
those of the conquerors of the Canaanites, while they hold an opinion which
clearly was held by these doomed nations, that the child is often taken
away for the parents' sin. There is the feast of lanterns as with the
Jews ; the marriage ceremonies recall many passages in Holy Writ, and
illustrate the parable of the wise and foolish virgins ; while on the bridal
night the same use is made of a small linen sheet as among the Hebrews. In
the morning this is presented to the bridegroom's parents. On the third day
after marriage the bride visits her parents. She is accompanied by servants
bearing presents in acknowledgment of their daughter's chastity. The love
of gain among the Chinese equals if it does not surpass that of the Jews.

These striking parallels may be mere coincidences. But, perhaps, a fairer
inference would be that as the roots of Greek, Latin, Gaelic, Sanscrit,
Hebrew, show that they are referable to one parent language belonging to
a people hidden away in unhistoric times, so the existence of customs
among the Chinese almost identical with those which obtained among the
children of Abraham, would seem to point to identity of origin either
ethnic or geographical.

In ages that may be described as patriarchal the Chinese race had
already taken form and character, and now it is perhaps the purest race
in existence. The Jews, who in the second century before our era,,
Mohammedans, who, soon after the death of the prophet, entered China;
the Maoutze of the mountains, have all three a place and name in China,
yet the Chinese have not mixed blood with them. The description given
of the Chinese eighteen hundred years ago fits them to-day, just as Caesar's
account of the Gauls describes, as Mitchelet points out, the Frenchman of
the Republic, and it is morally certain the Chinaman of 1,800 years ago
was like the Chinaman of 1,000 years before.

To-day the main features of the government of China are patriarchal.
It is founded on the family. The Emperor is the father of his people.

THE emperor's BUSY LIFE. IxXV

He is also their Pontifex Maxim us, their high priest. Wang-Teen, the

Supreme God, in whom Gray and Boulger recognize the Jehovah of • the

Hebrews, was worshipped in early times, somewhat in the same manner

as the patriarchs of the Old Testament honored the God of Abraham, (jrayvoi.i 86 and

The religion of the Chinese is at bottom monotheistic. But this pure Brooks,M.E.,p.33.

element is obscured by animism, idolatory and fetichism. Nor need we

be surprised that the people have been driven to demonolatry, when we

remember that the worship of Wang-Teen is confined to the Emperor and

his Court. He stands between his people and the Supreme. He is the

connecting link between them and the gods to whom alone he is responsible.

He is the interpreter of the decrees of heaven.

The life of a Chinese Emperor is no bed of roses ; nor, when once the

amount of business he has to get through in a day is known, will it be

wondered at that he begins his day's work at dawn. He is assisted by a „ ,^^ account

cabinet of four great ministers (Ta Hiasz). Not to enter too much into de- °} the Chinese
° ^ ' Government see

tail, there are besides six Supreme Boards for the conduct of government ?JHS^' "*'°'- '■' P-

business. These boards or councils have special functions as departments

have with us. They attend the administration of the affairs of the provinces ;

the revenue; the superintendence of ancient usages and religious rites, and

the preservation of temples endowed by the Imperial Government ; the

navy and the army ; criminal proceedings ; public works. Over each presides

a chief minister. The decisions of a Board having been discussed by the

Cabinet, they are submitted to the Emperor, who gives his decision by a

seal, and makes any remarks he thinks fit with a vermilion pencil.

Then there are two other Councils ; the Too-cha-yun, or Board of
Censors, and the Tsung-pin-fow, which is a board for registering the births,
deaths, marriages and relations of the princes of the blood royal.

Notwithstanding that the Emperor has a large body of ministers, and
though some of these gain great influence, the Emperor's will is law.*
He can order whom he likes whither he likes, and to undergo what fate he
wills. Notwithstanding, there have been faithful ministers who pointed
out evils and warned the Emperor that he was responsible for them. In
1822, the Censor of the Province of Yun-nau (in the provincial govern-
ments there is a qualified repetition on a small scale of the Imperial
Goverment), and the head of the literati in Shanting, pointed out to Martin, vol. i.,
Taoukwang that offices were sold even to highwaymen, that learned men ^'
were unemployed, that the flowers and rouge for the imperial harem cost
100,000 taels ($150,000), that the people were cheated, and many other
abuses. The memorial concludes : "If Your Majesty deem this statement
to be right, and will act thereon in the Government, then the army, the

* Even the best and wisest rulers rather feel the weight of this terrible
responsibility than desire to share it. Chun once said: " The post which I occu-
py is the most difficult and dangerous of all. The happiness of the public depends
on it." Yu said: "A prince has a heavy task. The happiness of his subjects
absolutely depends upon him. To provide for everything is his duty : his minis-
ters are only put in office to assist him."— Boulger.

Ixxvi THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

nation and the poor people will have cause of gladness of heart. Should
we be subjected to the operation of the hatchet, or suffer death in the
boiling cauldron, we shall not decline it."

The vermilion pencil wrote that this was a lucid and faithful report,
but nothing was done. Four years afterwards, in 1826, the sale of civil
and military offices produced 6,000,000 taels.
ttraSt Chinl'"^^" There is not a detail of civil government, from the highest political
functions down to the scavenging of the streets of Pekin, which will not
be found provided for in the ancient Empire. At every turn the
traveller will find himself surrounded by evidences of the suspicion and
jealousy of despotism. He will note that the Chinese people are really a
conquered people, watched by Manchu and Tartar garrisons in every
town. He will note, what Mr. Williamson points out in a dozen places,
that great public works are suffered to fall into decay. He will pause in

Arches to i-irgin- many a street and roadway to mark the arches raised, not to victory, but
ity and viduity. ■' ■' , i i i j? j. i.

to Virginity and Viduity, and unless he is a philosopher and tetches par-
allels from the West he will smile at Chinese simplicity. He will meet
with men driving wheel-barrows and carts, carrying a sail, if the wind is
favorable, just as they were seen a thousand years ago, and as Milton has
immortalized them. He will see Punch and Judy shows, as he would see
Mandarins. them in the streets of London. He will see Mandarins dressed in those bright

colors, abandoned for more than a century by men in Europe, borne along
in chairs, accompanied by their servants and dependents, much as the
Roman noble in his litter used to make his progress down the Appian
way. He will see soldiers with buff and blue tunics — helmets suitable for
warm climates, and armed with fire-arms made in Birmingham. He will
sometimes stop to admire the quaint beauty of a pagoda dedicated to one
of the different religious sects. If he goes to the theatre he will see the
parts of women played by youths, just as in England in Shakespeare's time.*
Lantern-hawkers, jje will see the lantern-hawker with his great basket on his back and full of
lanterns of every variety. He will admire the industry of the Chinese
women of the lower classes, who find time not only to attend to their
household duties, but to rear silk-worms, spin cotton, make cotton cloth,
roll tea, but who yet are not always allowed to sit at table with their
husbands ; and if the traveller is a lady she may see young Chinese ladies
working at embroidery — an art which, according to Malpifere, we owe to
China. On the rivers and lakes our travellers will see men fishing with
trained cormorants. On the roads he will often have to stand aside to
let the Tartar courier, wearing the bright yellow colors of the Emperor,
Borzes. pass. Attention will be attracted by bookseller's stalls ; Bonzes — monks

of Buddha — walking, yellow hat under arm and green umbrella open
against the sun, or making a spectacle of their austerity, and begging from

* An Edict of the Emperor Keen Long (1735—1796), forbade women to appear on
the stage. This of itself would explain the important part played by female
musicians.

A COMPLEX CIVILIZATION. Ixxvii

the passers-by ; flower boys pedling various kinds of flowers in pots ;
children with ingenious toys ; perambulating smiths ; pipe merchants
with bundles of long pipes, and, of course, smoking themselves ; jugglers,
surpassing those of Europe ; criminals in cangues,* or chained to upright
iron posts, and fettered ; or in cages ; or undergoing the bastonnade ; •
wandering musicians ; mountebanks exhibiting tame serpents ; money
changers ; travelling tinkers ; quail-fighting, and cricket-fighting ; boys
playing shuttle-cock with their feet instead of battledores ; wood mer-
chants selling wood cut exactly like our own firewood ; exhibitors of
peep-shows. In a word, the observer would find himself surrounded
with all the signs of a complex but antique civilization — stately temples,

great public works, palatial residences of the Mandarins, the busy Great public

WO rlcs

little houses of the humbler classes; numerous canal-boats, ferries, ship-
ping, highways — there are 20,000 Imperial roads — and near the great
cities, which are walled in as in ancient days, fortresses which belong to
a system of war now out of date.

It is not possible to rise from an extensive study of the literature, travel, impossible to
or history connected with China and feel any contempt for the Chinese, cunese.
The feeling is one of surprise that they do not do more. They have vast
resources ; they have a population which if warlike might overawe the
world. But public spirit, freedom are not there, and an organized des- Despotism casts
potism has cast the shadow of decay on those teeming millions. They are ^eca^y. °^ °
disrupted. There is no play of popular life, and the tyranny of the
Mandarin is qualified, so far as popular action is concerned, only by secret
organizations and the unsuccessful literati. These secret organizations
have been reduced to a science by the Chinese and form one of their great
drawbacks wherever they go. But secret organizations are not confined
to China or to Chinese.

We have said no contempt can be felt for these people. They show success in many
great industry and achieve success in many fields of labor. They live under ® ^ " labor.
a despotism which would, in the course of centuries, degrade the choicest
European races, and, if indeed they belong to the Mongol race they belong
to a race which has produced great heroes and far seeing men, and whose
fortunes at one time seemed equal to the conquest of the world.

A writer in the Edinburgh Review, for October, 1884, very properly
writes that if we wanted to judge of the English people it would not
be enough to see the population of the trading ports. We need he says
to travel inland before we can say we have seen the English at home.
!N"ow all the direct knowledge many have of China is from observing the
very humblest and sometimes the very worst class from the trading ports.
In this excursus on China it has been sought to supply the lacking know-
ledge, and thus not only to aid judgment but broaden the spirit of
discussion.

* The oangue is not unlike the pillory. Two boards with two half moons cut
In them are closed round the neck. The man's crime is written on a placard.

Ixxviii

THE CHINAMAN IN CHINA.

Sem'china*^ '^^^ Chinaman in China is the heir of an old, not to say an effete-
™^°- civilization. Educated and inherited tendencies make him an imitator, a

man non-progressive, and full of satisfaction with his country and its.
ways. There is no European nation which has not gone beyond the
point where the Chinese stopped. His worship of ancestors binds him to
the Flowery Land, and his national pride makes him look on the ways,
and customs of other people as barbaric. He is an idolator. Not
merely his habits but his skin mark him off as of a race distinct. Only
the pressure of the vast population on the least successful and poorest
classes makes these leave their country for a time, and such emigrants
come from Qwang-Tung and from Fuhkien, mainly from Qwang-Tung.
Not a few of them are criminals, and the women as a rule are prosti-
tutes.

Qwang-Tung has a population, of 19,174,030 or 241 to the square mile
and Fuhkien a population of 14,777,410 or 276 to the square mile. The
fact that the inhabitants of the northern provinces emigrate to Manchuria
shows that emigrants could, if necessary, be got higher up than Fuhkien
and the fair inference is that the supply of Chinese labor is practically
without limit, other than the demand.

Naturally only a rapid sketch of the Celestial Empire is attempted here.
One less full would have given no information capable of aiding the judg-
ment.

After what has been said it is not necessary to quote such witnesses
as Rev. W. Loomis and C. W. Brooks to show that Chinese intellectual
capacity is of a high order. Should they ever escape from the thraldom
of the worship of ancestors, and learn to drill and fight so as to bring
their soldiers even to approach an European standard, "the Chinese
problem " will assume a new and, perhaps, not so interesting a form as at-
present.

Qwang-Tung-
population of.

A rapid sketch.

MORAL EFFECTS.

There can be no doubt that one of the causes of the strong feeling-
against the Chinese is that their immigration consists mostly of unmarried
men and prostitutes, and it is said that the Chinese prostitutes are more-
injurious to the community than white abandoned women.

PROSTITUTION.

See p. 322, Ap. A. The evidence is that Chinese prostitutes are more shameless than white-
women who follow the same pursuit, as though the former had been educated,
for it from their cradle. This is what might be expected from what we
See M. E., p. 48. know of Chinese customs in China. They sit at their doors and through
Si'?.SP'o2!.*?'^Pp- * ^°''* °* wicket try to decoy the passers-by. They are bought and held in
bondage and the Kev. Otis Gibson produced two contracts such as are made
between these unhappy women and their mistresses. Such contracts are.

MORAL EFFECTS. Ixxix

of course, illegal, but the Chinese women thus enslaved do not know this.

Some have escaped from degradation and tyranny and taken refuge either See pp. 204 and 216

at the City HaU or the Mission House. Some of these women are kid.

napped in China. At one time there were about 1,500 prostitutes in Se^e ot- 263 and 278.

Chinatown, San Francisco. In 1876 there were some 400. About $500,000 See p. 203 Ap. A.

are said to be invested in the business.

The charge respecting prostitution takes two forms. It is said these
women bring with them a most virulent form of syphilis, and that in a
special way they corrupt little boys.

There are only two points about Chinese prostitution worthy of notice
as affecting our estimate of the character of Chinese immigration. The
Chinese are the only people coming to the continent the great bulk of whose
women are prostitutes. White prostitutes are, as some witnesses testified,
imported from Europe, and they are, in consequence of the debts they owe
the keepers of the houses in which they dwell, in a state of semi-bondage.
But they form only a percentage of the white women on the coast.

As to the Chinese prostitutes introducing disease, on such a subject the
question of degree is of little consequence. But we think it is proved that
they are specially corrupting to boys, and this for three reasons : In the
first place, their training has, as a rule, left them without that small sense j. c. R.,p. 222..
of decency which lingers in the breast of the white prostitute until she
has become an utter ruin, physical and moral, and which would make
her shrink from permitting the visits of very young boys. In the next
place, being under the control directly of a mistress and indirectly of a com-
pany of Chinese scoundrels, known as the Hip-ye-tung, force may be placed
on them to extend their trade without regard to age. In the third place,
the high value attached to money by the Chinese would make their pros-
titutes more accessible to boys than white ones. Several witnesses proved See M.E..pp. 24, 50,
,„,.,,, , 1 , . 1 i ■ also pp.180, 207, 213,

that boys frequented Chinese brothels and contracted physical contami- 354 Ap. A.

nation. Mr. Briggs said that apart from prostitution he did not know See M. B., p. I.
that the Chinese had any demoralizing effect on the community. But
several witnesses dwelt on the demoralizing influence of opium-smoking
and gambling.

GAMBLING.

The Chinese are inveterate gamblers. In China it is not uncommon gggjiE p 36 also
for a man to gamble away his breakfast ; and in San Francisco and else- pp- ^' 222, 223, 241,.
where they often lose at the gaming-table all their earnings. We visited
several of the many gambling-houses in Chinatown, San Francisco, but
did not see a white person present ; nor is there any evidence that white
men frequent these haunts of "tan" and "lottery." It must, therefore,
be as an example that Chinese gambling is demoralizing to the whites, if
it be demoralizing. These gambling-houses are owned by the Po-sang-tung.
Both Bainbridge and Vinton think it cannot be suppressed. It certainly
cannot be if, as Mr. Gibson says, the police are in the pay of the man who

Ixxx

ENQUIRY AT SAN rRANCISCO.

See M. B., pp.
25,48,108,161,

14,

175.

Women
-debauched in
-opium dens.

See M. E., p.
Chinatowns.

10.

I"ilth.

runs the gambling-hell. But, if the police carried out the law properly,
the evils of prostitution and gambling might be greatly lessened, as might
that attending

OPIUM-SMOKING.

The evidence is positive that they teach whites to smoke opium. There
is a law in China imposing a severe penalty on a man who entices another
to indulge in the too seductive drug. Before such a law came into exist-
ence the crime must have been known. A priori, therefore, it is probable
enticements would be made use of wherever Chinamen set up opium-dens.
Both Cox and Crowley give cases in which whites had become slaves to
opium.

To say that whites go to the chemists and get laudanum, or some equal-
ly powerful drug, or had learned to use opium before the Chinese ever
had a Chinatown on this continent, would be an answer to a proposition
affirming that because Chinamen smoked it they are inferior to, or more
wicked than, whites. But it is no answer to the statement that the exist-
ence of opium-dens in a large city is demoralizing. You cannot multiply
places of the kind without bringing forces into existence which surely
will have their influence in dragging some weak natures to degradation.
But this, too, is a matter with which efficient police could effectually deal.

There is some evidence to the effect that women have been taken to
opium dens and debauched. But this crime has been perpetrated in taverns,
and even without the aid of either opium or whiskey. In China, where
opium is prized as an aphrodisiac, women are frequently attached to opium
joints. But no such places appear to exist on the Pacific Coast.

We think we may here leave the moral effects of Chinese immigration.
Mr. Briggs speaks of their presence as "a moral blight, because they
never improve anything. When they take possession of a building, that
building becomes unfit for occupancy by any other people except Chinese."
This is rather a material than a moral effect.

We repeat, all that is objectionable in the Chinese quarter is a matter
which could of course be dealt with by an efficient police. Given police-
men under the control of the civic authorities and paid by salaries out of
the civic Treasury, and there can be no difficulty in putting down Chinese
prostitution, gambling dens, and the nauseous debauchery of opium joints.
The belief is universal that the police on beats in Chinatown are in the
pay of the bands of ruffians alluded to above, who own the gambling houses
and brothels, and terrorize those who try to bring about in Chinatown a
healthier tone. The effiarts of one Wong Ben, a Chinaman who had
some knowledge of English, and who tried to make a stand against the
prostitute-brokers, showed clearly at whose door the responsibility for the
worst features of Chinatown lies.

CHINATOWNS.

The filth of the Chinese quarter in San Francisco is dreadful ; or to
use the language of Mr. Meares, " inconceivably horrible." The evidence

CRIME AND CEIMINALS. Ixxxi

is that personally the Chinese are clean ; but their quarters are abominable fn i^^h'^'Sj ^f ng
to sight and smell. It is said : "Look at the low parts of London or New i^^'-yo^vi^i-fi'^So,
York, at Whitechapel or at Five Points." There is a fallacy in this 222 Ap. A.
reply. Those who inhabit Whitechapel or the Five Points are the dregs
of a population tens of thousands of whom live surrounded by cleanliness
or it may be every appliance of the most refined civilization. Shiploads
do not come to New York to make straight for the Five Points. One has distinction.
only to go through Chinatown in San Francisco to see that the fact that
Chinese immigrants will herd together in a quarter of their own, is a most
grave feature in this question. Wherever they go they do the same thing-
Several witnesses pointed out that it was only the favorable situation and
peculiar climate of San ^Francisco which prevented an epidemic breaking
out.

Owing to the way they cook one should think the risk from fire would Danger as to flre.
be very great. Oddly enough the weight of evidence does not support the
natural probability. William M. Dye an insurance solicitor — specially
employed by the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Company —
swears that for the fifteen years ended October, 1876, there had not been j. c. R., pp. 661,

. . 666 969

a single building of importance destroyed in the Chinese quarter ; that the g^^ p jjg j^^ j^_

State Investment Company paid a large premium to get the Chinese

business ; that it was easier to settle with the Chinese than the whites,

but that, however, some companies would not take their business for fear

of incendiary fires. Mr. Bigelow, who represented the Home Mutual As affecting

, , 1 1- 1 insurance.

Insurance Company, said the incendiary hazard was the reason he did

not insure in Chinatown. Several fires had occurred, and he expressed

the opinion that in most cases they had been caused by white people.

Most harm is done when, as is the case with San Francisco, Chinatown As affecting
is in the centre of a city and cuts off one part from the other. The land-
lords of the Chinese seem well contented and will renew their leases, nor
can we be surprised at this when we know that the Chinese pay better
than whites, and that desirable white tenants could hardly be got for any
of the houses in Chinatown.

Making a special quarter for themselves is favorable to

CRIME AND CRIMINALS.

property.

The Chief of Police at San Francisco says the .criminality of the Chi- g^^ jj ^^ ^^ ^^^

nese is "away above any other nationality." Instead of being a quiet 15.23,25.

■' ■' IP T -^ turbulent race.

race, as Mr. Bee describes them, the evidence from every quarter estab-
lishes that they are addicted to faction fights, that where they are in the
majority they are turbulent, and that many of them, certainly all the
criminals, and Mr. Bee tells us there are 1,400 of these, are accustomed
to carry, concealed about their persons or disguised as a fan, formidable
deadly weapons. They are expert as thieves and burglars.

Mr. Bee, the Chinese Consul, makes a point that out of 6,127 arrests statistics as to
for drunkenness not one was a Chinaman. But we know that at the crime,
same time Chinamen were debauching themselves with opium.

Ixxxii

ENQUIBT AT SAN FRANCISCO.

United States
Census for 1880,
pp. .380, 381, and
pp. 518, 549.

Hard to make
arrests.

The Consul takes the year 1881 and notes the figures in the Muni-
cipal Report. Out of 380 commitments for the year ending June 30th,.
61 were Chinese and 83 Irish, and taking the total, native and foreign,
the ratio of Chinese crime was as 61 to 732. Now, the population of San
Francisco in 1880 was 233,959, and of Chinese 21,745. The number of
Irishmen in San Francisco in 1880 was 30,721. Thus it will be seen
that statistics for 1881, assuming the population to have been about the
same as 1880, do not support the contention that the ratio of criminality
amongst the Chinese is above that of other nationalities. For the year
See p. 201, Ap. A. ending June, 1876, the white arrests made were 17,991 ; Chinese, 2,117.

As it has already been said it is hard to make arrests among the Chi-
nese and still harder to obtain convictions. Mr. Lawler, the Judge of
Police Court No. 2, testifies :

See M. E., p. 37. " As I have said before to you the Chinese quarter is over-populated.

There are places of abode underground as well as over, and in a small room
that a white man would not think of living in, a dozen Chinamen may be
found, not only sleeping, but living and cooking in it. Chinatown is
intersected, or cut up, also, by numerous small streets and alleys, and
between a great many of the buildings there are communications like
bridges across the streets and alleys, and there are means also of passing
from roof to roof. Owing to these convenient connections between the
buildings, and the crowded state of the Chinese quarter, it is often a
matter of extreme difficulty to pursue and capture an offender, and the
means of secretion are numerous and complete, there is no doubt what-
ever, but that many criminals escape detection and punishment through
these means. The most vicious element amongst these people is what is
termed the highbinders, amongst whom there is a strong union. They do
not belong to any one of the Six Chinese Companies, but they are com-
posed of members from them all. They are a desperate class of people,
and live, as I believe from my experience, in a large degree, upon means
obtained by them through extortion, gambling, etc."

See p. 201, Ap. A. Mr. Ellis, the Chief of Police in 1876, gave similar testimony.

The difiGlculty in obtaining convictions arises from the unreliability of
Chinese testimony. All persons entitled to speak on this head tell the
same story, from the Honorable Judge Hoffman down to the detectives.
And it stands to reason it should be so. Here we have people dwelling
in the midst of a different race, whose language they do not speak whose
institutions they do not understand, and whom they regard as barbarians.
We know no form of oath to bind their consciences. What can
be more natural as human nature goes than that they should lie when
they go into the witness box, especially if doing so will save a brother
Chinaman from prison, or redound to their own ease or profit ?

But the evidence goes farther than this. It brings us face to face with
a most sinister element in Chinese crime. A society of highbinders
exists, which overawes Chinamen who would be disposed to aid the law,
protects the keepers of brothels, and undertakes, it is said, for money,
assassinations. They live in fact by organized crime. They even levy
blackmail on rich Chinamen. Mr. Lawler says :

Difficult to obtain
-convictions.

Testimony
unreliable.

Highbinders.

Blackmail.

TERRORISM. Ixxxiii

"Not long since a case was examined by me, in which their mode of
3)rocedure was well explained. The evidence showed that, just prior to
the Chinese new year, the defendants who were before me sent threaten-
ing letters to a Chinese merchant, stating that they were without money
upon the approach of the festival, and that they should be supplied with
money, otherwise that serious consequences would follow a non-
compliance. These highbinders are much feared, and are through this
tolerated, and are not prosecuted by many of these respectable Chinese
merchants."

Dr. Swan, who was a coroner from 1874 to 1877, tells the followinar See M. E., pp. 26,

"27.
story : —

" A given case being reported, I frequently found Chinamen who were Terrorism of
near the spot ; claimed to have witnessed the whole transaction ; gave ^®<'''®' societies.
graphic accounts ; these would be among the witnesses on the formal in-
quest. On appearing they would intimate that they did not understand
English, and through the interpreter would say that they knew nothing
about the affair, and upon asking him in distinct terms, through the
interpreter : ' Did you not, yesterday (at such a time), tell that man
(pointins; to my deputy) so and so f The reply would be : ' I did not
understand what he said.' I never succeeded in fastening a crime on a
Chinaman through Chinese testimony but once. In that case the witness
was a little Chinese girl, old enough to be intelligent ; too young to un-
derstand the danger she was running in testifying. That man was
hung.

" Q. What do you mean by the 'danger she was running in testifying?'
— A. As she was giving her testimony, and she was asked to point out
the man that she saw do the act, out of a number of Chinamen that were
there, she pointed her finger at the man and said : ' Him.' As soon as
she said this he jumped right to his feet, and said something to her in
Chinese. She started back with a great deal of terror, and went into the
arms of some bystander, or bysitter I should say. This was at the inquest.
The accused jumped right out of his chair and started across the room,
and I asked the interpreter what he said in his Chinese. The interpreter
said he had said : ' You had better shut up.' Of course this is all an
opinion of mine, for the girl was very much frightened, and on enquiry I
got hold of this idea that she was threatened ; and the remark was made
by the Chinese police officer — I mean the officer that was on the beat in
Chinatown — that if the girl had been older, and understood, we could not
lave gotten anything out of her, on account of the danger she ran in
testifying against this man.

" Q. Could you be more specific as to the danger she ran? — A. I should
consider that she ran the danger of assassination.

" Q. By whom ? — A. By this man's friends or acquaintances ; and, as I
say, all these matters are simply matters of opinion that I could not bring
you specific proofs about."

The theory of Dr. Swan is only too probable if the habits of criminals
in China and the Straits Settlement be compared with what we know
them to be amongst the same class on the Pacific Ooasf. Dr. Swan con-
cludes his evidence with this statement :

"When I wanted to get hold of one particular man, we always went a power behind
to the interpreter of the company he belonged to, and the impression left
•on us by dealing with him, and by other facts, was that there was some
power behind, that we could not grasp nor understand.

Ixxxiv

ENQUIRY AT SAN PEANCISCO.

See p. 4U, Ap. T.

Terrorism by a
secret association

SupppDsedattempt
to pervert the
course of justice.

Robbery with
violence.

Six Companies.

SeeM. E.,pp. 18,
19.

Sir Matthew B. Begbie, Chief Justice of British Columbia, in Decem-
ber sent a postcript to his previous evidence, which was very favorable
to Chinese. Nor will it be improper to give his addendum, because
the evidence shows that the same Chinese companies and societies which
operate in California operate in British Columbia. He writes :

" There have occurred since I wrote some very notable exceptions to this
behavior :

"1. At the recent Victoria assizes, in a case of Chinese abduction,
where Chinamen witnesses and interpreters were necessary, it was estab-
lished to the satisfaction of the presiding Judge (Mr. Justice Crease)„
that these were being terrorized by the threats of certain Chinamen,
alleged to belong to a secret association. Three persons alleged to have
used such threats were summoned before Mr. Justice Crease, who took
immediate cognizance of the charge, (the investigation then pending being-
paralyzed, so long as the terror continued), and after hearing witnesses,
and what the parties, who all appeared on the summons, had to say iiL
their excuse, he fined them $500, $500, and $1,000 respectively, and in
addition sentenced them to six months' imprisonment ; treating their con-
duct as a very high contempt of court.

"2. Another attempt, or suspected attempt to pervert the course of
justice is just reported from Lytton. The body of a deceased Chinaman
had been found under circumstances which seemed to point to a murder,
and two Indians gave evidence before the coroner which implicated two
Chinamen in the crime. But at the assizes, these Indians refused to
repeat their statements, alleging that their former testimony was false,
that they repented of it, and that they had been bribed by some other
Chinamen (who appeared as prosecutors) to tender it. This is not a clear
case ; though Mr. Justice Walkem, (who presided at the assizes), appears
to be under the impression that what the Indians said before him was true
in substance.

"It is only just to the alleged suborners to recollect that the neigh-
borhood of Lytton has been the scene of terrible outrages against China-
men, in all of which the perpetrators have escaped scot free. One case in
particular, which in its wholesale unconcealed atrocity equalled anything
which I have read of agrarian outrage in Ireland, the alleged ringleaders,
though fully identified by four of the surviving victims, were acquitted by
the jury upon evidence of an alibi which the prosecutors might well deem
perjured — so that in the present case the Chinamen, entirely misappre-
hending the principles of our criminal law, may have imagined that
subornation of perjury was a weapon permitted by our courts, and that
to acquit or condemn we only required the production of sworn evidence,
without troubling ourselves to enquire whether it were true or not.

" 3. There has been since the date of my answers yet a third case, con-
tradicting my former experience. At the late assize at Nanaimo last week,
some Chinamen were convicted of robbery, with violence dangerous to
life, upon a Chinese woman named Ah ,Chif.

This brings us to a further charge. There are Six Companies which
may be said to have naturally risen from the condition of things in which
Chinese immigrants found themselves in the early days. Colonel Bee
says they are benevolent societies. They are labor bureaus. It is ad-
mitted that they take a fee from each member ; that they lend him money
to go into the interior ; that they provide him with medicines and a lios-

HOSPITALS AND LEPROSY, IXXXV

3)ital ; thatHl^y arrange to send his remains back to China. The
friends of the Chinese vehemently protest that these companies do not
bring them to this coirtiiient under contract. But, again it is admitted
that they cannot return to China until they are clear on the books of the
company to which they belong. The inference is irresistible that they These companies
are a good deal more than benevolent institutions, and that those who institutions.
manage them make a good profit out of the business. Nor is there any
reason why they should not. And the power they exercise, already re-
ferred to in connection with the steamboats, is still further illustrated by See p. 216, Ap. A.
the evidence of Mr. Gibbs.

It is charged that they came in bondage to the Six Companies. There
is no proof of this. But when the helplessness of the Chinaman without
such companies is considered, it can be understood that they must have
quite enough power over the laborer.

Nor is there any proof that courts exist controlled by one or other or jg there a secret
all of these companies ; secret tribunals before which men are tried on '""'^''^
civil and criminal charges. Colonel Bee tells us they hold courts of arbitra-
tion, and one can easily understand how, holding such courts, the impres-
sion would get abroad that still more was done, and persons were tried on
criminal indictments before private individuals, in secret, and without a
sjiadow of authority. The conviction is widespread and strong that such
, is the casft.i ^p, vL^b-ypJer declares :

'' It is often stated, and I think with a considerable degree of truth-
that there are in Chinatown species of courts, in which many cases arising
between these people are tried. For it is a noticeable fact that crimes
are often committed in that locality, and the greatest diligence fails to
discover any clue. This may happen where trouble arises between mem-
bers of the same company ; for the heads of these companies have such a
control over these members, that they can at any time prevent one mem-
ber from going into a court of justice and testifying against another.

Mr. Ellis, who was Chief of Police, in 1876, suspected that Chinese j_ c. r._ p. igs.
tribunals existed for punishing crime. But he said he had no evidence
of this.

HOSPITALS.

Their hospitals are evidently not of the best, and the evidence as to j,,, tjjgy (.^re tor
their indifference to suffering is what we should expect from what we ti'«i'' siok.
know of the Chinaman in China. Starving men have been refused food, and g^^ jj j, p_ 35^^
1;he Companies' sick have been put out uncured and helpless on the street, f^^- ^^' ^*®'
Still the Chinaman must prefer such care as they get at the Companies' hos-
pitals, or else they are unaware of the character and hospitality of Christian ggg p_ 217, Ap. A.
infirmaries ; for the universal testimony is that they do not burden public
clarities. Mr. Gibbs says : "they have a dread of our hospitals."

LEPROSY.

When we arrived in San Francisco we found newspaper rumors full of
cases of leprosy. But though the disease prevails to a frightful extent in No leprosy.

6

Ixxxvi

ENQUIRY AT SAN FKANCISCO.

J.C.R., pp. 199,200,
also pp. 216, 219,
Ap. A.

China, the evidence was conclusive that it did not at the time of our
enquiry prevail amongst the Chinese in California. Mr. Cox, the detec-
tive, who was bitter against the Chinese, said he had seen no cases. But
in 1876, Mr. F. A. Gibbs thethairman of the Hospital Committee told that
in December, 1875, there were fourteen lepers in the pest house. He also
found that the prostitutes in the city were afflicted. When he tried to
get them back to China he was interfered with by the Six Companies. .

Not improbable We may say, generally, that there are any number of lepers in China,

that they should , , , , ^ A,, ■ ■ ■ \.

introduce leprosy, and that therefore there is a danger that Chinese immigrants may intro-
duce it. It is a. mistake to suppose that it is confined to warm climates.
It has existed in Scotland and in New Brunswick. If the cattle disease
prevailed in any country to the extent relatively that leprosy does iiL
China, the cattle coming from the infected country would be subjected to
cattle diseases prevention arrangements. The sanitary condition of human
beings is, perhaps, as important to the world as that of cattle.

No proof intro-
duced small pox.

See pp. 189, 191,
Ap. A.

See pp. 338, 356
Ap. A.

SMALL-POX.

The Chinese are also accused of having introduced small-pox. Pixley
says, positively, they brought it into San Francisco. But there is no con-
clusive evidence to support his contention. Mr. King swears they have
offered to embark people suffering from this disease and that more
than seven-eighths show distinct marks of having had it. Mr. O'DonneU
says they introduced it about 1871, but Mr. Humphrey denies this. We
know small-pox has originated in Europe and in parts of this continent
where Chinamen have never been. All that can be said is that it is not
improbable that they should introduce it.

The fact is there are only two statements respecting Chinese I'mTnigra-
tion to. which it is worth while to pay any attention. One of these state-
ments has relation to the

See, M. E., p, 1.

EFFECT ON WHITE IMMIGEATION

of the presence in large numbers of Chinese.

The adverse statement which is of the first moment is that the Chi-
nese immigration prevented white immigration. Mr. Briggs contends
that white immigration both from Europe and the eastern States was
retarded if not wholly barred. It will be remembered that iq 1882 an
Act, excluding all Chinese laborers after ninety days after the passage of
the act was passed, and that a yet more rigorous act was passed two years
later. Now Mr. Briggs gives the following figures in support of his view. The
excess of arrivals over departures in 1879 was 9,500, Chinese and all ; in

S'pu.ut!""""'"^^ ^^^^' ^'^^^' ^"^^ ™°^* °* ^^^^^ ^® ^^y^ ^^'■^ Chinese ; in 1882, there were
17,573 immigrants to California. The immigration in 1883, that is of
course the excess of arrivals over departures, was about 24,000.

Mr. Briggs as will be seen by turning to p. 12 fell into one or two
errors here. In 1880, the real excess of arrivals over departures was

Statistics in
support of the
proposition that

WHITE IMlttlGRANTS KEPT OUT. Ixxxvil

3,563, and of tliese 698 were CKinese, showing a great falling off as com-
pared witli the years 1873-75, when the demand for labor brought annually
an average of 17,000 Chinamen into the port of San Francisco. In 1881, the
excess of arrivals over departures was 24,722. There was a gain that
year of 14,685 whites and 11,137 Chinese, 18,561 having arrived. The
next year 27,404 arrived as against 9,831 departed, the white immi-
gration being 58,113 against 37,113 gone away. The falling off in 1880 in
Chinese immigration would probably have gone forward for a few years
but for the steps taken towards restrictive legislation in that year, and it is
likely white immigration, but for the same cause, would have remained
about the same. But the new policy gave a stimulus at once to Effect ol
white and to Chinese immigration ; to Chinese immigration by impelling tion to stimuMe
all who could get in before the passing of the Act to do so ; to white tion.
immigration by leading the labor agents and societies to encourage instead
of to discourage eastern laborers to go to California. This last remark is
further illustrated by the statistics for 1883. The Restriction Act of
' 1882 had begun to do its work. The aggregate immigration was 82,913
of which only 3,536 were Chinese, the excess of departures over arrivals
being 3,005.

The immigrants for 1884, up to May 31st, showed a total of 9,680 — Favorable result

„ , , , , . , rr,, ■ ^ 1 1 not wholly due to-

most of them white settlers, seeking homes. These were registered, and legislation.

one-tliird of them, Mr. Briggs considers, reached San Francisco. He did
not attribute this result wholly to the legislation. Prior to the legislation
excluding Chinese labor, no movement to encourage white immigration
was made, " because we had all the labor we could utilize. But the
moment Congress was invoked to stop the influx of Chinese to the coast,
then we began to circulate printed information relating to the State,
showing its advantages and opportunities, and sent that broadcast into
Europe and east of the Rocky Mountains in this country, and, thereby
induced a larger immigration than would have come otherwise. Unques-
tionably the effect of the Restriction Act was toward the increase of that
immigration, because we could say to these people that the Chinese immi-
gration had ceased, and they no longer were in danger of coming into
competition with coolie labor direct from China, that was constantly
coming at the rate of 15,000 or 20,000 per year."

Albert M. Winn, president of the Mechanic's' State Council, swore see p. 24?, Ap. A.
positively that he knew that the fact that Chinese laborers were largely
employed in California kept out white immigrants. He says that when
men interested in labor organizations in the eastern States wrote to Labpr agents
him to know what chance there was for employment, he advised them to ^ortoen to'*'
■stay away if they could get any employment, that the Chinese had filled "'emain away.
all the places that might have suited them. As a consequence they did
not come. " That is very common. I state this to them all the time
whenever I write. When a man of family comes here he can only get
Chinese wages and he cannot support his family. A Chinaman has no

Ixxxviii

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO

Chinese
competition.

Shrewdreas of the
Chinese laborer
or servant.

family to support and the Chinese can live on a very small amount per
day. Therefore the white laboring men had better stay where they are."
There was an active movement, to keep away white immigration on the
ground that where Chinese labor is abundant there is no desirable field for
white labor. This brings us to the charge which is only another form
of that which has just been stated. It is said Chinese laborers injuriously
compete with the white laborer. On this head there is great diversity of
opinion.

We have seen that the Chinaman if, a valuable worker. Whether as a
navvy, or a reclaimer of land, or a fruit-picker, or a domestic servant, the
testimony m his favor preponderates. One witness after another testified
that he drives a keen bargain. It is in evidence that after the new-comer
has, by reason of the instruction of master or mistress, or because of
availing himself of some opportunity, become more efficient in any walk,
he demands higher wages, and if his demands are not acceded to he goes
into new service. We suspect the uniformity of this conduct must be
traced in part to instruction from persons longer in the country, and who
make it a business to see that their countryman gets all he can. Knowing
what we do of their ready aptitude and of their mode of life, we should
naturally infer that the tendency would be in all those branches of
industry they afiect, for Chinese wages to rise and white wages to
fall, until a water-mark was reached above what Chinese originally
got, and below the wages earned by white workmen before Chinese
were employed. The evidence establishes that something like this
occured. Albert M. Winn, who, as we have seen, was accustomed to tell
white laborers not to come to California, having sworn that white laborers
could not live on " Chinese wages,'' explains that he means the wages of
Chinese when they come "green." Mr. Briggs, on being asked whether
white men could not compete with Chinese, says :

" 1 think that day has gone by ; the time was when they could not.
Chinese to-day do not labor for as low wages as they did ten years ago.
Their labor is regarded nearly as valuable as white labor, particularly in
piece work ; they earn as much as whites. And many are laborers on their
own account."

"Q. Then, after a time, the objection from the working men would
disappear ? — A. So far as wages are concerned it does not hold as good to
the extent that it did in the early stage of the introduction of this labor."
On the other hand, Mr. Condon, who was examined before the Com-
mittee of 1876, tells us that as to carpentering and painting, the sash, door
and blind department is almost exclusively in the hands of Chinese ; that
the best workmen could not live on the wages paid them ; that the white
But a witness says mechanic is consequently kept out of employment. The wages of Chinese
carpe"nto can live carpenters he says is $1 to .$1..50 a day. That there is plenty of white '
tCchSfe ' ^"'''^ laborers he proves by the fact that a firm which advertised for two boys
carpenter. j^ the painting business had 100 applications. His evidence is hardly con-

His evidence sistent with itself or that of other witnesses. He says the effect of Chi-

nese labor had been to create an overplus of labor, while others swear that

Tendency for
Chinese wages to
rise and white
wages to fall.

After a time it is
said Chinamen
insist on high
wages.

See M. E., p. 3.

See p. 250, Ap. A.

inconsistent.

CHINESE COMPETITION. Ixxxix

wHte immigration was kept out. This witness declares that thousands of
white men were out of employment, that Chinese labor had no tendency
to lower the price of sashes, doors and blinds to the consumer, and that
in consequence of Chinese labor, sashes, doors and blinds which used to
come from the eastern states are now made in California. If in conse-
quence of the employment of Chinese articles which before could not be
made in California are now made there, the tendency must be to lower
the price of such articles, and it may be said in passing that the material
result of the presence of Chinamen must be for the time anyway of the
greatest advantage to the State. Mr. Condon says the whites are much ahead

of the Chinese in speed. If this be so |1 a day would not be as low wages Comparison of

. . . , wages,

as it seems. If, for instance, a white painter or sash-maker could do double

the work of the Chinaman, the $1 a day paid to the latter would
be equivalent to $12 a week to a white workman. But the witness tells
us the wages of the white mechanics is about f 15.

Mr. Condon mentions box-making as one of the branches in which
Chinese compete, and he says they get $1 a day. Yet when we turn to
statistics prepared by Morris Lessler, and sworn to, we find that no Chi- See p. 337, Av. A.
nese are employed in making packing-boxes. The Chinese do compete in
cabinet-making but not to any great extent, there being seventy-five
Chinese to 1,104 whites engaged in this business. There is no reason
to doubt that Lessler's statistics are approximately correct. He was Lessier's statis-
examined and his statements are of a nature that, were they incorrect, they
could and would have been in a day or two contradicted. Less than a
month, it is true, was a short time to perform the task he undertook and
he was avowedly getting up facts for a Chinese advocate. Then it is in
evidence that some firms, while employing Chinese, in fear <of being boy-
cotted, advertised that they only employed white laborers, and if they
advertised misstatements, there is no reason why they should tell the truth
to an unauthorized interviewer like Lessler. Still Lessler makes specific
statements which were capable of being tested, and his figures, on the whole,
agree with facts obtained from other and reliable sources. According to
him there were employed in San Francisco in 1876, 15,324 whites, and
7,050 Chinese, or say forty-six per cent, of the laborers and mechanics are
Chinese.

According to the census of 1870, the Chinese made 52i per cent. Chinese in the
° T , „ B o field of lahor

of the employes working in cotton and woollen mills ; 27^^ per cent, according to the
\. :■ ■ -.^ ^ -,1,1 oensu-ses of 1870

of fishermen ; 25 per cent, of miners ; 10 per cent, or agricultural laborers ; and 1880.

25 per cent, of nurserymen and market-gardeners ; 28 per cent, of do-
mestic servants; 20 Jj per cent, of laborers; 71j2p^ per cent, of laundry-
men; 7j^ per cent, of traders and dealers; 17 jiff of hucksters; 22^^ of
workers on railroads ; 15-j^ of the workmen in boot and shoe factories ;
89^ of the hands in cigar and tobacco factories. But the Chinese
population in the United States had increased in the decade from
1870 to 1880 by 42,729. The railway draw on this immigration

ENQUIRY AT SAN FEANCISCO

Flnctnations of
immigration.
See p. 185., Ap. A.

J. C. R, p. 77.

U. S. Census part
2, p. 1359.

U.S. Census part
2, p. 1399.

J. C. R., p. 1206.

Manufacture of
boots and shoes
almost whoUy in
their hands.

J. C. R., p. 1211.
J. C. R., p.1212.

Cigar-making.
See p. 242, Ap. A,

spent itself in the years 1867-69, to again operate in 1873-75. In
1871, the immigration fell to 5,000, and in 1872, to 9,000 ; but in
1873, rose to 17,000 ; in 1874, to 16,000, and in 1875, to 18,000. Mr.
Low, when asked to explain this rise in the tide, at first could not give
any reasonable explanation, but subsequently said, the building of the
railway to Los Angeles and other lateral roads would, to some extent,
account for it. "I have no doubt that that accounts for it partially ; and
that the Chinese merchants here, and those having an eye to business,
speculate on all these probabilities of labor as well or better than we can."
This experienced witness clearly does not think the railway buHding
would fully account for the spring-tide of Chinese immigration from 1873
to 1875 inclusive, and it is a fair inference that a considerable portion
flowed into other channels of toil. Unfortunately, the census of 1880
does not enable us to say what number of Chinese were in that year
Wnd in various callings. It gives the number of those employed in the
several industries, born in Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia,
and British America, but classes all other nationalities under the bead of
"other countries." The gross number of persons in all classes of occupa-
tions in California in 1880, was, 376,505, of whom "other countries" are
credited with 101,452. In San Francisco we learn, that of those engaged
in manufacturing, mechanical and mining industries, 9,877 came from
" other countries." It is no forced presumption to say that nearly all
these are Chinese. In 1880, there were only eighty-six Japanese in the
whole State, out of 37,475 persons working as mechanics, in factories
and at mining. The census of 1880 leaves us almost without guidance.
But taking into account this fact, that the Chinese population went on
increasing uijtil the Act of 1882 came into operation, it is morally certain
that the number of Chinese employed in the various industries, as given
by Mr. Lessler, would have to be increased considerably to meet the facts
in 1880. The manufacture of boots and shoes is largely in their hands,
as we ourselves saw. ' In 1876, there were 1,970 Chinese employed in
manufacturing boots, to 1,012 whites. In 1876, not a person of any
nationality, other than Chinese, was employed in the factories where Mr.
Lessler made enquiries. In 1870, the percentage of Chinese employed in
this manufacture was 89^^.

The census of 1870, counts clerks and bookkeepers employed in con-
nexion with the factory. And this fact makes it necessary to add to the
percentages given above of Chinese in thirteen industries. We have then
nineteen cigar firms employing 3,197 Chinese and not one white. Ac-
cording to the evidence of Frank Muther, a cigar-maker, there were about
150 white cigar-makers in San Francisco in 1876, the union numbering
100. Of these one hundred some sixty were employed, their earnings by
piece-work averaging $11 a week each man; the Chinese earning $6.
The difi'erence is accounted for by the fact that the Chinese are slower
workmen. In consequence of employing Chinese labor the workshops

CHINESE COMPETITION, XCi

are very inferior to those in the Eastern States. In \ shop which in the Effect of

employing Chi-
East would be considered fit for twenty men, in San Francisco they would nese on the oha-

work 100 or 150 Chinamen. This impedes the white workman. They workshop.

have not the facility for drying the tobacco and preparing it. " If " said

the witness " they would introduce the same system here that they have White cigar-

1,1,11 makers make

m the East, the white men would make almost double what the Chinamen nearly double

what the China
,get." But as the white man was earning |1 1 to the Chinaman's $6 he men makes.

was already making nearly double even under the cramped conditions Sec p. 213, Ap. A.

described.

This witness swore that the Chinese, in order to obtain employment, chine'^''™'d^^
have gone to the boss and offered to work for very low wages in order to *° se' employ-
obtain the shop.

" When they cannot prevail on the boss they will turn round and try
to bribe the foreman. They have offered $10 for every Chinaman they •^- ^- ^•' p- ^^S-
will put on, or $10 for everj thousand cigars manufactured, and where the
foreman sometimes will have a chance to make money he will take on the
Chinamen.

" Q. Do you know any foremen of that kind 1 — A. I have met foremen
who have told me they were offered money. I asked them if they would
■come on this stand. They told me they were situated in business that
they did not want to expose. I went to one particular one named Joe
Betts. He told me he would swear that in the last few weeks he was
offered money, one dollar for every thousand cigars manufactured, in the Foremen offered
shop by Chii^amen, or $10 for every Chinamen he would put on. It is woufd employ
from this fact that they have hurt us so much. Even when we can hold Chinese,
the bosses, they bribe the foremaii, and of course it is hard to hold men
under such a liberal offer. When they offer a man $80 and $100 a week
for a year or so, it is hard to hold honest men under such inducements.
Temptation is hard to resist when it becomes that liberal."

The Joint Committee do not seem to have thought it worth while to
examine Joe Betts. At all events he was not examined, and no remarks
were made on his absence. The charge made here against the Chinese is Chinese
a very serious one. It represents them not as coming into the market declaring war
to compete with white men under fair conditions, but as declaring war labor,
against them and resorting to corruption in order to drive them from
employment. Underselling them is one thing ; bribing foremen to
turn them away is another. Such a charge ought to have been sifted to
the bottom. As it is, we have nothing but the hearsay evidence of a
prejudiced witness in its support.

The witness denied that the cigar-makers' trades union limited the Denied that cigar-

■ ° makers union

:number of apprentices. No conscientious man, he declared, would take limited the
an apprentice, because after the boy had learned his trade he would get apprentces.
little wages, and perhaps would even fail to get employment. The
Chinese had got the trade. " They have got us, so to say, conquered."
Asked whether if Chinese cigar-makers were excluded there would be
enough white labor to carry on the manufacture of cigars and meet the
klemand, his reply was :

"Not in the State now, because they have been driven away; but New

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

3,000 cigar-
makers in New
York in 1876 Idle.

White cigar-
makers after
coming to
California went
riglit back.

See p. 243, Ap. A.

J. C. R. p. 319.

York reports 3,000 cigar-makers walking the streets doing nothing. * *
When people understand that we have been incorporated and they are
itching for a change as times are hai-d, and they correspond with us, our
general reply is : 'Do not come.' * * When I came here first I got a
very good situation, but it has dwindled down so now that I cannot
make within $8 a week of what I did two years ago."

The witness, in reply to a leading question from Mr. Pixley, said he
knew of a great many white cigarmakers and their families who had come
to California and went right back because the field was better in the
Eastern States. Another leading qu^tion elicited statements to the fol-
lowing efiect : —

" Chinamen, when pinched, will take contracts below the actual cost of
the goods — that is, certain companies — from the wholesale tobacco houses!
The monopoly of this town is the wholesale business. They contract to
furnish all the cigars, such brands and such brands. They have to give
good quality ; everything that is not good they have the right to refuse.
The contract will absolutely say that they have to purchase the tobacco
from the wholesale house, and in this way the tobacco houses have the
monopoly. They have got the Chinamen, and they have got the pubUc
They invariably beat the Chinamen on the tobacco, and get the goods they
contract for ; and all the poorer trash the little white shops have to work
up. Tak, Lang <fe Co., take a very cheap contract ; they have 400 boarders,,
besides apprentices. This firm say they can collect §400 to $480 a week
from all their boarders, and that they do not care if they do not make
anything on cigars. If they can get contracts they will take them rather
than lose their boarders."

The witness gave a description of the manner in which Chinese, when,
uncontrolled by white men, make cigars. They take the cigar in their
mouths and put spittle on it to get it smooth. There can be no doubt
that they do this. We ourselves saw them do it. He swore they were
accustomed to do something still more disgusting. He had worked in
shops where Chinamen were packed around him thick as herrings in a
keg. " They would get to sweating, and it was a common thing for them
to take these cuttings and wipe their arms and their faces with them and
blow their noses in them."

Partly because all this got abroad, partly because of the general an-
tipathy to the Chinese, firms were accustomed to advertise " No Chinese^
labor employed here." In some cases this was true ; in others not.
There was a strong temptation to keep the Chinese. As an instance of
the way Chinese competition was felt, Muther teUs how he was appointed
by the cigar-maker's society to visit the house of Alexander & Co., 222
Battery street, which had sent them a card asking for white labor. The
boss said he wished to introduce something new, and when he described
what he wanted, he was infbrmed that only the oldest mechanics could
do the work. "What will your men charge me?" he asked, " Our
organization makes no charge ; we hold no particular price." "'Are you a.
married man 1 " " Certainly, and so are all the oldest cigar-makers.'"
" Then," he said, " I camiot use you. The Chinaman is not married, and

CHINESE COMPETITION.

he can work very cheap. If you will introduce me to unmarried men, I
will pay them enough to live comfortably, but I do not care to keep more
than one comfortably. I am not responsible for other men's children and ChmeBecompeti-
cannot support them. I did not have anything to do with their exist-
ence." Muther left him, telling him he was a fraud as were all other ad-
vertisers for white labor.

Mrs. H. J. Humphreys, examined in 1876, said, thousands of sewing J. C. R., p. 337.
women were out of employment, that the Chinese were wedging the
women out of needle-work, that the women got a little more per dozen
than the Chinamen, and that these were starting manufactories of their
own. Lessler's statistics showed that there were 129 Chinese employed
in shirt factories, as against twenty-six white men and eighty-six girls.
We ourselves saw several shops where Chinese were working on their own
account, and in a space so contracted that if the same number of girls
worked in it they would soon die of consumption. Here in one industry
we have 129 places occupied, which might have been filled by white
women, and the complaint was heard that girls were driven to prostitution
and boys to become hoodlums.

We have seen that in some cases the tendency was for certain indus-
tries to pass into the hands of Chinese ; in others into the hands of white
laborers. We have also seen that there are instances where Chinese
labor made oportuniti§s for white labor. Mr. Babcock tells us that the
white people are much better off in consequence of Chinese labor ; that la-
bor begets labor ; that in consequence of the presence of Chinese the people
get cheaper cigars and boots ; that the women get clear of the drudgery
of washing, and that the working classes have clean linen oftener than
they would have it were the Chinese not here. But Mr. Babcock has no
idea of settling the State with Chinese, or giving them votes.

" Q. Do the Chinese come with the intention of remaining and becom- •'• ^- K-' ?• T^l*-
ing permanent citizens, or returning 1 — A. Of returning. Their rule is,
or was fo merly, to return every fourth year.

" Q. Does the average white immigrant from the East come with the
intention of remaining and becoming a permanent citizen 1 — A. He comes
with the intention of becoming a permanent citizen.

"Q. Then, what do you think is best for the future of the State ? — A.
I think it better that it should be settled by white immigration.

" Q. Why ? — A. The whites, we all know, are a superior race to the
Asiatics. But, as I said before, I consider that cheap labor in a new
country is absolutely necessary, and we should have the cheapest labor
that we can get."

Mr. Pixley, not unfairly, then presses a question which probes the situ-
ation to the bottom :

" Q. Then, you are looking upon it as a temporary necessity 1 — A. No,
sir ; I do not look upon it as a temporary necessity. I believe that a
hundred years hence, when our descendants are living in California, they
will turn back the page of history and see these proceedings, and they
will then cast their eyes abroad over the country, look at the industries
and how much Chinese labor has added to it, and they will smile with

^°^ ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO

derision at the ignorance of their ancestors. That is the view I take of
it. Eighty years hence we shall see a population of 150,000,000. You
might have one or two millions Chinamen, and what harm can they do 1
I would not give them a vote. I would never give a negro a vote. That
is my platform.

" Q. Is it desirable to have within a free commonwealth a non-voting

population ? — A. Yes, sir ; I see no objection to it at all ; not a particle.

The Chinese do not want to meddle with our politics. They are the most

quiet, industrious and best people I ever saw. They are the most

valuable laborers I ever saw."

No desire to see ■^°^ * witness, however favorable he might be to the Chinese, would say

California settled ^e wished to see California settled up with them. This attitude on the

by Cninese. ^ <» t_ i.

part of their friends is as striking as it is instructive. If they are such

good laborers such quiet, peaceable people, how comes it that those who
regard them with so complacent an eye would not wish to see them
settle up the country 1 Here surely is something strange. We are told
they have excellent qualities as laborers and business men, that they are
in many cases preferable to the whites, but that the whites are a superior
race.
J. C. R., p. 718. There seems, too, to be an instinctive feeling of preference for whites,

independent of any reasoned out opinion respecting their merits or deme-
rits as compared with Chinamen. Several manufacturers who employed
Chinese said they would prefer whites. And in domestic service especially
we should think white girls would be much more welcome than Chinamen.

Domestic Mr. Babcock testified that he never found any difficulty in getting white

servants. •/ a t^

domestics, but that it would be difficult to get a white girl to do, as a

Chinaman will, all the work of the family.

" The Chinamen are a great advantage all through the state, and I
think the people in the country find a very great difficulty in getting
white servants to remain with them, whereas Chinamen do not care where
they go. I would rather have a nice tidy girl to wait on me, and I sup-
pose you would too. You would show your want of taste if you did not.

" Q. Suppose we did not have these Chinamen here, would we not have
nice tidy, white girls 1 — A. No, sir ; and you would pay such wages
that if you are unable to keep these servants, you could keep only two,
probably, and then you would be able to exercise no control over them.
The Chinese make a balance of power and it is absolutely necessary in the
condition we are to have the Chinese, in my opinion ; yet I do not employ
them."

Mr. Bee uses almost the same language. He says the Chinese enable
the well-to-do whites to hold a balance of power as against Bridget and
the trades unions. From this point of view the Chinaman is regarded as
the ally of capital in its fight with labor. Chinese labor is held not only
to benefit those who use it, but those who do not. The latter it enables
to get white labor at a lower rate and to exercise control over it. It is
easy to understand how the workingman or woman must regard Chinese
labor.

Two questions suggest themselves here. Is it for the public good that

A MISTAKEN VIEW.

alien competitors who are not to be regarded in the light of citizens, should
be introduced into any country to compete with its citizen workers ? If it
be desirable, is it possible to control them, and those natural movements,
"which will rule them so that evils which their friends would appear to
anticipate from large settlements of them shall not take place, and that
no such grave consequences as the opponents of Chinese immigration
dread, shall happen 1

Mr. Crocker says : "I believe that the effect of Chinese labor upon j. c. R., p. 667.
white labor has an elevating instead of a degrading tendency. I think
that every white laborer who is intelligent and able to work, who is more Mistaken views.
than a digger in a ditch, or a man with a pick and a shovel, who has the
capacity of being something else, can get to be something else by the
presence of Chinese labor easier than he could without it."

This is perfectly true. But let us see where it lands us. In fact the tone
of contempt with which the digger in a ditch is referred to, strikes the note
of the social change, which Chinese labor largely employed would inevit-
ably produce. It is a most desirable thing that ladies of moderate means
should have their housework efficiently performed at a reasonable rate,
most desirable that there should be an adequate supply of labor in a new
country, and these good things should be secured if they, like the white
girl when there is no Chinese competition, and the working man when
la^or is scarce, do not prove too dear.

We need not show that Chinese labor is cheap labor. That is its Chinese labor
raison d'etre. We need not stop to prove that it is docile ; that is one of '
its admitted attractions. Just as one of the lower animals will go and
remain where he is fed, so the Chinaman will go and stay for a certain
time in any place where he is paid a certain wage, admittedly not high.
What must infaillibly occur as Chinese laborers stream into various
-channels of employment 1 The white workmen, not content with the rate
to which wages are reduced, will if they have the money, leave the
country. Those who remain sink lower even than the Chinaman, because
they have to do more with the money out of which he saves a little
fortune to enjoy in China. They become more and more degraded. It is
in evidence that a man who has bossed Chinamen is not fit to boss white
men, because be becomes too arbitrary, contracts in fact something of the
bearing of the slave-driver. * The white men who would remain to com-
pete with Chinese would have to accustom themselves to such bossing as
the Chinese would bear. Out of Chinese wages white workmen could not

* Miss Corner, in her admirable sketch of Chinese history, says : "After all
the Chinese must be said to be governed by the whip and the bamboo, the
bamboo having the larger share in the administration. The viceroy bamboos the
mandarins, the mandarins bamboo their inferior officers, and these, in their turn
bamboo the common people ; the husband bamboos his wife ; the father his son,
even when of mature age. One of our oldest travellers says, of a surety there is
no such country for stick as Cathay; here men are always beating or being
beaten."

ENQUIRY AT SAN PEANCISCO

save money ; on such wages they could hardly support a family. There
^he same^effect as would be but few instances of persons rising out of the rank of laborers
to be small property holders, and as members of the middle class
failed they would sink to the condition of "mean whites." We are
stating natural tendencies. There was not time to have very grave
results produced. But some of the most thoughtful of the Califomians
believed they saw signs of an order of society coming into existence
not unlike that which obtained in the southern States, where jlavery
had produced immense wealth, but where society was rapidly losing
everything like a middle class, where the aristocratic class was becoming
smaller, and where there was no gradation from a proud and exclusive
landocracy and professional men allied to them to black slaves and
whites not less miserable. The Kearney agitators only saw that thou-
sands of white laborers were out of employment and that the China-
man was a competitor for work ; the more thoughtful looked further, and
asked how these Chinese laborers were working with those shaping forces
of the present, from which the future will take its outline and complexion.
They could not contemplate the struggle which had commenced be-
tween Chinese and white laborers without alarm. The white man was
handicapped. He was competing with a man come from the lowest class-
of a population whose standard of comfort throughout is low. He could not
live on a shelf. He could not be content with tea and rice, a little lard,
and the least attractive part of the sheep or pig. He had often to sup-
port a wife and children. In all unskilled employments, which required
only strength, laboriousness, patience, docility, imitativeness and steadi-
ness, wages were lowered, and on many of the river bottom farms there
was a Chinese quarter, a few huts where dwelt the Chinese who did
much of the work of the farm throughout the year. In the same way
there used to be negro quarters on the plantations in the South.

From what has been said about the worship of ancestors, the density
of population in China, and the rate of remuneration it is morally certain
A Chinese influx that had there been no restriction, Chinese unmarried laborers would
possi e. hsi,ye poured in, and spread over the State of California, and thence over

most of the western States, and perhaps they would have effected a lodg-
ment in every State of the Union. Colonel Tong tells us they earn in
China from $5 to |6 a month, and that they can live on 4e. a day at
home ; but thousands work for |3 and $4 a month. They are, as has
already been stated, intensely fond of gain. Can it be doubted their
numbers would have gone on increasing indefinitely ? Mr. Low seemed to-
think without any restriction the immigration would have regulated itself.
But he seemed at a loss to account for the large number which came
during certain years. Every four or five years some would go back, but
their places would be taken by others, until the Pacific Coast would rely
almost entirely for unskilled labor on a fluent population, working at
low rates, and separated in sympathy and race from its employers. The

INEFFECTIVE SUGGESTIONS.

result would undoubtedly be to add immensely to the wealth of Cali-
fornia. Her resources would be developed. Her manufactures would
multiply, and eastern cities would be distanced in the race of compe-
^tition. We should perhaps in time hear the cry for '^ifc'heap labor of the
'Californian Legislature of a quarter of a centiii'y ago, echoed along
±he Atlantic sea-board. It must be borne in' mind that the wages paid
when only 70,000 Chinese were in the State, would not be paid when
i;here were 200,000 or 300,000. Wdges would fall to that point that
-wrould prove a sufficient attraction to draw the Chinese laborer, who
would not have been elevated While the white would have been dragged
■down. " '

It is quite consistent 'with such a state of things to have a brilliant
society, as we see iti'Rome during the Augustan age, when Roman art Mustnot be
attained its highest perfection, but when half the population were slaves, wealth. ^ ™^^
and the other half a rabble without money or property. The yeoman was
^one. The middle class, the ark of the sterling qualities of a community
was gone, and the time came when the heir of the conquering republic
liad to bow her head. Such a society, without enduring stamina, has no
sympathy with freedom, and, therefore, any element which has a tend-
ency to bring it about is dangerous, especially to a young community.

The Rev. Mr. Gibson suggested that some arrangement should be made ^ „ ,.

°° ° Ineffective sug-

which would compel Chinese to cut off their queues before landing on gestiona.

Ajnerican soil, and that those now in the country should have three years
to cut them off or go home ; that they should doff their distinctive Chi-
nese garb. This seems to us quite impracticable. To begin with it only
skims the surface of the question. The difficulty goes deeper than
externals. But even so superficial a concession to western ideas would
not be yielded. Mr. Babcock says, they are proud of their country and
attached to its customs, and that they would not give in on these points.
Mr. Briggs seemed to think there would not be so much objection to them
if they came with their wives and became regular settlers.

One of the objections put forth most prominently by Mr. Briggs himself
is that the Chinaman kept out white immigration. But if this is done by
single much more would it be done by married Chinamen. The added
conditions would go but a very little way towards equalizing the struggle
for existence. If they came with their women they would come to settle
and what with immigration and their extraordinary fecundity would soon
overrun the country.

We are inclined to think that without any arrangement whatever, this
is in time what, were there no restrictive legislation, would happen.
They are not more attached to China than were the Jews to Palestine and
Jerusalem. Yet the Jew has learned to live away from Zion. For many
years the Chinaman has been driven to live on rafts, and dire necessity
would infallibly break the bonds of superstition. After living for some
time in California he would accommodate his creed to his inclinations
and interests.

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO

Manchuria. Jn Manchuria, there are large settlements of Chinese who have definitely

left the Mowery Land.

California and all the western States were menaced with a swarm of
cheap laborers having none" of the distinctive features of good citizens, and

Mistaken cries. it may be with a lodgment of a non-assimilable race. For this is the real
objection. The cries against their morality and against cheap labor amount
to very little. The same cries were heard a quarter of a century ago in
Illinois against Irish labor. But it died away when the daughter of the
cheap laborer married the son of him who protested. Race antipathy is
what is at the bottom of the cry, and though to the philosopher such anti-
pathy may appear narrow, a prof ounder insight may find in it a natural —
perhaps a divinely-implanted — safeguard against great evils. The Hon.
and Rev. Baptist Noel, protesting that the black man was God's image
in ebony and was the equal of the white, was silenced by being asked :
" Would you like your daughter to marry a negro ?"

Races change slowly, but the stationariness of the Chinese race seems
, phenomenal. Some of the witnesses declared their belief that no matter
how numerous the Chinese were, the American would rule them. They
had not duly weighed the effect of numbers in giving boldness.

To-morrow in the Judge Tourgte, in his last work, "An Appeal to Csesar," shows what a
light of yesterday. *, ,, . , . , o, , , , • . -, ,

tremendous problem is presented m the South by the existence side by

side of two races which cannot mix. If those who oppose Chinese immi-
gration establish that mixture between the Mongolian and Caucasian is
impossible, and that yet a large permanent immigration is, they make out
a case which a wise government would regard as requiring immediate
attention. Describing the state of things in the Southern States, this-
writer says :

" From the cradle to the grave, the white life and the black touch each-,
other every hour. Yet an infinite distance separates them ever. In all
this there is no equalization, no assimilation of rights, no reciprocity of
affection. Children may caress each other because they are children.
Betwixt adults fewer demonstrations of afiection are allowed than the
master bestows upon his dog. Again the negro has not forgotten either the
rights or privileges conferred upon him by national legislation. The more
completely he is debarred from their exercise, the more deep and
irremovable becomes his conviction that the whole race of the South is,
his enemy."

"With unrestricted Chinese immigration something like this state of
things would thirty years hence exist on the Pacific slope. Two free races
separated by marked characteristics and above all by color cannot live side
by side without conflict. Professor E. U. Gilliam, a southerner, writing
in the Popular Science Monthly for Feb., 1883, says that fusion between
the whites and blacks is impossible, because fusion is the resultant from
social equality and intermarriage.

" The human species presents three grand varieties marked off' by color-
white, yellow and black. One at first sight, in origin and color, the race
multiplied and spread, and separate sections settled in different latitudes

RACEi XCIX

took on — under climatic conditions acting with abnormal force in that
early and impressionable period of the race's age — took on, we say, dif-
ferent hues, which as the race grew and hardened, crystallized into per-
manent characteristics."

These groups stand rigidly apart. No such fusion can take place Race difficulty,
between them as takes place between the Irish, German, French, etc.
The yellow and white or the black and white will not mix, and the anta-
gonism of race is always intensified if one of two peoples has oppressed the
other, or regarded it with social scorn. On the hypothesis of a permanent
settlement of Chinese they would soon resent being deprived of the right
to vote and as they became stronger in numbers and wealth, would
treasure up the memory of past contempt. In the case of the Chinese
the feeling would, perhaps, be stronger than in any other instance known
to history. For the contrast between the whites and the Chinese is not
as their enemies fondly and foolishly say, the contrast between the
civilized and the barbarian, but between too kinds of civilization, the one
modern and of the West the other ancient and of the East. It is not
merely that the Chinaman comes as a competitor in the labor market, or
that he is of another race, differentiated by physical, intellectual, moral,
and religious characteristics, the whole stamped and sealed by color. He
comes a highly civilized man, proud of those things which distinguish him
as one of the sons of Han full of contempt for the "barbarians " amongst
whom he means for a time at least to cast his lot, and ready to despise
their institutions and, as we see in the case of Colonel Tong, smile at their
most cherished dreams, as the idle anticipations of wayward children.
He brings his harem with him. He in fact inducts into western life an
Asiatic civilization, and the Chinaman would about as soon think of
imitating American manners as the men who built Quebec and introduced
the France of pre-revolutionary days into North America would have
thought of imitating the manners of the red Indians. The snowshoe,
the canoe, and one or two other things were borrowed from the Indian.
So the Chinese would adopt a few of the white man's arts, but in the
main they would remain Chinese.

Already they have created political trouble. Regard race antagonism
how you will ; treat it as a natural instinct or as an unreasonable preju-
dice; there it is and will not down ; and if nothing happened more than
outbreaks of violence amongst the whites, a case would be made out for
considering the expediency of regulating this immigration. Mr. Henry
C. Beals, the editor of the Commercial Herald and Market Review, was
examined bfefore the Joint Committee in 1876, and his statements as
those of a journalist and a man of moderate views, are worthy of being
carefully weighed. Though he pointed out that without Chinese labor
the manufacture of cordage could not be carried on, that it was owing to
Chinese labor the manufacture of boots and shoes was established in San
Francisco, that fruit-growing could not be carried on without them, that,
flour in large quantities was being "handled" by the Chinese and exported

ENQUIRY AT SAN FEANCISCO

to China, that they "bought and handled" more quicksilver than any-
other people, that the abrogation of the treaty with China would be an
irreparable loss, that the Chinese merchants were men of the highest
character, their credit Al, that for domestic service white girls could not
be got, says, nevertheless, he would have the country settled up with
white people, and files documents showing that in the spring of 1876 he
had warned the Federal Government in emphatic terms that "the Chinese
of California were sleeping upon a volcano that may burst forth at any
time." Public notices had been s;iven that the question would be violent-
ly disposed of by an anti-Chinese vigilance committee. Mr. Beals' paper
is read by commercial men, and he was under no temptation to pander to
popular passion. Yet, in March, 1876, he wrote:

"Although the Chinese immigration into this country for the past
twenty-two years is but a drop in the bucket compared with that which
reaches us from Europe every year, yet there is such an immense margin
of difierence between the two that no parallel can be instituted. Euro-
pean immigration is acceptable, in fact desirable, while that from China is
simply detestable. * * * It cannot be denied that Chinese immigra^
tion has been productive of much good as well as of much evil. They are
our principal railroad-builders, and but for their cheap labor we would
have to pay more for freights and fares. But, unlike European immi-
grants, they do not, will not, and never can assimilate with our people ;
there is a gulf between them, a yawning chasm, which can never be
bridged. So long as they remain they will be a source of endless annoy-
ance and a promoter of outrages which will eventually culminate in ter-
rible bloodshed."

The man who wrote as above, denounced, on the 25th May, 1876, the
daily press of San Francisco as responsible for the lawless raid which was
being made on the Chinese. He deplored the disgraceful and cowardly
scenes at Antioch, from whence they had been driven, and their houses
burnt. Mr. Beals sees clearly that those who talk about cheap labor
mistake the issue. The unassimilable character of the Chinaman, the race
difficulty— thisj ]ie truly says, is the point which must be grappled with
by an advocate of Chinese immigration, and this is the point on which its
opponents, if true tacticians, would draw up their forces.

;One iias only to go forward a quarter of a century and then the Chinese
might be able to hold their own against anti-Chinese clubs. But what
would that mean, but the near domination of the Chinaman ? Then when
philanthropic or ambitious politicians would want a question on which to
bring themselves before the public we might see a political issue the en-
franchisement of the Chinese. And if not, what would yo\j have 1 A
large and increasing population separated from the rest of the community
by everything which cap divide and provoke hostility.

The instructive analogy of the southern States struck Mr. Beals in 1876
and Judge Tourg^e's book should be read by any one who wants to form
a far-seeing opinion on this question. He recalls, how a century ago a
few negroes seemed not worth considering ; the sanguine temper with

southJien states analogy.

which the citizen of the great Republic looked forward to the solution of

all possible questions : emancipation : four million slaves called to the The Negroes in

■ M 1 1 i- ^ • 1 1 . , •, the southern

privileges and. duties or government ; against them the pride, the know- States.

ledge, the experience and the wealth of the white race'; the massacre at
New Orleans, when negroes and white men first met in a public capacity
to organize a party, of which the negro should be a constituent element ;
the Ku-Klux Klan, composed of the best white people in the South, or-
ganized to toake the colored people " behave themselves ; " the Rifle clubs
and Bull-dozers ; the sullen, unsuccessful, pathetic resistance of the colored
voters. During all this period the line of conflict, the picket line of dan-
ger was that which separated the two races ; and the slaughter at Ham-
burg, and the riot at Danville, arose out of trivial incidents connected with
race antagonism.

It was thought by optimists that in the course of a generation the
negroes would have forgotten all about slavery, and philanthropists seemed
to hope that after a further lapse of time they would disapppear. So far
from this being the case they have increased at a ratio greater than that
at which the whites have increased, and then they themselves increased
when in a state of slavery. In 1790, there were 689,882 colored persons
in the South, of whom 6-57,327 were slaves, the whites numbering 1,271,400.
Seventy years pass and in 1860, the whites were 8,116,691 and the colored Figures as bearing
slaves 3,947,231; in 1880, the figures are respectively 12,420,247 ^nd °°'^^'^''^'"™-
6,039,659. The census of 1880 shows that in eight of the Southern States
48-8 per cent, of the population are colored, in South Carolina, the percent-
age being 60-6; in Mississippi, 57-5; in Louisiana, 51-4; the average
throughout the entire of the southern States being 32-5. In the entire of the
United States there are 6^ whites to one colored person ; in the southern
and border States one out of every three is of African descent ; in the
southern States proper there is practically one colored to every white
inhabitant. As the passage quoted above from Judge Tourg^e indicates
in so forcible a manner, there is in eight States one colored living side by
side with each white person and yet separated by infinite distance. One
moment so near ; . the next, the race feeling stirs in the breast and a
chasm yawns between them which no wing can cross.

Most serious is all this were we sure it would remain as it is. But it JJie whites

distanced,
becomes much more so when we find that the colored man is distancing

the white in the race of population. Compare the numbers in the terri.
tory recognized in 1860 as slave States, at their first enumeration in 1790,
with those of the census of 1880, for the same area, and you have a gain
among the whites of 880 per cent., while among the colored you have a
gain of 775 per cent. But these figures are deceptive, the colored popu-
lation having received little addition from outside and the white having,
especially along the border States, been reinforced by considerable
accessions from northern immigration, and an appreciable increment from
foreigners. If now we separate the border from the older slave States

7

CIX ENQUIRY AT SAN PEANCISCO

A black belt. ^e find that in Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas,

Tennessee, Texas, the whites have increased at the rate of 1244-8 per
cent, and the colored at 713-9, while in the old slave States of Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, -
Louisiana, the white increase was 340-2 and the colored 563-7. If we
compare the pppulation of the old slave States at the date of the first
enumerations the figures stand : whites 1,066,711 ; colored 654,308 or
412,403 more whites than blacks. Now, compare the tables furnished in
1880. We have in these old slave States, in that year, of whites 4,695,-
253 ; of colored, 4,353,097. Thus the whites have only increased 39,753
more than the blacks, i.e., 1,066,308 whites show a gain of 3,728,542 ;
654,308 blacks a gain of 3,698,789. In the black belt or the old slave
States the negroes are therefore outstripping the dominant race. But a
further analysis gives more striking results. Compare the old slave States
in 1860 and 1880, and you find that the whites increased only 33 per
cent, while the blacks increased 43. Here we are face to face with a law
by which in eight States the blacks must relatively increase and the whites
relatively decrease. Let us now push the analysis one step farther. Let
us look at these States in perfect freedom. In 1870, their population
was : whites 3,681,554, blacks 3,241,057 ; in 1880, whites 4,695,253,
blacks 4,353,097. In ten years the numerical gain of the whites was
1,013,099 or 27-5 per cent., of the blacks or colored 1,112,040 or 34-3
per cent. Note that we have not here merely an increased percentage,
but a greater numerical gain on the part of the blacks. In ten years
3,^41,057 colored people increased 98,341 more than 3,681,554 whites.
And now if with the aid of professor Gilliam we push the analysis yet one
step farther the results will probably make people who say : " What harnt
can a few Chinese do ? " pause ; results which remind one of those school-
boy calculations which used to fire all that was mercenary in the puerile
fancy and which showed a fortune to grow from a farthing for the first
nail in a horse's shoe, two farthings for the next, and so on doubling until
the twenty eight nails were exhausted.

Relative increase la the United States, from 1830 to 1840, the white population in-
creased thirty -four, the black twenty- three per cent. ; from 1840 to 1850,
the figures were respectively thirty -eight and twenty-three per cent. ; from
1850 to 1860, thirty-eight and twenty-two per cent. ; from 1860 to 1870,
twenty-four and nine per cent. ; from 1870 to 1880, the white increase was
twenty-nine, the black increase thirty-four per cent. From the twenty-
nine per cent. Professor Gilliam takes nine per cent, as attributable to
immigration, leaving a net white gain of twenty per cent. How account
for the startling difference between the white and the black gain in the
decade 1 The solution, according to Professor Gilliam, is found in the
superior fecundity of the colored race. Thus the white population, in-
creasing at the rate of twenty-per cent, in ten years, would double itself
in thirty-five years ; while the blacks, increasing at the rate of thirty-five

of population.

AN INSTEUCTIVE COMPARISON.

per cent., in the same period, would double itself in twenty years. Pro- What the census
fessor Gilliam calculates on the basis of all these figures that the popula-
tion of the United States will, as the years roll on, show the following-
results : whites in the United States in 1915, will, in round numbers, be
84,000,000 ; in 1950, 168,000,000 ; in 1985, 336,000,000. The southern
States, which in 1880, contained 12,000,000 whites, will, at the rate of
two per cent, a year, in 1915, number 24,000,000 ; in 1950, 48,000,000 ;
and in 1985, 96,000,000 whites. The blacks in the same States, who were
6,000,000 in 1880, will in 1900, number 12,000,000 ; in 1920, 24,000,000 ;
in 1940, 48,000,000 ; in 1960, 96,000,000 ; and in 1980, 192,000,000.

If a still closer scrutiny is made it will be found that in 1 900, or in
fifteen years hence, each of the old slave States will have a colored major-
ity. The United States will then have eight small black republics on its
bands.

"We do not offer an opinion as to how these black republics will use probabilities
their power. We simply note the fact, and we venture to point out that
though a long time would certainly elapse before the Chinaman would
desire to become a permanent settler, historical analogy and a priori
probabilities based on the effects of necessity on men's wills and prejudices
lead to the conviction that in time, if unrestrained, a certain number
would be found settled for good on this continent, and what has happened
in the southern States enables us to read, to use the eloquent words of
Judge Tourgee, " to-morrow in the light of yesterday."

Very interesting and instructive, from the point of view of this enquiry, The race o£ lower
is it to note how, when the negro and the white man came into competi- the higher. ^^°^
tion in the labor market precisely the same results follow as from the
competition of the white man and the Chinaman in California. The
farther the colored man gets from slavery the more surely does he squeeze
the white man. The white blacksmith is becoming rare and rarer in the
upland regions of the South. The colored people have become masons
and carpenters, and contractors for the plainer sort of mechanical work.
The race is doing its own building. It furnishes its own religious teachers.
It is beginning to supply its own school teachers. The next step will be
to seize on its own professional work, and as the opportunities of the
colored race expand those of the white will contract. What must be the
surest and most momentous result of all this 1 Why, of course, the emi-
gration of the best whites. There is no scope in the South for the ener-
getic poor man who begins with nothing and ends a millionaire, or at all
events in comfort and independence. The manual labor is either held by
the negro or rendered worthless by his competition, and there is nothing
between this and the professions. Mr. Brooks and other witnesses spoke
of the survival of the fittest, and we asked that gentleman what he meant
by the phrase. Scientific sciolists who have never read a line of Darwin
or Spencer, take it up and convince themselves that the best race is the
race which survives. Not at all. In the struggle between races it is not
intellectual power, physical and moral daring, well-knit joints and muscles.

ENQUIEY AT SAN FRANCISCO

Best whites will
emigrate.

Survival of the which prevail; but the capacity to endure hardship, to perforin with
patience monotonous toil, to subsist upon little. The following reads like
evidence given in San Francisco or Victoria, B.C., on the Chinese-
question :

" The white man cannot compete in any field of labor except the highest
with the colored man at the South. He may do more work, and better
work ; he may use more skill and achieve better results even on the plan- '
tations : but he demands a higher price ; he cannot live upon the same
food and be happy amid the same surroundings ; he cannot compete upon
even terms with the man whom he has been accustomed to despise. So
that in the struggle of race, granting the continuance of present condi-
tions, or those which are likely to prevail, unless there be some great and
abnormal social revolution, the colored man is certain in the future to in-
crease far more rapidly in comparison with the whites than in the past."

We have seen that one result of the presest condition of things in the
old slave States must be the emigration of the best whites. Another re-
sult, which as certainly follows, is that colored emigration will decrease.
The security of those States, where he nearly prepondeiates, furnishes and
will continue more and more to furnish, the strongest attraction to the
colored man, and will more than outweigh the higher wages of States
where his amour propre would be wounded at every turn, and where he
would, on occasion, be exposed to lawless violence. Like the laboring
class among the Chinese his ambition is not great. A little house, hardly
able to keep out the storm, a bit of land, humble fare, this is all he needs.
In his meagre wants he is kept in countenance by the Chinaman. But
the want of self reliance which he has inherited from slavery, and which
makes him shrink from the unknown — this defect either finds no coun-
terpart in the brain of the yellow man, or else it is supplied by the support
and organization of the Six Companies.

The supremacy of the negro in at least eight States is secured : *
Thousands like this man will leave, not because they fear the negro, but
because there will be no prizes worth aiming at, even if the struggle
could be successfully maintained.

* A southern gentleman who was going to Kansas said : " The fact is I don't
see what's a comin' when the niggers git a little better off and a little more
education and are really able to take care of themselves. They '11 outvote the
white man, outwork him, and I don't see why they shouldn't outgrow and out-
rule him— unless they're killed off or kept down. I ain't in favor of that, and
never was. If the law gives a nigger the same sort of chance I have, he's a right
to use and enjoy it, / say ; and if I don't like it or can't stand it I can move away
and let him take the country and pay for it. I sold one of my plantations to a
nigger. He'U pay for it, too, and I don't see what's to hinder he's being a rich
man in a few years.

" Wal, all this seems to me to be kind o' promising trouble in that region for
years to come. I didn't mind about it myself. After outliving the Confederacy
one needn't be troubled about any thing. I couldn't feel easy in my mind though,
about leaving the children there to grow up and face what may turn out a heap
worse than anybody knows ; and I tell you what it is : I ain't the only one that's;
getting these sort of notions down there, neither."

THE FUTURE OF CHINESE IMMIGRATION.

" The black,'' says Professor Gilliam, " will always, in the main, vote
together. Why they are republicans now is readily seen. But should
present political parties break up and others be formed, the blacks would
still go as a body.''

Mr. Swift tells us, and every man of sense will agree with him, that if
the Chinese got votes they would vote en bloc.

There are three courses open before Chinese immigration, where unre-
strained :

1. It may continue to pour in male laborers, capable of living under condi- Three courses

•' ^ I r » before Chinese

tions which would make life wretched for the white man, and these as build- immigration,

«rs of railways and fruit-raisers, and the founders of manufactories may
do much good, while, however, doing great harm by barring out white
working men ; keeping out white immigrants devoted to unskilled
or partially skilled labor, competing with boys, needle-women, and
■with white girls, erecting Chinatowns, and bringing to the country prosti-
tutes who tend, somewhat more than white women of the same profession,
to corrupt young lads.

2. Freed by travel from the thraldom of the worship of ancestors, or See on this ques-

.... , . , . tiontheconcliision

driven by necessity, Chinese immigrants may bring their women and settle of an article

Gntitlsd. " OvGr-

down in the country. In that case, with their capacity of living on little, haste in making
, , IT. . 1 J J 1 • T 11 our nation " in the

they would increase in numbers at a rate which would soon menace Over land Month-

the numerical ascendancy of the whites. Meanwhile that state of things i885.
already described, in which a middle class could not exist, would be
brought about, and without having actual slavery you would have all its
•evils. A small aristocracy, immensely rich, destined to die away on its
own effeminacy, but not until after its depraved pride had done all in its
power against freedom and free institutions ; a yellow population of labor-
ers soon to grow so numerous that the danger of rioting would arise, as
much from their consciousness of strength as from the whites ; while many
Chinese merchants would have their Tartar-roofed mansions, their gardens,
their harems and all the appurtenances of the requirements of Asiatic
civilization.

3. Or the Chinaman having effected a lodgment might be given a vote.
" Most improbable ! " True. But not one whit more improbable than it
was in 18-59 that the negro should be allowed to put his ballot in the urn.
And what would be the end ? The end would be after riot and bloodshed
that you would have a yellow belt on the shores of the Pacific.

All this will seem to be looking far ahead. But we ask that the
language of persons who have lived in China should be remembered.
Those who know the Chinese know how much there is in them. In fact
outside of European art, of war, and the higher mechanical employments,
they can beat* the world, and Mr. Giles warns the Anglo-Saxon he may
find this despised Celestial move only too quick in the coming years. M.
La Venrfede seems to throw out a similar warning.

It was, therefore, a wise thing of the Congress of the United States to

ENQUIRY AT SAN FEANCISCO

take action respecting Chinese immigration. Whether the action they
took was wise or not is another question.

RESTRICTIVE LEGISLATION.

In consequence of the enquiry of the Joint Committee of the Senate
and House of Representatives in 1876, and their report and local active
agitation, three gentlemen were sent to China to obtain a modification
Act of Congress, of the Treaty, and a new Treaty was made. In 1882, after long debates, on
^^^' May the 6th an Act was passed. This Act suspended the immigration of

Chinese laborers to the United States for ten years. But those Chinese
laborers who were in the United States on the 7th of November, 1880, or
who should have come before the expiration of ninety days next after the
passage of the Act, were exempted. The evidence that an immigrant
came within these classes consisted in a certificate furnished by the collec-
tor of customs of the district from which the laborer was about to sail.
Provisions of Full precautions were taken for his identification. Section 6 provided

Treaty. ^^^ ^j^^ admission of Chinese other than laborers, the identification of such

to be established by a certificate from the Chinese Government, giving in
English full particulars respecting the holder. This certificate was made
primd facie evidence of the fact contained in it. The issue of a fraudu-
lent certificate was made u, misdemeanor, the penalties or fines not
exceeding $1,000 and imprisonment for a term of not more than five
years.

By the second article of the Treaty it was provided that " Chinese
laborers now in the United States shall be allowed to go and come of
their own free will and accord, and shall be accorded all the rights, privi-
leges, immunities and exemptions which are accorded to the citizens and
subjects of the most favored nations."
The Act of 1882. ^he third section of the Act of 1882, as we have seen, extends the

privileges of this article to laborers who were in the United States on the
17th November, 1880, or who shall have come in before the expiration of
ninety days next after the passage of this Act. The date of the Treaty
is November 17th, 1880. The Treaty was ratified on the 18th of July,
1881. The date of the Act is May 6th, 1882. Before the Act no one
was authorized to issue certificates. A question arose as to when the law
went into operation, and as to whether a laborer here at the date of the
Treaty and who had gone away before it was ratified could not come
under the second article. The question was, as a local paper put it, how
bi a hoi e had been made in the Exclusion Act. Many habeas corpus cases
arose out of the ambiguous language of the law, from the belief (sometimes
groundless) of imposition, from undoubted evasions by means of Canton cer-
tificates, and from the ambiguity of the word "merchant." The Treaty only
excluded laborers, and it was hard to prove that one who represented
himself as a merchant, or as interested in a business, was a laborer.

OPERATIONS OF THE LAW.

Judge Hoffman, of the United States District Court, in his elaborate

judgment in the matter of Tung Yeong on habeas corpus, goes fully into Habeas Corpus.

the question and admits that there were evasions of the law. He points

out, however, what statistics already quoted prove, that the law had not Appendix Q.

been ineffective. Towards the close of his judgment he says :

" Returns obtained from the Custom House show that from the 4th
August, 1882, to the 15th January, 1884, a period of nearly sixteen
months, there have arrived in this port 3,415 Chinese persons. During
the same period there have departed no less than 17,088."

" It thus appears that not only has the flood, of Chinese immigration,
with which we were menaced, been stayed, but a process of depletion has
been going on which could not be considerably increased without serious
disturbance to the established industries of the State. It is stated that
the wages of Chinese laborers have advanced from $1 to $1.75 per diem —
a fact of much significance if true.

" It is much to be regretted that the notion that the law has through its
own defects, or the fault of the Courts, proved practically inoperative, has
been so widely and persistently disseminated. Such a missapprehension
cannot have failed to be injurious to the State, by preventing the immi-
gration of white persons from the East to replace the Chinese who are
departing."

The result of the clamour against the Courts, and the fact that the Restriction Act of
meshes of the law were not sufficiently close, was that an amended Restric-
tion Act was passed July 5th, 1884. This Act, which we give in the
Appendix, (as the volume of the Statutes has not at the date of writing Appendix F.
come to the Library), is very strict and removes all ambiguity as to the
definition of the excluded, and the weaknesses in the certificate from the
Chinese government are effectually removed. Still we hear of the persist-
ent Chinaman exchanging, as it were, his blowse for a Spanish cloak and
gaining entrance into the United States, notwitstanding one of the most
stringent Acts ever passed.

Perhaps, as we have indicated, a mistake has been made in adopting the
policy of absolute exclusion. Mr. Briggs, who was one of those who
advocated the Restriction Act, says' :

" I believe that if the Restriction Act had been modified so that a
limited number of those people could have continued to come to this coast,
we might have utilized them, and never have felt the opposition we feel
to-day to the Chinese. I believe that in our fruit interests it would now
be an advantage to have even more than we have. I believe that in some
other industries, minor industries, the Chinese would play a part which
would be more or less important even to-day if they were to continue to
come. With that view, with the idea that we have had a scarcity of labor
here, and will probably continue to have during some period of the year,
for the next few years, because the industries are developing faster than
the population is increasing, their presence would not be altogether
undesirable. We are putting forth efforts to secure white labor, and I do
not believe the Chinese would play as important a part as white labor if
we can secure it. I think the advantage to us, and to the coast, is so
greatly in favor of the whites that we can better afford to suffer somewhat
from a want of .supply, than to encourage them, and still put an obct?.cjr
in the way of the whites coming here.

ENQUIRY AT SAN FEANCISCO

Questioned. « Q, What I understand you then to say is, that you think the labor, if

properly regulated, would be very useful 1 — A. It might be, but I cannot
believe it would prove ultimately beneficial or desirable.

Widened by the Mr. Pixley complained that Consul Bee had widened the issue when he

Anti-Chinese. •' '■ ,,,,,.n.i ^ c j

spoke of the exclusion of Chinese, and the boldest of those who frowned on

them only asked at first for regulation of some kind.

" We desire, if the Commission please, to say that the scope of the
argument taken by the friends of the Chinese is broader than we assumed
it to be. We have never asked, nor has public opinion gone in the direc-
tion of asking, to exclude the Chinese who are now among us from all the
rights which they have acquired under the Treaty and under the law.
Nor has public opinion gone so far as to exclude any Chinese from coming,
but it is more correctly chartered out and represented by the idea of
Senator Sargent set forth in his speeches in the Senate of the United
States, and Mr. Piper, a member of the Committee on Commerce in the
House of Representatives, that Chinese immigration shall be so placed
within the power of Congress that it may be regulated and restrained."

That the legislation of Congress in 1884 was not perfect may be
gathered from the difficulty which has been found in working it. We give
below the remarks of the American Law Review * for November 1884, on

Cases which have * "Chinese Restriction Act — Interim Custody op Immigrants. — The recent
risen under Act of statute of the United States for the exclusion of Chinese immigrants has over-
whelmed the Circuit Court of the United States for the district of California with
writs of habeas corpus, and has developed much difficulty in its practical
operation. The length of time required to investigate the right of the immigrants
who had come over on a single ship, and who had been arrested for being unlaw-
fully within the country, was found to be so great that to detain the ship until
all could be investigated, for the purpose of compelling it to take back those who
should be found to have been brought here contrary to the Act, would produce
such injustice and such public and private inconvenience, that it was directed it
ought not to be done. Then the question arose, what should be done with the
prisoner pending the investigation, and the Courts were of opinion that he was
In the custody of the Court and might be committed to the custody of the mar-
shal or admitted to bail. Another difficulty arose touching the question, what
should be done with the immigrant who should be found to have been landed in
violation of the law, pending the action of the President in removing him from
the territory of the United States, at the instance of the United States, as pro-
vided for in the 12th section of the Act ; and it was held that the statute by
implication conferred on the justice, judge, or commissioner, the right to hold the
Immigrant for a reasonable length of time to await the decision of the President,
pending which time he might be committed to the custody of the marshal or ad-
mitted to bail (Matter of Chow Goo Pool, 1 W. C. Eep., 535; re Ah Kee of 4 W.
C. Rep., 19). If the right of the petitioner to land or to remain in this country
is determined against him, the more difficult question arises : how is he to be
sent back to China? The Act provides that he may be sent back at the expense
of the transportation company by which he has been brought hither, or at the
expense of the United States, and it empowers the Circuit Court of the United
States to 'cause' such immigrants 'to be removed.' This it Is held, neces-
sarily confers the power to use the necessary means to accomplish the
required object. (Re Chow Goo Pool, Supra; re Chin Ah Sooey, 3. W. C.
Rep., 603 ; re Ah Kee, Supra.) It Is accordingly held that the Court has
power, when the question has been determined against the petitioner, to

NECESSITY OP COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION.

the operation of the Act. It seems to us that a clause might be framed so

simple and comprehensive as to do no injustice and prevent the possibility

of such waste of money and of the time of the Courts as the present Act

in the United States entails.

Mr. Brooks suargested that international difficulties mieht arise unless Probable interna
, ^ . ... . tional difficulties,

the Canadian Government pursued a policy similar to that of the United

States. His idea was that Chinamen would come into Canada and cross

the line. If they did, we suppose they could be watched as well as

smuggled goods.

We learn from San Francisco newspapers that large numbers of female
children are brought in the steamers, and the statements made that they
were born in the United States and afterwards removed to China. How
these children are procured in China need not be told those who have read
how female infants are sold for small sums, nor the objects for which it is
sought to import them. That such attempts should be made to evade the
law shows how susceptible it is of improvement.

A large number of women also came on board the Oceanic, and they, of
course, claimed that they were among those excepted from the operation
of the Act. " According to Judge Hoffman's order," says the Call, "these
women and children are taken to a photographer's, their pictures taken in
the form of tin-types and they are then allowed to land on bail."

remand him on board the ship to the custody of the master, whether it be the Cases under
same master or another who has in the meantime taken his place ; and if the ship legislation of 1884.
has departed pending the proceeding, that the petitioner can be detained by the
marshal, by order of the Court, till the return of the ship, to be then placed on
"board by the marshal, in the custody of the master, and that it is the duty of the
master to receive him and not thereafter to permit him to land. In such case the
party has only been provisionally taken from the ship, out of the custody of the
master, who detains him in his character as master controlling the ship and not
in his individual personal character. He is taken into the custody of the law,
solely for the purpose of securing his discharge in case his detention proves to be
unlawful. He has not, in contemplation of law, been landed at all. He is still
under control. This power to prescribe the interim custody of the prisoner
pending an enquiry by habeas corpus is necessary to render effective this writ.
He may be bailed from day to-day, or remanded for safe keeping to the custody
from whence he came, or committed to any other safe custody which the Court
in its discretion may prescribe. The original commitment, if there be one, is
suspended pending the enquiry by habeas corpus, and the prisoner to the fullest
extent in the custody of the Court (Rex vs. Bethel, 5 Mod., 19, 22 ; State vs.
Sparks, 27 Tex., 705; ex parte Bwen, 7 Tex., App., 289; re Kaine, 14 How.,
TJ. S., p. 134). Security may be required of his custodians for his forthcoming.
^United States vs. Davis, 5 Cranch C. C, 622.) No other Court has power over
him (Matter of Hamilton, 1 Ben, 455), unless it be a Court whose authority is, in
respect of the question under enquiry, superior to that of the Court in whose cus-
tody he is held. (Leary's Case, 6 Abt. N. C, 43, 47.) The habeas corpus Acts of
many of the States contain provisions which expressly recognize this power.
The Court may make such an order as the nature of the case requires. The prisoner
may be remanded to the custody of the defendant or placed in such custody as
his age or other circumstances may require ; or if detained upon a criminal charge,
and the character of the charge authorizes it, the Court may take bail from him
for his appearance until judgment is given."

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO

CHINESE IMMIGRATION IN THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO AND THE STRAITS.

Chinese want of
adventure.

Jealousy of the
Chinese on the
part of the
Spaniards.

Peculiar
condiments.

The Chinese who pushed their way into Central Asia, as far as Bokhara
and the Khanat of Kokand, never showed any conquering energy or com-
mercial enterprise on sea. Formosa is not twenty leagues from the coast
of China ; the Philippine Islands not more than one hundred and fifty ;.
yet, it was not until 1661, after Europeans had shown them the way,
that they colonized the former. The Philippines were better known to
them, because lying in the direct course of the monsoons, and could hardly
fail to be touched in the course of voyages to more westerly isles, rich in
peculiar luxuries and abounding in those nests* of which the most exqui-
site soup known to the Chinese palate is made. That, however, no Chinese
settlements had been made in those islands is proved by the fact that when
discovered by Magellan, or when half a century afterwards, conquered by
Legaspi no trace was found of a Chinese population, no relic of Chinese
art, or language, or institutions. But that the Chinese traded with the
natives from a remote period there can be no doubt.

No sooner were the Spji^riards established at Manilla than a Chinese
rebel appeared with sixty^unks bent on a filibustering expedition. He
was beaten off'. But from this time the Chinese continued to pour in and
in half a century numbered 2.5,000. They established themselves as
traders, laborers and mechanics, and notwithstanding the oppressive hand
of Spain throve. They excited the jealousy of the Europeans, to whom
their competition became odious. Distrusted and persecuted they natu-
rally became dissatisfied and resentful. When in the year 1593, the
Philippine Spaniards fitted out an expedition against the Malaccas, one
hundred and fifty Chinamen were pressed as rowers for the Governor's
galley, and were held to the oar with stripes. A wind rose and the vice-
regal galley was separated from the fleet. It had not got clear of the
islands, when the Chinese murdered the Viceroy and crew. In the year

The Jesuit Du Halde writes : " The most delicious lood of all, and most
used at the feasts of great men, are stags' pizzles and birds' nests, which they
carefully prepare. To preserve the pizzles they dry them in the sun in summer,
and roll them in pepper and nutmeg. Before they are dressed they are soaked in
rice-water, to make them soft ; and, after being boiled in the gravy of a kid, are
seasoned with several sorts of spices. As for the nests, they are found in the
sides of the rocks, all .along the coasts of Tong-ldng, Java, Kochin-China, etc.,
where they are built by birds which, as to their plumage, resemble swallows, and
are supposed to make them with the little fishes they catch in the sea. However
that be, this is certain : that the birds themselves distil a viscous juice from their
beaks, which serves them instead of gum to fasten their nests to the rock. They
have also been observed to take the froth that floats on the sea wherewith they
cement the parts of their nests together, in the same manner as swallows make
use of mud. This matter being dried becomes solid, transparent, and of a color
sometimes inclining a little to green, but while fresh it is always white. As soon
as the young ones have quitted their nests the people of the place are very eager
to get them down, and sometimes load whole barks with them. They resemble
the rind of a large candied citron in shape as well as size, and mixed with other
meats give them a good relish."— i^it Halde, Vol. I., pp. 302, 303.

SPANISH CEUELTY.

1603, the Emperor of China sent three Mandarins to Manilla to learn
whether " the fort of Cavite was made of gold," as he had been told. The A massacre.
Spaniards took alarm, said they were spies, and gave out that they were
forerunners of an army of 100,000 men. There was no such army. But
their presence was connected in the minds of the Spaniards with an insur-
rection of the Chmese which followed, and when a rich Chinese merchant,
. who had become a Christian and lived on terms of great intimacy with
the Spaniards, undertook to build a stone wall round their quarter the
jealousy and hatred of the Spaniards burst into a blaze. They inflamed
the populace with the idea that the Chinese had determined to murder the
Christians. With the history of Spain in mind it is easy to imagine
the result. It was determined to massacre the Chinese, who retired
in fear into the country and made a feeble defence. Twenty-three
thousand were killed — the remnant escaped to China.

In 1639, thirty-six years after the massacre, the Chinese had again
increased to the astonishing number of 30,000. Again they excited
jealousy. Oppression drove them once more to revolt. They were hunted Hunted down,
down and after an irregular struggle for several months, during which
more them twenty thousand perished, seven thousand surrendered at
discretion. " Manilla," says Crawfurd, " was reduced to the greatest
distress by the loss of so large a portion of its most industrious subjects.''

In 1662, Kwe-Sing-Kong, who had wrested Formosa from the Dutch,
sent a Dominican friar to the Governor of Manilla demanding to be
recognized as sovereign of the Philippines. The Spaniards at once ordered
all the Chinese off the island. The Chinese either distrusting the motives
of the Spaniards or rendered confident by the prestige and prowess of
Kwe-Sing-Kong, flew to arms. The death of Kwe-Sing-Kong probably
saved the island to Spain.

Half a century later the Chinese pressure was again felt by the Spanish Onoe more unjust-
colonists. Complaints singularly like those made on the Pacific Coast to-
day were urged against them. They came, it was said, under the mask of
traders. As traders they became monopolists. They carried off the
wealth of the country to China. From being servants they became mas-
ters ; they beat the Spaniards along the whole line of enterprise. The very
form the accusation of monopoly took was an eulogy on Chinese acuteness
and enterprise. They were accused of " watching narrowly the wants of
the inhabitants and the demand for the difierent articles of consumption,
which they kept back' until they rose to their price." In 1709 they were
expelled. But, with the persistency of their race, they slowly crept back.

In 1762, an attack was made on the Philippines by the British. It
was planned and executed by Sir "William Draper. The plunder of Manilla
was the motive, and the East India Company stipulated to get one-third
of the booty. The English landed with great bravery and after a gallant
resistance took the place. The Chinese made common cause with the Actwi^hthe.
English, " gave them every aid and accompanied them in all their expe-
ditions." The oppressive Spaniards could have expected nothing else.

ENQUIEY AT SAN FRANCISCO

"^*^*- The fertility of Java, its commerce and the security afforded by an

European Government attracted the Chinese in considerable numbers.
The Chinese of Batavia had amassed great wealth. As usual they excited
jealousy and the Dutch looked on them with an evil eye.

xen"^^?""^ They goaded them with excessive taxation, as Mr. Seward says the

Californians have goaded the Chinese in the great Pacific State, and from
1730 forward their oppression took an active form. In 1740, a number
of Chinese were forcibly seized and deported to Ceylon. Many of the
Chinese in the neighborhood of Batavii flew to arms. They assembled a
large force. Acts of violence, excess and cruelty were committed by
them. Some of their countrymen in the city were put to the torture and
on confessions wrung from the agonized wretches a story of a wicked and
long premeditated conspiracy to destroy the Dutch was got up. Between
the Chinese and the Dutch troops some small and indecisive actions took
place. The Chinese quarter took fire. This, it was said, was intended to
mask arrangements to murder the European inhabitants. The Dutch
colonists were seized with panic. Then commenced one of the most dis-
graceful acts recorded in history. A massacre of the Chinese coinmenced.
A few hours after the bloody work had begun the Regent formally
authorized it, and directed that none but the women and children should

Brutal conduct of be spared. The Dutch fleet lay at anchor in the roads. The sailors were

put on shore to carry out the order. These sea-dogs, influenced with

rum and lust, burst open the Chinese houses and dragged out the indwellers,

who were massacred. These fell, with the fatalistic stoicism of their

nation, without oflfering the smallest resistance. " They made," says the

Javanese annalist, " no more resistance than a nest of young mice." Of

the Chinese not less than ten thousand fell.

Persistency of The rest of the Chinese joined the natives, and the efffect of Dutch

what yet is an

iunreasonable cry. cowardice and cruelty was leJt throughout the entire Island of Java. The

motive was the same as prompts the agitation in British Columbia, as
prompted the Kearney riots in San Francisco, the jealousy and resent-
ment the Chinese never fail to inspire, and the same cry was hoard that
we hear to-day — " they take the money out of the country." On this cry
we have not dwelt, because it seems so absurd. If they make money they
have given the country an equivalent in labor, and they have a ri^ht to
take it where they like. After you have pointed out the absurdity, how-
ever, the fact remains that the mass of people wherever the Chinese have
settled have sooner or later come to regard them as dangerous intruders.
This may be unjust, unreasonable, wholly indefensible, but taken as a
fact it cannot be ignored. It is not merely that they do not create confi.
dence ; after a time they inspire dread. One reason which will at once

suggest itself to the reader of the evidence submitted, their ability their

usefulness in the humbler fields of labor, their commercial skill, combined
with their phenomenal frugality. Nothing succeeds like success, but on
the other hand nothing is hated like it, at least by those who think it has

THE STEAITS SETTLEMENT. CXUI

been achieved at their expense. Even Dutch shrewdness was no match
for theirs, and Dutch thrift, in theirs, has met its master.

Oliphant shows us how the modern lazy Mestizo is overweighted by the See Oliphant's
energetic and prosperous Chinaman.

From scenes in which so-called civilized Europeans vie with Chinese
and Javanese in acts of barbarity, we turn to that which, while accen-
tuating the distinguishing characteristics of the Chinese, shows them to us
at the same time in the most pleasing light. We mean Chinese immigra-
tion in the straits settlement.

When the graceful dusky race which had immigrated from Menangkaboa
to the Malay Peninsula had increased so that the land' became scarce, a
swarm was thrown off which peopled Singapore. It is probable the Am-
herst Embassy led to the purchase, in 1818, of Singapore from the Sultan
of Johore, to be used as a naval station for the purpose of promoting
trade with China. The Chinese show at their best under British rule.
We noticed the marked superiority in physique and bearing, and in intel-
ligence of those in Victoria to those in Francisco.

The Chinese population, practically the result of immigration since the

British settlement in the Straits, stands next to the Malays in the census

of the colony, and at the three stations of Singapore, Penang and Malacca Cameron's Mala-

number over 200,000. They are by far the most industrious and the 138-145.

most valuable people in these possessions. To their enterprise and labor

is due the development of the internal resources. " In Singapore all the

gambler and pepper produced is of their growth, and the sago is of their

manufacture ; in Penang and Province Wellesley also the chief plantations

are in their hands or worked by them ; and in Malacca all the tin, all the

sago, and all the tapioca is of their production. Unlike the Malays, they

are ambitious and become rich, and though this ambition has generally its

oriein in the desire to return to China in affluent circumstances, yet our Chinese ambitious

& and become rich,

possessions not the less benefit by their labor, and while many never that they may

attain the full realization of their aspirations, others as they grow rich

become attached to the country and its laws, seek wives from among the

comely daughters of the soil, and abandon all idea of returning to their

native land." The tonnage that passes through Singapore is, it is claimed,

second only to that of Liverpool.

The following paragraph shows that the Chinaman in the Straits Settle-
ments is precisely the same as the Chinaman in California and British
Columbia : —

"The proportion, however," continues Mr. Cameron, "of those who
"may be said to have permanently settled down is small, and the yearly
" addition to the Chinese population from birth altogether insignificant. Birt a sm^ail^pro-
" The number is kept up entirely by immigration. During the months of down.
" December, January, February, March, April, fleets of Junius crammed
" with Chinese coolies arrive at allthe ports in the Straits from the differ-
" ent provinces of China. In Singapore the arrivals for the first four
"months of the present year (1864) were 8,560 males and 109 females.

ENQUIRY AT SAN FEANCISCO.

Encroaching
character of the
Chinese.

and for the whole year about 14,000, which is not much above the aver-
age of other years'. Were this immigration in no way counterbalanced,
the Chinese population of the Straits would soon become enormous, but
it may be estimated that those who yearly return to China number quite
two-thirds of the arrivals."

Contracts. The manner in which this Chinese immigration is carried on, and the

contracts by which the men are bound down are most unsatisfactory,
so many years of labor being pledged, but those upon which the
females are brought into the country are still more deplorable : young
girls from twelve years old and upwards being retained, as we have seen
is the case in San Francisco, in forced courtezanship to a population
where the males are as fifteen to one of the females. "Thanks, however,"
says Mr. Cameron,." to the demand for labor and its high reward on the
one hand, and to the demand for wives on the other, neither condition of
bondage endures long.

" The character of the Chinese has frequently been described, and no
" change of scene or circumstances seems materially to affect it. They have
" attained a high civilization of their own sort, and this keeps, and I think
" always will keep them distinct from the other peoples with whom they
" mingle. I have met them in the most out-of-the-way islands in the Archi-
" pelago, where, perhaps, a dozen of them had formed a settlement, and had
" gradually monopolized the trade of a people numbering many thousands,
" without any concession in dress, in religion, or in manners ; thej' were the
" same in every respect as are to be found in Java, in the Straits, and in
" the seaports of their own country. There are good and bad among them ;
" the best have bad points, and the worst a few redeeming ones ; it is only
" as their characters and manners affect them as an element in the popu-
" lation of the Straits that I have anything to say.

"One of the characteristics they seem to carry with them into whatever
" coimtry they may ad\-enture, is a strong love of home, nat a patriotic
" attachment to China generally, but a love for the province, the town, and
"the very homestead from which they come. This involves many good and
" amiable qualities — a kindly regard for all who may belong to the same
" province or district, and a constant industry and a careful economy, that
" they may by a yearly remittance testify to their relations they have left
" behind at home that they do not forget them. But from this very love
" of home and country springs the great evil which marks the Chinese
" population of the Straits. China is divided into many large provinces,
" with nationalities as distinct as the different states of Europe, and this is
" no exaggeration, for the inhabitants of each speak a different language.

Feuds. " Between these, from time out of mind, have jealousies existed and feuds

" been carried on ; the people of the one are born and reared up in the
" hatred of the other, and those jealousies are not obliterated by emigration.

In the Straits the " The Chinese who arrive ill the Straits come from several of these distinct
Wned to Knang " provinces ; and the people of each find themselves, for the first time in

Love of home.

emigration not

con

Tong.

SECRET GUILDS. CXV

'" their lives, thrown together in a town or in a district where they must

" lay aside at least all outward display of enmity.

" Instead of forgetting their national preiudices or postponing their in- Cameron's

° o 1^ J r r o Malayan India,

" dulgence of them till their return to China, the people of each province P- 1*2.

" clan together and form a hoey or secret society. The avowed object of

" these hoeys is to afford mutual protection, but they are often used for the

" infliction of wrong, and have been found a great stumbling-block to the Secret societies.

" perfect administration of justice in the law courts of the Straits. The

" form of admittance to these societies is sufficiently solemn in the eyes of

" the Chinese, and the oaths administered sufficiently binding, to afford

" security against the disclosure of their organization, and always to obtain

" implicit obedience to their mandates. Every candidate for admission is

" led blindfold to the hall where sit the officers of the society ; all the doors

" are guarded by men dressed in rich silt robes, and armed with swords.

" A few preliminary questions are put to the candidate, when he is led into

" the centre of the hall and the bandage removed from his eyes. He is

" then forced to worship in silence for half an hour before any oaths are

" administered to him. After this a priest comes up, and opening a large

"book swears in the candidate : "You have come uninfluenced by fear, by

" persuasion, or by love of gain, to become a brother ; will you swear

" before God to reveal nothing that you see and hear this night, and to

" obey all orders you receive from the society, and to observe its laws 1 "

'On the candidate's solemnly affirming to this, the laws of the society are

read out, each being separately sworn to. Some of the chief of these, for

they are very numerous, are : —

"You shall not reveal the proceedings of the society to any but a
brother."

" You shall not cheat or steal from a brother, nor seduce his wife, his
daughter, or his sister."

"If you do wrong or break these laws you shall come to the society to
be punished, and not go to the authorities of this country."

"If you commit murder or robbery, you shall be dismissed for ever from
the society, and no brother will receive you."

" If a brother commits murder or robbery you shall not inform against Administration

Ol JUStlCG.

him ; but you shall not assist him to escape, nor prevent the officers of
justice from arresting him."

" If a brother is arrested and condemned, and is innocent, you shall do
all you can to effect his escape."

" A number of signs by which the niembers may recognize one another
" are also communicated. The whole ceremony has a strongly religious
" aspect, and the hall of meeting is furnished very much as their temples
" are. Nor would there be much cause to complain of the influence of
" these societies were their rules conscientiously adhered to, and the exer-
" cis'e of power by their head men confined to the settlement of disputes
" between the members, or to the punishment of petty crimes. Or, could
" there be but one society to the whole Chir sse population, its influence

ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

when strong.

Chinese evidence
unreliable.

Personating
witnesses.

" mignt be equallyharmless. But each nationality has one or more societies.
" of its own, and they keep alive all that rancor and clan jealousy which
Chinese^ turbulent "is imported from China. The Chinese riots of 1854 were originated and
" maintained by the power of these societies, and almost all the fights which
"so frequently take place in the streets of Singapore are due to the party
spirit which they foster.

" The manner in which they interfere with our administration of justice
" is very deplorable, as it renders Chinese evidence on oath a most unreli-
"able test, in any case where members of rival hoeys are concerned, or
" where the heads of a society have prejudged the matter for or against a
" culprit ; in these cases, every means is deemed legitimate to bring about
" the purposes of the hoey. A case strongly illustrative of this occurred in
" Singapore many years ago. A murder had been perpetrated, and three
" men were charged with the crime before the police magistrate, on the evi-
" dence of an eye witness. The prisoners were committed, and on the day
" of trial at the Supreme Court the principal witness stepped into the
" box, declared to having seen the murder committed, and gave all the
" details which had been taken down by the magistrate. The man was about
" finishing his evidence when the magistrate himself happened to come into
" court, and, looking narrowly at the features of the witness, declared to the
"recorder that he did not believe he was the same man who had appeared
" before him at the police court. A strict enquiry was made, and at last
" the witness confessed that the man who had seen the murder and given
" evidence before the police had run away, and that he was told to take his
" place and say what he had said. The recorder ordered him to be taken at
" once to the bridge across the river, and there receive six dozen. No
" doubt one hoey, on behalf of the prisoners, had procured the deportation
" of the original witness, and another, determined that justice should not
" be defeated, had obtained this substitute.

" Were it not for the evil influence of these societies the Chinese would
" be unexceptionable, as they certainly are very valuable citizens ; but as
" it seems that these institutions are ineradicably planted among them, I
" think they might be taken advantage of to introduce a system of registra-
"tion, so much required among this section of the population of the
" Straits.

" But many of the junks which lie quietly at anchor there, in the harbor
" of Singapore, could, if they had the power to speak, tell sad tales of
" human suffering. The chief trade of not a few of them is the traffic of
" human freight, and it is unfortunately of such a generally remunerative
" character as to leave but little hope of its voluntary abandonment. The
" demand for labor, and the wages paid in Singapore, are so considerable,
" as to induce a large number of junks yearly to sail from China with men,
" picked up and stowed away on board, under what misrepresentations it
" is very difficult to say, and on arrival they are kept on board till a bar-
" gain for their employment is effected. It appears that no passage money
" is demanded from these emigrants before leaving China, but ths ' '

Evil influence
of these societies,

Secret societies
ineradicably
planted among
them.

Cameron's
yan India,'

'Mala-
p.il.

COOLIE IMMIGRATION TO SINGAPORE.

■" made to pledge so many years of theii" labor on the condition of bare sus-

"' tenance only. Large premiums, at least five or six times the mere cost of

■" passage are at once offered by the gambler and pepper planters of the

'" island for the transfer of these contracts; and when the bargain is struck

" the coolies are hurried off to some isolated clearance in the midst of the immigration of

Cooljie labor and
"'jungle, before they can have communication either with the authorities its hardships.

" or with their own countrymen in town. It is not, however, by the en-

'" durance of cruelty or of unreasonably long terms of servitude, when the

■" men are arrived, that the laws of humanity are in much danger of viola-

" tion. One or two years at most, and the new arrivals become acquainted

"with their rights as English subjects and with the knowledge how to en-

" force them. The danger is in the overcrowding of the vessels that bring

" them ; in this the poor fellows have not even the protection that is secured

■" to the African slave, in so far that by their death, though there may be a

"loss of profit, there can be none of capital to the shipper. The men cost

"nothing, and the more the shipper can cram into his vessel the greater

"must be his profit. It would be a better speculation for the trader,

"whose junk could only carry properly 300 men, to take on board 600,

" and lose 250 on the way down, than it would be for him to start with his

""legitimate number and land them all safely ; for, in the first case, he

" would bring 350 men to market, and in the other only 300. That this

■"process of reasoning is actually put inpractice by the Chinese there was

'" not long ago ample and very mournful evidence to prove. Two of these

'" passenger junks had arrived in the harbor, and had remained unnoticed

"for about a week, during which the owners had bargained for the engage-

'" ment of most of their cargo. At this time two dead bodies were Jound

"floating in the harbor; an inquest was held, and it then transpired that

"one of these two junks, on her way down from China, had lost 250 men

" out of 600, and the other 200 out of 400. The bodies upon which the

"coroner's inquest was held were two of the sickly passengers, who had

" died after arrival, and whose corpses the owners, forgetful that they were

" now in harbor, had tossed into the water, as doubtless they daily had the

" bodies of their companions on the voyage from China. It is needless to

"say that no Europeans are in any way engaged in this traffic.

"Thev fir=!t combine among themselves to get as much out of each other Thomson's

■' ° . , , , . _, 1 1 , " Straits of Mar

'" as thev possibly can, and when practicable to monopolize trade and rule laoca, Indo-China,
» . , ,,.,,. • i- ii and China," p. U,

" the markets; and then, feeling the strength of their own organization, the

" societies set up laws for the rule and protection of their members, and in

" defiance of the Local Government. The congsee, or guild, thus drifts G-uUds.

"from a purely commercial into a semi-commercial, semi-political league,

" and more than once has menaced the power of petty states, by making

" efforts to throw off the yoke which rested so lightly on its shoulders. The

" disturbances at Perak are the latest development of this tendency, and

"we have had many previous instances of the same insubordination in

'" Penang, and elsewhere.

CXVIU ENQUIEY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Feuds of immi- u ]s[or are these the only dangers ; the feuds of the immigrants are im-

grants imported, j a 3 it, 4. it x

Thomson's _ "ported with them, and break out again as soon as they have set toot on

^Mauaoca, &c," « foreign soil. Thus, in Penang not long ago, there were two Chinese

" societies, known as, if I remember aright, the Hilum and Hokien congsees,

Qwin'J-TunT " that is the Hainan and Fukien societies. The members of the one were

• " all men from the island of Hainan in Qwang-Tung, and the other men

" from the Fukien Province. The two Provinces are said, at an early

"period in Chinese history, to have formed independent states, and the

" dialects spoken are still so widely different, that natives of Qwang-Tung

" are looked upon by the lower orders in the Fukien country as foreigners.

Penang, ,, j ^^^ present on one occasion in Penang at a village which, on the pre-

" vious night, had been sacked and burned by the members of an opposing

Hid. " clan, and it required strong measures to put down these faction fights.

pp. 44 to 48. "Guilds and secret societies would seem almost indispensable to the

^™^^^- " individual existence and social cohesion of the Chinese who settle them-

'■ selves in foreign lands. If this were not really the case, it would be hard

" to say why we tolerate native institutions of this sort in the Straits settle-

" menta at all, for they have proved themselves, and still continue to be,

" the cause of constant trouble to the Government. Avowedly established

" to aid the Chinese in holding their own, not in commercial circles only.

Effect of secret " but politically against the authorities, and to set our laws, if need be, at
societies m pre- r ./ o ' ,

venting the detec- " defiance, it can nevertheless hardly be doubted that some of the rules laid
tion of crime. • " 1 i n i

"down for the guidance of their members are good ones, and embody pre

" cepts of ■ the highest moral excellence ; but other most objectionable in-

" structions are to be met with, of which the following affords a good exam-

" pie, and from it we may perceive the reason why our officials, both in the

"Straits and in China, are so often baffled in detecting crime. If a brother

" commits murder or robbery, you shall not inform against him, but

" you shall not assist him to escape, nor prevent the officers of justice from

" arresting him. In connection with the foregoing, let us take another of

"their regulations. If you do wrong, or break these laws, you shall come

" to the society to be punished, and not go to the authorities of the country..

" From the two specimens here given, we can get some insight into the

" obstacles which the Chinese secret societies manage to raise up to shield

" offenders from justice. So far as my half score of years experience goes,

" I believe that under the rule first quoted a Chinaman is clearly enjoined

"to conceal the facts of a brother's crime even in a court of law ; and as

" perjury on behalf of a friend is esteemed an undoubted sign of high moral

" rectitude, and as in our courts a false witness has no torture to dread, no

" rack nor thumbscrews, the successful disclosers of secrets in China, he

" lies without let or hindrance, and thus the all-powerful society so effect

" ually conceals a member's guilt as to render Chinese testimony practically

"useless.

" These societies are imitations of similar institutions in every Province

" of the Chinese Empire, where the gentry combine to resist the oDnressioni

BEAVES AND FIGHTING MEN.

" of a despotic government, and the peasantry unite in clans and guilds

" to limit the power of local officials and of the gentry, and to promote

'' their own commercial and social interests. The Chinamaii, however poor Self-complacency.

" he may be, has great faith in the infinite superiority of his own country,

" government and people, over all others ; and when he emigrates to some

" foreign land he at once unites in solemn league with his clansman to resist in .a foreign land

" what he honestly deems its barbarous laws and usages. He has no belief

" in a liberal and pure form of administration. After years spent, it may

" be, in some English colony or in America, he will yet be una,ble to shake

" off the feeling that he, in a great measure, owes his success abroad to the

" protecting influence of some powerful clan or guild.

" Such societies were at the bottom of the disturbances that threatened
'' Singapore in 1872, and the principal rioters concerned on that occasion Riots and
" were of the class described as the " Sam-Sings," or fighting men, whereof
" each society has always a certain number in its pay.

" The immediate cause of these riots was the enforcement, for the first Thomson's
" time, of a new ordinance, designed to regulate or ' suppress,' as the Chi- p. 46.
■' nese chose to believe, a certain class of street hawkers. These hawkers,
" always useful, if not always innocent members of a Chinese community
" in Singapore and elsewhere in the East, naturally felt aggrieved at having
" the prospects of their livelihood curtailed. Some of them went so far as
" to resist the rough interference of the police. Their case was taken up Fighting men.
" by the fighting men in various quarters of the town, the Sam-Sings, whom There would seem
"Mr. Whampoa (an old Chinese gentleman for many years resident in flghtingmen—
" Singapore) thus describes : — ' They live by looting, and are on the watch •'^ves.
" for any excuse for exercising their talents. Each hoey, or society, must Criminals,
" have so many of them, but I do not know any means of ascertaining
" their number. I suppose they are paid by the hoeys and brothels. They
" are regular fighting people, and are paid so much a month. If there is
" any disturbance, these people go out in looting parties ; whether ordered jjeadmen
" by the head men or not, I cannot say ; perhaps they do it on their own
" account.' From the same report I gather that such characters are at the
" present time plentiful, as they have been driven out of the neigborhood Criminals driven
" of Swatow, in the south of China. In a previous work, I have noticed
" the disturbed state of a part of the Province of Qwang-Tung, and the
" strong measures taken by ' Juilin,' the present Governor-General of the
" two Kwang, for the restoration of order. But some of the lawless
" vagabonds who escaped the vengeance of Juilin have settled in Singapore
" and other British possessions, and there under the protecting wings of
" their guilds they obtain frequent and lucrative employment in the shape Find more protec-
" of pillage or perhaps murder. At first sight it seems strange that the rule than under
" Sam-Sings should find scope for their villanies in a British colony ; even ernm'ent Tf tielr
" greater scope, one would be apt to imagine, than they find under the f^d. '^''^^'^'^^'^
" corrupt government of ther own disorganized land.

" But any disinterested observer who has travelled through China will

ENQUIET AT SAN FBANCISCO.

Scum of popula-
tion.

Parents punished
for criminal
children.

" agree with me in this : that however far behind in other respects, the
" Tartar rulers, when it suits their convenience (except when the population
" is in actual revolt), know very well how to deal with and keep down
"marauders with a very strong hand; so much so is this the case, indeed,
" that the scum of the population is frequently driven to seek refuge in
"emigration to more congenial climes. One element which operates suc-
"cessfully in maintaining order in China is the superstitious reverence
"which the Chinese have for their parents. Should a son commit a crime
" and abscond, his parents are liable to be punished in his stead. This law,
" even supposing it were put in force in a foreign land, would not affect the
"immigrants, as they seldom bring their wives or parents with them; and
" to this fact alone — the absence, that is, of the strong family ties held so
" sacred by the race — we may attribute much of the difficulty encountered
" by our authorities in dealing with the crime and vice of this section of the
" population. It must also be borne in mind that a Chinese ruflS^an, who
" would soon be brought to justice (unless he could purchase immunity) if
"he were practising on his countrymen in a Chinese city, enjoys, on the
" contrary, the countenance and support of his compatriots in a town such
" as Singapore. For there he commits his depredations on men of foreign
"extraction; and the avenger of blood from whom he is hidden away is,
"after all, only an officer of those 'white devils,' whom it is the China-
" man's delight anywhere and everywhere to oppose.

" If we knew nothing of Chinese clanship and Chinese guilds, we should
" think it strange that the wealthier Chinamen are rarely made the victims
" of the great gang robberies that, during my time, used frequently to occur.
" These robberies are perpetrated by bands of ruffians, numbering at times
" as many as a hundred strong, who surround and pillage a house that is
" always the residence of a foreigner. Chinese thieves are thorough experts
"at their profession, adopting the most ingenious devices to attain their
" infamous ends. I recollect a burglary which once took place at a friend's
" house, when the thief found his way into the principal bedroom and deli-
"berately used up half a box of matches before he could get the candle to
" light. His patience being rewarded at last, he proceeded with equal cool-
'• ness in the plunder of the apartment, not forgetting to search beneath
" the pillow, where he secured a revolver and a watch. These Chinese rob-
" bers are reported to be able to stupefy their vietims by usino- some nar-
" cotic known only to themselves. I have no doubt this was done in the
"case just referred to, by the agency of the Chinese house-servants, who,
" perhaps, introduced the drug to my friend's bed.

"Chinese, when it suits their purpose, do not stick at trifles, as may be
"gathered from the fact that a Chinaman, esteemed a respectable member
"of society attempted, on one occasion, to poison the whole foreign com-
"munity of Hong-Kong with the bread he supplied. The Malays have
"told me of cases where, as they averred, the cunning Chinese thief passes
" the doorway of the house to be pillaged, and tosses in a handful of rice

In a foreign city a
Chinese criminal
enjoys the
countenance of
his countrymen.

Thomson's

"Malacca," etc.,
pp. 64, 6a.

Why wealthy
Chinamen are
not robbed.

Coolness of Chi-
nese burglars.

Chinese crime.

CHINESE ENTERPRISE IN THE STRAITS.

" impregnated with some aromatic drug. This drug soon sends the inmates

" off into a deep repose from which they will seldom awaken till long after

'• the robber has finished his undertaking, and that in the complete and

" deliberate style which suits the taste of the Chinese.

" I have been," says Mr. Westgarth, " to Singapore, as well as he, and Proceedings of

. ' ■' o ' ^ ^ Royal Colonial

" I have noticed the excellent bearing of the Chinese, so much so that I do Institute, "Vol. ix,

. . . p. 67.

" not see how Singapore could get on without them ; in fact it may be

" called a British colony based upon Chinese labor. It is a prosperous

" colony, the labor element depending entirely, or all but existing, upon

" Chinamen. We might say the same of other such colonies. We must

" remember there are two classes of colonies in our Empire. There is the

"tropical colony, where our race cannot live as the general laboring popu-

" lation, and where we must have other races. There is again a colony of

"the British race."

" It is," says Mr. Tidman, " twenty years since I first knew the Chi- ibid. p. 57.

"nese, and I have seen them as colonists in three distinct European com-

" munities. First, in Borneo, under the Rajah, then Sir James Brooke ;

" next, in the Straits settlements ; and lastly, in the Dutch Islands of Java.

" I have had much to do with him in my capacity as magistrate, merchant,

" manufacturer, planter, and miner, and my knowledge of them in one capa-

•' city has verified my experience of them in another. I do not hesitate to Chinese character-

" say that they are pre-eminent among Asiatics for frugality, enterprise

" and indomitable energy." He goes on to say that the Chinaman comes of

a race that is law respecting.

" The morality of no people that I know of," says Cameron, "varies so much Crime.

"with their circumstances as that of the Chinese. From among the poorer Cameron's Mala-

" and lower orders our criminal calendars are chiefly filled ; they supply all

" sorts of offenders, thieves and housebreakers in the greatest number ; nor do

" they appear to be very straightforward in their dealings with one another.

" The upper classes — those that have grown rich — on the other hand, leave Wl^en richleave

^'^ ° ' their vices.

" behind them nearly all their vices, and lead a life distinguished by out-

" ward prosperity. * * But when we remember that nearly all the

" industry and much of the enterprise of the Straits is due to it ; that it

" furnishes good hard-working coolies and persevering, adventurous traders,

" the Chinese element in the population of these settlements is entitled to

"be esteemed among the most valuable."

We have given above the words of eye-witnesses. It is, in the nature

of evidence, and the reason we have not condensed or described it is ob-

CXXll CHINESE IN AUSTRALIA.

THE CHINESE IN OtJR SISTER COLONIES.

A tide which ebbs The Chinese population in every foreign country is a tide which ebbs
and flows — now rolls forward from and again sweeps back to its parent'
sea in China ; but, so long as there is profit to be made, ever gains on the
land. An increase or decrease in this population has hardly any reference
to births or deaths. A comparison between the Chinese population in
any country, therefore, from the end of one decade to that of another
will indicate whether immigration is on the increase or decrease. Mr.
Briggs' tables (page 12) shows a falling off in arrivals at San Francisco,
from 27,404 to 3,536, as the result of the Restriction Act of 1882. This,
of course, was certain to happen. Each of the 3,536 speaking roughly
must either have been in the United States before the new policy, or
must have imposed a fraud on the collector of the port, in regard to
which some evidence was taken by the Joint Committee.
fgMnstcSneae When we look at Australian legislation we find that in 1855 an Act

Sss.'"''^* ^ ^""'* was passed in Victoria limiting the number of Chinese arriving to one for
every ten ton the ship could carry, and imposing a rate of ten pounds
sterling per head.* Yet between 1854 and 1857, according to the census
returns, the number of Chinese had increased from 2,000 to 25,370. The
increase is due to the natural impulse of the Chinese immigration at that
time operating, but no doubt the number was swelled by the determioEi-
tion to get in before the Act came into operation, as we have seen was the
case in California. In 1857, a Committee took evidence on Chinese immi-
gration, and reported that the business which some 40,000 Chinamen
brought to the colony was no adequate compensation for the amount of
gold (120,000 ounces), which they were annually abstracting from the
wealth of the country. If the figure 40,000 was correct, between the date
of the census, March, 1857, and November, a great increase had taken
place. Some restriction the Committee said was necessary,! sind they re-
ported in favor of a bill having license clauses really aimed against the
Chinaman on the gold fields. In New South "Wales, in 1861, a Rrestriction
Act was passed, and in 1864 an act consolidating the laws afiectuig
Chinese immigration was passed in Victoria, which like the former act
imposed £10 ($50) per head import duty on Chinese, and the number
limited to one for every ten ton a vessel could carry, and though this Act
was repealed in 1865 it was by an Act which gave most extensive powers
to the Governor in Council. There soon followed a striking decrease in
the number of Chinese arriving in that colony. In 1871, there were
17,935 Chinamenin Victoria ; in 1881, only 12,128. Of these, two-thirds
lived in counties, and one-third in cities ; 621 in Melbourne ; 518 in
Sandhurst; 382 in Ballarat. The largest number in any one shire was

*Acts of Council.— Adamson, Vol. I., p. 714.

Victoria Votes and Proceedings, 1856-57, Legislative Council. See also Statis-
tical Notes on Progress of Victoria, p.p. 36, 51.

STATISTICS RESPECTING CHINESE IN VICTORIA. CXxiii

746, in Grenville. So diffused, the Chinaman can hardly offend the most y'^^g^^lg^i
vigorous mongolphobist. In all the Australian Colonies, there were in f ^^^•"''Ysli ^'^^
1881, only 43,400. In 1859, nearly that number was in Victoria alone.

The Chinese immigration, as elsewhere, is in the Australian Colonies
male. In all these Colonies there are but 362 Chinese females, or only a
fractional part of a woman to every 100 men, the exact ratio being 1'84
to the 100.

The standard of comfort, as elsewhere, is low. In Victoria, 6,832 live standard o£ oom-
in houses ; 5,122 in huts ; 154 in tents; 12 camping out, and 8 in boats.

The religious condition is not bright, yet Christianity has made some Religion,
progress. Of the Chinese in Victoria, Australia, 92 per cent, are pagans.
Of the remainder : 375 Church of England; 81 Presbyterians; 229 Me-
thodists; 5 baptists; 6 Bible Christians; 132 Roman Catholics. One
hundred and fifty-six refused to state their religion, and on enquiry it
turned out they were afraid of persecution. Those who have read the
interesting account of Hue's travels in China will remember how he en-
countered converts who revealed themselves secretly, and who feared to
make an open profession of their faith.

The facts respecting Chinese education in Victoria are not discouraging. Educational
Students under twenty, including half-castes, number 494 — of whom 286 discouraging.*
are boys and 208 girls. Of the boys, eighty-four, or 29 per cent., and of the
girls seventy-three, or 35 per cent, were, in 1881, receiving an English
education. Of the 157 being educated, eighty -five were attending State
and ten private schools. A few could read and write English. There
may, perhaps, in some of these schools rise up a Chinese Cadmus to give
his people an alphabet.

It is curious to note that of the 12,000 Chinamen in Victoria only 412 Occupations,
describe themselves as laborers ; 6,603 put themselves down as miners ;
2,233 as farmers, market gardeners, station servants, and the rest distri-
bute themselves amongst a variety of callings.

One of the witnesses examined at San Francisco said, the Chinese were Health,
healthy, owing to their temperance. Another said he did not think they
were a long-lived race. In Victoria it was found, in 1881, that one in
every eighty-one was disabled by sickness ; one in every 6,000 deaf and
dumb; one in every 1,000 blind, and one in 140 lunatic. These figures
show that the Chinese suffered less than the general population from each
'description of infirmity except insanity.

The Chinese would seem to have, in some instances, intermarried with the Miscegenation,
-whites in Victoria, because we find by the census of 1881 that there were
169 half-castes, mostly the offspring of Chinese fathers and of mothers of
Ilu^opean birth or extraction. If we suppose these children to be found
in families and give three to a family, then you have fifty-six instances of
miscegenation in Victoria. We saw at Victoria, British Columbia, a
young half-caste with the Mongol hair and a blue Saxon eye.

Of the 12,128 Chinese in Victoria, in 1881, 7,840- or 65 per cent,
were on the gold fields. This is a much smaller percentage than at former

CXXIV

THE CHINESE IN QUEENSLAND.

Immigration to
Victoria falling
off.

The Chinaman in
Queensland a

serious fact.

An undesirable
neighbor.

Frugality, enter-
prise and energy.

periods. In 1871, 90 per cent., and in 1861 97 per cent, of the Chinese
population were on the gold fields. Taking the Chinese population in
1861 at 42,000, this percentage would give us 33,180 on the gold fields,
and 8,820 in other employments. Since 1861 the "import duty" and
licenses have been operating and besides Queensland has come to the front
as a desirable place in which to look for gold, and is nearer to China.

In Queensland, though a very young colony, there are 11,206 Chinese-
and Cooktown district is almost entirely Mongolian. In New Zealand,
there are 4,995 Chinese.

Mr. Reeves in a speech in the New Zealand Parliament in 1878, in
which he moved that the House was of opinion that immediate legislation
should take place on the subject of Chinese immigration, quoted a portion,
of a letter from a friend in Cooktown which runs as follows :

"The Chinese question is becoming one of very serious import here. It.
is no use denying the fact that the Chinese are gradually and surely
elbowing the white population out of Northern Queensland. The Euro-
pean population here have urged and still are urging the Government ta
take steps to prevent the influx of Chinese into the colony. You may
depend on it that if something is not speedily done to check the immigration
of Chinese it will lead to riot and bloodshed, and probably the loss of many
valuable lives ;" and he goes on to cry God help New Zealand, which was
menaced with a touch of the "Yellow Agony;"

On the 11th December, 1877, a paper was read before the Royal
Colonial Institute, by Arthur Macalister, Esq., C. M. G., Agent-General
for Queensland, in which he gives a graphic account of the condi-
tion of things among the miners in Queensland, at that time.* Hardy
English colonists and no Chinese meant life and property secure. The en-
tire European population in the Cook and Palmer districts do not number
more than 5,000 all told, for the most part composed of gold diggers. To
the Palmer River diggings for nearly eighteen months previously the Chinese
flocked until it was computed there was not less than 30,000 of them on
the goLl fields. The essayist says that had the Chinese come into the
colony in the ordinary course of immigration no complaint would have
been heard. But they come in an army captained by bosses ; not as
colonists but to capture the auriferous deposits in the gold fields and
decamp. He then goes on to show how unpleasant a camping neighbor
is this Chinaman whom he describes as both a thief and a liar and hence- ■
forth good-bye to security in the camp.

In the course of the discussion which followed, several gentlemen well
acquainted with the Chinese spoke, some on one side and some on the
other. Those who advocated Chinese immigration did so because of their
character, on grounds of international law, and on general principles.

*Queensland imitated that year the example set by New South Wales in 1861.
See clauses 3 and 4, " The Chinese Immigrants Regulation Act of lSn."—Acts of
Parliament, Queensland, Ifl Vic, No. 8.

NOT SO DREADFUD AS HE SEEMED. CXXV

Mr. Tidman, who saw much of them, says they are preeminent among
Asiatics for "frugality, enterprise, and indomitable energy.'' He tells us he
was astonished to find the disturbances in the Straits spoken of as insur-
rections, whereas they were only " faction fights— clan disputes, such as
were common enough in Scotland years ago, and we know to this hour in

Ireland." In another place he says : " The secret of the government of Government
. , 1 , ■ 1 n , mi • • • through their

the Chinese is government through their head men. This is a very im- headmen.

portant statement as bearing on the character of Chinamen as guests in

large numbers. It comes from a man who has known them well, and who

even advocates settling Queensland with Chinamen.

Sir Francis Murphy, of the colony of Victoria, gave a brief history of Dangers appre-
. ^ ■" - ' ° •' hended from

the Chinese question in that colony. He says after a time it was found influx of Chinese.

exaggerated,
that " the dangers which we apprehended from the influx of Chinese at

first were greatly exaggerated." He points to an experience whiclj has
been duplicated elsewhere, namely : that the Chinese proved very man-
ageable, and really came as gleaners in the wake of other miners. "They
worked upon ground that the diggers had abandoned as useless. They

learned from them, moreover, how to till the ground with skill and Market

' ' ° gardeners.

minuteness, which we had not the patience to do in Australia, and suc-
cessfully to get even from barren soil many products necessary for animal
life, such as vegetables — an occupation that few of the European popula-
tion engaged in themselves at that time. And to this day a large propor-
portion of the people derive their vegetables and garden produce from
Chinese labor." He adds, however: "But there is no doubt many evils
have resulted from the introduction of a low class of Chinese, the dregs
of the seaside Chinese towns, who are brought to work as slaves."

This gentleman bears testimony to the high character of the Chinese
merchants whom he had met in Victoria.

Then, on the other hand comes Mr. Kelsey, of Queensland. At the The Chinese miner-
' ./ ' T jjj Queensland.

time when the North Queensland gold fields were opened there weremany
thousands of Anglo-Saxons scattered over hundreds of square miles. But
prior to "the Chinese invasion," a score of policemen spread over this
wide district was sufficient. The miner after washing up his gold put the
results in a tin panikin and left it by the water side. He then went
back two or three miles, as the case might be, to get some more wash dirt.
The Anglo-Saxon drinks, maybe, and fights and swears, but he will not
steal ; but the moment that the first hordes of Chinese arrived the Euro-
pean lost small things and valuables, and felt that he could not leave his
camp, where were all his worldly possessions. No longer could he go away
leaving his goods, and possibly wife and child, unprotected. " Chinamen
are like a flock of sheep. You might see a suspicious Celestial lounging
about your camp, but if anything is stolen you cannot tell him from any
other Chinaman, all of the lower and criminal classes being as much alike
in face as one black sheep is to another." The result is the digger hardly
dares to go to look for gold. In Melbourne and San Francisco, he says,
almost pathetically, there are " Chinese quarters," and all that people in

CXXVl

QUEENSLAND AND VICTORIA.

Wholesale Chi-
nese immigration
in Queensland a
•dangerous and
cruel thing.

either place need see of the Chinamen is when he comes to take away the
washing. " But the wearied digger finds when he comes to his humble
home that Chinamen are squatting all round his camp, prepared to rob
him of goods and comfort." Until Queensland is rich and old enough to
provide an army of police, he says, " wholesale immigration from China
is a dangerous and cruel thing. It would stop the progress of a prosper-
ing part of a splendid colony, if swamped by Chinese criminals, landing in
great numbers at this present time."

Mr. Westgarth, whose colony (Victoria) was the first, to have "the
Mongolian invasion," aiid who was a member of a Commission in 1854, to
enquire into the immigration of the Chinese to the gold fields tells us how
while the Commissioners were sitting four cargoes of Chinese arrived.

All China coming. " The Commission were very much astonished a tovertaking on their way
to the gold-fields, as I recollect, a whole cargo travelling up the great
highway to the Castlemain diggings ; and afterwards, when they came to
Ballarat and the other gold-fields, were no less so to look down upon the
dense masses of the Chinese, busy after their old fashion at gold washing."

Ten thousand were then in the colony, and it was said "all China was
coming.", Later on, however, he repeated what Sir Prancis Murphy had
said, that their fears proved to some extent groundless. The influx of
Chinese was much less than was expected. All this is very important.
These men are old colonists speaking of a time of panic — if the word is not
too strong — not dissimilar to that which prevails in certain places at this
moment. Much of the apprehension arose from the " very miscellaneous
and bad lot of Chinese " which first came. " We found that in Victoria
— and I am sure they found it in Queensland even more — when on the
Palmer diggings there were, within a brief time, as many as 30,000 Chi-
namen." Mr. Westgarth proceeds to say, what at this hour should be
pondered by every man who would discuss this question with an approach
to a statesmanlike spirit :

30,000 Chinamen
"in the Palmer
diggings.

An indigestible
mass.

Effects of the
•Chinese Acts in
■Victoria.

" The great objection to a large influx of Chinamen, or of any other
extremely foreign element, is that it is an indigestible mass in the midst
of a society with which it can never amalgamate in a political and gene-
ral sense ; and that was the feeling which, if I recollect rightly, weighed
upon tho Gold Commission of which I was a member. This high social
consideration is really what we ought to look at, and not be bandying
accusations against the Chinese that they are this, that, or the other" that
is bad."

The Chinese had good points. Nobody ever saw a Chinaman drunk.

En revanche he was often intoxicated with opium.

Mr. Labillifere then spoke. In the course .of his speech he said he
remembered the passing of the Chinese Acts in Victoria. The effect was
most beneficial. " It checked the stream of Chinese inundation " and
Chinamen going back to China reported to their countrymen : " You
cannot go there in too great numbers because there is this legislation to
prevent you." Within a short time the Chinese flood had taken the

NO CHINESE DEPENDENCY.

■direction of Queensland ; " and the Government of that Colony has most
"wisely followed that remedial course of policy which was so successful in
Victoria." A wholesome lesson would have been taught the Chinese that
"they must not convert Australia into " a dependency of the Chinese
Empire." Mr. Tidman had told them that it would be a most advisable
"thing to people Northern Australia with Chinese as Singapore had been
peopled.

"I admit" he goes on "that by introducing within the next ten years Must look to the
as many millions of Chinamen into Queensland or other parts of Australia,
you might develope the resources ef Australia to an extent to which they
would not otherwise attain in fifty years ; but is it desirable that we
should accelerate . the progress of Australia at the expense of the future
nationality of Australia. Is it desirable in order that a few men may
make fortunes the whole type and character of the population of that
great continent should be fixed and moulded forever ? I think, unless
we are to be so tremendously cosmopolitan as to deny the superiority of
■our own race altogether, and to say that the Chinaman is as good as the
Englishman, or perhaps a good deal better, then, I think it is essential that
we should at once face this question and say that a Chinese inundation
shall not be tolerated in Australia."

One thing is worth noticing about this Australian evidence — for it is as

good evidence as if it was taken by examination — namely, the exact

similarity of position and tone to those taken by men in San Fran- Chinese charaoter-

,_. J .,„,,., , mi ,^1 . 1 1 istics the same

Cisco and British Columbia to-day. ihe Uhmaman seems to be the everywhere.

same everywhere, and the advocates of his advent or his restriction or
■exclusion use the very same words whether they live in Melbourne, or Lon-
don, or San Francisco. In San Francisco, the moment a man proved
himself strongly pro-Chinese you might be certain that in a few minutes
he would abuse the Irish ; and so in the course of this colonial debate we
find a Mr. Strangways who says that any cry against the Chinese is sure
to have an Irish origin. He has no sympathy with those who would keep
out Chinese labor in the interest of white labor, but, like other pro-Chinese,
he would be opposed to allowing the country to get swamped with
Chinese.

In Queensland an agitation arose for an Act more stringent than that of Feeling in Queens-
1877, and in 1884 the Premier of Queensland introduced the Chinese Immi-
grants Regulation Bill. In Committee on the bill a debate arose, most inter-
■esting is it as showing the feeling in Queensland, and indeed in all the Austra-
lian colonies. The Premier said that clause 3 in the principal Act provided
for the number of Chinese that a ship might carry ; clause 6 provided that
a certificate should be given as a receipt for the £10 paid; and clause 7
provided for the return of the money on the departure of the Chinese
from the colony. On clause 3 — " Ships not to carry nfore than one Chinese See Parliament-
passenger for, every fifty tons register" — the Premier referred to the fact Queensland,' Feb.
that on the second reading of the Bill there was a good deal of discussion ^ '
on this clause, and some honorable members were of opinion that it was
not sufficiently severe. He contended that the provisions of that section

MOEE RESTRICTION IN QUEENSLAND.

were preferable to those adopted in New South Wales and Victoria. In.
those colonies the number of Chinese coming in ships was limited to on&
for every hundred tons, and the poll-tax was £10.

Distinction bet- " Those were the most severe measures passed in the Australian colonies

ween QueenslMid up to the present time against the influx of Chinese. There was this dif-
Wales and ference with respect to Queensland, which influenced the Government to

Victoria. ^ g^gat extent in making the modification they had done : the restrictions

of coming by ship appeared to be a matter of passage money ; and he took
it that practically it would be ten times as difficult for the Chinese to-
come under this Bill as it was before. The distinction between Queens-
land and New South Wales and Victoria was that there was a consider-
able trade between the eastern ports and Australia, which he was sure
they did not wish to discourage, except as regarded the Chinese. Those-
ships sailed from Hong Kong, called at two or three of the northern ports,
and then came on to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Now, the prohi-
bition was against their having Chinese on board, whether as passengers
or not ; and as the present section provided that no ship should have more
than one Chinaman for every fifty tons register, that meant that Queens-
land, where the first ports of call were, would prohibit more than that
number coming to all Australia, or to Sydney and Melbourne. There was
considerable traffic between Hong Kong and Sydney and Melbourne, and
the passenger traffic would be continued ; they could not prevent it ; but
if a ship was 1,500 tons register, she could only carry thirty Chinese pas-
sengers for any part of Australia. Practically, therefore, the iiumber of
Chinese who would come here would not exceed ten or twelve by every
ship. Our position was difierent to that of Sydney and Melbourne, as.
they did not want to prevent a ship coming into Queensland ports simply
because she had Chinese passengers for Sydney and Melbourne on board.
He thought the proposed restriction would be sufficient to keep the Chinese
out, and the departures would, he felt sure, more than balance the-
arrivals."

Strenuous oppo-
sition to Cliinese.

Temperate
climate suitable
for European
races.

The views thus set forth met with strenuous opposition. One member-
did not want to injure the trade with and from China, but he had no
desire to preserve the trade if it interfered with preventing Chinese
coming. "Chinese were able to compete with our own people, and that
was where the danger was." Several members spoke even more strongly..

The thing to note is the tendency of legislation in every quarter where
white men can thrive to become more restrictive in respect of Chinese
immigration.

The Queensland Acts for 1884 are not in the Library, and since the
parliamentary debates of that colony have been brought before us there
has been no time to learn the fate of the measure referred to. It is cer-
tain however to have passed into law.

Oliphant, who is an admirer of the Chinese, and who suggests that irt
Singapore they should be given some share in the government, says : "We
must be careful of judging of the results of Chinese immigration by the
experiences of California, Australia or any other colony where peculiar
conditions resulting from gold discoveries exist, and where the climate
admits of competition by whites. It is as undesirable that such a com-

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AND JAMAICA.

petition should be established in those countries adapted for European

out-of-door labor as that others should be deprived of the benefits of any

such labor at all, because the climate is fatal to the white man." Mr. Seep.33, M.E.

Brooks points out that only in temperate climates can the European races

thrive, and that the countries in this belt should be kept for them.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, JAMAICA, ETC.
In the Hawaiian Islands, according to the census of 1878, out of a Chinese Immi-

CT T" flit" ion di^oour"

population of 57,985 there were 5,916 Chinese, and, though intermarriages aged by the
vfith the natives in some cases took place, the Government thought fit, in Government.
1883, to discouraare Chinese immigration and to encourage Portugese and SeeM. E. pp.3i2—

' ° ° ° ° 3 and 411, 411.

Japanese. [See Appendix S.] The grounds for this course are those
stereotyped objections to the Chinese which one hears everywhere. The
policy is most unpopular with the planters, but the' press and public
opinion outside of the planter class support the Government.

Accounts from Jamaica, Peru, and from other places is, as we might M. E. pp. 258, 360.
expect, to the efiect that the Chinaman carries with him everywhere the
qualities which distinguish him in California, the same virtues and vices. Testimony of an
Mr. Edward Litchfield, a prominent business man in New York, who to the Chmese in
knows Jamaica well and has observed the Chinese on Taylor's and
Dawkin's on Ellis's and Molines' caymanas, writes that they favor-
ably impressed him. In cultivating sugar the Chinese were always able
to show more work than the negro. " They always seemed contented and
happy, no class of laborers giving less trouble- to their employers. Their
style of living, and the manner in which during sickness they attended to
each other's wants would teach a good lesson to many of the white people
who seem to consider it a crime to encourage those industrious, inoffensive,
hardworking, simple-minded Chinese.''

''^^X ENQUIRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

RESUM]fe.

1. That Chinese labor is a most efficient aid in the development of a.
country, and a great means to ■wealth. As a railway navvy the Chinaman
has no superior, and his presence in California has given the State a start
many years ahead and added incalculably to its material prosperity; while
in British Columbia Chinese labor has been attended by great advantages,
to the Province and the same excellent effects would, most likely, for
many years from now follow its utilization.

2. That, however, the Chinese being a non-assimUable race, clearly-
marked off from white people by color and national and race character-
istics, their presence in a country is not unattended with disadvantages,
foremost among these being the irritation, discontent and resentment
they inspire in white laborers. Without discussing the reasonableness or
otherwise of this antipathy, there it is ; and, as an important element in.
the problem of the development and government of the country, it is a.
fact for the State to consider in all its practical bearings.

3. That being able to subsist on much less than white men, they lower
wages ; and the sentiment of race superiority on the part of the whites
leads these to feel humiliation at working by the side of Chinamen, the
tendency being, as some contend, to bring labor into contempt.

4. That the Chinese do largely engross domestic service, in which they
prove themselves faithful and efficient ; that the evidence was strong, if
not conclusive, that white girls cannot be induced to go into the country,
removed from their church and accustomed companionship, to work as
domestics, and that a sufficient supply can not be had even for cities and
towns ; that the fact that the Chinese thus compete with female servants
is, nevertheless, one well worthy the attention of Government.

5. That the tendency is for certain industries to pass completely into
the hands of the Chinese.

6. That the statements as to their bad moral effect on the community
are grossly exaggerated. In fact their morality is not lower than that of
the same classes of other nationalities.

7. That their custom of living in quarters of their own— "Chinatowns"
—is attended with evils, such as the depreciation of property, and owing
to their habits of lodging in crowded quarters and accumulating filth is
offensive if not likely to breed disease. But these evils might be dealt
with by police supervision.

RESUMi. CXXxi.

8. That they do not burden public charities nor unduly swell the calen-
dar of crime.

9. On the point whether the Chinese have a quasi-government amongst
themselves, the evidence is such as to leave the matter in doubt. It is
probable, however, that what really exist are guilds and courts of arbitra-
tion. The Six Companies, about which so much is said, not only arose
naturally in the early days, but such guilds are Chinese institutions found
everywhere, and there can be no doubt that in China and Singapore such
associations enable compradors to behave with great independence, not to
say tyranny and peculation. Much of what has been said and written
on this subject shows complete ignorance of Chinese character and habits.
Chinamen invariably combine.

10. It would be very hard to say to which side educated public opinion
in California leans on this subject of Chinese immigration. In British
Columbia those who are not dependent in one way or another on the sup-
port of the laboring classes are, as a rule, unfavorable to anti-Chinese
legislation. Everywhere the railway men and the mine owners, the man-
ufacturers and the housekeepers, the merchants anl shopkeepers are
against absolute exclusion, but the very best friends of the Chinaraen think
their immigration should be regulated. In California an overwhelming
vote was polled against them.

11. Assuming, as is done above, that the Chinese cannot be assimilated,
it is well to pause before a choice of evils. If, for instance, they supply a
want that cannot otherwise be supplied, labor where else great works
would have to stop, help where else the weak and the old would in
the discharge of their household duties sink beneath the burden of infir-
mity or age, then their presence so far from being an evil is a good.
When other labor can be had, and other help is at hand, then would have
been the time to think of dispensing wholly with the Chinese, and
Congress undoubtedly went beyond the demands of some of the leaders
in the anti-Chinese movement.

12. No one doubts that they have done a good day's work for the people
of California. But if it is unfair on the one hand to complain after they
have given value that they take the money out of the country, it would
be equally illogical on the part of the Chinese, who professedly have never
come to stay, to complain if the door is shut against new-comers. Those
who have vested interests there are suffered to remain, and the wage-
earners who never intended to stop could claim no reversion for others.

13. That they show no desire to understand or meddle with politics.

*^^^^ ENQ0IRY AT SAN FRANCISCO.

and take no or little interest in any country where they go to labor, and
always intend to return to China; nor, save for the density of population
in China, would there be reason to apprehend large permanent settlements
of Chinese. But as that density must increase, necessity would in time
lead to such settlements. This remark, however, should be made :
although the climate of Northern China is cold, the immigrants who seek
the western shores of this continent come and are sure to continue to
come from provinces whose climate is either semi-tropical or borders on
that ; nor need there be any fear of a Chinese inundation in Canada.

14. That no one, save a few persons of very ill-considered opinions,
desires to exclude Chinese merchants, or any class of Chinese save two.
All would exclude prostitutes and criminals. While numbers would wel-
come laborers on the ground of their usefulness, numbers would exclude
them because they compete, or are supposed to compete, to the disadvan-
tage of white laborers. It is universally admitted that the merchants are
honorable and capable men, of high credit and of great commercial
advantage to the community; and these would not only be welcomed but
would be desirable.

15. That now (if here a speculative thought may enter) British
Columbia has a great opportunity, by welcoming Chinamen, and
thus securing not only cheaper labor than California, but conciliating
the good will and fixing the attention of a people, from the vast
resources and inchoate wealth of whose country the veil is only just
being drawn aside, whose commerce is of great value, and on the comple-
tion of the Canadian Pacific Railway may be of incalculable value. Brit-
ish Columbia has many features in common with California. It is a
country which needs local railways ; it is a mining country ; it is a fruit-
growing country. It possesses, besides, enormous resources in timber
lands and fisheries. If, therefore, British Columbia were to decide that
the undoubted evils of Chinese immigration were largely counterbalanced
by other considerations, what would happen is this : she would by vigor-
ous legislation secure that her mines would be worked on a large scale,
the riches of the country Toeing thus enormously increased and her
treasury swelled ; she would engross nearly all the coal and timber trade
and much of the fruit trade of the Pacific Coast, while her fish would
largely supply the markets of the eastern and central parts of the conti-
nent, and even with Europe no insignificant commerce would be within
her grasp; her wealth positively and above all relatively to California
would develop at a ratio not short of mathematical ; she would literally

BESUME.

shoot ahead as one of the great seats of commerce and industrial activity •
and, her position achieved, she could then apply herself to the political
and social problem, and by the aid of the Dominion Parliament deal with
that.

16. That the Chinese are most successful as market-gardeners. Per-
haps in this character they are hardly equalled in the skill with which
they bring the maximum of produce out of the ground, and though not
clever in the management of horses, in the field they play a useful, if a
subordinate part.

17. That if Chinamen dispensed with those conditions of Asiatic civili-
•zation which they have hitherto insisted on taking with them everywhere ;
if their children were found more often than at present dressed in western
garb and their books under their arm going to an English school, hostility
to them would gi-adually disappear. In fact, a few bright Chinese school
boys would do more for assimilation than all the measures of statesmen.
There is little difference in appearance between a Chinaman who wears
western clothes and makes a western toilet and the Portuguese or the
Italian, who would be welcomed on whatever shores immigration was
needed. The Japanese wins sympathy everywhere, and in some cases is
actively encouraged because he adapts himself to the customs of the coun-
try in which he settles.

18. That the Chinaman in Victoria, B.C., under British rule, and in
Portland under that of the United States, where the hostihty to him is
not so great as in the capital of California, is of a superior type to the
Chinaman of SanFrancisco, and the inference is that he improves accord-
ing as he is treated well.

19. That restrictive legislation in the United States has of necessity
stimulated white immigration, but there is as yet no evidence that the
supply would meet the needs of the country if the Chinese were to disap-
pear.

20. That assuming Chinese immigrants of the laboring class will per-
sist in retaining their present characteristics of Asiatic life, where these are
strikingly peculiar and distinct irpm western, and that the influx will
continue to increase, this immigration should be dealt with by Parliament;
but no legislation should be such as would give a shock to great interests and
enterpris^es established before any probability that Parliament would inter-
fere with that immigration arose. Questions of vested rights might come up,
and these ought to be carefully considered before action is taken.

21. That, therefore, if restrictive legislation were considered opportuiie

ENQUIRY AT SAN FfiANCISCO.

it should aim at gradually-achieved results, and the history of the ques-
tion, as well as the evidence, shows that by legislation regulating, not ex-
cluding Chinese laborers, every purpose can be effected which those who
apprehend evils from Chinese immigration could, and actually do desire.

22. That whenever legislation on this subject takes place its provisions
should be of such a character as to avoid the difficulties, litigation and
expense which have followed (as will be seen on pages cvi— cix, Enquiry
at San Francisco,) the administration in the United States of the Restric-
tion Acts of 1882 and 1884.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

J. A. CHAPLEAU.
OUawtt, February 21st, 1885.

THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER GRAY'S REPORT.

i^ESFEOTiisra-

Chinese Immigration

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

To His ExaUencii the Governor-General, in Council :

The Commissioners appointed to enquire into and report upon the "subject of
Chinese immigration, its trade relations, as well as the social and moral objections
taken to the influx of the Chinese people into Canada," having during the progress
of the work found that it would conduce to a more exhaustive examination and
study of the subject to divide their report, I have the honor to transmit my obser-
vations upon that branch wliich fell more particularly to myself.
I have the honour to be,

Your obedient servant,

JOHN HAMILTON GRAY,

Commissioner.
Ottawa, Februarv lilst, ISSo.

ERRATA.

31—" equally."

45 — (erase) " cash."

45_" their."

48 — (erase) "recommended by Chinese.''

60 — add " opposite Colonel Bees' evidence, page 20,

see also Dr. Stout's evidence, 311," — in

in marginal note.
66 — add opposite 23rd line, " see also Dr. Stout's

evidence, 310.
70 — " labor,'' not laborer.
83— Text, 24th line, " is," not his.
84—" 62 and 63," not 33.
96—" Hertzlell."

THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER GRAY'S REPORT.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.

CHAPTER I.

MATERIAL AND PECUNIAEY ASPECT.

We must now come to the evidence gathered in British Columbia, and British Columbia,
•with reference to this evidence there are two aspects in which it is to be
regarded.

1st. Material and Pecuniary. Aspects ist and

2nd. Moral and Social. 2nd.

It is set forth in the Petition from the Legislature of British Columbia
■which originated this Commission, that the Chinese " class of the popula-
tion of the Province has been a continual source of expense — especially in
matters connected with the administration of justice." "In the evasion of Statements in
taxation. In leaving their sick and destitute to perish and being in every Petition-
walk of life an expensive and objectionable class of inhabitants " and " by
their presence materially affecting the immigration of a white population."

These are most material and important allegations and if established
would fairly demand from the Dominion Parliament, within whose juris-
•diction this question comes — the most drastic legislation.

It cannot be presumed that the Legislature of British Columbia as
representing its people, made these allegations, without having enquired Presumptions,
into the facts, and obtained sufficient proof to warrant these assertions, to
the satisfaction of ordinarily intelligent men ; nay more, when these facts
are stated to a Parliament composed of men representing the various in- Parliament,
terests of many divergent Provinces which would be affected by the
Legislation asked to be adopted, it was incumbent on the Legislature of
British Columbia to lay before that Parliament and its members sufficient
evidence to warrant a departure from the ordinary policy of the Dominion, Policy.
and to enable its members to defend before their several constituencies a
line of action, which however asserted to be beneficial to British Columbia
would be inconsistent with that policy and might injuriously affect the
welfare of the whole Dominion. It cannot be admitted that so little
knowledge of Constitutional Government there prevails as to suppose,
that the mere statement of the Representatives in Parliament from that
Province, would justify the passing of measures affecting the whole Assumption.
Dominion, and apparently in contravention of the Treaties of the Empire,
when the numerical proportion of that representation was simply as 6 to Numerical
205. It was not therefore unreasonable to ask for proof. The Legislature proportion.
of British Columbia not having laid such proof before the Parliament, the
Commission was issued to obtain it.

It must therefore be assumed that sitting by virtue of the Royal
Authority in British Columbia, and haviag invited this evidence from the
Legislature and people of the Province, all the proof that could be Extent of proof.
obtained was brought before the Commission.

It is that proof so produced which it is now proposed to analyse, as ^^^^^'^ "^ ^- *^-
hearing upon the statements made in the petition of the Legislature pf
British Columbia.

Return from Col-
lector of Customs
»t Victoria, B. C.

We find from a return made by the collector of Customs at Victoria,
under requisition from the Commission, dated 11th of August 1884 : that
for ten years commencing with the year ending 30th June, 1874, and
terminating 30th June, 1884, there was a marked increase m the value
and amount of duty on goods imported from China into the Province, and
entered for consumption. Previous to 1874, no returns are given.

That increase is thus shown : —

Provincial trade
with China.

1874

$ 6,064

$ 174.47

1875

1,277

194.60

1876

5,481

1,994.85

1877

20,711

8,392.48

1878

81,345

22,940.23

1879

121,976

30,410.78

1880

44,936

14,186.25

1881

127,852

39,204.48

1882

240,170

78,433.65

1883

326,289

104,738.66

1884

393,728

111,300.15

$1,369,779

$411,970.60

Importations by
Chmese Arms.

Duties paid 1883,
11.1-5 per cent.

1884. 12-54 per cent.

Current year.
25 per cent.

Resume.

Prospective
returns for cur-
rent fiscal year.

Total arrival of
passengers f orj
ei^ht years.

This Return embraces the imports from China entered for consumption
generally, and the duties paid by importers generally. A second Return
shows of these total amounts what proportions were entered and duties,
paid on, directly by the Chiaese firms or traders themselves. Taking
the fiscal years terminating in June. 1883 and 1884 as the latest
iUustrations :

In the fiscal year from July 1st, 1882, to June 30th, 1883, the amount
of duty so paid by the Chinese firms was $87,459, out of a total revenue
of 1798,604.67, or at the rate of 11 1-5 per cent.

In the year from the 1st July, 1883, to 30th June, 1884, the amount
of duty so paid was $99,779.75, out of a total revenue of $790,676, or at
the rate of 12-54 per cent.

The monthly return for the first month of the present fiscal year, from
the 1st of July, 1884, to the 1st of August, shows amount of duty so paid
by the Chinese firms, $19,319.71, out of a total of $77,208, or at the rate
of 25 per cent.

Thus we find that, during the last ten years, the Chinese trade in
British Columbia has contributed to the general revenue of the Dominion
the sum of $411,970.60, or nearly half a million, and of that amount in
the last two years the trade has so increased that the duties paid by the
Chinese importers alone have amounted to $187,238, or at the rate of
nearly 12 per cent, of the total revenue collected from Customs in the
Province, and, assuming the return given by the Collector for the month
of July, 1884, as an average for the fiscal year terminating on 30th June,
1885, the total amount paid by the Chinese importers alone for the cur-
rent fiscal year would be $231,836.52, or at the rate of 25 per cent,
assuming the total increase of revenue to be in relative proportion.

Later returns from the Collector for the months of August and Septem-
ber, 1884, give for the former $9,267.08, for the latter 9,753.91, or for
the first quarter of the current fiscal year, $38,340.62, or at the rate of
$153,362.48 for the year.

From the same Collector we have returns of the number of passengers
entering the port of Victoria during the last eight years. (It may here be
stated that up to this time the great bulk of arrivals has been at that

port.) Of those passengers coming from the ports on Puget Sound and San

Francisco we have, during the four fiscal years 1881, 1882, 1883 and

1884, a total of white passengers of 27,256, and of Chinese from the same White 27.256.

ports and also direct from China a total of 15,701. — An examination in of Chinese immi-

detail of these returns will show that of the Chinese so coming into the sration I5.70i.

Province more than half came in the years 1882 and 1883, when the

demand for labor for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway

was at its height.

The total number of Chinese arrivals for the five preoeeding years :
1876, 1877, 1878, 1879 and 1880, only amounted to 2,326, making the
entire number for the eight years 18,027. It will be observed no memo-
randum of returning or out-going passengers, white or Chinese, is given ;
and no death-rate of the Chinese in the province.

Prom the Collectoi' of Inland Revenne we have the following Excise revenue,
returns :

1st. Statement of excise revenue received from European cigar manufacturers
for the fiscal year commencing 1st July 1883 and ending 30th June 1884,
and for the three months commencing 1st July and ending 30th Sep-
tember 1884.

Eeceived from 1st July 1883 \ duty on cigars. . . $ 5,682.70
ending 30th June 1884. /licences 300.00

$ 5,982.70

Three months ending 30th \ duty on cigars.... $ 1,252.12
September 1884. jUcences 300.00

S 1 552.12
Victoria, October 14th, 1884.

2nd. Statement of revenue collected from Chinese manufacturers in British
Columbia for the fiscal year ending the 30th June 1884, and for three
months ending the 30th September 1884.

Fiscal year ending 30th "(duty on cigars $ 1,581.75

.Tune 1884. /licences 150.00

$ 1,731.75

Three months ending 30th \ duty on cigars $ 529.53

September 1884. / licences 150.00

$ 679.53
Victoria, B.C., October 14th, 1884.

These returns suggest two points hereafter for consideration.

1st. The question of benefit or burden as bearing upon the general Questions,
revenue and trade of the Dominion.

2nd. Whether if Chinese immigration into British Columbia and Can- vVTiether normal
ada be an evil, it is an evil normal, or exceptional only, dependent upon or exceptional,
circumstances ; in one case requiring stringent legislation to correct it, in
the other correcting itself by the exhaustion of the causes which created
it.

In answer to a request from the Commission to the Provincial Govern- payment of
ment of British Columbia for a return of the Provincial taxes paid by the yon^y'chine'^*"
Chinese throughout the province, a return was made only of the taxes
paid in the city of Victoria, and the Victoria and Esquimalt districts for
the two years from the 1st January, 1882, to 31st December, 1882, from

VI

Increase ratio.

Mnnicipal Taxa-
tion at Victoria.

Jaauary, 1883, to December, 1883, and the half year from January, 1884,.
to July 1st, 1884, as follows : —

1882 572 at $3 per capita..

1883 102 "

1884 half-year, 1,040 "

$1,716 00
3,306 .00
3,120 00

Here it will be observed, that the amounts paid in these two districts
alone were in an increased ratio, more than doubling itself each year.

It is to be regretted, that the returns for the rest of the Province
were not made, as in estimating in a pecuniary point of view, whether a
matter be one of profit or loss, it is difficult to decide, where such evidence
is not supplied.

By a return from Thomas Russell, Esq., the Treasurer and Accountant
of the city of Victoria, we find the taxes paid by the Chinese residents in
the City of Victoria, for 6ve years, from 1st of January, 1879, to 31st of
December, 1883, classified under four different heads: of trades' licenses,
water rents, road tax, and real estate tax, as follows :

In 1879 $5,827 00

1880 6,191 00

1881 6,562 00

1882 7,712 oO

1883 8,414 00

Indications.

Expense to
Administration of
Justice.

Report of the
Minister of
Finance.

accompanied with the following observations : —

" The road tax is approximate, having been based upon the income of
one year for an average.

" The amount under head of real estate tax is small. This is owing to
" the fact that there are only four who own real estate in the city, but
" several of the leading firms have erected this year substantial buildings
" on leasehold property, upon which in future under the terms of their
" leases they will have to pay the real estate tax."

These returns indicate an increasing investment of their productive
labor by the Chinese in the business and property . of the country both
real and personal ; or, secondly, a clearly improved mode of getting over
their alleged habit of evading the payment of taxes.

To a request from the Commission to the Provincial Government for a
return of the expense to the administration of justice caused by the pres-
ence of the Chinese in the Province, the attorney general regretted his
inability to supply it, but by an examination of the public accounts for
the half year from 1st July to 31st December 1882, we find a statement
given in detail, which in the absence of other information may presumably
be taken as an average.

It is the report of the Provincial Minister of Finance, dated 28th Feb-
ruary, 1883, laid before the Government and Local Assembly, duly audited
and classified under diflferent heads, in the ordinary and customary mode
of such official documents when prepared for the information of Parliament
and the people.

We find the total amount for the administration of justice (other than
salaries) to be $8,857.84 including jury fees, witness expenses, meals and
the other incidentals attendant on the trial of criminals.

This report gives in detail the different causes by name, in which the
expenses are incurred, showing in detail how they are incurred and the
total amount in each particular prosecution, from the constables' fees to
the jury's dinner, with some general charges to a small amount which may

fairly be equally distributed among the different classes, Chinese, Indians
and whites.

The amounts so given in detail as far as an analysis of this report will Exponaea of pro-
permit, as specially incurred in prosecutions against the Chinese are
$686.65; in prosecutions against the Indians $575; and in prosecution
against white men $922.85,

As bearing on this same branch of the question we have a return from Police reports as
the superintendant of police of the city of Victoria of the number of cases, bera.
whites, Indians and Chinese, before the police court for five and a half
years from January 1st, 1879 to June 30th 1884, as follows :

Year. Whites. Indians. Chinese.

1879 291 255 75

1880 295 233 69

1881 354 194 24

1882 375 211 53

1883 ." 394 217 43

1884 305 153 32

2,014 1,263 296

(Note : 111 the enumeration of whites are included all others than
Chinese and Indians).

Also a return from the Warden of the Penitentiary at New West- Penitentiaiy
minster of the number of convicts sentenced by the Supreme Court from returns.
the 1st January, 1880, to the 30th June, 1884, 3J years, classified accord-
ing to race, from which it appears that out of 125 coiavicts during that
period 40 were Chinese.

These reports do not, therefore, indicate that the Chinese as a class Result.
are any greater burden upon the administration of justice than the
other classes of the community, or that the expenses relative thereto
caused by their presence in the Province are out of proportion to the
taxes they pay as compared which such other classes.

As bearing on this same point, the material or pecuniary aspect of the
question, we must now examine a very carefully prepared document
submitted on behalf of the Chinese merchants carrying on business in Report of Chinese-
British Columbia, in answer to the enquiries made to them by the Com- merchants,
missioners, a mode of obtaining information recommended by Mr. De
Cosmos, member of Parliament from British Columbia, as Chairman of a
Committee of the House of Commons appointed in 1879 to inquire into
this ■subject, the Report of which Committee with the evidence taken
before it will be hereinafter mo.ie particularly referred to.

This document was prepared and is signed by " Huang Sic Chen," a
Chinese gentleman sent on from San Francisco -by the Chinese Consulate
to communicate with his countrymen and lay their case before the Com-
missioners.

It will be found in full in the Appendix.

Of it, it is proposed to examine at present only those parts bearing on
this material aspect, leaving for further consideration its other parts bear-
ing on the social and moral aspect.

It displays an order and methodical arrangement not nnworthy of our
higher civilization, and supplies much of the information hoped for and
expected from the local authorities in British Columbia.

Apart from its credibility which the examination induces, it may be Reputation in
observed that according to the information obtained by the Commis- flnanoMd^ea^mpsi-
sioners from the banking institutions and leading business firms in San tutionsinSan
Francisco and Victoria, the higher classes of the Chinese are remarkable ^^X"^™'*"'^

See Brook's Bv.
in San Francisco,
p. 31 and 32.

Contracts.

'Taxation or non-
voluntary pay-
ment.

Ruling idea.

Numbers and
occupations of
Chinese in tin-
Province.

Chinese registra-
tion system.

Laborers.

Non-interference
with sl^illed labor.

Other employ-
ments.

Financial state-
ment.

Trade.

for probity and accuracy in all business transactions, and the dealings <rf'
their mercantile firms are carried on with strict honor and integrity. In-
San Francisco, where all payments by and at the banks are made in gold,
they are found to be most reliable.

Among the laboring or working classes, while they will haggle on the
terms of a contract, yet when a contract is closed, it is always carried
out strictly according to the terms agreed upon, and payment on per-
formance exacted to the uttermost farthing. At the same time all pay-
ments demanded from the Chinese to which they have not previously
given their assent, whether in the shape of taxation provincial, municipal
or otherwise, or contributions for any piirpose, will be resisted by every
means, artifice and device, whether truthful or untruthful, which their
ingenuity can suggest, or which in their belief or expectation will enable
them to avoid the payment of such demand. The ruling idea of their
transactions, seems to be faith in an agreement only, or in a voluntary
contribution.

This report gives the total numbers of Chinese in the Province at the
time of its transmission, (September 1884) including men, women and
children 10,550. The Collector of customs assumed the number to be
about 13,000, while the general opinion as expressed places it at 15,000.
It will be remembered that by the Returns of the Collector of Customs,
the incoming numbers during the eight years were about 18,000, fluctuat-
ing from small numbers during the first five years, to large numbers
during the last three years, but from no authority, either Dominion,
Provincial oi- municipal in British Columbia, has any return been attain-
able of the outgoing numbers or the death rate during these eight years.
The outgoing numbers during the first five yeai\s previous to the active
commencement of the railway works, and during the last three with the
death rate, niay perhaps approximately account for the difierence be-
tween the Chinese return, the estimate of the collector, and the general
public estimate of the numbers at present in the Province.

The Report so presented on behalf of the Chinese merchants gives the
numbers an 1 occupations in detail, at all the cities, towns, and centres of
business in the Province, commencing with Victoria and going on
through New- Westminster, Nanaimo, the coal and mining districts, the
farming and canning districts, and wherever so far as known the Chinese
are to be found.

It evinces a system of registration among themselves and a facility for
obtaining information much to be commended.

An analysi.s of these figures show.s the total adult male population, to
be about 9,870, and of this number about 7,200 to be engaged, as railroad,
milling, mining, farming, And canning laborers throughout the Province,
in no way except in one instance where in the City of Victoria 130 are
employed as boot-makers, interfering with skilled labor, the employment
of mechanics, or special industrial pursuits.

How far these several industries, milling, mining, canning, and railroad
construction could have beep carried on without this source of labor
supply, will hereafter be considered. The remaining 2,670, are classified
as finding employment as cooks, servants, washing men, merchants, store
employees ifec, and also in other personal avocations, among their own
country-men, barbers, doctors, butchers, &c.

A still more important element in this Report is the financial state-
ment of their positiozi.

From this it appears that the total amount of business done by the
Chinese merchants in British Columbia ann-iMlly is about $1,320,000, and

IX

the duties paid to the Dominion authorities for Customs and internal
revenue amount to $152,300, namely, $150,000 duties, and $2,300, Inland Revenue,
revenue. The amount of $150,000, exceeds that given by the Collector
of Customs for the past fiscal year, but would be within the amount for
the current fiscal year, taking the first months payment as an average :
or closely coinciding with it, taking the quarter. That the trade done i^\'he"pro yfneg
by them with China, Japan and the United States amounts to $500,000,
while that with the white merchants in British Columbia alone amounts
to $400,000. That the approximate amount paid for freightage and '^o'^ toils.
drayage comes to $26,000. And for road tolls in the interior of British
Columbia to $13,000. That the value of real estate owned by the
Chinese throughout British Columbia is estimated by them at $100,000.
That at the city of Victoria alone the payment of postage and telegraph-
ing is $3,000, exclusive of such payments elsewhere in the Province. That
the sums paid in salaries and expenditures of living by the Chinese
merchants amount to $141,000 yearly.

With reference to the City of Victoria alone, it is stated that the S'^^ictoria" *^"^
rents paid by the Chinese to the white owners of property amount an-
nually to $27,000 : for rents on 730 acres of cultivated ground and Rents in vicinity,
charcoal places in the vicinity to $6,180, (or a total of $33,180) for gas,
$1,770 ; for premiums of insurance on buildiags and merchandise, $2,560 ;
for interest to white people on borrowed cash $8,400, or a total of $45,910,
for rents, interest, gas, and insurance.

To the City of Victoria in its municipal or corporate capacity.

For trade licenses $7,560 Municipal taxes.

Assessment on Real Estate 500

To city revenue and taxes 1,100

For water rates 4,440

Or a total of. $13,600

The value of brick and frame buildings owned by the Chinese in ^^"rame bSSd-
Victoria is estimated at $81,000, of which $70,000, has been expended in ings.
the last fourteen months.

In this return of the amount paid for city taxes a marked discrepancy
will be observed between it and that given at page (7) by Mr. Russell the
treasurer for the city of Victoria.

The attention of both parties was immediately called by the commis- be't^eln^retums.
sioners by letter of 26th September to this difference, and an explanation
requested. A reply from the secretary of the Chinese merchants, Huan
Sic Chen, under date of 14th of October was received on the 24th and is
as follows : —

" Impekial Chinese Consulate General. "

" San Fbancisco, October Uth, 1884.

" To N. Flood Davin, Esq.,

" Chinese Commission, Ottawa.

" SiR^ — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Explanation by
" September 26th, in which you desire me to explain certain disorepan- tary!™^
" cies as between my statement and that of Mr. Russell, collector of
" taxes at Victoria, B. C.

" In reply, I beg to state that in obtaining the facts act forth in my;
" report to you I visited each firm and compiled the items from the
" books of the Chinese firms. But, I presume, the difierence of the-
■" amounts of taxes as given by the eollector is this ; that during this.

" year, since April and May (1884), there have been ten new firms

" established in Victoria, and the amounts of taxes paid for their new

" licenses have been entered in their books as accounts for the year 1884.

" That my report embraced payments made up to August, 1884, while

" that of the collector was for the year 1883.

U opium Ucenses " I beg also to call the attention of the Commission that at the time

^iSbUcenJes'It ^^on I compiled the items, I found that there were issued to the Chinese

»a) each, 16100. fiyjjjs for the year 1884, eleven opium licenses at $500 each, and twelve

spirit licenses at $50 each, which amounts would give a difference of

$6,100.

" All the items set forth in my report were shown from the books,
vouchers, and receipts of the firms. When you will see the returns of the-
coUector for the year 1884, there can be no question that my statements
are verified.

" I trust, however, that the discrepancies between my report and that
of the collector are owing to the different dates — 188.S and 1884."

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

HuANo Sic Chen,

Secrffary.
No explanation by No reply has been received from Mr. Russell.

Victoria. ^^^'^° To this same return are added two other important statements in rela-
tion to trade.
Nature and First, of the nature of the goods imported by the Chinese merchants

importaHons from China, Japan, and the United States.

Second, of the nature of the goods purchased by Chinese merchants in
British Columbia and sold to the Chinese in the province.

1st. Rice, tea, oil, liquors, tobacco, dry goods, chinaware, drugs, silk
goods, paper ware, books and stationery, matting, clothes, shoes-opimn,
Joss-paper and sticks.-

2nd. Cloth goods, woolen, linen, cloth caps, boots, stockings, furs, kerosine
oil, candles, matches, papers, soaps, tobacco, cigars, sugar, flour, rice, sweet
meats, salt, pigs, lard, beef, butter, fish, fowls, wines, ducks, nails, tools,
plates, horses, carriages, waggons, watches, rope, tennis, lamps, fuels, coal,
hard and iron ware, glass and crockery, wooden ware, &c.
Same as m-dinary Thus with one single exception of the Joss-paper and Joss sticks, we
Sthere™^""" ''^ find the goods imported by them and bought by them from the ' British
Columbia merchants are the ordinary goods used and consumed by the
people of all classes and countries resident in the province without dis-
tinction increasing the demand and supply in proportion to their numbers,
swelling the ordinary volume of trade without reference to race, or place
of manufacture, and contributing so far as an increase of trade goes to
the general advancement and business of the country and of the city of
Victoria in particular.

As bearing on this point, it is well to note the co-relevant testimony
given in San Francisco, by the Chinese consul, Huang Tsun Hsien, page
40.

"Q. What proportion of the food and clothing of the Chinese in this city
comes from China ? — A. Ninety per cent, of the material (clothing) worn
by the Chinese is of American manufacture. No food, except a few of
choice eatables are imported. Rice was largely imported last year over
41,000,000 pounds which paid a duty of 2 J cents per pound. It is charged
that the Chinese work cheap, because they live upon rice. Let me call
your attention to the fact that rice costs by the quantity $6 per 100'
pounds, while flour from wheat i.s only $2.50 per 100 pounds. "

XI

There is also another statement prepared, it must be assumed to meet Withdrawal of
the charge, that the Chinese carry the earnings of their labor in large Pre'rince. °™
amounts to their own country. It gives the per contra of the account,
showing the individual Chinese laborer's annual expenses as against his
profits. This is with reference to the laborer alone. Placing his earnings
at |25 per month, or $300 a year, it deducts his expenses at $257, and
leaves an annual gain to him of $45.

The British Columbia statement in detail will be found in the Appendix.

See Broooks testimony at San Francisco, page 29, where this annual
gain as remitted to China is estimated at $30.

There are one or two principles involved in the consideration of this Principles,
part of the question. First, if a man earns his money honestly he has a
right to carry it where he pleases. Secondly, it must be presumed that
his labor has benefited the country to the extent of his service, or he
would not have been paid. He leaves his labor and he takes his earnings.
Thirdly, in this respect the Chinese do not difi'er from the rest of the
trading portion of mankind. Half the merchants in Victoria look forward
to taking their earnings as soon as they deem they have realized sufiicient
to the old country to live on.

It is a common custom with the English speaking race wherever they Common custom,
go as business men. In China they do exactly what the Chinaman is
accused of doing in British Columbia. It is their predominant idea, and
it is only when by their treatment in the foreign country, becoming natur-
alized and acquiring the local right to intervene in its management, their
accumulation of property which will be benefited by their remaining,
their own personal self interest, and their being put on an equality in
every respect as to legal rights with the most favored in the land, that
English residents entirely abandon the idea of leaving.

By Provincial Legislation in British Columbia and the general hosti- Exclusion,
lity evinced towards them, the Chinese are practically prohibited from
becoming attached to the country. They are made, so far as Provincial
Legislation can go, perpetual aliens, and with the Indians are by positive
terms denied the political and municipal franchises attached to property
and person, conceded to other British subjects, born or naturalized, when
of sufiicient age to exercise them.

Of these men doing business in the Province to $1,300,000 a year, con-
tributing largely to the Dominion revenue, permitted by Dominion
legislation to be naturalized and become British subjects, not one how-
ever respectable in character, well informed, or law abiding, however
contributing to the public and municipal revenues by payment of Domi-
nion, Provincial and Local taxation, is permitted to take any part in the
consideration of the public welfare. It is but human nature under the
circumstances to take their earnings from the place. What Englishmen
do it hardly becomes Englishmen to object to in others. There is no
estimate however of the actual amount in gold the Chinese really take
out of the country, nor any approximation made thereto.

Their own views on this point may be gathered from the answer of
Huang Tsun Hsien, page 41.

Q. Have you any further information to impart ? — A. " I would like to
say this. That it is charged that the Chinese do not emigrate to foreign
countries to remain, but only to earn a sum of money and return to their
homes in China. It is only about thirty years since our people commenced
emigrating to other lands. A large number have gone to the Straits
Settlements, Manilla, Cochin-China and the West India Islands, and are
permanently settled there with their families. In Cuba, fully seventy-

Charges of deser-
tion of sick not
sustained.

Attorney General.

five per cent, have married native women, and adopted those Islands as
their future homes. Many of those living in the Sandwich Islands have
done the same. This of course depends wholly upon their treatment in any
country they emigrate to. As a matter of fact they do not assimilate as
readily as the German, Irish, English and other European immigrants
who come here, as their civilization is so widely different from that of
China. There is quite a large number of foreigners in China, but few oi
whom have brought their families, and the number is very small indeed
who have adopted that country as their future home. You must recollect
that the Chinese immigrants coming to this country are denied all the rights
and privileges extended to others in the way of citizenship ; the laws
compel them to remain aliens. I know a great many Chinese will be glad
to remain here permanently with their families, if they are allowed to be
naturalized and can enjoy privileges and rights."

In this same phase of the question comes the statement " that their
sick and destitute are left to perish uncared for and in every walk of life
they prove themselves to be an expensive and objectionable class of
inhabitants."

This statement must have been put into the Petition through inadver-
tence. In the course of the enquiry — not only was no proof given that any
expense had ever been incurred by the Province or the City of Victoria,
City of New-Westminster or any of the Municipalities, for sick and
destitute Chinese, — but the Attorney General in his examination in
answer to a direct enquiry to that effect said " we have not had to
Mr. Robert Ward, support Chinese emigrants " and Mr. Robert Ward one of the leading
merchants of Victoria to whom most of the ships bringing Chinese Immi-
grants were consigned, states in answer to the question put to him on
that point : " the majority of emigrants from China consists of laborers
from 18 to 40 years of age," in 1882 my firm had between 5,000 and
(i.OOO ChineKe emigrants consigned to them from Hong Kong ; these men
Health on arrhai. were under engagement to the contractor of the Pacific Railroad and
arrived in ten different vessels, each ship carried one or more surgeons as
required by the Government regulations in Hong Kong and these surgeons
each reported to me favorably on the health of these passengers. Probably
not over eight men out of the numbev.s I have given died at sea, the men
were landed on arrival and at once dispatched to the interior to the dif-
ferent parts of railroad construction."'

In answer to the direct enquiry : " Have you any system of public
fund relief, and do they often become a burden on that fund or upon the
private charity of white citizens ? " the answer was : " None excepting
benevolent societies, and I have never heard of a Chinese resident having
received relief from any of such societies." The Attorney-General men-
tioned but one instance where a charge had been made, namely, of the
abandonment of the sick and destitute, but in that case it was shown that
the charge had been investigated in the Supreme Court, was not sustained,
and the defendant had been immediately acquitted by the jury.

But this phase of the case cannot be dismissed without a reference to
the extent of the Imperial and Canadian trade with China. Its magni-
tude far exceeds the contemplation of the promoters of this movement,
and must have escaped their consideration. An American writer, in
1877, in contrasting the trade of his own country with China with that
of Great Britam, makes the following observations :

" England has the largest share of the trade of China ; she took the
lead when the country was opened to commerce, and has managed to,
maintain it. The entrances and clearance of British steamers at Sanghai

Unsnstained
charge.

Bflglish trade.

XIII

for a recent year were 1,029, and of American ships for the same period
821. Of sailing vessels there were 414 British entrances against 211
American. The total of steamers and sailing vessels were 1,443 British,
and 1,032 American, the former with an aggregate of 1,087,605 tons, and
the latter with 697,283 tons. The average tonnage perhaps is greater for
British than for American commerce, as one can readily perceive by
analysis of the above figures. For the year under consideration (for
' freight imports at Shanghai other than specie) Great Britain is put down
for 20,790,000 taels, India for 16,613,000, Singapore and the Straits for
518,000, Australia for 488,000."

A tael is worth |1,33|^, therefore by the simple process of adding one- ^ f**'!.
third we have the actual amount in dollars as follows : —

Great Britain 20,790,000 + 6,930,000 = $27,720,000

India 16,613,000 + 5,537,666 = 22,150,666

Singapore 518,000 + 172,666 = 690,666

Australia 488,000+ 162,666= 650,666

Total $51,211,998

For Great Britain and three of her possessions $51,211,998 at one Canadian trade
port alone in China in one year. ^'"' '^^'''^■

The Canadian trade with China and Japan, as returned by the Com-
missioner of Customs, shows a striking increase, having nearly quadrupled
itself in five years. It is as follows : —

Statement of the value of goods imported from and exported to China and
Japan by the Dominion of Canada during each year from 1879 to 1884,
inclusive :

CHINA AND JAPAN

Year.

Imported.

Exported.

Total aggregate
trade.

Ig79

$ 448,962
893,911
1,410,973
1,529,042
1,645,254
1,909,562

$ 56,551

37,546

19,761

106,675

105,388

60,979

$ 505,513

1880

931,457

1881

1,430,784

1882

1,635,717

1883

1,750,642

1884

1,970,541

J. JOHNSON,
Commisinoner of Customs.
Customs Department, Ottawa, Oct 25, 1884.

Thus we see that the aggregate of Canadian trade with China and
Japan for the year 1884 alone amounted to $1,970,541, of which $1,848,-
587 paid duty to the Dominion revenue and contributed to the finances
of Canada — being upon tea, rice, etc., necessaries of life which could not
be raised or grown in Canada.

All of these statistics will have to be regarded as bearing upon the
general propositions hereinafter to be laid down.

Industries
developed.

Salmon canneries.

Talne.

"Vegetable
.gardening.

CHAPTER II.

DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

With reference to the influence of their presence on the development of
the Province it may safely be said that there are several industries that
would not have succeeded— perhaps it might be said undertaken— if it
had not been for the opportunity of obtaining their labor.

The value of the canned salmon put up for exportation and consump-
tion in British Columbia amounted in

1879 to *^?^'?f?-^o

loontn 450,781.52

3*0 ■■.;.■.';:: 1,142,288.00

1882 to:::::.".'.".::;::;:'. 1,458,98200

These returns are severally taken from the Canadian Almanack for the
years 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1884. Mr. Anderson, the Official Inspector
of Fisheries for British Columbia, in his return to the Minister of Marine
and Fisheries dated 11th January, 1882 (page 20), gives the yield and
value somewhat difierently, namely, for

1880 $ 713,335.32

1881 1,454,321.26

1882, in his report dated 20th February, 1883. 1,402,835.50

1883, report dated 15th Feb. 1884 1,079,606.00

The falling off in the last year being due to a periodical fluctuation
every five years of the number of the salmon entering the Fraser River,
or, as he expresses it, "a purely natural and explicable cause."

But even at the lowest of these statements the industry is most impor-
tant, and it may safely be affirmed could not have been prosecuted
without the aid of Chinese labor, as shown in the testimony of several of
the leading firms carrying on that business on the Fraser River.

The Commissioners would here observe that they have not deemed it
necessary to make extracts from the evidence taken before themselves in
British Columbia, as copiously as they will be found in the following
chapter to have been made from the evidence before the Committee of
the House of Commons in 1879 — the former being printed in full in this
report and submitted with it can be referred to with much greater facility
than the latter, which is only to be found in the Sessional papers of the
House five years ago, aud therefore not so readily at the command of the
public or those now interested in this question.

Vegetable Gardening is another industry which also may be said to
owe its existence in British Columbia, in a great extent — to them — and
of which they now practically have the control. — The profits from it up
to this period have not been sufficient to operate as inducement to white-
labor — with the present number of the white population — and the more
productive pursuits that are open to that class. — At the same time it is
shown in the evidence — that even as to that industry — if content with
reasonable and moderate profits, it could be successfully carried on by the
whites, and from the known preference which exists throughout the whole
Province in favor of white labor and the products from it, and the dislike
against the Chinese and their modes of cultivation — the Chinese them-
selves could soon be driven from the field.

It admits of no question that without their labor, the construction and

XV

completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway would have been indefinitely Canadian Paoiflc
postponed. Railway.

What effect the construction of this Road will have upon the imme-
diate further development and settlement of the Province may be judged
from its effect upon the Northwest Territories, and will hereafter be
referred to.

It has been strongly urged however, that white immigration has been Effect upon white
deterred from coming into the Province from a disinclination, to compete immigration,
with Chinese labor.

The evidence shows that this has not been so to any material extent, causes,
if at all. Other causes have been mainly instrumental to that end.

1st. The very great expense of reaching British Columbia from the Expense,
great sources of labor supply.

2nd. That ia coming to British Columbia from Europe, the British Deterring induoe-
Isles, and the Eastern parts of America, emigrants had to pass princi- men's-
pally through the United States, where greater inducements and better
prospects were held out to them to remain, and where the field of labor
was quite as large and quite as productive.

3rd. That from about 1864, after the first collapse, as it might be
termed, of the great Mining expectations formed of British Columbia,
and the consequent departure of large numbers who had come into
the Province in 1858, up to and until about 1877, people abroad. Uncertainty as to
and people in the Province had very little confidence in its future. There ?"',«££ ?| ^- ^- "P
was a long period of depression, of little enterprise, and great shrinkage
of values, its history was a succession of disappointments, and very many
left it to better themselves elsewhere. The lands for settlement, both on
the Island and the Mainland, were locked up by the twenty mile belt
concession to the Dominion Government, granted as a consideration or
inducement for the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, of
which the construction itself up to 1877 or 1878, was most uncertain
and a source of continued conflict between the Dominion and Provincial
Governments. When properly analyzed and understood, it will be found
that these several causes had more to do with preventing white settlers
coming into the country, than any fear or dislike of the Chinese, to Chinese competi-
which might be added the fact, that of the resources of British Columbia as a prCTentivef
very little was known abroad, or even in Canada, of which it forms an
important part.

This conclusion is materially strengthened by the fact that immigrants
are now coming into the Province in large numbers though the Chinese
are there in greater numbers than ever before, and engaged in almost all
the pursuits requiring manual and unskilled labor.

A return from the immigrant agent at New Westminster, under date of Emigrants in one
the 18th August, 1884, states: — ': The number of immigrants settled on the District in one
" mainland since the opening of the railway belt in June, 1883, a little Juneils^and
" over twelve months, is 3,795 persons, Out of this number, 3,295 have June 1884, 3795,
" settled in the New Westminster district; 590 have settled chiefly in
•' Shuswhap, Okanagan, SpUmacheen and Kamloops country." He
iurther remarks that " they are all a very desirous class of settlers, and
" with considerable means."

It may be well questioned whether a single iudustrious bond, jiM
intending white settler was ever prevented from coming to British
Columbia from fear of Chinese competition alone : some other cause pre-
vented ; and, as was well known and repeatedly and publicly stated, the
inability of obtaining proper land for settlement, or even information as
to when or where it could be obtained, was, up to 1883, the principal

Coal Mining.

RobinB Vancou-
Ter Coal Co.

Chinese welcome.

Not withdrawn.

Development.

Good wages for
white labor.

Numbers.

Dunsmuir
Wellington coal
mines.

•an-a main reason. The dislike of Chinese competition is an objection Of
later growth, and pertains more to the class of daily laborers than agri-
cultural settlers.

> Of the other great source of productive industry of the Province, coal
mining, a return from the collector of customs dated 5th November, 1884,
shows that for the three proceeding financial years, the quantity and value-
exported was as follows : —

Year ending 30th June, 1882
1883
1884

Tons
210,556
193,485
218,856

Value

$713,147

674,208

766,018

Chinese had con-
tributed to de-
Telopment of
country.

622,897 $2,153,373

The bearing the presence of the Chinese has hitherto had upon this,
particular industry, may be gathered from the observations of the mana-
gers of two great companies, the Vancouver and the Wellington.

In answers to enquiries as to the efiect of their presence when first they
came into the Province, and its subsequent development, Mr. Robins,
Superintendent of the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company (limited)
says : —

" When the Chinese first came to this province they no doubt supplied
a want then felt, and their coming was encouraged and welcomed, espe-
cially I may add by the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company
(limited), which I represent; but the laboring population were always-
strongly averse to their introduction. At the time of their coming here
my company had been suflfering from a strike of the white laborers, and
we accepted the Chinese as a weapon with which to settle the dispute.
With a little more trouble we might, I think, have obtained Indians to
answer our purpose equally well."

" The encouragement given to the Chinese by employers of labor has
not been withdrawn up to the present time, whilst the anti-Chinese feeling
seems to have grown stronger every year."

". The presence of the Chinese has no doubt contributed, to the develop-
ment of the Province."

" White people can now find remunerative employment. In fact, wages
are high enough to attract the best class of white labor. Of nearly 400
white laborers employed by my company not one earns less than |2 a day."

And in a subsequent statement he says his company employs over 390
white miners and laborers, and about 1 .50 Chinese. The latter earn from
$1 to $1.25 per day.

Mr. Dunsmuir, the proprietor of the Wellington mines, to similar
enquiries, speaking after a residence of thirty-two years, says : " he now
has in his employ 700 or 800 whites and Chinese — the former do the
skilled labor, the latter the manual work. The condition of the labor
market before the Chinese began to arrive in this Province was that few
laborers were required of any kind, as very little work was being prosecu-
ted either upon this Island or upon the Mainland. The limited amount of
work was, at one time, performed by Indians, who, with few exceptions,
could not be depended upon for more than a month at a time. White
labor was tried under ground and at a high rate of wages, but it was diffi-
cult to obtain that labor. Their places to-day, to a great extent, are filled
by Chinese. Domestic servants in those days were not much needed, and
there was very little demand for ordinary white labor.

" The immigration of Chinese has, I consider, materially aided the gen-
eral development of the country, from the fact that they have assisted in

pushing to completion the public works undertaken, and could always be
depended upon as a labor power. They have, morever, pitched into that
kind of work which from its arduous nature and humble character, has
deterred the proportion of incoming white men from accepting willingly
in a new country where they immediately expected to better their position,
or step into a better place than the one they had just left."

" I do not think the gradual influx of Chinese has retarded the incoming White immigra-
of white labor, as I find few of those new white arrivals willing to under- *'°" ""' retarded,
take the work performed by them in other countries, but declined here
and given to Chinese laborers."

" Had it not been for the available Chinese labor the same progress nese rtfmuiated
and development in this Province could not have been made, and their in-flow of capital,
presence has therefore stimulated investments of capital in many directions,
and made it more remunerative undoubtedly for the reasons given."

" And I may say that, were it not for Chinese labor, the business 1 am But for Chinese
engaged in specially, coal-mining, would be seriously retarded and curtailed, be'seriouSy Te"
and it would be impossible to sell this product and compete favorably in tarded.
the market of San Francisco with vessels from other ports which carry
coal as ballast. It may be stated in this connection that San Francisco
is, in fact, the only important market for coals from the mines of this
Province at present."

" They have assisted, so far, by performing labor in coal mines which Extent to which
others refused to perform, at wages that made such mining pay. Without buted to develop-
them this department of the mining industry would have had slower and ™®"' °' mining,
less important development in this province, and the export trade of this
product would have been infinitely less, because it would have been im-
possible but for their labor to compete in this respect in foreign
markets."

. As to the future, these two great employers of labor difi'er, Mr. Robins
says :

" Their presence here is far less necessary than it has been in years Chinese no longer
past, white labor being more abundant since the opening of railways has formeriy.'"''' ^^
brought the East and West into closer communication."

" If the Chinese were to leave the Province in a body no doubt much No inconvenience
inconvenience would be caused to every person employing them ; but, if J^nced if^Chufe'se
they were to leave gradually as they have come into the Province, I do ^^^I^^IIy'!''"'
not think any inconvenience would be experienced."

" In my opinion it is not necessary to retain Chinese in the Province,
but their removal should not be sudden." . ^ll^ono/whft'J'''

"A free immigration of white people of the laboring class would enable labor Chinese
us to do without the Chinese element altogether. dispensed with.

"A poll-tax of, say $50, to be levied on every Chinese immigrant, a poll-tax of $50
would be the best solution of the difiiculty. A lower tax I do not think, Z^^^^]''''^''
would be effective."

"A combined effort on the part of the people of this Province and its
legislature to encourage white immigration and discourage the employ-
ment of Chinese effectually would furnish a supply of white labor, exclude
Chinese immigration and at the same time develop the natural resources
of the colony as speedily and safely as they are now being developed."

" I have only one observation to make in addition. I have noticed Where^Chinese^^
that where Chinese labor is easily procured white youths from fifteen cured young iSds"
years of age and upwards do not find such ready employment as else- do^not^tod em-
where, and consequently are not so well trained in habits of industry.
The manual (unskilled) labor that their fathers followed is looked upon as
only fit for an inferior race and there is growing up amongst us a class of
idlers who will not conduce to the well-being of the state."

xviii

As to the future, Mr. Dunsmuir says :
Agitation against " I consider the agitation against the Chinese as largely political, for 1
Chinese political. ]jj^.^,g heard no argument against them as yet which convinces me that
they are a drawback to this Province or to this part of the Dominion. I
consider their presence as beneficial to the progress and development of
the country, as an important factor in the labor market ; and I am satis-
iied, so far as my personal experience goes, that the Province generally is
not unfavorably influenced by Chinese labor, race prejudices to the con-
trary notwithstanding. I do not believe that any class of our people
assisting to develop this Province are suffering from the competition of
these people. White men decline to do the work given to the Chinese,
and could not live in this country at the present prices of products on the
wages paid the Chinamen. Some of the trades, such as shoemakers,
tailors, cigar-makers, etc., are affected by Chinese labor and are compelled
to manufacture goods at a low figure, the ordinary workingman, agri-
culturist, etc., is, however, benefited by the competition. If the mine-
owners were compelled to pay the wages now asked and obtained by
white laborers, (supposing they would consent to do the manual labor for
which the Chinese receive much smaller pay,) they, the mine-owners,
could not compete in the markets now open to them, especially San-
Francisco, the principal market for British Columbia coal, where, other
foreign coal product is carried as ballast.
Exclusion of Chi- " I believe the exclusion of Chinese would retard the construction of
puWic'worli^'^'^ public works and increase the cost of them very materially both as

regards those under way and those contemplated.
No legislative " In regard to legislation I do not think any measures of a prohibitive

measures neces- nature are required at this early day, nor do I believe that legislation
should take place either to restrict or regulate the incoming of Chinese,
for the simple reason that they will not arrive in larger numbers than the
requirements of the labor market demand.
Excluding Chi- " J may state that it is my belief that the grand plan of opening up

chances oFcon- ^ and controlling the Asiatic trade by a Canadian railway from Ocean to
trS'e°fs'weU^it"° ^°'^^^'^ ^°^^^ ^^ seriously affected, if not actually defeated, by legislating
jeopardizes Pro- the Chinese out of the country at this time. In addition to jeopardising
^s"a!^ *'""'' provincial enterprises, now in successful operation, other portions of our

Dominion, expecting benefits and profits from transcontinental traffic
over the Canadian Pacific Railway, tapping Oriental trade, would of
course share in any evil effects resulting from injudicious or preventive
legislation.
If Chinaman had " If it were possible for Parliament to bring a bill in speedily to o-ive
Mm wouiefcl'ase. *he Chiniiman the franchise there would be less anti-Chinese agitatfon ;
S^i^KT?^?^'*^ ^^^' I ^^^^^ legislation excluding the Chinese would kill the prospect of
trade an Asiatic trade with Canada.

The views of tbese two gentlemon on the other points of this enquiry
are equally valuable, but do not immediately bear on the subject of this
chapter.
Observations. Bearing on the past development, as to these three sources of industry

the Salmon Canneries, railroad construction, and coal mining, accumu-
lating and distributing wealth, and advancing the country in all its
material aspects, aggregating collectively an addition of many millions to
the trade of the Province, the testimony is clear and indisputable, that
they would not have succeeded without the aid of Chinese labor. If, with
reference to domestic service, we examine the statements of those who are '
not employers of labor on a large scale, but simply contributories to the
general welfare by expenditures and industries in the ordinary avocations

of life, thereby disseminating the means of livelihood and aiding in the
development of the country, (individually, perhaps to a small degree, but
in the aggregate to a very large degree) we find observation after obser-
vation that they could not have remained in the country without that
source of supply. Whatever the future may require, it is vain to contend
that British Columbia would at this day, be in the position to command
that future as she now has a prospect of doing, had she not had the
opportunity of Chinese labor, and availed herself of it.

CHAPTER .3.

SOCIAL AND MORAL ASPECTS.

Whatever may be the results of the material or pecuniary aspect of this
question, it must be admitted, that if its moral and social aspect be of
such a character as to pollute the social atmosphere, — to degrade and
demoralize the. people, — and to introduce vice and disease, then whatever ImpOTtanoe of
may be the consequence, the prevention of the latter is of more importance s™lal ar^moral
than the gain by the former. aspect.

The influences which destroy the healthy tone of a community are
more subtle in their nature, more tardy and more insiduous in their
approach, than the causes which lead to business and commercial prosperity.

The evidence therefore taken on this point in British Columbia as well
as in San Francisco and elsewhere, where opportunity of more lengthened
experience, and observation on a greater scale was afforded, should be
impartially as well as thoroughly examined, not ,to sustain a foregone
conclusion either for or against the question, but to arrive at a truthful
solution.

The promoters of the movement against the Chinese have repeatedly
asserted that sufficient evidence has already been laid before Parliament
to warrant prohibitive Legislation, covering the main objections to such
immigration. These objections- may be classified as follows : —

1st. The absorption of employment to the exclusion of white labor, and Objections,
consequent retardation of the settlements of the country.

2nd. Absorption of domestic service and immorality engendered thereby.

3rd. Personal uucleanHness and filthy habits of the Chinese, diseases,
leprosy and crowding of habitations.

4th. Opium smoking, prostitution, slavery and immorality.

5th. Secret organizations, want of truth, evasion of taxation and expense
to the administration of justice.

6th. Kon-identify with the people of the country and withdrawal of
capital resulting from their labor.

The evidence laid before Parliament will be found in the report of the f J^^|^|nM879.
Select Committee on Chinese Labor and Immigration to the House of
Commons on the 14th of May. 1879, published in Vol. XIII. of the
Journals, Appendix No. 4.

There are four conclusions stated in that report :

1st. If more evidence is wanted than that accompanying the report it ^f^^°l^^\af
should be taken in British Columbia. Commons.

2nd. That the report of the Joint Committee of the Congress of the
United States and of the Senate Committee of the State of California on
Chinese Labor and Immigration, contain much evidence showing the un-
desirableness of encouraging Chinese labor and immigration.

Chinese immigra-
tion not to be en-
couraged.

Tests of value of
Bvidence.

3rd. That, from the evidence taken before the Select Committee, they
believe that Chinese immigration ought not to be encouraged.

4th. That, from the evidence taken before the Committee, they are of
opinion that Chinese labor ought not to be employed on Dominion public
works.

Before this Committee, of which Mr. De Cosmos, one of the members
from British Columbia, was chairman (as before mentioned), the following
persons only were examined : —

Mr. Bunster, M.P., from British Columbia.

Mr. Thompson, M.P., "

Dr. Molnnes, M.P., "

Senator McDonald,

P. J. Barnard, M.P., "

Mr. Dewdney. M.P., "

Senator Cornwall, "

These gentlemen, with the chairman representing the Province and
having a personal and practical knowledge of the subject on which they
were examined, as bearing upon all parts of the Province, must be credited
with having given testimony in accordance with their convictions. We
quote from this evidence the language of the witnesses, as given before
the Committee, that a judgment may be formed not through any suggested
medium, or to any particularly suggested end, but that each reader may
judge for himself. There is also another reason. In all judicial enquiries
the evidence of the witnesses, where there is conflicting testimony, should
be given in their own words and language, in order that its value may be
best estimated. In cases of such conflict the test of value varies. If the
question be of fact, the test is veracity coupled with opportunity, accuracy
of observation and memory. If it be of opinion, the test is competency
coupled with knowledgo, education and experience. In both alisence or
presence of motive or interests. These rules are simple, they are clear.

Mr. BuNSTBE says : —

" The tendency of the presence of the Chinese in the country is to
exclude servant girls from employment; and the great cause of this exclu-
sion lies in the fact that the white servant girls feel that it degrades them,
and as a consequence they will not come to the country and compete with
and work on the same terms as the Chinamen.

" The feeling of the masses of the people in British Columbia is strongly
against Chinese. I now refer to the people that manufacture, and the
people who are trying to build up the country, and the merchants and
others, aside from what I call the snob aristocracy. These people are all
against the Chinese, with that exception. There are a few would-be
aristocrats who like to put on frills, and they are fond of having Chinese
servants. They think that it is something grand, and something away up.
They do not care about employing a Sewash, though these, who are
Indians, are equally as good servants as are the Chinese, in my opinion.

" Near Nanaimo somewhere about 300 Chinamen were employed around
or about the mines.

" The Chinese do not go down underneath the ground. They are afraid
to go down below the surface of the earth, and they work altogether on
the top. They screen coal and do such like work, and they shift cars
about,
farmers against. " The farmers are not favorable to the Chinese. They are considered
down on these people. They say that the Chinese interfere with them a

Manufacturers
against.

Mining superfi-
'Cial.

XXI

great deal in the way of getting groceries before they get their crops in.
Formerly the white farmers were able to bring a few vegetables to mar-
ket and to take home in exchange some groceries, which were very accept-
able to their families, but now the Chinese have done away with all that
kind of business."

" Q. Would it be good policy on the part of the Government in the Exclusion ot Chi-
construotion of the Canadian Pacific Railway to prohibit the employment c!p. R. con™
of Chinese labor on it ? — A. It would be the best kind of policy that truotion.
the Government could pursue in regard to this work, and for this reason :
if they employ white laborers on the road, a great many of the white
laborers will remain in the country. They will take up a tract of land
and locate upon it, and if these men had families either here in Canada,
or in Ireland, or anywhere else, it would induce them to bring their
families out to this country, when they would become customers of the
Government by buying goods, which being dutiable, at the Custom house
would lead to the payment of revenues."

Q. "Could sufficient white labor be obtained for the purpose of building Sufficiency
this road in the province of British Columbia 1 — A. Yes ; any quantity of '"^ "'
white labor, if the road was built, would swarm into the Province from the
State of California and from Europe. At the present time there are not
sufficient works going on on the Pacific coast, to employ all the available
white labor. At the present time there is no inducement for a white man
to go out there and take his family out, or to go out there and take others
out."

Q, " Suppose that the Government advertised for tenders for the con- Would not add to
struction of one hundred miles of that line of railway, and if in the cove- "'^P'^"^'*-
nant of the contract the contractor was compelled not to employ Chinese
laborers, what would you suppose would be the difference in the tender,
would this qualification make any difference in your opinion 1 — A. I do
not believe that this circumstance would make a difference of $1. I think
that contractors have found that white labor is preferable to Chinese labor.
I have heard contractors, who used white labor in Southern California,
say that it proved cheaper than Chinese labor."

" A great many improvements have been made in the machinery which
is used on farms, and there are so many young farmers growing up that
this really gives us a surplus of white labor on the Pacific coast, in certain
parts. There would be no difficulty whatever experienced in procuring a
sufficiency of white labor ; as I said before, I am satisfied that it would
make no difference whatever in the cost of the Canadian Pacific railway if
the Dominion Government advertised for tenders for the construction of
one hundred miles of the Pacific railroad, and stipulated in the contract
that no Chinamen should be employed in building the road."

Mr. Thompson, (Cariboo), says : " Q. In what respect are their presence in Objectionable. N»
any country an injury to it 1 — A. This is the case, because they are a amalgamation,
separate race from the whites. They do not amalgamate with the whites,
nor do they adopt our customs. They live among themselves. They have
their own religion and also they have secret societies, by means of which
to a very great extent, they are governed. They contribute very little to Competitkm witli
the wealth of the country, and to a certain extent, they impoverish it by ^ ' " * °''"
competing with white men who, if they settled permanently in the coun-
try, would improve it."

XXII

Take no part in
politics.

Exclusion by law.

Mining claims.

Objectionable
Teduce wages.

Useful in poor
diggings.

Trust worthy.

Stealing.

Witness's expe-
rience limited to
mining districts.

Female white
labor.

"Getting married.

"White labor cost
twice as much
per man.

Q. "Do you think that the Chinese are calculated to make good citizens,
and to take part in the affairs of the country ?— A. I have never known
any of them to do so, so far. I do not believe that in any part of the
Pacific coast the Chinese population takes any interest in politics ; m fact
they are excluded from taking any part in political matters by law. "

Q. " Well, in the mining districts do they take up claims that have been
abandoned, or do they, take up claims from the Government like other
citizens and work them ?— A. They take up claims in the ordinary way ;
they take up claims that have been abandoned ; they buy claims from
other miners, and they work at the mines for wages."

Q. " In what way are they objectionable ?— A. Well, they reduce the
rate of wages to a certain extent ; and they very often prevent white
people from getting employment."

Q. "In what way are they usefuU — A. In some sections you require
them, but as a general thing I consider that the white miners would much
prefer to have them out" of the country altogether. I say that in some
sections where there are poor diggings, which will not justify their owners
in employing white labor, they are useful."

Q. Do you employ any of them, Mr. Thompson 1 — A. I have employed
them ; that 'is, companies in which I am interested employed them.

Q. Are the Chinese a trustworthy and reliable class of people ? — A. If
you watch them they do very well.

Q. They require watching, do they 1 — A. Yes ; they will steal anything
they can lay their hands on if they get a favorable opportunity for doing
so. Of course, there are white men who will steal, too, but the China-
man can never be trusted to work by himself in any place where there is
coarse gold that can be picked up.

Q. " You limit that practice to the mining districts ; I refer to the habits
of stealing which you attribute to them ? — A. Well, I have no experience
anywhere else in this regard."

Q." " In what way are they prohibited from becoming citizens ? — A. They
are prohibited from becoming voters."

Q. " Can you explain to the committee how it is that male Chinese are
employed in British Columbia in preference to female white labor, or why
it is that female white labor is not employed there in this capacity 1 — A. I
think that there is a great scarcity of female white labor in the Province."

Q. Do you not naturally suppose that the high rate of wages that is
given to the Chinese for domestic work, which females naturally do,
would induce a large immigration of white women to the province 1 — A.
The female servants that come to British Columbia have a habit of get-
ting married after they have been jn service for a month or two ; and as
a consequence they leave their employers.

Q. " What is your idea as to the cost of white labor on public works, in
comparison with the figure at which Chinese labor could obtained be for
this purpose 1 — A. I should think that white labor would probably cost
twice as much as Chinese labor per man."

icnnanent set- -
ers.

Q. "It would then cost the Government twice as much to construct Cost.
public works with white labor as it would with the aid of Chinese labor?
— A. That wonld be the case if as many whites were required. It is
generally considered that three Chinamen are equal to two white men ;
I think that is about the average."

Q. " Is there any prospect of the Chinese becoming permanent settlers No prospect of
— of their settling upon land and of making their homes permanent in p,
this country t — A. I do not think that they would do so. They would f":
probably settle for a short time in the country, until they could make
some money and then return whith their gains to China from whence
they came."

Q. ''Senator Cornwall says the Chinese do not like liquor? — A. I know Use brandy'
that in the mines, where a number of Chinamen are working together on
their own account, when they make any sort of decent wages they usual-
ly have a regular supply of brandy."

Q. "Do they buy French or Chinese brandy ? — A. They get French French brandy,
brandy if they can procure it. I have seen them going to a store fre-
quently with their pass-bock and obtain a gallon, or two gallons of bran-
dy, and take it away to their claims ; but at the same time, I do not
think they are in the habit of drinking to excess, except on the occasion
of the celebration of the new year, when they generally have a little
^pree."

■Q. " You do not see many of them in a state of intoxication ? — A. No, Seldom intoxi-
"not often ; I have seen some of theiu a little the worse of liquor, how- ''^^''^■
ever."

Q. "Are the Chinese cleanly in their habits ? — A. By no means, though Not cleanly in
I rather think that as a general thing they are cleanly in their persons.
They wash a good deal, and I believe, change their clothes frequently,
but their houses are by no means cleanly. In some cases, their rooms Cleanly in person,
themselves may be clean, but their appurtenances are filthy. I have
known them to keep hogs in their own houses.

" They generally keep themselves pretty clean. They have barbers to outside of houses
shave their heads and faces — their heads up to where the queue com- ^^^^y-
mences — but they have no idea of cleanliness around their houses. Even
if their houses are cleanly in the inside, outside they are filthy."

Q. How do the Chinese compare with the whites in point of intelli- Intelligence,
gence? — A. Well, that depends of what you call intelligence. If by that
term you mean smartness in the way of roguery, I think that they can
hold their own with any class.

Q. The Chinese are quick in that way 1 — A. Quick ? I should think Quick,
they were.

Q. In point of education how do they compare with the whites 1 — A. I Education,
should say that every one of them whom I have seen can write his name.

Q. They can read and write their own language I suppose 1 — A. Yes
they can read and write their own language.

Q. As a rule this is the case 1 — A. Yes.

XXIV

In trade
honorable and
straightforward.

As witnesses not
reliable.

Q. Are they honorable in their dealings with the white people ? — A.
As a general think in the way of trade they are. The Chinese store-
keepers are generally very straightforward, at least, when you do busi-
ness with them you can depend on getting what you agree for.

Q. As witnesses are they reliable '\
contrary.

-A. No they aro not ; it is just the

Not many Chinese
female.

Prostitutes.

Three wives.

Advisable to
check immig^ra-
tion.

Better for govern-
ment to pay white
men 50 per cent
more.

Chinese as market
gardeners, driven
out by Italians.

Reason whv.

English market

Chinese hard
labor.

Italians.

Q. Are there many Chinese females in the Province of British Colum-
bia, in proportion of the number of males 1 — A. There are not many
Chinese women in the Province in proportion of the males.

Q. What is the general character af the Chinese women who do live in
the Province of British Columbia ? — A. Well, they are nearly all of the
lowest class of prostitutes, though some of the Chinese traders have their
wives with them. There is a trader in my district who, I believe, has
three wiwes. He is a rich trader. I know that when this proposed tax
of f 40 a head was spoken of, he said it would come pretty hard on him
as he would have to pay for his three wives.

I think it would be advisable to check the immigration of Chinese to
the Province of British Columbia, if that is possible.

This question has been brought under discussion a good deal ; that is,,
as to whether it would be better for the Government of Canada to pay
white men higher wages, or to employ Chinamen in the building of public
works at a less rate of wages. My opinion is, that it would be better
to pay white men at least 50 per cent more than Chinamen ; even if they
had to employ the white labor at a higher rate ; this would be advisable,
because the amount that would be contributed to the revenue of the
country by white men would be so much larger than the sum which
would be so contributed by Chinamen.

There is one thing which I may mention to the Committee : there has
been a great deal said about the superiority of the Chinese over the whites
as market gardeners. I believe, that they are ■s'ery industrious indeed
but when I was in the city of San Francisco, I was told that the Italians
were there driving the Chinese out of the business of market gardening.

Q. Was this result being brought about by the superiority of the
Italians over the Chinsse in this respect, or by combination ? — A. It was
brought about by their hard work, and by the attention which they give
to this same branch of agriculture which has been pursued by the Chinese.
Such was the case to a great extent about the city of San Francisco.

Q. What advantage would a Chinaman have- over a practical English
market gardener who understood his business professionally and thorough-
ly. Would not the English gardener under such circumstances do as well
as the Chinaman ? — A. A Chinaman will work over ground which another
man — a white man — would hardly think of touching. The Chinamen
work so patiently and hard, they labor from early in the morning until
late at night, and are content with such small returns that white men
do not like to compete with them in this particular.

Q. They sell the products of their labor at a cheaper rate than white
men will, I presume?— A. Yes, they sell their vegetables cheaper, of
course ; as I was saying, in San Francisco the Italians have there gone in-
to the market g9,rdening business latterly, and are driving the Chinesft

XXV

out. Of course, the people prefer to purchase their vegetables from the Whites have pre-
Ti»i- 1- ii , fi 1 . , 11 , ferencewhen

-Italians, when they can get these things at a reasonable rate. reasonable.

Q. Are the Chinamen, generally speaking, a sober people 1 — A. They Chinese sober,
are generally sober. They do drink liquors, as I say, but it is very rarely
that you see them intoxicated. If they do get intoxicated, they have
sense enough to stay in the house.

Dr. McInnis, says : — I reside in the city of New Westminster, on the New West-
mainland of British Columbia. We have here, I suppose, about 300 '"™^"""-
permanent Chinese settlers, and during the salmon fishing season we have Salmon canneries
from 1,200 to 1,500. They are used here largely in making fish cans, and
in various ways in connection with the salmon canneries.

Q. Where do they come from ? — A. From various parts ; from Oregon, whence from.
Washington territory and California. I believe some come from Victoria,
too.

Q. How long do they remain with you in your fishing season ? — A. They Chinese settlers.
generally remain two or three months. We have, besides, always from
200 to 300 permanent Chinese settlers in the city.

Q. By permanent settlers, do you mean those who remain a life time ?
— A. No, I mean those who make it their permanent home for a number
of years.

Q. How long do they remain 1 — A. They generally remain from five to
ten years. Whenever they save from $500 to |1,000, which they consider
enough to enable them to go back to China and live like princes to the
end of their days. I have been told that they can live on from one to
two cents a day in China, so that when they accumulate that amount,
they can go back to China and buy half a dozen wives.

Q. Please state your views on the subject of Chinese labor, and the Chinese labor once
desirability of encouraging Chinese immigration ? — A. I think there was '^ "ecessi y.
a time in British Columbia when Chinese labor was really a necessity, g^pgyabundance
but certainly that time has gone by, and we have now more white labor of white lobor at
in British Columbia than can find profitable employment. present.

Q. So long as the Chinese remained there 1 — A. So long as the Chinese In canneries, Chi-
remained there. We pay Chinamen in the canneries, from $25 to $35 a "<'"'' ^^s"^"
month. They are all bondsmen.

Q. What do you pay white labor at the same time ? — A. From about white wages.
$30 to $40 a month.

Q. What do you mean by bondsmen ? — A. I have been informed by Chinese are bonds
Chinamen themselves that they give bonds, before leaving China, to ™®'''
Chinese companies, to work for them for a term of from five to ten years,
and all that the Company have to do in order to carry out their part of
the contract, is to furnish them with the bare necessities of life and their
clothing, and the company have all their earnings. After they serve
their time, of course they go then and work for themselves and make as
much money as they possible can and go back to China as quickly as
possible.

Q. Do you consider Chinese as a high or a low class of immigrants ? — 'f^tf*^^ '""'"*"

XXVI

Demoralizing
influence.

Medical expe-
rience.

Habits filthy and
immoral.

A. I consider them a low class — certainly much lower than any white
class of people I have ever come in contact with.

Q. Both male and f emale ?— A. Both male and female. They have
certainly a very demoralizing effect upon the white people of British Co-
lumbia, or any other country in which they have gained a permanent
foothold.

Q. Have you come among them much in your profession 1 — A. I have.

Q. Can you give us your experience of their habits ? — A. Their habits
are of a most filthy and immoral kind. Vices are very prevalent among
them.

Licentious.
Half a dozen in
New Westminster
all told.

Witness speak
from actual
experience.

All diseased.

Killing ofl"
Indians.

Q. Of what nature ? — A. Well, of a licentious nature. I think we
have not over half a dozen Chinese women in New Westminster all
told. They are all prostitutes, and it is a notorious fact that nearly all
the Chinese women who come to British Columbia — and I believe to the
Pacific Coast generally — are prostitutes.

Q. As to their habits of morality ; have you professionally, or otherwise,
any knowledge as to that, or do you speak from general impression of
these moral habits ? — A. From actual knowledge — actual experience.

Q. Are any matters of that kind brought up before the Courts ? — A.
No, I do not mean to say that their immorality is from seduction; but
they are all diseased. There is scarcely a Chinaman who comes to British
Columbia, but brings with him the most virulent form of syphilis.
That syphilis is communicated to the Indians and the white population,
and the consequence is that, I believe, in a quarter of a century, out of
our present population of 30,000 or 40,000 Indians there will not be 5,000
of them alive. It is killing them off by hundreds every year.

Q- Does that contamination spread from the Chinese ? — A. Yes, prin-
cipally from the Chinese. They appear to have a more virulent form of it
than any people I know of.

Q. Is it not a fact that this disease has been carrying off the Indian

tribes for the last 50 years — ever since they came in contact with the

white people on the Pacific Coast ? — A. To a more or less extent, I believe

Increased proper- that is quite correct, but not in the same proportion that it has since the

Chinese have gone to the Pacific Coast.

Q. You think it is much more prevalent now than formerly among the
Indians 1 — A. I do.

tion.

Indians and Chi-
nese dont mix.

Q. Do the Indians and Chinese mix very much 1 — A. Not a great deal.

Q. Then you speak from your professional knowledge 1 — A. Yes.

Q. Are they subject to scrofula or leprosy ? — A. I have never seen a
case of leprosy among them.

Q. I believe there are some cases of leprosy among them 1 — A. I believe
so but I have not seen one.

Public Works.

Q. Do you think it is desirable to employ Chinamen on the public

XXVII

works of the Dominion ?— A. I believe it is very undesirable and I think
J^ will be a great misfortune if they are employed on the Canadian Pacific
Railway. If they are employed on that work after the road is built they
will have a large percentage of the money expended in the construction of
that road; they will leave the country and the country will be poorer by
the amont of money they take out of it; where if white laborers are
employed they will settle down and make homes for themselves in the
-country, and in a very short time be the means of yielding a considerable
revenue to the country.

- Q. Do you think it would be desirable to allow Chinese to purchase Dominion Lands.
Dominion Lands I—A. No, I would be decidedly against it.

Q. Or lease ? — A. No neither to purchase nor lease.

Q. Do you think it would be desirable to allow Chinese to take up Fishing,
fishing stations ? — A. No, I would regret very much to see that. By the
last mail I received a petition from the canning proprietors in my district
and they complain now that they have to compete with the Japanese in
the salmon canning business, and I have no doubt that the Chinese will be
into it in a very short time, and they are afraid it will be impossible
ior them to compete with the Chinese.
\

Q. Do you think there could be an introduction of white immigrants
who would settle along the banks of the Fraser River and utilize the land,
and at the same time employ themselves in the fisheries during the fishing
season ? — A. Yes. The Chinese are very apt and handy, and the canning Canning propri-
proprietors out there prefer them to any other class for making tins and chfnese^
for any light work. But for heavy manual labor, for instance, as farming Not, employed, as
hands, they are not employed in my district but to very limited extent, farming hands.
If employers can get white labor, they employ it in preference to the Chi- White labor
nese labor, considerably cheaper. prefered.

Q. Have you any Chinese engaged in cultivating gardens? — A. We Vegetable gar-
have quite a number. eners.

Q. Will you state the effect of their competition with white settlers ?
— A. Well nearly all of the white gardeners have given up their occupa-
tion altogether.

Q. They furnish vegetables much cheaper than white gardeners 1 —
A. Yes, much cheaper.

Q. They have driven the white gardeners out of the business ? — A. Yes.

Senator Macdonald, says :

Q. Will you state to the Committee your opinion as to the moral char- Not more immoral
acter of the Chinese who come to the Province of British Columbia?— laboring dIS''-
Prom personal experience, I cannot say anything on that subject, but
judging from the police reports, I do not think that they are any more
immoral than is the general class of laboring people in any country.

Q. On moral grounds, then, you would not be in favor of prohibiting Not worse than
.the immigration of these people into this country? — A. I do not think o^^^er nationali-

Vices same as
whites.

Expense white
labor living.

Ditto Chinese.

Domestic services
wages.

that I would. I would, however, prohibit all immorality. I do not think
that they are worse than the laboring classes of other nationalities in
other countries. They gamble, and have women of ill-fame, and all that
sort of thing, the same as white people have.

Q. What does it cost a white man to live in the province of Columbia ?
— A. It costs them about fifty cents a day.

Q. Do you think that it costs a Chinese laborer fifty cents a day to-
live ? — A. No ; I do not think that it would cost them so much. I think
that to live would cost them about half that sum per day ; I fancy that
this would be the case. I could not state positively the cost, but I think
that a Chinaman could live on half of that sum per day.

Q. Are you aware what amount Chinaman earn annually ? — A. No ; I
could not say ; Chinamen work in houses. They perform domestic ser-
vices, and for doing that sort of work they get from $20 to $30 and $3.5
a month in wages.

Q. And their board? — A. Yes
their pay, and they make about

these men, I suppose, save nearly all
a year — more or less.

Their increase
detrimental.

Facilities for
coming greater.

Q. If the Chinese are not discouraged, what will be the probable result
of the increased number of Chinamen in regard to white labor 1 — A. I
think that as they are driven out of the State of California their numbers,
in the Province of British Columbia would increase and this increase
in their numberswould be undoubtedly detrimental to white labor.

Q. Would they increase in greater ratio than would white men do you
think 1 — A. Yes, they have more facilities for doing so than have white
men. A ship comes from China to our Province, in five and thirty days,
and the rates of freight are low, the passage money for Chinamen is very
low. Passages for Chinamen are obtained at a very low rate.

SSsfitlon ot'"*^*^^ Q- C'o'^lcl you ofier to the committee any suggestions as to the best
subject. means of discouragiug Chinese immigration other than their non-employ-

ment on public works in the_ Dominion ? — A. Well, I do not approve of
the bill which was passed with regard to the Chinese population by the
Local Assembly of the Province of British Columbia. I think that the
Assembly has gone too far in this relation. I do not approve of that
measure at all.

Buying dominion
lands.

As market gar-
deners.

Q. Do you think that it is desirable to prohibit the Chinese from buying
Dominion lands ? — A. Well, I do not know whether it is desirable or not.
I think that in a new country where there is lots of room, it might not
be injurious were they allowed to occupy wild land. Were this the case,
it might add to the productions of the country.

Q. Have they not almost driven the white gardeners and marketmen
out of the market ? — A. Well, I suppose that they have done so. Their
prices are low, and white labor is very high, and Chinamen will be apt to
come in and work under them. Certainly, the Chinese by entering into
this business have cut down prices.

iJ'isrl'ipe^i^dly! Q- ^^^^ is *he feeling that exists among the gardeners and farmers
with respect to the competition which prevails among the Chinese them-
selves ? — A. I do not think that market gardeners' wages two years ago
were more than $3 a day.

XXIX

Q. But what is the feeling of that class with respect to competition Feeling hostUe on
with Chinese labor in regard to their productions ?— A. Well, the feeling, petito. "*''""'"
of course, is very strong against the Chinaman — the same as would natu-
rally be the case in connection with any competition. Even among white
people similar results would follow, under like circumstances, with regard
to manufactures or commerce, or any other line of business. There is no
question that white labor cannot compete with Chinese labor in the scale

of economy. The white people cannot live as cheap as the Chinese, or White labor can-
^1,1,,^'^ ^ ' not compete witli

worJi at such a low rate oi wages. Chinese labor.

Q. Could you point out any permanent advantage that would result Chinese labor
from the retention of Chinese labor in the country ? — A. I think that "ouSr^ ^^^
Chinese labor is useful to a certain extent. It is useful in opening man-
ufactures, and in opening any new work ; in clearing land for instance.
They are as useful as the Indians used to be in former years, before the
Chinese came into this country. At that time, we employed Indians in
clearing land at a cheap rate of wages, and Chinamen would be useful in
the same way. Probably the Chinese could be utilized in starting boot
and shoe factories and tailor shops on a large scale, and in the making of
shirts and clothing. They could be made useful in many cases of that
kind.

Q. Does not the presence of Chinese labor interfere with the employ- ^^^ women,
ment of young men and women ? — A. Well, in our country we have very
few women. That is one of the evils that we have to contend with. If
we had the number of women which they have in this part of the country,
they would do all that kind of light work, and then, of course, I would be
in favor of doing away with Chinese labor altogether.

Q. How could you expect young men and young women to go to the Price of white
Province of British Columbia and to remain there, if they are brought down to°eaable^
into competition with Chinese labor at such a low rate of wages, as to us to carry on any
prevent them earning the means of living ? — A. Well, white labor must fuUy.
come down in price. That is a matter at any rate which must be brought
about. It is impossible to carry on any kind of work, either in connection
with farming or with manufacturing at the present rate of wages, in our
Province. The price of white labor must come down, in order to enable
us to carry on any works successfully. On the whole, I must say that I
am opposed to Chinese immigration, and I would like to see measures
adopted which would prevent any more Chinaman coming into our country.

Q. Is there any further statement you would like to make to the com- Limited number
mittee on this subject ?— A. No ; I would only say that a certain limited nofto te?™^'""'^
number of Chinamen have been useful to the Province of British Columbia creased.
— the presence of a limited number has been really useful, in my opinion ;
but I would not like to see that number augmented in any way, I would
rather see it diminished, in justice to our population of boys and girls who
are growing up.

Q. Mr. Macdonald, you speak of the difference between the price of Reasons for high,
white labor and of Chinese labor ; will you explain to the committee the f^bo? ?n British
reason why such a high price is demanded for white labor ? — A. In the Columbia.
Province of British Columbia.

Q. Yes.— A. Well, the people who came to the Province of British Co-
lumbia some years ago in the year 1858, brought with them old California

ideas to a great extent ; nearly every body came then. They came from
California when money was plentiful and labor was scarce, and they have
stuck to these ideas up to the present time to a great extent. They have
stuck to the old California ideas, and labor is scarce in our country.

Won't take less. Q. Is there any permanent industry in the Province which keeps us the
price of labor ; what keeps the price up ? — A. No ; they prefer to be idle
unless they are starving , rather than take less than the sum of $2 a day.

Successful mining Q. Have the gold mines of British Columbia anything to do with this
•* "^^^ high price of labor in the province 1 — ^A. Oh ! yes ; a good deal. They

have a good deal to do with it. These people work in those mines for
three or four months in the year, and they may make more in this way
than by ordinary labor ; they may thus make more than a years wages in
a few months.

When laboring Q. Do the employers of labor show a preference to employing Chinese

contractors, they instead of whites, and when they are employed do they work well 1 — A. I

nlov Ch^'^'^ '° ^™ '^o*i<'® ihsut laboring men when they become small contractors, are the

labor. very first people to employ Chinese labor. They employ Chinamen to

mix mortar, and to carry brick and stone, and in the erection of building,

masons and small contractors employ them. The whole Chinese labor

question is a very conflicting one and very difficult to decide ; where labor

is cheap, advantage will be taken of the circumstance, no matter by whom

it is furnished, whether by black or by white — no matter what the color

of the employees may be.

Chief objection Q. Does the chief objection to the presence of Chinamen in the Prov-

ince arise from the fact that they will labor for a smaller sum then white
laborers are willing to work for ? — A. Yes ; that is one objection to their
presence in the Province.

work for less
wages.

Morals not worse Q- The objection to their presence is not on account of their morals or
than other classes, anything of that kind ? — A. Of course, their morals are not much worse
than the morals of other classes.

Mr. Barnard, says :

Objection among Q- What is the general objection of the people of British Columbia on
strong"^ "^'^^ *^^® point, as to the desirability, if possible, of preventing Chinese immi-
gration into the Province ? — A. Among the laboring class, the feeling is
very strong against them but among those who employ Chinese domestic
At present em- servante it is not so strong. The Chinese are very useful and employers
?epllce.*^''"''°' cannot replace them, as things are now with other labor.

Would do so if Q. If employers could replace them with white labor, male or female, or

^°"''^' both, at a reasonable rate, do you think that they would do so 1 A. Yes ;

and I suppose that in time the Chinese could be replaced, but it would

be very difficult at the present time to keep females in British Columbia.

The moment they arrive in the Province they get married, leave the

ab"fOT dom'^^^'^" ^''°'^^'^°^ °^ ^° something else, and they are not available for domestic

service-

Chinese domestic Q- ^°^ ^^^ that Chinamen are more docile and tractable than are
""-'""" white servants 1 — A. Yes ; and they would do more work than white women

will do ; they would cut firewood and do other work where white women
will only do one branch. Some years ago we employed a number of

English servants who came out of England. The jDeople in the Province

contributed towards their passage money and paid so much down. The

girls came out, but not one remained one year in employment ; some got

married and some went to the dogs. But that will all be cured as we

get more immigration into the country, and a larger population of women. English girls.

There are a great many men in the Province who would like to get

married.

Q. As' a general rule, the Chinese do not settle down into the country 1 Leasing lands.
— A. They lease lands and become market gardeners.

Q. They make all they can in the country and then leave it 1 — A. Yes As to leaving the
anybody would do that if they could. *^*'"" ^^'

Q,' I mean that they make all they can and then leave for their own
country ? — A. This is not always the case ; of course, they want to get good
land. They will work a piece of land for a certain nnmber of years, and
if they can obtain a better piece they are anxious and willing to leave
the old one and better their agricultural position.

Q. Are they engaged to any extent in agriculture ? — A. Not very exten- Not engaged in

Sively. agriculture.

Q. What is the general character of the male population ?— A. They are ^^'^'^P^^^f^^^g
most industrious and an example to any laboring classes in the world, trious.
They are very frugal and industrious.

Q. Are their females more debauched than those of the rest of the White women and
community 1 — A. Are they more debauched than other classes, as a rule 1 ebually bad.
— I think white women are just as bad as Chinese women.

Q. Do you think the country loses by allowing the Chinese to follow ^jJ^JSr" markk.
the white miner into the mines, and taking out the gold 1 — A. No, if they
can be confined to that class of work, it would not be injurious, but it
would be rather to our advantge. As I understand the matter the Chi-
nese to-day control the labor market of the Province of British Columbia,
and they will control the labor market of any country into which they
penetrate. They do not go about individually seeking work, but remain
quiet in large bands ; they are controlled by the agent of companies which
exist in China. These companies, which are wealthy, send these men out
at their own (the companies) expense and the men have to serve the
companies for a term of years, as I understand it. If you require 1,000
Chinamen to perform a particular work, you do not apply to individual
Chinamen, or insert an advertisement in the newspapers in order to
attract men from all sections-of the country, but you go to one of these
Chinese companies, and make arrangements with them. You have to
agree to certain terms ; you have to make a full agreement with them,
and you never see the men until they are sent on by the company to pro-
ceed to work. A foreman is sent with them, and to this foreman you
have to apply in case any difficulty arises. If you notice any Chinamen
who is not doing his duty you go at once to the foreman and he arranges
the matter ; the individual has nothing to do with it. The result of this
class of labor is this : If this thing is permitted to continue in the coun-
try, the Chinese will completely control the labor market. If this thing
is permitted to go on I take it that one . day the Chinese will control the
labor market everywhere in the world.

XXXII

Control. Q How do these companies control the men after the latter reach the

Province of British Columbia and are on British soil? — A. It is a little
difficult to ascertain how they do it ; they have a faculty of keeping
things to themselves.

Objectionable, no Q, In what respect do you consider the presence of the Chinese in the
amalgamation &c. pyo^i^gg ^f British Columbia is a nuisance, Mr. Barnard?— A. They are
a class of people with whom we cannot associate ; we cannot amalgamate
with them. They are a class of people that have no interest in common
with us, and while they earn your money and are supported by your
enterprise and industry, they take no part whatever in your political
advancement, or in your social or moral condition. They are aside alto-
gether from us — just as much as a steam-engine is aside from a human
being.

In their labor they
give a fair equi-
valent.

Sober, industrious
end cleanly.

Sober.

Petty larceny.

Control labor
market.

Q. But, do they render a fair equivalent for the wages which they re-
ceive from their employers, in the labor that they perform ? — A. Yes,
they do.

Q. Are the Chinese, as laborers, docile and industrious ? — A. They are
sober and industrious, and cleanly in their habits.

Q. How is it with them with regard to drinking sprees and breaches of
the peace ? — A. The Chinese are a sober class of people.

Q. They seldom commit breaches of the peace !
rably addicted to petty larceny.

-A. They are conside-

Q. Are they addicted to petty larceny among themselves ? — A. Oh, yes,
and also with respect to others.

Q. You spoke of the introduction of machinery into China, and of the
consequences which might flow from the Chinese oflFering goods very
cheaply, and you said we might require greater protection against them
than against the Americans. What connection do you think that this has
with the question of Chinese immigratian into British Columbia ? — A. The
question is that they are going to control the labor market wherever they
settle down, and if this sort of thing is allowed to go on, they will even-
tually control the labor market of the world.

Supplanting
English and
American manu-
facturers.

Once admitted in
the province there
should be no
restrictions.

Q. Do you imagine that there is imminent danger of that. Do you
think that there is imminent danger of their supplanting the English and
Americans as a manufacturing nation ? — A. I cannot very easily under-
stand how, if Chinamen can live for two cents a day as they can at home
under such circumstances, any other result can follow. If in China, they
are going to produce, say cotton for instance, at a much lower price than
where other labor is employed and where a much higher rate of wages is
paid — as must be paid to enable Europeans to live — it is plain that they
will have an immense advantage over us.

Q. Would it be advisable to prevent the Chinese from working in the
gold mines of British Columbia, and to keep these mines until white-labor
was supplied from the lower Provinces — until white men came in from the

other Provinces, — took up the mines and worked them 1 A. I am not in

favor of adopting any such measures while the Chinese are amongst us.
Once they are amongst us they should be entitled to enjoy the same rights
and privileges which all other settlers should have. I do not believe in

passing laws which should prohibit them from doing anything which any Should be pre-
other person in the Province of British Columbia can do, though I should coming.
like to see them prevented from coming into the Province altogether.

Q. Do you know of any Chinamen taking up land and working it in the '^"■^'^ "P lands.
Province ? — A. Yes, there are a few of them that have done so. A few of
them have done so in almost every district.

Q. They cultivate small patches of ground ; do they not ?— A. They ^J;"('g'"^™jf" """'"^
take up patches of ground, which white men would not think of touching
for the purpose of taking a crop off from it, and take crops from them.

Q. Do they interfere with the operations of ordinary market gardeners intererfence with
(white) in forcing down prices 1 — A. They do so when they are in the '"'^'""^ S'ai
vicinity of cities.

To get a correct idea of the value of labor, you have to set down the Best pick and
different kinds of work. For instance at the lumbering camps, except as
cooks, there are no Chinamen employed. There are no Chinamen who are
any good with the axe, and they do not interfere with the white-labor in
that respect, so that the white men get better wages there.

The labor that Chinamen are best adapted for is that with the pick and
shovel. I believe he can very nearly equal the white man with the pick
And shovel.

Q. Do you think it would be desirable to allow Chinese to take up ^^g""^"^'™"
public lands ! — A. As I said before, if you admit them to the country
admit them to all the privileges of the country.

Q. Is it desirable that they should be permanent settlers 1 — A. I do
not know why they should not have all the privileges of citizenship once
they are here, but as permanent settlers, we do not need them ; we want
a better class of people than th^y are.

Q. What is the general feeling— not among the laboring classes only— p^^-ncc^agata^at"
but among the whole white population of British Columbia regarding the
Chinese question ? — A. I think the general feeling is, that the ■ Province
would be a great deal better off without them.

Q. Is that the feeling among manufacturers and mill owners 1 — A. No, |^°5,^'|'™°3"S manu.
the manufacturers prefer them to other laborers because they are good Blue Mondays.
laborers — steady, regular and methodical and they have no blue Mondays,
in fact they have no difficulty with them as they have with white laborers.

Q. In fact, they are a valuable class of laborers, so far as employers of Machinery.
labor are concerned ? — A. Yes, as good as any other class of machinery
you can get.

Q. Are they employed to a great extent as farmers? — A. They are Cooks,
generally cooks.

Q. You do not know what kind of laborers they make on farms ? — A. Not good onfarms.
They do not come up to the ordinary agriculturists. They do not get the
wages of ordinary agriculturists.

Q. Is there not a scarcity of labor in British Columbia ; have you not Objections,
a sufficiencey of employment for both Chinese and whites — for all who
apply for it in the Province? — A. There are not many idle men in

British Columbia and were there fewer Chinese there would be more
whites. But there is very little inducement for a white man to go to
British Columbia and take his family with him and turn his girls out to
compete with Chinamen in household work : and if he has any respect for
himself, he will hardly go and work alongside of a Chinaman. Therefore,
to a great extent, he is excluded : and he, in i.s turn, writes to others who
may wish to settle in the country, and tells them if they come there they
may expect to compete with Chinamen in every branch of labor they may
undertake, and the consequence is that we cannot get white population ;
we cannot encourage it. I have been asked, hundreds of times since I
came to Canada, with reference to that, and I cannot encourage people
to go out there under the uiroumstances.

Expense of getting Q- Do you think it is owing to that, or is it not attributable to the
to Pri ■ ' - -

■ovinoe.

remoteness of that Province, and the exjiense of getting there compared
with going to eligible positions in Manitoba ? — A. The expense of getting
there is of course against us, but that objection would be very easily
overcome, if the people weie satisfied that the country was worth going
to. $50 or $60 would take a laboring man there — $10 steerage from San
Francisco to Victoria, and -¥40 or $f>0 to San Francisco.

Q. Then he has to pay for his living besides? — A. Well, it is very
cheap ; he could take a basket of provisions with him.

Q. I thought the lowest rate you could get there for was $70 1 — A.
No ; as I said before, these 6,000 Chinamen in British Columbia take the
place of two or three thousand families.

^emen°'aSd"fa™ Q- While you are paying wliite laborers high wages, .§60 or $70 a

hands. month, I think 1— A. Understand that is mostly for skilled axe-men who>

are used to felling large trees — they get $75 a month. The wages of

good farm hands — and this would be a pretty fair criterion — are about $45

a month.

100 per cent. Q. That is over 100 per cent, of what we give here for the best men?

-A. Yes.

Intelligence and Q- What is the class who are generally known as the white laboring

^to?i°n''dasshi °'^^^ ^ British Columbia ; I did not get the point quite explained ?— A.
British Columbia. The idea is this ; the class of men who go to settle up gold countries are
generally more intelligent than ordinary laborers, as we understand labo-
rers in Canada. They are generally a more intelligent and pushing class
who come out there. The white laboring class now in Victoria, for ins-
tance, is composed of those men who have come to the mines, who have
been mining for a number of years and have been unsuccessful, and they
have to fall back into the ranks of the laborers. These men very often are
strong, and they would rather starve than go to work alongside of a Chi-
naman.

Their labor only Q- Do these men intend to remain as laborers, or do they resort to

temporary. those occupations only temporarily 1~A. It is a temporary thing, if they

strike new diggings and can get along better in them, they propose to do
so. I do not think we have any of the ordinary white laborers ; the men
who will work anywhere and everywhere and on any work you put them

No ordinary white at. The laboring classes of Victoria are composed of men who are labo-

laborers in British ,.prB nf npr'ec<ji>\7

Colnmbia. ^^'^^ °'^ necessity.

Q. In that case would not the Chinese be indispensable, in case of S^^i^ ^^°^''"
geeat public works being undertaken in British Columbia 1 — A. Just as
soon as it is announced that public works are to be commenced in Bri-
tish Columbia we will have all the white labor we require, and we
should have a larger proportion than we have if we knew that the Chi-
nese were not to be employed on the works.

Q. How do the Chinese go to the mines ; on foot 1 — A. The cheapest Chinese too smart,
way they can. The fact is, gentlemen, thei Chinese are too smart for us.
They will beat us everywhere they get a foothold.

Q. That is the greatest objection to them on the part of the white Gi-oate.st objec-
population 1 — A I think it is.

Q. How does the ordinary Chinese laborer compare in point of intelli- Lower in intelli-
gence with the ordinary white laborer of this country 1 — A. Well, I think
he is a grade lower.

Q. You think that this labor is a little lower 'I — I think that it is a Rciif5ons.
good deal lower. You cannot get any class of white laborers that I know of
— that will for the sake of economy, pack themselves to the extent, say of
twenty persons in a room, ten by twelve, and sleeping three in a bed,
there being three tiers of beds one on top of the other, and all the house-
hold furniture in the house wherein 20 laborers live not being worth more
than the sum of $2.50.

Q. What is the general health of these people, under such circums- Their health, he-
, o . , „ . mi ■ , 1,1 • T It ,1 cause cleanly.

tances as you have mentioned ? — A. Their health is good tor the reason

that they are very cleanly. They wash themselves very regularly. They

could not live as closely as they do, in the hovels in which they dwell

were it otherwise. That would be out of the question.

Q. Do they ventilate their hovels properly ? Do they let in the fresh Impression of
.„,„,■'. . ~ 1 -J. ■ ■ i £ j-i, white persona as

air ? — A. The impression of a white person, on going into one ot the totheirresidences..

houses which they occupy, is at first against them ; but that is the pecu-
liar odorous result of the stuff which they eat ; it does not arise from
uncleanly habits or from effluvia coming from their bodies, but the odor
which is perceived, arises from the stuff which they eat. This odor is
besides mixed with the smell of tobacco and their tobacco is saturated
with a little opium ; and the smell of opium and tobacco and food
altogether, gives rise to the unfavorable impression to which I allude. Contrast of white.
There is another disadvantage to which their presence in our country
gives rise to. Say that you are a property holder and have a house to
let ■ if we had 6,000 white laborers in the country you would derive a
certain amount of rental from your property which in the aggregate 4nta?3^'"^^^
would make it something worth while, but it is not so in the case of Chi-
namen : they will rent a house standing on a piece of land, and they are
no sooner in possession of the dwelling, than they put up wings on each
side sufficient to keep out the wind and sun, and place people in all the
additional accomodations ; but they are not satisfied with that, if the land
is at all valuable, they will scoop it out and excavate cellars and place
people in these quarters ; then they will raise the roof and provide a room
in the garret, where they live closer than rats in a nest.

Q. And they also put their hogs and chickens in the house ; do they Jfjfjfl^J^g^
not ? — A. I never saw them keep their hogs in the house.

Cleanly people. Q. They keep their chickens in the house, however do they not? —

A. They put their chickens in the house in case a cold night comes on,
but not their hogs. I rather think they are a cleanly people, on the
whole they are much more cleanly than the ordinary white laboring
classes would be under similar circumstances.

Domestic service. Q. Do you employ any Chinese, Mr, Barnard? — A. The only China-
man whom T employ is a household servant.

Not stage drivers. Q You do not make use of them as stage drivers ?— A. No ; the Chi-
nese are of very liltle service about horses — they have not the nerve.

omes ic service. q j^^^ ^.^^ aware whether the Chinamen who are employed as domes-
tic servants sleep in the houses of dwellings where they are employed as
domestic servants, or not ? — A. Oh, yes ; they sleep in the houses where
they are employed. We have always made it a rule to require the Chinese
who are employed about the house to remain in the house during sleeping
hours. I have had a Chinese servant in my employ for three years.
This is the second Chinaman whom I have had for a similar period, and
I have never had more satisfaction out of a domestic servant in my life
than I have had out of these men.

Q. The Chinese are cleanly ? — A. The room of this man is a picture of
neatness, and he changes his socks every day ; as far as he is personally
concerned, he is extremely clean.

Q. He is a good cook 1 — A. Yes.

Their organization Q- The Chinese do washing and laundry work 1 — A. Yes ; in order to
astocmploymeni. give you a good idea of the organization which exists among them with
regard to the employments that they follow, I will relate a circums-
tance that has come under my notice. A gentleman who had been un-
fortunate in obtaining white household servants, applied for a Chinaman to
serve him in that capacity. The Chinaman in charge, to whom he made
his application, immediately turned over his books, and said to the gen-
tleman : " Your name is ?" — "Yes." "And you live at such a

place ?" — '' Yes ; I do." " You give too many dinners ; you have a lot
of men coming to see you every Sunday ; you give a big dinner every

Sunday ?"— " Yes." "Mrs. has three children?"—" Yes." In fact,

the gentleman found this Chinaman had in his books a complete register
of the whole of his family affairs, and at the end of the register, was set
down the price which he was required to pay in order to secure services
of a Chinaman. He also found that he could not get a Chinaman for
anything less, and on making enquiries he discovered that they had a
correct record, not of the standing of the servant who was to be em-
ployed, but of the standing of the masters who were to employ these men
as servants.

Mr. Dewdney says :

^Chinese tomigra- Q. Do you think, in your experience with, and knowledge of the Chi-

Xion might be j.i. j. ai, i. i i? • • . . . , ".

•overdone. nese, that they are such a class ot immigrants as it is desirable on the

part of, and in the interest of the Dominion, to encourage to come to the
country ? — A. I think that there may be too many of them in the Prov-
ince of British Columbia. It is possible that there are too many ; Chinese
immigration might be overdone.

Q. Is Chinese immigration at the present time overdone in the Prov- Not sg at present,
mce of British Colombia ?— A. I think not.

Q- Have you any authentic information with respect to the number of Dont knov;
Chinese who are in the country : have you any reliable information ™™^«''-
on this subject ?— A. No ; and I think there is none to be had.

Q. The only way, in all probability, of finding out the number of Chi- j^i' ^^ cosemS™
namen in the Province of British Columbia, and the industries in which
they are engaged, is to apply to the representatives of the different Mode of obtaining
Chinese companies who do business in British Columbia and obtain it ™'°™'^*i'"''
from them. In the report of the Senate of the United States or of Cali-
fornia, they appointed a sub-committee which waited on the representa-
tives of the Chinese companies, who gave the Committee as accurate
returns on this subject as their registers would afford, as to the number of
Chinamen in the country, and I presume that this is the only way, as
long as we are without official government sources of information, in
which this information could be obtained ? — A. You could get it approx-
imately.

Q. You think that the Chinese are a desirable class of people to have Chinese not desir-
around you ?— A. I do not think that they are a desirable class to have able but useftU.
amongst us, but they are very useful. I think that it would be a very
bad thing for us if we were without them at the present time in the Pro-
vince of British Columbia.

Q. If the Chinese charged the same rate for their labor as the whites Chinese preferable,
do, would they get work in the Province ?— A. Well, some of them would fabore™"*' "°* "'
get work, I think, under such circumstances. I believe that a great many
people would prefer them for certain employments. For instance, they
would prefer to have Chinese servants instead of white servants, but I do
not think they would prefer to employ Chinese over whites, as ordinary
laborers.

Q. The Chinese are more adapted for domestic purposes and for house
work than for other employments ? — A. Some of them who are trained to
that particular employment are so ; they make very good servants ; but a
great number of them are not fitted for house work at all ; they are very
good laborers ; they work very well on roads and on public works. as laborers.

Q. Is there a better class than the Chinese ? — A. The Indians.

Q. Are the Indians a better class than the Chinese ?-r-A. I do not Indian servants.
think that they are better, though very good servants are very often ob-
tained from among the Indians.

Q, Are the Indians equal to the Chinese ? — A. They are not equal to
the Chinese as domestic servants, but for some kinds of work they are
better than Chinamen.

Q. Has not the new industry in British Columbia — I refer to the can- Canning industry
ning industry — caused a great number of Chinamen to come into the rfe'd on without
Province ?- — A. A great many of them came into the Province owing to them,
the opening up of that industry, but a great many also went out again, I
think that pretty nearly the whole of them that came into the Province
in connection with the prosecution of this industry, went out again as far

as I can learn. I know that they were very useful in this relation. That
industry could not have been carried on without them.

Cleanly- Q. ^.re the Chinese cleanly in their habits ?— A. Yes, they are cleanly,

though they live packed very closely together ; a great number of them
will live in a very small house.

Q. If they are packed very thickly in their dwellings they cannot be
Xery cleanly in their habits ? — A. Yes, they are cleaner than the same
number of white men would be if the latter occupied the same space ; but,
at any rate, that is a matter which can akvays be regulated by the muni-
cipality affected. They have always boards of health, whose duty it is to
look into these questions and regulate them. But as a general thing, the
■Chinese quarters, people who own Chinese quarters, are very anxious to get as many of
them as possible into these quarters, as they then get a good deal more
rent for their properties.

Adaptation to
■ business.

Respectable Chi-
nese women.

Schools and
■ed 11 cation.

^heir object in
making money.

fChinese farming.

Q. Do the Chinese adapt themselves to business like other classes of the
community. That is, do they become agriculturists, mechanics and manu-
facturers 1 — A. Yes ; they work in the manufactories. They are employed
in making cigars and boots.

Q. They have very few families in the country ? — A. I think that good
respectable Chinese women would come to this country, but the idea
amongst them is that if they came they would be persecuted. I know of
several respectable Chinese women in the city of San Francisco ; several
Chinamen there have tlieir wives who are very respectable women.

Q. Do the Chinese Ijecome interested like other classes of the commu-
nity in the development of the resources of the country ; do they become
interested in our public institutions, — in our educational system for
instance — or in anything of that nature 1 — A. I do not know whether
any Chinese children come to our schools or not, but I know that young
Chinese are sent to the schools in the State of California. I also know
that the Chinese are very anxious to learn to I'ead and write and all that
sort of thing.

Q. Do you think that the Chinese in this country are solely desirous of
making a few hundred dollars, and of leaving the country with it ulti-
mately ; is that their main object 1 — A. I do not think that such is the
main object of the whole of them ; I think that large bodies of them who
come to our country are satisfied if they can make enough to go back on ;
I know Chinamen who have worked in this country for some three or four
years, who have wives and children in China, and they are very glad of
the opportunity of going back to their homes with a little money.

Q, None of the Chinese go to farming to any extent ? — A. No not to any
very large extent. I know some Chinese who own pretty large farms on
the Fraser river.

General teeling
against driving
them out.

Q. Do they raise cattle ? — A. They raise cattle and grain. They raise
a good deal of grain, and they have large market gardens.

Q. What is the general feeling in British Columbia with respect to the
presence of the Chinese in the country ? — A. I think that the general
feeling among the people who live in the Province is adverse to see them
driven out of the country.

XXXIX

Q. You think that the white people who reside there would not like to
see them driven out of the country 1 — A. Yes, I think so. That is the
case in my opinion.

Q. What is the feeling among the laboring population in British Co- Feeling of labor-
lumbia with respect to the Chinese ?— A. I think that it is very likely cSnele."^*''""'
that the feeling among the laboring men is against Chinamen. I think
that this would be very natural, and probably is the case.

Q. The feeling there is against them ? — A. Yes, so also is the feeling Politicians,
-of some politicians.

Q. Do you know any politicians in British Columbia who are favorable
to the immigration of the Chinese into this country ? — A. Well, I do not
know about that.

Q. Are any politicians in the Province favorable to Chinese immigra-
tion ? — A. I do not know that they are favorable to Chinese immigration
on a large scale ; but I do not think that they would object to seeing the
same proportion of Chinamen in the country at any time to the white
population that exists in the Province of British Columbia at the present
time. I do not think that they would object to the continuation of the
present state of things in this respect.

Q. Is the proportion of the Chinese one-quarter of the proportion of the Proportion.
Province 1 — A. No, it is not one-quarter.

Q. You say there are a few Chinamen in the Province who farm to some Farming,
extent 1 — A. Yes, I do.

Q. What number of acres of land would they have under cultivation?
— A. I know Chinamen who own farms of 160 acres, and of 200 acres.

Q. Have they all the appliances for farming like white people 1 — A. I
do not know whether they use as much machinery as the white farmers
do or not ; in fact, I do not think that they do so, but they cultivate their
land in the same manner.

Q. Are we to understand that these farms of 160 and of 200 acres are
wholly under cultivation? — A. The bulk of their land is under cultiva-
tion.

Q. What is the ordinary rate of wages that is paid to the Chinese Wages.
laborer in the Province of British Columbia per month ? — A. Well, to
what class of labor do you refer ?

Q. There is the laborer, and the mechanic and the trader, but the
white laborer I suppose is not expected to be a skilled mechanic, — the
laborer who uses the pick and shovel ? — A. I paid the sum of from $30
to $40 a month to Chinamen working on the roads.

Q. Was this latterly ? — A. No it was ten years ago.

Q. What is the rate which is now paid to Chinamen ? — A. I do not
know at what rate you could engage a body of Chinamen for, at the
present time ; it depends on the size of the work. If you wanted to

engage a large number of men, I should say that you could get them for
the rate of from $15 to .|20 a month.

Q. And board?— A. Yes, Chinese cooko get from |15, up to as high
as $50 a month.

Q. How do these rates compare with white labor ? — A. Some wriite
cooks get as high as $100 a month ; but there are very few white cooks.

Comparison with
white labor.

Q. Speaking of laborers what would the same class of laborers among
the white people ask as wages per day and per month ? — A. Whites
would ask as the price of their labor $40 a month.

Q, There is only $10 difference between the rates of wages paid to
whites and to the Chinese 1 — A. That is not the case between the labor I
speak of, I refer to labor employed in making roads and in constructing
public works. You would have to pay, I think, from $15 to $20 a month
if you engaged a large number of Chinese, while white men would get
$40 a month. I think that this is about the ordinary price of white
labor.

Farm wages. Q. What wages do farmers pay to their farm hands in the Province of

British Columbia ? — A. I have known farmers who pay their hands from
$50 to $60 and $70 a month. I have known them to pay Indians as much
as J:^ a day during the harvest season.

Bringing money
with them tnto the
country.

Mode ol living
when doing well.

Q. Is this lately 1 — A. Yes it was the case some two or three years
ago.

Q. Do you know any of them who bring money into the country, that
is are there any men of means among them 1 — A. The merchants bring
money with them, I believe ; many of them. Some of the ordinary class
of Chinamen may bring a little money with them when they come from
California ; they certainly bring none from China — the bulk of them.
Some of the merchants are very wealthy.

Q. What do they do with their money when they make it in British
Columbia ? Do they keep it in the country ? — A. If the Chinamen are
doing well at the mines, where many of them go, they live very well and
spend their money in the country. If they are doing well, they Kve very
well. If not, they live poorly on almost nothing. But if a Chinaman is.
making moiaey, he lives very nearly as well as a white man.

Nature of articles
consumed.

Chinese labor
desirable on
publie works.

Q. And then, as a rule, they spend all their money in the country 1 —
A. No ; I do not think that. A Chinaman may be doing very well, and
at the same time may be saving money to go home on.

Q. Do they use the same articles in their daily food as white men ; that
is, articles liable to duty 1 — A. Oh yes ; a great number of them.

Q. Tea 1 — A. Yes ; tea, sugar, rice, boots, clothing, etc.

Q. And if they are doing well, I understand, they live well ? A. They

live very well particularly if they can get pigs and chickens.

Q. In the event of large public works being carried on here in a year
or two, and a large number of men being required, do you suppose- it

would be an attraction to the Chinese population to come in from Cali-
fornia in greater numbers than whites from other points t — A.' I think it
would ; I think there would be an inducement, and unless Chinese immi-
gration were restricted, contractors would look for that kind of labor,
because on that western coast it is a desirable class of labor ; — in a country
where there are mining operations starting up in every direction. You ^hitelalM)r°not to.
cannot depend on the white labor ; they run off to the mines and leave be depended on.
the employer in the lurch, and the only labor they can depend upon is the
Chinese labor.

Q. Would the employment of this labor be prejudicial to the settlement prehidicSiito'
of the country ? — A. I do not think it would ; I think if public works settlement of
were going on to an extent to employ two or three thousand Chinamen at <-'0"ntiT.
work of such a character that white men are not better capable of doing,
there would still be a sufficient amount of work for all the white laborers
that might be wanted.

Q. Do they employ Chinese as servants 1 — A. Yes.

Chinese servant!

Q. Judges also ? — Yes, almost all the respectable people in Victoria Judges.
employ Chinese servants.

Q. What is the reason they employ the Chiiaese? — A. Because they Better servants.
find they make better servants than the white people.

Q. It is not because of an absence of female and male white domestics ? d™ese strike.
— A. Well I think not, to a certain extent. Once, at the time that the
arbitrary Act was passed by the Local Government, which was disallowed
by Judge Gray, all the Chinese servants struck in Victoria. There was
not one who did not leave his employment, and they were away long
enough for the parties who employed them to send to California for other
servants ; and the report of this complication on reaching San Francisco,
induced a lot of people to come up there and offer themselves, but they
were not engaged, and as soon as the case was decided by Judge Gray,
they all returned to their employment, and there were very few who did
not take them back again.

Q. Did the employers of the Chinese as household seivants treat them rrcatment.
well 1 — A. I think they treated them very well.

Q. Were the Chinamen well pleased with their wages iind treatment ?
— A. I think so.

Q. You say the Local Government passed an Act levyin;;- a labor tax Local act.
on the Chinese ? — A. Yes ; they levied a kind of tax.

Q. Will you state to the Committee whether you think the Chinese ,^™'^[ij.^|™
showed gratitude or ingratitude towards their employers on leaving so
suddenly and without notice ?— A. Well, I think that they certainly
showed that they believed they were being imposed on.

Q. Do you think that an Act of a Legislature imposing a high tax on Witness opinion-
Chinamen is a sufficient cause for Chinese domestic servants to leave
their employers and put them to serious inconvenience 1 — A. An arbitrary
tax like that — I think so. I think it is a very natural way for the
Chinese to fight their battle. I am not sure it was not done from ins- On tiie striite.
tructions received from the Chinise Minister in London.

Do as to white. Q jf t]jg Provincial Government imposed a tax that was considered

too high upon the white population, do you think the white population
would leave their employment simply because the Government imposed
such a tax ? — A. It depends on how high it was. If it is in the sa,jue
proportion as the tax on the Chinamen, I think they would leave very
quickly.

Q. You think thej wouM leave good employment 1 — A. I think they
would if the tax was as heavy as that one was. I have seen men strike
for much less cause than that.

Q. You think then that the Chinese, when they struck and left families
destitute of household servants, did right. Is that what the Committee
are to understand 1 — A. I think that they did what white people would
have done in the same position.

Learning English
language.

Q. Do the Chinese learn the English language l-
them do.

-A. Oh yes, many of

Ohinese immi- Q. Probably that may be the reason you have to go the head men to

pa^gebutnof "^ make bargains? — A. It has always been more convenient. My idea is

slaves. that they bring Chinamen out after collecting a number of them and pay

their passage to America. In that way the Chinamen are always indebted

to these men, and they have to work until they get out of their debt. I

do not know that they are regular slaves — I do not think they are.

SenuS BriUs'h°' *^- ^® ^^^^re employment for white labor to any extent now in British
Columbia. Columbia / — A. Not very much I think.

Q. Do white people leave in case they cannot find employment? —
A. Yes ; there are some leaving every year.

Q. If these 6,000 Chinamen were not there, they would be able to get
it ? — A. These 6,000 Chinamen are not working as laborers ; over three-
fourths of them are mining on their own account at places where white
people would not work.

I think the leason respectable women do not emigrate more is that
they are afraid of persecution.

Three fourths of
Chinese works
where white
laborers would
not.

Honesty.

Should not be
prohibited.

Not hold lands in
fee simple.

Reasons why

Senator Cornwall, .says :

Q. Ak to the males, are they honest ? — A. As far as my experience
goes they are, at least, as honest as other classes of people.

Q. Do you tliink it would be in the public interest to prohibit them
from settling in the Dominion ? — A. No, I do not ; not to prohibit them
from coming into the Dominion.

Q. You think they ought to be allowed to settle in the Dominion as
permanent settlers 1 — A. I should not object to their coming in, but I
should object to their holding land in fee simple.

Q. Why? — A. Because I do not think that a people who will not
perfectly assimilate with a western population ought to be allowed as
settlers on land — as permanent residents of the country : to own lands
on equal terms with people of other nationalities.

XLIII

Q. Supposing they were colonized altogether, would they not be a use- industrious,
"ful class of citizens, and contribute to the revenue of the country as well
as other citizens ? — A. Yes, to a very large extent ; they are most
industrious.

Q. Are they cleanly in their habits ? — A. As far as my knowlege goes, cieanJy.
they are particularly cleanly in their habits.

Q. Do they make good servants 1 — A. Excellent servants. Servants.

Q. Do they mingle with the rest of the community in public enter- Payment of taxes,
prises, and assist in permanently developing the country ; that is, in con-
tributing their fair proportion of the taxes ^— A. I have heard that there
is some difficulty in collecting taxes from them, but I have never known
them to refuse to pay a tax that they were called upon to pay.

Q. Well, what is the objection to them over other citizens- — do they Wagss.
work cheaper ? — A. Very little, if at all. The proof of that is the rate
of wages which they receive — which they always command.

Q. Why don't you employ Chinese labor t — A. Because I find I can Prefer white men.
get white men for ordinary labor at the same rate of wages as Chinamen,
and would rather have white men.

Q. And when you cannot get white men you employ Indians 1 — A.
Yes, that is the case. Indians are always on the spot, and you can
always have them when you want them. They are there in the neigh-
borhood, and I can get the services of either one or a dozen if I want
them at any time.

Q. Then, in the interior it would be as expensive for you to get Chinese expensive taae
laborers as white laborers ? — A. Yes, I think so. inferior.

Q. Theii' wages are not so high in the larger towns 1 — A. Not quite so in town wages
high. They certainly work for a little less than the white men.

Q. As a rule, do the Chinamen accumulate any property there — I mean They accumulate
any that would be taxable ?— A. Yes, they have personal property; a taxable property,
great many of them have horses, stock, etc.

Q. Do these goods pay taxes ?— A. Yes, there is a tax on personal Pay '"-xes.
property — a provincial tax.

Q. As a rule, do they put their money into property, or keep it in Investment,
currency 1 A. I don't think they put much into property.

Q. As a rule, are they residents, or only what may be called denizens Tempora^resi-
of the towns, living there temporarily ?— A. As a rule, they live there
temporarily.

Q. Is that not their idea, that they go- there just for a time ? — A. It
may be, just the same as the idea of all visitors to a new country.

Q. Are they a migrating class of people, moving from one part of the Migrating.
Province to another 1 — A. They move a good deal from one portion of the
Province to another.

Seeking employ-

Q. Why ? — A. In search of employment. ment.

XLIV

Not allowed
franchise.

Effect of.

Not expedient.

Why.

yarm.

Lire well.

Q. Do you say that a Chinaman who holds property is not allowed to.
exercise his franchise ? — A. Fe is not.

Q. Is that not an arbitrary law ? — A. I think it is.

Q. There is no encouragement for them to become property holders ? —
A. No.

Q. Unless they are allowed the same privileges as other citizens they
are not likely to become so ? — A. No.

Q. Do you think, Mr. Cornwall, that the country would be justified in
admitting the Chinese to exercise the franchise? — A. That is one of those
very difficult questions to answer. You can look at it in two ways.
Perhaps, as a matter of expediency, it is better that they should not.

Q. Why not ? — A. Because from their ignorance of our institutions and'
our language, it is impossible for them to inform themselves so as to give
an intelligent vote.

Q. Are there any Chinese located near you as farmers ? — A. Yes.

Q. Where 1 — A. There is one Chinese farmer about fifteen mile.s from,
where I live.

Q. Do the Chinese in the interior consume much beef ? — A. Yes ; they
live very well when they have the means.

Q. Are they large purchasers of beef 1 — A. Yes, they always buy beef>

Q. Are you aware whether they consume as much per man as white
men "i — A. I do not think they do. Their favorite animal food is pork
(something like the Western States people) and poultry.

Q. Do they buy their pork from the pork-growers, or do they grow if
themselves? — A. They do both. They buy a great deal from other-
farmers.

Q. Do they use much flour 1 — A. Yes ; they always use flour.

Q. In large quantities 1 — A. I could hardly say.

Q. Do they use rice 1 — A. Yes.

Q. Which do you think they use most of, rice or flour 1 — A. Rice, I
think.

Q. Where does their rice come from ; is it Chinese rice ? — A. I think it
is Chinese rice.

Q. Do they use much sugar 1
of sweet things.

-A. Yes, I think so. They are very fond

Q. Where does their sugar come from ?— A. I suppose it is the sugar-
that is generally used in the country.

Q. Is it Chinese sugar or Island sugar ?— A, I think it is Sandwich
Island sugar, or that from the refineries of San Francisco.

Q. They buy it from the merchants, do they ?— A. Yes; from the
Chinese merchants.

XLV

t

Q. Do they deal with each other 1 — A. Yes, somewhat extensively in
Victoria.

Q. Are they as clannish in that way, and do they give their patronage
to their own friends 1 — A. Yes ; I should think they were ; they are very
much the same as other people in that respect.

Q. Are they industrious ? — A. Yes ; they are always at their work. industrious.

Q. Are they peaceable citizens 1 — A. Very. Peaceable.

Q. If public works — the Pacific Railway, for instance — were cons- Public works,
tructed in British Columbia, what would be the effect upon the cost if
Chinese labor were to be employed ? — A. On Provincial works?

Q. No; the Pacific Railway, for instance ?— A. I should look at the On c.P.R.Domi-
1 1- ciTi. T1111-1- nion ana provm-

question this way ; In the interest ot the Province, 1 should tnuik it cial interest.

would be better for white people to be emploped ; in the interest of the

Dominion it would be better to employ Chinese, if they could be got

cheaper than white people.

Q. Your idea is that it would not be much cheaper to build the Pacific Cash.
Railway by means of Chinese labor ? — A. My idea is that it would not be
much cheaper.

Q. Suppose three or four million dollars were to be expended on public Public works.
works, and there were an advertisement for three or four thousand
laborers, what proportion of Chinese do you suppose would be employed ;
do you suppose they would be more likely than other classes to rush into
the country to obtain this labor 1 — A. I do not think so.

Q. Is there any fear of a very large propprtion of them coming there
in the event of public works being projected? — A. I suppose if they were
sure of getting permanent employment at a certain rate of wages, you
might be able to find a sufficient number for a large work.

Q. Would it not be expected that white people would rush in as fast as white laborers,
the Chinese 1 — A. I should think you could always obtain a sufficient
number of white laborers.

Q. Are they temperate as a rule ? — A. As far as I know they are. Temperate.

Q. More so than the whites ? — A. Oh, much more. I do not think I More so than
have ever seen an intoxicated Chinaman. No doubt there are such, but
I have not seen any.

Q. What do you think is the general opinion of the people of British g^f^°|'>^gS
Columbia, with regard to allowing them to settle permanently in the them holding

Province? A. I thing the feeling against their settling permanently ^^'*'^^^"'®'*-

would be very strong against their occupying lands — against their holding
lands in fee simple.

Q Is the objection to the Chinese confined to the white laboring objection to con-
classes, or is it felt by most men ?— A. I think it is confined to the white j^Xring'da^es.
lahoring classes.

' Q. They are a little jealous, I suppose ? — A. Yes ; I think that is the
origin of the feeling amongst them.

Ohinese make
money.

-A. I think some of them make a

Spend same in
sountry.

Local legislation.

Q. Do some of them make money %-
good deal of money.

Q. What do they do with it — spend it in the country or take it away 1
A. Those who have been in my employ, and of whom I can speak with
confidence, have spent very much in the country. I have often known
them to be very liberal when asked to contribute to different objects.
They always clothe themselves uncommonly well, and provide themselves
with such comforts as are supposed to be necessary. They always have
good watches, and all that sort of thing. In these respects they compare
most favorably with the ordinary class of white people.

Q. Has the Legislature of British Columbia taken any steps to prohibit
them coming into the country ? — A. Yes ; there were some very stringent
steps taken about a year ago.

Q. In what shape 1 — A. In the way of imposing a, very heavy special
yearly tax upon Chinamen.

Q. A discriminating tax 1 — A. Yes.

Q. Was that constitutional ? — A. It was found by the Supreme Court
of British Columbia that it was not constitutional.

Q. Not by the Supreme Court, but by one of the judges of that court T
— A. The judge of the Supreme Court is the Supreme Court.

Chinese have not Q. If the Chinamen had not come to British Columbia, do you think

lettlement. more white people would have come to settle down with their families and

cultivate the soil 1 — A. No ; I have no reason to think so.

Q. Your agricultural experience does not lead you to think that ? — A.
No.

Vives.

Vhite labor i
emand.

'arm wages of
^hite men.

Q. Have you heard miners or other people complain that they could
not get wives ? — A. I do not know whether I have or not.

Q. I suppose white labor is in good demand there? — A. It is.

Q. What is the rate per month for farm hands ? — A. In my part of
the country ?

Q. Yes ; or any other part of the country 1 — A. I have two men per-
manently on my farm ; one gets $50 a month for the year round, and the
other $45 a month.

Q. With board or without ? — A. With board.

Q. Are those white men or Chinamen 1 — A, White men.

Q. Have they families ? — A. No.

Q. So, then, they have no other privilege but what you speak of — I
mean they do not keep horses or a co'w ?--A. They are found in every-
thing they require.

Q. Is that the average rate of wages for white men ? — A. Yes ; that is
in my neighborhood. Many men get more than that, but perhaps for
only a few months in the summer.

Could white men going there get employment at these rates ?— A. No; Chinese household
not so much. I have two Chinamen employed as household servants ; ^ereants.
one of them gets $35 and the other |30 a month.

Q. Do you know what rate of wages Chinamen get when employed on Wages aK (arm
the farm 1 — A. Very much the same. I have known Chinamen to get '^'*"*^-
more than $45 a month on farms ; they were exceptionally good hands.

Q. Were they employed throughout the summer ? — A. Yes ; during
the farming season.

Q. Do you employ Chinamen for irrigation on the farm ? — A. Yes ; Trrigation.
they are employed a good deal in that way.

Q. Do they make good agricultural hands t — No ; not generally. Not good agricul-

turalists.

Q. They do not understand the work i — A. They are wonderfully pains-
taking, of course, and for certain work they would be useful, but not for
the general uses that you require a man for in a new country. You
require a man who can turn his hand to anything.

Q. They are very imitative ? — A. Very imitative. They are wonder- imitatve good
fully good gardeners. The way in which they make lands produce in the gardeners.
neighborhood of a town where they may start market-gardening is some-
thing extraordinary. Before the Chinamen went into that sort of work
in the neighborhood of Victoria, I never knew a town that was more
badly supplied with market vegetables ; and since they have taken up vegetable supply
gardening there I never knew a town better supplied. They have a ™ victoria,
climate there in which they can produce vegetables all the year round,
if sufficient care is taken in the cultivation of the soil.

Q. Are you aware whether the farmers around Victoria complain of Farmers com
Chinese competition 1 — A. Yes ; I have heard that complaint.

plain.

Q. And have you heard the statement that they were almost prohibited Deficiency vege-
from making any sales of vegetables in the city 1 — A. I have heard that "^ elore.
complaint continually. But what I have said just now is really the case,
that until Chinamen took up that sort of work in Victoria, there were
hardly any vegetables in the markets.

Q. And they were, therefore, an acquisition ? — A. Quite an acquisition. Acquisition.

By the Chairman .

Q. That is news to me, and I have been there twenty-one years ? —
A. I have been there seventeen years, and I am sure that before the
Chinamen came there, there were no vegetables to be got to speak of.

Q. Have you visited the jail in Victoria 1 — A. No. Jail.

Q. Have you visited the Penitentiary ? — A. Yes. Penitentiary.

Q. Have you seen a larger portion of the prisoners to have been Proportion.
Chinese than white people 1 — A. No.

Q. Are they more subject to larceny or other crimes than the white Larceny.
people ? — A. No ; not so far as my knowledge goes.

XLVIII

Chinese law-
abiding.

Q. Are they as much ? — A. No ; I think the Chinese are exemplary in
that respect. It is very seldom that there is a charge made against a
Chinaman. They seem to me to be a law-abiding class.

Q. You have never leved in Cariboo. — A. No.

Difference of
treatment.

Q. You have never had any knowledge of the burglaries and robberies
that have been committed by Chinamen 1 — No. I know this, that if an
unfortunate Chinaman commits anything of that sort he is bounded down,
not by the Chinese but by the whites. If a Chinaman was supposed to
have committed a crime of any sort he would be followed by white men
of a certain class, who would make a point of running him down if they
possibly could ; but if one of their own fellows was guilty of a like offense,
the whites I speak of would seldom think of acting in the same way
towards him.

Working classes
and politieiang
^gaints them.

Q. What is the general feeling in British Columbia as to the desirability
of discouraging Chinese immigration ? — A. I should think that the feeling
against the Chinese is widely spread. The employers of labor and the
better classes in British Columbia recognize the advantage of having the
Chinese there ; but the working classes, aided by politicians have raised
the cry against them.

Preference (or
white labor.

Q. Does it not appear strange that the farmers on Vancouver Island
who want hands should not employ Chinese? — A. I don't think so at
all. The reason is just as I said before. Where there is not much
difference in the rate of wages you have to give, anybody would naturally
rather employ white labor. The whole of the facts regarding this
question go to show that there is really no ground of complaint on the
part of workmen and that wherever they can, employers of labor employ
white men in preference to Chinamen.

!^hinesc are
aborers.

Tery law-abiding
■lass.

Chinese houses in
he country clean
,nd nice.

Q. Do you know of any Chinese having erected factories in British
Columbia ? — A. No ; I do not remember. The Chinese there are simply
laborers, (fee, and their coming and going is regulated by supply of and
demand for labor.

I should say that the Chinese are a law-abiding class. They are perhaps
the most law-abiding class T have come in contact with. It is rare that
there is any serious crime laid to their charge ; we have often heard rumors
that they are very immoral in a way that is unmentionable. But this is
merely a rumor, as I understand ; nobody knows anything abont it.

Q. Will you give us an idea of the habits of the Chinese ; have you
been in their houses : — A. I have been in different Chinese houses ; I
have not been in any of their houses in the towns, which, I understand, are
inhabited closely. The Chinese rooms that I have been in have always
been as clean and nice as possible.

■olice reports The Chairman Mr. De Cosmos. — The best criterion that the committee

lST, &^°"'''' °°^^^ ^^^^ respecting the morality of the Chinese, and whether they are
pcommanded by offenders against the laws or not, would be the reports of the Police
hinese. Courts, the Supreme Court, the Assizes, (fee. ; I think it is desirable that

we should obtain these renorts.

.ggravated
ssault

Q. You have never lived in a. part of the country where there was a
large section of Chinese population settled ? — A. No ; I have not. . One

of the charges more frequently made against the Chinamen is that of
•aggravated assault. They are perhaps oftener charged with that than any
other offence ; that is owing to their impulsive nature. They will seize
whatever comes nearest to their hands and strike their opponent with it ;
m that way they often get into trouble. I have never known a case of
that kind maliciously premeditated. The offence of a Chinaman is seldom
overlooked.

Q. Nor would it be overlooked in the case of a white man, if a white Treatment,
man were subject to the same charge ? — A. The class who have signed the
petition would not overlook the case of a Chinaman charged in that way,
while they continually do so when one of their own number so offends.

Q. That is the class on which society is built 1 — A. I should say, so Society.
much the worse for society.

Q. Is there any other rock on which society is built than the laborer 1 Floating laborera.
— A. Floating laborers — those who live from hand to mouth and move
from country to country.

Q. I do not refer to floating laborers ; I mean the laborers of British British Colnmbia
Columbia ? — A. I should say the laborers of British Columbia were not ">igratory.
the rocks on which society is built ; they are essentially a migratory class.

RESULTS.

If personal prejudice and feeling be eliminated from this evidence, it is Resaultofevi-
impossible not to admit that as a laboring class the preponderence is not ractCT.*^ o c a-
agaimst the Chinese. They are stated to be honest in their dealings,
industrious, sober, peaceable and law-abiding, frugal and cleanly, and when Dome
doing well to live well, consuming the same articles and goods, as do the ^^''^'^"'*-
white laborers, thereby equally contributing with them to the revenue. Non competion
That as domestic servants they are quite as good if not preferable. That tries.^ ' ^ ™ "^
they do not compete or interfere with lumbering, farming, or any skilled
industry, and that even in market gardening they could be beaten by the
whites, if the latter were willing to work as hard, as shown by the ins-
tance of the Italian gardeners in San Francisco. That the preference Preference in
throughout the whole Province is in favor of white labor, and the proceeds iabo/it'obteTn-""
of white industry, if brought within the purchasing power of those who able.
have to pay, but that the wages demanded by the white laborers are such Too expensive,
as few persons can afford to give ; that the great canning industry of the
Province could not have been carried on without them. That they utilize Utility.
and draw returns from grounds that the whites would not till, and from
mines which they have abandoned.

That the white laboring classes themselves, the moment they become Blue Monday,
contractors are the first to employ the Chinese as laborers, and that the
manufacturers prefer them, because they have no "Blue Mondays." That To be depended
in mining countries on great public undertakings they are more to be °"'
depended on, as the white laborers rush off to the mining grounds, when
they hear of a successful " strike," whereas the Chinese do not ; — and that Presence useful
up to this time their presence in the Province had been most useful, if not
indispensible.

The conclusions of the Committee must have been in accord with the
evidence, for after sitting for weeks, and hearing all that the representa-

tives of British Columbia could say upon the subject, and all the evidence-
they could bring, the Report signed by the Chairman from British Colum-
bia, simply recommends "that Chinese emigration ought not be encour-
aged. "That Chinese labor ought not be employed on Dominion Public
Works." Anything more faintly condemnatory could hardly have been
put.

The question was not, should Chinese immigration be encouraged, but
should the coming of the Chinese into the country be prevented. Had it
been injurious or not 1 Did the state of the country admit doing without
it ? No one desired to encourage Chinese immigration, but under all the
aud character of circumstances was it better for the country to be without it 1 Had the
Report. Country's material prosperity been advanced or retarded by it ? On these

points with all this evidence before it, with all that, the British Columbia
members could bring, or by examination elicit from the witnesses, the
Committee, with its Chairman, a member from British Columbia, most
carefully abstain from the expression of an opinion.

Such is the only evidence that up to this time, has been laid before the
Parliament and the country.

It will have again to be considered in connection with the evidence
taken by this Commission in British Columbia.

CHAPTER 4.

Evidence in B. C. We now submit the evidence taken in British Colnmbia by the Com-
missioners in the order in which it was given and received. It will be
found to cover the objections raised in the Petition to the Parliament,
and in the interrogatories directed to persons residing in British Colum-
bia. The answers to the written interrogatories were returned after
the lapse of several weeks. In some instances, answers were accom-
panied with written requests that they should not be used. An embargo
having thus been laid on their practical utility, the Commissioners have
not felt justified in including them in the return to the Commission.
There may have been private reasons affecting their personal interests
which induced the writers to make such requests, and as the evidence
sought was intended to be the spontaneous expression of the people of the
Province, without fear of any injurious consequences, these requests had
to be regarded.

Prom numbers to whom the questions were addressed no answers have
been received, for reasons it must be presumed satisfactory to them-
selves.

Points to which
Questions are
directed.

The questions it will be perceived are directed to the following points ■-

1. The class of immigrants from China.

2. As to their state of health on arrival.

3. As to their being a burden on the people of the Province from want,
sickness or otherwise.

4. 5 and 6. Their habits, as to industry, sobriety, economy, obedience

LI

to law and fidelity to contracts, or interference with the whites, by
-Gompetition and otherwise in the labor market.

7, 8 and 9. As to their first reception in the Province, the want they
supplied, and the period when, and by whom, the agitation against them
first commenced, and by what classes it is now carried on.

10. As to their habits being injurious to the ])ublic morals or public
health.

11, 12 and 13. As to the effect of their presence on the development of
the Province, whether longer necessary or desirable, and the effect upon
the comfort and prosperity of the people, should they leave, or be driven out.

14, 15 and 16. As to what number in proportion to the whites would
be for the best interest of the Province, and what would be the effect upon
the introduction of capital, if the supply of domestic servants was depend-
ent upon those coming from Europe or America.

17, 18 and 19. Whether there should be an expulsion of those here, or
restriction or regulation of their further immigration, or could an effectual
supply of white labor be obtained by the combined effort of the Province
and its Legislature with equal advantage to the province.

20, 21 and 22. As to whether there be steady remunerative work for
white people in the Province, what the effect of opening up tbe railway
Belt has been, or whether the presence of the Chinese has retarded white
immigration,

23, 24 and 2.5. What effect their presence has had upon the morals of
the people.

26 and 27. As to knowledge of leprosy, or other general information.

These questions it will be observed afford the broadest latitude of en-
quiry, and an opportunity for the statement of facts, or expression of
opinion to the fullest extent, the person answering may desire to go. They
were intentionally framed so as to give this latitude and to elicit the most
unrestricted information. They were further accompanied and strength-
ened by the general invitation given by the Commissioners at the opening
of the Commission in Victoria, and duly published, to all parties to come
forward and place before the Commissioners orally, or by writing, their
views on the subject ; enabling those who, from sensitiveness, sickness or
other causes, were unwilling to come forward in public, to convey their
opinions as well as those more accustomed to public life.

The total nnmber who came forward or replied was 51, as in the follow-
ing list : —

Witnesses :

1. John Westhrop Carey, Victoria, Mayor.

2. Charles T. Bloomfield, " Superintendent of Police.

3. John Heam, " Sergeant of Police.

4. Hon. A. E. B. Davie, " Attorney-General.

5. Dr. Helmcken, " R. C. Surgeons, London.

6. Charles Wilson, Cariboo, Barrister.

7. W. K. Bull, Victoria, Tax Collector.

8. John Jessop, " Provincial Immigration Agent.

9. Hon. John Robson, Victoria, Provincial Secretary.

10. W. Tuckfield,

11. Eichard Jones, Provincial Tax Collector.

12. Sir M. B. Begbie, Chief Justice, B. C.

13. Joseph Metcalf, Jr., Nanaimo.

14. Robert Ward, Victoria, Commission Merchant.

15. James Young, Nanaimo.

16. R. F. Johns, South Saanich, M. P. P., Farmer.

17. E. Stevenson, M. D., Victoria, College Ph. <fe Sur. Ontario.

18. Benjamin M. Pearse, " formerly Surveyor Gen'l.

19- Thomas E. Ladner, New Westminster, Eraser Riv. Salmon Can-
nery.

20. John Laity, Maple Ridge, Farm laborer.

21. John Tremblath, " Farmer.

22. J. W. Innis, Bsquimalt, Naval Storekeeper, H. M. Dockyard.

23. W. H. Ladner, Ladner's Landing, Eraser River, Salmon Can-
nery.

24. Wm. C. Ward, Victoria, Manager Bank B. C.

2.5. James B. Kennedy, New Westminster, Lumberman.

26. Robert Scott, Nanaimo, Wellington Collieries.

27. William Moresby, New Westminster, Gaoler.

28. John Bryden, Nanaimo, Wellington Collieries.

29. Mathew Trotter Johnson, Victoria, Merchant.

30. W. B. Adair, Eraser River, British American Packing Co.
:U. D. R. Lord,

32. E. V. Bodwell, Victoria Railway Accountant.

33. W. J. Armstrong, New Westminster, Sheriff.

■S4. Samuel M. Robins, Nanaimo, Superintendent Vancouver Coal
Company.

35. John Tindal, Victoria.

36. Michael Haney, Yale, Irishman, Superintendent C. P. R.

37. W. Stephenson, Forks Quesnelle.

38. Rev. Philip Dwyer, Victoria, Killaloe Cathedral, Ireland.

39. Robert Dunsmuir, M. P. P., Victoria, Proprietor Wellington
Mines.

40. J. Dawson, Nanaimo, J. P.

41. David Wm. Gordon, M. P., Nanaimo, Contractor and Builder.

42. Hon. Mr. Justice Crease, Victoria, British Columbia, Supreme
Court.

43. Andrew Onderdonk, C. P. Railway Contractor.

44. Emily Wharton, Victoria, L. E. V

45. C. T. Dupont, " Inspector Inland Revenue.

46. Hon. M. T. Drake, " President Ex. Co. B. C.

47. Knights of Labor, Nanaimo, No. 3017.

48. John A. Bradley, Victoria.

49. Huang-Sic-Chen, Chinese Consulate San Francisco.

50. Gilbert Malcolm Sproat, Essayist.

.51. R. O'Brien, M. D., Nanaimo, President N. Tra. Association.

The following are the questions : —

1. What classes of people come here as emigrants £i-oiri China? Are
they chiefly laborers, mechanics or traders ?

2. When they arrive here, do they usually arrive in good health and
fit for work ?

?i. Have you any system of public poor relief, and do they often
become a burden on that fund, or upon the private charity of white
citizens ?

4. Are they industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding or are
they lazy, drunken, extravagant or turbulent 1 Please answer this ques-
tion fully.

5. Do they respect their engagements with white men, and carry out
their contracts 1

6. Do they show any disposition to interfere with the prospects of the
white population in any way beyond the competition whieh they oifer in
the labor market 1

7. When the Chinese first came to this Province, did they supply a
want then felt, and was their coming encouraged and welcomed 1

8. Up to what period did that feeling continue 1

9. When did the agitation against the Chinese begin, and what class
or classes of people began it, and what classes are now carrying it
forward ?

10. Is there anything in their habits or mode of living injurious to the
public peace, or to the public health 1 Please answer this question fully.

11. Has the presence of Chinese contribnted to the development of the
Province 1

12. Is their presence here any longer necessary or desirable ?

13. What would be the effect upon the comfort and prosperity of the
people of this Province, if they were to go hence voluntarily or other-
wise ?

14. Are not a certain number necessai-y, and if so, how many ?

15. What proportion (if any) should Chinese immigration bear to the
immigration of white people in order to advance the best interests of the
colony and provide for the comfort of the people now here, or those who
may come here ?

16. What would be the efiect upon immigration into this colony of
persons with capital, if the supply of domestic servants depended upon the
number of such coming from Europe or other parts of America 1

17. Is it your opinion that the present Chinese residents should be
forced to leave this Province, or the further advent of others should be

prevented, or merely that the numbers coming should be regulated in
some manner, as to the number and choice of such emigrants 1

18. What manner would you suggest should be adopted to restrict or
regulate their coming 1

19. Would a combined effort on the part of the people of this Province
and its Legislature, to encourage white immigration, and discourage the
employment of Chinese, effectually furnish a supply of white labor,
exclude Chinese immigration and at the same time develop the natural
resources of the colony as speedily and safely as they are now being
developed ?

20. Can white people now find remunerative employment here and
steady work, and is such remuneration adequate to support and clothe
and educate their families and make reasonable provision for old age ?

21. Has not the opening up of the public lands reserved for railway
purposes had a material effect on the immigration of settlers to this
Province ?

22. Has white immigration been retarded by the presence of Chinese
immigrants in this Province ?

23. What personal observations have you made as to the effect of the
Chinese upon the morals of the white people, and are they more injurious
than white people of similar or allied habits.

24. Is the proportion of depraved and immoral people amongst the
Chinese here greater than amongst white population in other places
similarly situated, where the Chinese are not found 1

25. Do the vicious and depraved flaunt their vice and depravity more
openly or more effectually than do white people in similar classes ?

26. What personal knowledge have you of the presence of leprosy
amongst them and have you any personal knowledge of leprosy being
communicated from them to the whites, and if so, how many instances
ajid under what circumstances ?

27. Can you give any statistical or other information, or furnish any
facts bearing on the general question now being considered by the
commission, which will facilitate its work, or make its labors more
complete ?

Though several of the objections to which the above enquiries were
directed will hereafter require and receive separate and distinct consider-
ation, it may be said that the conclusions deducible from the whole
evidence so taken by the commissioners in British Columbia as well as
from their personal observations and enquiries agree with those, to be
drawn from the evidence taken before the Committee of the House of
Commons in 1879.

There is the same preponderating testimony as to the sobriety, indu stry
and frugality of the Chinese as manual laborers, and the reliance to be
placed upon their performance of contracts. There is at the same time

■evidence of the great antipathy of race, and the undoubted preference for General result.

■white labor throughout the Province, with a difference of opinion as to

the benefit hitherto derived from their presence, and the necessity of its

continuance. With one or two marked exceptions, the preponderance is

in favor of restrictions upon their future advent in large numbers,

leaving alone those who are now in the Province ; but a close inspection

of the evidence, shows the conclusions on one side, to be the result of

J)ractical observation and experience m connection with the actual circum^

stances of the country, the other to be more or less theoretical, and the

result of long engendered prejudice, natural enough perhaps with minds

brooding on ideal perfection, but not in accordance with human nature

or the habits of mankind even in the most civilised countries.

The habits and modes of life of the Chinese are in many respect objec-
tionable, their religious practices idolatrous and offensive, their sordid
desire for the accumulation of money and hoarding it up injurious, but
these same faults are to be found among other people, and if all were
excluded against whom such charges could be brought, the population of
British Columbia would be extremely limited.

The soundest legislation in a free country is that which based on the Sound legislation,
highest moral principles, at the same time recognizes the existence of the
frailties and errors of mankind, and so frames its enactments that it will
accomplish the greatest good attainable for the, greatest number though
it may not be all the good that might be desired. You cannot straight-
lace a free nation.

CHAPTER 5.

OPIUM SMOKINO AND PROSTITUTIO.X.

At the end of the Long Drive in the Royal Park at Windsor, about
two miles from the Castle, on the spot where four roads met, forty years
ago there stood, and it may stand there yet, a monument erected by the
late King George the IV., to his father George the III. It was sur- §|°J|^^^|JJ.*"
mounted with the figure of the old king, and bore this inscription ;

" Pius filius Optimo Patri.'

The relations between father and son from youth to age hardly war-
ranted this descriptive tribute. Either History or the monument must
tell an untruth.

It, however, clearly indicates one suggestion, that to arrive at truth, ^J^*™'J^^"°" °^
we must examine the characters of those who give characters to them-
selves or others, as well as the characters of those to whom the characters
are given. The Italian proverb tells us, " Every medal has its reverse."

We are, therefore, in the present instance to examine not only the
•characters given to the Chinese, bnt the characters of those who give
them.

No Canadian will pretend to defend prostitution or opium smoking. Are the Chiuaa^ >
Both are vices to be prevented if possible, and as far as possible, but what ^Lg^S?oughtta7o
we have at present to determine is whether the Chinese are the cause of the country,
these evils in the country, for if not, punishing them will not only not
remove the evil, but would be an act of injustice, discreditable to a free
and self-governing country.

It is urged, as one of the gravest objections to the presence of the Chi-

Opium forced on
the Chlneee by the
Britieh.

The lorcha. Arrow.

Its ancient use.

Used in various
"ways Chloral
morphine.

Th* poppy.

Cultivation.

In United States
and Australia.

Increase of
Consumption in
Uie United States-

nese, that they are in the habit of opium smoking, and introduce that
habit in the places where they are permitted to dwell.

Apart from the historical fact, that our country within the last thirty
years forced the use of opium upon the Chinese, burned their towns, de-
molished their fortificg,tions, and slaughtered their people, to compel them
to admit it into China, against the wish of its government and its inhabi-
tants, as an article of trade and consumption, besides making them pay
seventeen millions of pounds sterling as indemnity and war expenses, for
presuming to resist its importation, and seizing a little vessel, on board of
which it was found, entering one of their ports, that vessel bearing the
British flag, and the article itself being the production of our own East
Indian possessions, and an essential factor, from which we derived the
means of bearing the expenses of the East Indian Government ; the start-
ling fact meets us that it was in use among the British people themselves
long before the advent of the Chinese into British Columbia, or as work-
ing classes either into America or Great Britain, and was and is used in
immense quantities among the European nations where a Chinaman never
was seen. That the flower from which it is derived grows in almost every
garden of Europe and America, and that it is a common article of barter
and of trade among the civilized nations of the world. That it is used in
half a dozen different ways, and may be found in every apothecary's shop
in England and America. That as chloral, morphine and chewing, it is
far more extensively and more dangerously used, and less capable of being
detected than the practice of opium smoking.

It may be not inappropriate, in discussing this phase of the question
very briefly, to refer to some of the authorities bearing on its use. The
British, French and American scientists recognize it as derived exclusive-
ly from the papaver somniferum, or the ordinary white and black poppy.
In India the flower appears in February, in Europe and the United States
not earlier than June, July or August. All parts of the poppy contain a
white opaque narcotic juice. In the capsule the juice most abounds ; the
seeds are destitute of narcotic property. It was cultivated by the ancient
Greeks, and is mentioned by Homer as a garden-plant, it is at present
cultivated very extensively in India, Persia, Egypt and Asiatic Turkey
for opium, and in several parts of Europe, especially France and Germany
for the seeds, though in both countries, good opium is at the same time
produced. Though until recently only found in the gardens as an orna-
mental flower, of late, attempts have been made to cultivate it on a some
what larger scale in the United States ; and with success in Australia
and in the Province of Victoria. Commerce is supplied with opium
chiefly from Hindostan, Persia, Egypt and Asiatic Turkey. Immense
quantities are produced in the Indian Provinces of Bahar and Benares,
and in the more interior province of Malwa. The opium of Hindostan is
distributed extensively through continental and insular India, where it is
habitually employed in the place of spirituous liquors. Great quantities
are also sent to China, into which it finds an easy entrance notwith-
standing prohibitory laws. Much was formerly produced in the district
of ancient Thebes, Upper Egypt, and laudanum was well known as
Tvnctwra Thebaicum. The increase of consumption in the United States
may be judged from the following importations :

In 1878 207,752 lbs.

" 1879 278,554 "

■' 1880 372,880 '^

LVII

Opium is much adulterated. It has been stated 'in Athens by a per-
son engaged in the extraction of opium that grapes, freed from their seeds
and crushed, were almost universally mixed with the poppy-juice, and
that the inspissated juice of the grape thickened with flour is often used
for the same purpose. In the report on the progress and condition of
India for 1871-72 it is stated that the cultivation of opium in India is
increasing, there being at the time of the report 500,000 acres in Bengal,
and 608 acres in Bombay planted with the poppy, and that the exports of
opium for the same year amounted to 893,364 chests, valued at £13,365,-
288 sterling, or $66,826,440. — (United States Dispensatory. 16th Edition ;
title . Opium.)

Having thus shown the enormous value of the opium crop in India, for
which Great Britain insisted upon haying China as a market, it may be of
importance to ascertain what quantity is imported into Canada, its value,
and the duties paid. It is clearly recognized as a legitimate article of
trade and commerce, and the accompanying return shows that during the
last three years there has been imported into the several Provinces of the
Dominion a total in value of $400,555, on which duties were paid to the
Dominion revenue of $79,110.

Value in crop in
India $66,826,440.

Statement of the Quantity and Value of Opium entered for Consumption
in each Province of the Dominion, also the duty collected thereon
during the fiscal years ended, 30th June, 1882, 1883, 1884 respectively.

PROVINCE.

1882.

Ontario ,

Quebec

JJova Scotia

New Brunswick

Manitoba

British Columbia

Prince Edward Island

Total

ENTERED FOR CONSUMPTION.

Opidm.

i

Lbs.

790

1,868

186

184

4

21,567

24,599

2,444

5,591

471

613

15

78,833

$87,967

$

488 80

1,118 20

94 20

122 60

3 00

15,766 52

$17,593 32

Opium pebpakbd
roE Smokinq.

3

Lbs.

I
>

28

$28

0

a

10 00

$10 00

1883.

Ontario

Quebec

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Manitoba

British Columbia..'

ihfince Edward Island.

Total

1,792

1

30,235

5,133

o
106,367

1,026 60

1 00
21,273 40

32,028

$111,505

$22,301 00

43

$50

2 50

15 00

$17 50

LVIII

ENTERED FOR CONSUMPTION.

PROVINCE.

Opium.

Opium prbpaehd for

SMOKING.

f

1

>

1

1

a

3

i

1

1884.

Lbs.

2,087
2,007

63

1
56,542

• 3,241
5,463

227

3
192,149

$

648 20
1,092 60

""45"40

60

38,429 80

Lbs.

i
15

$

3

214

$

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Manitoba

British Columbia

Prince Edward Island . .

125.
75 00

Total

60,700

$201,083

$40,216 60

15i

217

$76 25

J. Johnson,
Commissioner of Customs.,

Customs Department, Ottawa, 2Sth October, 1884.

the

aegUng
United

into
States.

Opium licences
in Victoria.

Spirit licenses.
,to the Chinese.

These returns show an amount of importation of opium into British
Columbia entirely out of proportion to the population, as compared with
that of the other Provinces, and equally out of proportion to consumptioii
by the number of Chinese in the Province. It may in some degree be
explained (though not justified) by the long continuous boundary line
between British Columbia and the United States, extending for hun-
dreds of miles along the 49th parallel, through unsettled districts, aflFording
extraordinary facilities for smuggling opium by the Chinese in British
Columbia into the United States for the use of the many thousands of
their countrymen in Oregon, Washington Territory, California and along
the Pacific coast.

Its use also, as a legitimate source of municipal revenue, is recognized
by the city of Victoria, having, during the first half of the current year,
issued to the Chinese eleven opium licences at $500 a piece, netting a
revenue of $5,500 to the city. It is difficult to make the Chinese under-
stand, why its use is so objectionable, when the Dominion Government
permits it to come into the country as a common article of trade, and the
city government makes money by granting licenses for its sale. Nor can
they understand why they themselves are so objectionable, when in addi-
tion to the opium licenses — the city government grants them liquor
licences for selling spirits at $50 a piece, thus adding still more to the city
revenue.

From this opium comes chloral, morphine and other extracts and com-
pounds far more dangerous in their effects, and much more used by the
higher and cultivated members of English, European and American
society than is the opium for smoking by the Chinese. Of chloral though
not well understood before 1869, in 1878 (less than ten years) its con-

LIX

:suinption was estimated at one ton daily, in England and America alone, puf*"?*? *'^ "'
ranging from inocuous doses at thirty grains to danger and death at one gland and
hundred and twenty, when used as an hypnotic. It is far more seductive Amenca.
in its effects, and more dangerous in its consequences. It affects the
brain, the spinal cord, the intellect, and brings on imbecility and death.
(U. S. Dispens).

An American paper thus refers to its use in a very late issue :

" A terrible vice has crept in among the fair sex of New York. Fashion-
able ladies from the ' Fifth ' and the adjoining regions of the high-toned
may be seen entering drug stores and calling in silvery accents for a glass
of soda-water. Into this inocuous beverage white crystals from a white
mouthed bottle are dropped and dissolved. The solution is gulped, fifteen
cents are paid, and the elegantly dressed apparition vanishes. These ladies
are known as "chloral fiends.' The drug is now imported into New
York by the ton. This is, as a weakness, worse than opium smoking
because more readily indulged in, and almost as revolting as the hypo
dermic injection of morphia."

Its use should be limited to medicinal or scientific purposes, and every
aid should be given to those who seek to prevent its consumption being
introduced as a habit among our people either for smoking or other
merely indulgent ends.

The evidence taken before the Commission in British Columbia shows No tendency in
no perceptible tendency among the people of the Province, in any way, to to" dopfth^^™'
adopt such a habit. In every city, in every part of the world, there will habit.
jpossibly be found persons of the lowest and most degraded habits who
frequent opium dens, but they are almost always persons who have fallen
so low from previous debauchery and vice, that there is no lower depth
to which they can descend.

With reference to Chinese prostitution the evidence shows that out of ^J}^"®'*'' Prostitu-
a total of 10,550 Chinese in the Province there are altogether only 154
Chinese women, of whom seventy are prostitutes, scattered throughout
the Province entirely among their own countrymen many as concubines,
that relationship being among them deemed no offence, and no discredit.
It is doubful whether a similar number of English or American people
in a strange country would show any better record, though they might
not use exactly the same terms. In dealing with this question it is
impossible to avoid plain language.

The evidence does not show reasonable ground for fearing in British
Columbia any contaminating influence from either one or the other of
these vices, as coming from the Chinese. It may safely be affirmed that
the white associates (few as they are) of the low Chinese in these vices
will be themselves found to come from the lowest and most degraded
classes of the whites, persons so utterly dead to every feeling that becomes
either a respectable man or a virtuous woman, that wherever they might
be, in whatever city of the world, if it were possible to find any place
lower than an opium den or a Chinese house of prostitution, it is there
they would have to be sought. It is a reflection upon the people of
British Columbia to assume that as a people they could be led away by
such degraded tastes.

In the police reports extending over five years from 1879, there are pojj ^^ Reports
only two charges against the Chinese for prostitution, and none against
dhy of the Chinese for the improper sale or use of opium, or for having

Whiskey
drinking.

A Christian habit
and a heathen
vice.

misled, seduced, or enticed any white man, woman or child into fcht
places of residence, or for having beguiled them in any way into the
company for improper purposes, either of co-habitation or opium smokin
It may here be observed that the police of the city of Victoria are
fine body of men, prompt in the discharge of their duties, vigilant as i
offences against the laws, or infractions of the municipal regulations ; an
in no way tainted with love or affection for the Chinese.
__. In a country where whiskey drinking prevails to an unlimited exten

prMMtivte*^ Indian and where white and Indian prostitutes can be found and are known 1
exist in unknown numbers, it seems a contradiction to assume a dread <
the white population becoming demoralized from the presence of sevenf
Chinese prostitutes, in a population of 10,550 Chinese people living i
accordance with the customs of their own country, and a practice c
opium smoking among their own people, infinitessimaUy small, whe
compared with the practice of whiskey drinking among the whites, unles
it be upon the principle declared by one of the residents, who, when aske
by the commissioners. " What was the difference between getting drun
on whiskey and getting drunk on opium ?" indignantly replied. "Tha
one was a Christian habit, the other was a heathen vice," a distinctioi
which it would be difficult for Carlyle to comprehend or Father Matthe\
to apply. — " Mutato nomine de tefabula narratur."

The fact is that the statements in these two respects are merely repeti
tions of the charges made in San Francisco, without the slightest groun(
for their application to ^Canada as a whole, or British Columbia as a par
of the Dominion ; unless, indeed, it be contended that the records of tb
courts — of the police office and the public institutions of the country ar
untrue, and that its public officers, its police, its grand juries, and muni
cipal authorities are all alike negligent and inefficient in the discharge o
their public duties, regardless of the welfare of the people, and indifferen
to the morals of the young and rising generation. It is weakening th(
position by crowding the enquiry with unsupported charges. But, if wi
turn to Col. Bee's evidence (page 20), taken at San Francisco, we fine
that the truth of this charge, as to danger from Chiuese prostitution
even as applied to San Francisco, is emphatically denied.

There are grave and there are serious objections to the Chinese as i
class of settlers, but these objections are not strengthened by imputing t(
them offences similar to those our own people are in the habit of commit
tmg, whether they be called, whiskey drinking or opium smokiag, prostitu
tion or concubinage.

CHAPTER 6.

Secret Organiza-
tion.

Ignorance of there
language and
mode houghl.

SECRET SOCIETIES.— WANT OF TROTH.— FILTHY HABITS.— DISEASES AN]

LEPROSY.

There are grave objections to the Chinese as settlers or as residents ii
arge numbers, which, apart from the question of competition with whi*
labor, ought to be seriously considered. Prominent among those obiec
tions IS the undoubted existence among the Chinese of secret organiza
tions, enabling them to act as compact bodies in any community when
they may be, facilitating the evasion of local laws and the concealment o
crime. This constitutes a dangerous feature in the administration o
justice where their personal interests are involved; our utter ignorano
of their language and modes of thought placing the officers of justice ii
the power of interpreters, whose veracity is doubtful, and whose integrif

there are no means of testing. The power and extent of these secret Power of secret
organizations enable them to command a simultaneity of action through- •"■S""^*'"'"-
out extended districts, and to inflict serious injury upon a community,
while themselves not overtly violating any law so as to incur punishment.
This was shown by extraordinary combinations in our Eastern possessions u?e"EMt'and at
in 1856. And still later, to a small degree by the Chinese strike in y'''*^'*.8'A.
Victoria in 1877, at the attempted enforcement of an unconstitutional MoGuire, Judgt.
Act passed by the Local Legislature directed against them. B?ftish°C!oiumWa

They are so entirely ignorant, so incapable of understanding our system Sopf. 1378.
of government that they are naturally suspicious, and resort to this mode
of protecting themselves when it is not required. Dangerous as is this
element in their character, there is another which is worse, that is their
disregard of truth where their feelings or passions are involved ; and par- Want of Truth,
ticularly in charges of a criminal nature, they care not what pain they
inflict, or what they endure, so as their end be obtained. A striking
illustration of this occurred on a criminal trial in the Supreme Court of
British Columbia at the assizes in Victoria, a few years since. Some time
previously a Chinaman had been found severely iniured and beaten on one
of the sidewalks of the city. He accused two other Chinamen of the inflation!*
offence, who were arrested, indicted and tried under the statute for inflict-
ing grevious bodily harm, and by means of his evidence convicted and
sent to the Penitentiary. The friends of the two convicts thereupon had
the prosecutor indicted for perjury. On his trial for that offence
the contention was that he had inflicted the injury upon himself, and
had falsely charged the two Chinamen with doing it, in order that he
might be avenged upon them for a former quarrel. A Chinese witness niustration.
had sworn strongly to this effect. The learned Judge remarked : "It was
difiicult to believe a man would so severely injure himself, merely to have
another punished." When the witness was leaving the stand he quietly
drew a razor from his pocket, and in a moment slashed open his own head
from back to front, leaving a great broad gash of five or six inches through
his shaven crown from which the blood poured in a stream. The inter-
preter explained, that this was to convince the Court that a Chinaman
did not mind what pain he inflicted on himself if he could have another
punished on whom he had a wrong to avenge. When both parties are
ready to go to that length, it is diSicult in the adminstration of justice to
know which to believe.

These two features of the Chinese character and habits are so objection- Objectionable,
able that the utmost care is required to obviate the consequence. No
doubt, this want of truth renders unsatisfactory the administration cf -
justice in all matters of a criminal nature affecting them, while the know-
ledge that such power of combination exists creates a sense of insecurity,
particularly as to the permanency of engagements for domestic service or
the privacy of the household.

There is one thing, however, always to be remembered in dealing with
natives of foreign countries ; allowance must be made for different moral Allowance for dif-
standards, dissimilar modes of thought and habits, entirely at variance stlndlrtls™^
with those to which we have been trained. The Christian religion, the
institutions of the middle ages, the habits of freedom, the moral tone of
the European races of the highest class, have tended to make truth an
essential element in the characteristics of their people and descendants —
recognized in the codes of society, in the rules of law, iu the dealings of
man with man and nation with nation- It is not so with the Asiatics :
With them an adherence to truth, as we call it, is simply an admission of
weakness. Whatever contributes to immediate success in the object they

LXII

Elgin's China

1856,

Oliphant.

Elgin's China.
Vol. 1. 20.
Singapore.

Secret Societies.

Conioint respon-
sibility and
authority.

Manilla.

Registration and
Taxation.

Selection by
themselves of
Officer respon-
sible.

desire to obtain, is sanctioned as belonging to superior intelligence. Dupli-
city and capacity to deceive are of hjgher value than truth. In this
respect, therefore, the Chinese do not differ from the rest of the people of
the continent to which they belong — truth with them is the evidence of a
weaker race ; but admitting all this, the strong common sense of the
European races and their descendants, points out, that that deficiency is
no reason why dealings should not be had with Asiatics, when the interests
of humanity or the extension of commerce will be promoted thereby, and
assumiag from all the circumstances attending their presence in British
Columbia, that the benefit to the Province exceeds the detriment, then
the remedy for the two evils referred to, may be found in the course pur-
sued in China, at the time of the occupation of Canton, in 1856, by the
British forces, nnder the embassy of Lord Elgin and in some preliminary
observations made by his secretary, Mr. OUphant, in his narrative of the
expedition, in which the secret organizations are more particularly referred
to;

" At present, there is a population of 70,000 Chinamen in Singapore,
and not a single European who understands the language ; the consequence
is, that in the absence of any competent interpreter they are generally
ignorant of the designs of the Government, and regarding themselves still
as Chinese subjects are apt to place themselves in an antagonistic attitude
whenever laws are passed affecting their peculiar customs. No effort is
made to overcome a certain exclusiveness arising hence, and this is fost-
ered by the secret societies which exercise an important influence upon
the minds of all, but more particularly the ignorant portion of the popu-
lation. Were Chinese themselves put into positions of authority under
the Government and allowed to share to some extent in the duties and
responsibilities of British citizens, which, intellectually speaking, they are
quite competent to undertake, the barrier which now exists between the
two races would be partially removed, and the mutual distrust and suspi-
cion engendered by our present system would in all probability quickly
disappear. Nor is this mere speculation. We have, fortunately, in their
own Empire a perpetual proof before our eyes of that reverence for
authority, when judiciously enforced, which is one of thir chief character-
istics, and which has for so many centuries been the preservation of its
union and one of the great sources of its prosperity."

" Manilla, like Singapore, owes a great part of its prosperity to the Chi-
nese portion of its population, and in our management of this race in our
possessions, it might not be unprofitable to investigate the expediency of
some of those measures, which other nations inferior to us in the art of
colonization, as a rule, have found it necessary to employ. All the Chi-
nese arriving at Manilla are registered and taxed according to their occu-
pations. They are divided into four classes : merchants, shop-keepers,
artisans and day -laborers. "

The entire Chinese population has been estimated as high as 30,000,
but, according to a Spanish author writing in 1842, the number actually
enrolled does not exceed 6,000, and their capitation-tax is about $100,000
a year, while th?bt of all the native inhabitants, exceeding 3,000,000, does
not equal eight times that amount. This taxation is manifestly excessive,
and no good object could be obtained by drawing any distinction in our
own possessions beween Chinese and British subjects, but the election of
a captain by themselves, whose ofiice is to collect the tribute and arrange
all internal differences, and who is to a certain extent responsible for the
good conduct of his countrymen, is an excellent arrangement. At the
same time that the captain is elected, his lieutenant and head consta1?^g

LXIII

are also chosen by the Chinese. Were we to establish a good system of
responsible government among our Chinese populations and employ a
sufficient staff of interpreters, we should be relieved from apprehensions
on their account, and they from the dread of the consequences with which
we are apt to visit them under the influence of that apprehension."

The exemplification of these views was carried out after the capture oiiphant, 169.
and during the occupation of Canton, At page 169, he says :

" During the first week of occupation, bodies of men were marched Sussessful result
through the different quarters of the city as patrols, it was found, how- gyBtem.""'
ever, that this served rather to alarm than to re-assure the population,
while a lawless rabble following close in rear took advantage of the con-
fusion created, to shoplift with a dexterity worthy of the swell mob. An
allied police was, therefore, substituted for these patrols, composed partly
of Chinese and partly of English or French. Natives and foreigners
were alike amused to observe a file of marines walking amicably side by
side, the one headed by a sergeant and the other by a petty Mandarin
gracefully fanning himself. This scheme proved eminently successful.
European offenders were brought up and punished by the tribunal,
While " Pehkwei " bastinadoed his own countrymen with an unsparing
vehemence to prove his desire of cordial co-operation. As in the course
of his explorations, Mr. Parkes discovered some proclamations intended
to inflame the population against the foreigners, which evil disposed per-
sons were beginning to post up extensively ; Pehkwei was ordered to
issue notices to the headmen of the districts making them responsible for
insulting or incendiary proclamations. The system of responsibility thus
introduced is thoroughly in accordance with the Chinese plan of govern-
ment. It was that pursued in the government of Canton with perfect
success ; it served the two-fold purpose of keeping Pehkwei constantly in
check and of provmg to the inhabitants the absolute supremacy of our
power,"

We thus have the principles defined and the proof of its success — a Conjoint tribunal
system of conjoint supervision creating both confidence and supremacy in '■^^^ authority,
the dominant power, and responsibility on the part of those who are gov-
erned. It ensures to the Chinaman a conviction that his case is
thorougly understood — that his wants, his feelings, his position, will be
explained by those who from their mastery of his language, and their
knowledge of his customs, are thoroughly competent to do so : while it
affords to the Local Authorities, a certainty that their views and objects in
any contemplated movement, in the enforcement of any local law, or the Advantages of.
carrying out of any sanitary arrangement, will not be misunderstood, and
in consequence erroneously resisted or evaded. The details of a proposi-
tion to this effect will hereafter be more fully considered — not only as em-
bracing the considerations above mentioned, bnt as covering the enforce- .
ment of sanitary regulations — cleanliness of " Chinese quarters " and extent.* ®"^'"^''
places of residence — and also as preventing the introduction of paupers —
diseased or deformed Chinamen into the Province.

All these matters come clearly within the powers of legislation by pre-
vention in the first instance — or in the second bv remedy in the way of
proper sanitary and remedial measures, enacted with prudence and en-
forced with strictness.

There can be no doubt of the truth of the charge, that about their re FUthy state of
sidences and in their mode of living in their own domiciles the habits of ''®^' '""'®^'
the lower classes of the Chinese, as a rule, are most objectionable and
filthy. The air is polluted by the disgusting offal with which they are
surrounded, and the vile accumulations are apt to spread fever and sick-

LXIV

The same in
China.

Oliphant.

Amjile power for

abating

nuisances.

Non existence in
British Columbia.

Remedy without
expense to
Canada.

Local authorities
power to abate.

ness in the neighboriood, which in the end may effect extensive districts.
This is not exceptional as to their habits when abroad, but is equally no-
ticeable in all the large towns in China where foreigners or travellers have
had opportunities of observation. Among the lower classes also, the most
repulsive objects of disease and deformity are sometimes met with. In
their own country human life is not regarded, and when the wasted crip-
ple or paralytic can no longer help himself, and death is slowly approach-
ing, his wretched body, ere life has fled, is thrown out on the dung heap
to perish — carion for the crows and dogs.

Oliphant mentions such scenes and instances at Tien-tsin, a city of a
million of inhabitants within a hundred miles of Pekin, tbe capital of the
Empire, and similarly have they been noticed in other large cities of
China.

In the lowest dens of London, Liverpool and Dublin, in the slums of
New York, and the large capitals of Europe equally are to be found the
most repulsive objects of disease, and the most degraded and filthy modes
of living. Even in our own cities — in Montreal, the most populous and
most Christian City of the Dominion — residences for human beings and
habits more degrading and filthy are to be found. In the Montreal Daih/
Witness, of November 14th, will be found in article, " Abodes of Misery,"
descriptive of habitations, which rival, if they do not surpass any place in
the worst of the Chinese quarters in Victoria or San Francisco.

Among the lowest classes of human beings of all the nations of the
world, whether Christian or Pagan, the same degradation may be found,
and it would be well that the writers who so vehemently attack the
Chinese on these grounds would look at home and amend the evil there.
The law provides the most ample power for the abatement of such nui-
sances, and for the punishment of the offenders, whether they be tenants
or owners of the land. The local authorities ought really to be the par-
ties attacked for not exercising the powers with which the law clothes
them for that purpose, rather than the poor wretched degraded beings,
victims of ignorance and years of debauchery, misery and crime, with
whom conscience is extinct, and virtue and shame unknown.

In British Columbia there has never been a density of population, or
pauperism sufficient to render such scenes possible among the whites, and
it is, therefore, that the mere probability of their approach is regarded
with such justifiable horror.

In Canada they can be prevented under effective existing legislation,
without expense to the Government of the Dominion ; and so far as tlie
Chinese are concerned, their obedience and submission to authority, the
peculiar characteristic of the people of their country, resulting from the
long training, and despotic nature of their Government, its assumed divine
origin, and absolute arbitrary will, render the carrying out of measures
by the local authorities to that end, a remedy of simple means.

It is difficult to conceive upon what principle such charges are made.
Where the local authorities have power to remove or abate the evil, it is
a waste of time to abuse it. Where they can punish the offender, and do
not, it is a premium to offend. Mr. Bloomfield the Superintendant of
Police in Victoria in his evidence says ; "I have known instances when
buildings and their owners have been presented to the Grand Jury as
nuisances and no action been taken." There is no question, that the
" Chinese quarters " are the filthiest and most disgusting places in Victoria,
overcrowded hotbeds of disease and vice, disseminating fever and polluting
the air all around. Then why allowed ^o to remain ? It is not the
fault of the Chinese so much as of those who can and do not pi-event it.

LXV

It is reflecting upon the administration of the law and its executive
machinery to permit the public health to be so endangered. It cannot be
presumed that the owners of such habitations or places can have the
influence, or would desire, to thwart the Authorities in doing what the
public interests require, nor that there can be an object in nursing the
evil rather than removing it.

In argument, however, it forms no more ground for expelling the
Chinese than it would for expelling any other class of dirty people, or for
legislating against any other race, white or black, amongst whom certain Black or white,
bad or objectionable classes were found. Proceed against the offender,
whether he be black or white, but do not confound the innocent with the
guilty.

In connection with the matters refered to in this chapter and in con- Leprosy,
nection with this phase of the question comes up the oft repeated charge
of leprosy and " Leprous race."

On this point it may be said that particular and searching inquiry was
made by the Commissioners. Dr. Helmcken, one of the oldest and most Dr Helmcken.
eminent physicians in the Province, who was there long before the advent
of the Chinese, after remarking that the Chinese came to the country
about fourteen or eighteen years ago, says : " I have never seen more than
two cases of leprosy since I have been in the country, one an Indian Leprosy,
before the Chinese arrived, and one about eight or ten years ago — this a
Chinaman. With regard to the man in the prison mentioned by Sergeant
Bloomfield, he came into the prison for stealing, I think, and after he
arrived in the prison, the question arose as to his being a leper and that
he be liberated ; and I said the Chinese doctors had better see him as they
were acquainted with the disease, and after doing so they said he had the
leprosy, giving a certificate to that effect, and upon that certificate the
man was kept in prison after his sentence had expired. He was after-
wards liberated. The same man, I am informed this morning, has just
been brought into prison again, not on account of leprosy but for stealing.
According to the best medical authorities, leprosy is not considered a
contagious or infectious disease. To-day it exists in Norway and Sweden,
and also in the Mediterranean countries. I do not know that it is
necessary a leper should be locked up. Leprosy is incurable, and persons
so affected are usually put in some place for incurable diseases. The
disease may go on for years. In the Sandwich Islands lepers are separated
from the healthy. The pecuKar indications of leprosy vary — in one affect-
ing the skin, another the nervous system. The skin kind is more Hke
syphilis. It is more or less hereditary ; and in some families, there might
be a leper. People residing and cohabiting with them do not take the
disease. I cannot tell you whether it has been found the same in Austra-
lia, as I have no reliable information. I do not know of a single white
person having leprosy in this country, only having known two cases of
leprosy, as I said before, one an Indian leper, which was before the
Chinese arrived, and a Chinaman. The Indian, therefore, did not contract
it from the Chinese. Leprosy is not only found amongst the Chinese, but
affects the whole of humanity. It has, however, dissappeared from Europe,
except Norway and Sweden, Finland, and the Mediterranean. There are
more cases in China and the East ; it seems to appertain to hot countries
chiefly, and marshy places. I do not think the cause of the disease is
known. Of course, now a days it is a " Bacillus." If there was a case of
leprosy in Victoria now, it would be the duty of the police to report the
same to the city authorities the same as a case of small-pox. I have been
the visiting surgeon of the jaU ever since it was built — ^from the time I

i)

l>r. Mclnnes.

Dr. Stevenson.

came to the country. This appointment i.s under the local government.
There may have been cases of leprosy amongst the Chinese, they not letting
any one know about it ; but I do not think so, for this reason : that the
Chinese are afraid of it themselves. They would evidently shun them
and so make them marked. On the general health condition of the Chi-
nese in Victoria, I cannot speak authoritatively on this subject, for the
reason they do not speak English, so we are not called upon to attend
them when sick ; but I think the health of the Chinese is as good as thp
whites, according to the death-rate, though I do not know the exact
number of Chinese residents here.

Dr. Mclnness whose testimony is strong against the Chinese, on this
point says :

" I have never seen a case of leprosy among them. I believe there are
some cases of leprosy among them, but I have not seen one."

Dr. Stevenson, a practising physician of Victoria and a member of the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, who states that he has had
twenty-two years experience on the Pacific coast, and is familiar with the
history of the Chinese in the Pacific States and territories of the United
States, says that the disease is not contagious, and that up to 1882, no
case of leprosy had oocured among the whites, though during the ten
preceding years fifty-two had been known among the Chinese in CaKfornia,
and he regards the sanitary objections against the Chinese as baseless.

Thus, therefore, from the medical testimony, during the whole period
the Chinese have been in British Columbia we find but one case of leprosy
among them, and that eight or ten years ago. We further find that
unusual as the disease is, there was a case of it in British Columbia before
the Chinese came, and we know as a matter of Canadian history that
it was known in New Brunswick fifty years ago, and that there was an
Establishment at Tracadie in that Province where the lepers were kept,
that it never spread or was communicated to any one, and that there
never has been the slightest fear of its dissemination among the people of
that Province, nor is there at this moment any fear of its dissemination in
British Columbia. There can be no doubt, if one of the Chinese so
diseased were found, he or she would be immediately separated from the
rest of the community as in cases of small-pox.

Proper sanitary regulations can always obviate danger from such

CHAPTER 7.

Competition with
white Labor.

Unle.

Oliphant.

COMPETITION WITH WHITE LABOR. DOMESTIC SERVICE AND SLAVERY.

But all these questions are more or less aside of the main issue. We
must come in a practical sense to the most important subject submitted
for consideration by this enquiry, namely, the effect upon the country-
past, present and future, of the competition with white labor created or
likely to be created by the influx of Chinese into the country. This is to
be governed by a calm and business-like consideration of the circumstances
of the country, and not alone by abstract theories or race prejudices.
The medicine that suits one man may not suit another. On this point it
is but right to quote again from the writer already referred to. At page
80, Vol. I., Oliphant, after strongly recommending the introduction of
Chinese labor into the Eastern possessions of the Empire, says :

" It is not, however, merely in the settlement of the Malay Archipelago

to which Chinese immigration might be directed and encouraged by Gov-
ernment with great advantage, but to many tropical colonies in other parts
or the world — where there is an enormous capacity of production coupled
with an utter inadequacy of means. We must be careful of judging of
the results of Chines? immigration by the experiences of California,
Austra,lia, or any other Colony where peculiar conditions resulting from
gold discoveries exist, and where the climate admits of competition by
whites. It is as undesirable that such a competition should be established
in those countries adapted for European out door labor, as that others
should be deprived of the benefit of any such labor at all because the
climate is fatal to the white man."

This sounds the key-note of the question. Oliphant's work was published
in 1859, we have therefore the additional experience of 25 years.

On both points submitted in the heading of this chapter, what
does that experience prove in relation to British Columbia and Canada 1 Extent of British
In the first place as to British Columbia, we have a Province " where .there Columbia.
is an enorvious capacity o/production coupled with an utter inadequacy of
means. " It covers a habitable square .or parallelogram, more
than 1,200 miles in one direction by 500 in another from South to North,
from West to East, larger than Great Britain and Ireland, larger than
France, equal in extent to the German Empire, or coming nearer home,
twice and a half as large as Ontario and closely doubling on Quebec. It
has an assumed a population of 60,000 inhabitants located in a few towns
and scattered along the margins of the rivers and the forests. It contaius
in round numbers — 219,000,000 acres,* which would fi;ive a pre-emption lot
of 160 acres — to 1,368,759 people — or at its present assumed rate of popu-
lation of 60,000 — 3,650 acres for every man, woman and child in town
and country — including Indians, Chinese and all other Nationalities. Its
great internal area capable of unlimited development is almost unutilized,
save for the roaming of wild cattle, or the natural growth of the timber.
WTiat is wanted is population — tillers of the soil, manufacturers, settlers. Its interest
traders, laborers, mental and manual, merchants, capitalists, who will ™"'^* '
make its rich resources conducive to the comforts of life. The returns of
the Collector of Customs for British Columbia show that with all the
known natural resources of coal mines, gold mines, fisheries, lumber, as
well as railway works and other inducements, there only came into the
Province, including passengers, men, women and children business and
private, public and official during the four most attractive years from the
construction of great public works, 27,256 white persons, and during eight
jears, including the same period, 18,000 Chinamen. How many of these
returned or left the Province is not shown. At that rate, which would
give a yearly average of 5,657 immigrants, it would take over 240 years to
reach a population of 1,368,750 — allowing the births, death rates and out-
goers to neutralize each other ; but an immigration to that extent cannot
be reasonably expected, when the demand for labor by the completion of
the railway will, to a large extent, have ceased. With all the great
Northwest from Lake Superior to the Rocky Mountains open to settlement
and cultivation— with all the immense Territories of the United States,
bidding for the comers from Europe and the British Isles, British Columbia
need not fear being over-run for many a day. The question therefore is,
shall the development which is attainable be rejected because it cannot be
by the particular means most desired 1

* The British Columbia pamphlet, " Information for Immigrants, 1883, gives
the area of the Province at 350,00b square miles, which multiplied by 640 acres to
the square mile would be 224,000,090 acres.

LXVIII

Evidence of
Mr. Brooks.

When territor.ir

Kreat.

No oloection.

When Chinese
aid beneficial.

Evidence in B. C.

Non interference
with skilled labor.

Chinese labor.

Advantage to
mechanic.

On this point the observations of Mr. Brooks, of San Francisco, one of
the ablest Oriental scholars, and from an experience of many years thor-
oughly acquaited with the subject of Chinese immigration into the United
States, are singularly applicable. In his evidence at San Francisco (page
30) he says:

" The early immigration came to supplement rather than to supplant
our laborers. When it came it was very much needed ; — with the gradual
filling up of California, it is now clained that we do not need it and that
any renewal of Chinese immigration would tend to lower the standard
of wages obtained by American laborers. It is the pride of the United
States that they are enabled to pay higher wages for labor — through
the great bounty of Nature and their great territorial advantages and
natural wealth — than any other country in the world. Thus the laborer
is enabled to educate his family and acquire more home comforts.
He is, in fact, raised to a higher condition of existence than is possible
under the cheap labor of Europe. The same thing applies to Canada
exactly. If the Chinese coming into the country are limited in number
to the actual requirements of a new country, and are able to command
wages equally with American labor, the only question then involved
would be, whether their presence would crowd out a corresponding
amount of home labor? "With the enormous territory of the United
States at present unoccupied, and only waiting labor to develop its
resources, this can hardly be urged as an objection at present. But
the presence of too many Chinese, especially if they attempt an internal
self-government — imperium in imperio — by which they farm out fishing
grounds and district the city for wash-houses, forming combinations
and interfering with avenues of labor needed for the proper support
of our own people, their presence is objectionable. All civilized
Nations have proclaimed against exclusiveness, and mixture seems to be
an element in progress ; but, as every home has a right to protect itself,
socially, morally and industrially, against all outside interference, so a Nation
through its Government, is bound to protect all proper industries in pro-
cess of development within its territory. Conditions may exist where the
accession of Chinese aid in the labor market may protect and also
increase the American labor required, our people becoming directors, and
the mere menial duties necessary to existence may be performed by
laborers with less intelligence. We often blame the Chinese as a whole
for the errors and faults of an individual."

From the evidence adduced before the Commissioners, the competition
of the Chinese with white labor in British Columbia has only been with
labor of the lowest kind. It has not interfered with the mechanic or
skilled labor. The carpenter, the foundry-man, the gas-fitter, the mason,
the cabinet>maker, the wharfinger, the glazier, the painter, the carriage-
maker, boat-builders, shipwrights, and all industries requiring skill, intel-
ligence and steady industry, pursue their different vocations and are car-
ried on without rivalry or competition from the Chinese.

Ail those pursuits which pertain to the higher order of intellectual and
physical labor, which raise the white man in the scale of life, and enable
him to bring up his family to take the highest positions in the land are
untouched by the Chinese ; but to dig a ditch, shovel earth, cut wood and
wash clothes, which white men who can get anything else to do wiU not
do — ^this labor is left to the Chinamen, and for such purposes affords
to the industrious mechanic an opportunity of getting done at a
price within his command, work on which his own time is too valuable to
be employed. A careful consideration of the evidence shows this to be

the case. It is fortunate that, in a young and sparsely settled Province,
this cheap labor can be obtained, for it enables those whose minds are
capable of higher development, and whose ambition looks to more en-
nobling industry — ^to follow pursuits in which they will rise — rather than
toil and slave in grovelling work, which wears out the body without
elevating the mind.

But it does more. It enables the capitalist to bring money into the Capital,
•country with the prospect of benefitting by its investment, while the ex-
penditure benefits the country by the development of its resources. This
is not a question between labor and capital. In British Columbia there
is neither the one nor the other, at all proportionate to its extent of terri-
tory. It is a question of bringing in both. The labor would be of no use
without the capital, and centuries would pass if left to labor alone before
the Province would be developed or settled to the extent of even the
smallest of the German States. Capital is as much required as labor, but
what capitalist will bring money into the country, if the price of labor is
so high that he cannot expend it with the prospect of some advantage to
himself. The evidence shows most distinctly that the price of white
labor of the lowest kind is at such a figure that he cannot use his capital
to advantage and with safety, while with the prices charged by the Chinese
for similar labor, he can. It has been shown by facts and reasoning that
the fear of Chinese competition has not deterred bond fiide industrious
white settlers from coming into the Province, and the instance given in
the evidence of the Chief Justice of British Columbia, one of the oldest
residents of the Province, is conclusive, that with steadiness, frugality and
sobriety — a common workman in the coal mines — in the course of the ^?"?^f?"' result
ordinary number of working years can not only make a comfortable living industry.
for himself and family, but lay by an ample competence for his declining
years. This is not a solitary instance. Mr. Robins, the manager of the
Vancouver Coal Company, says ; " white people can now find remunera-
tive employment. In fact wages are high enough to attract the best class
of white labor.'" It may be safely aflirmed, such are the resources and
varied opportuuities of industry in British Columbia — that no instance no instance af
oan be named — where a laboring man with health — steady industy and failure ef a steadr
sobriety, has ever failed to make a comfortable living, unless disabled by man.
some unforeseen misfortune. — Many by good luck succeed though they may
not be frugal or sober — many become dissatisfied because they cannot
become wealthy in a few years. Some think they ought to be special
favorites of Providence and wait until something turns up ; but Chinese
or no Chinese, in the country or out of it, an instance cannot be named,
where a sober, industrious, frugal and ordinarily sensible laboring man has Plain speaking,
ever failed to make a comfortable living in British Columbia. The question
has now been brought to a point, where it is necessary to lay before the
Parliament and country the facts without reference to persons or parties.

It is something strange to hear the strong broad-shouldered superior
race, superior physically and mentally, sprung from the highest types of
the old and the new world, expressing a fear of competition, with a small,
inferior, and comparatively speaking, feminine race.

When France or England has any special object to gain, nothing is Superiority of
thought of crossing many thousand miles of intervening Ocean, entering ^^iterace.
the densely populated land of China with all its ancient civilization, and
•with a few hundred men by means of modern science defeating the Chi-
nese in countless numbers, taking what either Nation desires, and against
their will, .insisting that your people shall go into their country whenever
it pleases or suits — but if they the Chinese come over to your country in

National agres-
sion Chinese.

Rule.

Present and
future.

Laborer saA-ing
machinery.

Difference
between living
and inanimate
machinery.

Room for
.W.OdO.QOO.

Cause.

Wa«ee.

the peaceful pursuit of trade or industry — they must be driven back —
because they are more sober, more frugal, and in the humblest calling of
labor work a little harder than others feel inclined to. The rule should
work both ways. Let the English people leave them alone and they will
leave the English people alone.

But it is to the evidence we must again turn. Throughout the whole
of it there is not a witness, with one or two exceptions, who does not say
that in the first instance their presence was essentially necessary and
beneficial to the Province, that up to the present time there are not too
many, and that it would not be desirable that those who are in the Pro-
vince should be driven out, but that there should be some regulation for
the future to prevent too great an influx.

The argument that their presence cheapens labor, to the detriment of
the white man, is simply the argument that has been used against every
labor-saving machine, and every improvement that science has ever made,
tending to the advancement of the human race. The grass cutting, reap-
ing, sowing, and planting machines interfered with, the labor of hundreds
of laboring men in every agricultural country where they were introduced ;
the steamers with sailors, the railroads and cattle cars with horses and
drivers, stage coaches and posters, machinery in mills and factories with
hand labor. The telegraphs and phonograps with post boys and messengers.
Who now proposes to do without these scientific aids ?

The Chinese in British Columbia as affecting the rapid development
of the country are living machines differing from artificial and inanimate
machinery in this, that while working and conducing to the same end with
the latter, they are consuming the productions and manufactures of the
country, contributing to its revenue and trade, and at the same time
expanding and developing its resources.

Year by year in America the opening of new districts is afibrding room
for unlimited numbers of settlers. Canada has but five millions of in-
habitants from Ocean to Ocean, yet in the North- West Territories and
British Columbia alone there is room for fifty millions, and the Chinese in
the country it is contended, are simply clearing the ground for their advent.
It is difiicult to believe that the white race in America can be stayed by
such a class, or need protection.

As to the competition of the Chinese with white labor in British Colum-
bia it may readily be shown that the main obstruction to the steady
employment of the latter lies with the white laborers themselves, and is
in some degree owing to habits and ideas implanted in the country by the
early comers of 1858. With the admitted and undoubted preference for
white labor throughout the whole country, there must be a good cause
why it does not command the market. That cause is found in the high
rate of wages demanded for a day's unsl^illed labor. The employer cannot,
afford to pay it and live. The great mass of the people in British Colum-
bia are workingmen — mechanics, parties commencing with small capital,,
shopkeepers, traders, and stragglers in various industries requiring skill
and knowledge. Their wages as mechanics, and for ordinary skilled labor
range from $3.50 to $4.50 per day, dependant as in all such cases upon
personal superiority. There are not many capitalists — in fact, very few.
The laboring man with steady, continuous employment on railways,
corporation work and in the mines gets $2 per day ; for occasional job&
he asks $2.50 per day. The latter is what is mostly in demand with the
mechanics and others above-mentioned. If they cannot gettheir little
plots of ground dug or their wood cut at less than |2.50 per day, that
sum absorbs more than half of their own earnings. They must, therefore^

necessarily look for sotaething cheaper, and thus the Chinese are
einployed, because their remuneration is within reach and leaves some-
thing of the day's work for the mechanic himself. This costly idea of
reinuneration for ordinary unskilled labor results from the ease with which
gold was found on the first settlement of the Province. The extravagant ExtrayagBUt
iideas then engendered still continue. At this moment there is not in *'*®**-
circulation in the country a coin less than a ten cent piece. The Banks
had to return the five-cent pieces sent out by the Dominion Government
for circulation, because the business portion of the community would
not use them and declined the reception of a coin so small. The remu-
neration for the commonest services is three and four times what is paid
for similar services in theEastern Provinces.

The following extract is from a correspondence published in one of the
Victoria papers under date of the 14th November 1884 from a new settler. Settler's letter.
addressed to a friend in Ontario : " Our money is quite different from
yours, we use " bits " when you would use cents. If you are buying ten
cents worth of anything and give twenty-five cents you will only receive
ten cents back, no five cent bit, being in circulation. Money is no consi-
deration here. They think no more of changing a twenty dollar gold
piece than you would a five dollar bill. Nearly all gold and silver is used
here, altogether this is a most delightful place, the climate all that could
be desired, and knowing that relatives from whom I am separated are in
good health, I can feel happy and contented in my new home."

Senator MacDonald in his evidence before the Committee of the House Senator Mac
of Commons in 1879, after stating that Chinamen would not work at less *™"'"-
than $1.25 per day says : "White labor can I fancy be got for $2 a day.
~1 know I have offered $1.50 a day, and they have declined it and conse-
quently I have thus been forced to employ Chinamen at a low rate of
wages. Instead of employing white men at $2.25 a day, I have employed
Chinamen at $1.25. It costs a white man to live about fifty cents a
day, a Chinamen about half that sum ; white labor must come down in
price. That is a matter which at any rate must be brought about. It is
impossible to carry on any kind of work either in connection with farming
or manufacturing at the present rate of wages in our Province, the price
of white labor must come down in order to enable us to carry on any
work successfully."

Matters of this nature seem small to be mentioned in a report on the
subject under consideration, but in social questions and in view of sump- fiJ^^i^aSSon!,
tuary legislation thereon, they are necessary to a thorough understanding.
In most young countries when the struggle of first settlement is going on,
there is not much money, prices and wages rule low, and increase with the
increase of the country, and the means of payment. That is healthly and Gold,
normal, but the first days of British Columbia were days of wealth — gold
was abundant — prices were high, and wages in proportion. In a pecuniary
sense as afiecting the permanent common weal, its state was unhealthy
and abnormal. Reckless indifierence to expenditure and habits of extra-
vagance were formed which did not change when the circumstances of the
country changed, and to this day the laborer thinks the same scale for
payment should continue, though the employer has not the same means
for payment. Men are not now taking out gold as they did, and the
laborer must prepare as in other countries, to work a little more continu-
ously and not expect to become immediately wealthy. The evidence and
the official Returns show that this Chinese competition is not with skilled
labor or with agricultural settlers, or persons intending to become perma-
nent residents in the country, but with migratory transitory laborers, who m^atory"" '^

laborers.

LXXII

Monopolises
ii^'iiTious.

Tai Sing va
McGrTiire—
(appendix.)

Policy to regulate
not forbid.

Regulating law?

Doine8ticaer\'i(M'.

Fallacy as to
labor.

may or may not become settlers, dependant upon ulterior circumstances.

This fact must be bome in mind in order to have a thorough comprehen-
sion of this phase of the question, because Mr. Robin's testimony shows
there is now in this Province ample opportunity for white laborers at remu-
nerative wages, if they choose to avail themselves of it. An absolute
monopoly of the labor market, or a power to control and dictate the
rate of wages, would be, (as an absolute power in any other of the busi-
ness relations of life) most injurious to the general welfare.

The extraordinary length, to which the majority of the Local Legislature
and some of the inhabitants of British Columbia, have been prepared to go
in consequence of this Chinese antipathy, will be seen from an examination
of the Local Act, and the circumstances shown in the judgment of the
Supreme Court cf British Columbia in the case of Tai Sing vs. McGuire,
delivered September 23rd, 1878. Laying aside all that part of the decision
which declared the Local Act to be ultra vires as affecting trade and com-
merce, examine its enactments with reference to the white inhabitants
themselves, and observe how, if they employ Chinamen, it substitutes, the
innocent for the guilty and punishes the farmer, the merchant or the
trader, for offences, and violations of the Act to which they are not only
no parties, but of which they must be in entire ignorance. Such Legis-
lation would hardly be tolerated anywhere among a free people, nor in
any country where fanaticism had not usurped the place of reason. It
was that Act which led to the Chinese strike in Victoria, in 1878, and
was disallowed by the Dominion Government as soon as attention was by
this judgment called to its provisions.

Sound policy, thererore, will regulate the coming of the Chinese, not
stop it, any more than a clear headed sensible farmer would dry up a
river, becau.se it may sometimes overflow its banks, and perchance create
temporary derangement in the lands through which it flows, but which,
when properly restrained, its waters irrigate and enrich.

There can be no difiiculty in enacting laws based on sound economical
and commercial principles, regulating the immigration of Chinese and,
indeed, of all other labor coming into the country, without interfering
with that inducement to healthy immigration which Canada so essentially
wants, but this Commission has to deal with the Chinese only, and even
though the danger arising from their coming be imaginary, (if not ques-
tionable), it would be satisfactory that there should be a limited restraint ;
for there still exists, and will alway.s exist the objection, that there is no
homogeneity of race between them and ourselves, nor can they compre-
hend or assimilate themselves to our institutions. The nature and extent
of such regulations will be hereafter considered, but we can approach their
consideration relieved from the prejudice that would have been created,
had the evidence, as to the past and present consequences, of their being
in the country, shown that such presence had operated to its disadvantage.

Before, however, the latter measures are discussed, in order to their
better understanding, we must consider the question of domestic service.

Without the Chinese in British Columbia, there would have been no
domestic service at all. There were no persons, to be servants. The fallacy
that has pervaded the whole discussion in British Columbia is the assump-
tion, that manual and bodily labor, digging and delving, is the only labor
in the world, and that no persons were to be considered in this matter,
save the diggers and the delvers. The man who toils with his brain, to
unfold the mysteries of nature, to develop the field of scientific enquiry,
to add to the humanities of life and ennoble the daily discharge of duty, is
as great a benefactor of his race and as much deserving of consideration

LXXIII

as the man who works with his hands or in the ordinary paths of labor.
The gradations of labor are simply the dispensations of Providence, by
which the highest good can be obtained for mankind, and he who com-
mences on the lowest rung of the ladder frequently attains the highest.
The two kinds, while in progress cannot always be combined, though very
'exceptional cases, such as Hugh Millers have shewn they may be, but as
an ordinary rule, they are essential to each other, and work together for
the common good, each during that progress in its relative position.

Service, servitude, or help by which — ever name it may be called is Serrice or
absolutely necessary for the comfort of domestic life. Can that be obtained ■'"''■^'*"'*®-
in British Columbia without the Chinese in the present state of this Pro-
vince ? It may safely be affirmed it cannot be, nor for very many years to
come, in reality until a density of population there exists, which no man
of the present day wiU live to see.

In the first place, the Institutions of the Province are against it — the Institutions and
teachings of the public schools are against it ; the whole feeling of the counbragainst.
people is against it; the silent protest of facts is against it; the unspoken
language of every white father and mother in the country is against it ;
their children are not meant to be servants. They are on equal t^nns by
birth and right of heritage with the first in the land, and however humble
they may be, however poor in circumstances, they will toil and labor at
the hardest work but never stand the lacquey or menial of those who are
better off. The system of free education supported by public taxation is
antagonistic to inferiority of social position. From the hour that a boy
or girl enters the public school they are taught that the education so free-
ly given at the public expense, is to raise them to the level of the highest,
and that there is no position in the Province to which, under the constitu-
tion they may not aspire. In fact they are taught to work up — and it is '''I'eeeduoation.
-well for the country it should be so. It ensures throughout the country a
higher order of intellect, a loftier tone of thought, and a fitter class of
people for self Government — it carries the country onward — but it kills
domestic oi' menial service. As, however domestic service is a necessity,
if the people of the country are of too high a grade for it, a substitute must
be found where best it can be.

Incoming immigration will not supply the want. If the immigrant is a
'desirable one, the first thing he does is to assimilate himself to the institu-
tions and feelings of the country. After living in the Province two or AssimUation of
±hree years, he will not admit his children to be inferior to those of the imm^rMita.
other residents. They are equally entitled to the education and training
of the public schools ; and the seed sewn in the young and virgin soil will
be the more vigorous because difierent perhaps from that received by the
parents in the old country.

The declaration of American Independence a hundred years ago, struck, I'tlao" "*" Revo-
the death blow in America to menial service. The very word servant
became obnoxious and " help " was substituted for it. The feeling against
it has strengthened and spread every hour. It has extended to British
North America, and will be found in a more or less degree in every one of
the English speaking Provinces.

It may not be to the same extent in the Province of Quebec, because Quebec,
the Roman Catholic Bishops and clergy, and their schools, impress upon
their scholars respect and obedience to their superiors and those in
authority, both lay and clerical — and to look for some portion of their
reward in the world to come. No such idea is taught in the public schools
paid and supported by public taxation. Equality, worldly success, per-
.sonal ambition, are alike impressed upon boys and girls, and success at the

■LXXIV

Public schools
sapported by
Public Taxation.

Change.

Female education.

Political pri-
Tfleges.

Female menial
service.

Fortnuate for
British Columbia.

Parents duty.

schools is held as the augury of success in the struggle of life. Such is the
end of modem national education supported by the public purse, and
among the boys and girls of the white families it puts an end to the pros-
pect of supply from thence for domestic or menial services.

To the careful observer of human progress, it is plain that an entire
change is taking place. Education is producing its effect upon the masses
of mankind, even more rapidly than the clearing and cultivation of the
soil does upon the productive forces of nature. The relative position of
the human race is changing — half a century ago, female education was
limited to the attainment of the arts and culture, which tend to adorn
and refine society. Now, it embraces the practical operations of life —
the universities, the professions, the political privileges and powers, which
were hitherto claimed and enjoyed by men alone, are now participated in
and shared by women of mind and intelligence. The rights of property,
of representation, of influence, of power, of business pursuits and the
various industries and callings are theirs as well as ours. Talent belongs
to no particular class. It is found in the humblest ranks of life, as in the
highest ; and now, that this enlarged field is open to their command, can
it be supposed they will be content with the position of inferiority hitherto
assigned them. Female menial service, to any extent, will soon be prac-
tically annihilated among the white women of America. A marked dis-
tinction must be drawn between the overcrowded populations of Europe
and Asia, where old customs, associations, and the habits of centuries,
have engrained certain fixed modes of thought — and the free and ever
changing attitudes of society in America. In this mental characteristic,
Canada, as a nation, must be regarded as entertaining American ideas
and modes of thought, however much it may differ in its view of constitu-
tional government. Indeed, it is questionable how far these same ideas,
are not at this moment influencing the course of public opinion in England -
and the advanced nations of Europe. It is possible, many believe most
probable, that within fifty years, certainly within one hundred, all heredi-
tary distinctions of persons and rights will be abolished in England, and
republican equality prevail, though, perhaps, under different designation
and terms. It is barely forty years since the " Russel Purge " was applied
to British North America — look at the difference between now and then,
in social as well as in political life. This is putting the case fairly, and
for the purposes of Parliamentary legislation, the only way to put it. It
is not, what we may wish or not wish, what we may approve or not
approve, but what is the tendency of public thought. What does the
history of the last one hundred years prove.

The public man who announces as his policy that the white children of
this Dominion — whether natives or immigrants — are to be brought up to
fill the places of menial servants, will be driven from the hustings with
ignominy.

It cannot, therefore, be regarded as injurious to British Columbia, that
without violating the feelings and principles of a self educating people,
she has hitherto been able to obtain for this purpose — a class peculiarly
adapted to this end, and leave to her own rising generation the pursuits
of a higher and nobler character.

The evidence, of the peculiar adaptability of the Chinese for this pur-
pose is so cumulative that it becomes monotonous. Not an instance has
been shown of their tampering with the morality of the families with
which they have served, which is indeed the main objection that by some
parties has been urged.

The duty of a parent is the same whether his servant is white or
Chinese.

LXXV

So thoroughly is this view, with reference to domestic service, in accor-
dance with the views and experience of the large cities of Canada — that
if it were possible to supply those cities with similar service, with the
same facility it can be obtained in British Columbia — it would be regarded
as a benefit.

Here also the charge must be considered that the Chinese sent out slavery.
to British Columbia and elsewhere for the purposes named, are
slaves. This is distinctly and emphatically denied in the document
from the Chinese merchants, where it is alleged that slavery does not
exist in China — and that no man can be sent out of the country against Does not exist in
his will. They are sent by contract of their own will — just as laborers are
supplied by engagement with individuals or firms in all parts of the world
where extensive public or private works are being carried on — a practice
common in England and America, France and Germany, and all civilised
nations.

It was done in England during the Crimean War, when Peto Betts and Labor by contract
Brassy sent out railway navies by the thousand. Yet no man called common,
them slaves. It has been done in the construction of the railway lines
in the United States, where no slave exists. And it is done constantly
in England, South America, Canada, where parties are sent out under
some philanthropic individual, on stipulation that out of the products of
their labors the emigrants are to repay the costs of their passages and
outfits.

Brooks in his evidence at San Francisco, page 34, says :

" It has always been against the principles of the United States to
authorise labor contracts — consequently, any Chinese coming to this
country under labor contracts come under contracts that cannot be en-
forced after they have landed. Nearly all who have come to the Pacific
coast are laborers or coolies, but comparatively few come under labor
contracts- — in fact no more so than Irishmen came originally to the
United States, when railroad companies agreed to employ them in building
railroads."

Examine the whole evidence before the Commission, and not one wit-
ness has been able, when questioned, to give the slightest ground or reason
for the assertion. . v

But if we turn to the Chinese themselves, not only is there no authority Chinese account
for the statement, but it is shewn that the greatest precautions are exer- "ontea'ot^der''^
cised, both for the safety of the Chinese laborer while abroad, and his which they come
return to his native land, when the contract has expired, under which he "" '
was engaged, as also for the compensation he is to pay to the companies
or contractors who send him abroad. An intelligent Chinaman resident
for many years in Australia and America, and speaking English well,
gives the following explanation : —

" China is divided into six districts, one of the companies, each con-
trolling a district. The companies representing the districts are Hin-Yun,
Hip Wah, Kong Chu-Yong Wah, Sam- Yip, and Hop Tep. In each of the
districts the Chief Magistrate issues a proclamation to the effect, that the
company (in which ever district it may be) will take charge of Chinamen
wishing to go to America and other foreign countries. These companies
are private corporations which are authorized to take charge of Chinamen.

LXXVI

Explanation of
three things.

Bix companies
organized for
benevolent
purpose.

Register.

When they take a Chinaman from his own country they are bound to
return him. If they die they are bound to return their bodies. They also
look after the .welfare of Chinamen when away from their own country.
For instance if a Chiiiaman loses his business or becomes ill, the one of
the Six Companies which has been in charge has to see that he is properly
cared for. If a Chinaman is murdered, the company offers a reward for
the perpetrator of the crime. If a Chinaman is accused the Six Com-
panies are bound by their contract with the Chinese Government to expend
money for counsel, and see that the accused gets a fair trial.

" Every Chinaman in America pays two and a half per cent, of his earn-
ings while there, to the company having him in charge. The agents of
the Six Companies are stationed in San Francisco, and when a Chinajnan
wants to return, he pays his percentage and is given a free ticket home
to his own country. He is brought out free by the companies."

This statement explains three things which hitherto have not been
understood in British Columbia.

1st. The reason why the dead bodies of Chinamen are returned to
China. It had always been supposed it was from ideal love of the country,
or the existence among them of some superstitious belief, that it was
essential to their future happiness, whereas, from this statement, it
appears that it is simply a Habeas Corpus system provided by the Chinese
government in case of laborers going abroad, to show that they have not
been and cannot be sold into slavery, the production of the body being the
proof.

Secondly. Why their sick and destitute are never a charge upon the
country where they go, the terms of incorporation of the companies and
the contract with the Government requiring that they should be provided
for.

Thirdly. The finding of ample funds for their defence, when accused of
crime,' there being similar provisions to that end.

Can any similar instance of humane consideration be shewn in any
British contract for the care and safety of the emigrants who left the
British Isles.

Col. Bee, in his evidence at San Francisco on the 28th July, 1884,
before the Commission, gave the following account of the companies, etc. :

" Q. You spoke. Colonel Bee, of the six companies as charitable cor-
porations; could you explain to me their organization? — A. Yes, sir.
The Province of Canton is comprised of six divisions — ^you might say six
counties comprise the Province of Canton. The Chinese here organized
what is known as the Six Companies, wholly for benevolent purposes. A
Chinese immigrant to this country, who came from one of these counties
in Canton, on his arrival here was met at the steamship landing by the
secretary of each of the companies. These secretaries announced that,
they were the secretaries of the associations representing each of the
separate districts. The Chinese gave their names and were registered as
residents of the district. That register is kept at the headquarters of the
company. The functions of the Chinese Six Companies are to protect
their Chinese fellows in health, and provide them with means to reach the
interior ; provide them with medicines and with hospital accommodations
in case of sickness, and look after their interests physically, generally. If
a Chinaman becomes sick he applies to the agent of the Six Companies,
who procures medical aid for him, and puts him in the hospital if he is at
a convenient distance. And if he dies that company buries him ; and at

the proper time, 'at the request of the parents, that company returns his
bones to the parents in China. There the fuiictions of the company cease.
They have been charged as being immigration agents — importers of Chi-
nese labor. I undertake to say the proof cannot be produced in a single
case.

" Q. Why should these companies take so much interest in the China-
man then? — A. The testimony cannot be produced that one of the Chinese
companies brings labor to this country, paying his passage directly or in-
directly. It cannot be produced that they have collected a dollar of his
wages and appropriated it. It cannot be shown that a dollar has been
collected as a fee from him, until his departure from the country. Before
departing he goes to his headquarters' and settles his fee as a member of
the company, the fee ranging from $2.50 to $10. Those companies who
represent a district where there arc but few immigrants — their fee is $10. Fees.
Where there is a large number it is $2.50. That is the fund, and the
only fund, they have from them. The interest is no more or less than that
exercised by other benevolent societies — Masons, Oddfellows, and Druids.

" Q. You say the testimony cannot be produced ; but the fact may be Immigration out-
though the testimony cannot be produced ? — A. It cannot be a fact that tions.
the Chinese companies ever have brought any immigrants to this country.
It is entirely outside of the functions of their organization, and hence a
matter in which they have no interest.

" Q. What motive could they have, then, in organizing ? — A. If you
desire to get the reasons of the organization of the Six Companies I can
give it.

" Q. Yes ? — A. In the early settlement of California by the Americans, Organization of
we had in our early days no laws, we might say. We were here in large
numbers without courts, without laws, no established government; we were
a territorial government for a time. There were no sheriffs, no officers, no
courts ; no mail facilities to speak of, except by express ; no mail contracts
let by the government. Communication with the interior and the sea-
board was very difficult. Americans arriving in the mines, organized
associations. For instance, I belonged myself to New- York association ;
adjoining me was one called the Palmito association ; another one was a
Pike County of Missourians, etc. ; they went by the names of the different
states. Each one of those associations kept a book, and all residents of
New- York arriving in those diggings would come to this place and
register their names, writing where they resided. Once a month, a
courier would come around to those different associations, and take all the
names off the registers. He would come to San Francisco as courier and
get the letters and mail belonging to the subscribers for which he received
$1 for letters, and newspapers 50 cents. Mail was delivered and sepa-
rated generally in the headquaters of those associations, and the parties
who had signed their names came there and got their mail. When a man
from New York was taken sick, a notification was sent to the members
that he was sick in a certain ravine or canyon. Then a committee was
fippointed to go and take care of him, and to nurse him and bury him, or
procure medical attendance if necessary. Chinese, when they came into
the mines, noticed and became familiar with those organizations of the
whites, and hence the basis of the six companies. They organized then
their six company associations, not organized in San Francisco originally,
but in the mines, establishing a headquarters here where their letters

Six companies as
-arbitrators.

Highbinders.

Canada.

Canadian Pacific
Jlail'way.

were sent from here to the mines, the same way we were doing it. They
have kept up that organization till this day, although all the other asso-
ciations fell through when the government machinery was put in work,
mails established, officers appointed, and a regular government, and no
further necessity for such associations. That was the beginning of the
six company associations which does not exist in any other country in the
world to which the Chinese immigrate but California.

" Q. You would say that they are survivors of that original ? — A. Yes.

" Q. A statement has been made that these companies try men for
offenses, that they in fact make laws of their own, have their own sanc-
tions to these laws, and inflict severe punishment, and sometimes have
not hesitated to inflict capital punishment ; what is your evidence on
that head ? — A. It is not true. I will state that I know that like ourselves
occasionally they have cases for arbitration brought to the attention of
the six companies, and they arbitrate or employ arbitrators, and white
men are sometimes called in to act with them ; but as to their trying a
man for a criminal ofiense, it is not true, or that they inflict punishment.

"Q. It has been stated. Colonel, that when the Chinese quarrel
amongst themselves they are very savage and violent, and use weapons ;
what is your evidence on that head? — A. In California there are about
1,400 Chinese, according to my estimates, that are irresponsible, vicious,
criminal ; who have no occupation. They are known as highbindsrs.
Those men are cruel, irresponsible, and of the criminal class ; but take the
Chinese character and people as a whole they are not savage or cruel —
they are not savage, they are timid. A hoodlum of twelve years of age
can drive half a dozen of them from the street. They avoid contact ; they
avoid difficulty of that nature, all that is possible. As a class they are
not to be judged by the few irresponsible, non-working Chinese high-
binders.

"Q. Are those highbinders ever employed by the Six Companies? — A.
No. sir; they have no occupation whatever. The Six Companies have no
use for that class."

Thus, from all accounts, it is plain that slavery is not an object of the
organization of the Six Companies.

The question up to this point has jbeen considered more with reference

to British Columbia than to the general bearing it has upon Canada

because in reality — the evil if it be an evil — has not been alleged or
shewn — to have had hitherto — either for better or worse — the slightest
influence upon any other part of Canada — but the same reasoning will
apply to all parts.

The well known rule in all business transactions is applicable, that the
supply of Chinese labor, wiU be regulated by the demand. In the more
densely peopled parts of old Canada, the demand has not yet arisen, nor
can it arise to an extent that will be prejudicial. In British Columbia it
is not increasing, and with the completion of the public works the supply
will seek other sources of employment. The benefit to British Columbia
to be derived from the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, so
far exceeds all other considerations that up to this time the matter does
not admit of discussion.

That work when completed will have advanced the maturity of British
Columbia by fifty years, and without Chinese labor to complete it, it
would have been delayed fifty.

LXXIX

CHAPTER 8.

A COUNTRY " WHERE THERE IS AN ENORMOUS CAPACITY OP PRODUCTION
COUPLED WITH AN UTTER INADEQUACY OF MEANS." OliPHANT.

The question must now be considered in its general aspect and bearing.

1st. As to whether any legislation at the present time is necessary or
desirable.

2nd. If necessary or desirable on what principle it should be based.

In view of the .first we have to remember that the powers of Parlia- Parliament
ment are always existing, and always adequate to the occasion. They
are concurrent with the country, and concurrent with the evil whatever
it may be that affects the country, therefore the omission to legislate to
■day or to-morrow is no admission, that legislation on the proposed subject
may not at some time be necessary. It is simply an admission, that it
has not been proved that it is necessary at this time. Of the appropriate-
ness of the time for legislation, Parliament which represents the whole
people must be the judge, not the particular section which seeks the
legislation. Any other position would make the whole subordinate to
the part.

In determining the appropriateness of the time, Parliament will con- will consider the
sider the circumstances of the section for which the legislation is asked ciroTimstances.
as well as of the whole country, whether the evil be existing, or the
danger remote. Too much legislation particularly in sumptuary matters,
is as much to be avoided as too little. The more a Grovernment will
leave to the people, the management of their own private affairs, the
better. How a man shall spend his money or whom he shall employ,
had better be left to himself, unless a pressing public necessity should
overrule his choice.

The state of a country described in the quotation which heads this A rational guide,
chapter points out a rational guide to follow.

In deciding whether present legislation is necessary or desirable that
element must have weight, it is not conclusive, but it is important. In
furtherance of the observations made in the preceding chapter we find
irom the census returns of 1881, (page 94), that the actual area of British Census of 1881.
Columbia is 341,305 square miles — 218,435,200 acres, while that of
Quebec is given at 188,688 square miles — 120,764,651 acres, the Pro- British Columbia,
vince of Ontario at 101,733 square miles — 65,111,463 acres according to Quebec, Ontario,
the same census. Both together not territorially as large as British Co-
lumbia, but their united population amounting to 3,282,255, while the
total actual population of British Columbia, including all races and
classes, whites, Indians and Chinese, is by the same census in round num- United population
bers 49,500, of which the whites are not quite 20,000. The influx since Ontario '"^"'^
the taking of the census in 1881, has undoubtedly largely increased that
number, and the assumed number of 60,000, may well be taken as the Popuiationof
actual number, if not under. The question of number does not affect the British Columbia,
principle, but it indefinitely postpones the danger, if danger there be, of danger postponed
this immense territory being overrun by any one class of people for many
years. It is said that British Columbia, from its mountainous character
does not afford the same accommodation for settlement that Ontario does..
For the sake of argument — admit it. Throw off one half — and you have
still room left for the entire population of Ontario 1,923,228. Nor is this
comparison, as to population, in any way to lessen the value of British Co-
lumbia, to the Dominion^ Small as is its population, its contribution to Contribution to

LXXX

£TidenG« as to
danger.

Analysis of
Census.

Britith Columbia.

Assumption that
legislature had
proof.

Deduction from
omission to
produce proof.

Local resolutions.

Mistake.

the general revenue exceeds the per capita of the other provinces as its.
territory exceeds theirs ; but it is only as bearing on the question of im-
mediate danger from Chinese immigration that it is brought forward.
The return of duties collected at the port of Victoria alone, for themonth
of October, 1884, is $106,780.28, or at the rate of $1,281,363.36 per year.
Surely it may be said of this country, " there is an enormous capacity of
production, coupled with an utter inadequacy of means."

In ascertaining whether there be danger we must look to the evidence
produced by the movers of the proposition — because it is in its application
to this country we have to legislate. It is not whether the Chinese are
bad in their own country. It is not whether they are bad or unsuitable
in California or in the United States, but whether they are bad or un-
suitable in British Columbia or Canada. Circumstances in each country
may so vary as to render the Legislation in one unnecessary or injurious
to the other. What each country will look for, from its own Parliament,
is the practical legislation' which suits itself.

These observations become the more applicable when the census from
which the above returns are taken is analysed. The tables from which
they are made are classified under separate heads of the races or origin
from which the population is derived. Out of the entire numbers compos-
ing the 3,282,255 of Ontario and Quebec, there are only twenty-nine
Chinese. The danger to those Provinces must be, indeed, remote. The
fear of competition with white labor, or the corruption of Canadian morals
from such a source, must be infinitesimally small.

Practically, it is as to British Columbia alone, the question has to be
considered, and the danger to that Province judged of by the evidence
which its Government, Legislature and people have produced. It ought to
be assumed that this movement was not made by its Legislature without
having first thoroughly examined the subject, obtained the proof, and sat-
isfied themselves of the soundness of their conclusions — with the care and
impartiality becoming a deliberate assembly. The future welfare of the
Province, and the development of its vast resources were not to be left to
prejudice, idle declamation, or the dictation of interested classes.

When, therefore, in answer to the application of the Province to the
Dominion Parliament for stringent legislation on the subject — as prepar-
atory to such legislation, and for the purpose of determining its nature
and extent — the opportunity was afforded to the Province to prove the
danger — where, when so afforded, that proof was earnestly asked for —
and where, when if it existed, it was within the command of those who
alleged there was danger — then the omission to produce that proof is con-
clusive, either as to its non-existence, or the inability of those who made
the charge, to establish their position.

Unfortunately, among some persons who assume to be leaders of public
opinion in the Province, there was an idea, that because the Local Legis-
lature had passed certain resolutions denouncing the Chinese as an evil,
therefore, that was conclusive against further enquiry, and the Dominion
Parliament had no authority to go beyond.

This was a grave mistake. A resolution of the Local Legislature on a
subject, on which it had no power to legislate, carries with it no con-
clusive authority, and cannot be regarded as the constitutional expression
of opinion of the people the Local Legislature represents. If the subject
matter be one reserved by the constitution for another and higher Legisla-
ture, it is plain that to that higher Legislature the people have delegated
the power of expression. The power to legislate involves the power to
consider, and the option to determine. The former without the latter is
of little value.

LXXXI

Representation given for particular purposes, constitutionally limits the Representation,
•expression of authoritative opinion to those purposes, and binds the people
represented only to the extent of those purposes. Under the British
North America Act, all matters relating to trade and commerce, foreign
Nations, Imperial or Dominion interests, are exclusively reserved to the
Dominion Parliament. When, therefore, the doctrine was promulgated,
that resolutions on this subject by the Local Legislature were to be con-
sidered as the conclusive opinion of the Province, it was a mistake,
because, in the higher Parliament to which such subjects are relegated,
the Province has its representatives, and sends them there, to pronounce
upon those subjects.

In that higher Parliament, the interest of the whole Dominion on the
particular subjects have to be considered as. paramount to the interests
of the subordinate part, and the representatives of the latter must carry
their position by the weight of reason, not by the assertion that another
legislative body, of inferior standing, however much to be respected, had
determined it. Whatever may be the judicial construction ultimately
put upon the word "immigration," in the 95th section of the British
North American Act, which it would be improper for the Commissioners No enterference
here to assume, the contour of the whole Act shows it must be so limited Parliament
as in no way to interfere with the power of the Dominion Parliament. limited.

The Dominion Government and Parliament had and have the un-,
doubted right to obtain evidence on all subjects bearing on the general
public interests in such way as they may deem best, and they are not to
be limited to the views of any particular local representations, as to the
statement of facts bearing thereon, or conclusions drawn, to the considera-
tion of which the Dominion Government and Parliament we're no party.
It is possible that but for thus being misled, there were persons in British
Columbia who thought that they could have given important evidence,
but did not. The Local Government, however, understood the Constitu- Gtovei-nment not
tion, and could not thus be misled. The Commissioners have before them misled.
all the evidence that the highest Local Authorities could produce. The
representatives from the Province in the Dominion Parliament, who knew
the wishes and understood the desire of that Parliament for information,
in order that justice might be done, and the future public welfare of the
Dominion promoted, were invited by the Commissioners to aid the enquiry
and make suggestions or direct attention to any point, fact or circum-
stances they deemed important.

The evidence, it will be observed, consists not only of oral testimony — obtained^"""*^
of statistics, of written answers given after ample time for consideration
-to written questions — but also of several carefully prepared documents
and letters transmitted by intelligent men who had given the subject much
attention. It comes also from every class — the capitalist, the manufac-
turer, the laborer, the contractor, the trader, the farmer, men of business ;
the rich, the poor ; settlers from the old countries who came in twenty
or twenty-five years ago, have made the Province their home, and from
others who have hardly ever been beyond the Province ; from the learned
and the unlearned, scholars from the English universities and others,
whose personal knowledge is the result of personal experience ; from the
pioneers of 1858 and 1860, and from the immigrant who only came in two
years ago — in every varied phase of life, information was sought ; and it Sources of
may be questioned whether much remains beyond that gathered in. fvidence.
From that evidence it distinctly appears that the great body of the white
inhabitants do not wish the removal of those Chinese who are now in the ^^ctoeslnOw''^
Province If the danger to the morals of the community be so great as in the province.

6

Against further
accession.

Railway
contracts.

Ocean steamery.

Public sentiment

Bases o( legis-
lation optional.
First Unsound.
Second Sound.

has been described by some — if their presence really prevents a good clasa
of white settlers coming in — if the carrying away of their earnings be so-
injurious to the country ; if vice, disease and leprosy be the consequence
of their remaining — then they ought not to be allowed to remain an hour..
It is manifest, therefore, from the expression of opinion above referred to,
that the great body of the people do not see the danger alleged ; in fact
they do not believe it exists, or they would not have expressed that
opinion. With reference to any further accession, there is a strong ex-
pression that it should not be. How far that accession can be stayed
until after the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway is a question
for the Parliament. Whether the stopping one of the main sources of the
supply of labor to which the contractors looked, and to which under
existing laws they were entitled to look, at the time they entered into
their contracts with the Government, would or would not be, in the
absence of any pressing necessity, a departure from good faith, is for Par-
liament. How far the request that it should be done is consistent with
the -urgent and repeated demands of the Legislature of British Columbia,
that the construction of the railway should be carried on to completion
with the utmost rapidity, is also for Parliament; and equally is it a
question with that Parliament to determine whether the closing up of one
of the main sources of the revenue (the establishment of Oceanic Hnes of
steamers with China and Japan, for trade and commerce with those coun-
tries, which would tend to relieve Canada of the burden of the expendi-
ture caused by its construction, and which was urged as among the
inducements for assuming it), is wise or not ; for surely the establishment
of such lines for the purpose would be utterly futile, if no communication
is to be had, or the people of those countries, or of either of them, are to
be forbidden to accompany their business.

All the Commissioners have to report is that up to this time no
evidence has been shown of any immediate danger to the country, or of
any pressing necessity for immediate stringent legislation ; and they refer
to the whole of the evidence placed before Parliament accompanying this
report in support of that conclusion.

But, nevertheless, there is anothei- element to be considered, that is
Public sentiment. Masses of people do not always reason logically, but
sometimes instinctively arrive at conclusions, and the public in British
Columbia have almost unanimously, in the evidence, expressed a wish that
some legislation should be had on this subject. Therefore, though there
be not any actual immediS,te danger, it may be and is desirable that suffi-
cient legislation to meet existing evils, or what may augur the future ad-
vent of supposed greater evils, should be had.

There are two principles on which such legislation may be based :
1st. Entire and absolute exclusion.
2nd. Moderate restriction and sound regulations.

The first is unsound, injurious to commerce, and a violation of inter-
national courtesy when applied to a nation with which we are at peace
and have treaties, besides being illiberal and at variance with our own
interests.

The second is promotive of good feeling, because it removes and prevents
causes of irritation, which may lead to bad feeling, hostilities and
reprisals. It is consistent which the law of self-interest, which compels
every government to protect first its own people, (doing no wrong to a
friendly power), and at the same time promote that commercial intercourse
which leads to amity with all people.

It may be accomplished in three combined ways : 1st. By excluding all

LXXXIII

who will be manifestly injurious to, or a burden on the finances of the Accom^plished in
country, such as paupers, criminals, sick, diseased, or persons from un-
doubted reasons objectionable. 2nd. By limiting admission to those who
by conduct and character would promote the trade and business of the
country, and conduce to its prosperity and the conveniences of life. 3rd.
By securing, if possible, the cordial co-operation of the country against
whose people the legislation is directed, in carrying out the object and Secure coopera-
policy of the law enacting such restriction and regulations, and for this
latter purpose by creating such tribunals as would remove or obviate the
difficulties now existing in the administration of the laws as regards that
foreign clement of the population, and give confidence to the peoples and
governments of both countries — that not only that law, but all other laws
afiiecting them, would be administered strictly, in accordance with the
principles laid down, and with impartial justice.

As such special legislation and such special tribunals are only necessary • i * •>,

in consequence of that particular foreign element, it is perfectly consistent
that those constituting that foreign element, who come into the country
for their own interest or pleasure, should bear the expense of the excep-
tional tribunals, precautions and requirements created and necessary for ^'^p^"^® ° ■
their especial benefit and protection, when from peculiarity of race, incom-
patibility of institutions, or characteristics of language, the comer cannot
advantageously avail himself of the existing tribunals and institutions of
the country.

For instance, the great difficulty that exists with reference to the Chi-
nese in our ignorance of their language, customs, idiosyncrasies and reli-
gion. We dp not know how to get the truth from them, we cannot
remove the suspicions from their minds that we do not intend to treat
them fairly. To render the administration of justice satisfactory, it is not
only necessary that it should be impartial, but that the conviction should
exist that it is impartial. As to those people, therefore, expenses must
be incurred as to interpreters, experts and expounders which are not
necessary in other cases. They should feel that their language and cus-
toms are thoroughly understood, and we — for our own sakes as dispensers
of justice — that we understand and interpret them rightly. It may be
difficult to accomplish but it can be done.

The same difficulty does not exist with the Teutonic or Latin races, Teutonic and
with comers from Europe or America — North or South ; numbers in every '^^*™ '■*""'^-
community know their languages, customs, habits and religion, and in the
administration of the laws no exceptional circumstances arise.

Such expenses, therefore, with reference to the Chinese fall within the f^^l" reguia-
police regulations required for the good order of the community, and
though exceptional, do not constitute any violation of international law
or courtesy.

It is said that this was not the course pursued by Australia or the
United States. Each country must be governed by its own circumstances. liSon."'"'" '**^""'
The Australian Colonies had paid enormous sums to get out immigrants ;
shipload after shipload left the shores of England freighted at their ex-
pense with people who went out under inducements from the Government.
They imported a population and deemed it right that that element which
owed its existence to the public purse should be cherished and sustained
until it could support itself.

From statistical notes of the progress of Victoria, Australia, published
in 1861, pages 6 and 7, we find that in twenty-two years, from 1838 Australian,
to 1859, there were introduced into the Colony at the partial expense of statiaticB..
the State-, one hundred and fourteen thousand eight hundred and thirty-

LXXXIV

nine (114,839) souls, while during the same or a somewhat longer period,
from 1836 to 1859, the unassisted emigration amounted to only five
hundred and fifteen thousand nine hundred and sixty (515,960), or nearly
one-fifth brought out by public aid ; and in the report made on the 17th erf
November, 1857, to the Legislative Assembly by the Select Committee on
Chinese emigration, we find the following pertinent observations, showing a
marked distinction between the nature of the occupations of the Chinese
in Australia and British Columbia. In the former, simply depleting the
country by the abstraction of its gold without leaving any valuable result
behind ; in the latter by labor in the construction of great public railways,
in the coal mines and canneries, and clearing the land, thereby tending
to advance the country and prepare it for future agricultural settlers, in-
creasing the facilities of intercourse and the extension of its trade and
commerce.

It is also to be observed, that at that time war was raging between
England and China, a circumstance which would facilitate the adoption, by
the Legislature, of the bill submitted for imposing the exceptional taxa-
tion of ten (£10) pounds sterling per capita, with a residence license fee
bi-monthly of one pound sterling (£1) on all Chinese emigrants coming
into the country.

The following are the extracts from the report of the Committee :

" Your Committee have ascertained that the immigrant Chinese are
principally from that part of China, of which Canton is the capital, with
which the British nation is at present in open hostility. These immigrants
are not of that class commonly known as coolies, but comprise men from
the country districts, as well as from the towns — cultivators, traders and
mechanics."

" That in no instance, hitherto, h&ve they applied themselves to the cul-
tivation of the land, nor, indeed, to any of the industrial pursuits of the
colony, save that of digging for gold. Their object being to acquire a
sufficiency of means wherewith to return to their own country. That the
Committee feel assured that the advantages derived from the trade and
commerce, which the presence of such a vast population brings with it,
affords no compensation to the country for the large and increasing quan-
tity of gold, amounting in one year to about one hundred and twenty
ounces (120,000 oz.), valued at half a million sterling, which the Chinese
are annually abstracting from the natural wealth and resources of the
country."
See Ante, page 83. " That the Committee have ascertained that the majority of the Chinese
are amenable to the laws of the country, and under a proper system of
registration and management — through the agency of headmen of their
own race, selected by themselves — order, to some extent, may be kept
amongst them."

" That the fiscal regulations for the collection of rates and taxes imposed
by the government, provided they are clearly and distinctly defined and
enforced with justice and firmness — the Committee see no diiBculty in
carrying it out."

The Committee recommended the bill referred to, with the following
additions :

" 1st. That any Chinaman found on the gold fields, or elsewhere in the
colony, without a license or receipt, be subject to a penal servitude on the
public, works of the colony, for a period not exceeding three (3) months.

" 2nd. That amy person a/rrested under this Act as a reputed Chinaman,
it shall be sufficient/or the accuser, to prove that the accused is reputed, or is
considered by the accuser to be a Chinaman. His oath, or the oath of one

LXXXV

witness shall be sufficient proof, unless the contrary be shown, to make
such person amenable to the provisions of this Act." — See Report and
Bill.

It is to be hoped the Criminal Code of Canada may never contain its
parallel.

The Government of British Columbia has never been in a position to
import a population ; neither before Confederation, when the Province
was unrestrained by the powers given to the Dominion Parliament by the
British North America Act, nor since has it appropriated any money to
aid in bringing in a population of white laborers. It has passed resolu-
tions, made representations to the Dominion Government and Parliament,
and issued pamphlets, but in no instance taxed itself for the above pur-
pose. On the contrary, by clear deduction from their legislative proceed-
ings, it declared the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway of more
importance than the immigration of white labor, and gave to the Dominion
Government as an inducement to build and hurry on its construction a
twenty-mile belt along the line of railway, embracing the finest lands in
the Province, including all the ungranted portions of the delta of the
Fraser River, thus absolutely depriving itself of the power of giving farms
to white settlers should they come in. No doubt that concession was in
full accord with the wishes of the people at the time it wa.s made, and also
with the future and permanent interests of the Province, for without that
inlet for white immigration, the Province, however great its inducements,
would have remained unpeopled for an indefinite period, but its effective-
ness in hitherto preventing white settlements is evidenced by the rapidity
with which the lands are now being taken up since the embargo has been
withdrawn, amounting, as shown by the official returns, in one district
alone along the Fraser to be 3,795 persons in one year. The argument,
therefore, that would be available for the Australian Colonies does not
apply.

The legislation of the United States on this subject has been ajravely ,. .^ -, q* ^

° . ,•' iT United states

questioned by leading American statesmen, and was denounced pending Legislation.

the discussion in Congress on the measure. Its exclusion of laborers
alone not only brought it within the objectionable category of class legis-
lation, but its limitation to ten years showed it to be a matter of doubtful
expediency, not of principle, besides, through the intricacy of its details,
affording constant facilities for deceit and evasion. Perhaps no law has .
ever been passed by Congress for which such a feeling of general contempt testament^age 25»
prevailed. It was a departure from all the traditions and policy of the
country.

From the first date of her national existence, the United States has
taken the lead in broad international views. At the time when England
was at the zenith of her maritime greatness the United States boldly
denounced her policy, defied her power, and proclaimed the doctrine that
the neutral flag covered neutral goods, that the national flag made the Neutral flag.
d«cks of her merchant ships upon the seas national territory, and that ' '^ """^ "^'
there should be no right of search and no seamen taken therefrom. And
still later, when hardly recovered from her great civil war, she laid down
the principle that every nation must so regulate its own municipal code. Municipal Code,
that, whether there be existing law or not, she must prevent her subjects
doing injuries to other nations with which she was at peace or pay the
damage — principles which the war of 1812-U and the payment of the
Alabama $15,000,000 have now established as the law of nations. In the
peaceful relations of life she invited the industrious of ail the nations of
the earth to take advantage of her broad domain and the benefit of her

Political
Economy.

Policy judicious
jBelecraon.

RsBtriction.

free institutions, but she forbade all nations to make her country a poor-
house for the pauper, the convict, or the diseased, sending them back to
England or wherever they came from. This Chinese legislation was the
first departure from her great principles of international law.

It has also been questioned whether it was on sound principles of poli-
tical economy to confound the good with the bad, reject the useful with
the useless, and prohibit all labor — the good as well as the bad — for fear
of competition, simply because it comes from a particular country with
which the most friendly intercourse is otherwise held.

It was certainly not in accordance with the policy which peopled the
United States. Be that as it may, the United States legislated to suit
themselves.

It by no means follows that the same legislation will suit Canada, nor
is it shown to be the wish of the people of British Columbia. The policy
of restriction and regulation which the Commissioners report is a policy
of judicious selection. Take what is good, reject what is bad, study the
interests of the country, consider its circumstances. There is not in the
Province of British Columbia the white labor to do the required work.
Yet the work must be done or the country must stand still. When the
white labor is so abundant that there is a reasonable fear that the coun-
try may be injured by the competition. Parliament can legislate by exclu-
sion or otherwise to meet the occasion. There is no such fear at present,
and the evidence shows the occasion ha.s not arisen.

CHAPTER 9.

DU'l'AILS OF .SUGGESTED LEGISLATION.

Details.

Chinese Consul

Taxe per capita.

Having thus concluded that legislation is desirable, and suggested the
principle on which it should be based, it becomes necessary to mention
more in detail the means by which it is considered the designated object
could be obtained — that is how the beneficial immigration is to be separ-
ated from the injurious, how confidence on both sides is to be established,
and how funds are to be raised, by which the expenses incident to the
plan proposed are to be borne.

1st. As an almost essential element to creating confidence on behaK of
the Chinese, the commissioners would recommend that the Dominion
Government take the proper steps through the Imperial Government to
secure the appointment of a Chinese consul at Victoria, thoroughly
acquainted with their languages, customs and religious ideas, in fact a
Chinaman. He would be a medium of communication between his coun-
trymen and the local authorities by which many doubts would be removed
and difficulties obviated. As in all other Diplomatic relations, if he
made himself obnoxious or troublesome, on proper representation he could
be removed or his exequatur withdrawn.

2nd. That an act be passed by the Dominion Parliament imposing a
duty of say $10 per head, to be collected as other customs duties, on each
and every Chinaman or Chinawoman, every Chinese boy or girl landing
in or coming into the Province of British Columbia, in accordance with
the regulations hereinafter prescribed ; the said tax to be a charge upon
the ship, vessel, boat or means of transport, whether by land or water,
and without exception as to all Chinese, except those who are merely
travellers passing through to avail themselves of the Canadian Pacific

Bailway en route to Europe or the United States or countries other than
•Canada, a certificate from the Chinese consul in Victoria to be received
by the authorities as evidence to the latter effect.

Memorandum. — -The duty of flO per head being a charge upon the
ship, will be effective, as the ship-owner will take care that it is paid at
the port of departure before embarkation of the passengers, thus to a
great degree preventing the transmission of paupers or objectionable per-
sons by the companies or parties who send out laborers under contract.

From the return of the collector of customs at Victoria, during the
last four months the average of Chinese incomers might be estimated at
3000 per annum, which at $10 per head would give $30,000 a year.

3rd. That the sum raised by such taxation be applied exclusively for
the purposes hereinafter named :

1st. For the payment of a proper health inspector to be appointed by Health Inspector
the Dominion Government, whose duty it shall be to inspect, on the of Chinese,
.arrival of any vessel at the Port of Victoria or elsewhere in British
Columbia from China or any foreign port, carrying passengers, the Chi-
nese passengers on board, and forthwith to report to the collectors of
•customs the number, sexes, and state of health and condition of each
Chinese person, classifying them accordingly, and stating whether any
a,nd how many are deseased, deformed, sick or incapable of work, paupers,
filthy, or otherwise from apparent reasons objectionable and designating
such persons so that they can be identified ; for which inspection and
report the said inspector shall be allowed for each vessel the sum of $ — ,
as per order in council regulating the same.

4th. That the collector of customs shall prevent the landing of any Prevent landing
persons so designated as paupers, diseased, deformed, filthy or otherwise
■objectionable.

5th. That it shall be the duty of the shipmaster, ship owners, or con-
signee of such ships, to aid in preventing the landing of such persons as pg^^^j,
last aforesaid, and any expenses incurred in re-shipping or sending away
to China or elsewhere, persons landing in violation of these regulations,
shall be a charge upon the said ship, shipmaster, ship-owner or consignee,
to be recovered in the ordinary courts according to law, together with a
penalty not exceeding $100 for each offense or violation.

6th. That for the purpose of creating confidence in the administration Joint Tribunal,
of justice, and ascertaining the truth when the Chinese are concerned, a
joint commission shall be established to have jurisdiction in all civil suits
between the Chinese themselves or the Chinese and other parties.

7th. That the said commission shall be composed of one or moie judges
appointed by the Dominion Government and paid out of the fund hereby

created a salary of , being a lawyer of at least ten years continued

practice, member of the Bar of British Columbia or of one of the other
Provinces of the Dominion, and capable of speaking and comprehending
the Chinese language and writing, to hold appointment during good beha-
vior, the other member of the commission to be the Chinese consul at
Victoria, the chairman of such commission to be ex officio the senior
judge appointed by the Dominion Government.

Memorandwm. — As bearing on the 6th, 7th and 8th paragraphs, see
the observations of Mr. Lowe, formerly American Minister to China, at
page 184 of Evidence; also the Australian Report.

8th. That in addition to its civil jurisdiction, the said tribunal shall Civil Criminal
have criminal jurisdiction over all crimes, misdemeanors and offences com- ""' '"*'"'"■
mitted by the Chinese, under and according to the provisions of the Crim-
inal Code of the Dominion, except in cases when the penalty of the offence
is death.

No jurisdiction
in Criminal cases
over white.

Jurisdiction
collection per cent
taxes penalties
and intestate
estates.

Contagious
diseases.

Appeal on Law
not on fact*.

Punishment by
secret societies a
misdemeanor.

(Uerk of (!ourl.

Interpreters.

Procedure.

Power to rent
Imildings.

Accoxuits of
Expendltion.

9th. That in no case shall it have the power of imprisonment in the^
penitentiary beyond a period of years, or jurisdiction of a criminal nature-
in any case, where a white man is charged, unless by his written consent
first obtained, duly witnessed, filed, and entered of record in the Conrt.

10th. That such tribunal shall have power to enforce the collection
and payment of all Dominion, Provincial and municipal taxes due by the
Chinese or any of them, of all penalties and punishments incurred for
non-obedience or violation of tho Dominion revenue laws, Provincial or
municipal laws, imposing or regulating taxation, or providing for sanitary
measures. That it shall ha\e jurisdiction over and take charge of all
Chinese intestate estates, and collect and pay over to the officer authorized
by law to receive the same, all dues, per centage, fees and charges, under
any Provincial enactments chargeable against such estate.

11th. That in case of contagious oi- other dangerous diseases breaking
out in the community, it shall have power and it shall be the duty of the
said tribunal forthwith to enforce among the Chinese the municipal laws
and regulations made to prevent the .spread of such diseases, and to enforce
all laws and I'egulations for sanitary purposes.

12th. That from all decisions, judgments or final orders nf the .said
tribunal, therf» may be an appeal on points of law to the Supreme Court
of the Province, but no appeal or reviews on question of fact ; the finding
of the said tribunal, on matters of fact coming within its jurisdiction,,
being final and conclusive.

13th. That no mode of punishment shall be inflicted in the Province^
among the Chinese, by or under the order or direction of any secret society
or organization, or otherwise than in accordance with the adjudication of
the said tribunal, or the law of the land; any such punishment or attempt
thereto, to be in law a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and imprisonment
with or without hard labor.

14th. That the said tribunal shall have power to appoint a competent
officer to act as clerk and registrar of the said Court, to keep all records
and issue all summonses and other documents connected with the discharge
of its duties and the execution of its powers. That he shall be acquainted

with the Chinese language and wi-iting, and be paid a salary of si? per

month.

15th. That it shall be the duty of the said tribuiial to select trust-
worthy, competent and reliable interpreters thoroughly acquainted with
the Chinese language, to attend on requisition the Supreme Court or any
other tribunal when prosecutions, suits, proceedings or enquiries are being:
held in matters to which the Chinese and white, or other persons than
Chinese, may be parties, n certificate from the said two Commissioners, to
be evidence of competency and appointment of such interpreters.

16th. That the said tribunal shall have power to make short and sum-
mary forms of procedure for the purposes and business of the said court,
to appoint constables for executing their orders among the Chinese, mak-
ing rules, and otherwise doing what is necessary for justice, in no case, as
to substance or principle, departing from the law of the land otherwise
than as herein authorized and provided.

17th. That the said tribunal shall have power to rent all buildings and
offices, and all others that may be necessary for the efficient discharge of
their duties, or the promotion of sanitary measures in the district of the
city occupied by the Chinese.

18th. That all expenses and payments shall be duly certified and
vouched for, and returned quarterly to the Dominion Government, and
shall be chargeable to and paid out of the fund hereby created..

LXXXIX

19th. That the said tribunal shall establish an efficient system of regis- g^f^l^"^'^*'"" °*
tration of all Chinese resident in the Province, classifying their names,
sexes, occupations, and places of residence as nearly as possible, once in
every year, making the same in triplicate, one copy to be sent to the
secretary of state for the Dominion, one copy to the Provincial secretary
of British Columbia, and one to the mayor of the city of Victoria for the
use and benefit of the public. And it shall be the duty of the said tribunal,
whenever so requested by either of the said official authorities to afford
every assistance in identifying any party or parties so registered.

20th. That any person, maliciously, or unlawfully mutilating, defacing Mutilating ot
or altering the said register, or copy of the said registration, shall be ®^^ '''
guilty of a misdemeanor and be punishable by fine and imprisonment.

21st. That in case the public service should require it, the Dominion Dominion power
Government shall have power to supend the collection of the said tax, and °* suspension,
the operation of this act, making other provision for the commission
appointed by the Dominion Government.

22nd. That penalties incurred for violations of this Act shall be Penalties,
recoverable before .the ordinary tribunals of the Province, by and in the
name, and at the instigation of the Attorney-General or other public pro-
secuting officer — as the oiFence may pertain to or come under the Domi-
nion or Provincial legislation, or any municipal ordinance, by-law or
regulation.

23rd. That all expenses, in case of judgment or conviction, shall be Expences.
borne and paid by the offender, or in case of his inability to do so, out of
the fund hereby created, the same having been first duly taxed by the
proper officer.

The foregoing suggested outlines of a measure for the consideration of
the Dominion Parliament, it will be perceived, will, when amended in its
passage through Parliament, secure the power of selection of the incoming
immigrants ; prevent the landing of those that are objectionable, secure
confidence in the administration of the Dominion, Provincial and Muni-
cipal laws severally, and the administration of criminal justice ; aid in the
detection of crime and identification of the offenders by means of an effi-
cient registration and competent interpreters ; put the burden of expense
upon those for whose benefit the proposed measures are intended, and
relieve the Dominion, Provincial and Municipal exchequers from all out-
lay, without any violation of international or commercial law or of politicai
economy.

But the commissioners would further suggest that the Dominion Gov-
ernment should urge upon the Government and Legislature of British
Columbia the propriety of passing an Act, regulating domestic service in dom'eltjclS™;e^
British Columbia somewhat similar to the Agricultural Laborers' Act in
England. It will be found often repeated in the evidence that the Chinese
break engagements in domestic service to the very great injury of those
with whom they engage, and that the law at present provides no efficient
remedy fi)r the loss to the one party, or adequate punishment to the other.
A very simple enactment would obviate this difficulty, the details of which
would fall within the purview of the Local Legislature.

xc

CHAPTER 10.

TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND CANADA.

Canadian stand-
point.

Result of the con^
flict of races.

Stipulation.

Primary duty.

Cantidian Pacific
Railway.

This question has hitherto been regarded mainly from the stand-point of
British Columbia. It must now assume a broader aspect, and the ques-
tion is : whether Canada, at the commencement of her national career, is
to adopt a policy of narrow exclusion or a policy of broad, enlightened
and liberal progress ; whether, on the first occasion of commanding the
trade of two Oceans and legislating beyond the domain of local and sectional
interests, she is to be governed by imaginary fears or by a reliance on the
natural vigor of her people, and the spirit of enterprise and competition
which can alone make them great and powerful.

If we look at the whole history of the Western and Eastern Hemi.
spheres — of the nations of Asia and of America from the time of Colum-
bus, we find the latter have gone down race after race before the people
of Europe and their descendants ; we find, that the .ravages of North
America — far more warlike, far more aggressive than the Chinese, superior
in physique, superior in the arts of resistance — have melted away before
the colonists who settled North America under difficulties that would
have overwhelmed any but the descendants of the indomitable races from
which they sprung ; we find that in the last century and a half, these same
descendants have not only brought the whole continent of North America
under their absolute control, have swept over the islands of the Pacific,
conquered India and colonized Australia, but have penetrated to the heart
of this very China now so dreaded, and at the gates of its Capital dic-
tated the terms alone on which China should be allowed to exist as an
Empire ; we find we forced our people and our trade upon them against
their will ; boasted of our institutions, our civilization and our strensth ;
insisted upon putting m our treaties with them — against the remon-
strances of their Government and the habits and wishes of their people —
a distinct clause that they should be permitted to emigrate from their
own land and come to our country ; and now the moment we find them
sober and industrious, frugal and money-making, and a few thousands of
them coming over to North America to do the lowest drudgery of labor,,
it is proposed we should legislate to exclude them for fear they may con-
quer and drive us out of our own possessions. What a commentary upon
the energy of our race and the history of the past !

It would seem that before giving way to imaginary fears, or theoretical
problems about the future it would be the primary duty of Canada to
consider immediate action for relieving the finances of the Dominion of
the immense burden caused by the construction of the Canadian Pacific
Railway. This un lertaking was not for British Columbia, but for the
welfare and development of the whole Dominion — for consolidating its
disunited territory and bringing into active co-operation the varied ele-
ments of wealth and prosperity lying throughout the country, thereby
laying the foundation of its future national greatness. It was one of the
boldest liabilities ever assumed by a young country of limited population
and limited means. It is unparalelled. The oldest nations of Europe
would have paused before the responsibility of such an undertaking as a
national Government work; but it was assumed by Canada with an
abiding confidence not only in the resources of the country but a reliance
on the vigor, energy and enterprise of her people. Three thousand miles
of railway through a rocky wilderness, through an unsettled country, over

xci

the Rocky Mountains, the Cascade and Coast ranges, down the most pre-
cipitous canyons to the sea ; and $120,000,000 of debt. Debt.

To the indirect advantages resulting from the work in the general
development of the country was added the inducement of profitable direct
communication and trade with China, India and Japan, not only as sup-
plying the wants of Canada, but as supplying the wants of Great Britain r^^g^gj^^.
and other European nations by affording increased and additional facilities
to those already existing — ^a traffic which day by day would add to the
wealth and advancement of Canada.

"Who were the parties to the construction of this great work — to the Parties to, and
assnmption of this onerous liability? compact.

By the terms of Union between Canada and British Columbia, sanctioned
by the Queen in Council on the 16th of May, 1871, Canada assumed the
•existing debts and liabilities of the Province, the payment of annual
subsidies to British Columbia amounting to two hundred and seven
thousand nine hundred and ninety-four dollars ($207,994), with an aug-
mentation of eighty (80c.) cents per capita as it advanced in population,
according to each decennial census, and the current annual expenses of
carrying on the main departments of the public service, with representa-
tion in the Dominion Parliament, and further undertook " to commence
and complete within a certain time the construction of a railway from the Terms of union.
Pacific towards the Rocky Mountains, and from such point as may be
selected east of the Rocky Mountains towards the Pacific to connect the
seaboard of British Columbia with the railway system of Canada, and the
Government of British Columbia agreed to convey to the Dominion
•Government in trust tp be appropriated in such manner as the Dominion
Government might deem advisable in furtherance of the construction of
the said railway a similar extent of public lands along the line of railway
■throughout its entire length in British Columbia, not to exceed, however,
twenty (20) miles on each side of said line, as may be appropriated for jjaUway belt
the same purpose by the Dominion Government from the public lands in
the North- West Territories and the Province of Manitoba, " with certain
provisions as to pre-empted rights or granted lands, within the said limits,
.and making good the same to the Dominion Government from contiguous
Public Lands, and a restriction that until the commencement of construc-
tion within two years from the date of the Union, " The Government of
British Columbia should not sell or alienate any further portions of the
Public Lands of British Columbia in any other way than under right of
pre-emption requiring actual residence of the pre-emptor on the land
.claimed by him. In consideration of the land so to be conveyed in aid of ''''""'P '""•
the construction of the said railway, the Dominion Government agrees to
pay to British Columbia from the date of the Union the sum of one
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per annum in half-yearly payments ^fy $ioS,ooo."'''
in advance."

The Dominion has since annually paid the subsidies, borne the expenses Performance,
of the public services defined, the one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000),
and carried the construction of the road nearly to completion.

At the time this agreement was made, the Chinese evil, as it is termed. Time,
was in full force in San Francisco, the habits of the Chinese, their com- ^^.^^^^^ ^^
petition with white labor, their cheap mode of living, their transmission Chinese.
to their own country of the results of their industry, were well known on
the Pacific coast. They had then come in numbers to British Columbia,
and it was in the power of British Columbia to have legislated against '
them, had it been for the interests of the Province to do so. No action
in that direction was taken, and after the Union, the most urgent pres-

XCII

Pressure for con
strnction.

Work not to be
done without
Chinese labor.

Assumption.

JToreign trade.

Ocean Line ot
Steamers.

Puerile.

One year's con-
sumption of
whiskey.

Instructions to
commissioners.

Trade relations
with Canada.

Increase.

• sure was brought to bear upon the Dominion Government to hurry on
the work of railway construction according to the terms of Union. Exten-
sion of the time for completion was refused. Resolution after resolution
was passed by the Local Legislature and Government complaining of
delay. Deputation after deputation sent to the Imperial Government
alleging a breach of faith. The " Carnarvon terms" were pressed, and
every influence that the Province could bring to bear was used to force
the construction through.

As it was known that the work could not be done without Chinese
labor — as the evidence shews it could not have been, as most unques-
tionably not within the time within which it will be now accomplished, :
it must be assumed that whatever the Chinese evils were, they were not-.
sufiicient to counterbalance the gain to be acquired by the completion of
the work, and especially must it be assumed that until such time as the
burden of the cost of construction has been materially lifted from the
shoulders of the general public of the Dominion, no step should be taken,
unless of absolute necessity, to thwart the productive character of the
road. These are propositions which, in the ordinary transaotioils of life,
would be considered clear and undoubted.

The foreign trade to China, India and Japan — the formation of large
commercial depots in BritishColumbia, connected in business intercourse
with those countries, have always been regarded by intelligent men
as among the sources of its productive revenue. The ocean lines of
steamers, the construction of public docks and wharves incident thereto,
the handling of the vast trafiic therefrom will demand an intelligent popu
lation the Chinese cannot supply, and that population will come and
settle in the country as soon as the work is there for them to do.

In the presence of such great results, it is unpractical to talk of
the white races of Englishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen, Americans, Cana- .
dians and Europeans being contaminated by a little opium or a few
Chinese women, or driven from the field of industry by a few thousand
Chinese unskilled laborers. The races that have hitherto conquered the
world must indeed have become degenerate if such can be the case. One
year's consumption of whiskey would do more harm in Canada than all
the Chinese who ever crossed the Pacific Ocean to become settlers or
laborers on the Pacific coast.

Th6 instructions to the commissioners were " to report upon the whole
" subject of Chinese immigration, and consider its trade relations as well
" as those social and moral objections taken to the influx of the Chinese .
" people in Canada."

The trade relations of China with Canada, except as to that portion
lying within the Province of British Columbia, have hitherto been limited,
as compared with the Canadian trade to other couutries, and may be said
to have had no very material effect.

Upon British Columbia they have. The custom-house returns already
quoted for the month of October last show that that Province is contrib-
uting to the general revenue of the Dominion, in the payment of duties,
at the rate of over one million per annum, and that of these the duties
resulting from the Chinese trade have increased from one hundred and
.seventy-four dollars and forty-seven cents ($174.47) in 1874 to one hun-
dred and eleven thousand, three hundred dollars and fifteen cents .
($111,300.15) in 1884— ten years,— or at the rate of 637 per cent. It
may from this be argued what those duties will be when the ocean line
of steamers between the countries of the East and the terminus of the
Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia shall be established, and

XCIII

the through traffic from Great Britain, tjie Eastern Provinces, and North- •

West Territories of Canada is in full force. It may reasonably be Approximation

inferred, such is the rapidity of the growth of commerce from increased ^* contribution

facilities, that in a few years the contribution to the general revenue of

the Dominion from the Pacific trade will closely approximate to that

from the Atlantic.

In the consideration of this future it must not be overlooked that
foreign complications may materially affect the utility of the Suez Canal to*si^z "canrf "*'
to Great Britain as a mode of transit. She has no absolute exclusive
control and no national hold upon the feelings or affections of the people
through whose country it passes. Trade at the point of the bayonet, or
under the guns of a man-of-war is not the most productive, and certainly
not the most satisfactory. All these difficulties, all these exceptional
characteristics are avoided in the transit by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Such difference must in time, and in a short time, produce a marked effect.
Looking at it, even in its most limited point of view (apart from all exterior
influences or contributions), at the mere increase of Internal trade alone Increase of inter-
between Eastern Canada and British Columbia, under the burden-some ""^^ *™*''-
drawback of transportation through a foreign country, and the conflicting
interests of more contiguous bases of supply, we find, from the Customs
Returns, that the Imports from the Eastern Provinces, into the port of
Victoria alone increased from $22,215 in the fiscal year ending 30th
June, 1872, to $788,287 in the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1884, the
increase being steadily progressive during the intervening years. If, this
increase has taken place during that period with all the impediments,
expenses, and difficulties of transportation through a foreign country and
otherwise, what may not be expected with the increasing population and
rapid development that will follow on the Pacific coast of the Dominion,
from the completion of the Internal line of communication, and the removal
of existing drawbacks and expenses of transportation ? None but men
of the most extensive experience and the largest comprehension can pre-
figure the vastness of such results. It may be safely said, that in a few
years they will exceed the calculations of the boldest, as Canada herself
in the last seventeen years in her influence, her power, and material pro-
gress has surpassed all that was preconceived of the consequences of the
Union of British North America into one consolidated Dominion.

It is terrible to think that this trade — this future — may be jeopardized
by the sparsest population in the whole Dominion, scattered throughout a
territory larger than Ontario and Quebec combined.

The coming of the Chinese into British Columbia up to this time has -^^ oiTcct.
produced no effect whatever upon the labor market of the other Provinces
of Canada. If the Census Returns are correct the Chinese have not gone
into those Provinces, not the price of a day's labor has been reduced by
their competition, not a laborer in one of the cities or towns been met
by the opposing service of the Chinese. If as to those Provinces the
argument be of any avail, as regards labor, it is good against all labor,
whether it be European or American coming in. The country must be
reserved simply for those who are in it, and all accession to population
stopped, save by the natural increase of marriages and births. It is not
necessary to consider such a proposition.

The greatness of the English trade with China at one port alone has EngUsii trade
been shown to have amounted in one year to over fifty-one mil-
lion two hundred and eleven thousand nine hundred and ninety -eight dollars
($51,211,998) of which twenty-seven thousand seven hundred and twenty
-dollars ($27,720,000) was from Great Britain direct. Taking the length-

XCIV

BliEdAn of taxa-
tion.

Superior race.

HoraJs of a
people.

The Jews in
England and
United States.

Missionaries in
China.

History and
reason.

Non-amalgama-
tion.

of the circuitous voyage, and the possible complications that may arise
from the non-exclusive control of the Suez Canal, it may fairly be inferred
that of this twenty-seven million a considerable portion will hereafter-
find its way by the Canadian Pacific ; thus adding materially to the pro-
ductive character of the work. Legislation, therefore, which throws,
impediments in the way of this traffic is doing a serious injury to Canada
by retaining the burden of taxation for its construction upon the people.
It is in view of the future only, as to trade, that the question can be
regarded as having any marked influence on Canada, their past trade -with
China having, except as to British Columbia, been so comparatively un-
important as to constitute no material factor in the calculation. The day
for narrow and obstructive policy has passed. It is impossible to depict
in language sufficiently strong the advantages of unrestricted intercourse
with foreign countries, if we really are the superior race. In such case
we must influence them, not they us. Whatever good there be among them
it is in our power to take, whatever evil to reject. It is an attitude of
weakness inconsistent with the British and American races to admit the
contrary. The undersigned commissioner cannot, therefore, see how it is
possible that any valid objections can be raised to " trade relations be-
tween Canada and China.

Equally untenable in the main are the moral and social objections to
the presence of the Chinese. The religion and morals of a people depend
upon the people themselves, not upon the foreigners who come into the
country for business or pleasure. The latter may influence to a small
degree the limited circles within which they move, but can produce no
perceptible effect upon the great masses of the people. The Jews have not
dechristianized England or the United States, though resident in large
numbers in those countries and classed among the most useful and re-
spected of their citizens. Yet it is well known that on their first advent
into England, they were persecuted with a ferocity greater even than that
the present antipathy to the Chinese would dictate, and that among many
of the eastern nations of Europe, even at this day, they are treated with
savage brutality ; but of what character are the nations who now so treat
them, ignorant, debased, fanatical, and hardly above the savage in mental
or civilised characteristics.

The English and Americans have not christianised the Chinese, though
they have gone to China in large numbers, not only for trade and pleasure,
but for missionary purposes, teaching the doctrines of a religion and a
code of morals more ennobling and more attractive than the idolatry
which there exists. How derogatory, then to the Trench, English and
American races in Canada to assert that the presence of a few laboring
ignorant Chinese will cause the Canadian people to abandon the religion
of their fathers, the morals, education and higher Christian civilization of
their institutions, to adopt the idol worship and debasing morals and
habits of the heathen.

Thus, therefore, history and reason tell us, that in moral and social
habits, beyond a very limited circle the influence of the foreigner in a
debasing direction will be extremely small, and upon the great masses of
the people absolutely imperceptible when the country into which they
come is of a higher organisation in morals and civilization.

It is admitted that the Chinese do not amalgamate or intermarry with
the people of the country or take part in its political or legislative pro-
ceedings, but they do not prevent other people coming in who can or-
choose to amalgamate and intermarry. To say that they do so prevent,
by their competition in the labor market, is ui principle equally to say

xcv

that nobody should come in, because such coming is an interference with

existing prices and, therefore, injurious to the particular class interfered

with, but it is not injurious to the greater number, for the rule is the

greatest good to the greatest number. It may be laid down as a clear

axiom in political economy that monopolies are injurious to the state,

and a power to dictate so as to forbid competition should always be Monopolies
xjTi.! • 1-1. -1 1 injTinoTis.

prevented, in the previous pages and m the evidence this point has
been so much enlarged upon, and by the latter it has been so clearly
shown that the presence of the Chinese has not operated as a preven-
tive, though repeatedly asserted, to other immigration, that it is not
necessary to dwell upon it.

There may, as to their not taking part in the political or legislative Reasons for not
proceedings, be many reasons why it is desirable that they should not ; fjj^°^ ''"^ *'™'
neither by habits or education have they been trained to the consideration
of constitutional government, and it is well that in this respect, like the
waters of the Rhine and the Moselle, the Fraser and the Thomson, they
should run on in the ordinary course for a while, without intermingling.

It may be for such reasons that at present they should not have the
franchise ; but that very reservation keeps the controlling power in the
hands of those who object to them, and prevents a legislation, which (could
they interfere) might be made injurious to local industries ; so that in
reality competition is limited to actual labor, without any power of dicta-
tion other than what may indirectly flow from greater industry and
frugality.

If, outside of such industrial considerations, we are permitted to look,
we will find Canada has nothing to dread from any amalgamation. The
Russians control one-half of the Mongolian races of the world — from the
Caucasus to the mountains of Thibet, from the Volga and the Don, Mongolfanraces
through Siberia to the great wall of China. The plains of Tartary form
the training schools of half their young men, but at this moment the Rus-
sians themselves physically and mentally stand first amid the nations of
Europe ; so little consequence has the fear of amalgamation upon the
character of a people.

To Canada any danger from the Chinese is simply problematical — a Danger too
dread of some possible detriment that may under extraordinary circum- problematical,
stances happen a quarter of a century hence, but if experience with refer-
ence to these people proves anything, it clearly shows that as soon as the
demand for their labor ceases the supply will cease. The charge against
them is that they will not remain in the country. Then the danger from
them is gone ; the result of their labor they cannot take away ; the road
that is built, the land that is cleared by their labor remains and is the
better fitted for the possession of the actual settler, by the greater adapt-
ability it aflbrds for transit of goods, or the immediate fructification of the
soil. If, therefore, by the strongest construction of argument it could
possibly be maintained that there is an immediate evil, it is an evil which
cures itself by the exhaustion of the causes which create it. Cease to ofier
them work and they will cease to come.

It is impossible to contend that there is any immediate danger to Can- Danger too
ada as a whole. As to that part of Canada within British Columbia, the problematical,
legislation that is wanted is the practical legislation to suit immediate
exigencies, based on a principle that can be defended — ^the principle of
restriction for police and sanitary purposes.

There is no occasion for any dread of the future. Public opinion now
and always hereafter will operate immediately and directly upon the
Parliament, and whenever an evil is proved to exist, legislation can

xcvi

Future Parlia-
ments. >

' Chinese immigra-
tion.

A concession.

History of a con-
cession.

Chinese Treaties.

Hertztete, vol. 6,

221.

1st Treaty.

Imperial Edict.

be had to meet it. Future Parliaments can deal with it when it comes,
when it is real, better than a Parliament which dgals with it only through
the medium of an excited fear as to what it may be.

In the consideration of this question it must not be overlooked, that
this immigration of the Chinese into the British Colonies was at the
express request and urgency of the British Government, that it was con-
trary to the traditions and policy of the Chinese Empire and against the
wishes of their Government.

That it was a concession torn from the latter by the force and deter-
mination of the former.

The history of this concession is somewhat curious. It is well known
that the Chinese regarded all others than subjects to the Chinese Empire
as Barbarians, and permitted no intercourse. In the Treaty of Nankin,
between Great Britain and China, signed on behalf of Her Majesty, at
Nankin, by Sir Henry Pottinger, on the 29th of August, 1842, and rati-
fied on the 26th June, 1843, there is an express provision for amnesty
of those Chinese subjects who had ventured to reside with, or have deal-
ings with the British. By the 9th article, " The Emperor of China,
agrees to publish and promulgate under his Imperial sign manual and
seal a full and entire amnesty, and act of Indemnity to all subjects of
China, on account of their having resided under, or having had dealings
and intercourse with, or having entered the service, of Her Britannic
Majesty or of Her Majesty's officers, and His Imperial Majesty, further
engages to release all Chinese subjects who may be at this moment in
confinement for similar reasons."

In the Imperial edict issued in confirmation of this treaty on August
3rd, 1843, and for carrying out its provisions, by the 7th paragraph it is
declared :

" (7.) At the various ports where the Barbarians a,re to trade, they are
allowed to carry on their dealings indiscriminately with whomsoever of
our merchants they please, and all debts contracted between them are to
be paid by the respective parties without official interference."

" (11.) The natives of the Middle Kingdom who have been in attend-
ance upon the officers of the said English nation are to be considered free
from guilt for so doing, and as peace has now been declared the people of
both nations are to be regarded as one mutual whole, no one again daring
to proceed to bloodshed."

(16.) "Let each of the above items be definitely arranged with the
Barbarians, giving closest attention to the minutest particulars, that the
treaty may be drawn up in the most clear and intelligent terms, prevent-
ing all other difficulties and confusion of affiiirs. As the Barbarians can-
not understand us, let the services of interpreters be employed that they
may be satisfied. Respect this. Dated 8th September, 1842."

2nd Treaty.

Hertztete. vol. xi, By the treaty of Tient-sin, June 26th, 1858, signed by Lord El<nn, on
°" behalf of Her Majesty by the 1st article the preceding treaty is renewed

and confirmed, by the 9th and subsequent articles, British subjects are
permitted to travel to all parts of the interior of China for pleasure or
purposes of trade, and also acquired many privileges and advantages which
they had not before possessed. By the 31st arlicle " it is agreed that
henceforward the character Ba/rbariam. shall not be applied to the
Government or subjects, of Her Britannic Majesty in any Chinese official

XCVII

document issued by the Chinese authorities, either in the capital or in
the Provinces."

The last named treaty having been violated by the Chinese previous to 3^,^ Treaty
its ratification, war was again renewed and a third treaty was signed
after the capture of Pekin at Pekin by Lord Elgin on behalf of Her
Majesty on October 24, 1860, by which after increasing the war indem- Hertzlett v
nity and expenses stipulated by the second treaty, agreeing to ratify the 112. ' " '
last named treaty and granting other advantages, it was by the 6th 3rd Treaty,
article specially provided that :

(5) "As soon as the ratification of the treaty of 1858 shall have been
" exchanged His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China will by Decree
. " command the High authorities of every province toproclaim ih/roughout
" tlieir jurisdiction, that Chinese choosing to take service in the British
" Colonies, or other parts beyond sea are at perfect liberty to enter into
" engagements with British subjects for that purpose h,nd to ship t/iemselves
" and their families on board any British vessel at any of the open ports
" of China, also that the High authorities aforesaid shall in concert
" with Her Britannic Majesty's representatives in China frame such
" regulations for the protection of Chinese emigrating as above as the
" circumstances of the different open ports may demand. "

Thus we see, it was not until after being three times beaten, after
paying enormous sums of money, or as the Emperor mournfully says in
the edict above cited (article 8). " The money, twenty-one million
" ($21,000,000) is to be paid by annual instalments. It is a vast amount indemnity.
" and where is such a sum to come from to be given away ! Let Ye King
'■ alone be held responsible hereafter for arranging the matter and
" registering beforehand the places which are to supply their respective
" quota of the funds and memoralize the court accordingly," not until
after exacting a further sum of ten million six hundred and sixty-six
thousand six hundred and sixty-six ($10,666,666) for further indemnity
and war expenses, compelling them to open seaports and violate all the
traditions and customs of their country, this great concession was
obtained.

It was not until after all this that the Chinese Emperor thew up his
hands and agreed that his subjects might give the benefit of their
frugality and industry to the British Colonies.

It would now be a matter of grim satisfaction to him, if he only knew t' f f

how some of the inhabitants of some of those colonies appreciate the
blessing.

CHAPTER XL

" Since the lord of the territory may whenever he think proper forbid
its being entered, he has a power to annex what conditions he pleases to
the permission to enter. This is a consequence of the right of domain.
If he annexes any particular conditions, he ought to have measures taken
to acquaint foreigners with it, when they present themselves on the
frontier. He ought not to grant an entrance into his state for the purpose
of drawing foreigners into a snare. As soon as he admits them he engages
to protect them as his own subjects, and to afford them perfect security
as far as depends on him." — Vattel's " Law of Nations," Chap. 8.

XCVIII

Duty to protect.

Treatment of
Chinese in San
Francisco.

Not approved of
by better classes.

Natural result of
continued abuse
of a class.

International law,

Necessity of Chi
nese consul.

While it is essentially necessary that in the consideration of this ques-
tion regard should not be limited to British Columbia alone it is equally
necessary to observe that a duty devolves upon the paramount authority
to see that the laws are enforced, and the rights of all parties protected
and preserved.

The two following extracts from the evidence taken at San Francisco
in 1876 (pages 181 and 207), will show the pertinence of the above
quotation from Vattel and the preceding observation.

At 181, Col. Bee said : " He had seen the Chinese immigrants stoned
from the time they left their ships until they reached Chinatown. He had
seen them leaning over the sides of the waggon with their scalps cut
open. No police interfered. In portions of San Francisco no Chinaman
dare to be seen. The Chinese had no privileges."

Mr. Ellis, the former chief of police (page 207), says : " Chinamen
have been very badly abused here. The hoodlums stone, beat, and abuse
them in a shameful manner, and if he is found in a part of the city alone
when the police are not in call if he escapes with his life or without being
maimed or badly treated, he is very fortunate. Hoodlums here have the
same standing as ' roughs ' or vagabonds in the East, the majority of
them eventually becoming thieves and criminals." Two hoodlums were
arrested for stabbing a Chinaman to the heart. One was sentenced to
the states prison for a term of years, and the other was sent to the
asylum, from which he escaped immediately afterwards and has never
been caught."

It is but right to say that the higher and better classes in San Francisco
discountenance in the strongest manner these outrages upon the Chinese.
Where, however, such are likely to occur it is proper to take extreme pre-
caution to prevent them, and when proved guilty to punish severely the
parties who commit them. Up to this period instances of such conduct have
been unknown in British Columbia, but among the young, idle and disso-
lute they follow as the natural outcrop of the continued abuse of any
particular class in a community. The " hoodlum " under such circum-
stances not only indulges his natural or acquired depravity, but conceives
that he is doing something to gain the public approbation. A taste for
brutality is engendered — violation of the law is encouraged — ^and the
depraved are led to believe that they become the exponents of public
opinion.

International law requires that if these people are permitted to come
into the country, they should be protected as long as they are obedient to
its laws. If the Parliament, in the public interest, enacts that they shall
not come, then the difficulty is avoided ; but if the Parliament permits
them to come, they have an equal claim to the protection of the law that
the subjects of the country have.

The Chinese in British Columbia have no official or public representa-
tive to whom (as is the case with other foreigners), they can apply, when
attacked as a class. No consul, to communicate with the local authorities
in his representative capacity and demand for them the rights and privi-
leges due to all foreigners. This is important, because to the observer of
current events it is manifest that the continued agitation against the
Chinese in British Columbia is creating a tendency to commit outrages
similar to those mentioned as having occurred in San Francisco. When
brought within the courts of law, the delinquents would be punished as
the law directs ; but it is desirable that some one in an official capacity
should be there to initiate proceedings for redress on the victim's behalf.
Such outrages are not only inhuman and unchristian, but are a disgrace to

XCIX

the administration of justice in a British country, and it is to avoid the
possibiKty of such occurrences that it is deemed proper to call the atten-
tion of the Privy Council to the subject.

Equally incumbent is it that they should be protected against the ruf- „ , . , . ,
nans of their own countrymen, who for mercenary purposes endeavor to Highbinders,
thwart among them the carrying out of the laws and the administration
of justice in the country to which they have come. The characters known
as " highbinders " have already been described.

Driven out of San Francisco, they have crowded into British Columbia,
and at the late assizes in the City of Victoria, in December last, seriously
and dangerously interfered with the administration of the criminal law, Victoria Assizes,
by threatening the Chinese interpreters and witnesses who had been sum-
moned by the Crown in the prosecutions pending before the Court. The
presiding Judge with promptness and decision punished the offenders,
but it was an evil which had not before been recognized, and which it
was necessary to restrain with a strong hand. Here again the difficulty
is met, that there is no official or recognized authority to whom reference
can be made, who is familiar with the language and customs of these
people ; who from his official diplomatic position, being above suspicion,
can always offer the courts and local authorities explanations which may
be relied on, and thus prevent the miscarriage of the law. There is no
reason to doubt the application of the law as coming from the local au-
thorities, but there may be grave doubts as to the true state of facts to
which the application is to be made.

If it be desirable to do justice to these people as to all others in the
community, it is desirable that that justice should be complete and effi-
cient.

It may not be unimportant, as confirmatory of the observations
hitherto made, that the presence of the Chinese in British Columbia
has not interfered with the incoming of white settlers, to state that by a
late return from the Dominion immigration agent at Victoria, addressed
to the Department of Agriculture under date of 16th December, 1884, it
appears that the number of white immigrants who have come into the
Province since the opening of the railway belt in June, 1883, to Novem ,\^,^

ber 30th, 1884, a period of 18 months, was 11,370, while the number of totalis,**.
Chinese were 4,086, a marked diminution of the latter in number from
those who came in 1882 and 1883, when the demand for railway labor
was at its height, thus giving grounds for the impression that the
supply will not exceed the demand, and that the evil of their incoming,
if an evil, will cease as the inducement ceases

In support of the above observations, we find in the Colonist newspaper,
published in the city of Victoria, on the 31st December, the following ^^^^^^ ^f white
strong contradiction in fact of the statement several times made by some jabor.
of the witnesses before the Committee of the House of Commons in 1879,
and before the present Commission in 1884, namely : that ample white
labor was obtainable in the Province for the necessities of the country.
In that paper from the 22nd of September last is a standing advertise-
ment from Graham & Busk, contractors for the Esquimalt and Nanaimo
Railway, with schedule of wages for white labor as follows :

'ESQUIMALT AND NANAIMO RAILWAY.

Restriction.

Contractors' Office, 1

Victoria, Sept. 22, 1884. |

SCHEDULE OF WAGES FOR WHITE LABOR
ON THE ESQUIMALT AND NANAIMO RY.

Rock Foremen $3 00 to $4 00 per day

Earth Foremen 2 50 to 3 00 ^^

Bridge Foremen ^ ^'^ *° t nn

Bridge Carpenters 3 00 ^^

Blacksmiths (iiret-class) 3 50

Drillers 2 00 to 2 25

Laborers 1 75 to 2 00

Hewers » 0"

Choppers 1 75 to 2 00 "

All outside labor, ten hours per day.

All carpenters to furnish their own chest-tools.

All employes to find themselves bed, board and lodging.

Boarding-houses will be convenient along the line ; board, $4 per week.

It will not be compulsory for employes to board in the company's houses.

Wages will be paid monthly, on the 15th of each month.

GRAHAM & BUSK,

Contractors."

On the 31st December is this statement :

"Chinese Labor. — We understand that Messrs. Graham & Busk, con-
tractors for the upper section of the Island Railway, finding it impossible
to secure sufficient white labor to complete their contract on time, have
been reluctantly compelled to arrange with the Tai Chong Company for
a supply of Chinese labor."

Comment is unnecessary.

As bearing upon the suggested measure of restriction, it may also be
appropriate to refer to the observations of Mr. Briggs, the President of
the Immigration Association of California, when examined at San Fran-
cisco in July last ; he says : " My opinion is that as laborers they must
always play a part in any community, under certain restrictions. Tp what
extent they can be utilized is a question we are not able to determine
here, because we are a new community. We have had an experience of
barely twenty-flve years with them, and may be somewhat prejudiced
against them, from the fact that their labor has been overdone — their
numbers having increased more rapidly than we could utilize them. I
believe this, while I would not care to express it publicly, because I am
opposed to them, and was active in favor of the Restriction Act. I be-
lieve that if the Restriction Act had been modified, so that a limited
number of those people could have continued to come to this coast, we
might have utilized them, and never have felt the opposition we feel to-day
to the Chinese. I believe, that in our fruit interests it would now be an
advantage to have even more than we have. I believe, that in some other
industries, minor industries, the Chinese would play a part which would
be more or less important, even to-day, if they were to continue to come.
With that view, with the idea that we have had a scarcity of labor here,
and will probably continue to have during some period of the year for the

CI

next five years — because the industries are developing faster than the
population is increasing — their presence would not be altogether undesi-
rable."

Perhaps the most succinct, and in a general sense the most fair evidence Succinct, view
in their favor, is that given by Mr. Babcock at San Francisco, on July cisco.
26th, 1884. He says :

San Francisco, July 26th, 1884.

William F. Babcock, merchant.

Resided in San Francisco since 1852. In a new country cheap labor cheap labor a

is absolutely necessary. Effect of Chinese labor beneficial, and that STbor benj)fl?tar^

beneficial effect will continue. Instead Of driving out labor by cheap

labor, cheap labor increases the market for labor. Labor begets labor.

On the advancement of California the effect of Chine'se labor has been

beneficial and has added materially to our wealth. The Chinese spend

on an averaye twenty-five cents a day, perhaps nine hundred thousand

or a million of dollars a month among us. They are a necessity, and Chinese a neces-

to drive them out of the state would be a very great disadvantage, but 1?'^ ' •*"' i' would

1 .. 1 T. .'',... .*',.De proper to res-

under certain rules and regulations to restrict this immigration would trlct their immi-

be very proper. We have not too many Chinese now, but I would not ^ration,
overrun th country with them. They have not increased since 1865,
and there is no danger of too great an influx. I do not think they have
been a bar to white immigration from the East. The strong feeling
against them arises from politicians, ofiice-holders and foreigners. There They have not
is no real competition or conflict between Chinese and white labor. The white^mmigra-
building of railways down in the valleys of California has opened the tio"-
country, settled it and drawn a white immigration to the coast. The
southern country has been rapidly settled up, and all this is due to
the building of the railways. Still, for certain reasons, I think it would
be good policy to restrict the numbers coming in. But to do this „ , ,. ,
would be in direct contravention of a treaty forced upon China by the triot their mun-
Americans. I *as from 1854 to 1862 agent of the Pacific Mail Steam- *'®''^'
ship Company, and I have constant dealings with the Chinese, selling
them silver, quicksilver, and articles of that kind, and I find them
very clever merchants. I never lost a dollar with one of them in my
life. I would trust them with ten or fifteen thousand dollars just as
soon as I would any jobber in the city. Mr. Parrott, who did their bank-
ing business for years, told me he had never lost a dollar of principal or
interest through them. I have always found the Chinese a most quiet Honest, quiet, and
and industrious people, and quite as moral as the low class of whites, peopfg"""^
The Chinese will smoke opium and the whites will drink whiskey. I have
been a large employer of Chinese labor. I think the employment of
Chinese, so far from being injurious, is beneficial. Its effect on trade,
as for instance^ in the manufacture of cigars, is to enable people to smoke
cigars at a less price than they would otherwise pay, and I think it is a
good thing that they should have engrossed the washing of the commu-
nity. In consequence of Chinese laundrymen the poorer classes change
their inside clothing much oftener than they would otherwise do. The j^^ advantage as
Chinamen are a great advantage all through the state, acting as cooks laundrymen,
and waiters. People in the country find a great difficulty in getting cooks and waiters,
white servants to remain with them, whereas the Chinaman does not care
where he goes. Rich Chinamen, if protected by our laws, would come
here and bring their money, and we should see Chinamen buying lots and

CII

desliaMettirn'^^ building houses. Chinese labor is more desirable than white labor from
wMto. ^ "" this point of view : the factories here can exist and make money by pay-
ing for labor a dollar a day, the Chinamen finding themselves, and they
can compete with the East, while if you brought white labor here and
They have no In- gave two dollars a day the labor would disappear. Chinamen come here
Si here°* '■®"'*'''" with the intention of returning to their own country, and I think it better
that the country should be peopled with whites, but cheap labor in a new
country is absolutely necessary, and we should have the cheapest labor
we can get. A hundred years hence, when our descendants are living in
California they will, marking what Chinese labor has done for this coun-
try, smile in derision at their ancestors' views on this question. We shall
then, or earlier, be one hundred and fifty millions. There will probably
Should not be be one or two million Chinese. I would not give them votes. I see no
enfranchised. objection to having a non-voting population within a free commonwealth.
The Chinese do not want to meddle with our politics ; they are the most
labore™^"^'*'^ quiet, industrious and best people I ever saw. They are the most
valuable laborers I ever saw in my life. Up at Clear Lake silver mines,
in which I am largely interested, we employ a considerable number of
Chinamen, and it would be impossible to get along without them. They
Clean and all edu- bathe every night and are very elean, and are all educated, compulsory
cfe*?er' Sm'gent education being a Chinese institution. They are a bright, clever, mtel-
people. ligent people. I am not speaking of the very lowest, such as we have in

California. Those here pay their debts ten times more promptly than
white people. The business men are shrewd, smart, intelligent, bright
men. They are capable of managing large undertakings.

In conclusion, it may briefiy be stated that in British Columbia there
are three phases of opinion on this subject :

1st. Of a well meaning, but strongly prejudiced minority, whom noth-
ing but absolute exclusion will satisfy.

2nd. An intelligent minority, who conceive that no legislation whatever
is necessary — that, as in all business transactions, the rule of supply and
demand will apply and the matter regulate itself in the ordinary course of

events.

3rd. Of a large majority, who think there should be a moderate restric-
tion, based upon police, financial and sanitary principles, sustained and en-
forced by stringent local regulations for cleanliness and the preservation
of health.

Concurring in this last named view, the undersigned Commissioner has
in Chapter 9, thrown Out some suggestions to that end, should Parliament
at the present time deem legislation necessary.
All of which is respectfully submitted,
Ottawa, February 1st, 1885.

JOHN HAMILTON GRAY.

Commissioner.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE

San Peancisco, July 22ncl, 1884,

Aethue R, Beiggs, examined : ' BRIGGS

Q. What is your full name ? — A. Arthur R. Briggs.

Q. You are president of the Immigration Association of California 1 —
A. Yes.

Q. How many years have you been connected with immigration in
California ? — A. About three years in November.

Q. How long have you been in California 1 — A. I came here ten years
ago in June.

Q. Have you interests here separate from those connected with the
immigration association ? — A. I have ; have during the last seven years
published a commercial newspaper in this city.

Q. Will you state the conclusions you have reached on the subject ? — -
A. Do you want it in the form of an interrogatory 1

Q. Just state the conclusions to which you have come 1 — A. Well, in Chinese immigra-
ref erence to immigration to this state, my opinion is, after having studied ^Mte immigra-
the matter carefully, that the immigration of Chinese to California has Ho"-
been a bar to the immigration of white people from the eastern and
western states and from Europe, and that as long as it continues it
will act as" an obstacle to white imniigration. My impression also is that
the continued immigration of Chinese to this coast furnished simply a
supply of manual labor without adding to the industrial resources of the
state in the manner that white immigration would. I believe that we
have suffered greatly by the increased numbers or by an excess in the
numbers of these people in California and on the Pacific coast, which we
were not able to utilize in our factories and industrial enterprises here.

Q. You have stated that the immigration of white settlers has been n influx had con-
retarded. Do you think it has been retarded from the states of the Union m^gratira^'wojud
as well as from outside ?- — A. Unquestionably. I think that the statistics have ceased eu-
show that immigration from the states of the United States — eastern, ^^ ^'
middle and western- — had almost ceased, and would have ceased entirely if
this influx of Chinese had continued. Perhaps I can show you what I
mean by a few statistics. I have not time to put them into shape now, but
I will put them into shape for you. I have some few statistics here. For
instance, the excess of arrivals over departures in 1879 was 9,500, that
is Chinese and all; in 1880, 4,100, and most of those were Chinese; in
1882 there were 17,573 Chinese immigrants to this coast. The immigra-
tion to this coast for 1883, according to the statement that I made here
for one publication recently was about 24,000, the number of immigrants
registered at our own office from the year ended May 31st last, shows a total t vt

of 9,680, most of them seekers after homes. These were registered at our immigration! ' *

BRIGGS

office, and probably, not to exceed, one-third reached this city. We calculate
that about one-third reach San Francisco, not to exceed that proportion.
They begin to drop off at Los Angeles and continue to do so all the way
to San Francisco, wherever they can find employment. Coming the other
way they begin to drop off after reaching the Sierras, so that we get in this
city perhaps one-third of the immigration, which is seeking home in this
state.

White Immigra- Q. j)o you attribute the increase in white immigration recently to the
influx of Chinese legislation at Washington ? — A. Not wholly. At the time this immigra-

was stopped.

Restriction Act
cause of increase.

Credit due also to
organized effort.

tion association was formed, as I said, we had scarcely any movement of
white immigration here; in fact we were doing nothing to encourage
immigration, because we had all the labor we could utilize. But the moment
Congress was invoked to stop the influx of Chinese to the coast, then we
began to circulate printed information relating to the state, showing its
advantages and opportunities, and sent that broadcast into Europe and
east of the Rocky Mountains in this country, and thereby induced a larger
immigration than would have come otherwise. Unquestionably the effect
of the Restriction Act was toward the increase of that immigration, because
we could say to these people that the Chinese immigration had ceased, and
they no longer were in danger of coming into competition with coolie labor
direct from China, that was constantly coming at the rate of 15,000 or
20,000 per year.

Q. So that not only had you the restrictive legislation but you put
forward greater efforts to secure immigration 1 — A. It is not fair to say it
was all due to the Restriction Act, because this immigration association
represents the first organized effort that has ever been made to encourage
immigrants into this state. There have been desultory efforts of a private
character for many years, all signal failures ; but this is an organized
effort, and to this some credit is due for this increase in white immisra^
tion.

White laborer a
consumer and a
producer ; excess
of Chinaman's
wages go out of
the State.

Q. You stated yesterday that the Chinaman worked for a considerably
lower wage than the white immigrant. Do you consider that the state
will get an equivalent for the difference between the amount paid to the
Chinese worker and the amount that would have to be paid to the white
worker ? — A. It is my impression that the state derives more benefit than
the difference between these wages, for this reason : the white laborer
comes here generally with his family, supports his family. He is a consumer
as well as a producer. He rears his family, spends his money at home,
and thereby retains the money in the country and developes the resources
of the state. Whereas with the Chinaman any excess of wages or earnings
over his necessary expenses for living, are taken directly from this state
and from this country. It would seem to me that in considering the
advantages between the Chinese laborer and the white laborer there is no
such thing as a comparison. It is so overwhelmingly in favor of the white
laborer, it would not bear comparison at all.

Q. That is the state of the case as it stands now 1 — A. Yes. It appears
so to me.

Chinese an im- Q. What has been the effect in the past of the employment of Ohinese

thedeyeiopm'eift l^^or on the prosperity of this state ?— A. I think the Chinese have been

of the State up to a very important factor in the development of our public works and in

a oertam period, ^j^^ development of the resources of the state up to a certain period. I

No comparison
between Chinese
and white labor-
ers.

3 BRIGGS

think the time was when they were greatly needed, and did much good.
We have outlived that day. The building of the overland railroads, and
the interior roads, required a peculiar kind of labor ; laborers who would
follow up the work and live in a very primitive way, board themselves,
take care of themselves, without families ; labor that was always to be
relied upon, and hence I believe the Chinese have done a great deal of ?i??^}*''°'?^^^y?

1 A. J.1 J -r t ' ^ 1 • 1 T f 1- reliable, and musfc

good to the state. 1 thmk we derived a peculiar advantage from their go into other chan-

jpresence here in early days. But we have outlived that day ; we have ^^^'

finished these works, and now this labor must go into other channels,

|other industries, into agriculture, viticulture, factories, etc., and take the

Iplaces which otherwise would be filled with white laborers in the towns

.and villages, and in the country, to an extent that almost prevents the

whites from finding suitable employment. They now take the place of boys

and girls that are growing up in this country. I believe that the peculiar agef derived ft-om

advantage derived from this labor has been outgrown. their labor.

Q. Do I understand you to say that if these great public works were Would not wel;
istill in futuro, you would then welcome Chinese immigration ? — A. No ; migration.
jl do not believe I should welcome it. I can see that it might be utilized
jto advantage, but the question then would come up what to do with that
ilabor after these works were completed ; that is the question we have
Ibeen called upon to solve.

Q. If they come here merely single men, which it is said they do, It nerer recedes ;
where is the difficulty about the tide receding ? — A. The peculiarity of a foothold they
Chinese immigration is that it never recedes. The Chinese are a people of '^^"'*™-
conquest, and wherever they obtain a foothold there they remain. That is
the history of all the Pacific Islands ; that is the history of all countries
w^here they have obtained a footing.

Q. Do I understand you to say that in manufacturing work, white men Their labor re-
cannot compete with them ? — ^A. I think that day has gone by ; the time |||^|Met^'^^t»
was when they could not. Chinese to-day do not labor for as low wages labor,
as they did ten years ago. Their labor is regarded nearly as valuable as
white labor, particularly in piece work ; they earn as much as whites.
And many are laborers on their own account.

Q. Then, after a time, the objection from the working men would disap-
pear ? — A. So far as wages are concerned it does not hold as good to tho
extent that it did in the early stage of the introduction of this labor.

Q. You have never tried the experiment of making them settlers ia
the country ? — A. No.

Q. Would you think it desirable to try that experiment? — A. They
can only become settlers by purchase under the present law.

Q. But suppose they were allowed and encouraged to live here as other if they came with
settlers with their wives and families ?— A. If the Chinese were to come muifh*orthe''pre-
to this coast with their families I think much of the feeling against them J|?dice against
might be removed. If it were possible for them to come here to remain removedf
permanently and maintain homes and families, so that their children and
their children's children would become Americans, I do not believe that
the same objection which is found to-day would ever have existed. But They huddle to-
the fact is that they huddle together in droves, like animals in their habita- fnd'have ^°^''^'
tion, and have no such things as homes; they are simply livers. homes

BRIGGS

Moral effect hard
to explain.

Their presence
depreciates pro-
perty.

Q. This huddling together, what effect has it 2 What is the moral
effect of their huddling together on the community in which they live ? —
A. The moral effect is very hard to explain. I question if the Chinese
have any moral standard, and I believe, from my experience with them, that
they are governed by a question of policy ; that they know nothing of the
moral sentiments of right and wrong. The Chinese are actuated simply,
by the desire to accumulate money.

Large numbers Q, What I mean is this : How do they affect the morals of the com-r

moralizing effect, munity on which they are for the time being engrafted ? — A. You can!
readily understand that an aggregation of these people, who are single
men, and who bring their females into their midst to use as prosti-
tutes, would certainly have a very demoralizing effect on any community.'
The young men of the community are often contaminated by associa-
tion with Chinese women. As degrading as it may seem, there is little
doubt that this influence is the source of many moral and physical
wrecks. Aside from that, I do not know the presence of the Chinese has
any moral effect here, unless it be that through the introduction of opium-
smoking, which is a prevalent and growing habit, this vice becomes common
with the lower classes of whites. The Chinese depreciate property in
their vicinity, because of the manner in which they live, the manner they
treat the buildings which they occupy. Their filthy habits and their manner
of living in every way has that effect ; but as to the moral .sentiment of
the community, I do not know that it has very much effect, Ijecause there
is not association sufficiently intimate to affect that.

Q. Then, so far as your observation goes, the question would seem to be
a politico-economic one altogether ? — A. Almost wholly.

Q. So that if we are to decide on the question whether it would be
good or bad statesmanship to keep them out, you have to aslc what their
effect really is on the industrial development of the country ? — A. I think
that is the key to the whole question.

Q. You mean that is the key to your position 1 — A. Yes ; to the position
taken by the people of this state.

A po!itico;econo- Q- Your observation leads you to think that is the chief question ? —
than'moraJ."™"'^* ^- ^®® ' "'■ *'^"^k it is more a politico-economic question than a moral one.

H Chinese labor Q. If you look back in the history of California, to the time when these

avaiLblelt would g'"eat public works did not exist, would you not find that the bringing in

ofhoj-so'^^cS*'™ °* Chinamen, for some time anyway, would have been a useful plan 1

— A. I cannot say that, because I believe if the Chinese labor had not

been available, that labor would have been brought here from other sources.

I believe our public works would have been carried on as in the eastern

states twenty-five years ago. True, it would have been more difficult and

work might have been retarded, but future development of the country by

Their mi.ssion , them would have been of vast importance to the state, whereas with the

fngthe"'r!i!fwaysf" Chinese, when the railroads were completed, their mission was ended.

Q. Have you not had a large amount of swamp land reclaimed I—
A. Comparatively little with them. That is a matter of no importance
so far as their usefulness is concerned. They have been utilized to a cer-
tain extent in that way, but that is not of so much importance as is the
building of railroads and that sort of work.

BRIGCS

Q. You think they played a very important part in the building of
railroads I^A. They did, assuredly.

Q. Did you read the testimony of the president of the Central Pacific
Railroad before a committee of Congress iu regard to swamp lands ? — A.
Four years ago ?

Q. Yes, sir?— A. Yes.

Q. Do you remember how emphatically he spoke of the impossibility
of building the railroads without them ? — A. Yes.

Q. Do you think that was correct 1 — A. I think his statements, or the
statements of the railroad people, are entitled to great weight, because they
have had the largest experience with Chinese labor in that work, and
their experience is worth more than the opinion of a man who simply
has, observation to guide him. I am bound to believe that men, who
are thinking men, like Mr. Stanford, Mr. Crocker and Mr. Huntington,
have good reasons for their opinion. They have- expressed the belief
within recent date, that the Chinese were the best laborers for the Chinese best
public works to be had in this state. Nevertheless, I am not sufficiently i^^^or^s*™ ^"^'
informed to express an opinion as to whether the railroad companies
here accomplished more in the prosecution of their work with a given
number of Chinese laborers than the eastern or western railroad com-
panies accomplished with white labor. The Union Pacific was built in
the wilderness chiefly with white labor; the Central Pacific with Chinese
labor.

Q. Did you see Mr. Crocker's evidence where he speaks of reclaimed
swamp-land, and note the statement that they could not get white labor
to do it because it was so severe and distasteful to them ? — A. I saw that.

Q.' But they were able to get Chinamen to do it, partly because Chi-
nese labor was in abundance and partly because the Chinese worked under
a hotch-potch contract ; did you see that 1 — A. Yes.

Q. What is your impression of that evidence ? — A. That might have When railroads
been true at the time, but the labor conditions have materially changed white'iaborwas
within a few years. At the time these railroads were building and engaged in min-
marsh-land was beiag reclaimed, mining was the great business of this
coast, and the white laborers were very generally engaged in that
occupation. The Chinese were not in that at all, or so few as to be
of no moment. That has almost entirely changed, and now the white
people have been obliged to find employment in agriculture, or as day
laborers, or in factories, and to-day are willing to do precisely the work
which the Chiuamen did then.

Q. But travel back to the time when this swamp-land was unreclaimed ^t'lgaUime''^'*^^^
and the white men were all mining, surely the Chinamen fulfilled an im-
portant industrial necessity here then?— A. Yes. We invited those people
here • we not only invited them but we welcomed them. We believed
they were desirable, and they were at the time.

Q. Has their efFect on the development of the country disappointed
your expectations at that time or has it been realized ? — A. I question
if many men looked so far into the future as to form an opinion as to

BRIGGS

what the future of their residence here would be. I do not think that'
was seriously thought of ; but the fact of the unanimous sentiment against,
dSip^SitedeSy ^^i^^er Chinese immigration into this state, is almost conclusive that
expectations. their introduction has disappointed early expectations.

They do not come Q. What is the possibility of their residence here if they have noj
families 1 — A. Nothing beyond what you see to-day, m my opinion. They
do not come with the idea of remaining. They leave their own countryj
with the unalterable determination to return dead or alive to their native"
land.

■^ ^*ff J, ™*'i? Q- You do not anticipate then they wiU become more powerful here ?1

a bar to white — A. Not under the Restriction Act. They would have become more

p1^°uite!'"*"'*"''' powerful with an influx of 15,000 to 20,000 a year. They would have

taken such a position with regard to the industrial interests of this coast,

as would have been a permanent bar to the further introduction of white

labor.

Q. — I understand your position then to be : that there was a period in
the history of California when they were useful, but it is now gone, and it
is well to have a Restriction Act now, in order to prevent them taking up
such a position as would almost make a Chinese district of this part of the
Union ? — A. I would not put it in as strong language as you do.

Changed condi- Q. I wish to have it in your own language? — ^A. I would say then that

there was a period when they did perform an important part ; that that
condition has been gradually changing, and is changing now. I believe
they perform an important part here to-day, which we would feel very
sensibly if they were excluded wholly ; but with a hundred thousand of
these people here I believe we have all we can utilize for years to come.

Total exclusion Q. Suppose you exclude them wholly. Many persons, as you are aware,

matter. *^*"°"^ would wish to drive them out; what would be the consequence of exclud-
ing them entirely 1 — A. That would be a serious matter to this state ; it
would almost ruin some of the industries here and prevent progress in
others for years to come.

Q. To exclude them ? — A. Yes.

Less important Q. Then they must play an important part here still ? — A. They do^

thantenyearsago. ^ut less important than ten years ago.

Employed Q. You spoke yesterday of the mode of employing them, Mr Briggs. I

through agencies, understand that mode to be : they employ them through agencies, through
the agency of one or more individuals ? — A. Chiefly.

Come under con- Q. What has that arisen from 1 — A. From two causes, in my opinion :

companies? '^'^ °^^ ^^°^ ^^^^^ inability to speak the English language ; the other and

important one is from the fact that they come h-^re unJer contract to the

six companies, and are directed by the six companies, and employment

is secured through them.

Q. Do you think that their fear of being unfairly dealt with, if they
acted independently and alone, has made them, as individuals, seek work
through some important contractor in that way ? — A. I think not; because
there was no feeling of that kind in the early days of tliis state.

7 BRIGGS

I —

Q. They have not, then, been treated at any time unfairly ? — ^A. Yes,
in rare cases ; but the community as a whole has not treated them un-
kindly. We have had an element here — the sand-lot element — that
raised the cry of " The Chinese must go " — that is the sand-lot Jargon ;
but as a whole I believe it has been exaggerated.

Q. As a bargain-maker what is the Chinaman's character ? If he makes Keen judge of pro-
a contract how does he fulfil his contract ? — A. He is a keen judge of pro- freatek wSfiFeep'^
perty, aiid makes a very close bargain. If properly treated he, keeps his ^^ bargain,
contract to the letter.

Q. Aiid as a worker ; is he a good or bad workman 1 — A. Good ; faith- Good, faithftii
f ul ; does his work, nothing more nor less. He cannot be hastened, and is ^™ ™^""
very exacting of his rights. Once offended, or suspicious all is not right,
he will not be persuaded to continue work, and confidence cannot be
restored.

Q. Does he make any progress financially 1 — A. Yes, sir.

Q. Does he save money 1 — A. So far as we are able to see here they are Generally frugal.
generally frugal.

Q. Having saved monev, what does he do with it ? — A. Sends it to Sends money to
m7 China.

China.

Q. Does he invest it in any reproductive works 1 — A. No, sir ; there
may be rare instances, but it is very rare. A few of the Chinese own
property in Chinatown, but very little outside.

Q. You told us yesterday, Mr. Briggs, that they were accustomed to Chinese as cigar
save money, and were frugal and became manufacturers and went into the ™aiii*aotiirers.
boot and shoe business ? — A. There are industries here almost entirely in
the hands of Chinese. For instance, the Chinese were at first employed
by the cigar manufacturers — they are very expert at whatever they do
with their hands. Having learned their trade as cigar manufacturers, and
having accumulated some money, you find occasionally one of these men
who has invested his money in a manufactory. He does not make the
plant, but rents a building, and buys the raw material and produces these
goods. He utilizes his money in that way, and to-day they have obtained
almost exclusive control of the manufacture of cigars in the state. That Control the mami-
is to say, cigars are made almost wholly by Chinese workmen, and many exduSvriy."^'
of the factories are in the hands of Chinese, and owned by them. They do *
the same thing in tin- ware, boots and shoes, and clothing. These are the other manufac-
principal occupations of the Chinese where they work on their own ^'I'^JI^*'""** ™
. account.

Q. In these directions they must have swelled the stream of industrial
development ? — A. In that direction they have ; the question is whether
the whites would not have swelled it still more.

Q. There is no question but there was a time when the whites were
not to the fore to do the big work ?— A. Not any question of that ; no Chinese were an
question but that they were important factors at one period, and quite a important factor,
factor even now.

Q. If these Chinese are kindly dealt with by the state in which they
are, and the people treat them well, do you not think having industrious
and frugal habits you speak of, they must be a people capable of playing
a useful part in a large community ? — A. That is an indefinite question.

BRIGGS

Q. I intended to make it indefinite. I do not wish to suggest anything
to your mind. I do not want to suggest the answer. I would like to know;
whether you think, in an Anglo-Saxon community, having the qualities you
describe, evidently most admirable in some respects, that they are capable
of playing a useful part ? — A. My opinion is that as laborers they ipust

mn't^la^'^^ d'^T always play a part in any community under certain restrictions. To what
extent they can be utilized is a question we are not able to determine
here, because we are a new community ; we have had an experience of
barely twenty-five years with them, and may be somewhat prejudiced

Their labor has against them from the fact that their labor has been overdone : their
numbers having increased more rapidly than we could utilize them.

been overdone.

It Restriction Act Q. You say they coidd be utilized under certain restrictions ; what
limiting a few to restrictions ? — A. I believe this — while I would not care to express it
havebeenufflSed P'lblicly, because I am opposed to them, and was active in favor of the
Restriction Act — I believe that if the Restriction Act had been modified,
so that a limited number of those people could have continued to come to
this coast, we might have utilized them, and never have felt the opposi-
tion we feel to-day to the Chinese. I believe that in our fruit interests
it would now be an advantage to have even more than we have. I believe
that in some other industries, minor industries, the Chinese would play
a part which would be more or less important even to-day if they were
to continue to come. With that view, with the idea that we have had a
scarcity of labor here, and will probably continue to have during some
Industries deve- period of the year, for the next few years, because the industries are de-
popufetion veloping faster than the population is increasing, their presence would not

increasing. |jg altogether undesirable. We are putting forth efibrts to secure white

labor, and I do not beUeve the Chinese would play as important a part as
Advantage to the "^^ite labor if we can secure it. I think the advantage to us, and to the
coast greatly in coast, is SO greatly in favor of the whites that we can better afibrd to
labor." ^ "^ suffer somewhat from a want of supply, than to encourage them, and still
put an obstacle in the way of the whites coming here.

Q. What I understand you then to say is, that you think the labor, if
properly regulated, would be very useful ? — A. It might be, but I cannot
believe it would prove ultimately beneficial or desirable.

Q. You are connected with a newspaper called the Grocer and
Countrii Merchant ? — A. Yes.

Q. That brings you in contact with a large number of business men? A.

Yes, constantly.

Q. And enables you, of course, to know pretty well the opinion of the
community? — A. Yes.

SlmselveTto ^' '^^^ business men, the employers of labor, those who employ Chi-

geS\nd strikes ^ese, how do they feel towards this question?— A. Up to a certain period
So^Uem manufacturers seemed to be greatly in favor of Chinese labor, but the Chi-

nese have now begun to realise the value of their services, and have
banded themselves together very much as the whites do in trade organ-
izations, and strikes among those people are as frequent and as arbi-
traiy as among the whites, so the feeling that there was in their favor
Ssnense wia *°'' ^°™® ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^"^ greatly changed, and I believe there is a disposi-
their services. ^^^^ now on the part of manufacturers here to dispense with their ser-
vices as rapidly as they can get white men.

9 BRIGGS

Q. In fact the manufacturers, so long as they could get them cheap,
"were willing to have them, but now they propose to have the whites when
they cannot get Chinese chea^ 1 — A. That is about the case. So far as the Among business
business men are concerned generally, the feeling was never very kindly very kind towards
towards them, because the business public employ very few of them ; it is ^^m.
only in special departments.

Q. Manufactures ?— A. Yes. Manufacturing departments.

Q. In domestic life are they not utilized to a considerable extent as
-cooks 1 — A. Yes, very largely.

Q. As house-servants ? — A. Yes.

Q. Have you observed them in that position ? — A. I have.

Q. What is their character 1 Are they clean and efficient as domestic Clean and reliaWo
servants ? — A. For many years they were about the only domestic servants ^ house-servants,
we had here, and my observation is that generally they are quite as
efficient, and as useful, as white servants, and quite as reliable.

Q. What about their personal character ? Are they cleanly or repulsive
or what % — A. Those Chinese servants who enter homes are cleanly in their
liabits ; there is no objection to them on that score of uncleanliness.

Q. While white help in houses is scarce, would it not seem to you to Suicidal to permit
be very important, especially to the women of a community, that this sup- -jrtt™ chUdrenf
ply of domestic labor should not be interfered with ? — A. The moral
influence of Chinese upon children is a wretched thing, and if a family
has children it would be almost suicidal to permit the Chinese servants to
associate with the children, or to have charge of them. I think the objec-
tion to them is made on that score as much as any other.

Q. Do these Chinamen show none of that reverence for childhood that No reverence for
, . , n 1 fl A -KT ■ childhood,

grown white men feel ? — A. JN o, sir.

Q. They display a kind of sexual irreverence for childhood? — A. Yes, "Women have no
sir ; they have no regard for woman anyway. A Chinese child, if a female,
■excites no parental regard. If a Chinaman has a boy he is proud of him,
but women have no position with the Chinese, and they entertain very
little reverence for a child if a female. Instances are not rare where these Chinese male ser-
male servants have debauched children, and with their lack of moral children!'
standard the only restraint would be fear of detection.

Q. You think the moral effect counterbalances their economic utility 1 ¥°^^\ effect coun-

A. When taken iato homes I do most assuredly. I think very few economic utility.

white people would be willing to let the Chinese associate "with their chil-
dren in that way, though many employ them as house-servants.

Q. In your experience have the Chinese shown any tendency to be- They do not tend
come domesticated, to become a part of the community, that is do they *° homogeneity,
tend to homogeneity instead of diversity ? — A. I think not. My experience
with them is that they start with the idea that their civilization is vastly
superior to all others, hence there is no incentive for them to become
Americanized. They have no local attachments ; they never form local racS ^''feSfc'^
attachments here; hence there is no incentive to become citizens or a part
of our people. They look on all other races as inferior to themselves, and

BRIGGS

10

Chinese
tion lias stimulat-
ed, trade with
Asia.

for that reason adhere to their own practices and their own habits of
living, the same as in their clothing. They never give up their style of
clothiag.

Q. I saw some on the railroad who had 1 — A. Yes, but the Chinaman
always wears his queue ; it may be coiled up under his hat but it remains
all the same ; and as to his clothing he adopts the ancient custom imme-
diately on his return to the city when he can be among his friends.

Q. A few generations ago our grandfathers wore queues. You can see
the statue of an English king with a queue not far from Trafalgar square ?
— A. That is true, but there was no superstition connected with it. It
was mainly the custom of the time.

Q. The trade with Asia, Mr. Briggs, ought to be a very important
thing to the Pacific coast. Has the Chinese immigration increased that ?
— A. Yes, it has stimulated it ; both the importations and exportations.
There is no question it has stimulated trade.

ICUneae amoral
I blight

They disregard all
the laws ofnealth.

Q. It has stimulated the Asiatic trade ? — A. There is no doubt about
that.

Q. Is there anything that occurs to yourself that I have not asked
you — any other point you think of importance as bearing on the desirabihty
or undesirability of Chinese immigration to the Pacific coast either ia
Canada or here ? — A. Well, the aggregation of these Chinese in any city
or town, in my opinion, is a sort of moral blight, because they never
improve anything. When they take possession of a building, that buildino-
becomes unfit for occupancy by any other people except Chinese.

Q. After they have once occupied it? — A. Yes, from their uncleanUness.
There is an uncleanliness about everything they touch ; where they live •
their manner of living is so filthy.

Q. Is it so virulent 1 Is there a virus about their mode of living which
will not succumb to soap and water 1 — A.They live in an atmosphere of
smoke ; they never paint ; they never whiten ; they never clean if they can
help it. They have to do it under the sanitary regulations to a certaia
extent, but you can form a better idea of their habits by going into
Chinatown than any one can give you by talking. They disregard all
the laws of health as we understand them.

PoHoy to utilize Q. We intend to do that. Will you state, Mr Briggs, what policy is

Sere and'r^-'' ^^^ ^"^^ ^^""^ st'^ites you as the sound one to pursue where the Chinese

trictfurtherimmi- have become settled and incorporated as a part of the community?

gration. ^ Where thfey have become incorporated as a part of the community,

speaking of this community and our experience here, wise policy would
seem to lie in the utilization of their labor, rather than the expulsion of
these people, and in the restriction of further immigration.

Q. Do you think that the restrictive legislation of Congress is working
in that direction ?— A. It is most assuredly. I think the Eestriction Act
has satisfied the demand of the conservative element in the community
The dissatisfaction in regard to it comes largely from those who are stUl
clinging to the old idea that the Chinese should be driven out rather
than that immigration should be restricted. '

Bestriotive legis-
lation has been in
that direction.

11 BRIGGS

Q. Do I understand then that the policy which is being pursued and
of which you approved is to encourage white immigration, and allow the ^^^^^ncovx-
present Chinese settlement to die a natural death ? — A. Yes. I believe aged; the Chinese
that in the course of time, by removal and death, these people will death.'"'**''™^
become so few in numbers that their presence will cease to be a serious
objection, and that by giving encouragement to the whites we shall be
able to supply their places with white people.

Q. "What is the relative value of white labor and Chinese labor in this White lahor and
market ^— A. Per house-servants the average wages paid to the Chinaman aboSuhi^samef '^
is about the same as to the white girls and to white women. In piece-
work, in our cigar factories and othei' factories, they are paid substantially
the same. In some other departments there is probably a slight difference
in favor of the whites, but I think the difference that existed years ago
has been largely overcome, and that the Chinese to-day receive about the
same wages as whites, or most of them.

Q. As an average, do they command the same wages ? — A. Scarcely ; Slight difference
there may be a slight difference in favor of the whites. ™ **^-

Q. About what per cent ? — A. Possibly ten, in rare cases twenty per
cent.

Q. Do they seem capable of becoming directors of labor 1 — A. It is
impossible for me to tell that. My impression is that the foreman is
generally connected in some way with the Chinese six companies, or is of
a higher order than the ordinary Chinaman. He comes here perhaps with
some means, or is supplied by one of the companies.

Q. How far are they able to organize and lay out work ? — A. I perhaps Many of them
did not answer your question, but I understood it nevertheless. You want manSe'^ialor'^"*
to know how far they are apt as employers of labor. I think so far as
that is concerned many of them are able to direct and would manage
their labor well.

Q. They are skilful?— A. Yes.

Q. Intellectually do they appear to be inferior to the laboring classes Not a reading peo-
of the white people 1 — A. That is a very difficult question to answer. They write in their own
are not a reading people, though most of them read and write in their language,
own language, but they have no newspapers, they have no books. They
appear to have means of information, though how that information is
disseminated it is impossible to tell. They are non-communicative ; you
never -can ascertain anything from a Chinaman. In their amusements or
intercourse with whites, the majority of them exhibit a very low order of tei^enceVlittte
intelligence. They certainly show little capacity for progress, but appear capacity for pro-
content to continue always in one channel. They are certainly the most
inhuman of all people unless it be the uncivilized races. They will leave
their own friends and people to die of neglect and starvation if they are to'su&ri^*'*™"*
sick, and seem totally indifferent to suffering.

Subsequently the Secretary received the following : —

Dear Sir,

Xs supplementary to and in support of my testimor.y touching the
advantage to this coast resulting from the Restriction Act, to prevent

BRIGGS

12

Evidence of
increase of
Chinese
immigration.

further immigration of Chinese, I beg to hand you the appended statement
covering a period of four years, viz. : 1880 to 1883 inclusive.

I am, dear Sir,

Yours truly,

Abthub R. Bbiggs,

President J. A. C.

1880

«

1

•6

•Sri
il

11

Whites and other than Chinese overland....
" by Steam Ship.

34,280

760

5,950

30,367
1,808
5,252

3,913
698

1,048

40,990

37,427

4,611

1,048

3,563

1881

"Whites and other than Chinese overland....

" by Steam Ship.

Chinese

47,107

670

18,561

66,338

30,891
2,301
7,424

40,616

16,216

11,137

27,353

1,631

1,631

25,722

1882

Whites and other than Chinese overland....

" hy Steam Ship.

Chinese

58,113

7,665

27,404

93,185

37,113
6,860
9,831

53,804

21,000

805

17,573

39,378

39,378

1883

stopped by
Hestriotion Act.

Whites and other than Chinese overland....

by Steam Ship.

Chinese..

77,022
2,355
3,536

82,913

I
38,133 38,889

4,336

6,541
49,010

38,889

1,981
3,005
4,986

33,903

William F. Babcock, merchant.

13 BABCOCK

San Francisco, July 26th, 1884.

Resided in San Francisco since 1852. In a new country cheap labor Cheap lator a
is absolutely necessary. Effect of Chinese labor beneficial, and that fabor^braieflciai!^°-
beneficial eifect will continue. Instead of driving out labor by cheap
labor, cheap labor increases the market for labor. Labor begets la-
bor. On the advancement of California the effect of Chinese labor has
been beneficial and has added materially to our wealth. The Chinese
spend on an average twenty-five cents a day, perhaps nine hundred thous-
and or a million of dollars a month among us. They are a necessity, Chinese a uecos-
and to drive them out of the state would be a very great disadvantage, be^ropeVtoTcs-'*
but under certain rules and regulations to restrict this immigration would trict their immi-
be very proper. We have not too many Chinese now, but I would not ^^ '""'
overrun the country with them. They have not increased since 186r),
and there is no danger of too great an infiux. I do not think they have
been a bar to white immigration from the East. The strong feeling They have nnt
against them arises from politicians, office-holders and foreigners. There whtte^immigra-
is no real competition or conflict between Chinese and white labor. The tio^'
, building of railways down in the valleys of California has opened the
country, settled it and drawn a white immigration to the coast. The
southern country has been rapidly settled up, and all this is due to
the building of the railways. Still, for certain reasons, I think it
would be good policy to restrict thg' numbers coming in. But to do this Good policy to ros^
would be in direct contravention of a treaty forced upon China by the ^^^ ™^"^ tiuui-
Americans. I was from 1854 to 1862 agent of the Pacific Mail Steam-
ship Company, and I have constant dealings with the Chinese, selling
them silver, quicksilver, and articles of that kind, and I find them
very clever merchants. I never lost a dollar with one of them in my
life. I would trust them with ten or fifteen thousand dollars just as soon
as I would any jobber in the city. Mr. Parrott, who did their banking
business for years, told me he had never lost a dollar of principal or in-
terest through them. I have always found the Chinese a most quiet and Honest, quiet, and.
industrious people, and quite as moral as the low class of whites. The p"opfe™"^
Chinese will smoke opium and the whites will drink whiskey. I have
been a large employer of Chinese labor. I think the employment of
Chinese, so far from being injurious, is beneficial. Its effect on trade, as
for instance, in the manufacture of cigars, is to enable people to smoke
cigars at a less price than they would otherwise pay, and I think it is a
good thing that they should have engrossed the washing of the commu-
nity. In consequence of Chinese laundrymen the poorer classes change An advantage as
their inside clothing much oftener than they would otherwise do. The cookseSdwaiters.
Chinamen are a great advantage all through the state, acting as cooks
and waiters. People in the country find a great difficulty in getting
white servants to remain with them, whereas the Chinaman does not care
where he goes. Rich Chinamen, if protected by our laws, would come
here and bring their money, and we should see Chinamen buying lots and
building houses. Chinese labor is more desirable than white labor from Their labor moro
this point of view : the factories here can exist and make money by pay- ^hS'''^
ing for labor a dollar a day, the Chinamen finding themselves, and they
can compBte with the East, while if you brought white labor here and
gave two dollars a day the labor would disappear. Chinamen come here They have no in-
with the intention of returning to their own country, and I think it better ^^*{j™°' remain,
that the country should be peopled with whites, but cheap labor in a new
country is absolutely necessary, and we should have the cheapest labor.

BADCOCK 14

we can get. A hundred years hence, when our descendants are living ia
California they will, marking what Chinese labor has done for this coun-
try, smile in derision at their ancestors' views on this question. We
shall then, or earlier, be one hundred and fifty millions. There will
Shmildnotbe probably be one or two million Chinese. I would not give them votes. I
cutoanchised. ^^^ ^^^ objection to having a non- voting population within a free common-
wealth. The Chinese do not want to meddle with our politics; they are the
most quiet, industrious and best people I ever saw. They are the most
Most valuaWe valuable laborers I ever saw in my life. Up at Clear Lake silver
mines, in which I am largely interested, we employ a considerable number
of Chinamen, and it would be impossible to get along without them.
Sted -Tri ^ht"^^ They bathe every night and are very clean, and are all educated, compul-
clever, intelligent sory education being a Chinese institution. They are a bright, clever, in-
people. telligent people. I am not speaking of the very lowest, such as we have

in California. Those here pay their debts ten times more promptly than
white people. The business men are shrewd, smart, intelligent, bright
men. They are capable of managing large undertakings.

COX. C. C. Cox, detective, examined :

Eleven years connected with police force in San Francisco. For the last
Chinese more four years paid special attention to Chinatown. The Chinese have amonest

criminal than ,,•' *■ , ^ , i>..i,i i-, i. .*

white people. them a, greater number 01 criminals than white people, in proportion. A

case came before the police of kidnapping, where the woman swore she was
to be sold, and he could, if necessary, supply a copy of the evidence. All
his information would lead to the belief that it was a common practice.
UeT^olting crimes. Oases of most revolting crime came before them. One instance of which all
details could, if necessary, be supplied, was that of a man who cut out the
penis of another who refused to submit to his degrading desires, and was
sentenced to the state's prison for a term of years. They have taught
tosmoke^opium.^^ white men and women, and boys and girls, to smoke opium, and many ar-
rests of whites in these places have been made, and they have been
brought down and fined and imprisoned. In the case of the regular
opium-smoker, when he is kept a day or two in the cells without a smoke,
he is regularly doubled-up like a man after a dreadful debauch wanting a
Women corrupt drink — troubled with cramps. There can be no doubt that the women cor-
rupt the young boys in a way which the white prostitutes are not chargeable
with, by allowing them, for a few cents, to gratify prurient curiosity. As
to opium-smoking — it is like drinking. Some Chinese don't smoke, but
in the most respectable restaurants the pipe is there for those who wish to
use it, and in the most respectable houses. Those were all tenement houses
Expert as thieves, where we saw them packed like sardines. They are expert thieves, shop-lift-
lurgiarsT note- ^^^ ^^^ burglars. His (Cox's) experience for the last four years led him
rious perjurers, to the belief that they are a detriment to the community. They are no-
torious perjurers. They had made charges to him against each other of
unnatural crimes, but he took no notice of it because he could place no
reliance on their word, and was afraid black-mail was intended. They had
information to the efiect that Chinamen evading the Restriction Act were
coming across the line from British Columbia down by the way of Portland.
They are notorious kidnappers. Five are now in the state prison for kidnap-
f^S'Sfprosti- P'^^S Chinese women for the purpose of selling them. There are now two
tution. reports in the chief's office of Chinese children stolen; and, besides, one

woman held before the Superior Court for kidnapping — stealing a little

15 COX

girl for the purpose of selling her into prostitution. There is a Catholic

school and a Methodist school, and one or two other reKgious seminaries,

but it was his belief that Christianity makes no progress among them Christianity

The schools, in his belief, are simply attended for the purpose of learning fmon| them?'"'"'

English. One of the last men sent to the state's prison was one claiming

to be a Christian, and who robbed the young lady who had been teaching

him for two years and a half of $140. The young lady is a daughter of

J. W. Deering, Esq., of 819 California street, San Francisco. He had now

in hands — the cases came up on Monday — a conspiracy, two men for

robbery and one man against whom there are two charges for murder.

" You saw," said Mr. Cox, " when visiting the quarter, the murderous Murderoua

weapons, knives, stilettos, bars of iron, which they carry up their sleeves, "^ea^po^s-

which we showed you, and which were taken from them by the dozen when

we make a raid on them in the theatre." I believe one of the reasons why

they keep their places so close and warm is that even the expelled smoke

of the opium may be again inhaled. The thing is so valuable. It is

worth from $18 to $20 per pound. I know to my own knowledge of a man

marrying a woman and then placing her in a house of prostitution. When Marrying a

a woman tries to get her liberty they bring a charge against her of poTs'rf prosSti-

larceny of the jewelry on her person. To-day, a fellow wanted the *'°''-

steamer going to China stopped, in order to get ashore a woman whom he

charged with leaving the country with intent to defraud her creditors.

They trump up all kinds of charges against each other. A case occurred Charges trumped

this week — you may have seen it in the papers. A woman was arrested other. *^

on a charge by two Chinamen, and immediately these two Chinamen were

charged with burglary committed at ten o'clock that morning ; but they

had been in the company of the police officer since 8 o'clock a.m. The

last case of leprosy I saw was eighteen months ago. Avan got one a few

days ago. He got three within the last ten days.

Q. We saw no cases of leprosy, and we went into very likely places, the Leprosy,
worst in town ? — A. No.

Q. Then the reports we have seen in the papers that a great many of
them were thus af&icted, cannot be true 1 — A. No.

Q. Is there anything else that occurs to you that would throw light on Chinese as " boy-
the question of Chinese immigration ? — ^A. No, unless that they are cotters."
inveterate gamblers, and given to boycotting. Two days ago they boycotted
a poor apple woman who had informed on a Chinaman for passing a
counterfeit coin. They sometimes placard all Chinatown denouncing a
person or a house ; sometimes even the theatre, and menacing trouble if it
is patronized.

E. L. Sullivan, examined : SULLIVAN

I have been in California since 1849, and was collector at this port Chinese an injm-y.
from the 1st of August, 1880, until the 15th of May, 1884. At first we
welcomed the Chinese, but after some time I became convinced they were an
injury. During- the time I was collector they gave me great trouble with
false certificates and information.

Q. What do you mean by false certificates ? — A. Well, they would Forged oertifl-
bring forged certificates that they had been in America before '^*'®^'
and would claim a right to land, the Restriction Act allowing those
who had been in the United States to return. Merchants wore

SULLIVAN 16

allowed to come in whether they had been here or not before, and so
laboring men would come up to my office with a silk dress thrown over
their blouse and when we opened it we found they were laborers.
Constant were the appeals from the decision of the surveyor of this port,
until at last I was forced to say to the consul the decision of the sur-
Testimony veyor must be regarded as my decision. Not only was Chinese testimony

suborned. suborned but I found the same three white men coming up in every case.

Q. But their desire to evade the Restriction Act would not prove that
they do not contribute to the wealth of the commuity ? — A. We have no
desire to have our workmen live a degraded life. No white man who has
to bring up a family, and fulfil all the duties expected in the United
No white man can States from a respectable working man, can compete with these people; and
thMD^*^ ^'^^^ ^^^ ^'^^^^ ** ■"'hioli the republic aims is not the cheapest labor but to
have all its citizens on the highest plane of humanity possible. There is
nothing more that occurs to me.

San Eeancisco, July 28th, 1884..

BEE. Colonel F. A. Bee, examined :

Q. You are the consul here for the Chinese Government ?— A. Tesj sir;
I am.

Q. How long have you been consul 1 — A. Going on now in my second
term — six years in November. My second term expires in November. The
consul is appointed for three years. I have been consul six years up to
next November.

Q. Before asking your evidence on certain specific points, I think it is only-
fair to the Chinese population of San Francisco that I should ask you what
you think has been the effect on the commercial development of the country,
and their conduct as citizens 1 — A. The geographical position of this coast
was such when California was first settled — and the same idea holds good yet .
— the great distance from the labor markets of the world for instance, and the
East, and the c6st and expense of getting here, and the higher rate of wages .
paid, and the very small amount of manufacturing which was done; for these
reasons, and the very Umited extent to which farming was carried on, in view
Chinese immlgra- of the milling operations of the country, Chinese immigration was encourag-
aUhe'Su-^.^ttle- ed at that date. At the early settlement, in 1854 and 1856, up to 1860,
ment of California. ^Jien the civil war broke out, there was almost a universal sentiment
throughout the country, at the breaking out of the war, to establish manufac-
tures. Heretofore we had ordered all our wearing apparel, and all the
implements of toU we used were imported from the East ; and it was sug-
gested then, and the press was quite unanimous, that Chinese labor should
be used in establishing manufactures on this coast, ia view of their being
out off by the civil war — the railroad only being projected then, and all our
resources were shipped around Cape Horn — the railroad was in course of '
construction. It was thought then by the citizens resident here, who had
the best interest in the development of the state, we should utilize this labor; .
and we did, and we date our large manufacturing interests from that time,
teamifactures the We commenced about 1860. The branches of labor which the Chinese em-
gaged^Si.^*'^* *" barked in at that time were the manufacture of boots and shoes, the manu-
facture of clothing, underwear, cigars, matches, and various other little;

17 BEE

I light industries of the country. It was largely organized under American
capital, and this labor I want you to understand was ' employed in these
manufactures, and those manufactures have been growing year by year
till they have got to be a very large proportion. Then we, at that time,
sent forty millions of doUars East for what we purchased ; we do not send
to exceed eighteen or twenty millions now. This success in the manufactur-
ing interests with Chinese labor, of course, developed other industries. Chinese labor
Capital went into agriculture, foundries, machine-shops, woolen-mUls. We ^dnstnes. *'
were sending our wool out of the country. The capitalist went into woolen
manufactories, some of them employed as high as six hundred Chinese for
the manufacture of our wool into cloths. That labor has been since largely Their labor dis-
displaced by the employment of white labor. There are but few in those pioyment of ^ ^™'
manufactures now. At that time it was considered to be just the labor we ^I'i'^s.
wanted, and we utilized it for that purpose. There was no opposition to
the establishment of any of these industries. There were not at that time
more than thirty or forty white shoemakers in the country when the
Chinese first entered into that manuf sicture. Consequently, you can see we
had to send East, to New York and Massachusetts, for all of that kind of
wear. Now our importations are light, and comparatively nothing worth
mentioning. Of course, in the establishment of those industries, California
saved large amounts of capital and kept it at home. The hides were sent
East to be tanned into leather, and the leather was made into shoes, and
sent back here, but now the leather is tanned and the shoes are manufactur-
ed here.

Q. You attribute this development to what may be called the use of
Chinese labor 1 — A. Largely so.

Q. I understand that after a time the Chinese passed from being Chinese capitaiista
laborers to taking the manufactures into their own hands ; is that so 1 — turers do^ofin- i
A. Of course ; naturally a large number of Chinese capitalists went' into terfere with the
manufactures, and are in them to-day, with their own capital, as invest-
ments, but not into foundries or machine-shops. They do not interfere
with the day laborer, for instance ; they never are permitted to work on
public works at all, in this city ; you never see them carrying bricks
or mortar, or acting as masons.

Q. They are represented to us by some witnesses we have examined as Their immorality ,
being very immoral, and as having a bad effect on the morals of the com- ^,^^ther *"
munity ; what have you observed in that respect ? — A. My experiences as loreigaers.
to their immorality is, I do not think they carry it to any greater excess
than other foreigners we have amongst us. Many of the charges made
against the Chinese as to their immorality in the community are not
true — the excessive charges made against them are not true.

Q. It has been represented to us that the percentage of criminality Criminality of the
amongst them is larger than amongst any other people ; what have you ^'^^=**
observed about that 1 — A. My observation has been quite to the contrary.
For instance, a few years ago the records of the police department would
show largely in excess the arrest of Chinese set down as criminal arrests.
On examination of the records in the office you will find that sixty or
seventy-five per cent, of these arrests were based upon trivial offenses, like
the violation of the cubic-air law — ^the law that there rnnst be five hundred
feet of cubic air to each individual. Scores were arrested in one night for
tiolation of that law.

2

BEE

18

■Criminal
statistics^

JiTot paupers.

Q. We examined Chief Crowley, and he showed us books containing
photographs of from three to four thousand thieves — Chinamen? — A. That
book has been running for thirty years. That is what has been collected
in thirty years. I think it would be well for you to examine the munici-
pal reports of the city and county of San Francisco, to see how many
Chinese were occupants of the industrial school, of the hospitals, of the
house of correction, and you will get a very correct answer to the ques-
tion. Here is the chief of police's report for the city and county of San
Francisco, 30th of June, 1878: number of arrests for drunkenness, 6,127,
not one of them charged as being a Chinaman. I think there were four
Irish brought before the courts to one Chinaman, from the lower courts to
the highest in the state.

Q. Could you give us statistics to prove that ? — ^A. That is a very diffi-
cult thing to do ; you can only judge from the names.

Q. It will not be necessary to go into the nationalities ? — A. I have in
my hand here the statistics for the year 1881, the municipal reports of
the city of San Francisco. I find out of 264 committed during the
year ending June 30th, 1881, Chinese, 61; Irish, 83. Out of these 61 com-
mittals, nine were females ; thus out of 380, China suppHed 61. In order
to get at the true percentage, you have to add 352 committals of native
Americans ; 352 and 380 foreign makes 732, so that the ratio of Chinese
crime, judged by this table, would be as 61 is to 732.

Q. Do many Chinese become to a large extent chargeable upon the public
charities. Colonel Bee 1 — A. By reference to the same report, pages 367
and 368, there was committed to the almshouse during that same year
564 foreigners, 164 natives of the United States, not one Chinese. In the
same volume, city and county hospital, page 341, natives of the United
States committed 962, foreigners, 2,242, total 3,204, out of which number
10 were Chinese and 1,053 Irish.

Q. Have they hospitals of their own ?— A. They have private hospitals.
Each of the six companies has a hospital ; they being benevolent associar-
tions, they have hospitals for the care of their sick. During the same year

I find in the report of the pest-house, 26th street hospital the year iu

which the smaU-pox was epidemic in San Francisco — ^that the small-pox
hospital admitted 459 patients, of which the Chinese numbered 34, pages
316 and 319. That comprised all the public charities and the admissions
thiereto.

Q. Then you take issue with those who state that crime is more
prevalent amongst them than amongst other portions of the population ?
— A. I do.

:|!^".ed Cfenr. Q" ^ou spoke. Colonel Bee, of the six companies as charitable associa-

■yolent purposes, tions ; could you explain to me their organization ? ^A. Yes sir The

Province of Canton is comprised of sis divisions — you might say six
counties comprise the province of Canton. The Chinese here organized
what is known as the six companies, wholly for benevolent purposes A
Chinese immigrant to this country, who came from one of these counties
in Canton, on his arrival here was met at the steamship landing by the
secretary of each of the companies. These secretaries announced that they
were the secretaries of the associations, representing each of the separate
districts. The Chinese gave their names and were registered as residents

19 bee;

»of the district. That register is kept at the headquarters of the company.
The functions of the Chinese six companies are to protect their Chinese
fellows in health, and provide them with means to reach the interior ;
■.provide them with medicines and with hospital accommodations in case of
sickness, and look after their interests physically, generally. If a Chinaman
laecomes sick he applies to the agent of the six companies who procures
;medical aid for him, and puts him in the hospital if he is at a convenient
'distance. And if he dies that company buries him; and at the proper time,
a,t the request of the parents, that company returns his bones to the
jarents in China. There the functions of the company cease. They have
l)een charged as being immigration agents — ^importers of Chinese labor. I
undertake to say the proof cannot be produced in a single case.

' Q. Why should these companies take so much interest in the Chinaman
^hen ? — A. The testimony cannot be produced that one of the Chinese
-companies brings labor to this country, paying his passage directly or indi-
Tectly. It cannot be produced that they have collected a dollar of his wages
«,nd appropriated it. It cannot be shown that a dollar has been collected as
-a fee from him, until his departure from the country. Before departing he
jgoes to his headquarters, and settles his fee as a member of the company,
the fee ranging from $2.50 to $10. Those companies who represent a Feea.
•district where there are but few immigrants, their fee is $10. Where
there is a large number, it is $2.50. That is the fund and the only fund
they have from them. The interest is no more or less than that exercised
~hj other benevolent societies — ^masons, odd-feUows and druids.

Q. You say the testimony cannot be produced, but the fact may be Immigration on*,
ithough the testimony cannot be produced? — A. It cannot be a fact that yona_
■the Chinese companies ever have brought any immigrants to this country.
i:t is entirely outside of the functions of their organization, and hence a
Tuatter in which they have no interest.

Q. What motive could they have then in organizing t — A. If you desire
to get the reasons of the organisation of the six companies, I can give it.

O Yes ?— A. In the early settlement of California by the Americans, Organization cf
^* -^^^ .'^ . , , ^-^ "^ T_ .1 the SIX companies.

-we had in our early days no laws, we might say. We were here m large

numbers without courts, without laws, no established government ; we were
a territorial government for a time. There were no sheriffs, no officers, no
courts; no mail facilities to speak of, except by express ; no mail contracts
let by the government. Communication with the interior and the sea-board
was very difficult. Americans arriving in the mines organized associations.
I'or instance, I belonged myself to a New York association ; adjoining me
was one caHed the Palmito association ; another one was a Pike County of
Missourians, etc. ; they went by the names of the different states. Each one
•of those associations kept a book, and all residents of New York arriving
in those diggings would come to this place and register their names, writmg
where they resided. Once a month, a courier would come around to those
different associations, and take all the names off the registers. He would
come to San Francisco as a courier and get the letters and mail belongmg
to the subscribers for which he received $1 for letters, and newspapers
50 cents. Mail was delivered and separated generally in the headquarter^
of those associations, and the parties who had signed their names came there
and got their mail. When a man from New York was taken sick, a notifica-
tion was sent to the members that he was sick in a certain ravine or canyon.
•Then a committee was appointed to go and take care of him, and to nurse

BEE

20

Six oompanies as
arbitrators.

Prostitntjon.

him and bury him, or procure medical attendance if necessary. Chinese,,
when they came into the minfis, notitSed and became fa-miJiar -with those
organizations of the whites, and hence the baiais of the six ccanpanies.
They organized then their six; cempainy assbciatwns, not organized in-
San Francisco originally, but in the niines, establishHig a headquarters
here -Where their letters were sent from here to tine mines, the same way
we were doing it.' They have kejpt up that organization tfll this day, although
all the other associations fell through when the government machinery was
put in work, mails established, officers appointed, and a regular govern-
ment, and no further necessity for such associations. That was the begin-
ning of the six company associations which does not exist in any othei.
country in the world to which the Chinese immigrate but California.

Q. You would say that they are survivors of that original 1 — ^A. Yes..

Qj A statement has been made that these companies try men for
offenses, that they in fact make laws of their own, have their own
sanctions to these laws, and inflict severe punishment, and sometimes have
not hesitated to inflict capital punishment ; what is your evidence om
that head? — A. It is not true. I will state that I know that like ourselves
occasionally they have cases for arbitration brought to the attention of
the six companies, and they arbitrate or employ arbitrators, and white'
men are sometimes called in to act with them ; but as to their trying a.
man for a criminal offense, it is not true, or that they inflict punishment.

Q. What is your evidence, colonel, as to the statement that women
are sold over in China for the purposes ol prostitution here t — A. That ja
true ; women are bought in China and brought here for prostitution; I
would like to state that we also have a foreign association that imports
prostitutes direct here from France, for the same purpose of prostitution.

Q. We have in evidence that these Chinese prostitutes are in a special
city notoorrapted ^^^ corrupting to the youth of San Francisco ? — A. That is not true. In.
by Chinese order to find these prostitutes you will have to have a police ofiicer. They

women. ^j^ ^^^ flaunt before your gaze their calling like the Europeans. I can.

better refer to the testimony of Dr. Stout, a member of the State
Board of Health, page 652, the Report of the Joint Special Committee of
1876. Dr. Stout says : " The hoodlum boys go among them and the white
men, sometimes sailors, sometimes the wanderers of the coast, and the-
Spaniards go among them, and they go more to molest the women, to dis-
turb them, than to use them. And when they use them they do not run
greater risks than in going to other houses. When boys go to them and
get disease they are of that class, they would go there or somewhere else.
They will be in mischief ; and where the mischief is worst, it is the better
for them, and adds to their gratification while there. And if they contract
their first baptism of blood there, it is perhaps better than if they should
contract it somewhere else ; and if it is cheaper it is perhaps better. Th&
statement that the morality of our white boys is corrupted by going-
among the Chinese is a gross exaggeration. They can go further and fare
better. Very few go among them anyhow."

Q. Would you turn to page 672 of the same report ? You will see ther&
that David C. Wood, who was the superintendent of the industrial school
of San Francisco, was examined, and he states that he has an average of
175 boys under his care. You will see that in reply to the question as to-
the physical effect of the Chinese on the community, he says : " They

Syphilis.

21 BEE.

introduce venereal disease among my boys ; there is hardly a day since I
lave been at the School that I have not had boys being treated by the
•doctor for these diseases, and they- invariably got the disease ia China-
town from Chinese prostitutes." — A. That is the criminal class referred
-to by Dr. Stout. Mr. Wood was superintendent of the criminal school —
j)risoners — that is my only answer. They were not sent to that institution
I because they had these diseases. They were sent there as criminals
■belonging to the criminal classes. It is a slander to call this class " our
iboys."

Q. It has been stated, colonel, that when the Chinese quarrel amongst
"themselves, they are very savage and violent,'and use weapons ; what is your
>«vidence on that head ?— A. In California there are about 1,400 Chinese,
■according to my estimates, that are irresponsible, vicious, criminal, who
bave no occupation. They are known as highbmders. Those men are cruel, Highbindera.
irresponsible and of the criminal class ; but take the Chinese character
•and people as a whole they are not savage or cruel — they are not savage,
they are timid. A hoodlum of twelve years of age can drive half a dozen
of them from the street. They avoid contact ; they avoid difficulty of that
nature, all that is possible. As a class they are not to be judged by the
few irresponsible non-working Chinese highbinders.

Q. Are those highbinders ever employed by the six companies 1 — A.
Hio, sir ; they have no occupation whatever. The six companies have no
'use for that class.

Q. Is there any other point which you think would be useful for us ;
_you know what our object is 1 — A. No ; I think we have gone over all the
points.

Q. Did you know Benjamin S. Brooks, who was examined before the
joint committee 1 — ^A. I did.

Q. Is he alive ? — A. He is dead.

CJ. What was he ? — A. A distinguished lawyer ; an old pioneer ; a man
•of the highest respectability and standing ; and by reference to this
testimony before the Senate committee you will see how strikingly he
l)rings out the necessity of Chinese labor to the advancement of this state,
ajid probably no man in California had studied its interests more thor-
•oughly than had Beniamin S. Brooks.

Tateick Ceowlet, examined: CROWLEY.

Q. Your name, sir, is Patrick Crowley ? — A. Yes.

Q. And your position is chief of police? — A. Yes.

Q. Of San Francisco ?— A. Of San Francisco.

Q. How long have you been connected with the police 1 — A. This is Twelyeyearachlot
any twelth year as chief of police. o po ce. . . ^

Q. And have you had during that time occasion to observe the habits of
Tthe Chinese in San Fran jsco ?— A, I have ; yes, sir.

CROWLEY 22

?il^",f„«^„^''^^ Q- Up to the passiag of the Restriction Act, wiiat were the habits of

bearable. the (Jhinese ? — A. Their manner and habits and actions and eYerymb^

else were almost unbearable, so much so that it came very near a number-
of times to being the cause of creating a bloody riot — a fearful riot. I am
in a position to know that better than any one else. I have got reports
here that would astonish the citizens if they were made public. Thera^
Secret societies were secret societies — we looked upon those people- as assassins, for the
toget^d of'the ^^ reason that they did not appear to have any discretion' ait all in the matter.
Chmese. They were willing to murder and rob for the purpose of getting rid of the

Chinese. What I mean is this : there is a class of people here that are
just as much opposed as these people, but they are intelligent and have
property interests here, and did not want to resort to these means. They
wanted legal and peaceable means to be used to get rid of the Chinese. But
outside of that there were the working classes, for instance, and those-
people doing business, who live on the working classes, who did not appear-
to have patience and had got up secret societies.

Q. The secret societies were made by the whites ? — A. Yes, sir • ofc
course.

Q. I do not understand you to say that the Chinese were assassins 1

A. No ; I mean to say that we looked upon those people that were-
organized in that form as assassins.

Q. The whites? — A. Yes; because the law-abiding people did not
approve of anything of that kind, although they wanted to get rid of them.

Q. What conduct on the part of the Chinese led to this action of the-
whites ? — A. The cause of it was this : We have you understand — this is.
a new country — we have a rising generation here of young people, girls-
and boys, that are growing up here. Our manufactures here are very
scarce, and those employed in these places are principally Chinese. This-
class I have reference to were born and raised in the city, their parents-

UbOT to dri^"^^® ^^^ ^°°^' ^^^. ^* ^^^ *^® ®^®°* °* driving the women into prostitution, and
white tromen into *he boys to live off prostitution and thieving. The boys really are to be
prostitution. pitied. It was only the other day I was talking to Mr. Taylor, a respect-

able merchant here, who some years ago was in sympathy with the Chinese
like myself. I know that they caused me a good deal of trouble, because f
believed they were a persecuted race. That was at the time before they
had introduced themselves into manufactures. He, Mr. Taylor, talked:
with me and said, " It pains my heart ;" and said : " I had ten or twelve
of these people come to me for employment ; what can we do for them ?'"
There are several societies that are organized for the purpose of relieving-
this class of people ; sending some of them to farming in the country, etc.
I will explain my position in regard to that matter. I said, I was friendly
to them at that time, which is true. About eighteen years ago, the first,
determined effort was made against the Chinese — as long baick as eighteem
years ago. There was a contract given, for instance, for builcJingaraUroad,.
a street railroad, to the Potrero. Two men by the name Myers and Weed:
had the contract. They took the contract on competition ; it -was very-
low. They employed white labor, and they found they could not carry-
the contract without a great loss to themselves, so they were compelled!
-Wlilte labor dla- *» discharge all the whites and employ Chinese labor, fey doing that they-
plaoedbyChinese. could make a profit on the contract. They did do it, and it raised quite am
excitement. The people rose up and drove the Chinese away from there
and the consequence was we had a riot, *

Za CROWLEY

Q. Am I to understand that the main objection is that they work They undereell
cheaper; they undersell the white labor in the labor market ? — A. Yes, sir; live 75 per cent
for this reason : That the Chinese can live ninety per cent. — well seventy- o'leaper.
five per C3nt. anyhow — and I do not exaggerate when I say that they
can live S3venty-five per cent, less than the white men.

Q. With that exception is the Chinaman as good a citizen, as law- He is not a law-
abiding 1 — A. He is not a law-abiding citizen. You would be astonished the ^ ^ "'S oi izen,
way those fellows fight the law. We have a place in Chinatown, a space
of five blocks square — you understand what a block is? In that space there
are crowded about fifteen thousand Chiaese ; in. that space of territory we
have about eight policemen. We have only got a population here of
probably, I think, two hundred and sixty thousand inhabitants anyhow.
We have four hundred policemen, that includes the clerks and detectives
and the whole department, you understand. We have about three hundred
patrolmen. The patrol is divided into two divisions, one half on duty at a
time. If you will only make a calculation, as the diiference between, say,
twelve or fifteen thousand w^ith a representation of eight policemen, and
two hundred and fifty thousand with a hundred and fifty policemen, there
is that difi'erence. What I mean is that it requires that little space to be
more than double the police to keep those fellows in subjection.

Q. But there is a far larger number within that space than of whites in
any like space ? — A. Of course there is, but the space is so small it
ought not to take so many police.

Q. It is the number that would require the policemen, not the space t
— A. Yes, but that little space ought not to take so many.

Q. You ought to be in a position to judge by statistics as to the Chinese crimini-
Telative criminality of the Chinese ; how do they stand in that respect ? — any other nation-
A. The proportion is away above any other nationality. ality.

Q. When you say away above any other nationality, chief, do you
mean that, taking the men of any other nationality, there is a larger per-
centage of criminals among the Chinese ? — A. I think there is. I look
upon them as a nation of thieves, and I am willing to assert that publicly, thieve^^" °

Q. It would not be fair to take the white population and count the
women and children in. In order to make a fair comparison you have to
take the number of males. Do you think that there is a larger number of AlargernumberoJ
criminals amongst the Chinese males? — A. There is not any question criminals among
about it at all. You take the white race and there is a proportion of crime
amongst the females, when you count the arrests for prostitution and
drunkenness, and all that kind of thing. I find this in my business. I make
a distinction between the whites and the blacks. We find the percentage
is far smaller amongst the blacks, as amongst the whites and blacks.

Q. You mean the negroes ? — A. Yes, that is in this country ; but they
tell me in the south it is different. But my experience in this state amongst
the blacks and the whites is that the percentage of crime is far below any
other with the blacks, and amongst the Chinese it is away above. And They all steal.
Chinese will all steal.

Q. You said you would supply us with some statistics under this head ?
— A. Yes, sir; I will have it ready before you go away. Here is a specimen

CROWLEY

24

Photographs of
Chinese criminals.

Criminal record.

Their ingenuity
defeats the laws.

of what I charge those people ■with. Here are books that are exclusively
filled with the photographs of Chinese thieves; these are Chinese thieves
every one of them. I have got a record of every one of them. [The chief
produced five books with photographs of Chinese, each one containing about
one thousand photographs.] There is one thing I want to explain. Those
are only for the thieves. We do not take the pictures for other ci-imes.
Those are for stealing and robbery, and that kind of thing only. We have
the most complete record here that they have in any part of the world.
This fellow here [pointing to one of the photographs in the book] we may
trace him through half a dozen countries. That is the prison record.

Q. A statement has been made to us that the women are sold in China
for the purposes of prostitution ; would you be able to give us any evidence
of that ? — A. That is not susceptible to evidence, but you can rely that it
is positively so. That is why I suppose that any country they get into,
they do not care how powerful the laws may be or how well they are exe-
cuted, the ingenuity of those people will defeat them.

Q. Another statement has been made to us that they come here under

bondage to the six companies, have you any evidence on that head ? —

TheywUl not test!- -^^ ^°> °^ course if we could prove those things we could break it up, but

fy where China- you cannot prove anything against them. You cannot get a Chinaman to

cemed. " go into court and testify where a Chinaman is interested.

Piostltntlon and
its results.

Q. A statement has been made that they corrupt the youth, the young
boys, have you any testimony on that head ? — A. The only testimony we
have is the hospital, that is all. They have loathsome diseases that they
get from those women.

Q. Are there any number of boys in the hospital with loathsome
diseases ? — A. There has been ; we have them down in the city receiving
hospital, and at their homes.

Q. Did they attribute their diseased condition to Chinese women? —
A. Altogether.

Opiimi-smoking Q. It has also been stated that the Chinese men corrupt the boys in this

of t^tomtr?^^'' respect, by teaching them to smoke opium. Have you any evidence on

that head 1— A. Plenty on that head. We get the evidence because we

catch them in the act, and convict them. It is the greatest curse in the

country.

Q. How do you catch them in the act !— A. We catch them in the opium
joints.

Opium joints. Q. You catch the whites smoking there ? — A. Yes; one of these Chinese

places. The Chinese receive the fees of admittance, and they give them the
opium. It was made a crime under a city ordinance here to smoke opium.
The Chinese tried to beat it in another way, and an ordinance was passed
requiring them to pay a very heavy license, but it does not appear to stop
them.

Q. Was a special law passed to deal with opium-smoking ? A. Yes.

OptHTO-Bmoklng . Q- ^"^^ ^^ i'" ""'^ ^ criminal oflFense ?— A. Yes, and we make any quan-
a otJmJnai offence, tity of convictions under the ordinance.. They become so much accustomed

25 CROWLEY

to it, and it takes such a hold, it is almost impossible to reform them. It is
'the greatest vice we have here in this country and all over America.

Q. When you say " any quantity of convictions," could you give us any Convictions
definite idea of the number?— A. Well, a great number of convictions for tidwom™%T"
smoking opium, agaiast both men and women. We bring in as many as opium-smoking,
-thirty in one haul, so you can judge. They just lay up there naked, without
& stitch on them — men and women — under the influence of this drug, and
they are principally young people. They do not have any control over
themselves at all, while they are under its influence.

Q. Is it any worse than drinkiiag whiskey ? — A. Yes, it is far worse than Worse than drink*
.anything of the kind. ing wliiskey.

Q. Par worse than whiskey 1 — A. Yes, sir; because a person may become
-.addicted to whisky and there is a chance at some time or another of reform ;
"but when he becomes addicted to smoking opium, there does not appear to
be any reform in them at all. They die in the insane asylum — a great
many of them. I presume if you went to Stockton or Napa, and inter-
viewed the resident physician there, he would tell you there was a great
jnany cases there caused by the smoking of opium.

Q. Is there anything else that you think would be useful in forming a Chinese immigrar
judgment as to the desirabULty or undesirability of Chinese immigration SnaesPrable.
on the Pacific coast 1 — A. About four years ago — -I do not remember the
year — the Restriction Act first went into efiect, I say 1880, but it might
have been, 1881. It is an easy matter to get at the year exactly. There was
a proposition to submit the matter to the vote of the people of this State of
■ California, and out of the poll of, one hundred and fifty thousand, there
were eight hundred in favor of Chinese immigration — you see that is an
immense majority, eight hundred out of one hundred and fifty thousand.

Q, There was a question I intended to ask, it is this : What has been Effects of the Res-
the effect of the Restriction Act ?— A The Restriction Act has worked trlotion Act.
.splendidly. Business has become more prosperous all over this country,
particularly in San Francisco, because it has really driven the Chinese
■away from here and scattered them all over. Heretofore they were Chinese scattered,
employed principally here in manufactures and all that kind of thing, and
as they became scattered the demand for Chinese labor was not so great,
and has given the young people a chance to get into cigar factories and
.shirt factories. It is only a short time ago, within the past two or three
weeks, there was some sixty Chinese that were discharged, and sixty boys Chinese displaced
^and girls were put in their places. That was done by the aid of the best ^Xtitut^d! ^"^
people in this town. They make up the difference in loss to the employers.

Q. I would like to know what effect it has had in relation to keeping

-the peace ? A. A great effect. Those fellows at times here, as far back

as I remember, they had trouble. They are an excitable, desperate lot
of fellows as you ever saw. You might think they were covirardly, but they
are not. They made a raid — and they commenced in a room about this
.size where they crowded in about five hundred, and they cut each other
all to pieces, and at the great risk of the lives of the oflicers we quelled
them. They fight with aU kinds of instruments.

Q. With what instruments ,?— A. With knives and iron bars.. One Murderous
ifeUowhad some eighteen slashes about bim ; and they were very bold here, weauons.

'CROWLEY

26

anyhow, at one time. We made raids on them once in a while, and eveiy
man would have a knife or a pistol, or a slung shot, or something of that
sort. The buggers would turn down the lights, and some we would catch
with their weapons on, but they would throw them away if they could. It
would sometimes take almost a cart-load to bring them down.

Q. Is there any other thing that you would Kke to say ? — A. There is:
one thing that is of more importance to the whites in America, or North
America, than anything else I know of. Outside of all other considerations
the great objection to the Chinese is this : that some years ago, there was
not great opposition to the Chinese for the reason that people were willing-
to accept their services on account of being cheap. They worked in shoe
factories and all kinds of factories here, you understand. The Chinese
worked some time till they learned the business. When they got the business
to perfection, they started in on their own account ; they sent to China,
and got capital and the very people that employed them were driven out
of business, because they could not compete with them, don't you see-
Therefore the capitalists would be hurt by them just as well as the work--
ing people, and every body — it drove them out of the business.

■Chinese starting
business on their
own account in-
jures capitalists.

Amended Act an
Improvement on
the first.

Q. What has been the eiFect of the amended Act, which has just come-
into operation 1 — A. It has only gone into operation, and the presumption,
is it will be a great improvement on the first. That shows in itself how
objectionable the first Act was, and the people were not satisfied with it,,
and wanted to have an amended Act.

Immigrants not Q. How was the first Restriction Act found ineffective ? — A. In this

?rith^ui^cSfl- ^^y '■ *^^* i* exempted, for instance, merchants and students, and all that
«^J™11 authen- kind of thing, of course, which is all right, I presume; but the rascals took
advantage of it in this way : that every man that came was a merchant or
a student. So now in China they have to get a certificate from the
American authorities, the American minister, with well authenticated,
evidence.

Q. They have to get that certificate from the American minister in
China?— A. Yes.

Q. They did not have to do that before ? — A. No; they got certificates-
there, but now the minister has a right to take testimony and aU that
kind of thing.

System of identifi- Q. I understand you to say that the system of identification in
tecL"™"''^^®''" China is now more perfect ?— A. I think it is. The minister now takes

evidence; and vouchers of a more authentic character have to be produced,.

by any Chinaman before he is allowed to enter here.

San Peancisco, July 29th, 1884..
SWAN. Dr. Benjamin R. Swan, examined :

Q. How long have you been in San Francisco, doctor?— A. I came-
here in January, 1870. I arrived here fourteen years ago.

Tnreeye&?sa Q. I understand you were for some time coroner for the city and

coroner. county of San Francisco ?— A. Yes ; I was coroner from December 1874

until December, 1877 — being three years. ' *'

27 SWANT

Q. In your character of coroner you ■were brought into special contact
with the Chinese 1 — A. Yes, whenever a sudden death took place, or any
case that i^uired a coroner's imvestigaiiiim. — that applied -to the Chinese
the same as to other nationalities.

Q. In connection with the enquiry as to the effect of Chinese immigra- Chinese tesUmonjr
tion into British Columbia, we have visited San Francisco in order to get ^"'e^SiiJJ^''**'
what information we could as to the character of the Chinese immigration
here ; is there anything that came before you, in your office of coroner,
that you think would be of interest to us in regard to such enquiry t —
A. I consider Chinese testimony, as far as my three years experience
went, as perfectly unreliable in the case of crime — murder, that was all I
had to deal with ; deaths in that way. A given case being reported I
frequently found Chinamen who where near the spot ; claimed to have
witnessed the whole transaction ; gave graphic accounts ; these would be
among the witnesses on the formal inquest. On appearing they would
intimate that they did not understand English, and through the interpreter
would say that they knew nothing about the affair, and upon asking him
in distinct terms, through the interpreter : "Did you not yesterday at such
a time, tell that man (pointing to my deputy) so and so ? " The reply
would be : "I did not understand what he said." I never succeeded in
fastening a crime on a Chinaman through Chinese testimony but once, a man convictedi
In that case the witness was a little Chinese girl, old enough to be intelli- ^^teSonyrf a.
gent ; too young to understand the danger she was running in testifying. Chinese girl.
That man was hung.

Q. "What do you mean by the " danger she was running in testifying ? " Danger in giving:
— ;A. As she was giving her testimony, and she was asked to point out the **s'''™™y'
man that she saw do the act, out of a number of Chinamen that were
there, she pointed her finger at the man and says : " him. " As soon as
she said this he jumped right to his feet, and said something to her in
Chinese. She started back with a great deal of terror, and went into the
arms of some bystander, or bysitter I should say. This was at the inquest.
The accused jumped right out of his chair and started across the room,
and I asked the interpreter what he said in his Chinese. The interpreter
said he had said : " You had better shut up." Of course this is all an opinion
of mine, for the girl was very much frighttined, and on enquiry I got hold
of this idea that she was threatened ; and the remark was made by the
Chinese police officer — I mean the officer that was on the beat in China-
town— ^that if the girl had been older, and understood, we could not have
gotten anything out of her, on account of the danger that she ran in
testifying against this man.

Q. Could you be more specific as to the danger she ran ? — A. I should Assassination^
consider that she ran the danger of assassination.

Q. By whom ?— A. By this man's friends or acquaintances; and, as I say,'
all these matters are simply matters of opinion that I could'not bring you
specific proofs about.

Q. While you were coroner, did you have many cases of violent deaths Many oases of vio-

>.,. rti-T-r • 1 iij!j_ T_ j.i_* lent deaths durmg:

m Chinatown ? — A. Yes, sir, a good many ; but after we hung this man witness's term (*.

there was not any for two years — no murders. That is my recollection ; office.

all this happened seven years ago. I think there were no Chinese murders

—that is, that came to our knowledge — ^for two years.

SWAN

28

^statistics of mur-
•ders, sndden
deaths find acci-
dents.

Q. During the first year you -were coroner, were there a good many ? —
A. There was quite a number altogether^ I do not mean while I was
coroner — ^that this two years includes all of my term. That is what I
bejieve the record calls for. I think there was a part of these two years
would come into my term.

Q. Have you got the official statistics in your possession 1 — A. I have
got the whole number of cases that occurred.

Q. Would you give it to us, please ? — ^A. This includes all the Chinese
cases, whether murder or sudden death, or from accident. Here I might
say that you can get the exact figures, and all the particulars, at the
coroner's office, for they are all kept there. Mine are only taken from my
annual report. While we go into office on the first of December, our reports
run from the first of July till the next first of July, so that I would give
in my first report only one half — that is for my own self and the other
half for my predecessor. So that the last six months of my office is reported
by my successors, but from 1874 to 1875 — July to July — out of 297 cases
investigated there were twelve Chinese cases. There is the table [showing
boc^]. The birth place is given. In 1875 and 1876, out of 321 cases there
were 22 Chinese cases. In 1876 and 1877 out of 200 cases there were 43
Chinese cases. That includes accidents and everything.

Q. I suppose we can get full particulars, if it should strike us as of
importance, for every year, from the municipal reports, up to the present
time ? — A. Tes; but you wUl find that there was a special law passed in
1872 ; and these peculiar reports, and my action, were all under the new
law passed in 1872; and there has been full and complete records ever
since. When I took hold of the office I opened a new set of books, and
they have been kept up ; and you can find there not only the record but
everything — the man's name and the crime charged, and also the whole
testimony on file, and the whole business.

An unseen power Q, Ig there anything else, doctor, that you have to say that you think
would be of use to us 1 — A. When I wanted to get hold of one particular
man, we always went to the interpreter of the company he belonged to,
and the impression left on us by dealing with him, and by other facts, was
that there was some power behind that we could not grasp nor understand.

San Francisco, July, 30th, 1884.

BROOKS. Charles Wolcott Brooks, examined :

Q. How long have you been a resident of San Francisco, sir? — A I
came out in 1852 first.

Q. Are you an Englishman ? — A. No, sir ; I was born in Boston, or the
suburbs of Boston, in Massachusetts.

Q. Have you ever lived in China ? — A I have made a good many trips,
there.

Q. I believe you were the representative of the Japanese Government
in San Francisco for a considerable time ? — A. Yes, sir ; I was consul

29 BROOKS;

seventeen years, and two yfears I was connected with the diplomatic
service— travelling. I was attached to the embassy accredited to the
fifteen treaty powers, for the revision of treaties.

Q. Have you studied the character of the Chinese who immigrate to studied Chinese,
this coast ? — A. Yes, sir; I have been thrown a good deal with. them. I oiiaracter.
understand the subject pretty thoroughly. I first began to study the habits
of orientals before I came to California, when I resided in Calcutta, and
I made up my mind that in order to thoroughly understand any people you
must understand their motives of action; to understand those it was ne-
cessary to study their religion — ^not in order to adopt it, but to know what
motives governed them.

Q. Now, sir, statements have been made to us that the Chinese immi-
grants in California are a detriment to the community, partly by reason
of their competition with white labor, partly by reason of their vicious
character, .and partly because the wealth they gained they carry back to
China. We should be glad to get your evidence on all these heads ? — A.
No Chinese ever come from China to the United States. ' None after my
knowledge. They all come from the British Province of Hong Kong.
China is not the name of the, country — it is Ta Tsiu. Natural emigration Natural immigra-^
and cooiie-trade are two very different things; one comes voluntarily, the tion and coolie
other is a trade in labor. The United States has always invited immigra-
tion. Coimtries 'with smaller territory, more thickly settled, have encou-
raged emigration. The United States has ten persons to the square mUe,
and California only two and a half to the square mile — about. The money
markets and the labor markets have been considered open markets. Certain
duties in evory country must be performed cheaply, and cheap labor is cheap labornecee-
necessary. Intelligence is the standard of labor value — the measure of s^ry.
power in races. The Chinese come to this country from a very old and
highly-cultured race. They have great adaptability, nicety of execution,
and furnish a great many faithful laborers ; but no country should be
judged entirely by a limited number of its people. The better classes in
China rarely go abroad, and never emigrate. Those vrho are well oh' are
satisfied to remain at home. The character of the emigi-ation is therefore Those who emi-
ontirely composed of persons who go abroad to better their condition, to grate do so to bet
earn money sufficient to enable them to return home and live in a condi- difion.
tion of independence. Three hundred dollars is generally considered suffi- in china $300

cient capital to support an ordinary laboring man on his return to China, saffloient capital
,^ S 111 -c 11-11 i i i_ for a laboring man.

Many who come abroad leave wiie and children or parents at none, toii.eon.
requiriug assistance, and from the best information I can gather, and I
have taken a good deal of pains to do so, I am assured by the leading Chi-
nese merchants and manar'ers of the six Chinese companies here, that the
average Chinaman who sends home money at all sends home about thirty
dollars a year. This would be the extent of the drain on the country
in bullion, against which the country receives. the labor of one man for a
year, and the various industries of the country, necessary to the support
of that man, are patronized to the extent necessary for his support
and transportation. The average Chiaaman returns home in five years, Tj,ey return homa
most of them to remain, although many, including generally those best i» Ave years gene-
cduoated, return from preference — I would say have latterly returned
from preference. It is a difficult thing to govern a people who speak an
entirely different language, and whose habits are so entirely at variance
with our own. As a question of political economy we may well examine
into the policy of introducing a new race, differing in features, taste, and
religion. Mind is the standard of quality in man, and largely deterniines

^BROOKS

30

^r^graHon^^f ^^ position in life, and the survival of the fittest is a universal Jaw. No
■mil tend to lower nation desires immigration that will tend to low er the standard of its own
«^^Mio^g°*"^ laboring classes. The question then arises : Is that the effect of the pre-
classes. sent immigration from China ? For of nations it is true as well as of all

things in the animal or vegetable kingdom, that each must progress or
perish. Now, if the progress of a nation is impeded, we will say by an
objectionable immigration, it must be stopped, or the nation will go
■The Chinese come backwards. The Chinese come here because it pays them to come. They
come to earn money, and their ultimate idea is to return home in better
circumstances than they came. This naturally leads to great economy and
thrift. The early immigration from China labored for much less wages
than our own people could afford to, but when, by the re^vision of treaties,
their coming was stopped, those here were soon able to command wages
nearly, if not quite, as high as is paid to Americans for similar service.
China has a population of over four hundred millions. I can give you the
exact figures in 1842 if you want.

-money.

'-Population of

-^iiina.

Their early immi-
gration supple-
mented rather
than supplanted
■-our laborers.

The presence of
the Chinese as
monopolistB objec-
tionable.

Q. Yes ; please do so ? — A. The figures were 413,267,030, but this com-
prises a vast variety of peoples belonging to seventeen or more pro^mices

under different viceroys, and it is only from the Province of Quang Tung

popularly called Canton — that any immigration has come to America.
How far the desire to come here may in time spread, it is impossible to
tell, but such is the fact at present ; therefore the question of immigration
only concerns the single province of Quang Tung. The central govern-
ment of China is over these different provinces, but its power is very
limited. The early immigration came to supplement rather than to sup-
plant our laborers. When it came it was very much needed. With the
gradual filling up of California it is now claimed that we do not need it,
and that any renewal of Chinese immigration would tend to lower the
standard of wages obtained by American laborers. It is the pride of the
United States that they are enabled to pay higher wages for labor,
through the great bounty of nature, and their great territorial advan-
tages and natural wealth, than any other country in the world. Thus the
laborer is enabled to educate his family and acquire more home comforts ;
he is, in fact, raised to a higher condition of existence than is possible
under the cheap labor of Europe. This same thing applies to Canada
exactly. If the Chinese coming into the country are Hmited in number to
the actual requirements of a new country, and are able to command wages
equally with .American labor, the only question then involved would be
whether their presence would crowd out a corresponding amount of home
labor? With the enormous territory of the United States at present
unoccupied, and only waiting labor to develop its resources, this can
hardly be urged as an objection at present. But the presence of too many
Chinese, especially if they attempt an internal self-government — imperium
in i/mperio — by which they farm out fishing grounds, and district the
cities for wash-houses, forming combinations and interfering with avenues
of labor needed for the proper support of our own people, their presence
is objectionable. All civilized nations have proclaimed against exclusive-
ness, and mixture seems to be an element in progress; but as every home
has a right to protect itself, socially, morally, and industrially, against all
outside interference, so a nation, through its government, is bound to
protect all proper industries in process of development within its terri-
tory. Conditions may exist when the accession of Chinese aid in the labor
market may protect and also increase the .American labor required, our
people becoming directors, and the more menial duties necessary to exist-

31 BROOKS

ence may be performed by laborers with less intelligence. We often blame

the Chinese as a whole for the errors and faults of an individual. When

anything bad occurs it is said : " a Chinaman did it;" therefore the whole

race suffers in public estimation for the wrong-doing of an individual. We

should judge of a nation as a whole. Moderate immigration of really good Moderate immi-

men might, under certain conditions, be desirable, but no question can menlrader^c""'^

[• cer-

•exist but that excessive immigration of an inferior class is a decided curse. ^Sriwe,'tat ex-
It has been claimed that the presence of Chinese labor has caused the oessive immigra-
growth of what is termed the "hoodlum" element in this city, but we SZ"! d°edded°'
must remember that all great seaport towns have a similar element. Bal- <=^^^-
-timore has its "plug-uglies " and its "dead-rabbits," as they call them;
New York has its " roughs;" and I am much inclined to believe that the
«.ction of our trades-unions, in forbidding shops from taking over a limited
number of white apprentices, has prevented the sons of the very mecha-
nics therein employed from learning trades, and has thereby thrown them
Tipon the world as hoodlums. If such be the case, and I believe it to be
^o, our own autocratic labor leagues are equally or more to blame than
Chinese immigration for the presence of hoodlums amongst us. The Hoodlums.
Chinese who come to this country come mostly from six districts in. the
province of Quang Tung, and those six districts have formed companies,
or rather clubs, in this city, having managers and regular business bureaus
and arbitrtition tribunals. By some Americans it is claimed that they at
times exercise criminal jurisdiction. This is denied by the Chinese, and it
is very difficult to prove even if it be so. These comparues are organized The sir companies
for benevolent purposes. A small fee is received from each person joining, organized for be-
and in consideration of which the club agrees to take care of him in sick- ° ^" P^i'Poses
ness, and should he die to send his bones home to his native place. The
six companies, whose headquarters are in California, but whose members
are scattered aU over the United States, have a membership approximat-
ing as follows : — •

Sam Yup 10,100

Yung Yo 12,200

Kong Chow 15,000

Ning Yeung 75,000

Yan Wo 4,300

Hop Wo 34,000

Total 148,000

Much complaint has been made in regard to crowding together of chinamen person-
Chinese in houses, and they are alleged to be uncleanly in their habits. ^^^ <=lean.
Like every nation, the poorer classes, from necessity, have not the facilities
for cleanliness that those have who are better off. It is my opinion,
from observation, that as soon as a Chinaman gets a little forehanded, he is
very particular in regard to his personal cleanliness. Few nations wash
their bodies more frequently than the Chinese. On the other hand the
clothing of the laborers is, like that of our own laborers, often worn a
long time. The houses of those who are well off are kept with great neat-
ness, but the poor are crowded together in unhealthy localities. Nearly all
■of the Chinamen in San Francisco are crowded into six or seven blocks,
where houses let, to Chinese, for double and treble the rent, which far
superior houses in other localities rent for. Many of those who are loudest
in their complaints of Chinese appear on our assessment book? as owners
•of such houses and receive these extraordinary rents. In regard to their
■honesty, the word of a Chinese merchant is generally as goad as hisjjond.

BROOKS 32

^h^te*areTn t ■"• ^■^^^ tli^ir mercantile integrity -will compare favorably, if it is not
land compare fa- superior, to that of our own average merchant. But among the lower classes
'among^tkelower ^^^ same temptations exist as among a similar class of our own people.
classes the same It is difficult to speak in regard to the Chinese as a whole, but they should'
i^"X™g^riS? be described in detail, and I think each class, when compared with a like
own''^o°fc°"^ class among our own people, would appear much better than is generally
supposed. Their exercise of judicial powers within the territory of another
country is but the exercise of that extra-territoriality which western:
nations have claimed on oriental soil, and to-day all offenses of Americans-
in China, Japan, Egypt, and many other countries, are tried before
• American consuls, and appealed through the United States minister tO'
the circuit or district courts of the TJnited States. It is simply extra-
territoriality in practical operation; and the disadvantages of the use of a
foreign language naturally leads them to courts where they can freely
express themselves. Municipal laws properly enforced may correct all
existing evils. Were the Chinese laborers obliged to keep their quarter in
the order in which we find those of American laborers, if each were t»>
occupy a separate room, with proper ventilation and sanitary appliances,
all of the evils of uncleanliness would vanish, or certainly would be no-
greater than those found in certain portions of every large city.
Mentally they arc In mental training the Chinese are not an inferior race. As a people-
race*^" "^*«"" they are in about the condition of Europe in the 1 1th century. With west-
cm education Chinese labor may readily rise to our standard. They prac-
tice greater economy ; our people desire and have greater comforts. Every
Chinese as mis- Chinaman returning to his own country becomes a missionary of western
mt^o™^ ° "'" ' civilization; and in a broad humanitarian view of the subject I believe that
the greatest good of Chinese immigration to this continent will prove to be
in the fact that the returning Chinaman becomes a missionary of western
civilization, cultivating new desires and aspirations, which will in time
permeate to every section of that vast empire, which comprises nearly one-
third of the population of the globe. They are undoubtedly the oldest
nation extant, and have been surrounded by a great wall of exclusiveness
Chmese history, for many thousands of years. If we admit that geology teaches that
the world has been created thousands of millions of years, it is not
unreasonable to suppose that China has been peopled for at least a.
million of years. Chinese history claims to go back with a clear
consecutive record to 3588 B.C., while the mythical period ruiis
back for more than one million years, wherein races and dynasties,
are designated under names that are ascribed to individuals. Such
very ancient history is naturally obscured by fables, errors and trans-
positions ; but it appears that the Chinese were uncontrolled by foreign
influence for about 360,000 years, showing in their nature the perpetuity
of principles now so deeply implanted as to be not easily eradicated^
Industrious and frugal habits, are characteristics which, when slowly built
up, are likely to stand firm amid any changes of condition. They have
grown up, and generally continued, under patriarchal rule. Defensive
wars, famine and pestilence, and the attendant evils of corruption,, have at
times nearly depopulated the great plateau where the nation is said to have
been founded. In time their ancestors were, conquered by barbarians com-
ing from the South, then by Thibetian hordes from deserts on the East,
and more recently by a southern irruption from India. Each new element,
thus in turn absorbed into the population, introduced slight changes along
the fixed Umits of its progress; but individuals in each succeeding generar
tion were trained to follow the exact calling of their progenitors, and a
frozen conservatism prevailed. The present marked emigration of young

33 BROOKS

men from China to other countries, is forming the nucleus of a young and Chinese emigra-
progressive party in China, who desire to catch up with, and keep abreast nucleus of a yoiipg:
of the times. A desire to emerge from the seclusion of their dark ages of party™^cwnaf
history, will tend to the gradual disintegration of much past conservatism,
when the wonderful inventions of western progressive civilization are
voluntarily introduced, and availed of, in the homes of travelled Chinese,
educated and trained abroad. Such a result seems further assured, when
we reflect that the action of mind is progressive, and all who go abroad
leave China in full expectation of returning home. Thus a vast and seclud-
ed nation is gradually awakening to new life, and developing germs calculat-
ed to centralize its national strength. This new and momentous movement
of Chinese, is but an initial step in the approaching enlightenment of a
secluded race, destined by a wise Providence to make its impress on the
future history of nations. In a most remarkable degree, they inherit j^rlely"develoDea:
largely developed brain-power, evolved and built up through ages of brain-power,
constant application, culture and severe mental training in a land where
parental obedience is supplemented by ancestral worship. Thus they are
mentally and ethnological] y well fitted, under new conditions and different
direction, to assume and maintain a strong national position, in the future
industrial, commercial and political history of our globe.

At any rate centuries of isolation have rendered the people highly con- HnfaSon have
servative. In different parts of China the people speak different languages, rendered them
and Chinese residing in one province are totally unable to converse with conservative.
those residing in some others. The educated classes are mostly followers
of the doctrines promulgated by Confucius, while many of the lower
classes are Buddhists. The books which most largely influence the Chinese Literature,
character and mind are the Le-ke one of the Five Books of King and the
Analects of Confucius and Mencius. The presence of what are termed
heathen temples or Joss-houses, in our midst, is deplored by Christians, Woi worship^
but the public generally seem not to be aware that the Chinese Joss is
the devil, or evil spirit, and that the worship accorded to him is mock-
worship. In other words they conciliate the evil spirit, believing that
God, the Good Father of all, loves His children, and they should love Him
in return. He requires no conciliation. Hence all worship in these temples
is not what may be termed true worship. It is, however, customary to
have mediums, gifted with power to communicate with spirits, as priests,
in many temples, and planchette is probably thousands of years old. These
temples all have boxes containing white sand on which it is claimed
answers to spiritual questions are traced. The questioner usually writes
his questions on vermilion paper, which is burnt in a furnace prepared
for burning prayers. The answer is then traced in sand in the presence
of the medium or priest.

In regard to the expediency of allowing a large Chinese element to enter Reqmrements of
as a factor in our population, it is well for us to consider first, the raoe^^e'cra-""
requirements of the Anglo-Saxon race, and the physical relations of the two f^^^gall^e
races to the soil they now inhabit. The Anglo-Saxons are generally admitted influx of Chinese^
by scientific men to represent the highest existing type of the human race.
They, therefore, require conditions for their existence which other races do
not. It is only within certain isothermal lines that this race can acquire
its highest development. In the frozen north it perishes ; in the malarial
districts of tropical and equatorial regions it cannot long sustain itself.
The belt of habitable earth situated within proper degrees of latitude, or
»t suitable altitudes for its proper development is exceedingly limited. In
turning around a globe it will be observed that in the northern hemisphere
a large proportion is situated in Europe and the United States, and a small

3

BROOKS

34

The zopeB in
which the Anglo-
Saxon can live
should be kept
clear for him.

Outrages com-
mitted by Chi-
namen done in
self defence.

Deiinition of the
"word *' coolie."

Nearly all who
come are coolies,
but do not come
under contract.

All Chinese come
from Hong Kong.

Population of
Hong Kong.

part in Asia. Much within these parallels is water, and in Asia specially
we find deserts, and large areas of low swamp land through which run,
swamp rivers, whose exhalations cause fevers among persons of the Anglo-
Saxon race. The Chinese, not having as white a skin as the Anglo-Saxon,
are enabled to live, and through centuries have become inured to the
conditions of these low swampy lands. They are happy, and prosper where
the Anglo-Saxon could not long exist. As the Anglo-Saxon can only
exist within a given area of this earth, it is right that that portion which is
best suited to his development, and through him to the advancement of
the whole human race, should be preserved for his use. In the southern
hemisphere, Australia, South America, and a small portion of South
Africa, offer to him favorable localities, but by far the largest part of the
temperate zone in that hemisphere is covered by the ocean. It therefore
seems that we should be very careful to preserve for our own race those
portions of territory which seem to have been given us as our natural
residence, and while commercially and diplomatically friendly to China,
and all other nations, we should not allow our natural habitation to pass
from our control, or be unduly encroached upon.

In regard to outrages that are sometimes said to occur, where Chinamen
attack our people, it will generally be found that it is done in self-defence ;
and the lower orders of our citizens, who abuse and maltreat inoffensive
Chinamen, because of their nationality, have only themselves to blame
when their victims attempt retaliation. My observation has been that
they are long suffering; aiming to avoid trouble on all occasions as far as
is possible.

Q. You say there is a natural emigration and a coolie-trade ; are those
who come to the Pacific coast mostly coolies — that is to say, would you
consider their coming here as part of the coolie trade 1 — A. To answer
that question it is necessary first to define the word " coolie." The word
"eoolie" is a Sanscrit word which simply means "laborer;" now "coolie-
trade " is a trade in laborers. It has always been against the principles of
the United States to authorize labor contracts, consequently any Chinese
coming to this country under labor contracts, come under contracts that
cannot be enforced after they have landed. Nearly all who come to the
Pacific coast are laborers or coolies, but comparatively few come under
labor contracts, in fact no more so than Irishmen came originally to the
United States when railroad companies agreed to employ them in buUding
railroads.

Q. When you say that Hong Kong is a British province, I understand
you to mean that it is a British colony 1 — A. It has a Governor GenetaL

Q. Are many of the Chinamen in that colony British subjects?—
A. After they have resided there a certain length of time. That question
has been adjudicated upon within three months.

Q. — Do I understand that all the Chinese come from the Isliwid of
Hong Kong — that is, from a crown colony of Great Britain ? A. Yes.

Q. By the " Statesman's Year Book " for 1883, the population of Hong
Kong, including the military and naval establismeut, according tcy a
census taken in 1881, was 160,402 of whom there were :

Chinese, males 109013'

females 43'399

35 BROOKS

The total population, the book goes on to say, in 1871, was, 123,978, the

increase in ten years having been 36,504. Now, is it your opinion, as one

who has given a great deal of study to ethnology, that the Chinese in that

Island could increase in the course of ten years by some 30,000, and yet

spare the amount of emigrants that they sent to British Columbia and They come into

to California, and elsewhere ? — A. No, sir ; they come into Hong Kong QSaSg^ung!™""

from the whole province of Quang Tung, which is across only a few miles

of water, over on the mainland.

Q. That answer accords with the book entirely. I read here on page Annual average
'672 : "There is a constant flow of emigration from China, passing through vals here."*"'
Hong Kong. In the eight years from 1872 to 1879 there passed through
Hong Kong annually upwards of 12,000 emigrants, the majority going to
the United States"? — A. From my observation and information I am
inclined to think that the average arrivals of Chinese at the port of San
Francisco, or in the United States, has been about 14,000 a year, and
about 10,000 a year have gone back, leaving a gain of about 4,000 a year.

Q. You say the immigrants come here to enable them to obtain money $300 sufficient to
to live in China independently. Would $300 be sufficient to support a f" ^^'taa* ^**"'™''
laborer in China ; do I understand that $300 would be sufficient capital ?
—A. Yes.

Q. Aiid that the interest on that would support a laborer and his wife
for life 1 — A. I would not say his wife. He will probably do a little
something.

Q. Do you know what is the return that is usually received in China
for capital 1 — A. It is often one per cent, a month.

Q. That would be $36 a year. Do you think a Chinaman could live on
$36 a year? — A. Easily, I should think, in China.

Q. You used the phrase "survival of the fittest." This is Herbert Explanation of
Spencer and Darwin's phrase. The phrase has been used by other wit- fiv^ ot^e fl^"^
nesses, and in the pamplets and speeches I have read on the subject it test."
constantly comes up, in different senses. In what sense do you use the
phrase ? — A. That race which is best adapted intellectually, morally and
physically to sustain itself against all adverse conditions of environment,
and best enabled to avail itself of those conditions which are favorable,
need fear no permanent injury while it retains these qualities. The Chinese
brain will, in many cases, weigh more than the brain of the average weight oj a Chi-
Anglo-Saxon, therefore we must remember that we have to contend with naman's brain,
a race capable of great intellectual development and culture.

Q. What position do you now hold, sir? — A. I am secretary of the
California Academy of Sciences.

Q. I understand you have given a great deal of study to this Chinese
question ? — A. I have watched it pretty carefully for about thirty-five
years.

Q. Have you written anything on the subject of the races of the East? pamphlets on ths
—A. I have communicated a good many papers on the early migrations Baftem rnc^e's.
of the races, and I have a few now with me. One is "The Origin of the
Chinese Race," the other "Japanese Wrecks stran,ded and picked up
adrift in the North Pacific Ocean; another is "Early Discoveries of the
Hawaiian Islands in the North Pacific," and I am very gM to present

tf.VioTvi fn flip r!mnTnissiOTl_

BROOKS

36

Q. Mr. Brooks, are you the Mr. Charles Wolcott Brooks referred to in
Bancroft's " History of the Native Races of the Pacific States," Volume
v., page 51? — A. I am, sir.

Q. I see he speaks here of you as a most learned gentleman and spe-
cially well versed in Oriental lore. The Commission is very much obliged
to you for the time you have given us, and the very valuable evidence you.
have contributed, and for these books. Have you anything to add ? —
A. Only this : A higher power has planned that each zone should
produce an assortment of animal life best suited to its conditions. In
this manner habitations have been fixed for the comfort and perpetuity
of the various forms of the human race. The home of the Chinese race is.
in Asia, and a great future awaits the Anglo-Saxon branch of humanity
upon the continent of North America. As political economists, we must
ever hold in view the unalterable fact that ,all human laws, however
framed, are practically inoperative, unless in accord with the general
laws of our being. The policy to be adopted by the Dominion of Canada
cannot but be a matter of very deep interest to our people, as the United
States and Canada have a thinly populated boundary line, in common,
which is difficult to guard. Should Canada invite a large Chinese immi-
gration, great numbers would inevitably cross unguarded spots along the-
frontier, which act, if constantly repeated, would lead to much litigation
and vexatious claims, liable to engender hard feelings between two people-
of Anglo-Saxon blood, who should ever continue the best of friends, join-
ing shoulder to shoulder, in pressing steadily forward as the vanguard of
an enlightened and progressive civilization.

International
aspect of the
question.

LAWLER. The Hon. James Lawler, Judge of Police Court No. 2, San Francisco,,
examined :

Q. How long have you been police magistrate '! — A. One year and a
half.

Moral status of
the Chinese here
had.

The Chinese quar-
ter to he seen to he
appreciated.

Prostitution and
eamhling.

"TaH " and "lot-
tery."

Q. What is the moral status of the Chinese population of San Francis^
CO ? — A. I consider it bad, and am of the opinion that it is not improving.
This, no doubt, results from the fact that these people are peculiarly
wedded to ancient customs and modes of life, and are, besides, exceedingly
exclusive. They all nearly live in the same locality, which is called the-
" Chinese quarter," and it is astonishing how so many human beings can
live within such small limits. At night, especially, when these people
gather from their different places of emplojrment, the Chinese quarter
presents such a scene of animation that it has to be seen to be appreciated.
This quarter consists of only a few blocks, and as most of the Chinese
population of the cily, which is estimated at about 30,000, live there, au
idea of its crowded condition may be gamed. Houses of prostitution
abound in this locality, and in many of them females of very tender years,,
children in fact, are to be found. These houses are patronized not only by
Chinese, but also by whites. In this quarter crime prevails to a large
degree. As is well known, these people are naturally addicted to gamb-
ling a,nd indulging in various games of chance, and for the suppression
principally of this gambling vice special officers have been detailed to
Chinatown. Through the vigilance and diligence of this deWl, the muni-
cipal treasury has for a long time been greatly enriched. Their most
favorite games are " tan" and lottery, and when a conviction for partak-

37 LAWLER

ing in either takes place, the customary fine is $20, with an alternative

of twenty days in the county jail, but in the majority erf cases, and I

might say in nearly all, the fines are paid. Public offenses of a different

character are not uncommon amongst these people. Cases of robbery,

assaults with deadly weapons, and assaults with intent to murder, arid Criminality of the

■extortion, come frequently under my notice, and I will say in addition, Chinese. ;

that there are to be found amongst them a great number of petty

thieves.

Q. We should also wish to have your evidence on the character of their As witnesses tiiey
testimony in court I—A. Being at the present time upon the bench, I do thi ^^o^e Irf'aS?
not think that it would be proper for me to say much upon this subject, o'l"''" nationality,
nor to indulge in many criticisms upon their testimony. I will say, however,
that a^ witnesses they are exceedingly shrewd, shrewder in fact, in my
opinion, than the people of any other nationality. Cases have often come
before me, in which I am sure that the evidence was prepared, and the
, witnesses drilled as to the mode in which they should testify, and it was
surprising to see how thorough the drilling had been. Between the
evidence of the witnessess' there was no discrepancy, and the most
thorough cross-examination by able counsel utterly failed to break them
down. I can safely say that, as witnesses, they have no superiors, and be received wtth*^
their evidence should be received with caution. caution.

Q. If you know anything about their influence on the commercial develop- Theirpresence
ment of the community, we should be glad if you would give us the results ^ct u^on^^ftl
of your observation 1 — A. I have been raised in this state, and have given labor,
this matter much attention, but this subject has been so fully and ably
dealt with, I do not think that what I would say would add anything to
the intelligence already obtained. There can be no doubt whatever but
that their presence amongst us has a demoralizing effect upon white labor.
Owing to their cheap mode of living they can work for far less wages than
whites, and there are at the present time a great many places of employ-
ment filled by them, which no doubt would be occupied by white men and
women, if they could live as cheaply as the Chinese. There is no doubt,
but what they are skif ul laborers, and when they learn a trade, they work They are skilful as
with the regularity, I might say, of machinery, and on this account they laborars.
are much sought after by persons who are not inimicable to them.

Q. From your obser\-atioii of the Chinese do you think the vicious The vicious ele-
■element amongst them is more difficult to control than that element Sotb dlfflciflt to ™
amongst other people ? — A. It certainly is, and the reason for it is very control than
apparent. As I have said before to you the Chinese quarter is over- peoples,
populated. There are places of abode under ground as well as over, and in
a small room that a white man would not think of living in, a dozen China-
men may be found, not only sleeping, but living and cooking in it. China-
town is intersected, or cut up also, by numerous small streets and alleys,
and between a great many of the buildings there are communications like
bridges across the streets and alleys, and there are means also of passing
from roof to roof. Owing to this convenient connection between the build-
ings, and the crowded state of the Chinese quarter, it is often a matter of
extreme difficulty to pursue and capture an offender, and as the means of Difficulty in cap-
secretion are numerous and complete, there is no doubt whatever, but that '""^S offenders,
many criminals escape detection and punishment through these means.
The most vicious element amongst these people is what is termed the
"highbinders," amongst whom there is a strong union. They do not belong Highbinders,
to any one of the six Chinese companies, but they are composed of mem-
l>ers from them all. They are a desperate class of people, and live, as I believe

LAWLER

38

from my experience, in a large degree, upon means obtained by them
through extortion, gambling, etc.

Not long since a case was examined by me, in which their mode of pro-
cedure was well explained. The evidence showed, that just prior to the
Highbinders send Chinese new year, the defendants who were before me sent threatening
and* are"^ch letters to a Chinese merchant, stating that they were without money upon

feared by the Chi- the approach of the festival, and that they should be supplied with money,
ncsc inGrcxifl.Tits .

otherwise that serious consequences would follow a non-compliance.

These highbinders are much feared, and are through this tolerated, and

are not prosecuted by many of these respectable Chinese merchants. It is

often stated, and I think with a considerable degree of truth, that there

are in Chinatown species of courts, in which many cases arising between

these people are tried. For it is a noticeable fact that crimes are often

committed in that locality, and the greatest diligence fails to discover any

clue. This may happen where trouble arises between members of the-

same company ; for the heads of these companies have such a control over

these members, that they can at any time prevent one member from

going into a court of justice and testifying against another. Were it not

for the fact that my time is exceedingly limited, and that I am at the

present time pressed with judicial business, I would endeavor to state to

you more elaborately my views upon this subject.

San Francisco, August 1st, 1884..

GIBSON.

Rev. Otis Gibson, examined

Q. Were you examined before the Joint Committee ? — A. Yes.

y. Were you examined beiore the Joint Committee; — A. Y«
Q. Have you read your evidence as published in that volume ?
Q. Is it correctly reported ? — A. Yes.

!— A. Yes.

His opinion the
same as in 1876.

Mr. .Gibson's
work. Schools.

Women.

Q. Has anything occurred in the interval between that examination
and the present to alter your opinion ? Does your experience since leave
that evidence intact ? — A. Yes ; I have not altered my opinions. I have
never given the Chinese credit for anything I do not think they deserve.
I try to be just and equal in my views.

Q. How do you find your school for boys work ? — A. Our school for
boys runs only at night. The girls are kept in the house. They are
escapes from servitude. This is occurring all the time. A Chinaman
makes a bargain with a woman to marry her. Sometimes he buys her.
If he can't buy her he induces her to run away, and pays for her board
for a year ; then they get a license and marry accorduig to law. We
cannot get Chinamen to testify against traders in women. The better
class say they don't know anything about those women. There is this
drawback in them as an immigration : they don't purpose to amalgamate
to our civilization. If they can they fight against it. But we give them
Dont amalgamate. 1^° chance. Our legislature denounced them because they would not
become citizens, because they would not go to our schools, because they
do not hold real estate ; and the same legislature passed Acts to prevent
them holding real property, or becoming citizens, or attending the public
schools. I said to Mr. Angel, Mr. Swift, and Mr. Trescott: "Go and
arrange with the Chinese Government that we will welcome your people
to America provided they will come just as other people to live, and will

39 GIBSON

couaform to American customs. Let the Chinese Government issue a 5® gyP"^*^ ?^ ih
proclamation that they must land without a queue, and stay here without emigrate with-
a queue, and wear American forms of dress, and that those here with a and'^oharaetoristio
queue shall have three years to arrange matters to cut off their queues or dress.
go home."

Q. But do you think you would get any Chinese under such conditions 1
— A. You would not have half the Chinese you now have, but the immi-
gration you would get would be twice as useful — twice as good. There
would be no friction. In a new dress the Chinainan would feel the
inspiration of the new civilization. He would then be no more resented
tham are the Spaniards or the Portuguese. I have nothing else to add
supplementary to my evidence before the Joint Committee.

[The substance of this witness's evidence before the Joint Committee of
the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States will be
found in the summary of that evidence in the Appendix.]

Huang Tsun Hsien, Consul-General for China, examined . HSIEN.

Q. Colonel Bee's evidence hks been read over to you, is it correct in
every particular ? Or have you anything to add ? — A. It is correct ; I
have nothing to add.

Q. Colonel Bee promised to get us statistics as to the amount of imports
and exports directly due to the presence of Chinamen here, and the amount
paid by them in customs duties, perhaps you could give us the facts 1 —
A. It will require some days' time to do so.

Q. He also said he would get us the statistics as to the amount of r-ent Rents paid (or ten-
paid for tenement and other houses. Can you give us these facts ? —
A. Several years ago the business houses, merchants, manufactories,
restaurants, lodgings and places of amusement, reported an aggregate paid
for rents of quite $1,000,000 per year. This did not include the numer-
ous small streets and tenements

Q. Also the taxes paid by Chinese, municipal and otherwise, and under Taxes paid by Chi
the proper heads ? — A. Consul Bee informs me that to correctly answer "®^''-
this would require a great amount of labor in going over the books at the
city hall. The personal property tax of 1875 I have on file ; it foots up
1591,500, but only includes sums of 1 1,000 and over. The number doing
a business of less than $1,000 is very large. Considerable real estate is
owned by Chinese, some of which stands in the name of white people. The
taxes paid by Chinese otherwise are very large, in the way of licenses,
poll taxes, etc. That which is paid to the United States for internal
revenue is fully $500,000 per year. The duties paid by Chinese mer-
chants for customs duties, directly or indirectly, for the fiscal year 1882
and 1883, will exceed $3,000,000.

Q. Can you state the numbers who have returned each year to China Numbers going
and the amount of wealth, either in money or valuables, carried back andcommg.
with them? — A. The number of Chinese who have emigrated to this
coTintry from 1852 up to December 1878, a period of twenty-six years,
numbered 230,430 ; departures for China and deaths same time, 133,491 ;
total number in the United States, 96,939 ; births, estimated, 2,000 ;

HUANG TSUN HSIEN 40

grand total, January 1st, 1879, 98,939. The foregoing was prepared at
this consulate at the request of the Census Bureau at Washington, D.C.
The census taken a year later gave the number at 105,000. As to the
money values carried back, I have no means of knowing.

N^^ety per cent, ol Q. What proportion of the food and clothing of the Chinese in this state
Chinese in Caiii- and city comes from China? — A. Ninety per cent, of the material (cloth-
jmmufaofiire"'^'^" "^S) worn by the Chinese is of American manufacture. No food, except a
line of choice eatables, are imported. Rice is largely imported — last year
over 41,000,000 pounds, which pai^ a duty of 2| cents per pound. It is
charged that the Chinese work cheap because they live upon rice. Let me
call your attention to the fact that rice costs by the quantity $6 per 100
pounds, while flour from wheat is only $2. .50 per 100 pounds.

Q. Can you supply us with statistics as to the death rate among the
Chinese in California? — A. With a Chinese population in this city in
1880 (United States census) of 22,000, there were deaths amounting to
479, or 21-77 per cent, that year.

Q. Can you state how much land has been reclaimed by Chinese labor?
— A. I have no means of knowing. The number of acres is very large.

Q. How much Chinese capital is invested in permanent improvements
in San Francisco — in California? — A. I cannot give you the amount.
They own several very valuable properties.

«hinl ands'an ^' ^°^^ '"""^'^ Chinese capital is invested in trade? — A. That is a

Trancisto for 1881 question difficult to answer. The trade between this port and China, im-

«16,185,1B,'). poi-ts and exports, for the year 1881, according to Commerce and Naviga^

tion Report, Washington, 1881, was 116,185,165. The charge is made

that tlie largest part of this trade is done by Chinese merchants.

Q. As to tenement houses, are they held under long leases ? — A. Yes ;
most of the leases have'iun for twenty years, made at a large monthly
rental.

menflmuses «"£ ^- ^""^ **''''''' ^'"'^'"''' °" *'"" P""'* °^ expiring ?— A. Some of them.

ing to renew ^ itt-h .i i ^ ■, -p

leases. <<^. Will they be renewed, and if not renewed, does the obstacle to then-

renewal come from the landlord or from the tenant ?— A. Yes, the greater
part of them ; the landlord is quite willing to renew.

1,200 families. Q. How many of them have their families here ?— A. There are in this '

country over 1,200 families.

chanlf t& '" , Q- ^^^^ ^« *''^ '■«'^«°" *'^'^* tl"- g™a-ter number of them have not their
-habits. families ?— A. You nmst know that China, until quite recently, has had no

trade or intercourse with foreign countries. The people are slow to give
up their old habits and traditions, which for many centuries they have
enjoyed without molestation. The idea to them of seeking homes in far
oflr countries is so entirely new that to take their families with them when
they conclude to go is never thought of. It has not been accustomed for
the Chinese female to so emigrate. All these objections will in time wear
off, and new ideas obtain which will overcome this prejudice. But, how-
evei; a large number of Chinese families have recently come to this
country.

Majorily laborers. Q. The statement has been made that the immigration comes from the
humblest of Chinese, how is this?— A. The majority^ laborers coming

41 HUANG TSUN HSIEN

to this country from the south of China, the province of Canton, are largely
<)f the farmer class. There are also large numbers of merchants who
invest a large amount of capital for mercantile pursuits in this country.

Q. Why is it that the immigration comes from only one province ?
— A. Because that province has been longer open to trade with foreigners,
and the people became familiar with them and learned much about
foreign countries.

Q. How many, if any, have settled on land 1 — A. A great number rent
and a few buy land, I can hardly give you the average.

Q. Are they of the same class and from the same province as those who From same class
settle in British Columbia LA. Yes. f^fergofum-

bia.

Q. How far does tlie desire to emigrate exist in other provinces ? —
A. There is no desire to emigrate in any of the other provinces, except
Canton and Fuhkien. Fuhkien is a province in the neighborhood of
Canton. The immigration from Fuhkien is only confined to the Straits
Settlements and other Islands of the South Pacific Ocean.

Q. I am aware that you have very cold weather in China, what do Chinese soon get
you thiiik would be the effect of the climate of Canada, where the winter '^«'=l*"'^t'^<'"i-
is rigorous, on immigration ? — A. Chinese soon become acclimated but much
prefer a mild climate.

Q. Have you any further information to impart? — A. I would like to Why Chinese do
say this : That it is charged that the Chinese do not emigrate to foreign Sate e^lain^d™"
countries to remain, but only to earn a sum of money and return to their
homes in China. It is only about thirty years since our people commenced
emigrating to other lands. A large number have gone to the Straits'
Settlements, Manila, Cochin-China and the West India Islands, and are
permanently settled there with their families. In Cuba, fully seventy -five
per cent, have married native women, and adopted those Islands as their
future homes. Many of those living in the Sandwich Islands have done the
same. This course depends wholly upon their treatment in any country
they emigrate to. As a matter of fact they do not assimilate as readily as
the German, Irish, English and other European immigrants who come
here, as their civilization is so widely different from that of -China. There
is quite a large number of foreigners in China, but few of whom have
brought their families, and the number is very small indeed who have
-adopted that country as their future home. You must recollect that the
Chinese immigrant coming to this country is denied all the rights and
privileges extended to others in the way of citizenship ; the laws compel
them to remain aliens. I know a great many Chinese will be glad to remain
here permanently with their families, if they are allowed to be naturalized
and can enjoy privileges and rights.

CAREY 42

EVIDENCE TAKEN AT THE SITTINGS AT VICTORIA, B.C.

Victoria, B.C., August 12th, 1884.

Mr. N. F. Davin (the Secretary) read the Commission.

Hon. Mr. Chapleau : Any statements in the shape of arguments or
facts bearing on the question in writing addressed to the Commission
will be received.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : I addressed a letter to the mayor asking for in-
formation that would be desirable to have, and also for detailed statements.
I observe the mayor of the city is present, and I would ask if anything
has been prepared for the consideration of the Commission?

CAREY. The Mayok : We i^eceived a communication from Mr. Justice Gray and

Reasons why in- may say we are desirous to furnish every information possible to the Com-

for not forthcom- mission ; but I have been sick for some days past, and as it has been the

""*'■ summer vacation of some of the city officials, statements, which otherwise

would have been prepared, are not in readiness. There are only two

officers employed by the corporation, that is the treasurer and municipal

clerk, who could procure such evidence. Neither of these persons had the

time at their disposal, having been fully occupied in important business at-

present before the council in respect to the raising of a $100,000 loan for

the city, and have therefore instructed the sergeant of police to go through

the records of criminals in regard to Chinese, and, as soon as possible, will

place all the information asked before the Commission.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray • I suggest for the past five years.

The Mayor : As to the other official returns asked for, Mr. Russell, the
city treasurer, is present, and you ask him, as he can speak for him-
self.

Mr. Russell : The information sought for is in course of preparation
and will be ready to-morrow.

The Secretary here read the following letter : —

SMITHE. Lands and Works Department,

Victoria, B. C, August 12th, 1.S84.

Sib,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication of August
11th from Mr. Davin, conveying to this Government the first official intimation
that they have received of the intended sitting of a Commission on the Chinese
([uestion in this Province.

This Government have had no communication from the Dominion Government
of the intended appointment of such a Commission or of its final appointment,
and no intimation as to the time such a Commission would be likely to reach our
Province. The consequence is that the information which this Government would
have been able to collect of great and vital importance to the clear comprehension
of the bearing which the unrestricted immigration of Chinese into our Province
has upon the interests of the white settlers cannot be forthcoming. The statistics
requisite will require a long time to collect, as it is not Victoria alone whose
interests are affected, but from one end of the mainland to the other the question
IS brought prominently before the Government.

The Government, owing to the circumstances above alluded to, reRret that
they will not be in a position to furnish to the Commissioners more than a bare
abstract of the questions and interests involved, and they will not even be able
to do this without some further intimation of the course the Commissioners

43 SMITHE.

pm^se tp adopt in, this inquiry. The mode in which the evidence is to be taken,
and in what manner the persons appearing before it are to be remunerated and
other questions of equal importance.

I have the honor to be,

Sir,
Your most obedient servant,

wm. smiths,

C. C. of L. and W.
Hon J. A. Chaplbatj,

Secretary of State for Dominion of Canada, and

Chairman of Commission on Chinese question.

Hon. Mr. Chapleau : We have not asked any one for information with
a view of putting him on his defence. The Federal Government did not
think the Local Grovernment, unless they had facts or statistics, would
have made representations to them asking for legislation to restrict
Chinese immigration, or that British Columbia members, in the House of
Commons, would have demanded restriction on Chinese immigration,
without having necessary proof to show those to whom they appealed
that such steps are necessary. The Commission has thought that corrobo-
rative evidence would be forthcoming to support the contentions made at
Ottawa. Any information which cannot be furnished them whilst here
may be forwarded to the Capital as the Commission will also sit there.
There is no special mode of enquiry to follow out. We have merely
come to examine and observe and will arrive at no decision, but simply
make a report to the Federal Government with a view to expedite legisla-
tion on the subject at Ottawa next session.

Hon. Mr. Justice Geay asked Hon. Mr. Hamley, the collector of customs,
for returns already asked from him.

[Mr. Hamley handed these in, stating the letter accompanying them
embodied all that was in the return. See Appendix.]

Hon. Mr. Chapleau to Mayor Cabey : Do you, Mr. Mayor, as chief
magistrate, object to answering a few questions that may be put you by
the Commission 1

The Mayoe. ■ Not the slightest.
Joseph Westhrop Carey, examined by the Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : CAREY.

Q. What is your name, and how long have you been here ? — A. The Mayor.
My name is Joseph Westhrop Carey. I am mayor of the city
of Victoria; been mayor since the 17th of January last; am a mem-
ber of the common council, and been so for four or five years previous to
my election as mayor ; been a resident of Victoria about twenty-six years ;
been in Victoria since 18-59.

Q. Have you any idea of the number of Chinese resident in Victoria 1 — 25,000 Chinese in
A. A short time ago I was making enquiries in respect to the Chinese pop- ^"*'=^ Columbia.,
ulation here, and from the best informed merchants they told me about
2.5,000 Chinese were in the province.

Mr. Chapleau We were asking in Victoria city ?— A. I have never Totoi population
made that enquiry. I might guess at the number of people in the city of ° '" ™'
Victoria would be now about 10,000 exclusive of Chinese.

CAREY

44

Chinese in Vifto
ria 3,000.

Hard to collect
taxes from Chi-
nese,

Chineee disfran-
«hised.

Q. Can you guess about the number of Chinese ?— A. I should think at
least 3,000.

Q. Have you any municipal census taken ? — A. No, sir, not of Chinese ;
there is no municipal ordinance requiring the return of the number pi
Chinese, nor has it ever been attempted.

Q. Do you levy a tax on the population ? — A. Yes, a road tax of two
dollars.

Q. Do you keep a record of those who pay ? — A. Yes ; but not from
the Chinese, as it is difficult to identify them, and almost impossible to
collect. The collecting officer gets ten per cent, commission on collections
made from the Chinese. We have no municipal regulation here to ascer-
tain the domicile of the residents of the working population.

Q. There is no ordinance or reguhition in the city binding them to in-
scribe themselves as residents of the city ? — A. No, sir ; Chinese are
not allowed to vote at municipal elections. They are disenfranchised
the same as the Indians, although at one time they did vote. The Chinese
pay all taxes the same as other residents.

Q. Do they contribute in a large measure to the school tax ? — A. I can-
not answer that question, as this is collected by the provincial govern-
ment. There are not many Chinese children in the city. No Chinese
children attend school, although they could do so. They educate their own
children.

Proprietors of real
state.

Troublesome
amongst them-
-selves.

Q. Are they proprietors to any considerable extent of real estate in
"Victoria ? — A. No, sir ; rather limited. '

Q. You cannot say how many are real estate owners ? — A. I think I
can nearly. Kwong Lee & Co. were about the only owners, but recently
Tai Soong has purchased. They are about all, and the only two who have
registered as owners. I might correct this : another man has purchased
recently — On Huig, on Fisguard street. These are the only three that I
know of.

Q. Are they a troublesome element 1 — A. I have not found them a
troublesome element to the white people of the city but amongst them-
selves, and it is very hard to trace crime amongst them.

Q. The detection of it ? — A. Yes ; I am informed by the police from
time to time it is almost impossible to detect crime amongst Chinese.

Q. For drunkenness ? — A. No ; they drink in their own houses and not
as white people, from saloon to saloon. The usual cause of the arrests of
these people are for criminal offences and offences against the sanitary
laws.

^ few murders.

Q. Have there been many murders amongst them !
of murder in their own houses.

-A. Yes ; a few cases

Q. Recently, Mr. Mayor ? — A. About some two years ago. Last year
there was a murder on Fisguard stj-eet.

, Q. What is the difficulty of bringing these criminals to punishment ? —
A. They have secret societies amongst themselves.

45 CAREY

Q. Is this hearsay 1 — A. The police say they threaten each other Chinese testi-
amongst themselves in case they turn evidence. "'""''•

Q. Has this been sworn to by Chinese — that they dare not say so on
this account ? — A. I cannot say, not having attended the police courts.
I cannot say whether the proportion of crime amongst them is about the
same as the white people. There are a great many more arrests than con-
victions on account of the difficult nianner of getting evidence against
them.

Q. Can you tell the Commission whether their habits as regards public Do not respect the-
morality, public order, and public health are good 1 — A. As regards public fvlvos* ""'^ ''"''^
morality, they are not the same as we are. They do not respect the Sab-
bath or wives. Their wives here, as I understand, are their second wives,
and chiefly prostitutes ; these living and bringing up their families whose
children are known to be illegitimate.

Mr. Chapleau : These second wives are their concubines ? — A. I
did not say that ; but I understand those who have wives here
have also a second wife in China, those having small feet, the law with
them admitting of this. As far as I know, there may be a dozen
families who bring up their wives and children morally and respectably.

Q. Is the number of women given to prostitution large ? — A. Once it Prostitutes,
was limited, now it is much larger.

Q. Are these women of a troublesome class ? — A. Sometimes by way of
sales and marriages they give the police courts considerable trouble. As to
public health, we have a great deal of trouble with them in that respect.
They do not feel the same as ourselves that it is necessary for them to
keep their houses clean. They never complain one against the other.

Q. Are diseases more prevalent amongst them than any other class? —
A. I think they are healthy themselves. They have never brought dis-
eases amongst the white people.

Q. Are they clean so far as their persons and clothes go ? — A. That is Habits of cleanli—
hard to tell ; but the better class keep themselves clean, but the lower "'''^^"
class we camiot tell.

Q. They clean themselves, shaving their heads, and cleaning their ears?
A. Yes, they do j but the poorer classes have a poor chance.

Q. Do they respect their contracts ? — A. I think they respect contracts Respect contracts-
as regards labor, etc., in a very fair way. It may be a complaint that
if the Chinese servant wants to leave he does so at a day's notice.

Q. Have you any municipal regulation or provincial laws to make
them execute their contracts, either as servants or farm laborers 1 —
A. I do not know of any local statute, except as master and servant ; but
it has never been enforced. There is no local statute, I think, to force
them to go to prison in case they-leave before their time.

Q. Are there any objections to their coming as servants? — A. I ReasOTis why it 'ras-
think the great objection to Chinese immigration is this : that they sup- have ChSiew a»"
plant the peasant population that should be in the country, and never servants,
assimilate. They fiever contribute to the defence of the country or legis-

CAREY

46

late ; but make money and go back to China, sending a poor one in their
place. There is no law to prevent them from becoming naturalized, but
it is impossible to Anglicize a Chinaman. They are a non-assimilatifag
race, even if they were allowed all chances to become citizens or had all
rights of citizenship offered them.

Q. Have they impeded white people from coming in 1 — A. From obser-
vation, it was difficult for laboring people to get here, owing to the
expense. Ships from China brought Chinamen at fiom |15 to $20 per
head ; and if we could have got white people here at the same rate the
Chinese would never have come, as white people would have been very
glad to have got the same wages as Chinese, which is from $30 to $35 per
month.

Q. How is it it costs less to bring them from China than from other
places where white people are ? — A. I know for a fact that they have been
brought from China for $15 to $20 a head. I do not know what the rate
is now, but at that time you could not get to San Francisco for $15 or

Can do only
certsiin kinds of
manufacturing
work.

Q. Are they good hands in manufactories ? — A. There is only certain
kinds of work they can do. There are two shoe factories, employing about
sixty each, and no complaints against them. Five or six hundred are em-
ployed on sewing machines, making clothes to sell to their own population
in the country. Labor wages is as good as in any part of the world. I
remember what the Hudson Bay Company's laborers got twenty-six years
ago, which was a shilling a day ; and think wages are about the same now
as ten years ago, except in the mines. Wages have not raised in conse-
quence of the railway, on account of the Chinese who are employed at
$26 a month. Contractors, I do not think, could have undertaken their
work on the railway at that time, on account of so many railways being
then made. Their work is not more profitable to them as white labor.
I had a conversation with Mr. Onderdonk, the contractor of the Canadian
Pacific Railway, and he said he would have one white man in preference
to three Chinamen for chopping wood. The reason why white labor is not
employed is owing to its scarcity ; but wherever we can get a white man
we should employ him in preference. In the mines they are employed,
because you can depend upon them in regard to having no strikes. I
-The people afraid think the objection I hear from time to time is they are afraid of an over-
ine^Siflvix™?'''"' whelming population, of Chinese entering the province, and monopolizing
Chinese. all avenues of trade ; and what is required is that no more should be

allowed to come. Although they pay duty on their goods, they live en-
tirely on their own products from China, living on rice chiefly, wearing
clothes manufactured by themselves, and I do not suppose they consume a
single sack of flour ; whereas all the white population, however poor they
may be, will have a certain amount of home-made furniture, and in this
respect the Chinese have nothing in their houses except what comes from
China, wearing even Chinese shoes.

The Attorney-General was allowed to ask the mayor a few questions.
The mayor, replying, said :

Chinese compete Where skilled labor is required Chinamen cannot be employed, because
monest'"kind''of^" t^sy are not mechanics. It is only in a domestic capacity they are em-
labor, ployed. At first the common labor work as regards a shovel requires no
training. The competition being principally in the commoner class of

47 CAREY

labor, the Chinaman living on the products and in the habits of his own
country could exist where a white man could not. Chinese cannot be re-
lied on at all in case of fire, but look on like so many fools and at a loss
what to do. And what I know myself, and what I have been told from
the police, as I have said before, it is impossible to trace crime amongst
them.

Q. Who are Kwong Lee & Co., that you said were Chinese property-
owners ? — A. I do not know, as there may be a hundred or only one man
ill the firm ; but I know it is a firm trading between here and China.

Q. Do you know of any wills having been made 1 — A. No. The admin- Beiievestheyhave-
istration of their estates never takes place through the courts, and there- "'^^ ° *""
iore escape duty to the Government on property left. 1 believe they have
both criminal and''civil codes of law peculiar amongst themselves, having
laws to govern themselves here ; and I have been given to understand if
they escape vigilance here and get to China, the offender will be traced and
punished at home — in their own country. So far as I know, there are
.only ten or a dozen families in the city.

own.

Sunt. Bloompield, examined by the Hon. Mr. Justice Gray: BLOOMFIELD.

My name is Charles T. Bloomfield, and I am superintendent of city 2,000 Chinese in th&
police. I have been fourteen years in the police force. There are now in "''^ '^' present,
the city and vicinity about 2,000 Chinese. At present there are a great
number distributed along the coast, at the canneries, and on the railway,
who will return here in the winter. The number here last winter would
be between 3,000 and 4,000. There has been a great increase in their
numbers this last three or four years. I think the year before last three
or four ships came with an average of 600 each, and there has been a
gradual increase every summer since the commencement of the railway.
The canneries may have added a few to their numbers. It is impossible to
make them comply with any law, and especially the sanitary laws. They
pay no respect to our laws, and if any crime is committed you cannot get
anything out of them. They tell you, when asked, " They do not savey,"
meaning they do not know, and give no assistance— not the sHghtest. Jj,'^^e"deteSton of
Even with an interpreter you cannot get any true information, or from crime,
the best Chinese merchants. I have caught a man almost in the act of
committing crime, but when their own countrymen are brought into the
court they dare not give evidence. It might assist greatly if we had a
white interpreter. As to sanitary laws, I have tried to find out who is
the party or owners of the property, which is almost impossible. The only
way is to find out who pays the rent, and it is frequently impossible to
know who does this. And suppose you do find the man and serve a notice
on him, when you return to the house you find he is gone, perhaps away
altogether, to New Westminster ; so they move about. I have known in-
stances wherein buildings and their owners have been presented to the
grand jury as nuisances and no action been taken.

Q But such buildings as a rotten, tumble-down property— is there no Hard to enforce
law to force the building to be torn down rather than let the public b^Jaws^amongat
suffer ?— A. I do not think so. It is almost impossible to enforce any
.byJaw with the Chinese.

BLOOMFIED

48

The Attorney-General thought there was no law to remedy this ; and,
after some discussion,

iry— In toeir Superintendent Bloompibld continued : Their quarters are very much
smell of opium crowded up as a rule. They crowd into say a room that would
stifling. contain ten whites they may put in thirty. A room forty by

eighteen feet and six feet high to the rafters, I have seen seventy
in it. The smell of opium is stifling. They play dominoes, and
tan-tan, and gamble rather. The better class are reasonably cleanly, but
the lower class are the opposite, more so than white people of the same
class. They are equal to the worst classes in London and other great
cities. When they steal they run off and mix themselves in a crowd, and
no one will tell, but will say : " No one come," when asked. Their drains,
gardens, etc., are very bad to even keep at all clean. Most of the women
Crinie and prosti- here are prostitutes ; about a hundred in number here at present. They
will sit at their doors and wickets, decoying young lads, and they are ex-
tremely difficult to catch.

Diseases.

Leprosy.

Opium vice
spreading among
the whites.

Q. Do they bring diseases with them generally ? — A. Syphilis and other
venereal diseases. These women are used as merchandise, and are bought
and sold. Every ship from China brings more or less, as many as twenty-
five at a time occasionally. Leprosy cases, but not very bad, have been
here. I have known ten or twelve cases of male leprosy within the past
ten years.. One of these parties, about eight years ago, was kept outside
the city limits in the bush, and lived by stealing hens, chickens, etc.,
no one caring to go near him, and died out there. The merchants, how-
ever, sometimes contributed partially to his support. Another case I
remember was found in a burned building, ajid his hands and feet dropped
off him. Three or four very bad cases have died.

Q. Do you know of any ailing now ? — A. One is at present reported
now in Victoria. Two Chinese doctors have seen him and say it is
leprosy, though our white doctors say there is nothing in it. Dr. Helm-
cken examined this case about four or five months ago. Very few are
intemperate, though we have had a few cases. Opium is the Chinese evil,
and when once the habit is contracted it cannot be got over. This habit
has increased with the population. Opium is used in every house, with
scarcely an exception. This evil is growing with the whites, especially
on the United States side. The population who use this are principally
workingmen, such as painters, and white women prostitutes, Indian
women, etc. There are not many cases amongst young and indus-
trious men, but there is a danger of it ; but I have been told on good
authority that white girls of respectable parents use it.

Q. Are the persons giving you this information reliable ? — A. Perfectly.
I have seen white women smoking in the Chinese dens myself. Larceny
Crime. is the principal crime amongst Chinese. Next to larceny is assaults, cut-

ting, wounding, and knocking on their heads, for the purpose of robbeiy,
etc. During the last eight years only one case had been brought to jus-
tice—Wong Foong— by evidence from themselves, and who got fifteen
years, and is now in the New Westminster Penitentiary.

Superintendent Bloomfield here handed Mr. Justice Gray a Chinese
fan, remarking : Your honor will see an article here which is carried very
much by them— which is a fan, a very pretty article, but when opened

49 BLOOMFIELI>

is not so fantastic as its appearance might convey. When opened it was
found to contain a Chinese dagger.

Victoria, B.C., August 13th, 1884.

Mr. Justice Gray stated that, owing to the morning papers having
omitted part of the evidence taken the day previous, the shorthand writer
would have to read it from his notes, ia reference to a leprosy case seen by
two Chinese doctors, and Dr. Helmcken having seen the same and pro-
nounced it, in his opinion, as not leprosy, consequently it would be
necessary to have Dr. Helmcken examined. It is important the papers
should present the evidence fairly, otherwise the public might form errone-
ous opinions ; though I feel bound to say I do not believe the omission
was wilful.

Sergeant Elewin, examined : FLEWIN

My name is John Flewin. I have been in the police force a little
over four years. I am a native of this place, and have never been
in any other police force. My duties as police officer has brought
me in contact with the Chinese a good deal, having visited their
quarters considerably in the position of a sanitary officer of the corpora-
tion.

Mr. Justice Gray : I wish to say. Sergeant Flewin, we want you to
conceal no evidence, but to speak your own mind clearly and in plain
language.

Serseant Flewin : As a rule Chinese ia their habitations are filthy, but Chinese filthy im
,, V ,1 mi r -J £ -J. their habitations,

in their persons are more cleanly, ihey have no idea ot carrying out

their sanitary arrangements or carrymg away filth, etc., and crowd together

very thickly, a great many in a very few houses.

Q, What extent or area is covered by Chinatown ? — A. It covers a
greater portion of four blocks, which are inhabited almost entirely by
Chinese. About two or three thousand I should judge are in these blocks.

Q. Do you include in this number those who are in domestic service ? — Urine kept in store
A. I include those who sleep there ; many sleep where they are employed, **"■ fe^aizmg.
in different parts of the city. Their premises are filthy, and their
urine is kept in barrels and tins on their premises, and which is
used for fertilizing. Great difficulty is experienced in getting them'
to clear it away. They never take it away until the vessels are
full, which are then taken off by Chinese gardeners. The barrels
carried around by these gardeners in the day time are not for collect-
ing this, but for gathering up swill. The urine is carried away at
night time. It is not repeated sufficiently often so as to keep the prem-
ises in a healthy state. They live principally on rice, vegetables, pork,
and dried fish — they are very fond of pork. They do nothing to conform
to the sanitary laws without being compelled. When enforcing the law
we always go after the occupiers of dwellings ; but it is with very great
difficulty we can find them, as they are always moving about. There is.

4

FLEWIN

50

Crime.

Murders.

Prostitutes.

little or no drainage in Chinatown. In police matters we have a great
trouble in tracing crime amongst themselves, through their reluctance in
giving evidence and the difficulty in understanding them, and then their
evidence cannot be relied upon. I think a white interpreter here would facili-
tate us in carrying out the law amongst them. They are a temperate
people, but drink a considerable quantity of Chinese liquor in their own
dwellings. I have only known two or three cases of drunkenness on the
streets. Their crimes are almost exclusively larceny. The first difficulty
is, we have no knowledge of their language and customs ; and, secondly, there
is a positive reluctance to give any evidence at all. There appears to be an
influence brought to bear on them ; every Chinaman seems to belong to
two or three secret societies. The higher class have a society of their own,
of which we see little work of this here. The same difficulty is confined
to the higher classes in finding it out. Murder is the chief crime amongst
these.

Q. How many murders have there been during the last four years ? — A.
About three or four murders ; but only one conviction of manslaughter.
This murder on Fisguard street was amongst the merchants. There are
upwards of one hundred women here. Their characters are very low,
almost all prostitutes. White people get into trouble with them,
men having been robbed in their houses. White men — chiefly young lads
of nineteen and twenty years of age — frequent these houses. I have
frequently driven them away. The women do not drink, but all smoke
opium and tobacco. They are as a rule very particular and neat in their
dress. They do not introduce venereal diseases amongst the population
any more than white prostitutes. I cannot say whether they have leprosy
cases amongst them. I know only of one case, the man being in prison.
Two Chinese doctors have seen him and said it was a bad case, though
Dr. Helmcken said it was not leprosy. This man was in a solitary cell at
the time, and was discharged; but has since been confined for vagrancy.
While in gaol he was very much emaciated ; his skin seemed to be break-
ing out in sores, and his feet turned black. I do not know of any white
doctors visiting other cases such as this, only Chinese doctors, and they
use the term leprosy in defining the disease. I do not know what leprosy
is exactly. The chief objections to Chinese is on account of the impossi-
bility to trace crime amongst them, their unclean premises and opium-
smoking. I have no faith in their women, and have been told that it is only
the lower class who are allowed to leave China. I believe the Chinese
government do not allow them to leave ; but they are smuggled away by
these old Chinese women. Some of the women here are married ; but
they are usually kept in their houses. I have accompanied Mr. Bull, when
collecting the municipal road-tax, and great difficulty was experienced
in collecting it, except where the owner is known, when you frequently
seize their goods in order to collect this tax. Opium-smoking is chiefly
carried on in their own dens, and is an intoxicant.

Mr. Davie suggested that Sergeant Flewin be asked, as to their condition
when brought to the gaol ?

Triaoners covered Sergeant Flewin : Nine cases out of ten, when broueht to prison, theii-
with vermin. uji i.,i . -^ ^ ^ ^,

head and queues are covered with vermm. In January last eleven or
twelve cases were brought to gaol, and the majority of these had vermin.
The Indians, as a rule, are very dirty; out of eleven or twelve of tliese the
state of filth and vermin would be about the same, especially among the
Chinooks. The white people of the same class are also just as bad, that is,

Disease.
Leprosy.

Prostitution.

Evade taxes.

51 FLEWIN

the whiskey drinkers. In winter there are about double the population of White whiskey
■Chinese in Victoria, when the canneries and railway works are closed down. ^J^''®'^^™* '**'
The laboring classes are industrious as a rule. Those who go out garden-
ing, chopping wood, etc., are cleanly. Most of the Chinese seem to know The laborers in-
how to read and write in their own language. They are very careful of ^1^1'^""^ *'"'*
their money. A great number gamble ; but few with the whites. The
characters of the white people who gamble with them are on a par with
the Chinese, and are an undesirable class, giving us the most trouble, and
are usually known as " gaol-birds."

Mr. Davie here suggested Mr. Dunsmuir might be heard on the subject,
and by doing so others might be induced to come forth also.

Mr. Justice Gray : Mr. Dunsmuir has already been communicated with,
and signified his willingness to appear.

Mr. Justice Gray to the Attorney-General : I wish to ask if the return,
already asked for of the number of convictions against Chinese criminals
for the past nine or ten years, is ready 1

Mr. Davie : The Government will be unable to compile the statistics
asked for with reference to the number of Chinese criminals and the cost
they are to the crown. There are not a great many convictions, these
being principally for offences against the whites ; but the difficulty is in
proportioning them. However, the number of Chinese who have been
convicted, and as much of the required information, will be prepared at
once.

Hon, a. E. B. Davie, Attorney-General, examined . DAVIE.

I have been resident in the province over twenty-two years and am bar- Opportunitjes lor
rister-at-law by profession, and been engaged in my profession as clerk and character. "*^^^
barrister since 1862, having been engaged as counsel for the crown and
attorney-general, at assizes both upon the mainland and the Island, and
have had considerable opportunity of observing the Chinese character.
Generally speaking they are not truthful witnesses, indeed it is extremely
difficult, so far as they are concerned, to find out the facts of any case. This
is, I think, more from a desire on their part not to give the truth than from
the difficulty of interpreting. So much so has this been the case it has
been recognized generally by jurors, so much so that it has led to a failure
of justice. White people, to my knowledge, have escaped owing to juries
distrusting the Chinese. Speaking without statistics, my impression is, in
the past, there has been a greater number of criminal Chinese cases than Chinese testimony
were recently, although the population has increased, which I cannot *'"™ '
account for. Certain it is, however, that crimes which have been known to
have been committed by themselves, especially homicides and assaults,
notwithstanding the expense put to by the Government, their efforts have
generally failed, on account of their showing a reluctance to give informa-
tion. As an illustration: Some two or three years ago a Chinawoman Difficulty in de-
and Chinaman were found murdered and hacked to pieces by knives, and '^"ting crime,
to cover the tracks of the murder the house was set fire to. The supposed
murderer went and changed his clothes, and the person in whose house the
clothes were changed would not come forward and give evidence to this.
The police could not obtain any information, although the crime was known
to have been committed only two or three hours before.

DAVIE

Government de-
frauded out of le-
gacy duty.

Feeling against
Chinese universal.

Q. How was it known he had changed his clothes ? — A. The fact was he
had clean clothes on him when arrested, and the night before the accused had
been with the woman at a banquet, and he made the remark at the police
court he had worn those clothes over a week, when in fact they were quite
new. We find that the knowledge of crime is kept amongst themselves, and
if dealt with are dealt with by themselves. With estates of Chinese they
do not make wills, and the intestate estates dealt with by the court are
very few; thus the Government is defrauded out of its proper revenues, and
have no means as far as we go of ascertaining the extent of property
possessed by any deceased Chinaman. I am inclined to think they are
rather astute in this matter, and on account of polygamy amongst them it
would be very difficult to ascertain their relatives in their own country,
and this is perhaps why they do not bring their estates for administration.
The number of Chinese families are very few ; they come here for the
purpose of making money and take it out of the country. That is one
complaint of the white people in the place. Speaking as a person
having sometime been in politics, as far as I go, I can state that
the feeling against the Chinese is universal and widespread. The
workingmen of the country are certainly opposed to their immigration,,
and they really consider, the Chinese themselves, there are too many of
them in the country. I may sayj so far as the criminal statistics are
concerned, I have sent to Mr. McBride, at New Westminster, for the
past four or five years' records, and during that period there wUl be few
instances of Chinese convictions for the reasons I have already mentioned.

Cannot assimi
late.

Hon. Mr. Chapleau : There is no chance of assimilation with other
people ? — A. No, they are a foreign element, and certainly there was no-
desire for it from the whites, and probably none on the part of the Chinese,
^nd apparently always will be so. I am bound to admit that the rapidity the
Rapid progress of Canadian Pacific Railway has progressed in this country is owing to-
ChiS labor.'" Chinese labor. We got along for a long number of years without them,
and, admitting they have been useful, their presence has kept out other
labor that would have come in by the mere fact of their being amongst
us. I cannot say whether the same amount of capital would have been
spent in the province, had they not been here, although, I know capitalists
have employed Chinamen, and they might have been an inducement for its.
18,000 in the pro- outlay. I believe there are about 18,000 of them in the province. We
"'""''■ have not had to support Chinese immigrants. I am unaware whether the

Chinese have subscribed to the Royal Hospital in this city or not, I have
reason to think the leading Cliinese have. They have contributed in a fair
proportion to the rest of the community to the late colliery disaster at
Nanaimo. I cannot say what the amount of tax is they contribute to-
wards the schools, only by examining the butt end of the books.
The Chinese children are admitted to the schools, but very few of them
are here, and this privilege is never availed of. I do not know
whether they have been cared for in regard to those who have no
visible means of support. Instances have been known where the
Chinese have left their fellow-countrymen when in a destitute condition.
A case of this sort happened at New Westminster, where a man was left
out in a tent and died there.

Jnhumanity.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : I remember this case ; it was not exactly
so. It was tried before me, and the facts were these : The man
was taken out into a tent at his own request, owing to a disease,
and died within twenty-four hours. A man was left with him. The

53 DAVIE

accused parties were therefore discharged, the jury bringing in a verdict
of not guilty.

Q. Is there a secret organization which tries their own cases ? — A. No, ^rh^no&^BA^^'^^
they are reluctant to give information. The Government has not tried to
obtain the services of a white interpreter, though, I may say, there are
first-rate Chinese interpreters. Undoubtedly it would be beneficial to have
a white interpreter. Personating one another is one of the difficulties the
tax-collector has to meet, the Chinese, being so similar in features ; and it
has been suggested, in case of necessity, they be photographed. It might lie
done, but I hardly think it practicable to make the register for the pur-
pose of tax-collecting. They do not associate with the whites at all, even
the best classes. The Indians did not associate with them, much more so
the working classes. Opium-smoking, according to the reports of the
police officers, is carried on by the white people in these dens, but I do not
know what class of people they are.

Hon. Mr. Chapleau : Is the habit of opium-smoking carried on to such an Opium-smoking,
extent that it is injurious to the public health, peace or morality? Are their
bad habits more public than those of the whites 1 — A. As to opium-smok-
ing, I have seen the Chinese under the influence of it, but cannot say I
have observed it particularly. I have not witnessed the bad effects gener-
ally, though I have seen the bad after efiects on them.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : The mayor stated yesterday that the Chinese why white set-
never became settlers, and the desire was that white people should become come.*^'^^*' "°'
so ; is the statement that the reason white people do not come here on
account of the presence of Chinese correct, or is it on account of the lock-
ing-up of the railway lands ? — A. Expressing simply an opinion,
I think the presence of Chinese deters white immigrants and
settlers from coming here. One great cause of white settlers not
coming here has been the embargo on the railway lands, which
was taken, ofi" quite recently. It is not true a great number
of settlers have left the country. A great many families have gone
into the delta of the Fraser the past year. If I were a laborer East, I
.should be very reluctant to come here knowing so many Chinese were in
the country. The cost of getting here has been one cause why white people
have not come here. The labor market, that is particularly for labor, is
good. A laborer will usually find a market for his labor, but finds he can-
not get on when the Chinese compete against him. Manufactories put up
by white people have not perished on account of Chinese labor. Kurtz's
cigar manufactory employs all white labor. The white population here is
obliged to have Chinese labor for domestic purposes as we cannot get Cannot get w^hite
white servants. The occupation of Chinamen in the interior is chiefly min- domestic servants,
ling — that is, not speaking, of railway construction. In Cariboo, there are
from 700 to 1,000 engaged in mining — working on their own account at
what is termed "shell labor." They will not go first into the mines, but
' only follow after the whites, taking up old ground and working it over again.

Q. Are there many given to agricultural pursuits? — A. Chiefly gardening. Chinese employ-
When they are successful they live on meat, etc., when they do well. ""en's.
Taking 2,000 or 3,000 as being in Victoria and for railway construction
-.at about 6,000, I do not think 18,000 too high a figure to estimate the is.oooin province.
Clhinese population of the province. There are many engaged at the can-
meries up the coast. I think there are more than 3,000 in Victoria.

D'AVIE

54

The people wish
that no more
Bhoiild come.

Chinese crime
more expensi^'O
than white crime.

Police returns
show that the
Chinese are more
hurdensome than
others to adminis-
tration of justice.

As a representative man, I may say I believe the great bulk of the
people wish no more to come here, and it is a deep-rooted feeling. This feel-
ing has not been crammed by politicians. I believe the anti-Chinese feel-
ing is genuine, and not a polical clap-trap, as it has been stigmatized. The
feeling is those at present will have to stay, and that a prohibi-
tive measure is what is sought for. I believe it to be a strong
personal feeling, though there may be some found who would
come forward to urge them to come into the country as formerly,
but they are decidedly in the minority. The English, Scotch or Irish do'
not like the Chinese. The reason why the restriction law is evaded to
such an extent in California is, because, I presume, it is defective.
The Chinese are a much greater source of expense to the Government, in
regard to justice, than the whites. A crime is detected and every effort
put forward in order to find it out. The reason is, it takes a much longer
time to investistate than a crime amongst whites.

Q. What proof have you to furnish the people of the other provinces
that the expenses they entail on the administration of justice is heavier
in proportion than that caused by white people 1 — A. By the poUce
returns ; and the trials are always longer where interpreters are used, as it
takes a longer time to get the evidence. We get along with the Indians
first-rate.

Hon. Mr. Chapleau : Do you consider sincerely that if the question of
Chinese restriction is not acceded to it will materially affect the progress
of the country 1 — A. Yes ; I think the anti-Chinese feeling is not abating,
but rather increasing.

Victoria, B.C., August 14th, 1884..

HELMCKEN. Dr. Helmcken, examined :

months.

Increase in Chi- I have been in British Columbia since 18.50. I am a medical man, and
^thin™^rflw" practising my profession the whole time. My diploma is from the Royal
College of Surgeons, London, England. I am acquainted with all ordin-
ary diseases peculiar to human beings. The Chinese came here first about
fourteen or fifteen years ago, but I cannot tell exactly. Their number has
been perpetually increasing as the demand offered. The increase has been
greater the past few months on account of public works. I have never seen
more than two cases of leprosy since I have been in the country, one in an
Indian before the Chinese arrived, and one about eight or ten years ago —
this a Chinaman. With regard to the man in the prison mentioned by-
Sergeant Bloomfield, he came into the prison for stealing, I think, and
after he arrived in the prison the question arose as to his being a leper,
and that he be liberated ; and I said the Chinese doctors had better see
him as they were acquainted with the disease, and after doing so they said
he had the leprosy, giving a certificate to that effect, and upon that certi-
ficate the man was kept in prison after his sentence had expired. He was
afterwards liberated. The same man, I am informed this morning, has
just been brought into prison again, not on account of leprosy but for
not con- stealing. According to the best medical authorities, leprosy is not con-
sidered a contagious or infectious disease. To-day it exists in Norway and
Sweden, and also in the Mediterranean countries. I do not know that it
is necessary a leper should be locked up. Leprosy is incurable, and per-
sons so affected are usually put in some place for incurable diseases. The
disease may go on for years. In the Sandwich Islands lepers are separ-

LeproBJ-.

Lejji'osy
tagious.

55 HELMCKEN

ated from the healthy. The peculiar indications of leprosy vary — in one
affecting the skin, another the nervous system. The skin kind is more
like syphilis. It is more or less hereditary ; and in some families there
might be a leper. People residing and cohabiting with them do not take
the disease. I cannot tell you whether it has been found the same in
Australia, as I have no reliable information. I do not know of a single
white person having leprosy in this country, only having known two cases
of leprosy, as I said before, one an Indian leper, which was before the
Chinese arrived, and a Chinaman. The Indian, therefore, did not contract
it from the Chinese. Leprosy is not only found amongst the Chinese, but Leprosy apper-
aifects the whole of humanity. It has, however, disappeared from Europe, tri?/ ^d°mar?hy
except Norway and Sweden, Finland, and the Mediterranean. There places,
are more cases in China and the East ; it seems to appertain to hot coun-
tries chiefly, and marshy places. I do not think the cause of the disease
is known. Of course, nowadays it is a " Bacillus." If there was a case of
leprosy in Victoria now it would be the duty of the police to report the
same to the city authorities, the same as a case of small-pox. I have been
the visiting surgeon of the jail ever since it was built — from the time
I came to the country. This appointment is under the local govern-
ment. There may have been cases of leprosy amongst the Chinese, they
not letting any one know about it ; but I do not think so, for this reason :
that the Chinese are afraid of it themselves. They would evidently shun
them and so make them marked. On the general health condition of the Thinks health of^^
Chinese in Victoria, I cannot speak authoritatively on this subject, for the S^fonte whte
reason they do not speak English, so we are not called upon to attend
them when sick ; but I think the health of the Chinese is as good as the
whites, according to the death-rate, though I do not know the exact num-
ber of Chinese resident here. Generally speaking, the white people would,
of cburse, much rather have the same number of whites amongst them —
their own race. One objection to Chinese, I think, is they do not speak
English. They cannot communicate their ideas to us nor we to them,
therefore we are in the dark. Many of the things on this account that we Objections to Chl-
hear about them may not be strictly true ; and if they could speak English
well I think our relations would be better. No one likes a foreigner who
can only speak his mother tongue. Another objection is that the Chinese
can never be made militiamen. They remain Chinamen, and do not become Remain isolated,
citizens ; so they are always foreigners. It is not desirable to have a colony
of Chinese instead of Briitish subjects. Their morals, of course, are Morals Asiatic-
Asiatic, and different to ours. Their immorality I do not think is
any worse than that of the whites. Wickedness is the natural tendency
of everyone. I have heard of one or two cases where the Chinese are said
to have corrupted the morals of children, but these have never been sub-
stantiated. I believe the Chinese, on the other hand, are fond of children, goe^s ^°oJ^^elleve
and I never knew of them abusing them. They are not like the negroes in dren.
the South. If they corrupted the morals of the children they would not
be employed. Any case of this kind happening would have been brought
into the police court. Remember that the children are usually looked
after by girls or female servants, of whom a large number are employed —
larger, indeed, than the number of Chinese as domestic servants. I think ^ombM- ^oj^ Chi-
the number of Chinese employed as domestic servants in Victoria is over- servants over-
rated. I doubt whether they would exceed 150, some being employed by ™*<'*-
bachelors. They are usually confined to kitchen service and its relations.
I am not reckoning in this number those employed in hotels, out-door
work, and so forth. Many who keep Chinese cooks keep also female
servants.

HELMCKEN

56

Country benefited
by the Chinese.

Market gardens
and laundricB.

Boot and shoe f ac-
itories.

'Canneries tried
to ^et along with
white labor hut
failed.

Manufacturers
and producers.

Hon. Mr. Justice Geay : Have they been injurious or beneficial to the
development of the resources of the country'? — A. I say the country
has been benefited by the influx of Chinese. Before the Chinese
came it was almost impossible to get vegetables of any kind,
and any that were to be got were only at a high figure an4
of no good quality. When they arrived they established mar-
ket gardens and succeeded, as their industry is wonderful. Their gardens
are very well cultivated. The few vegetable gardens that existed before
they came were afterwards done away with. They established laundries,
and now monopolize this business. In the next place, there were no manu-
factories of any importance until the Chinese came, and white people then
established a boot and shoe manufactory, for instance. The same number
of white people would not have established the boot and shoe factory, and
the reason given for it was that factories here could not compete with
those of California and outside places, owing to not being able to compete
with the Chinese labor there. The canneries, I think, tried to get along
with white labor, but had to give it up. I think they could not have
grown and flourished if it had not been for Chinese labor. I am, however,
told the Indians now supply, in some cases, the places of the Chinese in the
north, about Metlakatla, but not south or on the Eraser River. The Chinese
have cultivated the soil, raised vegetables, are employed in tanneries, and
at the canneries, in boot and shoe-making, some in coal and gold mining,
and other labors Having done these things, they have benefited the
country. They have been producers — the one thing the country stands in
need of. They have made exports. They were wanted, and so they sup-
plied a demand.

The Chinese a
check on labor
monopoly.

Useful as domes-
tic servants.

■Chinese versati-
lity.

Hard to say whe-
ther they will be
beneficial in the
future.

Q. Do you think they will prove a benefit in the future to the country ?
— A. I believe it would be an advantage to have the same number of white
people ; but I do not think they would or could spare the Chinese.
There is this disadvantage : white people would have the monopoly of the
labor market. The Chinese, I believe, to be a check on this. They have
been undeniably useful as domestic servants. When they were first employed
in Victoria as servants it was impossible to get anyone else except Indians.
I think now the people employing them have got so accustomed to them
that they think they would never be able to do without them, as they are
really good, attentive, regular and intelligent. Englishmen could not
supply their places. They seem fit for gigantic things ; Chinese favor little
things. They are willing and wish to learn. What their brain takes in
they can execute with their hands. Of course all are not equally intelH-
gent. Many are poor and of low caste, but remember they inherit the
brain of a civilization of thousEinds of years dormant, but ready to take in new
ideas and progress. They take to anything, any trade or business, and
will pick them up very quickly. Their imitative faculties are very great,
though I do not know what their inventive genius is. A large number
learn the English language, and at one time went to a private school and
paid for their education. Many can read and write. I cannot read the
future. I cannot say whether they will be equally beneficial in the future.
It is hard to draw a line. Rain is beneficial, but people complain of too
much of it. Benefits in excess become vices. There is very little
intercourse existing between the Chinese and the whites. The whites
do not associate with them, and immorality cannot therefore come
from the Chinese only. The old story of living in glass houses may perhaps
find place here. I said the Chinese had been very useful and indeed
necessary. I said I cannot read the future, and I do not know what

57 HELMCKEN

works may require them ; but I thmk it will be for the interest of the Would be for the
Chinese themselves, and I believe the Chinese think so too, that any them^eivestS^ao
further numbers should be induced not to come. 1st. Because there are more should be in-
jplenty now to supply all requirements. .2nd. Because when railway work
is finished a very large number will be thrown out of employment, and so
probably be a burden iipon other Chinese and a trouble to the province.
They will either have to go home, or, something worse, find their way
across the Rockies to old Canada, as they cannot go to the United States.
3rd. Because, doubtless, there will continue to be a persecution and dislike
■of the Chinese. There cannot be a doubt of this dislike. It seems to be
ian instinctive antipathy of race. This antipathy will be encouraged by The instinctive
trades unions, and T need not say it may be by interested parties. Instinc- ^n^ow. °
tive antipathy may be the result of education. It exists among European
.nations. It may lead to trouble here as it has elsewhere. Men are the
same as ever, as witness the persecution of the Jews to-day — another
Eastern race — another instinctive dislike. The merchants, also, do not
like them ; because, as the Chinese trade chiefly among themselves, they do
the merchants but little good. In fact the same number of whites would do
them more good in trade, and so forth — i.e., supposing they could have the
same number of whites, — as it is the Chinese compete with them ; but at
present chiefly in China goods, ith. Because any number of Chinese can
be had at any time they may be required, by simply sending for them.
The whole question seems to resolve itself into : 1st, an antagonism of The laJ'Tera feel
race — a non-English speaking race ; 2nd, a feeling of the laborers against take their work
the Chinese, because the Chinese take their work and take it at a cheaper ^""^ ^^'^ ^' eheap-
rate ; on the other hand a feeling against employers who employ them.
The laborers and employers of labor are in antagonism. A case merely of
preservation on both sides. Of course the Chinese are useful and neces-
sary ; on the other hand too many Chinese are not desirable. It is
difiicult to say how many are requisite. It is not a question that can be

settled by or reduced to a rule-of -three sum. It is a national and political A national and po-

•' ^ htioal question,

question.

'Q. How many Chinese should we have? — i.e., is there any danger of Few desire to send
their overrunning the country ? — A. At all events very few require the tryTway' " ""^'^
Chinese now here to be sent away. They will be, and have been, treated
in the courts the same as the whites, as regards freedom, and justice, and
fairness.

Q. So competition will not end with restriction ? — A. Indeed it is a u white laborers
question, or part of the national policy, i. e., whether white laborers are ^amSa^ures""
to be protected against competition with Chinese and other foreign must cease,
laborers, or whether there is to be free trade in laborers. If white laborers
are protected by excluding foreigners, then some of British Columbia's
manufactures and products must cease and determine. If, on the
contrary, they are not protected, then the white laborers say the
Chinese will beat them out of the field, and so discourage an
increase of the white population. I suppose the same may be But white immi-
urged against labor-saving machines. What the Chinese may have lisraMaged^ '"'
to say of their rights, by treaty and natural laws, is for them to
declare. They do not speak English, so we don't know. We occupy a
difierent position to the Austrahans. We expect to have a large trade
with China by the overland route, over the C. P. K, so we must have ^^^ ^
communication with the Chinese. We must expect and endure some evil bears^on 'trauif '
for the good. If the two classes could understand each other they would with China.
get along better.

HELMCKEN 58

The Chinese have Q. Is the presence of the Chinese a danger to the material prospects of
tS?*^^ SsId^fOT ^^^ country in regard to wealth, comfort and liberty ?— A. I have said
their services may before, the presence of the Chinese has been an advantage to the
'^^^^' country, what the future may be I cannot say. There is this to be said :

The Chinese have supplied a want ; but when that demand fails it is a

different thing.

Q. If there is any danger in the Chinese overrunning the country, why
do the people employ them ? — A. If they are not employed they would
have to go elsewhere. There is an antipathy, however, existing as it does
between Asiatics and Europeans; and I believe if they were Hindoos
there would be the same.

An evil thing that Q. Are Englishmen disliked in China? — A. I should think they are.

their habite S"^ White people are arrogant ; it is their nature. It is many years since I

vrith toem**"^ was in China. Wherever an Englishman gets his foot he will get his
body. If Chinese were warlike we should be less uncivil and less aggressive.
There is an evil connected with the Chinese : they bring their habits with
them ; they have been accustomed to crowding, and they huddle up together
here. They have a very small portion of the city here. Crowded and
dirty rather from choice, perhaps, than necessity. Chinese, nevertheless, are
cleanly in their persons. I have never had much to do with Chinese in
regard to their keeping their engagements. I think to those who treat
the Chinese well they will keep their engagements — that is, among
domestics. They will, if harshly treated, pack up their traps and go. I
have been told by mechanics that the Chinese are always on time and

rSiabfe "''"''""'^° leave as punctually, everything going on as clock-work. I have been
told by those employing Chinamen they like Chinese for their punc-
tuality, sobriety and regularity of attendance. They can be depended on
from day to day and week to week

No burden on hos- Q. Do they take care of their poor and sick 1 — A. As a rule, speaking
no assistance. generally, the Chinese require no assistance from the white men. They
never beg for their poor from the whites. There are few cases where
Chinese go to the hospitals. I believe they do not care to go to our hos-
pitals, and I believe they are no burden on the British.

Have not intro- Hon. Mr. Justice Geay : I wish to read three allegations, and are they
true in your opinion 1 One statement is the Chinese have introduced
leprosy on this coast and afflicted many white people with this terrible
disease ? — A. I have said before I have never seen a single white man
with leprosy ; and only one Chinaman and one Indian, years ago.

As to charge of Q. Are the youths of the coast being corrupted and depraved by these
corruptingmorals. people?— A. This is a question I cannot answer. I take it before the advent
of the Chinese, there was plenty of vice, and I cannot say whether it has in-
creased with the Chinese. Probably the Chinese women have taken the
business out of the hands of Indian women. The one cannot be more
public than the other.

Not true that Chi- Q. Are there now hundreds of men and women that are irredeemably
^rhabto rf"^''* lost in this place by the vice of opium-smoking ?— A. I do not know of
opiiiin-snioking to hundreds of men and women lost by the use or abuse of opium. I know
whites. perfectly well some few gamblers use opium. I know perfectly weU some

few women use opium. I think these cases are very few, and very few have
come professionally before me ; if many I should have seen them. I am

59 HELMCKEM

certain the allegation is a vile, malicious fabrication of the habit of smoking
opium. I know this habit did not come with the Chinese. Opium-eating
is a vice of England ; it exists in New York. It is a vice, but how common it
may be here it is impossible for me to say ; and, as I have said before, I have
seen few cases brought before me here ; so it must be very imcommon to
say the least.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : There is one more question I wish to ask. It has
been alleged in the Houses of Parliament that the white ladies are
scrubbed by Chinese whilst in their baths. Is that true 1

Dr. Helmcken : It is a lie.

Charles Wilson, of the firm of Davie and Wilson, Barristers, examined WILSON,
by the Hon. Mr. Chapleau :

I am a member of the local legislature and a barrister by profession. 1,200 Chinese la
I am at present residing in Victoria. I have been in Cariboo four-
teen years, and represent that district. I left Cariboo on the 14th
November, 1882. There are about 1,100 or 1,200 Chinese in Cariboo, as far
as the circuit of the local legislative district is concerned, according to
the census of 1881, and they have increased 200 or 300 since then ; the
white population has decreased a little since then. The classes of Chinese They clean out oW
who are in Cariboo are chiefly laborers, knowing nothing about mining but mining claims,
have learned it there. They clean out old mining claims.

Q. When they arrive here do they generally come in good health and fit Generalljr a^ve
for work? — A. They generally arrive in Cariboo in good health, as they
have to pack their tools and mining implements on foot.

Q. Are they a burden to public charity, or to private parties, or to They have their
white men, for their poor and sick ? — A. No, they are not a burden on ment^ta*eg ard to
the community ; they are not alone in that respect, neither are Jews, i"""^ ^^^ s'"'^-
They carry a system amongst themselves, having their own arrange-
ments apparently in regard to their poor and sick as well as their laws of
justice.

Q. The Forks of Quesnelle River is entirely occupied by Chinese.
Have you ever been at one of their trials when they have been
administering their laws of justice ? — A. No, sir ; the only white resident
at Forks of Quesnelle, Mr. Stevenson, a government agent, attended upon
one occasion their own tribunal ; but for what the case was I do not know.

Q. Was it for a private offence or litigation 1 — A. I do not know. I
notice in Cariboo we never have any trouble except between two distinct
classes of Chinese.

Q. Are the Chinese law-abiding or turbulent 1 — A. They are sober and Sober anct indus-
industrious, and fairly peaceable citizens.

Q. Do they carry out their engagements with the white people gene- Intormcdthatchl-
rally 1 — To a certain extent, yes. With the higher classes of Chinese, c. of a lowfype.
certainly, yes ; but with the lower classes I should not trust them. The
Chinese coming here, I am informed, are of an extremely low type. Upon
one occasion one of our judges and myself visited a house where a merchant
was sitting at the table, another inferior Chinaman being present also, and

AVILSON 60

the judge asked the merchant what class his inferior fellow-countryman
wajs,and he replied: "Oh.hebelongs to number ten, "thus showing how many
classes there are of them.

'Chinese and min- Q. When the Chinese first came here, was their coming welcomed 1
•ing- — A. Their coming was resisted at first in Cariboo — in fact force

was at one time used ; but one by one they got in and gained a foot-
hold, and to get rid of them now would amount to war. With respect to
their having been needed, there is no class of labor that has created greater
injury in gold mining, and there is no work they are less adapted
for than mining. They follow what miners call lazy labor. Where they
get gold they leave nothing behind. The white miner is the pioneer
for discovery, the Chinaman following him, cleaning everything up —
what the white miner leaves in search of richer diggings and what
he would fall back on in case of a rainy day. The white man
is always seeking for something better ; the Chinese always follow
after and clean up everything. The Chinese never pay a mining license if
they can help it, and never take out a claim ; the white man always pays
his way.

Doubts if Chinese Q- Do you consider the Chinese here useful for certain fields of
labour is useful, ig^^^^y which cannot be supplied in any other manner 1 — A. I have some
doubt about it. In some places they are employed in factories, but it has
the eflfect of deteriorating a white population from coming in.

Wliito men ean- Q. If a manufacturer likes to employ them, cannot the white
■ CWnes^SvbouI'"^ people work for the same wages 2— A. No, they cannot work alongside the
Chinese ; the avenues of labor are shut out from them, as it is impossible to
compete with them. Some manufacturers look at it from a money point of
view : they do not care whether they are benefiting the country or not, as
they do well themselves; they look to the immediate gain not to the
future.

In domestic ser- Q. Is there much white labor unemployed 1 — A. I am hardly in a posi-

would be pre- tion to answer this question. I think the white people who come find the

&rred could they Chinese in places which they would like to fill. I think in the case of

servants that the whites would employ white servants if they could only

get them, as I believe Chinese servants would be dismissed in many cases

to make room for them. I feel that way myself.

Q. What observation have you made in regard to the effect of their
immorality on the whites 1 — A. I do not know, as there are no young lads
in Cariboo, so any immoral efifect would not be produced there.

Evade taxation. Q. Are the Chinese worse in Cariboo in their habits than other people

in similar positions 1 — A. Their vices are kept to themselves. They are of
two distinct classes. If it was of a barbarous nature we could do something
with them. I have mentioned to you the fact that these people constantly
evade taxation, they defraud the provincial revenue. In the case of collect-
ing the poll-tax, it is found very few white men escape ; but few payments
are made by the Chinese, as shown by the amount collected from them when
looking at the census. The collectors in the diflPerent districts know every
white man residing in them, so the deficiency is wholly with the Chinese.
Forty-eight hundred dollars should be the amount of taxation collected.
By a law to sell opium their license is two to four hundred dollars for six
months. There is only one man in Cariboo paying this license. They evade

61 WILSON

this tax in this way : A merchant has a poor servant as slave, and if caught
when the fine is exacted they will send this slave to prison, rather than
pay the fine, as it is far cheaper to do this. I know of no instance where
white men use opium in Cariboo.

Q. Have there been many prosecutions for selling opium without a Opium
license 1 — A. Only some two or three ; it is impossible to do it.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : Your observations are chiefly confined to your
experience whilst in Cariboo? — A. Yes; I have not been touch in contact
with them in Victoria.

Q. Do you consider the feeling of the people in your constituency is public feeling
in favor of allowing a free immigration of this kind ?— A. The general SilraSo^""^
feeling of the people is certainly strongly in favor of restricting further
immigration. I may say if we had not the 1,200 Chinese as now em-
ployed in Cariboo, there would be the same number of white people.

Q. Are there several companies employing Chinese in your district? — Employed by com-
A. Yes, there are several companies, and white companies, too, employing pames.
Chinese labor. In many instances they are companies composed of, how-
ever, poor men, and in order to pay their men live as it were from hand to
mouth and on credit. These same men would be glad if possible to
employ white people if they were in a position, but two or three bits a
<iay is a great object to them, so hiring cheap labor is a necessity. We must j„ ^ British Co-
not overlook the fact we are establishing a British colony.^ It is true we i^^^e'^^'^of the*'
may have less capital, but it would be more beneficial in the end having Queen,
loyal subjects to the Queen.

W. K. Bull, examined by the Hon. Mb. Chapleau : BULL.

I am a resident of Victoria, and a government official. I am provin- How Chinese first
cial and municipal tax-collector. I have been a resident of Victoria '='^"'®-
twenty years. The Chinese immigration began, I think, in British Col-
uinbia eight or ten years ago. I think they found their way here from
San Francisco and the other side, after the cessation of labor and public
works in California. The first capacity they engaged in was washing
clothes and as domestic servants, and other inferior labor. A limited a limited numbei-
number is not objectionable. I do favor Chinese restriction, as it "o* objectionable-
would divert the capital which would result from white labor. Too many
is objectionable. I can cite no particular individual case as to the effect
of Chinese labor brought into competition with white labor, but I speak
of the evil of too many Chinese in a general sense.

Q. What taxes are you called upon to collect from the Chinese here ?— Taxes^^coteted
A. The provincial tax for the government, which includes the school tax,
and the road tax for the corporation. These are the only two. The pro-
vincial tax is $3 per head, the road tax $2 per head. The Chinese do not
contribute anything nearly as much to the revenue as they ought to do. 3,000 in Victoria
The Chinese population of Victoria is about .3,000.

Q. What means have you for ascertaining that is the population ?— A.
Only from general observation and going around ; it is only supposition.
I have no assessment-roll for collecting, as it is impossible, owing to their

3ULiL 62

constantly moving about. I keep a list, however, of names from whom I
collect. I collect, or try to collect, from every person over eighteen years
of age.

750 Chinese down Q. From the list just mentioned, how many Chinese names have you
butSlt^a?somc ^s having paid ?— A. About 750 have their names down. Last year
1,400 paid. there were more, but this year they are poorer. Last year, I think about

1,300 or 1,400 paid. The late fire seemed completely to have revolution-
ized them, burning their quarters and making them remove to other
places, as before I knew where to find them pretty well. Formerly there
were two Chinese theatres running, but now there is not one. There is a
f great difficulty in getting at them. Many are now so poor that there is

lecting taxes. nothing to seize in case they will not pay their taxes but a table or chair.

Those who were employed on the railway last year have gone on the
mainland, and new comers have not any employment, and the canneries
this season are employing very few. I can furnish the names on the
assessment-roll to the Commission. They have paid about the same in
proportion to each of the two taxes. The wealthy class of Chinese do not
assist me in my collections ; they never seem to show any disposition to
point out to the lower classes the necessity of contributing to the general
revenue. With those who are getting good wages, say $30 a month, I
often have to argue the question of the school tax, as when they are asked
Generally gets the for it they say they do not go to school, but I usually get the best of the
them. argument — that is, I get the tax. They do not evade paying the tax by

passing the receipts given them to other parties. We cannot summons
them ; only seize their goods.

Opium. Q Qa,!^ you give us an idea as to the condition of their tenements ? — A.

Some are in very bad condition, with bad smells around ; but there are
new buildings which are better. Their clothes are as clean as most
people of the same class, with no objectionable smell only as far as opium
is concerned. Their crowding together does not seem to affect them the
same as it would white people, though many look miserable. There does
not appear to be any great amount of sickness amongst them. I have not
come across any white people being depraved by opium, never having seen

?„^rv,??i"^™^^°/" white people in their houses. There is no mixing of loose white women

iio Willie pcrsoni' •ii-ri ii i/> • i

■ depraved by with them. 1 liave only heard or one instance where a white woman was

•opium. found smoking in one of their dens. She was a young woman, and I

think a half-caste Indian. I do not think she was a loose woman exactly,

only had a strong desire for opium.

Q. Is it true that Chinese servants have corrupted the morals of white
children ? — A. There may be an isolated case ; that is all.

"Chinamen do not Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : In the evidence given before the House of
aS^^i^hathl'!^''"'^ Commons, it has been stated white women employ Chinamen to scrub

them whilst in their baths ? — A. I have never heard of that, never having

heard a complaint in this respect.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : It is discreditable that, without positive evi-
dence, such a statement should have been made before the Committee of
the House of Commons and placed on record. It is evidence which has
the effect of destroying the fair fame of the female sex of this city and
country ; and such careless and unauthorized statements are calculated to
create an improper impression in the East.

63 BULL

Hon. Mr. Chapleau : I do not suppose the impression from such a
source would be very deep.

Hon. A. E. B. Davie here handed in papers showing the police
evidence taken in regard to the Fisguard street murder, remarking : They
will show the Commission how difficult it is to obtain the truth from
Chinese witnesses.

Hon. Mr. Justice Gray : There can be no doubt as to the difficulty of
"obtaining truthful evidence from the Chinese.

John Jessop, examined by the Hon. Mr. Justice Gray ; JESSOP.

I am the Dominion agent ; and have been seventeen months provin- Instance in which
•cial immigration agent and Dominion Government agent. My duty is to ^t™ wMte 'me^
give information to new arrivals. I keep a record of all applicants for getting worlc.
lands and work, and answer all correspondence. Previous to that, some
seven or eight years, I was superintendent of education. I have had my
attention directed to the Chinese in this country, especially at the com-
mencement of this year. In my official capacity I have never had any-
thing to do with them at all. 1 think that during the three months end-
ing with April there must have been 400 or 500 white immigrants seeking
employment exclusively, who were induced by the government hand-book
to come here in view of obtaining work, as it set forth the dry-dock would
lie commenced, and the graving-dock and Island railway also ; these
men expecting to work as laborers and afterwards to settle on land. My
advice was, therefore, after being disappointed, to direct them to the dif-
ferent districts to cut cord-wood, etc.; but they found the Chinese already
cemployed, and could not work at the same rate as paid these people.
Many left very angry, and some suggested the province should be called
" Chinese Columbia" instead of British Columbia. Last year there was
plenty of work, because white labor was not in excess of the demand ;
the demand on account of the canneries and other industries up the coast
was considerable, and the immigration was not so large last year . as this.
I have no means of ascertaining what the number of white settlers are
this year. I can only refer to the Immigrants' Guide as to the number of
applicants.

Q. Were there no lands to give these immigrants to settle on ?— j^fg^li|^| °f, '*^
A. Yes ■ at New Westminster. Many have gone up the east coast since Cowichan settle-
the Island railway lands have been open to preemption by Parliament, I ™^" ■
think. I think fifty heads of families have gone to the Cowichan settle-
ment, and four or five to Alberni, and twenty or twenty-five heads of
families have settled between Nanaimo and Comox. I do not think fifty
heads of families will represent 150 people, as many have not brought the
whole of their family out as yet.

Hon. Mr. Chapleau : Do you think settlers are coming in a whole- Chinese and mar-
some proportion? — A. I think so. I have been receiving communi- ^et gardening,
cations from market-gardeners as to the chances of their succeeding
in that branch of industry. I have told them that the Chinese
monopolize that branch here, but that I do not think but what they would white girls wiu
succeed if they came. One objection is white girls coming here will not chinrse''arc'^''*''''
work where Chinamen are kept, as there is a great antipathy to them, employed.

JESSOP 64

One instance I may give of this : A good, sturdy Scotch girl, directed by
nie for employment in a white family as domestic servant, tried it, and,
although she was willing to do almost anything, she left the situation be-
cause she would not work with a Chinaman employed in the house. I
think the English gardeners would succeed in business if they turned their
attention to it. I am not aware that the Italians have driven the Chinese
out of the market from San Francisco, as mentioned before the House of
Commons in Canada.

But lor antipathy Hon. Mr. Chapleau : Chinese work only for good wages ? — A. The
whites " would *be wages paid to Chinese the white servants would be quite willing to accept,
^ritt^them'S'^tte ^®'"® ^* ^°^ ^°^ *^® antipathy to them. I think that such as cutting
siunc rates. cord-wood at Chinese rates white men would undertake, but I thihk

they would like to do it only temporary. It is a fact that white labor

has succeeded in the manufacture of cigars in spite of Chinese labor.

The Chinese are an industrious and quiet population in the locality, not

knowing anything to the contrary.

ROBSON. Hon. John Robson, Provincial Secretary, examined :

I have been resident in this province since June, 1859, and a member of
the government here since January last, twelve months.

.^tation politi- Q. At what date began the agitation which now exists against Chinese

1872. "" imriugration to this province ? — A. I think it commenced as a political

question in 1872. The population of Chinese then was not large, but it
Chinese, before was beginning to be made felt. They came from California. I do not
oamif froSTcsaf- ' think there was a direct cargo brought from China till after the railway
'""'''>' works commenced.

Thinks about 6,0M Q. What means have you of ascertaining the number of them
on railway works, in the province? — A It has been lately nothing more than guess work;
no census has been taken of the Chinese population. I am speaking of the
provincial efforts. There was, however, some loose attempts made last year
to see how many were employed on the railway works. I think it was
estimated at 6,000. As far as I am aware there has been no system-
atic attempt to ascertain the population of Chinese in this city. I think it
is estimated at about 3,000 or 4,000.

Difflcultyinaacer- Q. What means have you used in ascertaining the number employed
Chfnese"?™ the ° ^^ ^^^ city 1 — There has been no means beyond the tax-collector's returns.
^'*y- I had a return made yesterday, which number was 750. This would, or

ought to, include all merchants, employees, servants, etc. The great bulk of
them cannot be ascertained as they go out like bees and packed as it
were in a box like sardines, so that it is impossible to get proper returns;
and a great number are supported by their own countrymen. They go out
in the morning in every direction, and it is impossible to know where they
go. We have only a money return of 750 out of the total number of
Unsatisfactory Chinese in Victoria. It is a fact, and it seems extremely unsatisfactory,
t»T.iwviT.o. ro=„ that out of this estimated population of 3,000 to 4,000 only a return of 750
is made as having paid taxes. I wish to repeat no actual effort has been
made to obtain the real number of Chinese either in the city or through-
out the province.

Q. Have you any system of jpoor relief in the province ? — A. No..

tax-paying result

65 ROBSON.

Q. Have there been many Chinamen left to private citizens or public Many desUtute
v • , » , o » mi 1 n ■ , 1 , , T , supported by their

Charity tor support i — A. ihere have been instances, but not many. 1 know friends.

that many of the destitute Chinese have to be supported in a miserable
way by their friends. There is not a large contingent of Chinese in our
hospitals — lighter in proportion than the whites. The Chinese do not
believe in treatment by the whites. I do not know of any contagious
diseases amongst them ; but the Chinese quarters are looked upon with
fear and trembling when any contagious disease comes round. The death- greater than
rate, answering at random, is, I should say, not larger or smaller than the among the whites,
whites — there is no special custodian of such records, except under
the municipality. When a Chinaman dies he is buried in the public
cemetery, buried by themselves, with their own rites. I suppose
the grave-digger keeps a record of their burials, but that is all ;
and, as I have said before, he is employed by the municipality.
The Chinese, I have heard, are clean in their persons ; but I differ with it, S??'*^ """"^ morals
as I consider their habits are as filthy as their morals, in both eating,
drinking, and sleeping. I do not think a Chinaman is to be compared at
all with the habits of white people. They sleep in beds not fit for dogs and
live in dirty hovels, so how can they be clean at all ? I do not think it is the
general opinion that they are at all clean. Domestic servants are obliged to
keep themselves in cleanliness or they would be turned out. It is con-
tended on one side that the Chinese are a necessity in British Columbia, Chinese prevent
as we have not the white people. I contend it is confounding, as the coming in.
Chinese prevent white persons and laborers from coming into the country,
as the whites look upon it as slave-labor. I am speaking of general
evidence and opinion. The greater portion of these poorer classes are
brought into the country by private companies, who pay the greater
portion of their earnings to these people and engage for a term of years
to work for them. I believe I am correct in saying when several thousands
of these Chinamen were thrown out of employment they went into camp
without any means of subsistence, and quite a panic was caused amongst
the whites as it was thought they would steal and plunder, and I believe
these companies gave them just sufficient to keep them alive. Hundreds
gathered in what is termed " sick-salmon," that is salmon that has died,
and which is altogether unfit for human food. The difiiculty was, however, ^

met by these companies, though quite a panic was created, and instances
where protection was asked from the government. I understand that the Wages paid over
wages of those Chinamen belonging to these companies are paid over to '° companies,
the companies, and the proportion due to these men who are brought out
is paid over to them. This information I have from the principals of the
railway offices. I wish to say that with such a class of labor as this in the
country we cannot expect white labor to come in, and I contend that white
labor would have come here the same as in other countries had it not been
for the Chinese. Mr. Onderdonk has tpld me he has been obliged to take
Chinese labor as there was no white labor here. You cannot get white
men and white women to come here and compete with Chinese labor in
both the kitchen and the field. I do contend that if the Chinese had been
prevented coming in here, the whites would have sought British Columbia
as a field of industry. I will admit that there is certain classes of Chinese in some fields ot
labor which can be procured at cheaper rates than white labor, but we oh^ape^^''but by
must remember Chinese labor means impoverishing the country, as all sendmg the money
their savings go back to China, and they do not contribute in any way to thcy°topoverishei
the building up of a country. The extravagant wages asked for by white i'-
Jabor is because there is no white labor here.

5

TUCKFIELD

66

Victoria, B.C., August 22nd, 1884.

Mr. TucKFiELD, examined by the Hon. Mr. Chapleah :

The Knights
Labor.

Our association (the Knights of Labor) is not registered, but is
a secret society, chiefly extended in the United States and Canada. There
are 3,200 lodges. One lodge in this city. I do not know how many members
here. I think between one and two hundred. It is only a young
society here, established about six months ago. I am not president of the
association, but am chairman of the committee appointed to wait upon
this Commission. Mr. Booth, the president of the association, is present.
The reason why the committee was appointed is to give their views of
the Chinese question.

Condition of
Chinatown filthy,

Q. You can express your views, but we cannot take them as those of a-
legal society. — A. I am ready to offer to the committee the resolutions
that have been passed amongst ourselves, as representatives of the laboring
classes, to the Commission. This resolution I hand to the chairman of
the Commission. The resolutions have in view an expression of our
opinion concerning the opportunity of pointing the Commission to the
evil of the Chinese, and upon the action of the government on the
question — one of them asking, or ordering, them to forward copies of the
same to the government and to the Commission appointed.

The Chairman said they could not investigate anything concerning the
duties of the government and the Commission, but will take into consider-
ation, and accept with pleasure, all information, however irregular it
might be, of those that come before the Commission.

[Witness handed to the Commissioners a paper purporting to be a report
of the committee of the association, said report being generally to
the following effect, viz. : That the witness, and some of his asso-
ciates (Knights of Labor) having visited the Chinese quarters in
Victoria, have found the premises occupied by Chinese in a most un-
healthy condition ; that vice, including prostitution and gambling, is
abundant in those quarters. That some white men and women have been
found smoking opium and associating with Chinese gamblers and prosti-
tutes; that in one tenement, twelve feet wide by twenty-four feet long,
with two stories, forty-three Chinamen were sleeping on the floor, lying
side by side, the only window being closed, and the air in the room stifling.
Wash-houses have also been visited and are considered as unhealthy
and likely to spread diseases. That the Chinese portion of the city stands
over a large ravine filled in with filth ; and the cess-pools in other places
contribute towards disease, which must break out in the city. We have
ascertained that about 4,000 Chinese reside in the city. They
are a non-assimilating race. Their vices are most disgusting. They turn
their sick out to die in the streets, and their lepers to fill our prisons.
They control the labor market in this city. As producers and consumers
they are no benefit to the country. Their mode of living, a few cents per
day, and the absence of families among them, will make the white men.
White men cannot powerless to compete against them for labor. Our children must seek
employment in other countries to make room for a race of cuckoos, who
come to our land to purchase their freedom. In fact, the results of our-
investig^tions. brings us to the conclusion that the Chinese are a disgrace-
to a civilized community, and we beg that steps, may he taken to stop the-
influx of Chinese to our shores.]

A non-assimilat
ing race.

compete with
them

«7 TUCKFIELI>

Witness continued : They go so far, now, not only to supply the
general merchants, but sell • individually to the whites. The schools h'^'H',?,''/'^'"^'^
are educated in a large measure by female teachers, and I consider that if their awtSera or
children are taught by female teachers the least thing that could be done ^®™^^« ^^'*° ^'
is that children in houses should be attended by their mothers or feinale
servants instead of by Chinese coolies.

Q. Since how long have the Chinese been employed in the different
pursuits of labor you have mentioned ? — A. So far as my own idea is con-
cerned it is almost since their introduction. They have been here for
about ten years and in some cases more. Laundries especially were their
first industry.

Q, Are they not now stated to be doing the washing of nearly the Doing the washing
whole of the population here? — A. I believe they are. whoie%opittation,

Q. Have you heard of any special case of disease attributed to the
wearing of linen washed by the Chinese 1 — A. About that part I have
not heard of anything.

Q. How many persons suffering from leprosy have you counted ?— A. Leprosr.
The only case I know of is the one mentioned, during this investigation,
by Dr. Helmcken and Mr. Mewin, already heard before the Commission.

Q. The visit you made was in company with a police officer, I under-
stand ? — A. Yes. I think it was officer Walker.

Q. How many houses did you visit ?-^A. About sixty or seventy
cabins.

Q. Are the Chinese, according to your personal observation, generally The Chinese ap-
.clean in their person, though inhabiting, as you have said, rather filthy persons.
rpremises 1 — A. As far as my observation goes the Chinese always appear
clean in their persons, though, I must say, I do not know of any washing
places where they clean themselves.

Q. Do they appear to suffer the same as you and I would from the Healthy,
close quarters in which they live ? — A. The necessities of life make them
more or less healthy as they are always moving about, and they avoid
diseases.

Q. How many white people did you see during the night smoking Opium-smoking-
opium ? — A. We saw three men lying on a shelf smoking opium, and in
another place two white men and one half-breed woman.

Q. Did they appear respectable people ? — A. I do not know the white
men. Those seen in the opium dens at first sight seemed what I took
to be sailors. The police officer made some remarks about them, and
one of them answered that he was in the habit of coming to smoke
6pium, using it as a medicine when he was suffering from diarrhoea.

Q. The woman you saw there, was she known to the police officer to be

a prostitute t — A. I do not know who the woman was, she could not have

been respectable, of course, and she was in company of two white men.

-There were two women there with two Avhite men, one was a half-breed

and the other a white woman.

30NES 68

RiCHAED Jones, examined by the Hon. Mr. Justice Gray :

•Se'^bucket^ tl? '° "'" ^^^^ been in the local government service as assessment tax collector,
amount ql proper- The Chinese merchants pay property-tax in the city. It is hardly a drop,
ne^i^''*''^ in the bucket, what the Chinese pay, in proportion to the whites. Every

Chinaman in the province is supposed to pay $2 as provincial revenue
tax. One thousand and forty have paid this in the districts and this city,
i. e., including Esquimalt, etc. The number was less last year than the
year before. There ought to be over S,000 pay. I think there must be
between 3,500 and 4,000 Chinamen in the city. It has been my duty to
«oUect\om''chi- ^° °"* *° ^^^ vegetable gardens, etc., to collect from them. It is one of
Jiese. the most difficult tasks you can undertake to collect from Chinese. When

you get them in a tight place you have often to distrain on their property,
and after a few days they will come down and pay^ but not without.
Their clothes appear to be only dirty blankets. [The witness here handed
to the Commission a memorandum showing the number of Chinamen
who paid provincial revenue tax from January, 1882, also the number of
white men who have paid provincial revenue tax, from January, 1884,
to July, 31st, 1884.*] I have not the returns of the amount of provincial
revenue tax paid in other parts of the province. These statements can
be had at the treasury department. The Indians do not pay any tax.
I have not had a great difficulty in collecting from white people,
sometimes they may ask for a little time. As to the whites who pay
'The Chinese lend we keep a register. The Chinese lend their receipts, handed to them on
.eachotti™r.''*^*° paying the tax, to each other; and once' I put thre» in the chain-gang
for the offence. They are difficult to recognise as they all dress so much
alike and are similar in features. I have asked them why so many come
out from China, and have been told a benevolent society does this ; and
when a new cargo arrives they mix up in Chinatown, so that it is impossible
-Stench. to keep track of them. The stench around the vegetable gardens is

sufficient to knock any one down, as they keep the urine in big casks which
is collected from their neighbors in town and carted out at night. This,
afterwards is baled out in tins and put on the vegetables. The laboring
' Work (or two bits ™en work for about two bits a day, coming out here as slaves, and after
.a day. paying off their indebtedness to the company bringing them out they can

then go and do as they please.

Mr. Booth was then asked if he had anything to add as president of
the society which Mr. Tuckfield represented this morning, and, after a few
remarks.

The Hon. Mr. Chapleau said he would not have time to hear him at
great length, and suggested that he should put his views in writing and
send them on to the Commission at Ottawa.

Mr. Booth : I shall only think it an honor to do s«.

' Note. The reporter is mistaken. The witness handed in only the number of China-
men who paid provincial revenue tax.

69

ANSWERS TO PRINTED QUESTIONS.

THE FOLJiOWING ARE THE QUESTIONS REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT.

1. 'What classes of people come here as emigrants from China ? Are
they chiefly laborers, mechanics or traders 1

2. "When they arrive here, do they usually arrive in good health and
fit for work ?

3. Have you any system of public poor relief, and do they often become
a burden on that fund, or upon the private charity of white citizens ?

4. Are they industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding, or are they
lazy, drunken, extravagant or turbulent? Please answer this question
fully.

5. Do they respect their engagements with white men, and carry out
their contracts 1

6. Do they show any disposition to interfere with the prospects of the
white population in any way beyond the competition which they offer in
the labor market ?

7. When the Chinese first came to this province, did they supply a
want then felt, and was their coming encouraged and welcomed ?

8. Up to what period did that feeling continue 1

9. When did the agitation against the Chinese begin, and what class
or classes of people began it, and what classes are now carrying it forward ?

10. Is there anything in their habits or mode of living injurious to the
public peace, or to the public health 1 Please answer this question fully.

11. Has the presence of Chinese contributed to the development of the
province ?

1 2. Is their presence here any longer necessary or desirable 1

13. What would be the effect upon the comfort and prosperity of the
people of this province, if they were to go hence voluntarily or other-
wise?

14. Are not a certain number necessary, and if so how many ?

15. What proportion (if any) should Chinese immigration bear to the
immigration of white people in order to advance the best interests of the
colony and provide for the comfort of the people now here, or those who
may come here?

16. What would be the effect upon immigration into this colony of
person's with capital, if the supply of domestic servants depended upon the

- number of such coming from Europe or other parts of America ?

17. Is it your opinion that the present Chinese residents should be
forced to leave this province, or the further advent of others should be

BEGBIE

70

prevented, or merely that the numVjers coming should be regulated in
some manner, as to the number and choice of such emigrants ?

18. What manner would you suggest should be adopted to restrict or
regulate their coming?

19. Would a. combined effort on the part of the people of this province
and its legislature, to encourage white immigration, and discourage the
employment of Chinese, effectually furnish a supply of white labor, exclude
Chinese immigration, and at the same time develop the natural resources
of the colony as speedily and safely as they are now being developed 1

20. Can white people now find remunerative employment here and steady
work, and is such renumeration adequate to support and clothe and
educate their families and make reasonable provision for old age ?

21. Has not the opening up of the public lands reserved for railway
purposes had a material effect on the immigration of settlers to this
province ?

22. Has white immigration been retarded by the presence of Chinese
immigrants in this province 1

23. What personal observations ha^e you made as to the effect of the
Chinese upon the morals of the white people, and are they more injurious
than white people of similar or allied habits ?

24. Is the proportion of depraved and immoral people amongst the
Chinese here greater than amongst white population in other places
similarly situated, where the Chinese are not found ?

25. Do the vicious and depraved flaunt their vice and depravity more
openly or more effectually than do white people in similar classes ?

26. What personal knowledge have you of the presence of leprosy
amongst them, and have you any personal knowledge of leprosy being
communicated from them to the whites, and, if so, how many instances
and under what circumstances 1

27. Can you give any statistical or other information, or furnish any
facts bearing on the general question now being considered by the Com-
mission, which will facilitate its work or make its labors more complete ?

BEGBIE. Sir Matthew Begbie, Chief Justice of British Columbia, returned the

following answers : —

Chinese immi- 1- Chinamen in British Columbia appear to follow any description of

IS;"mine?s^gar-' inc^ustry which may appear useful, i.e., in which they can obtain employ-
4eners, domestic- ment or earn their livelihood. I should say by far the larger number of them
chante.'* '*"^ "*''" trust to the pick and shovel : either agricultural, or road-making, or min-
ing. There are many who mine for gold on their own account, working
chiefly on the bars of rivers and water-courses, with rockers and flumes.
Many are, or were recently, employed at Nanaimo in coal mines, both
above and below ground. Many undertake gardening and small farms.
Another large class take to domestic service; scarcely any establish-

71 riEGBlE

ment in the province has any other servants. Another large class take
to trade ; they have the whole business of supplying their fellow-country-
men, and some firms compete with the most respectable Europeans in
general trade. The menial businesses of washing and of splitting arid Chinese washer-
sawing stove-wood are almost entirely engrossed by Chinamen. I do not men.
believe there are many mechanics, properly so-called. I only know of Not many
their being employed in two manufactures : shoes and cigars. There are mechanics,
few carpenters. They are employed about every building ; but generally
as mixers of mortar, hodmen, wheel-barrowmen : not as masons, or brick-
layers, or carpenters. Every Chinaman in British Columbia has the air
of having worked, and of being ready to work, with his hands, except a
few who practice as medical men and the leading commercial men.

:2. So far as I have observed, they are invariably ready and anxious to Arrive healthy
go to any kind of work immediately on their arrival here; and fit for ^^^'wOTk '*'"'^'
work so far as health is concerned. ™^ ^°'" '

3. I am sorry to say we have no system of public poor relief, or of pub- Chinamen do not
lie relief of any kind, except the hospitals and the asylum. Chinamen do chSiSr""''"''
not much trouble the hospitals. I never heard of Chinamen becoming a

burden on the private charity of the whites. I have an indistinct remem-
brance of having been once asked to contribute to the cost of removing
a disabled Chinaman ; I am not sure. Such cases must be extremely
rare. Nothing is more common than to be called on to relie-s'e whites by
private charity.

4. To answer this question fully is to destroy the force and meaning of Industrious,
the answer. Industry, economy, sobriety, and law-abidingness are i^'^fedlng^"^'
exactly the four prominent qualities of Chinamen as asserted both by

their advocates and their adversaries. Lazy, drunken, extravagant, and
turbulent : this is, by the voices of their friends and foes, exactly what a
Chinaman is not. This is, on the whole, I think, the real cause of their
unpopularity. If Chinamen would only be less industrious and economical,
if they would but occasionally get drunk, they would no longer be the.If they were
formidable competitors with the white man which they prove to be in the w "uld m)t bTjn
labor market ; there would be no longer a cry for their suppression. They B- C.
would not be liked ; the two races are too dissimilar, and each has too
high an opinion of his own deserts. But they would not be hated ; in
fact they would not be here to excite hatred. The reason why they are
here is, because their peculiar qualities command a ready market. If they
had not these qualities, nobody would want them. If nobody wanted
them, they would not come. But these qualities meet with no competi-
tion here ; and the Chinaman sees no person to take his place were he to
abdicate it. I have heard an individual Chinaman stigmatized as "lazy;"
but the fact was he conceived himself insulted, and was sulking. Their Their ceaseless
never-ending, ceaseless toil is like nothing but an ant-hill. I cannot recall t^tanant-^.^
to memgry that I ever saw or heard of a Chinaman being drunk. Extra-
vagant they certainly are not, though they live well when they can afford
it, both inside and out : chicken and silk jacket. And they certainly do
sometimes run in debt, both in trade debts and in gambling, which is
their chief vice. There is scarcely an epithet so removed from the notion Not turbulent ;•
of a Chinaman as " turbulent," though of course they may be provoked to S^fS *** '"''''''
resist violence. They are somewhat given to petty thefts, and so not
invariably law-abiding. But these thefts are rarely, if ever, accompanied
by violence or threats against the person. Indeed it may be conjectured

BEGBIE

72

that they generally steal through want. For, looking to their universal,
employment as domestics, their large brotherhoods, necessarily impenetra-
bly secret to the whites, and the unguarded condition of our houses, the
pilfering by Chinamen servants is really quite inconsiderable. I believe
that two of the white servants I have had have pilfered more from me-
than any twenty Chinamen in Victoria ever stole from their employers. .

Respect their 5. Yes ; better than white men do with each other. They are notori-

GoM tenants'. ously excellent tenants, paying rent punctually.

Interfere little, if 6. So far as I see, I do not quite understand how they could, except,

prosp^oterfthe perhaps, in commerce. They have some firms, wealthy and busy for

white population British Columbia firms ; but I do not think these compete for European
engaged m trade. • ,

consignments.

Chinese supplied a 7. Those who stayed in Victoria and the lower country, chiefly engaged
never welramed. ^^ domestic service, washing, etc. These certainly supplied a want then
felt ; but I do not think they were ever much encouraged or welcomed,
except that they found employment readily on terms satisfactory to them-
selves. The greater part took their picks and shovels to the gold mines.
I cannot say they were much wanted there ; nor was their coming there,
so far as I recollect, much welcomed or encouraged. On the contrary,
they were from the first thoroughly unpopular in the mines ; the mining
population being very Californian in its prejudices, its likings and dis-
likings. Nor do I think that the feeling has much changed, although they
now go quite freely to the Cariboo, and have for many years ; also to the
Cassiar. They did not go to those districts at first, for obvious reasons ;
I think the police could scarcely have guaranteed them.

No a^tation
against Chinese
until Confedera-
tion.

Feeling against
them a raee
dislike, which is
reciprocal

Chinese in every
respect the
reverse of Euro-
pean.

8 and 9. I do not think that the feeling of the whites against China-
men has much changed ; but I do not recollect anything that can be
called "agitation " against them until Confederation. The agitation is of
the same description as that felt by the hand-loom weavers against the-
power-looms ; by the flail-wielders against the threshing-machines in
England fifty years ago ; by the Solway fishermen aajainst the stake-nets
in the last century ; by the lower orders in many parts of Europe against
the Jews ; and by the coal-miners in Pennsylvania against the machine-
borers at the present day. That seems to be the impulsive force which
brings into action the ever-present dislike between the Indo-Caucasian .
and this branch of Mongolians. This dislike, which otherwise might lie ■
dormant or inert, is certainly mutual; it is manifested in China, we are-
told, more extensively and stringently than here, and without any impulse-
there from direct competition for bread. Europeans at Canton or Shang-
hai are not safe beyond their allotted cantonments, any more than a China-
man would have been on Williams Creek twenty years ago. The Chinaman
is in every respect the reverse of an European, except that he is a man.
His religion, his notions of honor and rank, his mode of thought, his
dress, his amusements, his sense of beauty, his vices, are not to our taste
at all, or such as we can take to or even understand ; and his language,
spoken or written, appears to us at once incomprehensible and ridiculous!
Yet they as evidently despise all our attainments and ways ; and, what is
most annoying, they come here and beat us on our own ground in supply-
ing our own wants. They are inferior, too, in weight and size of muscle,
and yet they work more steadily and with better success on the arerace
than white inen. "

73 BEGBIE

A distinguished political writer of the present day speaking of the
Judenhetze in Europe, thus expresses himself :

" What is it that in every age, and in so many and in so different coun- Race-hatred
"tries, not only ancient, but to-day, in Russia, Germany, Roumania, causes casJlrfaitVew'^*^
" this hatred of the Jews 1 An intuitive antipathy, jealousy mingled with
" contempt. The Roumanian finds himself in company with a large num-
" ber of people of alien race, of feelings, traditions and religion quite
" different from his — people who do not own the same ties of fatherland
" as he, who do not intermarry with him or his kindred, and whose domestic
" institutions are unknown and perhaps unintelligible to him. So in
" Germany. There can be no doubt that the Judenhetze derived its strength,
" not from the historical arguments of Professor Von Treitschke nor from
" the Christian arguments of court preacher StOeker, but from the wide-
" spread sense that the Jews were out-bidding the Christian Germans in
" the market."

Evidently such competition must be put down. In the central portions How Chinese
of Europe, this is attempted in a barbarous way — by brute force, by fire p^™^ow!i°" ^
and bludgeons. But countries of a higher political organization are pro-
vided with more tranquil and equally efiective methods ; and, with a few
regrettable exceptions, these latter methods only, in the main, have been
pursued here. Accordingly before the close of the First Parliament after
Confederation, Chinamen were deprived of the right of franchise, which
they had previously enjoyed. This was on the ostensible ground that all
Chinamen were actuated merely by direct money considerations. It is
highly probable that they are as accessible to bribery as the ordinary Bribery con-
white voter, but I am not aware that anv enquiry was made or evidence sidered in relatione

• tXJ WllltCS £LIlCl

taken on the point. On the other hand, some years later, it was sworn in Chinese,
evidence before the Kootenay Commission, 1878, that the majority of voters
(at that time all whites) in a certain district had received money for their
votes at the last previous election. This statement passed without comment
or contradiction. No disfranchisement was suggested on this ground.
Everything else follows logically. The constituencies are of exclusively
white race, with no property qualification. Members of the legislature in
a constitutional state are in duty bound to take the views of their consti-
tuencies as expressed at the polls ; and to support such measures as please
their constituents. This is their ratio existendi , unless they do so, they
would at the next election cease to be returned. A constitutional ministry
is bound to see their line of duty in the path indicated by the votes of the
majority of the house — they are, in fact, a sort of managing committee to
carry into efiect the wishes of that majority. They hold office on that
condition. And what the local house cannot esnact of itself, they, and
their committee of management, are bound to obtain or attempt by all
the means in their power to obtain from the superior legislature.

The same distinguished writer whom I have already quoted on the
Judenhetze, observes, in speaking of the rival programmes in the existing
presidential campaign in the United States : " The Irish vote or the Irish vote in the
" republican working man cannot be wooed successfully without attacks United States.
" on the bloated capitaKst, on English tyranny or treachery, or on the
-" unfortunate immigrants from China." Mutato nomine. The names of
races and states may be changed, but human nature remains the same
with Celt, and Slave, and Semite, and Mongolian.

10. I do not think their habits or mode of life are really injurious to g5u°ious°to public
the public peace or the public health ; not more than the habits of the peace or public

BEGBIE

74

They like
•ovei^crowding.

" Oharge that
Ohuiamen arc
infested with lep-
rosy unfounded.

No wide-spread
mischief rrom the
nse of opium.

Neither opium nor
cohacco as
• dangerous to the
public peace as

whiskey.

whites. There are several matters alleged against Chinamen : One is the
extraordinarily small space into which a cluster of them will retire for
rest. Four or five, or even ten or twelve, will be on a raised platform,
almost like a litter of puppies. It is said this is dangerous in a sanitary
view. I believe it is forbidden in London to lodge people for hire, without
a certain number of cubic feet in the room to each inmate. But I have
seen in a good-sized house, where there was plenty of cubic space, and
where each person might have had a separate bunk, five or six Chinamen,
not lodgers but owners, sleeping in a heap as above described. It does not
appear to affect their health unfavorably.

It is common to attribute to Chinamen generally, that they are infested
with disgusting diseases — e. g., leprosy. I believe this is pure imagination ;
an absolutely unfounded report. When an orator talks of Chinese lepers,
it is exactly the same unmeaning abuse as when a Canton periodical holds
out to popular indignation the foreign "red devils." There is no leprosy
or diabolism in the case ; though of course a Chinaman, like any other
man, may be a leper. The orator merely wishes to impress his audience
with the belief that 'he strongly objects to Chinamen. But if the orator
be in a position to keep a servant, he certainly keeps at his home one or
more of these " lepers," who cook all his food, wash all his clothes, his
glasses and his plate, waits at his table, kneads all the pastry he eats, and
makes all the beds he and his family sleep in. A Chinaman was once pointed
out to me who was alleged to be a leper. No doubt he had a very disgusting
skin disease ; I did not examine him at all ; on the contrary, I kept as far off
as possible. It may have been leprosy, which is not always identical in its
manifestations. He seemed to be quite as shocking to his own country-
men as to the whites. He was being shipped away when pointed out to me.
That was the only case of skin disease I remember to have noticed or heard
of among Chinamen. Such diseases, generally the result of vice, or heredi-
tary taint, are by no means unknown here among the whites and half-
breeds. I have seen many. These certainly were not contracted from
Chinamen.

It is alleged against them that they are inordinately given to the use of
opium — I do not know whether eaten, or smoked, or both — and that their
example is dangerous to the whites. I altogether disbelieve in any wide-
spread mischief here from opium. Most nations and tribes in the world,
even ravages, are given to the use of sedatives or narcotics of some
description. The Chinese, and I belive other Asiatic nations, use opium
extensively. In whole provinces, each as large as England, the poppy is the
chief agricultural crop, all for home use, none being exported. The enor-
mous consumption which this implies does not appear to prevent China-
men from being the most prolific race; the most indefatigable laborers,
and the keenest traders in the world. If any Chinamen here abuse the
drug by over-indulgence, they must hide themselves, or at all events they
have entirely escaped my observation. If their example persuades any
white people to similar over-indulgence, of which I am equally ignorant,
these must be a very degraded class — weaker and more degraded than the
Chinaman whose expulsion is demanded. Opium, as generally used here,
is probably as harmless as tobacco, which is also extensively used in Brii^
ish Columbia by Chinamen. They have manufactories here for their own
consumption ; and they probably consume far more tobacco than opium.
Neither opium nor tobacco extend in their evil effects beyond the indi-
vidual. They are not nearly so dangerous to the public peace as whiskey.
I am very far from thinking, and I wish not to be understood as at all
insinuating, that whiskey causes crime, or induces a criminal intention ;

75 BBGBIB

■on the contrary, it seems reasonable to hold that intoxication often ren-
ders a criminal intention impossible, and still more often lessens the
criminality of the oifence, which, committed deliberately by a sober man,
would evince a deeper hue of guilt. But there can be no doubt but that
drunkenness is the most frequent occasion of crime; that far more offences
are committed by men under the influence of liquor than when in their
sober senses. And to the injured party the ofience is just as great, and
very nearly as great to the community; whether committed under whiskey
or not. All the evils arising from opium in British Columbia in a year
do not, probably, equal the damage, trouble and expense occasioned to
individuals and to the state by whiskey in a single month, or perhaps in
some single night, As already observed, I do not remember ever to have
seen a drunken Chinaman ; and the argument against Chinamen founded
'On opium appears to be analagous to the comparison of the mote and the
beam.

It is alleged that not only the aggregation of Chinamen in their Chinese as a race
■dwellings is a source of danger to the public health, but that their habits their'habtte.'' *"
are filthy. This last allegation I take to be mere unfounded abuse, if
■directed against them as a race. There are of course dirty Chinamen.
Many of them are very poor, and are, perhaps, as dirty as poor white
people ; but that they are as a race dirty, or believed to be dirty, seems
quite incompatible with the fact that they are as a race unanimously
invested with a virtual monopoly of the two occupations requiring the
highest degree of personal cleanliness, viz., cooking and washing. Any
family in British Colombia will, at once, without any enquiry as to his
cleanliness, admit the first Chinaman who offers as a cook — where a cook
is wanted ; and really it may be said that no washing is given out to people
of any other nation. As to danger to the public peace, they are, I think, Not as inoUned t(f
less inclined to crimes of personal violence, than men of any other races. ™g™°'' "^^ °'''®''
They are occasionally dishonest, but the fact that they have (as being the
vast majority of domestic servants) more opportunities for pilfering, than all
the other inhabitants of British Columbia put together, and that very few Occasionally
serious thefts are laid to their charge, seems conclusive on this point. pilier.

11. Whether the presence of Chinamen is any longer desirable in Part played by
British Colombia, is to a certain extent a matter of opinion. But as to the voiopment of
past, the undoubted facts are : 1st. That Chinamen are very largely, and country.

t'll within a year, mainly, employed in all the laborious parts of our coal
mines; 2nd. They constitute three-fourths of the working hands about
every salmon cannery; 3rd. They are a very large majority of the
laborers employed in gold mining ; 4th. They are the model market
gardeners of the province, and produce the greater part of the vegetables
grown here ; 5th. They have been found to be absolutely indispensable in
the construction of the railway ; 6th. Tkej are largely, sometimes exclu-
sively, employed in nearly every manufactory or undertaking of any
description, not being under the authority of a board or council elected
exclusively by white voters.

12. This is again a matter of opinion. I do not see how people would get People could not
on here at all without Chinamen. They do, and do well, what white f «^ »" ^*o"t
women cannot do, and do what white men will not do. If Chinamen were

expelled, employers of labor would probably have to leave the province ;
and when they were gone, where would the employed be ?

BEGBIE

76

Many would haye 13. I do not know. Probably most people who now employ servants
men went-Public would go away. All canneries and ftiany other successful establishments
stoDDed'°"'^ ^"^ would be closed. The railway works (construction and repairs) would
necessarily be suspended. People with any realized property who remained
(if any remained) would be very uncomfortable, I should apprehend..
People without any means would probably have very few employers to
support them.

A certain (or an
uncertain) niim-
ber of Chinamen
necessary to
British Columbia.

Chinamen hop-
picking.

14. I should say, not a certain number, but an uncertain number, are
necessary to be retained ; to be imported, if all those now here should
depart. How many depends upon circjimstanoes. The supply would pro-
bably regulate itself as does the supply of horses. Would it be advisable
to banish all horses from the province? To do so, would open out
many opportunities for white men's labor. Would it be desirable to secure
a supply of half a million of horses ? They would probably eat us all up :
i. e., devour all our means of subsistence. There are supposed to be in
California more than 120,000 Chinamen. It is probable that in that state,
as in British Columbia, a good deal more than half the manual labor is
performed by Chinamen. It is, perhaps, worth while to refer to the condi-
tion of labor in the Californian vineyards and hop-grounds as mentioned
quite incidentally in the San Francisco Weekly Bulletin, 10th September,
1884, and consider what would be the effect on the development of our
infant agricultural country if half its laborers, and of its powers of supply
of laborers, were suddenly cut off. The result might of course be ultimately
beneficial ; but it is difficult to resist the opposite conclusion.

" St. Helena, September 8, 1884.

" Within a radius of two miles there are at this time no less than 500 China-
men engaged in gathering the hop crop. So far as I can judge from a casual
examination, the yield will be about equal to that of last year, and the quaUty
of the hops excellent. It is quite an interesting sight to watch the process of
picking and drying. For a field of twenty-five or thirty acres about 100 China-
men are employed. They pick, two together, into large boxes, which hold 140
to 150 pounds of green hop. The two poles which are set in each hill of hops
are pulled down, and the mass of hops laid across the box, which is covered
with an apron to prevent the leaves falUng in. The Chinamen work by con-
tract, and they rush from morning till night, seeming never to tire. As soon as
a box is filled a loud yell informs the foreman, who brings a sa«k, into which
the box is emptied, and the Chinamen are given a check. Two Chinamen can
pick from two to three boxes in a day, and as they receive $1.50 per box it will
be seen that they are earning white men's wages. Last year they only received
$1.25, but help at this time is scarce and the China bosses had only to demand
the raise and get it. It is understood that they will demand $1;25 a day for
grape picking, and no doubt the demand will have to be complied with."

15. This involves a calculation of an almost impossible nature; quite
impossible for me. What are the best interests of the colony ? Who knows
what white people may come here ? In what number, or what seeking, or
for what qualified ?

plTonaC w"uld 1, ^^- ^* '^ °* '""''■^® impossible to prophesy ; but as far as I can judge of
Snit the incoming human nature, the first cargo of capitalists, under the supposed conditions,
of capitalists, would not stop here long, and would frighten all other cargoes away. A

capitalist, with any common sense, wants either to enjoy his money or to
employ it ; which are indeed the only two plans by which his capital can
be of advantage to his. fellow man. But if the supply of service were
limited, as mentioned in the question, it seems very clear that he could
neither employ nor enjoy his money, and he would betake himself else-

77 BEGBlE

where. I do not say that the sum of human felicity here, or anywhere,
would be diminished by the absence of capitalists ; but there is surely no
method so likely to deter them as to limit in any way the supply of the
only importable article which they really require. The greatest natural
advantages in fisheries, mines, ports, are quite sterile unless operated on
by labor, and capital is necessary to support that labor. But capital alone
would be quite useless without labor ; and would be little likely either
to visit or remain in a province, where it would merely consume away.

It does not seem generally understood by those who work with their Labor and capital-
hands, that unless the result of their handiwork, is marketably worth more
than the money they receive for wages, their employment must soon stop.
"The lowest limit of wages is the money which will buy the necessaries of
life for the laborer. The highest limit is the whole of the augmented
value which his labor confers on the material operated on. If the laborer
accepts less than the first, he will die of want. If the employer give the
whole of the second, he will leave himself nothing to live upon, and will
speedily die of want in his turn, unless he more speedily retire from his
undertaking and place his capital in the funds : when he will at last get
interest. Between these two impassable limits the rate of wages oscillates
according to supply and demand. Now the only paying industries here
are the canneries and shoe factories, in both of which the labor is almost
exclusively Chinese. Owing to a very great superioritj in the mineral, the
coal mines have paid largely, notwithstanding the rates of white miners
wages, unequalled elsewhere ; but the coal mines have hitherto largely
employed Chinamen also. Few other established industries have accu-
mulated any gains.

After all that I have said about Chinamen, I can lay no more claim to Never in twentj-
consistency than anybody else in British Columbia. They are generally |ioyed*a\:;Wna-
abused, and yet everybody employs them. I have always asserted their i"'^"-
good qualities ; but I have never in twenty-six years had a Chinaman in
my house, an expensive whim that nobody else has indulged in. Still, I
have had my opportunities of seeing and hearing, for in all that time, I
.do not think I ever knew a family that did not employ at least one
Chinaman.

17 and 18. See answer to 15.

19. The combination which it is intended to suggest would be, I suppose, a combined effort
that the legislature should forbid such arrivals of Chinamen, and that the im^ig^tton'^''"''
white population should " boycott " those remaining here ; or else that the discussed.
legislature should decree their expulsion. But this would not suffice.
It would in addition be necessary that the employers should raise the
rate of wages, sufficiently to induce an equivalent influx of new white
labor to replace the expelled or boycotted Mongolians : the present rates,
$2 per day, for unskilled labor being barely sufficient to attract or
retain the whites already here. It may be doubted whether employers
would or could, voluntarily and unaided, adhere to this part of the com-
bination. The ordinary class of unskilled labor offered in the market here
(and the same is the experience of other colonies) is very unsatisfactory,
and the existing tariff has reached perhaps the utmost limit at which
employers can continue to exist. Therefore, lest the "combined effort"
should fail, it would be necessary that a minimum rate, say of |5 per
day (which would probably suffice to attract additional white labor) should -^g^^ take 6,oo«
be fixed by law. But it would take 6,000 new whites to do the work of whites to do the
the expelled Mongolians. In order to supply these with places,' it would « expelled."*"®

BEGBIE

78

be further necessary to enact that each person in the employing class must
employ from five to fifty of the new comers, at the improved rates. Only
one more ordinance would then be required in order to bring the " com-
bined effort" into full effect, viz., to make provision for supplying employ-
ers out of the public piirse with funds to meet this drain on their resources.
It is unnecessary to speculate upon the development thus accruing to the
material resources of the colony.

Instance of a
enccessfiU miner.

Smt'?or'u^r'°'^ ^^' ^ never heard of any person, white, black, or yeUow, who had labor^
British Columbia, to sell that was worth buying, who could not in this province fijnd a ready
employer. But in order to get remunerative employment here or anywhere
else in the world, a man must be able to do remunerative work. Aiid the
misery is, that many men who profess to be willing to turn their hands to-
anything know nothing to which they can usefully turn their hands.
Handicrafts require teaching and practice, and they have never learned.
The normal rates of wages are five shillings for Chinamen, and in Victoria
eight shillings for white men. Below that rate no white man, even if
penniless and hungry, is willing to engage upon any work or service what-
ever. Skilled artisans, carpenters, masons, blacksmiths ask from twelve to
twenty sliillings a day. Board is advertised at many hotels at sixteen
shillings a week : so I suppose eight shillings a day is remunerative to the
workman within the meaning of this question. A miner was recently
pointed out to me at Nanaimo in the employ of the Vancouver Coal
Company, an ordinary hewer and sinker, who has been in the employ of
the company and its predecessors at the current wages of the day for the
last thirty years. He has brought up and educated respectably a large
family of sons and daughters, all of whom are most respectably married or
self-supporting now. He has had no pecuniary aid whatever but his wages,
and I was told that he has been able to lay by as a provision for old age
(but he is still at regular work) the sum of between $30,000 and |40,000.
This, I imagine, may be taken to be a reasonable provision for old age,
within the meaning of the question. He has never drank, nor gambled,
nor dressed his wife and daughters in silks and satins ; he has enjoyed
good health and freedom from accident. It is undeniable that every miner
in Nanaimo, in proportion to his length of service, has had an equal oppor-
tunity of providing against old age, and such workmen would always be
welcomed by employers. Of course, when a worker is unable to give to his
employer the value of his wages, perhaps not the value of his board, no
employer can stand that long, as already pointed out in answer 16.

21. I think it has had a very material effect indeed. For instance, since
the beginning of the present year, three thousand souls, as I was informed,
ha,ve been located in one limited district alone, on the south side of Eraser
River, the opposite side to the railway. That is including wives and
children,

22. I camiot believe that it has ; on the contrary, as the presence of
Chinamen has enabled some small capital to be accumulated, they must
have augmented the wages fund in the province : i. e., the loose capital
seeking to increase itself by the employment of reproductive labor.

I do not believe that any single European in the province would em-
ploy a Chinaman about any undertaking if he could procure an European,
irrespective of wages, unless, of course, the European demanded wages
which precluded all profit on the undertaking. Chinamen are employed
not so much because their normal money tariff' is lower than the whites

Opening up of
public lands ma-
terially afTccted
white immigra-
tion.

White immigra-
tion not retarded
by presence of
Chinese.

Chinamen em-
ployed not from
prfrereiice, but
necessity.

79 BEGBIE.-

and yet not much lower ; many Chinamen get $30, and some even $35
and $4:0, per month — as because they are, as a rule, more sober, stea,dy,
docile and industrious. Their language is the great stumbling-block.
With very few exceptions, indeed, I never met a Chinaman whom I could
understand, beyond the commonest wants, or by whom I could feel any
certainty that I was understood, eVen for an ordinary message. Yet
I have often feared that I should he compelled to fall into the universal
practice and take Chinese servants into my house — which I have never
yet done. I have, indeed, been compelled to employ them indirectly ;
for there are things that whit^ people simply refuse to do at all, e.g., wash
and hew stove-wood.

I append a published list of railway labor rates for whites. The cor- Railway labor •
poration of Victoria employ a good many about the streets ; their tarifi ''*'«^-
is, I believe, $2 per day ; and the work seems by no means to call for
bver exertion. This table may also be applied to answer 20 :

ESQUIMALT AND NANAIMO EAlLWAY.

Contkactor's Office, \

Victoria, Sept. 22, 1884. f.

SCHEDULE OF WAGES FOE WHITE LABOR

on the ESQUIMALT AND NANAIMO EAILWAY.

Eock Boremfta $3 00 to $4 00 per day

Earth Foreman 2 50 to 3 00

Bridge Foreman 3 50 to 4 00 "

Bridge Carpenters 3 00 "

Blacksmiths, flrst-olass 3 50

Drillers 2 00 to 2 25

Laborers 1 75 to 2 00 '^

Hewers 3 00

Choppers 1 76 to 2 00

All outside labor, ten hours per day.

All carpenters to ftimish their own chest tools.

M employees find themselves bed, board and lodging.

Bbarding-houses will be convenient along the line ; board, $i per week.

It will not be compulsory for employees to board In the company's houses.

Wakes will be paid monthly, on the 15th of each nujnth.

GRAHAM & BUSK,

Contractors.

Office of the Contractors.
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY

Yale, March let, 1884,

-}

NEW SCHEDULE OF WAGES FOR WHITE LABOR

ON THE

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Overseers f 125 per month

Rock Foremen $3 00 to ?4 00 per day

Earth Foremen 2 50 to 3 00

Bridge Foremen 350to 400

Bridge Carpenters, ftrst-class 3 50

do. do. second-class 3 00

Masons ~^l° ? S

Stonecutters 3 00 to 3 50

Blacksmiths, fifst-olass 3 50

do. second-class 3 00

Drillers 200to 2 26

Laborers 1 75 to 2 00

TTn-ru-pi'S '' "*'

Choppere. '..■.■.'-■.'.■.■.■. ■.'.'.■. 2 00 to 2 50

All outside labor, ten hours per day.

AH carpenters to furnish their own chest tools.

All employees to find themselves bed board and lodgmg.

Boarding-houses will be convenient along the hne ; board, io per week.

It will not be compulsory for employees to board m the company s houses.

Waees will be paid monthly, on the 10th of each month.

^ A. ONDERDQNK,

General Manager

BEGBIE

SO

Never seen any
effect on whites
morally from

gresence of
hlnese.

"Chinese pros-
titutes.

Never heard of
more than one
case of alleged
leprosy.

Rival clans.

23. I have never personally observed any effect by the Chinese upon the
morals of the white people. The latter have occasionally been induced by race-
prejudice to indulge in acts of violence ; but it would be too much to say
from thence that the Chinaman had corrupted his cowardly assailants. One
Chinaman, last year, pleaded guilty to an indictment for indecent assault on
two girls of ten or eleven and twelve or thirteen years. I am not sure that he
quite understood the effect of his plea, nor am I at all sure that a jury
would have convicted a white man on the evidence in the depositions ;
but I felt sure he had acted abominably, whether tempter or tempted,
though I don't think it was he who had corrupted the childrens' morals in
the least. However that is the only case I remember in which it could be
alleged that a Chinaman had had any evil effect upon the morals of the
whites, a matter upon which they can have but very little influence, either
for good or evil. Whites who have evil communications with Chinese
must themselves be lamentably depraved beforehand ; and so, I should
be disposed to say, unmoral Chinese are not only not more injurious,
but they are quite innocuous to the morals of the whites, in comparison
with white people of similar or allied habits.

24 and 25. I have seen unmistakable prostitutes in the Chinese quarter
of Victoria. But I never noticed any indecent words or gestures, nor any-
thing comparable to what used to be seen any night in Holbom or the
Strand ; and, from all I have seen and heard, I should say that they do
not flaunt their vice and depravity at all. Many will say that they are
none the better for that, that Naples, and Paris, and Brussels are worse than
London, though the latter displays her vice infinitely more openly. Drunken
whites, I am sorry to say, are often to be seen in Victoria, by night or
by day ; but I do not remember ever to have seen a Chinaman under the
influence of liquor. Debauched whites sometimes frequent, I believe, Chinese
brothels, as they do Indian brothels. I don't think serious breaches of
the peace are proportionately more frequent in Chinese brothels than in
those kept by white women. Indian brothels breed the most disturbances ;
and they are close to the Chinese quarter. This is my notion, but any
constable's opinion is far more valuable.

26. As stated in my answer to enquiry ten, I have never seen or heard of
more than one case alleged to be leprosy ; whether that case was leprosy
or not, I camiot say. Of course I have no knowledge of that disease
having been communicated to any white person in British Columbia, and
I never saw or heard anything which would induce me to believe for an
instant that there is the slightest foundation for any such insinuation. It
is mere unmeaning abuse.

27. I have omitted to state that Chinamen here are generally divided
into two tribes, or clans — there may be more, but I have often had my
attention drawn to these two — viz.: "Canton" and "Hong Kong." Be-
tween these clans there is often much jealousy, and sometimes ill blood.
Their dialects are in many respects dissimilar, not only in pronunciation,
but to such an extent as to have different names for common things ; and
they very often do not well understand each other, perhaps not better'than
a Northumberland farm-laborer would understand one from Essex or Dor-
setshire. When a breach of the peace occurs among Chinamen, the cul-
prits are generally Canton versios Hong Kong; and when these come into
court, either in criminal or civil cases, it is common to allow each side to
have an interpreter, as well to watch that the evidence is truly inter-
preted as also to explain it to their respective clients.

81 BEGBIE

Owing partly to this, and partly also to their unintelligibility to whites, Kmploying on the
and vice versd, it is usual when twenty or thirty hands are engaged, e.g., expTamed!"
at a cannery, not to make the contract with each workman separately,
but with some one Chinaman who has learned some English, leaving him
to sub-contract with the men ; and he being the sole medium of communi-
cation between them and the owner of the cannery, this arrangement,
though unavoidable, necessarily leaves the men a good deal at the mercy
of this foreman. Sometimes this takes place on a much larger scale, and
-a Chinese merchant here will contract for a whole cargo of Chinamen,
fresh from China, whom he engages to provide with employment, and then
drafts them out to different employers here, for roads, canneries, etc. All
wages are paid to him, and he retains a portion from each workman as his
fee. These arrangements, 1 believe, give rise to the assertion that the
whole cargo imported are the slaves of the importer.

Another circumstance has probably induced a similar conclusion. Their Great diversity of
laws and customs of marriage and divorce, as in all non-Christian nations, marriage and
are widely different from ours. They are much more simple and arbitrary, divorce.
A wife is usually purchased in a very direct way, without any of the cir-
cumlocution wliich too often veils similar transactions among whites.
Divorces are effected by mere expressions of the will. A miner who feels
no shame in purchasing the possession of a female for a single night for
$20, is scandalized when a Chinaman pays $500 for the possession of
a female for six months, or until they disagree. No disgust is felt by
Europeans when parents make it a sine qud non on consenting to their
daughters' marriage that the husband shall settle ten or twenty thousand
dollars upon her ; but it is infamous if a Chinaman purchases the consent
of parents or guardians for one thousand dollars. It is evidence that the But loolc at liome.
female is a mere slave ; and that opinion is conclusively established when
the husband, after the fashion of his people, hands her over to a second
husband for a similar amount. The woman is a slave sold into prostitu-
tion, but the Chinese themselves look upon it in a different light. There,
was a case not long ago in court, before myself, on habeas corpus : A Chi- An instance
nese girl was contracted to marry a man who had offered the guardians womlnVo^d^"
five hundred dollars. Another suitor came forward, to whom, at first, it ff^™^"^^^"
seemed to me, she had no manner of objection, till it turned out that he bought,
proposed to take her from her guardians by virtue of the British law of
liberty and free choice and without making them any compensation what-
ever. From that moment she seemed to have taken the strongest distaste to
the man who placed no value upon her, and insisted upon going to him who
esteemed her worth, at all events, five hundred dollars more than nothing.
I apprehend much of what is said about Chinese slavery and prostitu-
tion proceeds from imperfect consideration of the difference between
Christian and non-Christian marriage; but I only guess this, I know
scarcely anything about it. , , .

Another ground on which I have heard it asserted that slavery is A^';;=ason wh^^ ^^
general among Chinamen here, is rather, I suspect, a proof of their tree- inferred not to
<iom, or would be so accepted among whites. It is that they demand wages, «^„'„'^^°^f„,,rs.
not such as they would take if left to their own choice, but such as are
dictated by certain leaders, who subsist on a percentage of those wages.

I have no doubt but that they have some sort of trades-unions, whose Chinese trades
officers and head-centres are supported by subscriptions from the wages
received ; themselves deciding both on each man's wages and on his sub-
scription. I have no doubt but that compulsion is put on all Chinamen, so
that it is very difficult for them to obtain work, if they remain outside
this organization. But Messrs. Broadhead, Odger and Arch would indig-
nantly deny that their supporters were slaves.

BEGBIE

82

Private Chinogs
tribunals.

Chinese respect
administration of
British law.

It is yet further urged against the Chinese, as showing their unfitness
to dwell in the land, that they show no respect to our laws, nor to our
appointed courts, but refer their differences to private tribunals of their
own, whose behests are carried out, irrespective of their conformity with
our laws and are never disputed in our courts. As to this I know nothing ;
but it seems so probable that it may be assumed to be true. The Chinese,
like most other nations with any pretence to civilization, have some
methods for referring private disputes to arbitrators chosen by the parties
themselves. Such methods are known and practised among all white
people ; and very extraordinary some of the results are occasionally found
to be. That the awards of Chinese arbitrators are always accepted without
demur (if the fact be as alleged) would surely be a strong evidence of the
equity of the award, and the good sense of the parties in difference ; for
it is utterly untrue that Chinamen ignore our courts, or treat them with
any want of respect. It is as well established as anything touching the
feelings and dispositions of these people can be, that they place perfect,
confidence in the administration of justice by our officials ; and they testify
their submission to and acquiescence in the judgments of our courts by
every means apparently in their power.

I am very sorry that I can state nothing positive on these last points.
I have hitherto had no motive to enquire ; and I should view the results
of any enquiries with much distrust. Any questions as to their labor
associations, their clans, their marriage laws, their iijimigration contracts,
would, I fear, be in general met with suspicion and answered with reluc-
tance. There are very few who could understand the questions ; fewer
still, probably, who could answer usefully ; and to appreciate an answer
properly requires a preliminary knowledge in the questioner, which is.
exactly what is wanting. Add to this a possible afiectation of stupidity,
a possible affectation of intelligence, perhaps a reluctance to answer pre-
cisely, and a willingness that the enquirer should be balked — apart from
the possibility of wilful deceit — all this shows how difficult and uncertain
such an enquiry would be here. There is a great conflict of opinion as to
the nature and results of trades-unions at home, after every enquiry pos-
sible ; how much more difiicult would it be to arrive at facts here, where
they must necessarily be shrouded behind the impenetrable and irrespon-
sible screen of a Chinese interpreter ?

Matthew B. Begbie.

METCALF.

Ninety-flve per
cent, laborers.

Nanaimo, B. C, August 9th, 1884.

Joseph Metcalf, Jr., returned the following answers : —

1. About ninety-five per cent, are laborers, and the other five per cent,
are traders.

Arrive in good
health.

Not burdens on
charity.

Industrious,
sober.

2. Yes, as far as I know.

3. We have no system of public poor relief ; they do not become a bur-
den upon private charity of white citizens.

4. Chinamen are industrious when working for themselves but lazy
when working for others. They are sober, but stupefy themselves with
opium. They are too economical, as they hoard all their money up and
send it home to China ; and they buy all their food and clothing from

83 METCALF

China. No ; they break the law more than the white people. They Break the law,
will not give evidence against each other ; and you cannot identify them. tosUf^ against
They will not press the cases against each other. ^ Chinaman.

5. When they are compelled to, or when it is to their interest to do so; Keep contracts
never otherwise. i^terest.'^ *'^''"

6. Yes, in several ways : by their nasty, tilthy opium habits, and in Take the place of
getting white women into brothels. They hurt us by taking the places of ^ ' " ** "''•
white people who would do good to the province, by their example and

the interest they would take in politics, religion, social, and other matters

that would help to advance the status of the white people. All these

helps are wanting in the Chinese. There are about 150 Chinese women prostitutes.

prostitutes in the province ; and they interfere with the prospects of the

white people in the province in twenty other ways.

7. They supplied no want, but took the places of white people, who had Ninety-eight per
to leave the district. Their coming was discouraged and protested against their ^"^ *
against by ninety-eight per cent, of the people. «o™^| 'eoSttnues.

8. Up to the present time.

9. In 1860, in Victoria, by merchants and the public generally. The ^^^'g^^arS"on

same classes are carrying it on now. by general public

■' ° since 1860.

10. Yes ; prostitution, leprosy, want of veracity, and filthy habits, and Howpublicls
other reasons.

11. No; it has prevented white men with families from coming here, Hadnot^contrbu-
and also single families ; in other words, if British Columbia had not here mentof pro™ce.
12,000 Chinese, she would have had some 24,000 more of white population, f^^rl°^^^^llf
and this would have made the province a flourishing place, with a happy, 24,000 more whites,
contented people, that would have helped the government and developed

the resources of the province.

12. No ■ the industries can afford to pay for white labor, and have Chinese no longer-

^ dGSirSiDiCi

reasonable profits.

13. The people in the province would have steady work, higher wages, f .ffect of Uie^^ ^^
more comforts, less immorality, with better chances for white settlers to chmlSr™"^'^ °
come into the country. They prevent white immigration and settlers.

14. No ; we do not want any. The prosperity of the province would No C^mese
be much greater without the Chinese.

15. None at all.

16. Capitalists would come into the province just the same, because they Capital would
can invest capital, and employ whites, and have as large profits. Many ™™| w^ethir '^'
capitalists themselves admit this fact. Then they could get all the ser- Chme^sem tte^^
vants they want, and it would be the same to them and a blessmg to the

people and government.

17. I think all the Chinese that are now in the province should go, and All the Chlnese^
no more be allowed to come into it, as they are an evil to every one here ^ °" ^"■•
except about fifteen or twenty people ; and, ultimately, the Chinese will

be an evil to these few as nobody wants them but a few men ; and it is the

3VIETCALF

84

duty of the government to make laws for the greatest good for the greatest
number. They ought to make laws to drive them out of a country where
they are an evil to ninety-nine per cent, of the people. Yet if we could
get a restrictive law passed to prevent any more from coming, I think it
would give satisfaction to the people ; but nothing else will.

Ilzample of
United States
should be
followed.

18. The manner should be somewhat similar to the way they have done
in the United States with this question.

19. It would develop the resources of the province about the same.
The people are doing all they can to discourage Chinese immigration.
The provincial government cannot do anything on this question, as all
their acts are unconstitutional. No ; Canada must pass laws to rid us of
this pest.

Many whites out 20. No : there are many out of work in the different industries on

«i work in conse- , / ^t_ . , . i i ,

quence of Chinese, account or Onmese being employed at low wages.

"White immigra-
tion retarded.

Lower the morals
• of the whites.

They flaunt some
of their vices.

Leprosy

21. No.

22.

Yes. White people will not care to come to a province where there
are from 12,000 to 18,000 Chinese to' compete with and live in their midst.

23. They lower the morals of the white people here in connection with
prostitution, as they send women from China as prostitutes ; and they are
also merchandise. The diseases they bring is sometimes venereal, and
sometimes the men bring leprosy. They decoy young men and boys to
their dens and ruin them, both physically and morally.

24. Yes ; their morals are lowered by coming in contact with such an
immoral class of people as the Chinese.

25. Yes, a good deal more in regard to some of their vices ; and more
secretly the vices that are against our laws.

26. No. I have no personal knowledge of leprosy being contracted by
whites from Chinese.

27. As other gentlemen filling in these forms have sent the statistical
information you require, I omit this part of it.

■WARD.

Victoria, B.C., September 3rd, 1884.

Robert Ward, Commission Merchant, Shipping and Insurance Agent;
agent for contractors, British Columbia sections, Canada Pacific Rail-
road ; agent for four salmon canning establishments ; a resident of
Victoria, British Columbia, and has. been engaged in mercantile
pursuits nearly fourteen years, returned the following answers ■—

Majority laborers. 1 The majority of emigrants from China consist of laborers
eighteen to forty years of age. '

from

Chinese immi-
grants very
Healthy.

2. In 1882, my firm had between 5,000 and 6,000 Chinese consigned to
them from Hong Kong. These men were under engagement to the eon-
tractors of the Canadian Pacific Railroad; and arrived in ten different
vessels. Each ship carried one or more surgeons, as required by the

86 WARD-

the Government Regulation^ in Hong-Kong, and these surgeons each
^reported to me favorably on the health of their passengers. Probably not
over eight men, out of the number I have given, died at sea. The men were
landed on arrival and at once despatched to the interior, to different
parts of railroad construction.

3. None, except benevolent societies ; and I have never heard of a Do not burden
Chinese resident having received relief from any of such societies. '^ *" "'^'

4. I think the Chinese are industrious, and are always ready to accept Industriotie, sober
employment. With regard to their sobriety, I have never seen an intoxi-
cated Chinaman. They are more or less addicted to opium-smoking,

which is carried on in their dwellings. They are frugal in their habits,
and as a class they are law-abiding.

5. I have never heard of any violations of their contracts with white How they fulfil
men, although amongst the Chinese themselves I have known of fraudu-
lent transactions.

g J^Q Do not intefere

with prospects of
white population-

7 and 8. I was not in British Columbia when the Chinese first arrived
here, and anl unable, therefore, to answer these questions.

9. About nine or ten years since, to the best of my recollection ; and Agitation com-
poKticians must be credited with both initiating and continuing the aglfby^pofiticSs?
agitation.

10. The Chinese have a habit of huddling together in very limited Over-crowding
quarters, and the surroundings of their habitations are dirty and disgust- ™

ing. Although their mode of living cannot be said to intefere with the
public peace, it is certainly not conducive to public health in towns
or cities where they reside. I think, however, most Chinese are cleanly
in their persons.

11 — 16. The presence of Chinese has afforded a source of cheap labor Developed
not otherwise procurable, and has, therefore, to a certain extent, assisted """"'""y-
in the development of the province. I am interested in several large
canning establishments on Fraser River, and at this industry (salmon xo other laborer
canning) the Chinese are largely employed. This employment is of a very At for the country.,
fluctuating character during a fishing season, and the Chinese seem pecu-
liarly adapted to it. As far as my experience goes, no other class of
laborers could be found ready to accept such employment ; considering its
fitful nature during a fishing season. If steady employment could be
assured at the industry I speak of, white labor at a reasonable cost would
be doubtless preferred. As domestic servants Chinese have proved use- useful as-db-
ful, owing to the fact that white servants have not been obtainable mestic servants..
in the colony. Several lots of girls brought out from England to fill
such places have mostly married shortly after arrival. It would be
difficult to say what proportion (if any) Chinese immigration should bear
to the immigration of white people, in order to advance the best in-
terests of the colony and provide for the comfort of the people now here.
This depends upon the amount of cheap white labor likely to be procurable.
At the present the colony cannot depend upon a sufficient supply of Until a sufficient
domestic servants coming from Europe or other parts of America, and ocl^Jome from*'^'

until this is forthcoming Chinese domestic help will have to be relied Europe Chinese

° must be relied, on^

upon.

'WARD

ver'^lar^e'nmn-'" ^'^^ -''^°' ''^^ ^^ i* should be found hereafter that they arrive in very
bers regulation large numbers, such numbers should be regulated ; although I am of
e neces- opinion that under any circumstances only unskilled laborers would come
here.

would

sary.

It might be
enough to regu-
late the numbers
brought by any
one vessel.

18. As already stated this should depend upon whether a sufficient num-
ber of white immigrants will be forthcoming to fill the demand for labor.
If necessary to restrict Chinese immigration it would perhaps be advisable
to regulate the numbers to come here by any one vessel, and this would
surely check immigration.

Difficulty in pro-
curing white
immigrants.

19.1 think not. In my opinion the difficulty in procuring a large im-
migration of suitable whites, is the heavy expense in reaching this prov-
ince, and a sufficient number, therefore, is not obtainable to fill the
requirements.

Whites, especially
mechanics, can
iind employmenl .

White immigra-
.tion not retarded.

20. Yes ; particularily mechanics.

21. So far it has not had a very material effect on immigration, certainly
not to such an extent as might have been expected.

22. I think not, as the bulk of our Chinese population belongs to the
unskilled laborers' class, and white laborers can always obtain at least
fifty per cent, higher wages than the Chinaman. I might mention that
many of those who publicly denounce the Chinese largely avail themselves
of their labor.

Morals of whites
not affected by
Chinese.

No more immoral

geople among
hinese than
among whites.
Prostitutes.

23. I have not observed that the morals of the whites have been aflfected
by the Chinese. I have no personal knowledge of the fact, although I
have frequently heard it asserted that the whites have adopted the Chinese
custom of opium-smoking, but the number of these must be very few.

24. I should think not.

25. No ; one scarcely evev sees a Chinese woman on the streets.

26. None whatever.

On the completion
of railwajr Chinese
immigration will
fall off.

developed
industries.

Winters in the
interior too severe
for the Chinamen

27. I am of opinion that on completion of railway construction in the
province, the immigration of Chinese will fall off considerably. The
question generally to my mind is that of capital and labor, and however
undesirable they might be as settlers, in comparison with the whites,
they have, to a very great extent, been found useful in developing
industries, which otherwise would have remained dormant, in the absence'
of suitable cheap white labor. It is not generally known that the
climate of the interior of British Columbia is quite unsuitable to the
Chinese, but such is the fact ; the winters are more severe than they can
stand, and the rate of mortality among them is very largely in excess of
the whites.

Robert Ward.

87 YOUNG

James Young, of Nanaimo, Returned the following answers : —

1 . So far as my observation goes, chiefly laborers. Laborers.

2. Generally they are healthy, or seem so. Healthy.

3. None that I know of ; nor do I know of their becoming a burden Do not burden

,,,.,„,..' ° chanties.

upon the chanty oi whites.

4. They generally work steady when well supervised, or when working Work steady
for themselves, but when working for wages and left alone they are not vised— sobe"^'^'^
very pushing, and a job generally lasts with them. So far as I have observ-
ed they are sober, though considerable quantities of their own intoxicants

are used, such as Chinese brandy, opium, etc. They are not generally Not law-breakers.

law breakers, in fact they do not seem to generally understand our

laws ; but they seem to be under the control of some superior power S'some'secre"'™^

amongst themselves, which prevents them openly defying our laws, while power.

their docile cowardly disposition renders them easily controlled by a

show of superior force. Moreover they seem to have a system of laws,

and means of enforcing them, outside of and independent of our laws.

They do not seem to be improvident, though many of them are inveterate

gamblers. I have myself known instances where they have gambled away „ f t ■

their month's wages and starved through the next month. But I do not counter to them

know of their being very turbulent. However it is not very safe to run ^rong*"'^ "^

counter to them where they are very strong.

5. In general, yes, though in a great many cases fear of the conse- engagements,
quences prevents them doing otherwise.

. . 1 , £■ ■ 1 J Crowding out

6. They are entering into every branch ot industry and actually crowd- white people.

■ing white people out.

7. I was not in the province then.

8. I cannot say.

9. It began, I learn by the public prints, about the year 1865. Some Agitation against
few intelligent men of the middle-class began it ; but at present all classes ^^ began m
are carrying on the agitation, all save a few wealthy employers and their

satellites.

10. Assuredly there is. Crime amongst them is very difficult to punish, °iSing'crime.
for the reason that criminals cannot be discovered; while their presence

is a constant cause of irritation to the white laborers, and a conflict be-
tween the two races is liable to break out at any moment. Then, their
habitations are generally wretched hovels, and they are generally crowded
into them in such numbers, and live amongst so much filth and neglect
of sanitary arrangements, that there cannot but be danger to the public oondiUon.'*'^^
health. Their quarters would be centres from which contagion would spread
all around, and thus diseases not otherwise dangerous might readily
become epidemic.

11. Yes. All labor contributes to develop any country, but the Chinese ^.eyll^'^the^
•carry all the wealth they obtain out of the country, whereas white men country,
nearly always invest their earnings in it, and thus further develop it.
Moreover, in the gold fields, Chinese hinder the development of the country

■and prevent it being settled, and in this way : In the first rush of people

YOUNG

88

In raining an
injury to white
minors.

to a new gold field, supplies of aU sorts are very expensive, consequently
the poorer deposits are always passed over ; subsequently, when the country
has been opened up, and supplies are cheaper, and the richer deposits
become exhausted, the miners would naturally fall back on what had been
passed over in the first excitement. But, alas! for their hopes. The
Chinese have been there and cleared everything out, consequently there
is nothing to fall back upon, and thousands have thus been forced to leave
the country. This is the universal experience of every country cursed by
their presence. When employed for wages the eftect is difierent though
hardly less disastrous. They keep white men out of employment, while
any saving in wages goes to the employers. Thus capital gets more than
its share of the produce of labor, and acquires undue preponderance, and
capital in a few hands is always dangerous.

Never necessary. 1 2. Their presence never was necessary or desirable.

13. Undoubtedly there would be a little inconvenience to some parties.
Such is always the effect of altering any settled system, but while many
would be put to a little temporary inconvenience by any sudden expulsion
of the Chinese, this would soon cease, for the certainty of finding ready
employment would induce such an extensive emigration from other
countries as would soon set matters right, and bring wages to their former
level or lower. Hundreds of people have been forced to leave the province
during the past few months, owing to their inability to find employment.

14. I have said none are necessary.

Expulsion of
Chinese would
only cause a
emporary in-
convenience to
certain parties.

No Chinese should
eome.

Capital would not
cease to come if
Chinese expelled

15. There should be no Chinese allowed to come.

16. I do not see why the absence of Chinese would prevent capitalists
coming to the country. Chinese are not employed as domestics in the
Australian colonies, yet that fact has not prevented an unlimited stream
of capital flowing into those colonies. I cannot see why something similar
should not happen here. As a matter of fact, capital is always attracted
where the highest interest can be got, and that is always in countries
where wages are high. But, to prevent any deficiency in the supply of
white domestics, I would counsel a certain sum being spent yearly to bring
such a class from the eastern provinces or from Britain.

Prevent any more 17. First, it is necessary to prevent any more coming. The evil would
evU woiSd'^cure ^^^^ "ure itself in time. Of course it would be better if those present
itself. could be induced to leave, but I should not strain the laws or deal unjustly

in order to do so.

A high tariff on 18. To absolutely prohibit their entry would be the simplest; but -

accompl^h'tlfe quite as effectual a method would be to impose a high protective tariff". If
object desired. the rate proved too low, raise it.

Reasons why it is 19. Such a plan would have a certain effect, because, if the Chinese
the CMnamen out cannot find work they will not come here. Yet we know from bitter experi-
ence thsit there are many persons who, in their haste to grow rich, care
not how they do it, and would employ Chinese labor in preference to
white just because it was, or seemed cheaper, and because they could the
more easily tyrannize over them. Every one must be placed on the same
level, and the laws framed to benefit the majority ; if the minority will not
willingly or voluntarily do the right, they must be coerced. It is a cer-

89 YOUNG

tainty that some will employ Chinese if they can get them. If this gives
them any advantage over othet employers, who do not employ Chinese,
the inevitable result is that all will be compelled to employ them so as to
be able to compete in the market on the same level. As a consequence,
white labor will not come here, and the country will not progress in the
same manner it should do. Therefore, in the interests of all parties, the
laws should be such as to prevent any one obtaining any undue advantage.

20. A comparatively limited number can. The majority are placed in a A conyiaratively
very uncertain position, and a great many can only obtain employment whites SiTiJbtafn
irregularly. employment.

21. Certainly.

"22. Asssuredly it has. As I said, hundreds have been compelled to leave White immigra-
the province from the impossibility of obtaining work. These persons go retarded,
elsewhere, and tell all they meet of their ill-fortune in the province. This
certainly prevents others coming. Then intelligent people writing to
their friends elsewhere, cannot honestly advise them to come while this
incubus remains. Who will be so foolish as to advise any one to come
here and enter into competition with Chinese 1

23. My observations on the Chinese question have been almost entirely Lower the morals
as to their general bearing on the welfare of the country, and the effect on °' *'' whites,
labor, but so far as I have observed they lower the morals of even our most

degraded class to a still lower depth. White people have sunk to
the lowest depths of degradation when they mixed with the immoral
Chinese, and a growing number have so sunk themselves.

24. There are few people similarly situated to the Chinese. I have Chinese more
never yet seen so many white people with so few women amongst them ; wIStes.'^Reasons
but wherever I have known any considerable number of men deprived of *"'' '-'^'s-
female society for any length of tjme, the inevitable result has been that

they become ' coarser. The intellect is depraved, the whole moral tone is
lowered, and men rush into a greater depth of wickedness and vice than
would otherwise have been possible. Such is the effect amongst white
men, even of the better class, and I judge that the effect is similar
amongst the Chinese, only it must be worse amongst them, seeing that the
standard of morality with them is immeasurably below ours. From my
experience amongst them I know that they have no such ideas of the high
importance of preserving the honor and fair fame of their women, such as
obtains amongst white people. I have known of one woman being held
in common by about a score of Chinamen, and this is not thought
disgraceful.

25. Yes. In places where I have been it is not possible for any one Sinf thSJvices
to walk through some streets, without being insulted at every step by the more than white
solicitations of depraved Chinese. The same thing never occurred to me ^°°^®"-
amongst white people of a similar class. They seem to glory in their

shame, and seek to advertise their depravity in all possible ways. With
white people it is different. The majority shrink from the eyes of the
public, and seek to hide themselves from view, ashamed to own their fall.
■At least, such is the case until the principles instilled into them in youth,
and all the innate feelings of modesty peculiar to white people, have been
extinguished by a long indulgence in vice, and then white pepple become
more dangerous than Chinese.

YOUNG

90

Only knew of one

case of leprosy.

Chinese had in-
creased ; so had
the whites.

Numbers who
paid provincial
revenue tax.

1200 Chinese in
district.

White traders
benefit but little
by their presence.

Danger that
mining will drop
into incompetent
hands.

1881,

226

1882,

334

1883,

459

1884,

708

26. I have only known one case of leprosy ; that was a Chinaman, and
a sickening sight it was. Of my own knowledge I cannot say whether it
is communicated to the whites or not ; but if it be contagious, as the best
medical authorities say it is, J don't see how it should not be communi-
cated to the whites.

27. On this point nearly all I can state is contained in a communication
from the Knights of Labor. I will, however, state here what I know.
There were only a few Chinese in the district a few years ago, but their
numbers have gone on increasing, and in the present year alarmingly so.
True, the whites have also increased ; but for one white man who has
come here two Chinamen have come. The following figures, taken from the
oflficial records, show the numbers who have paid the provincal revenue
tax for four years past; —

In 1881, 226 Chinese. 666 Whites.

807

845

985

Of course these figures do not show exactly the proportion of the in-
crease, but they will guide us. It is known there are at least 1,000 to
1,200 Chinese in the district, half fully being employed in the mines. The
numbers are 450 in the Wellington, 150 in the Nanaimo, and twelve or
thirteen in East Wellington. The tax is collected at the pay offices of the
various collieries, and thus more is collected than otherwise would be from
Chinese. Thus it is clear there has been a startling increase of the Chinese.
They carry on their own trade, dealing principally at their own stores, thus
white traders benefit but little from their presence. From statements
made by every trader in the district, with two exceptions, I have learned
that the collective amount spent by Chinese at stores kept by white men,
only slightly exceeds $1 per head per month. Thus it is is clear that
they are only a very trifling advantage to the trading community, and a
great drawback to the progress of the district. The work done by the 600 or
700 Chinese in and around the mines could be equally well done by about
350 to 400 white men, while the advantage to the community would be
incalculable. At present there is practically no opening for boys in the
mines of this district ; very few are employed ; Chinamen being almost
exclusively employed. Under such conditions a race of practical miners,
trained from their childhood to the difiiculties and dangers of mining, can
hardly ever arise, and there is danger of the calling dropping into the
hands of the most ignoraiit class. Intelligent men, finding themselves
blocked at every turn, will eventually leave mining for some other pursuit.
In conclusion, I would suggest that immediate action be taken to give
efiect to the almost universal feeling of the province, that it is absolutely
necessary to prevent the further immigi-ation of Chinese.

James Young.

JOHN. The following letter was received frojn Mr. R. F. John, M. P. P. : —

South Saanich, B.C., August 30th, 1884.

Sir, — In reply to your circular of the 22nd August, asking for informa-
tion respecting the Chinese in the constituency I represent, I have to state
for the information of the Commission that, from enquiries made by me,
the total number of Chinese resident in this (Victoria) district is about

91 JOHN

200. So far as I can learn there is but one Chinese female in the district. 200 Chinese in the
A majority of them are employed in market-gardening, others are engaged bufonl* woman*"
in chopping cord- wood and in making charcoal ; a good many own teams
-and do their own wood-hauling.

Of the above number about twenty are now in possession of leased
property. As very important facts relative to the Chinese evU, in British
Columbia, have been repeatedly laid before the Dominion Government,
and Parliament, and also before the Commission, it is quite unnecessary
-for me to comment at length upon the Chinese question.

I would, therefore, briefly state that I am a vigorous opponent to any Witness opposed
further influx of Chinese into this province or any other portion of the taffulofChfnesc.
Dominion, for the reason that they are a most undesirable class of people,
and as we have nothing whatever to gain from their presence. The most
important industries are being absorbed by them, and a large number are
engaged in gold and coal mining, to the great detriment of people of our
•own nationality.

The manufacture of boots and shoes in this province is almost entirely Boots and shoes,
in the hands of Chinamen. They also manufacture large quantities of cigars, Sening taaeir
and market-gardening is monopolized entirely by them. It is useless for Sands,
farmers and others to compete against them in either of the above-named
industries, in consequence of their economic mode of living and habits
generally.

During the past three years the influx of Chinese has been very large. Employment of
The employment of Chinese on the Canadian Pacific Railway in this way an injury to
province is a very serious injury to the country. There is no use whatever '*"' '^o""'ry-
to encourage large numbers of laborers to British Columbia at the
present time, as their places are already occupied by Chinamen. I am
pleased to say, as a rule, farmers do not employ Chinamen.

When the Canadian Pacific Railway is completed, and the thousands of
Chinese who are now employed on that work are turned adrift, I shudder
to think what will be the consequence to the interests of this province.
British Columbia has many valuable resources, and should in the course of
time become one of the leading provinces in the Dominion ; but if her pro-
gressive development is to be left to the Chinese, and her wealth carried
to China, then Canada's Pacific province will, in my humble opinion, be
ages behind.

In order to alleviate and prevent a further influx of Chinese, the Dominion Govem-
' Dominion Parliament should pass an Act at its next session, prohibiting SifAct^ °" ^^^
the further immigration of Chinese into any of the Canadian provinces,
and British Columbia in particular.

And unless an effort is made, and not a feeble efibrt either, the present
distinguished leaders in Canadian politics will live to regi-et that they did
not pay heed to this great question in time.

R. F. John, M.P.P.
To N. F. Davin, Esq.,

Secretary Chinese Commission,
Ottawa.

The following communication was received from Mr. E. Stevenson, M.D., STEVENSON,
of Victoria, B. C. : —

Vine Street, August 16th, 1884.

Gentlemen, — In compliance with your published request for informa-
tion on what is known as the Chinese question, I beg to submit the
following : — Firstly, I have resided uninterruptedly on the Pacific coast

STEVENSON

92

I^voluntarj; testi-
mony to Chinese
as domestic
servants.

Chinese sober and
industrious.

Chinese religions.

Chinese superior
in morals to white
people.

Indomitable vir-
tue of Chinese.

Chinese women
not so bad as
Indian and white
in spreading
venereal diseases.

Prostitutes.

for about twenty-two years, excepting nine months in the Hawaiian Islands,
and am a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
I have been engaged all the time in the practice of medicine and surgery.
I am familiar with the history of the Chinese in this country and the
Pacific states and territories of the United States.

With perhaps a single exception I disagree with the great mass of
published statenients concerning the Chinese. Indeed I caiinot justly
characterize most of those statements to be other than nearly devoid of
truth. It seems to me that to any unbiased, thoughtful mind, even a
glance at the matter should disprove those assertions.

Your honorable Commissioners cannot but have noticed what the
Commission, appointed by the United States Congress a few years ago t»
investigate the subject, observed, viz. : " That nothwithstanding the
alleged infamies of the Chinese the Californians and others of high and
low degree could not do without them in their homes as domestic ser-
vants." This fact led the United States Commission to declare " That the
Californians gave the highest testimony to the virtues of the Chinese
because indirect and involuntary."

Nor can it have escaped the notice of your honorable- body that even
by the testimony of their opponents, the Chinese are a sober and indus-
trious people — famous all over the world as the most industrious people
on earth. A ]}riori is it believable that a people with these two sterling-
characteristics — qualities sadly lacking in many of our race — should be
extremely immoral ?

Besides this, we know that in religion they are Budhists and Confucians.
And even the acquaintance with those religions, now obtainable in current
literature, shows that they inculcate a high morality, extending in the case
of the former well into the domain of asceticism. Both religions forbid'
the use of intoxicating liquors. [Archdeacon Farrar et a?.]

Therefore it would be an eighth wonder of the world if such a people —
sober, industrious, and firmly held and influenced by such religious influ-
ences, should be " extremely immoral." More than this, it would be rather
surprising if they were not superior in morals to a people very many of
whom are sorely afflicted with indolence and intemperance. And, after
nearly a quarter of a century's observation, I calmly and deliberately
afiirm that it is so.

Place our white males in the position of domestic servants, doing all
the housework, even preparing and assisting the lady of the house and
children at the bath, and what would be the result even before the end of
one week? I need not inform you. But, during all these years, with
thousands of male Chinese engaged in the capacity of domestic servant^,,
not a case, but one that I ever heard, of liberties or attempted liberties
with white females. Could you think of any surer test of indomitable
virtue than that 1

As to spreading venereal diseases, I deny that they at all equal our
Indian population, or are as bad as our own race in that respect. During
my long experience as a physician on this coast I have treated only one
case of venereal disease which claimed to arise from a Chinese source, and
even that one was doubtful in its etiology. And, besides, venereal dis-
ease— that is, syphilis — cannot be concealed when it becomes constitu-
tional, especially by those who do not know of its specific remedies. But
they have a remarkably clear skin, and, in my opinion, are very much
more free from venereal diseases than the white population.

That a large percentage of the few Chinese women in the country are
prostitutes is true, but surely we cannot throw stones in this particular.
Verb. sap.

93 STEVENSON

Current statements iu regard to this phase of the question are mere clap- Leprosy. ■
trap. Having taken testimony in San Francisco, your honorable body are
iprobably aware that up to September, 1882, no case of leprosy had occurred S^'ilprosy'araumg
; amongst the whites in California, although fifty-two cases had been made the whites in Cali-
'known amongst the Chinese during the ten years preceding. The author- flfty-two oases had
ity for this is Dr. J. W. Foy, physician to the leper hospital, San Fran- ?g°"cJf^e*f ™«
cisco. Besides, leprosy is far from being so general a disease as consump-
-tion, and has not been proven contagious. Unlike the latter, consumption is
considered contagious, or infectious rather, by eminent men ; and if we
exclude the Chinese on this score we must justly exclude people from
Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Louisiana, Norway and Sweden,
and other places, including our own New Brunswick.

The sanitary objections against them, too, are baseless. The Chinese Excrement re-
follow their time-honored, and, I may say, only proper method of disposing t"™ed to the soil.
of excrement, etc., viz., returning it to the soil. In the great cities of
Canton and Shanghai sewers are unknown, and typhoid fever is said by
medical authority to be unknown also. And from the Japanese health
reports, collated after our fashion, for 1876-77, the mortality was shown
to be less than one-third of the mortality in European countries. I have
a copy of the report. It is probably the same in China; besides, it is
notorious that less sickness prevails amongst them than amongst us.
I have witnessed two epidemics of typhoid — one in Sacramento, another Less sickness
in Honolulu, in 1879-80 — which decimated the white and native popula- aan'amongst"^"
tions without touching the Chinese in their midst. They are extremely whites,
cleanly in their persons, almost universally so; and this with their simple
diet of rice, and fish, and tea, with their temperate habits, would make
any other result nearly impossible.

Is it likely, gentlemen, that an industrious and sober people would cor- Do not corrupt
rupt or debase an intemperate and often indolent people ? Is it possible ?
On the contrary, would you not expect an opposite efiect ? And, accord-
ingly, we find that the Chinese in the outlying districts — Kootenay, for
example, and probably in Victoria — are crossing their wall of prohibition,
erected around them by Budha and Confucius, and are becoming intem-
perate. I have the proof. Does not our Caucassian race corrupt by
strong drink wherever it has a foothold ?

Gentlemen, you have heard several witnesses testify unfavorably on Not guilty of
this Chinese question, and they have said that they inferred so and so. ^natural crimes.
And, from the fact that so many Chinese males are here and so few
females, it has been inferred by Christian (?) people that — well, I hesitate
to say it — that sodomy was by them practiced. I stamp it as a damnable
slander. The man who so acts bears the mark of Cain not only on his
forehead but all over him.

The foregoing I have said regardless of the political issue which you source of the
are here to investigate also. I doubt not you see already the source of agitation,
all the anti-Chinese clamor. A man who throws his earnings away for
whiskey ; who buys demoralization and debasement, physical, mental and
moral ; who often fails to report for duty on Monday morning, caimot
easily compete with the Mongolian, who is ever ready, ever sober, ever
industrious, ever faithful. Aside from this, however, it is probable that
the whites would not be able to compete with the Chinese on account of
the much less costly diet of the latter. What you have been told on this
point is in the main true.

On the question of exclusion, my views will be anticipated. Loyalty The^^aucaman^
to our Caucasian race (a mere sentiment) and especially to our Canadian against oriental
people, require that either restriction or exclusion be adopted. As we sobriety.

STEVENSON

94

Easier to convert
Chinese in China
or in any other

protect the Indian against our intemperance so we must be protected
against oriental sobriety, etc. Caucasian reform cannot be soon expected.
You must follow out this idea.

A word on Christianizing them. On the doors of the Chinese temples is
written : " No intoxicating liquor must enter here." You will see the
Sf Ameri'^"^ "'^ point I would make here, besides you are witnesses to the statement made
, at our last anti-Chinese meeting by Rev. Mr. Harris, of San Francisco,
that " It was easier to convert ten of them in China or other ' heathen '
lands." The reason is obvious. They are witnesses of our debasement
through strong drink. Do not shrink at this, gentlemen ; it is true-
Instead of " No wine must enter here being written on our church doors,
the great crime produced is dealt out to us in the name of God."

Shall we in self defence exclude them, regardless of who may be the
fittest to survive ? Shall we insist on surviving ? Unchecked, they will
surely supersede our people. First in British Columbia then eastward
the star of oriental empire will hold its way. If we are first in the arts
of war, they and other Asiatics are first in peaceful ways. Industry,
sobriety, cleanliness, faithfulness, peaceableness will have the victory. Is
our race worth saving f That is the question.

I have omitted, it occurs to me, to say aught of opium. But, surely
gentlemen, no Englishman should raise that question. Witness the
" Opium War" of 1842. Moreover the vice exists all over much of the
world. We have our morphine eaters besides. During my long experience
on the Pacific coast not one case of opium-smoking by a white person has
come to my knowledge. Therefore, I stamp all that has been said at
Ottawa by our (mis) representatives, in regard to Chinese immorality, as
slanders for which the Chinese should see that they are punished.

Many hereabouts, if this is published in Victoria, will howl at me
because I do not support their slanders ; but I think, gentlemen, that
they pay your discernment a very poor compliment when they think you
cannot see through their falsehoods, which, instead of tending to the
attainment of the end they have in view, will have the -opposite efiect.
But I have greater faith in the truth.

E. Stevenson, M.D.
To the Hon. Mr. J. A. Chapleau,

and the Hon. Mr. Justice Gray,

Chinese Commissioners.

Opium.

Victoria, B.C., 15th August, 1884.

PEARSE. B. M. Pearse, one of the oldest settlers in the country, and formerly

surveyor-general, returned the following answers : —

Laborers.

Arrive in good
health.

Do not burden
charities.

1. I should say chiefly laborers, with a strong turn for trading, and a
great adaptability for mechanical pursuits.

Industrious,
sober, economical
and as law-
abiding as the
same class among
the whites.

2.

I believe they usually arrive in good health and fit for work.

3. We have no organized system of public poor relief, and, happily, very
few poor persons. I have never known the Chinese to be a burden on
private charity of the white citizens.

4. The Chinese are most industrious, perfectly sober, very economical
and as law-abiding as those of a similar class amongst the whites. They
are not lazy, drunken, extravagant or turbulent.

95 PEARSE

5. I believe they do, speaking generally. They are apt to leave their Domestics.

places as domestic servants" without giving the customery and legal (I)

month's notice.

Do not interfere
R 'STq with whites save

as labor com-
petitors.

7. When the Chinese lirst came to British Columbia their advent was At first welcomed:
hailed by all employers of labor as a great boon. They supplied a want """^ encouraged.
deeply felt by all householders, i.e., cooks and laundrymen. They were

found invaluable in the coal mines, in the fisheries when established, and
in the saw-mills. Their coming was both encouraged and welcomed, by
the ready employment which was given to them.

8. I should say, until quite recently, most people living permanently in Most think now
British Columbia, think that we have now rather too much of a good many Chinese
thing in the way of Chinese. This is no doubt due to the construction of

the Canadian Pacific Railway.

9. The agitation against the Chinese has been almost coeval with their History and na-
arrival. It was begun, and has been carried forward, chiefly by politicians ^''^ ° "^ " "*""
who have sought the suffrages of the laboring man by keeping up the

cry of " the Chinese must go."

10. Their mode of living is contrary to all civilized teachings in respect Injurious to pub-
of cleanliness of their dwellings and sufficiency of pure air, and is thus ^^t to public °"^ ^
injurious to the public health though not to the public peace. Their peace.

habit of smoking opium is most degrading and physically injurious, espe-
cially as indulged in by them in small dens and full to sufibcation. In
these dens one may see able-bodied and well-dressed white men lying
cheek-by-jowl with the Chinamen and all indulging in this pernicious habit.

11. The Chinese have contributed very materially to the development Have contributed:
of the province, in the fisheries, coal mines, lumber mills, and public works, pro-rince.'"'™
and in wholesale boot and cigar factories.

12. If all the Chinese were withdrawn from the province, it would, I g^^i^ct^^e^^

believe, paralyze all industries, and cause widespread ruin. would paralyze

industries.

13. The efiect upon the prosperity of British Columbia is answered in Withdra.wal

No. 1 2. The effect upon the comfort of the people would be indescribable, as donSi "comfort-
there are so few white servants to be had.

14. A certain number are necessary, I cannot say how many, perhaps About 3,000
2,000 or 3,000. necessary.

15. The best interest of the province would be served, I think, by Should be
restricting very materially all Chinese immigration in future, or for many

years to come.

16. The effect would be, in my opinion, to check completely the immi- J^o^Pg^l^. "^^vants
gration of all capitalists, and of all who might seek to make a home here, depended on the
in virtue of our climatic and other enjoyable conditions, and to drive away "rom^luro^'Sf
every person who could afford to go, and who was possessed of means of liv- the E^astern^Mt
ing where servants could be obtained. The fact is that at just about the time incoming capital
of the advent of the Chinaman into this province, it was impossible to get would be checked,
servants at all, and it was only a few persons, chiefly those with small

families, who had at that time any servants to do indoor work.

PEARSE 96

Immigration of 17, J think there are at this present time, too many Chinamen here,

be regulated. far more than are requisite for supplying the labor market, but I do not

see how they can be sent away against their wills. They will not stay
here to starve, and I imagine that the large companies who bring them
here and pocket their earnings will send them away rather than have the
burden of their support thrust upon them. Certainly I think it highly
necessary that the immigration of Chinese, in future, should be regulated
by a strict law.

A heavy poll-tax 18. I think a heavy poll-tax levied upon each Chinaman upon landing

on'chinamen'"^'^ would act as a restriction upon them, and would add to the revenue, and

coming in. compensate in some degree for the loss sustained by it in the constant

evasion by the Chinese of their legitimate taxes. Another apparently

successful way appears to be by regulating the number of Chinese brought

by each vessel, according to her tonnage.

A combined effort 19. A combined effort of the legistature and people of this province,
white immigra- and of the House of Commons and people of the Dominion generally, to
veiop'resOTirces of ^"Courage white emigration from the eastern provinces and from England
province more and other European countries, would develop the natural resources of the
are'now befng ^^^ province more speedily and effectually, than they are now being developed,
developed. and would, without doubt, check at once, and finally stop all Chinese immi-

gration. For it must be observed that Chinamen are employed, speaking
in general terms, because white labor is not to be had or because, in cer-
tain industries, the remuneration asked is too great, or (speaking from
personal experience) because white men wUl drink or absent themselves
from their duty. No effort which we, as a province, could make, would
have the least effect in promoting immigration, owing to the smallness of
our revenue, the extent of the province and consequent calls upon its
revenue for roads and other public works, and to our great distance
from the centre of emigration referred to above.

Whit« laborers 20. Speaking generally they can. Wages are high here and the cost

get employment, of living, exclusive of clothing, moderate. Perhaps no country can show

a more well-to-do class than that of our mechanics and laboring men. All

steady men save money.

^allwiTlandfhad 21. The opening up of the lands reserved for raUway purposes has
induced many to induced a great many settlers to come in and take up lands. I have good
""'""'" authority for saying that 1,700 farmers, mostly with families, have settled

in New "Westminster district since 1st January last. This naturally leads
to the reflection, though extraneous to the matter in hand, how much the
province has suffered from these railway lands having been locked up for
so many years past by the Dominion Government.

come in.

ton to a"m!Sr" ^^- ^ ^^^"^^ ^^^^^ immigration, to a .small degree, may have been retarded

degree retarded, by the presence of the Chinese.

Chinese have had 23. I do not believe that the Chinese have had anv speciallv delpterinnq

no bad enect on n-j. i.-l ii!j_i i*. ,. n ■, "^ i'^v^^x±j u.^icru^xAvuo

white morals. etlect upon the morals ot the white portion of the population, other than
upon those who have indulged in vice with them. They may have encou-
raged white men of a certain class, chiefly gamblers, to smoke opium,
but I cannot say anything as to this of my own knowledge. It is asserted
that Chinese prostitutes encourage lads of tender years in vicious practices
for the sake of the gain, however trivial. Judging from the police reports
we would be inclined to think that the white prostitutes, who sell wines

97 PEARSE

and spirits to those with whom they cohabit, do more harm to the morals
of the community than do those of a similar class amongst the Chinese,
who with all their faults do not indulge in very strong drink.

24. I cannot answer this question, but should be inclined to doubt it.

25. So far as my limited observation goes, I should say they do not. Chinese depravity
Broad street proclaims the degradation of its inhabitants as loudly as that than that of

■of any street in the Chinese quarter. otlicrs.

26. T know nothing whatever about leprosy, or its contagious effects.

27. I have no statistics to offer, and can only remark that I object to Docs not want to
seeing Chinamen on the land either as owners in fee, or as lessees, for the Icttie.'wants a
plain reason that we want here a white m n's community, with civilized wliito commiinity.
habits and religious aspirations, and not a community of "Heathen Chinee,"

who can never assimilate with us, or do ought to elevate us, and who can
be of no possible value to a state in any capacity other than that of draw-
ers of water and hewers of wood.

H. M. Pearsb.

Thomas E. Ladner, manager of the Wellington Packing Company, Sal- ladner.
mon Cannery, New Westminster, returned the following answers : —

1. Laborers and traders. ^^llSffLwJ;

and traders.

2. Always in good health, and fit for work, with few exceptions. Good health.

3. None, nor a burden on white citizens. cliarlt?"'"^™ ""
i. Very industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding. sobCT^'"°"'* '""'

5. Yes ; very honest in their engagements and contracts. Keep contraets.

„ .^_ , Do not interfere

6. None whatever. with whites.

7. They supplied a great want, and were welcomed by all employers of ^,'|JijJ?„''i'Jo*,^'^|"'
labor.

8. It continues to the present date ; there is work for all. Wanted still.

9. The agitation began and has been carried on by parties that has Political try.
none or very little interest in the country, and used as a political cry to

catch support. '

10. Nothing injurious to public peace; but their sanitary condition is sanitary condition
not as good as'' it should be, except when they are closely looked after. ""' ^"^ ■

11. Very mucli so, particularly in the Lower Fraser, dyking lands, ne^^;«'«P^';'i
-which without them would now be wild.

' 1 2. They are necessary to fill a great want in the labor market. Without ^eee^sarj^ to a
hem a number of industries could not be carried on. Industries.

13. The consequence would be the closing of a number of industries
particularly the canning business and reclaiming of lands by dyking.

LADNER

98

IJemand equal to
the supply.

Xot enough white
laborers at
present.

Exelude Chinese
and yoti keep
capital from the
country.

Should not be
restricted at
present.

White laborers
could not be had.
to supply their
place.

■^Hacirte coast
people very
cxtra\'iigant.

White immigra-
tion not retai-ded.

No bad effect on
•whites.

Chinese depravity
not more glaring
than white.

14. A number are necessary, and up to the present date the demand has
been equal to the supply.

15. That would depend, to a great extent, on the number of laboring
classes that came as immigrants. There arenot enough white laborers now
to supply the wants.

16. The effect would be to keep capital from the country, as the price of
labor would be out of proportion to the returns derived from investments,
made.

17. They should not be forced to leave, by no means ; nor unless the labor
market gets more glutted should the supply be curtailed.

18. I could not suggest any manner, because I consider as long as there-
is a demand for them they should not be stopped.

19. The cost to come' here is so much that legislation will not bring
them nor could white laborers be hadtosupply their places, and for that
reason it would stop the development of the country.

20. To a great extent, yes ; but people on this coast are very extra-
vagant in their habits and demand very high wages.

■2\. Yes, a little.

22. No.

23. They have had no bad effect on the morals of the white except on
those of depraved habits.

24. No.
2.5. No..

Indispensable
to canneries.

26. I know of none.

27. I cannot giAe you any statistical information in the matter nor can
I furnish you any fact, except that if the canneries in British Columbia
had to depend on white labor, every one, without any exception, would be
closed up and the industry be entirely killed, aatd all the large amount of
money invested be entirely lost to the owners and also a large revenue-
lost to the government.

Tnos. E. Ladner.

LAITY.

Laborers.
Health good.

Lazy and

turbulent.

Maple Ridre, B.C., August, 18th, 1884.
John Laity, returned the following answers : —

1. Chiefly laborers.

2. Usually appearing in good health.

.3. No answer.

4. They are lazy and turbulent, only working when compelled to for
the want of rice or food to eat.

99 LAITV

5. They do not, but deceive and cover up any defect if possible. Do not respect

engagements.

6, 7 and 8. No answers.

9. About two or three years ago.' The laboring married man, that has Laboring nuuried
a family to support. men agitate the

question.

10. There is the habit of stealing and keeping their surroundings in a Thiovisli and
filthy condition. ' tilthy.

1 1. It has, in the past, to a small extent. JS th"^ v^^ "'«

^ Chinese have

contributed to

1 2. I think so, until the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, development of

^ the country.

Chinese necessary.-
1 o and 1 4. No answers. nntil railway

completed.

15. I think one per cent., if any, quite sufficient.

16. I think the efFect would be good, because domestic servants would
come in in larger numbers when they know their services are desired, and
the immigrant would be better satisfied and the province benefited.

17. The further advent of others should be prevented. No more should

be allowed to
1 o * 1 1*11 . come,

li^. A heavy or high tax on entering the country. A poll-tax.

19. I think the natural resources would be developed more speedily
and safely by white immigration.

20. They cannot, to support their families by means of the competition wiiite.s cannot

of the Chinese in the labor market. families by reasoiu

of Chinese

;n tj. i_ ^ ir 1^ Competition.

il. It has a good etlect. Opening up of

railway lands. .

22. It has of the laboring class. White immigra-

tion retarded.

23 to 27. No answers.

P. S. — I desire to say that my experience with the Chinese in this province advance-
country has been limited, but I think that the province and Dominion at fetter without the
large will make greater advancement without the Chinaman, than with
such large numbers, as are at present scattered over the country gathering
every -dollar they possibly can to send to traders in China.

John Laity.

Maple Ridge, B.C., August 18th, 1884.
John Teembath, returned the following answers : — TREMBATH'..

1. Chiefly laborers. The answers of

this witness with

• 3. Usually appearing in good health. ' ^^l pTare" °'

indentieal with

q -Vo ono «rOY. thOSB Of the

o. lyo answer. preceding witness-

4. They ai-e lazy and turbulent, only working when compelled ,to for
the want of rice or food to eat.

TREMBATH 100

5. They do not, but deceive and cover up any defect if possible.

6, 7 and 8. No answers.

9. About two or three years ago. The laboring married man, that has
a family to support.

10. There is the habit of stealing and keeping their surroundings in a
filthy condition.

11. It has, in the past, to a small e:!jtent.

12. I think so, until the completion of the Canadian Pacilic Railroad.
13 and H. No answers.

15. I think one per cent., if any, quite sufficient.

16. I think the effect would be good, because domestic servants would
«ome in in larger numbers when they know their services are desired,
and tlie immigrant would be better satisfied and the province benefited.

17. The further advent of others should be prevented.

18. A high tax on entering the country.

19. I think the natural resources would be developed more speedily and
safely by white immigration.

20. They cannot, to support their families by means of the competition
of the Chinese in the labor market.

21. It has a good effect.

22. It has of the laboring class.
23 to 27. No answers.

^°aiwcd to^* '" ^' '^' — "'" ^^^ *" *^^ ^^^ ^^**^^ experience I have had with Chinamen in
corac.""^" ° *his country, I do not approve of them in no way, and I do not think any

more ought to be allowed to enter the province.

John Teembath.

EsQuiMALT Yard, B.C., August 18th, 1884.
INNES. J. W. Innes, naval storekeeper, etc., returned the following answers: —

1. Chiefly laborers.

Laborers, and in

good health. 2. In good health, and fit for work.

Do not burden o -xt it

public charity. 6. No system that I am aware of, except the British Columbia Benev-

olent Society; but the Chinese are no burden on public or private charity.

Jefp'^c^'ttTetr''''''''' *' '^^'^V ^^^ industrious, sober, economical, and law-abiding.

engagements, had
upplied and still 5. Yes.
.supply a want.

6. No.

101 INNES

7. Yes ; by employers of labor.

8. Still continues.

9. About seven years ago, by the white laboring class, so-called, and White laborers
politicians ; by the same classes. agitate.

10. Not that I am aware of ; but in the matter of sanitation they are Sanitary state
about as ignorant as the lower orders in England, perhaps more so.

11. Yes. Developed

province.

12. Desirable. ESf?'"""'

13. There would be an insufficiency of domestics, and capitalists would Without them.
p 1 , 1 . not sufficient
forsake the country. domestics.

14. Yes; I cannot say how many.

15. I cannot say.

16. There would be a total absence of comfort and convenience. Without them

total absence
of comfort.

17. Merely that the number should be regulated. Number should

be regulated by
poll-tax.

18. A poll-tax.

19. Certainly not.

20. Yes, if they choose to work and stick to it. ^J'work^"'''" ""^

Opening up of

21. Most decidedly. public lands

stimulated white
immigration.
22 Only white immigration of a useless description, such as loafers. Good white
drunkards, and wanderers on the face of the earth. nTrSed.

2.3. No effect upon the morals of white people, beyond those of white No etTect on white
people of similar inclinations or habits.

24 and 25. Certainly not. Chinese depravity-

'^ not more glaring

than white.

26. No knowledge.

27. Chinese are employed in the naval yard as laborers and otherwise, why Chinese
and have been found to answer remarkably well. White labor would ^^''p'io';?e^i'i„
have been preferred, if steady and reliable men could have been found, naval yard,
but thus far this has not been the case ; therefore the Chinese have been
acceptable.

J. W. Innbs.

LADNER

102

Ladner's Landing, B.C., August 19th, 1884.
Wm. H. Ladner, J.P., returned the following answers :—
1 . Laborers.

■2. Yes.
3. No.

Laborers in gc od
health.

Do not burden
charities.

Industrious.sober,
respect engage-
ments, do not
interfere with
whites save as
laborers, were
welcomed and
the welcome
continued until
-recently.

. Agitation contlned
chiefly to
adventurers.

Over-crowd.

Developed

province.

Without tlicni
canning and other
interests would
suffer.

Xot tiio many.

N'o other domestic
servants to be had.

No more danger
from Chinese than
from labor-savin^:
machines.

\Vhitc immigrants
not coming.

Whites can Hud
.employment.

\Vhitc immigra-
Jion not retarded.

4. Very industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding, as prison returns
will show.

6. Yes.

6. No.

7. Yes.

5. Very recently.

9. Recently, and by those who came here as adventurers to labor for
a short time; think it chiefly confined to those who have no stake in the
country, and those employ them as soon as they require labor.

10. Greatest objection, owing to over-crowding in house accommodation.

11. Very much so.
1:^. Yes.

13. A great deal of reclamation of wild land, and the canning interests
would suffer severely.

14. Present number not in excess.
1.^. No answer.

16. No others but Chinese to be obtained at present, nor since I have
been here, i.p., IB.'i^.

17. Do not think there is any more danger from Chinese than from
improved machinery as to the effect on the labor market.

18. No answer.

19. Government ha\'e offered free grants, and liave assisted immigrants,
and still they have not arrived to supply the labor market.

20. Yes.

21. 8o far not opened on mainland, but if done it would do so.
2-2. No.

23. Chinese of same class compare favorably with those of others.

24. Am not aware of any in tlie province.
2-5. No answer.

26. Do not know of any.

103 LADNER

27. My experience is that the general agitation is from those who are Laborers the
dependent on their labor, but as soon as they get a piece of land and want if c*flrstf«IioS ""'"''■
it impro\'ed, or become employers themselves, they then are the first to jbcy getapieoeof
employ the Chinese. ' ^ Sole.""'''"''

Wm. H. Ladner.

Victoria, B.C., August 23rd, 1884.

W. C. Ward, Manager Bank of British Columbia, returned the following WARD.
answers : —

1. Laborers, nearly all unskilled. hcait™came^°"''

2. Yes.

3. They appear to rely entirely upon their own countrymen for assistance Do uot burden
in sickness and destitution. Occasionally a Chinamaji is treated in the "^^^^"^ charities.
public hospitals, but they seldom apply.

4. A large majority of them are industrious and law-abiding. They Intlustrious and
gamble among themselves inveterately, and their habit of opium-smoking """' ' '"^'
frequently interferes with the regular performance of their work. They

are often sleepy and stupid from the opium-smoking, but I do not

remember, in an experience of twenty years among them, to have seen a

Chinaman drunk. As they become proficient m skill at any particular Gamblers and

kind of labor, they quickly recognize their value to their employers, and °P""" smokers.

often become indolent and independent, in fact spoilt by prosperity. They Sometimes

are wasteful in dealing with food, etc., in conducting their duties as prosperity "' " ^

cooks in households, and are often pilferers ; but are careful and econo- Often pilferers.

mical in their own concerns. They never hesitate to lie whenever it suits -^j.j [j^

their purpose, and they frequently lie for pure mischief. They form no

personal attachment.s to families or individual employers, but a large

proportion of them are faithful workers, and become intelligent and useful

servants.

5. G'enerally speaking, when any contract of importance is entered into Keep their
with white men, the latter are very careful to see that the Chinaman is ogagcraen s.
pretty firmly bound, so that the contract can be legally enforced. T think

the Chinese keep their engagements quite as regularly as white men. Their

engasements as servants, however, are never regarded with any care, and Hut leave their
,, , 1 , , ,; i- ■ i- j: u 1 employment at a

they leave employment at a moment s notice, irrespective ot any verbal moment's notice.

agreements to the contrary. A law to prevent this would be very accept-
able to employers.

6. No.

7. Their labor was welcome, in the a))sence of white immigrants, and ™5'^o^''oa till'"
especially in filling the place of domestic servants, and as factory hands, within four years.

8. Till within the past four years.

9. The agitation has been chiefly political, with a view to the laboring Agitation chiefly
class vote. It became prominent here soon after the agitation in California faboring class."""
by Kallock and other demagogues. I think it is mainly led by politicians,

though there is a very general feeling that the immigration should now be
restricted, if not entirely stopped.

WARD

104

Sartitaryc«ndi(ion iQ. Nothing Opposed to the public peace. Their dwelling places are
certainly opposed to public health and cleanliness. Drainage and ventila-
tion are neglected, and they herd together in small spaces, very de-
trimental to healthfulness ; yet they seem to enjoy as much immunity
from sickness as do the whites living under proper care.

They have
developed the
country.

1 1 . Yes ; in bringing under cultivation considerable quantities of land,
in coal and gold mining, by employment in various manufacturing enter-
prises, where cheap labor is essential to successful carrying on busiiress,
they have assisted materially in the development of the province. What
has been done by Chinese labor could not otherwise have been accomplished,
as at the higher rates of wages required by whites the operations would
have been unremunerative. As domestic servants they have been indis-
pensable, and in their absence matiy people would have left the province
for lack of the ordinary comforts of life.

Until a sutticient 12. Until white immigrants of the necessary qualilicatious come in

arrive their pros- Sufficient numbers, their presence is not only desirable but necessary,
enee is necessary.

13. Great domestic discomfort and hardship, and a decided check in the
progress of the province as long as the requisite class of white population
is deficient.

14. A sufficient number of Chinese is required to perform the duties of
" hewers of wood and drawers Of water " at rates proportionate to the-
remuneration obtainable in other walks of life in the province.

1.5. I think the proportion of Chinese now in the province is greater-
than is desirable, as compared with the present white population.

16. Vide No. 11.

Would prevent
fxirthcr Chinese
innnigrafion.

A combined etfort
to bring in whites
should be made.

Whites can
obtain work.

No moral
influence.

Not more

depraved than

whites.

Do not flaunt

their vices.

17. I do not think the present Chinese population should be forced to-
leave. I would prevent the incoming of others, and would endeavor to
encourage European immigration, so as to prevent the necessity for
employing Chinese.

18. I think this should be left for the Government to devise.

19. Yes ; I believe this would be the most eiFectual and Sittisfactory
plan if adopted and carried on persistently and vigorously.

20. Yes ; all who are steady, industrious and sober.
21 and 22. I cannot say.

23. The Chinese mix very little with the whites. My impression is.
that they have scarcely any influence upon the morals of the whites.

24. I think certainly not.

2.5. No ; most certainly not. Their vices and depravity are not
flaunted before society as is the case with the whites.

26. Cases of leprosy here must be very rare. I have never heard of
any whites having contracted it.

27. Nothing of special character.

W. C. Wakd.

105 KENNEDY

New Westminster, B. 0., August 23rcl, 1884.

James B. Kennedy, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, and now a partner in
the firm of DeBeck Brothers & Co., lumbermen, answered as
follows : —

Chinese laborers
1 Tj • • 1 1 , , . , in good health

1. ii-nncipally laborers, with a tew traders. come.

2. I think so, generally.

3. None that I know of.

4. Some of them are sober, industrious, economical and law-abiding, tadustrious, but
but I have found that when working by the day most of them require J'a'"^re"fi&e more
more watching than the same class of white men. They are nearly all watching ttian
sober, in our sense of the word, but many of them become incapacitated i^^fftorkT""'"
for work through the use of opium. They are frequently off work, when consequence

the only excuse that can be got from them is "too muchee sick," and it is °'°p"""-
impossible for a white man to find out what the matter really is.

5. Not if they are likely to lose anything by it. We had a case of that cmtracts''il "likely
kind last winter, where one of them threw up a contract although he had to lose anything
signed it in the usual way ; but we found that to compel him to fulfil his ^^' '''
bargain might prove impossible on account if it having been made for him

.through his agent who was willing to swear to -certain things that never
existed, etc.

6. Yes, by keeping families out of the country that would come in f^mSie".* " '"*'^'
with white laborers.

7 and 8. I was not in the country at that time.

9. I do not know when the agitation began, or who began it, but I Jigit^ttng'against
think nearly all classes are now helping to carry it forward, except a few Chinese,
sentimentalists.

10. I think, in the case of any epidemic, their habit of crowding their Sj^Jjitary condition
sleeping apartments would be dangerous, and the fact that so many of

them are house servants would help to spread disease.

11. In the case of mines and fisheries, yes ; but not in the lumber and an(ifl°h|ries""'^^
agricultural interests.

12. I think neither. Xojonger

desirable.

13. It would cause some inconvenience in the matter of house servants, ^epartureVhite ■

but a better class would soon take their places. domestics would

take their place.

14. No.

15. None.

16. The same as in all other new parts of the continent. We have lum- S^Rcfstiplcs'"'^
ber, fish, coal and minerals, and when the demand for these outside is is sufficient capi-

jd . ' -. T . -ii tal will come

sufiicient capitalists will come. whether domestic

here or not.

17. No ; but I think there are enough now in the country to fill all wants would not force
in their line for the next twenty years. '"™>' ^o^" ''">'«• •

Xonc necessary.

:kennedy 106

inimigrati.on.

white'labi?^\vhiio ^ ^- ^°- ^* '°"o ^ *he Dominion Government will veto the action of
Chinese are in the Our legislature, and the Chinese companies are allowed to send in their
province. slaves, we cannot get or keep a supply of white labor.

20. Many do, and many more would if the Chinese were not in the
way.

21. I cannot see that the railroad lands have been opened in this dis-
trict.

White immigra- 00 Ypk vpvv nniph t;o

tion retarded. "■"• I es, A ery mucn SO.

Chinese flannt 23. I cIo not think the whites mix much with the Chinese here,

their vices.

24. Very much more so.

25. Yes.

26. None.

27. My ideas on the whole question have been formed and are entirely
governed by what I call a common-sense view of the situation, and not by
statistics furnished by any authorities, either here or elsewhere. The,

A male Chinese come here in swarms : nearly all are single men, and none of them

will marry here. If any women come with them they are common prosti-
tutes. Scores of them will crowd together in one small building that
would barely suffice for one ordinary white laborer's family. They
become proprietors to a very limited extent, and do very little building in

Xinuty-ninc pc-r proportion to their numbers. Ninety-nine per cent, of them raise no

cent, raise no families, and none of them take any part or interest in either municipal,

tamiiies and none ,. . , . T-,*',fr c , • t_l- A

have public spirit, political or educational matters. Unlike those ot other nationalities, they

do not become assimilated to our customs, dress, manner of living, or even
laws any more than they are obliged to by law. Is it possible then that our
province can prosper as well with laborers of this class as with the class of
white settlers who are now coming into the country in limited numbers,
and in many cases bringing families with them, and who would come in
much larger numbers if the Chinese did not stand in the way ? This
^The w-hite .settler latter class will live in houses, not dens ; will send their children to
with diUdreif and school and church ; will take an intelligent part in municipal, political and
. all theit makes educational matters ; will become largely proprietors of the soil, and thus
be permanent settlers, while their children will grow up to be our
future city and county councillors, and in some cases our future legisla-
tors, as well as to fill many positions of both public and private import-
ance. As an example ; look at one of our saw-mills employing other labor
than Chinese. In the immediate neighborhood there springs up quite a
village, with store, school-house, church and other places of public benefit ;
while a cannery with the same capital invested, and employing mostly
Chinese, will only show one large barn-like building for their use, and
probably one or two houses for the proprietor and overseer. I know that
the white laboring class here has in the past been largely composed of
single men, who were ready to move off at any time ; but that state of
affairs is rapidly changing with the opening up of the country. I know
that during the present summer many white laborers have had to leave
Many white this town and district, because so many Chinamen are employed in our

leavrifecause°tno '"ills and canneries, as well as in the wood-cutting business ; and I consider
many Chinese are the loss of one permanent settler as greater to the country at large than
oj ec . ^j^^^ ^j ^^^^ ^^^ ^^jy intend staying long enough to make a little money^

James B. Kennedy.

107 SCOTT

Nanaimo, B.C., August 24th, 1884.

Robert Scott, underground superintendent in Wellington Collieries,
Nanaimo District, answered as follows : —

1. They are chiefly laborers. , Chinese immi-

' grants chiefly

2. Yes; in good health, and tit for work. liealthywhodo not

burden white

5. Ne^er, to my knowledge, have the Chinese got help from the whites, industrious and

' sobSr, keep their

( mi • . T J . , . ^ -, , , . 1 . contracts, do not

4. i hey are nidustrious, sober, economical, and law-abiding. interfere with

whites save in
- -^7-„ . ,1 1 , , labor market, had

n. Y es, to the letter. supplied a want

and were

6. They do not. welcomed.

7. They did supply a want then felt, and were encouraged and
welcomed.

8. To September, 188.3.

9. It began in September, 188.3, by a few leading miners, and is still
carried on by the same class.

10. There is not, to my knowledge.

11. They have. ^^^^ contributed

to development of

12. Yes; their presence here is desirable. smdZ^ahl^T""

necessary to coal

13. The coal industry would be at a standstill, and many a one would aJl^lstictCTvtec ;
have to go without breakfast. their absence

° would repel capi-

tal : the amount of

14. I am not posted as to how many the province would require. At g]j^°'ij^°g|u'lat(f
the Wellington Mines we require about 400. their numbers.

15. This I cannot answer.

1 6. They would have to do without help ; therefore it would stop im-
migration into this colony of persons with capital.

17. It is not my opinion that the Chinese present should be forced to
leave the province.

18. I should suggest according to the amount of labor' to l)e done in
the province.

19. It would not as speedily develop the natural resources Of the whites can obtain
colony to stop the immigration of Chinese. open'ingup of

railway land had
„„„, ... Ml' J. 1 stimulated immi-

20. They can, if they are willing to work. gration.

21. It has.

22. I think not.

23. They are not here.

SCOTT

108

noi^S^^:""'' 24. They are not.

2!). They do not.

26. I have none.

27. This I cannot imswer.

Robert Scott.

MORESBY.

Whites and
Indians better
than Chinese.

William Moresby, a native of England, now gaoler at New Westminster,
and formerly a gold-miner at Cariboo, states that whites and Indians
are far better workers than Chinese, and in the mines two white
men are considered of equal value with three Chinamen. To the
interrogatories he answered as follows : —

hnSgrantslOT^" 1- ^he Chinamen who emigrate to this country are almost entirely of
est class. the lowest class of laborers. The exceptions are, as a rule, the foremen or

" bosses" sent out by the companies in charge of the laborers.

2. They generally arrive in good health and tit for work.

:?. We have no system of poor relief. I have seen Chinamen begging
in the streets, and known them to steal openly for the sake of getting
into gaol.

Healthy.

Had seen China-
men begging ;
some steal to get
into gaol.

Industrious and
sober, but
some go on week-
long debauches.

Not law-abiding.

Have civil and
criminal tribunals
of their own.

Half-bi'eed and
Indian women
allured into opium
dens and violated.

White prostitutes
smoke.

31 Chinese in
penitentiary, and
29 whites ; in gaol
21 Chinese and
5 whites.

Large percentage
of Chinese escape
justice.

Do not always
respect their
engagements.

-t. Chinamen are industrious. They are sober, in so t'ai- as that they are
never seen drunk on the street ; but I know that they drink heavily in
their houses, periodically — that is to say, that, now and then, they will
absent themselves from work and go on a debauch for a week. They are
very economical. They save all they can and send it, or take it home
with them. They are by no means law-abiding, for they break the law con-
tinually in the following manner; They defraud the customs, and evade
licenses and taxes by handing the tax-receipts from one to another, and
neither the collector nor any one else can tell one from the other. They
gamble ; keep opium-dens and houses of ill-fame. The domestic serAants
steal all the time. They sell liquor to Indians. They have their own
tribunals for the trial of both civil and criminal offences. I know of two
or three cases in which a money payment was made to the relatives of an
assaulted (and, in one case, nearly murdered) man to suppress their evi-
dence, the consequence of which was that when the accused was brought
to trial there was no evidence, or insufficient e\-idence, to establish his
guilt. I know of half-breed and Indian women being enticed into opium-
dens, and supplied with opium and liquor, and being ravished by any num-
ber of the inmates. I have seen young white men, from eighteen to thirty
years of age, smoking opium in these dens. I have also seen white prosti-
tutes there. The population consists of about a hundred whites to twenty
Chinese. In the penitentiary at this moment there are thirty-one Chinese
and twenty-nine whites. In the gaol there are twenty-one Chinese and
five whites. In addition to this it must be remembered that about eighty
per cent, of Chinese defaulters escape justice through the impossibility of
establishing their identity, they are so much alike. The proportion of
white defaulters escaping justice through any cause is about twenty per
cent.

5. They do not always respect their engagements with white men, nor
do they carry out their contracts.

109 MORESBY

6. No ; but see how they live ! They are crowded into houses with gj^eif™ gangs
sleeping-bunks ranged like shelves round the room, with just room to
crawl in. There are so many that they sleep in gangs, some during the
day and some at night. The houses are fearfully dirty, most of them
crawling with vermin. The urine and excrement are kept in barrels, Urine and exeic-
which, when full, are emptied on their gardens. Living as they do, China- i^arrcis.
men can save money working for fifty cents a day, whereas a white man
must spend at least $7 per week to live barely decently. Were the China-
men forced to attend to ventilation and drainage, and no more were ^Jj^ersou'white
allowed to sleep in a room than health and decency permitted, they would labor because of'
have to pay more for ground and house rent, and would so be placed on a jlj^bit,^"'^''"*"
more even footing with white laborers.

7. Yes ; at first this was so. There were then no white servants. The a want but now
population was small and their labor was needed ; but now they have the supplv
crowded into the country so fast that the supply is far in excess of the demand. ^"^

■ demand, and the inevitable consequence is that the price of labor has
come down so low that it is hard for white men to obtain employment.

8. Until the demand was supplied ; since then there has been a revul-
sion of feeling.

9. It began in Cariboo in 1864. They began working for low wages, f/l^l'Zoe^.^hen
and it was found that prospecting fell off, as the white men could not ob- feeling against
tain employment remunerative enough to enable them to save sufficient to ^"^

go prospecting with. Since then the feeling against them has ))een gradu-
ally increasing all over the province.

10. They often carry their dying outside the city limits, and leave them Inluunanity.
by the side of public roads to die. [See answer to question 4 about opium.]

Some time ago the Chinese turned out almost en iiiassf and rescued a
Chinese prisoner from an Indian policeman, after seriously assaulting the obstructing the
poUceman and wounding him badly on the head. In this case we could '^''^ •
get no evidence at all beyond that of the constable. Their houses are so Houses |omth^
filthy that in case any contagious or infectious disease should break out, danger,
it would be impossible to check it, and it would undoubtedly spread all
over the city and country.

11. The Chinese are only a floating population. They are neither land g^t^^„^f„f«^«-
nor householders, and contribute little to the revenue. They have, by province.
theii- presence, interfered with white immigration, and have, therefore,
retarded the development of the province.

12 and 13. If the influx of Chinese was stopped, and those who are now Gmd,ml^wMv
here died ofF or left the country, their place would be filled by whites. Ot greater number
course, werethey all to leave at once, a stop would be put to all works ^«™»°^-'"
but the gi-adual withdrawal of the greater part of them would be ot vast
iienefit to the country.

14. Until they are replaced by whites, some are necessary ; but ultimate- Un[ji„,*;f^re^
Jy they will be as undesirable here as they are m any other part ot the necessary.
Dominion.

15. See preceding answers.

16. I cannot say. If there were no Chinese servants, plenty of white
ones would emigrate from Europe, etc.

MORESBY

110

Their coming
should be stopped
entirely and
inimediatelv.

Prohibition.

White mon can
find employment
in those branches
of labor where the
Chinese do not
compete.

Chinese more
depraved than
whitc.s.

Leprosy.

17. Their coming should be stopped entirely, and at once.

18. None should be allowed to arrive, either by land or water.

19. It would be necessary for the Dominion to prohibit absolutely the
coming into this province of Chinese.

20. In some branches which are not interfered with by Chinese they
can, but where they come into competition with Chinese they cannot. All
skilled mechanics can, and all assistants to such, where the English
language is required; but if it is not necessary to speak English the China-
man invariably competes successfully with the white man. For instance,
a blacksmith's or carpenter's assistant is a white man, but a bricklayer's
is a Chinaman, for he has nothing to do but carry bricks and mortar, and
requires little or no talking to.

21. I am not aware that the railway lands are yet open for settlements

22. Certainly.

23. See No. 4 about opium. There are no whites so bad as bad Chinese.

24. Much greater.

25. No, they do not.

26. Personally, I have known no cases of leprosy.

27. Not more than has already been given in these answers.

William Moresby.

BRYDEN.

Chinese immi-
grants chiefly
laborers, in good
health ; who do
not burden public
charities ; and arc
industrious, sober,
economical, law-
abiding, and res-
pect their engage-
ments ; do not
interfere with
white population
save in labor-
fields and wel-
comed when fii-st
they came .

Mr. John Bryden, general manager of the Wellington Colieries, answered
as follows : —

1. The emigrants from China are chiefly laborers. A few mechanics,
come but they seldom work at their trade.

2. They are usually in good health, and fit for work when they arrive.

3. There is no systfem of public relief. I have never known a China-
man to ask for or obtain relief from white citizens.

4. They are industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding, more so
than the same class of white laborers.

5. They respect their engagements with white men, but the white men
do not always respect their engagements with the Chinamen, as they
sometimes leave the province without paying them.

6. Have never known them to interfere with the white population in
any other way than that ofiered by fair competition in the labor market.

7. When the Chinese first came to this province they supplied a class,
of labor that was then hard to get, and their coming was both encoura<'ecl
and welcomed, "

Ill BRYDEN

t<. The coming of the Chinese was welcomed until within a few years lYnffi'^a^fglv'".""'^.
ago, and is still welcomed by many. ago.

9. The agitation against the Chinese began a few years ago, and was Ajfitation b,\-
commenced by political agitators, and is still carried forward by them. political parties..

10. There is nothing in their habits, so far as I know, that is injurious Xot injurious to.
to the public peace or to the public health. As a rule, they are cleanly lieaith.'"""^*^ '"
in person, although their surroundings are often dirty, but not more so

than others of a similar class.

11. The presence of the Chinese has contributed very much to the de- ncvclopcil pro-
velopment of the province.

12. Their presence is still necessary for the further development of the *^fi" neucssai-y.
country.

, jr J. 11 Etfect of «-ith-

13. If the Chinese were withdrawn from the provmce the ettect woulrl drawal would be
be serious, as many of the industries now being carried on would be unable serious.

to continue in operation, for want of a suitable class of labor.

U. I cannot say what number might be necessary ; much depends upon
the demand for labor.

15. I cannot say what proportion Chinese immigration should bear to
the immigration of white people, as it will depend upon the class of white
people coming to the province.

16. Few domestic servants come from Europe or America to this colony, Capitolists^ would

and nersons with capital might hesitate to come if they knew that servants Chinese were not
r r o . hoTe as domestics,

were not to be had.

17. I do not think that the present Chinese residents should be forced
to leave the province, or that others should be prevented from coming,
unless a suitable class of laborers of some other class can be induced to
come.

18. I can offer no suggestion as to restricting or regulating the coming
of Chinese.

Doubts if a com-

19. A combined effort of the people and its legislature might furnish a bined effoijt.to

sudbIv of white labor to develop the resources of the colony as speedly as i^bor would de-
isu^^ijf uj. ..un,v. r vclop province a,s

now, but I very much doubt it. speedily as it was

being developed.

20. White people, if steady and willing to work, can find remunerative White people cm,
employment and work.

21. The opening up of the public lands for settlement has had a material Opemng up^of ^^^^^

effect on the immigration of settlers to the province. attracted white

^ immigrants.

••'•T I am not aware that the presence of Chinese has retarded the „-i,itc immigra-
-'-'■ ^ ■* , . , , ii • ■ „„ tion not retarded,

immigration of white people to this province.

23. I do not think that the Chinese has any effect upon ^he ™orak of n;".!^". o^n
the white people, and I do not think that they are more injurious than
white people of similar habits.

BRYDEN

112

Vice not more
prominent than
among whites.

Leprosy.

24. I cannot say that the proportion of immoral Chinese is any greater
than amongst white people similarly situated.

25. I do not think that the depraved flaunt their vices more than do
white people of a similar class.

26. I have never known a case of leprosy being communicated from
them to the whites.

27. I can give no information, or furnish other facts bearing on the.
question now being considered by the Commission.

John Brydek.

C'liiiracter and
<liiallty of Chinese
immigrants.

Sober and
industrious.

JOHNSTON. M. Johnston, returned the following answers : —

1. Chiefly laborers.

2. I understand they do.

3. Chinese do not become a burden upon public or private charities,
-t. They are industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding.
o. They do, so far as my experience goes.

6. I think not.

7. I believe so.

8. Up to a few years ago, when the agitation against the Chinese began.

9. i^ome few yeai-s ago. The agitation is and has always been political.

10. I l>elieve not.

11. Decidedly so, in my opinion.

Agitation
political.

Have developed
country.

But restriction
necessary.

12. I think so; but I think restriction and regulation in regard to
further immigration necessary.

13. No answer.

Present number
sufficient.

Poll tax should
be imposed.

One Chinese
laborer to every
100 tons.

U. Chinese appear to be necessary in the present condition of the
province, but probably the number now here is sufficient.

15 and 16. No answers.

17. In my opinion, the number coming should be regulated as in
Austi-alia.

18. Limit vessels to one Chinese laborer for every one hundred tons
register of tonnage.

113 JOHNSTON:

J9. When the Canadian Pacific Railway has been completed, probably so.

20. I think so. Whites can And

employment.

21. I understand so.

22. I think not.

23 to 27. No answers.

Matthew T. Johnston,

[Merchant, Victoria, B.C.]

W. B. Adair, manager of the British American Packing Company, ADAIR.
answered as follows : —

1. As far as my experience goes, laborers. Quality and cha-

racter of Chinese

2. They do. immigrants.

3. No.

4. They are, with but very rare exceptions, sober, economical and law-
abiding.

5. So far as my experience goes, yes.

6. They do not.

7. To the best of my knowledge they did and were encotiraged.

8. Up to within the past two years.

9. About two years ago ; principally worthless white laborers ; some cSSre'^prilci"*

of all classes. pally worthless

white laborers.

10. They are apt to cause sickness among themselves by crowding Overcrowd,
themselves too closely together in their houses.

11. Vastly, in my opinion. Developed

, country.

12. I think they are both necessary and desirable. Withdrawal of

Chinese would he

13. Many of our industries would suffer, especially the salmon industry. i,^^i°„"|^ig^'''"

prospects of capi-

14. 1 think about the present number in the province, outside of rail- tal coming in.
road employees.

15. Can hardly say.

16. I think it would be bad.

17. They should not be forced to leave, in my opinion ; the further ^^®^'^g'Jfp^\j<'^g,
advent of others should be restricted and regulated as to number and regSated°"
character.

A combined effort"

18. No answer. lS>m1^at?on"'^

„,.,,, , , , .. might be success-

19. It probably would furnish a supply of white labor, but unless it was fui, but unless

cheap labor some of our industries would suffer. indust^^^s wfld

'^ 8 suffer.

ADAIR

114

Whites can find
employment.

"White immigra-
tion not retarded.

20. I think they can.

21. No answer.

22. I think not.

No injurious effect 23. Prom my observation I have noticed no iniurious effect of Chinese
of Chinese on , , i /? ^ i i -^

white morals. Not upon the morals or the whites,
more depraved

■than whites.

24 and 25. I think not.

26. I have none ; and never knew of a case in this country.

27. I cannot, except to refer the Commission to the valuable statistics
compiled by the late Fish Commissioner, Mr. Anderson.

Wm. B. Adaie.

LORD.

Chinese immi-
grants laborers
and mechanics ;
healthy.

Industrious and
sober, keep
contracts.

Do not Interfere
with whites save
in the labor
market.

Supplied a want
at first.

Feeling favor-
able to Chinese
continued up to
two years ago.

Nothing in their
manner of living
injurious to public
peace or health.

Great inconve-
nience If they
were removed. No
combined effort
would bring a suf-
ficient supply of
white immigra-
.tion.

D. E. Lord, of the British American Packing Company, answered as
follows : —

1. Laborers and mechanics.

2. Yes.

3. No answer.

4. Industrious, sober, and economical.

5. Yes.

6. No.

7. Yes.

8. To within two years.

9. No answer.

10. None that I know of.

11. No answer.

12. Yes.

13. A great inconvenience.

14. A certain number are necessary, but I am not sufficiently posted to
say.

15 and 16. No answers.

17. No.

18. No answer.

19. No.

115

LORD

20. Yes, if they are sober.

21. No answer.

22. I do not know.

23. 24 and 25. No.

26. None.

27. I cannot.

D. R. LoRB.

Whites who
are sober can find
employment. Not
specially injurious
to white morals.

Not more de-
praved than
whites nor do they
flaunt their vices
more openly.

Mr. E. V. BoDWELL, answered as follows ; — BODWELL.

1. Chiefly laborers, with a few traders.

2. Yes.

3. System of public relief : British Columbia Benevolent Society. They
do not.

4. They are industrious, sober, economical and as law-abiding as white
people of the same class. They are neither lazy, drunken, extravagant, or
turbulent.

5. As far as my knowledge extends they do, as well as whites in similar
circumstances.

6. No.

7. Cannot say from personal knowledge as I was not then a resident,
but I am told they did supply a want then felt.

8. I cannot say.

9. Do not wish to answer this question.

10. I do not think there is to the public peace. In their personal habits
they are quite as cleanly as white people in the same station. As to their
habits in their own dwellings, I cannot say.

11. Yes.

12. In the present state of things, yes.

13 They are almost the only domestic servants obtainable. If all were
to leave at once I think it would be a pubUc calamity. In time the want
so created might be supplied by immigration of white servants and
laborers.

14. No answer.

Chinese immi-
grants chiefly la-
Borers with a few
traders. Healthy.
Do not burden
public chariites.

Industriou8,8ober,
law-abiding.

Keep their
agreements.

Do not interfere
with whites save
in labor market.

Supplied a felt
want at first.

Nothing in their
personal habits in-
jurious to public
peace or specially
to public health.
Have contributed
to development of
province. Their
presence still ne-
cessary.

The only domes-
tic servants.
If all were to leave
a calamity.
In time white
servants and
laborers might
come in.

15. Am not in a position to say.

16. Until some means was adopted to bring in a much greater supply Capita^ vvouidl^
•of white labor and a much larger number of domestic servants, persons uats were not sure
with capital dependent upon hired domestics would necessarily be prevented oChaving d^mes-
from settling in the country.

BODWELL

116

Hon'ofchinSif™ ^'^ ■ ^ ^° "°* think present Chinese residents should be forced to leave,
should however but further immigration should be regulated and the numbers admitted
be regulated. be limited.

Ai combined efTort
would not bring
in a suiBcient
amount of white
labor.

White labor can
find employment.
Wages.

18. Do not undertake to say what particular course should be taken to
effect the desired object.

19. I do not think so.

20. In proportion to the number of permanent settlers in the country,,
white people can find employment at fair wages. The labor market might
be overstocked as there are comparatively few settlers able to employ
many laborers. The wages paid for white labor is about $2 per day
on the average, and the cost of living here is about 33^ per cent, greater
than in Ontario.

wavYand^'had t- '^^' '^^^ promise that these lands would be open for settlement has.
tracted a nimiber induced quite a number of people to come to the province this season,
of white immi-

grants. White
immigration not
retarded.
Xo bad effect on
white morals.
Chinese not more
depraved than
whites.

But Chinese labor
has a tendency to
degrade labor ;
and in the end
does not cheapen
it to employers.

22. I do not think so.

23. I do not think they are.

24. I do not think so.

25. No.

26. None.

27. No.

Speaking generally upon the effect of Chinese labor on the laboring-
classes, I think its worst feature is that it has a tendency to degrade labor.
I look upon idleness as a vice, and all honest labor should be held to b^
honorable and respectable. The employment of Chinese for the perform-
ance of menial oflices and manual labor of the harder sort for some reason
causes white persons to avoid similar employment, and an application for
such service from a white man is met with the reply : " I do not wish to
do Chinaman's work." Many persons remain idle rather than face the
false sentiment that certain kinds of labor are only fit for Chinamen to
perform. That Chinese labor can drive out white labor I think there is
no doubt, if it comes in competition, because no matter what price a white
man will do a job of work for a Chinaman will undertake it for say 25 per
cent, less ; but having driven the white laborer from the field competition
ceases as they will not compete in prices with each other, and having no white
competition they are not slow to take advantage of their monopoly of
labor privileges. So that Chinese labor while it may and probably does
drive out or keep out white labor, competition does not cheapen labor to
the employer materially.

E. V. BoDWELL.

ARMSTRONG. William James Aemsteong, a native of Peterborough, Ont., now
Sheriff of New Westminster, answered as follows :

Chinese immi-
grants, laborers
of good health.
Taken into hospi-

1. Laborers, 1 think.

2. Good health, so far as I know.

117 ARMSTRONG

3. They are taken into our hospitals and cared for as white men, for tals the same as
,.,''. ,.*^n,, white men. Lazy.

wnicn we receive no remuneration from them. Do not interfere

with whites save
i T in the fleld of la-

4. ijazy. bor. Did not sup-

ply a want when

5. Seldom or ever employ them ; do not know. provincls^ ""^""^
6 and 7. I think not.

8. No answer. Agitation com-

menced seyeral
years a^o and all

9. Several years ago ; all classes. classes joined in

1 rv -vT i J.1 J. T J! Chinese not injur-

10. JN ot that i am aware or. ious to public

health or peace.

11. I think they have in the lish-curing business. w^dTe'^itot"'""

curing business.

12. I think not. No longer neces-

sary.

13. Comfort not changed ; prosperity good. Effects of European immi- if Chinese with-

j^. . o > r r J n i. drawn no change

gration coming. in comfort ; there

would be pros-
-. . ,y perity as an effect

14. JNo. of European

immigration.

15. None.

16. Capital will bring labor.

"Would not force

17. I would not force them to leave, but I would stop the importation. would°^top^immi-

gration.
' . . . . A law similar to

18. A law very similar to that of the United states ot America. United States Res-

triction Act
should be passed.
A combined effort

19. Yes. would bring in

white immigra-
tion and thus de-
velop the country.

20. Yes'; more so than any other country in the world. Xnty of^emp"oy-

ment.

21. The lands are not opened up for settlers that I am aware of, which
is a great detriment to the prosperity of the country.

White immigra-

22. Yes, to a great extent. tion had been

' " retarded.

23. Very hard to say.

, More vice among

24. Much greater among the females. Chinese women

than among white,
,, , ,1 1 but do not flaunt

25. I do not know that they do. their misconduct

more.

26. None.

27. I have no statistics at hand ; other information might be obtained
if time would admit.

ROBINS

118

Nainaimo, B. C, October 1st, 1884.

Samuel M. Robins, Superintendent of the Vancouver Coal Mining:
and Land Company (limited), answered as follows : —

Chinese who go to 1. The Chinese emigrants that come here are chiefly laborers, and a few
rersf™ew trad- traders, who supply their own countrymen with food and clothing, but no
ers ; no mechanics, mechanics.

Arrive in good
health.

2. When they arrive here they are usually in good health and fit for
work.

Rarely burden
public charities.

Industrious,
sober, law-
abiding.

3. We- have no system of public poor relief, and hitherto the Chinese
have rarely become a burden upon the private charity of white citizens.

4. They are industrious, sober, and law-abiding, and so far as I can ascer-
tain economical.

Respect their en-
gagement.s.

Interfere with
whites in labor
market generally
and in farm and
garden produce
more particu-
larly.

When Chinese
first came they
supplied a want
and were wel-
comed, but the la-
bor population al-
ways against
them, w'itness's
eompany used
them to head off
a strike of whit*
laborei's. With a
little trouble
might haA'e ob-
tained Indians to
answer their pur-
pose just as well.
Encouraged by
employers up to
the present. Feel-
ing against them
ever growing
stronger.
Agitation com-
menced two years
ago chiefly by
white traders
and white
laborers.

5. They respect their engagements and carry out their contracts.

6. The only interference with the prospects of the white population,
that I have observed here, beyond the competition which they offer in the
labor market has been in the cultivation of farm and garden produce, in
which they are very successful, and which they sell to the white population
as well as to their own countrymen.

7. When the Chmese first came to this province they no doubt supplied
a want then felt, and their coming was encouraged and welcomed, especially
I may add by the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company (limited)
which I represent ; but the laboring population were always strongly
averse to their introduction. At the time of their coming here my com-
pany had been sufiering from a strike of the white laborers, and we accepted
the Chinese as a weapon with which to settle the dispute. With a little
more trouble we might, I think, have obtained Indians to answer our pur-
pose equally well.

■S. The encouragement given to the Chinese by employers of labor has
not been withdrawn up to the present time, whilst the anti-Chinese feeling
seems to have grown stronger eyeiry year.

9. I believe what is called the agitation against the Chinese began about
two years ago, and that it has been chiefly fostered by the white trading
^classes who have seen large sums paid away in wages to a class who never
enter their stores. The white laborers also, who often find it diflicult to
secure employment for a relative (whom they may have induced to come
to the province by descriptions of their own prosperity), whilst they see the
Chinese fully occupied are eager to do all they can to bring about legisla-
tion for the regulation of Chinese immigration.

Xothing in habits
or mode of living
injurious to public
peace or health.
Over-crowding
might affect this
last. Public peace
might suffer when
white and Chinese
employed on the
same works.

10. I am not aware of anything in their habits or mode of living inju-
rious to the public peace or to the public health, excepting it may be their
over-crowding. The public peace might be endangered where large num-
bers of white laborers and Chinese are employed in the same works, as
they are in our coal mines ; and in some instances we have found it diflB-
cult to protect the Chinese from ill-usage.

119 ROBINS

11. The presence of the Chinese has, no doubt, contributed to the todtvefo'^me^'of
development of the province. country.

12. Their presence here is far less necessary than it has been in years Chinese no longer
pagt, white labor being more abundant since the opening of railways has formerly,
brought the East and West into closer communication.

13. If the Chinese were to leave the province in a body no doubt much ^'o inconvenience

11 , 1 , ^ 1 ■ ,1 1 J. •£ would be exper-

meonvenience would be caused to every person employing them ; but, it lenced if Chinese

they were to leave as gradually as they have come into the province, I do ^uafiy? ^^*^^ ^^^'

not think any inconvenience would be experienced.

14r. In my opinion it is not necessary to retain Chinese in the province,
but their removal should not be sudden.

. With a free immi-

15. A free immigration of white people of the laboring classes would gration of white

enable us to do without the Chinese element altogether. wuld be^dis^''

pensod with.

16. I am unable to answer this question.

17 and 18. In my opinion a poll-tax of say $50 to be levied on every A poll-tax of jf30'
Chinese immigrant, would be the best solution of the difficulty. A lower immigrant,
tax I do not think, would be effective.

19. In my opinion a combined effort on the part of the people of this ^g™!™ ^,^"^g f,f °'''
province and its legislature to encourage white immigration and discour- sufficient white
age the employment of Chinese effectually would furnish a supply of white immigration.
labor, exclude Chinese immigration, and at the same time develop the

natural resources of the colony as speedily and safely as they are now
being developed.

20. White people can now find remunerative employment. In fact, I'^^^^l^^^l^i''
wages are high enough to attract the best class of white labor. Of nearly wages high

400 white laborers employed by my company, not one earns less than $2 thel^st^^lass^f '
a day. white labor.

21. I believe the opening up of the public lands for railrood purposes 0^if^'^"ei^P^f j^^^
has had a material effect on the immigration of settlers to this province, attracted white

immigrants.

22. Of late, especially, white immigration has been retarded by the ™igration™-° '""'
presence of Chinese immigrants in this province. stnofof'cJWnese.'''

23. So far as my personal observation goes I have not perceived that Presence of Chi-

the presence of the Chinese has had any effect whatever upon the morals whatever on mo-
„ f , . , 1 ' rals of whites.

of the white people.

24. I do not think the proportion of depraved and immoral people Chinese not^more.
amongst the Chinese is greater than amongst the white population in w^fites simUarly
other places similarly situated where the Chinese are not found. situat^ed^and do

vices.

25. The vicious and depraved do not flaunt their vice and depravity
more openly or more effectually than the white people in similar classes.

26. I cannot answer this question from personal knowlege.

, 1 , 1 J T Where Chinese la-

'>7 The precedino- questions appear to cover the whole grouna, ana i tor is easily pro-
have'only one observation to make in addition to the answers above given. ^^^^foy^feT^
I have noticed that where Chinese labor is easily procured, white youths ployment and are

KOBINS

120

bulon^dust"'^'' ^''°™ fifteen years of age and upwards do not find such ready employment
^^^' as elsewhere, and consequently are not so well trained in habits of indus-
try. The manual (unskilled) labor that their fathers followed is looked
upon as only fit for an inferior race, and there is growing up amongst us
a class of idlers who will not conduce to the well-being of the state. We
employ over 390 white miners and laborers, and about 150 Chinese. The
latter earn from $1 to $1.25 per diem.

Samuel M. Robins.

TlNDAL. The following is a declaration by Mr. John Tindal, of Victoria, on the

questions submitted to him ; —

'Chinese miner.s
take no risks but
iollow in the wake
■of the white miner.

Bad results of Chi-
nese immigration.

Chinese are mon-
sters without
morals.

masters of dissi-
mulation.

JFllthy in their ha-
bits.

Have loathsome
•diseases.

Victoria, B. C September 10th, 1884.

I, John Tindal, came to British Columbia in 1862, and until 1876 I
lived mostly on the mainland. A few Chinamen were in the country be-
fore I came ; their occupation in early days being mostly in laundries and
mining. As miners I never knew them to take any risk as prospectors,
but, as jackals, would follow the white man and clean the country of
everything they could turn to their benefit.

The bars and benches on Fraser River and its tributaries, which were
left on account of the high rate of provisions, would now, with railway
communication and cheaper transit, have furnished employment to a large
number of white men, giving the farmers a market and the government a
revenue. But by the Chinese system those are now left a barren waste,
and the treasures they once contained are safe in China.

At one time I felt disgusted to hear men speak so hard against the
Chinese. I therefore tried to cultivate their acquaintance as much as
possible to find out for myself, and had to come to the conclusion that
they were monsters. As to morals, they have none. The honesty of the
whites they look on as simplicity, and their virtue as imbecility. The
Chinese have no respect for women. In fact they seem to think more of a
prostitute than they do of a virtuous woman, the former coming nearer
their own ideas. At dissimulation they a;re masters. On their first
arrival here they are provided with books got up in admirable form to
teach them English, which they can pronounce pretty well from their own
characters. All their energies are exerted to gain a knowledge of our
language, and after they have gained it they are equally careful not to let
it be known. I have never known one who would explain a single word
of Chinese to a white man. As to their habits of life, they are filthy in
the extreme in their surrondings, the soil being saturated with filth for
some distance around their dwellings ; but they seem to keep them-
selves clean and comfortable in their clothing.

As to disease, I have been told by some that venereal was common and
sometimes very serious amongst them ; likewise that some very feeble-
looking Chinamen I have seen sitting by the roadside were turned out by
their co untrymen and not allowed to come near them, that they were
suffering from a dangerous and very infectious complaint; that if a person
even, sat on a chair they had occupied the disease would be transmitted ;
but on asking whether it was what we called leprosy, I got the usual "no
sabee," as the moment they see a person wants information they are
determined not to give it.

121 TINDAL

As laborers they will do as much as white men at some kinds of work. Good laborers at
I have employed them myself, but found they would not work for me as pert thieves,
they did for themselves or their Chinese masters; also that they were
clever and inveterate thieves. They do not come here as Europeans do,
to make a home for themselves, but for the express purpose of robbing
the place of so much money, $1,000 being the average amount that differ-
ent ones have told me they desired. When they do obtain the sum desired Do not come to

SL3.V

they leave for China, unless they see a chance to make more easily with
no danger of loss. They are not particular as to the means of getting the
amount; if they can steal it so much the better, and more honor if not
caught.

It is quite evident that some system of serfdom does exist, but in what Some system of
form it is impossible to say, as the poorer classes seem both unwilling and
afraid to speak on the subject. It is a well-known fact that their women
are sold all over the country as prostitutes. Notwithstanding the great
influence that the leaders have over the masses, no attempt is ever made
to liberate a woman sold into the markets of shame. I have been told by
men from Peru that they make no secret of slavery there.

They and our race can never assimilate, for they seem to despise us dnnot assimilate,
even more than we do them ; and our religion, they say, is the greatest
folly on earth. In fact they think they ought to cheat, and rob, and
degrade us as far as lies in their power.

John Tindal.

Michael Haney, of Yale, a native of Ireland, general superintendent haney.
of the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia, answered as
follows : —

1. Laborers chiefly. Chinese imml-

'' grants chiefly la-

borers ; healthy ;

2 Yes seek no white

charity; indus-
trious, sober, law-

3. No ; Chinamen provide relief. abiding; respect

engEigements ; do
.^ . , 1 , , . J . ■ , 1 not interfere save

4. Industrious, sober. Very economical and law-abiding with very in labor market.

iew exceptions.

5. They do.

6. No.

Large works could

on

7. Was not here ; but at present large works could not be carried on notSl^iild
without them, without entailing large expense. oufthlm* '^"*''

8. Have not heard but little opposition to Chinamen except by a few.

9. I do not know ; generally the laboring classes.

10. No more so than among all laboring classes ; if anything the China- Nothing in their

men, as a whole, are the cleanest. j^an amimg other

laboring classes

11. It certainly has. heilth an J peace ;

developed coun-

12. WhUe railways are being built and operated the Chinaman is ^Ji^g^^^g^^l^.^ ^,^

necessary, and as farmers and gardners they equal the whites. teing built; with^

•' ' out them no ser-

HANEY

122

vants, and public,
works would be
stopped.

7,000 Chinese re-
quired for railway
purposes alone ;
and if the same
number came as
come of whites it
would not be in-
jurious.

If dependent on
labor from Europe
and the East of
this continent
wages would be
high. No restric-
tion necessary.

13. Servants could not be had ; .public works stopped ; what little white-
labor left would be held at high figures.

14. For railway purposes alone 7,000.

15. I do not think an equal number would be injurious.

Combined effort
would not bring
suificient white
labor. White peo-
ple now can find
remunerative em-
ployment.

Not so
immoral as
whites.

16. Very high wages.

17. With the present demand for labor I do not consider any restrictiona
necessary.

18. No answer.

19. I do not think so.

20. Yes.

21. No answer.

22. Not to my knowledge.

23. I do not consider them so.

24. Not so great.

25. No.

26. Have never seen a case.

27. None, except embraced in above answers, and that large works could
not at present be carried on without them.

M. Haney..

Forks Quesnelle, September 18th, 1884.

STEPHENSON. W. STEPHENSON, a resident for twenty-one years in the mining section of
the District of Cariboo, returned the following answers : —

1. Chiefly laborers ; very few mechanics or traders.

2. Always in good health and fit for work.

3. No regular system of poor relief ; but they seldom ever become a,
burden upon the public, except in cases of insanity. When one of them
becomes insane they will at once pass them over to be taken care of.

Industrious, so- 4. As a class they are industrious, sober, and economical. They are

latos of Sw"but°" not lazy, drunken, extravagant, or turbulent ; they do not openly violate

Siwera.^ '' ' *^® ^^'^^' ^^* *^®y "^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^y possible way without bringing
themselves into actual contact with the law. They are inveterate gamblers.
— men, women, and children.

Chinese immi-

§ rants chiefly la-
orers.

Come in good
health and form.
Do not burden
public charities.

Do not carry out
their engage-

5. Very few of them respect their engagements or carry out their con-

123 STEPHENSON

tracts, simply because they have neither principle nor honesty in their ments. 95 per
composition. Ninety-five per cent, of the Chinese are naturally liars and mevet^ ^""^
thieves; and amongst themselves it is no disgrace to lie and steal. If
caught and punished, when their term of punishment expires they are in
no wise degraded in their own or their fellow-countrymen's estimation.

6. Yes ; the trading firms do a good share of the business of Cariboo l" Cariboo inter-
district f^"'® with the busi-
ness of white
traders.

7. The Chinese got into the province before me, so I cannot answer
the question.

8. I do not know.

9. There has never been any agitation against the Chinese in Cariboo ^a^St'the Chi-
district. nese in Cariboo

district.

10. As at present there is not; but were they here in greater numbers Htiiey werein
they certainly would be injurious to the public health, as they are unques- fn™cSo wotSd
tionably a filthy race of people. ^®b?'"h'"ith°

11. No; the development of the province is no object to the Chinese. Have not contri-
They come here purely and simply to make money and take it back to menfo^rovlMeV
China.

12. I cannot say.

13. I could not say what would be the efiect upon the province; but in if Chinese left
Cariboo district we would be short on revenue if the Chinese got up and S'ort of r'^venue®
left.

14 to 16. I cannot answer.

17. My opinion is the present Chinese residents should not be forced to S^toation""^'*
leave this province; but the further advent of others should be prevented, should be pre-
as there is more than enough of the kind in the province.

18. This I consider to be a matter for our legislature to determine.

19. No combined effort on the part of the people of this province and Only one way to
its legislature to encourage white labor or discourage Chinese labor would im?nigration : to
exclude Chinese immigration. There is only one way : when it is decided ^ °Jj ""^ ^°°'^
we have enough, shut the door; and it will have to be closed tight or John

will find a crack open somewhere.

20. For Cariboo district, no; for other parts of the province I should And' remunerative
also say no to all points in the question. employment.

21. I cannot say.

99 T fViint Tint White immigra-

^Z. 1 thmk not. tion not retarded,

23. I do not think they are more iniurious than white people of similar Immoral Chinese

•' ■> r r not more injurious

or allied habits. than immoral

whites.

24. Yes; the proportion is greater. A larger percent-

age immoral. Dtt
c^ ^ , , not flaunt their

20. i cannot say they do. vices.

STEPHENSON

124

Leprosy. 26. I cannot be sure of a case of leprosy amongst them, nor have I ever

known of leprosy being communicated from them to the whites.

27. Owing to the isolated position of this part of the province, I cannot
give any information or facts, statistical or otherwise, further than is
given in answer to these questions, except what the Commission has
heard time and again. It is a fact that they sell and trade their females,
just as we would any domestic animal.

W. Stephenson.

DWYER.

Chinese immi-
. grants slaves ;
chiefly laborers.

Reverend Philip Dwyer, A.M., of Victoria, B. C, formerly canon of
Killaloe Cathedral, Ireland, returned the following answers : —

1. Young men and single, being slaves imported on speculation. They
chiefly come from the over-populated maritime districts of China. They
are mostly laborers, a few are artisans ; of traders there are very few of
them indeed.

They come about o. I have seen some of them coming on shore with their skins looking
ever will be. muddier than usual, and about as fit for labor as ever they are likely to

become on the same innutritious keep they are used to. They have very

small parcels of clothing, etc.

Do not burden
public charity :
reasons why.

3. There is no public poor relief as yet established by law in British
Columbia, but if these folks are put on shore here in continuation, irres-
pective of the demand for them and of the depression of white labor which
they must cause, then there must be poor rates. At present the importers
of the Chinese slaves provide for them, as they would not like to lose a
hand no more than a farmer his ox.

Industrious, but
will shirk work.

Not absolutely
temperate.

4. {a) " Industrious or idle?" In their own way they are the former, but
when possible they will shirk their work.

(6) " Sober or drunken?" If this refers to the use or non-use of alcoholic
stimulants, they cannot afibrd these at first, but after a while and when
free and better ofi", they do use these stimulants, yet then they do not drink
abroad. If to soporifics, they all use opium, and many to excess, as they
show.

Spend but little.

In a sense law-
abiding yet wiU
evade Taw.

Respect engage-
ments.

(c) '' Economical or extravagant?" They spend but little and this all in
the way of exclusive dealing, but at gambling they risk large sums and
are passionately fond of games of risk.

(d) Law-abiding or turbulent?" I do not take these terms as exact con-
tradictories ; but I take the fact to be this : First, they are and yet are
not law-abiding, because they have their own laws, rules and judicatories,
and are only accidentally law-abiding. Second, although not breaking
the law by acts of violence, they evade it, as for example by systemati-
cally evading the payment of their taxes and by gross perjury.

5. They do, because they must, and as well as under-fed slaves are able
to do.

As to whether
they interfere in
fields other than
that ot labor.

6. Not at present and here ; but in the United States they go beyond
fair " competition," and seek, by predominant and exclusive possession of
certain trades, to control the labor market. Their future conduct here

125 DWYER-

will depend upon whether opportunities be afforded them for such a pro-
cedure or else cut off. ,

7. In the United States, they came first to work on the Central or Union Welcomed at. flrat..
Pacific Railroads. Also they were put on in force upon the Canadian

Pacific line to work against time, and to the loss of the contractors who
would have preferred white labor. Here, in respect of other kinds of
labor, they were welcomed in lack of better being available through
expense and distance.

8. That feeling continued until the general sense of all iiatelligent How agitation
people became awakened to the dangers arising from the Chinese being arose.
imported, not in proportion to the needs of the local market and the

equities measurable to other laborers, and the future well-being of the
province, but upon conditions extraneous and adverse.

9. In my humble judgment, the term " agitation " is hardly the term ciSneSi'^not'fo^^'
which strictly applies to designate the feeling and action in this case, muoii an agitator's
"Self-defence" would explain the principle more accurately; and this J^°ggi(!^®g"gjfgg ""'^
being the spontaneous and natural outcome of the universal persuasion

of all classes, found an expression first in private, then in the press, and
finally in the Provincial Parliament.

10. The present numbers and interests of the Chinese preclude any Dangerous to the
hostile action on their part against the public peace. Their houses, and

yards, and streets, and drains (such as the latter are in Victoria), are
ofiensive alike to the senses of sight and smell ; and should any
epidemic arise, the combination of Chinese, living on low diet and
congested amidst reeking offal and fecal matter, must breed if not spread
plague or pestilence. Why they do not suffer already from zymotic
disease does seem an anomaly. They have all the elements of it rife in
their midst ; but sooner or later " Chinatown " must become a Inine of
destructive influences, operative over a wide radius, against the life and
health of the city of Victoria. And so, too, wherever these people
congregate. New Westminster looks very unsanitary, also, in the Chinese
quarters. I think that an undue stress was laid on the question of leprosy.
It is against the interests of purchasers and importers alike, to lay out
money and be at a risk on "a chattel" likely to prove a loss; con-
sequently the slave-owners first examine the article carefully, just as
purchasers get a " Vet " to examine a horse, or exporters use tests to
guard against pleuro-pneumonia, or " foot and mouth," in a drove, of
beasts. The danger from leprosy must arise from its being in-bred or
undeveloped in the article that is imported.

11. It has and it has not. It has because something is better than To what^extent^__._
nothing. It has not because the Chinese are mere "birds of passage," buted to develop
who use mainly food and clothing imported from China, or prepared by country.
Chinese. Nay, all their earnings go first to their owners for redemption,

then they remit them to China when redeemed, cooperate to their own and
not the interests and trade of the province in general, and stand in the
way of the introduction of better workers who would identify themselves
with the interests of the province, by settling, thriving, trading and in-
vesting, not in the exclusive fashion of the Chinese.

12. This will depend on conditions possible, even probable, though not Stand m theway
yet considered or developed. But at the present they stand m the way grants.

126

of white immigrants of certain trades, i.e., shoe-makers, domestic servants,
washers, tailors, carpenters, cigar-makers, etc. Also, they cheapen labor,
and may do so further to an extent exclusive of further immigrants of a
most desirable kind.

Not necessary
once Canadian
Pacific Railway
shall have been
completed.

13. Their immediate expulsion en masse is one thing for possible con-
sideration. But after all, if the Canadian Pacific Railroad was opened,
their presence would not be at all necessary in the degree at present
inevitable ; nay, even they might become, even without a further increase
of their numbers, rather undersirable if found restrictive upon the
introduction of white and other laborers.

Conditions which
determine how
many desirable.

If Chinese ex-
cluded there
would be a tem-
porary disadvant-
age and great
ultimate gain.

Suggestion for le
. gislation.

What combined
«ffort might and
might not do.

14 and 15. The certain number of Chinese necessary here, cannot be
laid down in a numerical statement, even approximate. It depends alto-
gether upon economic conditions, of which two at least may be stated.
First, that they be sufficient in number to keep labor from reaching a
deterrent maximum. Second, that their number may not run labor down
to a minimum, so as to exclude white immigrants — thereby giving to the
Chinese a command over the labor market equal to a monopoly, to be
backed up afterwards by the force of labor leagues and trade combinations ;
thereby reducing the Island to the same conditions which the Ameri-
cans repelled before their overtaking their western cities and countries
with injurious effects.

16. A temporary disadvantage and loss to be compensated for plentifully,
by great gains upon the opening of the Canadian Pacific Railroad.

17. " Forced to leaved the province " in a body might become a necessity,
whether with or without any prior restriction put upon their numbers.
Also, this eventuality might be further regarded as not precluding further
immediate precautionary measures, in the nature of penal clauses under
certain very probable conditions, and to be prepared and provided before-
hand in order to avert dangers impending from present Chinese courses
of action.

18. Stringent regulations of a legislative nature, framed in the Ught of
the evasions experienced by the United States. Also further legislative
provisions of a deterrent character directed against the whole body of the
Chinese at present in British Columbia, so as to make them know the
responsibilities they incur, if persisting in certain courses, which may
prove injurious to the interests of the colony,

19. This question assumes too little and would prove too much. Thus
first, the combined effiDrt must be prepared for, in order to be at all
effectual, by a restriction legally imposed on importation of Chinese labor.
And then, secondly, the combined effijrt should not be made so as to have
the intention or efiect of excluding the Chinese altogether as a way to the
inclusion of the white or other laborers. The fact is that " both are best "
up to a certain degree. But to have either all white labor or all Chinese,
would be injurious and absurd. The natural resources of the colony will
thus be found likely to find the earliest and most advantageous develop-
ment by putting a restriction upon the unlimited influx of the Chinese
who, from already having the advantage of an earlier start and establish-
ment and an easier and cheaper entrance, have placed the white laborer
already at a serious disadvantage.

127 DWYER

20. This question can only be answered fairly by distinguishing Some whites can

* «/ 1/ o o tliicl work * otiicrs

oases. Some of the white people can find all that is stated, others of cannot,
certain trades certainly cannot. These trades are shoemakers, tailors,
domestic servants, laundry-workers, gardeners, fish-curers, choppers, and, in
a lesser degree, other artisans and workers, such as cigar-makers, buUders'
assistants, brick-makers, etc. The .consequence is that no white laborers
can take up, or work at these trades, or at least this can only be done at
rates inadequate for family support and reasonable provision for old age.

Opening up of

21. Yes; it has had such an efiect. railway lands had

' attracted white

immigration.

22. Undoubtedly so, and particularly of the working classes; nay, even white immigra-
some of these have left in consequence of the Chinese workers. £ded^ ''^™ ™

Influence on
whites. .

23. If the Chinese evade the law about paying taxes, if they are opium-
eaters, if gamblers on desperate risks, if they are notorious thieves, if
they have no regard for their oaths in courts of justice — these features of
their character and conduct point them out as out-doing the common
classes of sinners among the white people, and actually becoming the
examples of vices otherwise unknown or but very partially tried in
practice.

24. In respect to the ofiences named above, the Chinese are bad As to whether
examples beyond their own nationality; and, in particular, wherever they immoral than
are found in numbers with a white population in juxtaposition, there whites.

the white people begin to use opium, which is a most demoralizing and
injurious habit. The opium dens of San Francisco illustrate this position.

25. The viciousness and seductiveness of vice do not consist in "flaunt-
ing it openly," but in carrying it out with quiet, screened effect; because
the deception is thus all the greater, and the besetting sins of the Chinese
are just of the latter kind, and not the former. It is only after a pretty
long career of opium-eating or smoking one can judge of the effects by the
appearance of the victim.

26. I have alluded to leprosy above.

27. I respectfully invite attention to the letter appended. [See Appen-
dix B.]

Philip Dwyee, A.M.

Robert Dunsmuir, M. P. P., proprietor of the Wellington Coal Mines, DUNSMUIR.
returned the following answers : —

Q. Have you resided for some years in this province 1 If so, for how
many ? — A. I have resided in the province of British Columbia for over
thirty-two years.

Q. Have you had any experience as an employer of labor?— A. I have Emplo^a.from^rai
had considerable experience in the employment of labor. At the present Chinese in
time I have from seven to eight hundred whites and Chinese employed in ™i"' «■
coal mining.

Q. What kinds of labor do you employ, and in what works ?— A. As
before stated, I employ both whites and Chinese. The whites are usually

DUNSMUIR

128

Whites do the
skilled labor and
Chinese the la-
boring work.

For work for
which they are
capable Chinese
equal to white la-
borers.

Can take charge
of gangs of their
own countrymen.

Arrive in good
health.

employed digging coal, as blackmiths, carpenters and engineers. The-
Chinese are put to the work that best suits them — ordinary manual labor,

Q. Do you find Asiatic and white labor equally available for all pur-
poses?— A. No. The whites do the skilled labor and the Chinese the
manual work.

Q. In what respect do the Asiatic, or Chinese laborers fall short, either
physically or mentally, of the white laborer ? — A. The Chinese, or Asiatic
laborers do not fall short, in any respect, of white labor, if put to the
work they are capable of doing.

Q. Do you find them competent to take charge of large gangs of men,
or to manage and repair machinery if at all intricate or complicated in its
mechanism 1 — A. I find them quite competent to take charge of large
gangs of men of their own race, but I have not found them capable, or
trusty in repairing intricate machinery, as I have not tried them, but the
Chinese being very ingenious, and quick to imitate, I have no doubt they
could learn to do so successfully.

Q. In what state of health do they arrive in this country ? — A. So far
as I know the Chinese arrive in this county, as a general thing, in very
good health.

Industrious and
hardy.

Temperate and
peaceable.

Q. Do you find them hardy and industrious, or otherwise 1 — A. I find
them as a rule, both industrious and hardy.

Q. Are they quiet and sober, or drunken or turbulent ? — A. I consider
them temperate and peaceable.

Frugal and saving Q. Are they frugal and economical, or extravagant with their wages-
bling^ °^ ^''" when earned ? — A. They are both frugal and saving, except when given

to gambling, a vice, however, which they, as a general thing, confine-

among themselves.

Keep engage-
ments.

Chinese laborer
in no sense a
slave in B. C.

Q. Do they keep their labor engagements, or are they disposed to break
them ? — A. They keep their engagements and fulfil their contracts, and
when any of them are taken sick, or become disabled, substitutes are
usually furnished, without any trouble to foremen or superintendents.

Q. Have you any knowledge whether their labor partakes of the charac-
ter of slave labor, and that some other person besides the laborer himself
benefits from his wages ? — A. I have heard that others than the actual
workman benefit from his labor, but I have never been able to trace it to.
fact in my business relations with Chinese labor, because those of that
race employed by me receive their wages at the pay-table individually,
the same as the whites do. In my experience, I do not consider the Chi-
nese laborer as a slave in any sense in this province.

Q. To whom are wages generally paid : that is to say, are they paid to-
the laborer himself, or to some third party ? State fully, please, all you
know on the subject of this and the previous question 1 — A. In my
answer to the previons question, I think I have covered the whole ground,
so far as the two questions are concerned.

Sarket when'^*""^ Q" ^^ ^^^* condition was the labor market when the Chinese began to
Chinese began to come to British Columbia, as respects supply and demand, both in regard

129 DUNSMUtR

to outside work as well as in regard to domestic servants 1 — A. The con-
dition of the labor market before the Chinese began to arrive in this
province was that few laborers were required of any kind, as very little
work was being prosecuted either upon this Island or upon the mainland.
The limited amount of work was, at one time, performed by Indians, who,
with few exceptions, could not be depended upon for more than a month
at a time. White labor was tried under ground and at a high rate of
wages, but it was difficult to obtain that labor. Their places to-day, to
a great extent, are filled by Chinese. Domestic servants in those days
were not much needed, and there was very little demand for ordinary white
labor.

Q. Has the immigration of Chinese contributed to or retarded the Chinese had con-
development of this province ? — A. The immigration of Chinese has, I veiopmentof
consider, materially aided the general development of the country, from country,
the fact that they have assisted in pushing to completion the public
works undertaken, and could always be depended upon as a labor power.
They have, moreover, pitched into that kind of work which, from its
arduous nature and humble character, has deterred the proportion of in-
• coming white men from accepting willingly in a new country where they
immediately expected to better their position, or step into a better place
than the one they had just left.

Q. Has the immigration of Chinese contributed to or retarded the im- White immigra-
migration of white labor ?— A. I do not think the gradual influx of ''™"°'™'*'''J«'*-
Chinese has retarded the incoming of white labor, as I find few of those
new white arrivals willing to undertake the work performed by them in
other countries, but declined here and given to Chinese laborers.

Q. Has the immigration of Chinese contributed to or retarded the in- Presence of Chi-
coming of capital from other countries ? — A. Had it not been for the jn.flow of capital,
available Chinese labor the same progress and development in this province
could not have been made, and their presence has therefore stimulated in-
vestments of capital in many directions.

Q. Has the presence of the Chinese made capital more remunerative Bu\/j^i^^J^nese
here than it otherwise would have been ? — A. Undoubtedly so,f or the reasons would be se-
given in my answer to the previous question. And I may say that, were nously retarded-
it not for Chinese labor, the business I am engaged in specially, coal-
mining, would be seriously retarded and curtailed, and it would be impos-
sible to sell this product and compete favorably in the market of San
Francisco with vessels from other ports which carry coal as ballast. It
may be stated in this connection that San Francisco is, in fact, the only
important market for coals from the mines of this province at present.

Q. Have the Chinese, either directly or indirectly, developed agriculture J/|yj.^uWful.,
in this province, and if so to what extent and in what manner; and to what • .

extent, in your opinion, would the same development have taken place
had there been no Chinese immigration 1— A. They have not developed
agriculture to any great extent, but as gardeners they have been very
successful, being contented with small plots of land which they cultivate
industriously and profitably. A good deal of wild land has m this way
been redeemed from the primeval state by this class of people.

Q. How far have the Chinese developed, if at all, the mining industry ggg°,VcoS'*
here ?— A. They have assisted, so far, by performmg labor m coal mines ^^ted to develop-

DUNSMUIR

130

Crold miners.

.Agitation against
■Chinese political.

which others refused to perform, at wages that made such mining pay.
Without them this department of the mining industry would have had
slower and less important development in this province, and the export trade
of this product would have been infinitely less, because it would have been
impossible but for their labor to compete in this respect in foreign
markets.

Q. Would it have been for the best interests of this province that the
gold mines worked by the Chinese should have remained until such times
as it would have been profitable for white men to work them 1 — A. While
I do not pretend to know a great deal about the gold mines of the province,
my information leads me to believe that in a very large number of eases it
will be found that the Chinese are working and developing mines abandoned
by white men as useless or unprofitable ; and I am of the opinion, without
having consulted any recent reports, or examined late data, that the out-
put from these mines worked by the Chinese forms an important proportion
of the aggregate gold product of British Columbia.

Q. How far is the agitation against the Chinese political and in the
interests of any one class of the people of this province, and how far
would their exclusion or forced removal go to disturb the labor market,
or render this province more or less attractive to capitalists, or new set-
tlers, or to the present residents ? — A. I consider the agitation against the
Chinese as largely political, for I have heard no argument against them as
yet which convinces me that they are a drawback to this province or to
this part of the Dominion. I consider their presence as beneficial to the
progress and development of the country, as an important factor in the
labor market ; and I am satisfied, so far as my personal experience goes,
that the province generally is not unfavorably influenced by Chinese labor,
race prejudices to the contrary notwithstanding. I do not believe that
any class of our people assisting to develop this province are sufiering from
the competition of these people. White men decline to do the work given
to the Chinese, and could not live in this country at the present prices
of products on the wages paid the Chinamen. Some of the trades, such
as shoe-makers, tailors, cigar-makers, etc., are affected by Chinese labor and
are compelled to manufacture goods at a low figure, the ordinary working-
man, agriculturist, etc., is, however, benefited by the competition. If the
mine-owners were compelled to pay the wages now asked and obtained by
white laborers, supposing they would consent to do the manual labor for
which the Chinese receive much smaller pay, they, the mine-owners, could
not compete in the markets now open to them, especially San Francisco,
the principal market for British Columbia coals, where other foreign coal
product is carried as ballast.

Exclusion of Chi- Q- How far would the exclusion of Chinese interfere with the speedy

ne^ would retard completion of the public works which are contemplated in this province ? —

A. I believe the exclusion of Chinese would retard the construction of

public works and increase the cost of them very materially both as regards

those under way and those contemplated.

Q. Assuming that some legislation is necessary in the direction of
discouraging the continued immigration of Chinese into British Columbia,
should that legislation be prohibitive, restrictive, or merely regulative?
Please state your views fully on this point 1 — A. In regard to legislation I
do not think any measures of a prohibitive nature are required at this
early day, nor do I believe that legislation should take place either to

No legislative
measures neces-
;sary.

131 DUNSMUlR

restrict or regulate the incoming of Chinese, for the simple reason that
they will not arrive in larger numbers than the requirements of the labor
market demand.

Q. How far would exclusive or severely restrictive legislation affect the Excluding Chi-
trade interests of the Dominion or of this province, in view of the early "^^*' impairs our
•completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway ?— A. I may state that it is my troiUng the Asiatic
belief that the grand plan of opening up and controlling the Asiatic tra;de by jed^lr^ls pro-
;a Canadian railway from ocean to ocean would be seriously affected, if not vinciai enter-
actually defeated, by legislating the Chinese out of the country at this time. P"^®^'
In addition to jeopardising provincial enterprises, now in successful opera-
tion, other portions of our Dominion, expecting benefits and profits from
transcontinental traffic over the Canadian Pacific Railway, tapping oriental
trade, would of course share in any evil effects resulting from injudicious
or preventative legislation.

Q, How far from your observation has the presence of Chinese in this Themoralsof
province, both as domestic servants and otherwise, affected the morals of jured by Chinese.
white people? — A. I have never been made aware, I am glad to say,
■either by observation or otherwise, of any ill effects upon the morals of
respectable whites from contact with the Chinese ; and I am informed that
it is only the depraved of both races who assimilate in evil practices.

Q. How far is the speedy settlement of this question necessary to quiet I* Chinamen had
•/ X votes tilG £L&niJ3i-

iihe public mind, and would its settlement in the sense of excluding the tion would cease.
Chinese affect the prospect of an early development of the Asiatic trade aifthe^Asiatic'''^
with Canada ? — A. To the first part of the question I answer that if it trade,
were possible for Parliament to bring in a bill speedily to give the China-
man the franchise there would be less anti-Chinese agitation ; and as
respects the second part of the interrogation I think legislation excluding
the Chinese would kill the prospect of an Asiatic trade with Canada.

Q. Have you any other information in connection with the Chinese in
British Columbia to offer the Commissioners on this enquiry ? — A. I think
the questions already replied to cover the ground and I have nothing
further to add to my answers, and no additional information to volunteer
at the present time.

R. DUNSMUIR, M.P.P.

Nanaimo, B.C., October 15th, 1884.
J. Pawson, of Nanaimo, returned the following answers : — PAWSON.

1. Laborers.

2. Being slaves to all intents and purposes, it is not likely that sick and Chinese Jmmt-
indigent cripples would be selected. laborers.

3. When by accident or sickness they become incapacitated for work sometimes steal.
they resort to larceny, at which occupation they are adepts ; and if they

are not able to follow this occupation their doctors and highbinders see '
iht,t they do not live to a green old age, while many prefer the peniten-
tiary.

4. Being slaves and under the strict surveillance of the Chinese compa- Sober a^ regards
nies, they are bound to be industrious. Their kind of intoxication, viz., amoke opium.

PAWSON

132

opium, is not a turbulent kind of intoxication, nevertheless it is equally-
pernicious.

Do not consider
contracts.

5. Their very engagements depend upon it, and the masters or owners
see that they do that unless a better remuneration offers ; and they do not
consider contracts.

They interfere
with whites in
every branch of
trade and in-
dustry.

Supplied no
want which could
not hare been
supjplied by

whites.

6. They do, to the detriment of the province in particular, and the Domi-
nion generally ; they push themselves into every avenue of trade that has
been proved profitable by white settlers. As shop-keepers, having no families,
they do not keep up extensive establishments, but live cheaply and sleep on
their shelves or under the counter, and can and do undersell white traders
who live like civilized beings and have to keep up a respectable establish-
ment, educate their children, and occasionly buy their wives a new bonnet.
They are in all profitable branches of trade and come into competition
with nearly all classes. With merchants, especially of Chinese productions,
with traders, manufacturers, fishermen, etc., in all cases I firmly believe
to the injury of the Dominion.

7. They supplied no want than could have been much better filled by
immigrants from the neighboring states or Europe ; they fiUed domestic
positions that would have been much better occupied by white women of
our own civilization who would have married and become the mothers of a
rising generation, whereas they brought their prostitutes and filthy
diseases. They were welcomed by the same class of individuals that now
desire to perpetuate their stay — men that have no object beyond their own
aggrandizement and selfish greed, and who would worship Confucius rather
than Christ if they were going to make money out of it.

Feeling against S. The feeling against Chinese not being desirable immigrants always

Sronf in T^i^o- existed and still exists amongst a large majority of our population. The
rity o1 the people, exceptions are largely composed of monopolists who desire them as a
standing threat against the liberty of white labor.

9. It began in 1858 and 1859 amongst the gold miners of British
Columbia, who for some years successfully kept them out of the gold
mines ; and it is now being carried on by all classes and conditions of
society, but more especially by the settlers, miners, and workingmen of the
province.

10. They live huddled together in shanties or houses; twenty or thirty
would lodge in a house only large enough for a white laborer. They close
up the windows and exclude all Kght and air almost. AU filth and refuse
is hoarded up in or near their dwelling to be carried away by the vegetable
raisers when it suits their convenience. A very large percentage of
crimes committed in the province is perpetrated by them, and it is difficult
to make arrests owing to the manner in which they live, and it is still
more difficult to make a conviction as you can place no reliance on their
oath. I speak from the experience of some years as a justice of the
peace.

11. I do not think that they have been conducive to the best interests,
of the province, as they are imitators, and never launch out in original
channels ; and as they are only sojourners, wishing to get all they can to.
carry it away, they rarely make any permanent improvements.

Agitation began
in 18o8.

Huddle together.

Responsible for
much of the
crime.

Reasons for be-
lieving they have
not developed
province.

No longer

necessary.

12. Personally, I should think not.

133 PAWSON

13. They would feel relieved of a terrible incubus that is hanging like !^thdra^1ni

a pall over this fair land, clouding and threatening its moral and social tocubS wiuid be
existence. lifted from the

province.

14. The number required.

15. Perhaps a sufficient number to give the eastern provinces a taste of
■.their quality.

16. Persons with capital coming from Europe or America would import
•a superior class of domestics who would be a much greater acquisition to
the province.

17. Total restriction of all Chinese immigration.

18. I would refer you to the Restriction Acts of the United States and should be exciud-

the Australian colonies. ^^■. y^}^'it^^ .

points to the acts
of the U. S. and
Australian co-
lonies.

19. Remove the moral and social ulcer and you would find a far more Remove the
permanent and speedy development of our resources. A few monopolists wMtrfmmigra-
would not get so rapidly and unwieldily rich, but as soon as white labor tion would
was relieved of the onus of having to compete with slave labor there would ^ ™'

be an influx of men desirous of making homes and growing with the
country ^men who would defend those homes with their life's blood against
the aggressor. I cannot see that it is so conducive to the interests of our
country to have cheap labor. Let the laborer have a fair share of the wealth
he produces. You protect your industries by a discriminating tariff, why
should labor not be protected from the competition of the hungry slave s
of Asia.

20. Those competent to perform skilled labor can, but those laborers Skilled white
who have to depend on unskilled labor are brought directly in competition employment, but
with Chinese slaves and have to leave our shores. This is no place for them ; "iiskilled cannot,
while laborers with families Complain that they can get no occupation for

their boys and girls, because the work done by boys in the mines in Emg-
land and elsewhere have their places filled with Chinamen in this pro-
vince, while there is no room for the girls in domestic situations without
they submit to be employed along with Chinamen, which is repulsive.

21. I do not see what it has got to do with the Chinese question, and I
do not think that either the province or the Dominion can long claim to
having displayed any particular alacrity in removing the embargo. There
is no doubt that if the restriction had been removed some years ago there
would have been a much larger area settled by the most desirable kind of
immigrants who came here and were disappointed and had to find homes in
the neighboring states and territories.

22. Most decidedly.

23. After an experience of thirty-two years in this province, the Austra- White immigra-
lian colonies, and California, I should pronounce them demoralizing in the

extreme, especially to the young and rising generation ; they are so easy of P^™''^^ demorai-
access and so shamelessly wanjion in their licentiousness. generation.

24. Nearly the" whole of their females that leave China are professed Nearly all Chinese
prostitutes, from children ten or twelve years of age to old hags, while their •^"j,^*"'^

is scarcely a Chinaman but what indulges in opium and gambling.

PAWSON

134

Worse than any-
thing in large
EufQpBan cities.

25. In early days in California I have seen sights that I coi;ld not
describe in this paper, and I am certain there is nothing to compare with
them in the large cities of Europe.

26. I am not a medical man, so I have kept as far away from reported
cases as possible.

27. I have no opportunity of culling statistical information here as it
is only a small town with no library.

J. Pawson.

GORDON.

Chinese immi-
grants gathered
in the main from
criminals and
paupers and
prostitutes.

Healthy hut
filthy.

David William Gordon, M. P. for Vancouver, contractor and builder,
head of the firm of Gordon & Co., wharf-owners, returned the follow-
ing answers : —

1. So far as I have been able to gather from the most reliable Chinese
and other available sources, the class of immigrants, or more properly
speaking slaves or serfs, who are brought here from China, are gathered
by the agents of the Chinese companies from amongst the criminal and
poverty-stricken population of that over-crowded empire, largely from the
seaports and rivers, where crime and poverty are the prevailing features.
When they arrive here they follow any pursuit their owners can turn
them to with advantage. The females, in ninety-nine cases out of a hun-
dred, being prostitutes, are sold for that purpose to their couiitrymen on
arrival.

2. Their being selected for a period of servitude, those selecting them,
would naturally, in their own interest, select the strongest of their class..
The restrictions and regulations governing the ships of all civilized nations,
as to number and treatment of passengers, is a partial assurance that they-
should arrive in ordinary good health, though their filth on arrival has
been described to me by medical officers to have been horrid in the
extreme.

Some show grati-
tude but many
rob.

Compelled as
slaves to be
industrious.

3. No. But they frequently receive kindnesses from the whites, and.
many of them are willing to reciprocate a kindness, but others repay them
by robbing hen-roosts, orchards, and clothes-lines.

4. Serving under some system of slavery, semi-slavery, or serfdom, that-
claims and receives submissive obedience to some form of Asiatic tyranny
unknown to our laws, they are obliged to be industrious. So were the
slaves of the South. Their revenues or earnings not being under their
own absolute individual control, they are necessarily economical. Chinese
rice, Chinese prepared vegetables, Chinese prepared and dried fruits, fish
and vegetable oils, being their chief diet, there is not much room for

Feed on wretched extravagance. I have never yet known an English or French gentleman
from the old countries who would feed their dogs upon the food usually
consumed by the ordinary Chinese laborer. Of course, domestics in the
service of white families, for obvious reasons, are an exception, as they
feast on the fragments. I am sure that no Canadian, whether of Anglo-
Saxon, Teutonic, or Gallic origin, desires to see any class of immigrants
come to their country who are not entitled to claim for their toil the best
Hving that a fertile soil and fruitful seas can produce, whether they fol-
low the plough, dig in the mine, toil upon the sea, at the loom, at the
anvil or the bench, or in the counting-house. The good living that now

food.

Bomestics an
exception.

135 GORDON

form marked features of our country, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
would be forever beyond the hopes of the multitude whose industry alone
can make Canada what we should desire it to be, were they once reduced to
the wages of Asiatic serfdom. The question might reasonably be asked : How During last fiscal
could a Chinese laborer afford to get drunk and smoke opium ? And yet and wines worth
during the last fiscal year there was imported from China spirits and wines ^'oj-^'jlg f^'""™
valued at $16,720, and opium valued at $95,354. Nor is it believed by imported.'
any person familiar with the quantity of Chinese brandy consumed by the
coolies on the railway, but that the quantity consumed has been far in
excess of that represented by the customs returns. The inference is that Chinese brandy
a large quantity must have been smuggled into the province. No part of ajnuggied.
Canada offers the same facilities for smuggling that the extended frontier,
of British Columbia afibrds. A few have been detected at New West-
minster, but there is no reason to doubt but a great number avoid detec-
tion. To despoil the revenue is one of the fundamental principles of their
organization. If they ever practice extravagance, except on their feast
days, it is at the expense of some poor white man's chicken roost, orchard
or garden. Chinese merchants, who generally live liberally, are exempt chl!?tlof"a^dif-
from the above charge. Cerent character.

Those Chinese companies who have the coolies under their control, Chinese docility
possessed of a cunning civil organization, and dissimulation, to us incom-
prehensible, would never allow any turbulence among those under them to
lead them into open conflict with the white population, especially at a
time when the neighboring republic is endeavoring to exclude them from
their domains. Their docility is due to a keen sense of the repugnance
of their institutions to the institutions of the Anglo-Saxon people.

5. Contracts with white companies or other white employers are almost Expl^ation^why
invariably made with the representatives of one of the six Chinese com- ^^t.^"
panies, in which the Chinese laborers have no part, further than to obey

the bosses detailed by the respective companies to oversee them. The
latter being ignorant of the personal liberty guaranteed them under our
laws, and under a terrible dread of violating the code of the particular
company under which they are serving, submit to any hardship that may
be imposed upon them, though not without murmuring to the whites, to
whom they frequently complain bitterly. The contracting parties no
doubt as in most other cases keep their engagements, on the ground that
no work no pay is the key to the position.

Another security the general employers of that class of semi-slave labor
have is this, that they engage with one of the Chinese companies for such
large numbers that, in case of disputes arising, the companies would find
it impossible to distribute their semi-slaves in large numbers into other
pursuits with any prospect of permanent employment, and a general or
wen partial distribution destroys their power to govern them and keep
them under control and in submission to their code.

6. Most decidedly. Their policy is "spoil the Egyptians." Under some CUnese^mteriere
system of participation peculiar to their code, but unknown to us, a class g^ery branch of
of Chinese more intelligent than the ordinary laborer is being pushed into i "iustry.
every branch of trade and commerce. As merchants they dress and deal
exclusively in Chinese goods, to the detriment of the manufactories of

Canada. They never invest their money in any new busmess or enter-
prise until it has been founded, developed, and made profitable by white
labor. Their earnings and the profits of their commerce are sent out of
the Dominion in hard cash, and never becomes reinvested m the develop-

■GORDON

136

Keep out good
white laborers.

ment of the natural or other resources of our country, differing entirely
in that respect from emigrants from Europe or white emigrants from
other parts of America.

They are a constant menace to those better elements who are fast
filling up other portions of the Dominion. The cholera, or other pestilence,
or famine, could not be more effectual in restraining an influx of white
laborers into this province, than the presence of sixteen, or eighteen
thousand Mongolian slaves or serfs, or whatever they are. No white laborer
possessed of the least particle of that self-respect common to the people of
any of the eastern provinces. United States or Europe will voluntarily
submit to the same dominancy to which they are obliged to submit.

They practice their pagan rites with a prominence and eflfrontery
repulsive to the strain of modern thought. Their gatherings in our
various communities attracts many, alas, too many, of our young boys,
who from idle curiosity are drawn together to witness them practice the
peculiar phases of Asiatic heathensism. They have lost no opportunity of
denouncing the cross, and all those who reverence it, as too muchee lie ;
and jeer at it, and at all religious denominations founded upon its history,
in the most opprobrious epithets to which their pigeon or broken English
can give expression. There are a few who have feigned conversion,
whether real or not no one can tell, but even they are like light-houses on
the coast of Africa, few and far between. Their miserable cheap labor
can never compensate for the curse they have already inflicted, and will
continue to inflict, on the institutions of our country — a curse that even if
their immigration were restrained or prohibited to-morrow would not be
obliterated for a centurv.

Practice pagan
rites in an open
and repulsiTc
manner.

Have supplied no 7. So far as my observations have extended, covering a period of twenty-
want wmcli would • J.1, 1 J. !• 1 J 1 J 1 . 1, 1 1 "^

not have been Six years, they have not supplied a want but what could have been sup-
faborcrs ^^ "*"" P^'*'''' "^^^^ ™°^^ profit to the province and the Dominion, from among the
civilized nations of western Europe, or from our own eastern provinces or
the United States. They were welcomed only by a few whose inordinate
greed would lead them to sell or sacrifice the best interests of any coun-
try for personal gain. No true Canadian having the best interest of his
country's future at heart has ever welcomed them.

I^ainsttt^ni '^' '^^^^ deling against the Chiiaese still continues amongst the best

cfSues.'^™ elements of our province, those who will willingly defend it should occasion

arise requiring their services — a duty to which a railway contractor, and

one or two coal companies, and their Mongolians, would not be likely to

contribute very extensively, except as an embarrassment.

9. Answer to Nos. 7 and 8, may be regarded as an answer to this
number.

Habits of Chinese ^^- '^^^ Commission would think so had they visited their precincts as
^^' and'm?bu" '^ ^ ^''''^ '^°"® ""^ ^ ^^""^ juryman, and at a time when the Chinese did not
iealth. expect such a visit. Though not boasting of extreme modesty, yet I would

not write down in a paper of this character what I have seen, but would
have no objections to describe privately to members of the Commission, of
the Government, or of Parliament, the disgusting scenes I have at times
been forced to witness. Fortunately I have never yet been oblit^ed to
dine with them ; but the Public Accounts for the last fiscal year give some
indication of their living. I attach below some of the articles and their
values :

137 GORDON

Opium from China $ 95,354 Debasing luxury.

From other countries • 3,894

(Debasing luxury) I 99,248

Rice from China $112,943

Spirits and wines 16,727

Pickles, sauces, etc 1,548

Prepared vegetables of all kinds 8,290

11. Not to the same extent that a male white population of half their Have not deve-
number would have done. Their serfdom has made a few white men rich ff'^g extent^™'^
at the expense of their province and of their race. Slavery in the South '^^^f^^^ '^^''"''^
accomplished the same villainous results.

12. No, not in my estimation. No longeme-

' ' ^ cessary.

13. Salutary. Their entire with-

•' drawal would

have a salutary
effect on the
province.

14. Yes, enough to distribute amongst the cities of the eastern pro- Answer to en-
vinces,as follows: — viz., Ottawa, 4,000 ; Montreal, 4,000 ; St. Johns, N. B., are^necessary!"^
2,000 ; Halifax, 2,000 ; Quebec, 2,000 ; Toronto, 2,000 ; London, 1,000 ;

and Hamilton, 1,000, and as many more as the inhabitants of those cities
may petition for after they shall have had some experience of Asiatic
enterprise and virtue, and the cost of their distribution to be borne by the
Department of Immigration.

15. The immigration of Chinese, I am speaking from a British Columbia There.shouid be
•standpoint, should be in the proportion that nothing bears to the gross immigration,
number of whites that may be expected to arrive in the province, during

any given period or periods of time.

16. It would most undoubtedly be good. The supply would soon Capitalists would
be found equal to the demand if it once became known in the other ^chiSesraway. ^
provLQces, in the United States, and in Europe, that immigrants coming to

this province would not be confronted with thousands of Mongolian serf-
laborers and domestics.

17. Mode of dealing with those now in the province as suggested in J^^g^^^n"*
answer to No. 14. Their further advent should be prohibited.

18. By an Act of the Parliament of Canada with good and sufficient
machinery to enforce its prohibitory provisions.

19. No, not unless Chinese immigration is prohibited. They would Uji^ss^Chinese
be imported by the few referred to in my answer to No. 7, m such prohibited no
numbers and so long as they could be used as a base currency upon which comWned effort
to fix the value of free white labor. With Chinese immigration prohibited, white immigra-
a more desirable class than any assisted, or forced, immigration would tio"-
naturally come in, equal to all the requirements of a healthy and pro-
gressive development.

20. Not to any extent, because those who may come, or may be desirous whites cannot
of coming, are confronted by 18,000 Mongolian slaves— semi-slaves, or ^-^i^yment
serfs, or men who are not governed by their own individual will, but who owing to Chinese.

GORDON

138

are governed in aggregates by the Chinese companies. But with Chinese
excluded, white men will be as able, if frugal, to feed, clothe, and educate
their families, and lay by something for old age, and still leave larger
profits on the investments of those who employ them, than in any other
part of the Dominion.

Opening up ol
public lands had

21. Yes ; but had those lands been opened eleven years ago a great many
stimulated white °^ ""'" ^'^^^ enterprising countrymen would have formed prosperous
immiCTation ; but settlements, but who became disgusted with their inability to obtain land
been opened u™ within any reasonable distance of the older communities, on account of
before. the railway embargo, and have been driven to seek their fortunes and

build up prosperous settlements under a foreign flag The change in that
miserable, nay criminal, policy comes too late to entitle either the pro-
vincial or Dominion Governments to claim any glory that may now seem
to attach to it.

White immigra-
tion had been
retarded.

Moral effect bad.

22. Yes, most decidedly. I have advised a great many who have written
to me from each of the older provinces not to come here and enter the
labor market on a level with the Chinese. Better live on corn husks in the
older provinces than submit to such degradation.

23. The moral effect on whites of being so unfortunate as to be placed
on the same level and obliged to comingle with Chinese on an equal footing
in the battle of life would be bad, too bad for any respectable Canadian to
contemplate.

24. I do not know of any white population, either here or in the eastern
provinces, similarly situated to the Chinese in this province, consequently
there can be no scale by which a proportion can be arrived at sufficient to
furnish a definite answer.

Leprosy.

Flaunt their vices. 25. I have seen them in San Francisco flaunting their vices in such a
degraded and revolting manner that it would be an insult to our race to
compare even the most depraved with them. Here I am told their vices
are more insidious, and all the more dangerous because of the curiosity
and adventure that is thereby excited.

26. I have no personal knowledge whatever more than that Chinese
have a terrible dread of the loathsome disease, a much greater dread than
the inhabitants of the Maritime Provinces have of the lazaretto and its
inmates. They regard it as both contagious and infectious, and abandon
any unfortunate who may be afiiected with it to a miserable fate, cutting
him entirely off from any communication whatever with his countrymen.

27. It may be noted that during the fiscal year ending 30th June last
that settlers effects were entered in British Columbia as follows :

From the United States I 23 804

Great Britain g 220

China jq'ij

indicating more clearly than any pen picture in my power to delineate
their utter worthlessness as settlers.

It is also worthy of attention and to note the fact that the total dutiable
goods imported from China during the same period amounted to the sum
of $308,477, while goods imported from all other countries of a similar
classification amounted to $907,, 509, and that we imported from other
countries $1,650,870 worth of goods differing in classification from those

Statistics to show
their worthless-
ness as settlers.

Dutiable goods
imported from
Chma.

139

GORDON

2o*KKt^o"fa™P°'"'^®'^ *''°"" ^^^^' "^^nga total from all other countries of
12,558,379. Other Provinces imported from China as follows : —

Free goods. Dutiable goods. . imports.

Ontario | 207,566 Nil

Quebec 194,220 $ 107,405

Nova Scotia Nil 376

New Brunswick 3,450 Nil

Manitoba 1,441 336

P. E. Island Nil Nil

British Columbia 32,501 293,738

Some errors may have crept into the amounts I abstracted from the
classification which aggregated as above, viz. : $308,477.

Exports to China, exclusive of gold and silver, of which there is no
return : —

Ontario produce | 137

Quebec Nil

Nova Scotia Nil

New Brunswick . . . ; Nil

Manitoba Nil

P. E. Island Nil

Exports to China. -

British Columbia :

Produce of the Mine $ 29,190

" Fisheries 900

Forest 63,243

" Animals not produce 431

" Manufactures 931

Miscellaneous articles not produce 528

f 95,223
Assuming there are 16,000 Chinese in the province, and assuming that 16,000 Chinese in
they are employed only 150 days out of the 314 working days, a proportion $2f400™M per an™
that I admit is far too small, small though it is it would represent earnings num, |l,80O,00O net
at a doUar per diem aggregating $2,400,000 per annum, and deducting one- Itlo^^f (^"china
fourth for their food and clothing we are obliged to assume that there has of the nro^i^noe"*^
been sent out of the province during that period alone in cash, either gold
or silver, $1,800,000 of net earnings, and $340,978 to pay for the products
of China with which they feed and clothe their coolies and debauch them
and others susceptible to their influences. A careful study of the imports
and exports of the Dominion proves to my mind that all immigrants com-
ing to us from either the United Kingdom or the continent of Europe or
from other British colonies or the United States become naturalized
Canadians, become part and parcel with us, assimilate and become active
participants in our polictical, religious and social institutions, will assist
materially in developing our country, will defend it if required, and their
children will become Canadians in the highest sense of the term. I defy
either the Commission, or the Government, or Parliament to show the least
particle of proof that Chinese can ever fulfil these important conditions.

The customs returns also prove that our great alliance in trade and Euro'pe^the mf- °^
commerce is with the United Kingdom and her colonies, and with the tural immigrationii
United States whose institutions are so closely allied to our own, and whose ^^ ^'
laws like those of the United Kingdom and her colonies and dependencies,
including the Dominion of Canada, afford the greatest protection to pro-
perty and civil rights, and, separately or conjointly, guarantee an amountof

GORDON

140

personal liberty that is a standing menace to the tyrannies of the old world,
whether in Europe, Asia or Africa ; and in consequence of that liberty, we
like the other colonies and the neighboring republic will continue to draw
to our shores the best blood of continental Europe, those who know the
value of freedom and have an ambition to found homes for themselves and
families. Shall the fair prospects of this Pacific province be marred with
a flood of the worst and most degraded elements of paganism, and made a
reformatory for Asiatic criminals and a nursery of vice ?

D. W. GOEDON.

■CREASE.

-Chinese immi-
grants the lowest
class of laborers
with a few mer-
chants.

'Do not burden
charities.

Victoria, B.C., October 30th, 1884.

The Hon. Mr. Justice Crease, Judge of the Supreme Court of British
Cokimbia, submits the following answers : —

1. The classes of persons who come here as emigrants from China are
almost entirely the lowest class of laborers or coolies, with a sprinkling of
merchants ; no mechanics or artisans, no skilled laborers.

2. They usually arrive in good bodily health and fit for work. There
was a cry of leprosy, but it was disproved by our own doctors.

3. There is no system of poor relief in British Columbia. There are no
poor. There are benevolent societies, confined to particular nationalities
(in name only), which extend aid in cases of sickness or the like. On these
the Chinese do not come. They have their own benevolent society recently
established. Previously their sick were sent to our hospitals and so became
chargeable on our charity in hospital cases, or were cared for by their own
people. They are never that I am aware of a burden on private charity.

Industrious, 4. They are kat' exocheeu industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding,

and^aw-^dtog. ^^^ ^^ ^^ those respects quite a pattern to the whites, and have always been
so. It is because of these very qualities that white labor is jealous of them. As
a class, indeed as individuals, they are neither lazy, drunken, extravagant
nor turbulent. I have never seen in all these years (twenty-five) a drunk-
en Chinaman. Occasionally on the railway works where they have suffered,
or fancied they suffered great frauds at the hands of their own middlemen,
sometimes even at the hands of the white foremen, they have resisted, and
violent assaults have been the consequence. For these they have been
severely punished whenever they have come before the courts. As in all
large bodies of workmen, especially that lower substratum of labor from
which some of our railway labor has been recruited, especially in British
Columbia, bad individuals have been refractory and created trouble, but not
more than, probably not so much as, on other similar works in the neigh-
Crimes of violence boring states. Among themselves (the Chinese) crimes of violence,
am)™hlm- ^^^^ occasional murders have occurred, which from the secrecy of their

- selves. mode of life, or our ignorance of it, have defied the investigations of the

police. But this failure very likely arises from the almost universal igno-
rance in British Columbia of the Chinese language. There is not a single
Anglo-Chinese dictionary or grammar to be obtained either here or at San
Francisco. It has generally been supposed from the secrecy with which
some murders were committed (they are confined to two or three Chinese
murders altogether in many years), which have occurred in British Colum-
bia undiscovered, that the victims were executed by the decrees of some
secret Chinese tribunal, like the Vehm-Gericht, having its centre in San

1*1 CREASE

Francisco, but I have not been able to discover a single fact which tended
to corroborate that suspicion.

5. They are punctual to the extreme in money matters. They think Their Ufe made up.
as much of a shilling as we do of a dollar. Their whole life is made up of miefcfoo'd'SaVs
small economies. When they have by laborious degrees obtained money,

they are as ready as any white man to enter into mining or other specula-
tions all through the country. They are punctuality itself in meeting their
pecuniary obligations and carrying out their contracts. In all these years
that I have been continuously in British Columbia (namely, twenty-five), I
do not know of a single case of a Chinaman who has been in the bank-
ruptcy or insolvent court. This is not because they have not credit, for
Chinese merchants, punctual to the day and hour in monetary engagements,
can obtain what credit they please, (money is of no nationality), but this
fact is accounted for because they are practically scrupulously honest. In all
this they set an admirable example to white men. What British Columbia
wants is small coin, and small economies, as a system to inculcate practi-
cally the habit of frugality.

6. In coming to British Columbia, and while here, the Chinese have no interfere with
idea of interfering with the property of the white population in any way J^u**^l°,^^™
beyond the ordinary competition which they offer in the labor market. ^ °^ ^ ■
They are not mechanics or artisans.

7. When the Chinese first came to this place they supplied a felt want, ^t A^st supplied a
one which had become almost intolerable in the way of labor and domestic '"" ^^"'"
service. The white settlers who first came to the country were very few

in number, and had their own work to attend to. Those who followed
in the search after gold all wanted to be "bosses," or either their own
masters or superintendents of other men's work. When the railway office
was first opened for white laborers in British Columbia, out of every
hundred some eighty wanted to be "bosses." The prices they charge for
white labor here have, ever since I have been here — that is, since my
arrival in 1858 — been simply prohibitive to the ordinary employer of White labor so
labor: $2, $2.50, and even at times $3 a day for ordinary labor; for br'rohiWtii^ '" '
mechanics, $3, $4, $5, or more per day. All the first settlers who came
here arrived without money. It required a large sum, as well as a long
time, an adventurous spirit, and lots of pluck even to get here with a
family, 15,000 miles from home in those days. The country was a wilder-
ness. All food and manufactured articles, such as clothing, tools,
machinery, etc., were exceedingly dear. We had houses, churches, gaols,
court-houses, and all other buUdings to erect ; roads through forest and
swamp to clear out and build ; trunk roads through the country in all
directions to make ; in short, everything required for civilization the first
settlers had to do ab initio, out of their own labor and savings, or money
they could borrow from San Francisco. All this was efiected without British Colombia
assistance from the imperial treasury, which, in every other British colony, from its birth.
had contributed largely to launch its infant offspring into political life.
British Columbia had to be, and was, self-supporting from its birth. There
is no other British colony with such a record. The proximity of British
Columbia to its flourishing neighbor, the United States, while in some
repects a great advantage — for this country at first possessed no capital or
staple until gold broke out, and was dependent not only for capital, but
for breadstuffs, cattle, clothing, groceries, indeed slipplies of all kinds, on
San Francisco and Oregon — was in other respects a great disadvantage.
All the white labor which failed in obtaining in British Columbia the high

-CREASE

142

Ships chartered
to bring female
servants from
Bng-land round
-Cape Horn.

' Chinese labor
' employed at first
reluctantly.

Success in mining
rendered ordinary
labor distasteful.

Family life, but
for the Chinese
would have been
intolerable.

Hi^h wages paid
Chmese prove
how necessary
i-hey are.

White domestic
labor tried and
ound wanting.

■Usefulness of
<Chinese created a
;KOod feeling
atowards them.

pay expected, had only to cross the border, an imaginary line close at hand,
to obtain it. The Indians could not be depended upon at first on account
of their numbers, which in those days were threatening, nor afterwards
on account of their restless, nomadic propensities, which prevented them
settling down to any permanent, industrious avocations. The English
settlers had all the household and servile occupations to discharge them-
selves : chop and cut wood, get water, clean the dishes, pots and pans ;
cook, wash, bake, sew, and rear families, and discharge all the other oner-
ous and multifarious duties of the mtoage. In this strait a few, my-
self among the number, chartered several ships with female servants from
England round the Horn. We paid £30 ($150) a head for their passage,
on engagements of gradual repayment out of wages at colonial rates after
they arrived — a payment which, with a few honorable exceptions, I need
hardly say, was rarely ever made. That proving a complete failure,
Kanakas from the Sandwich Islands were tried and also failed ; so, by the
mere process of exhaustion no resource was left but Chinese labor, which
was accordingly employed, at first, very reluctantly. Every one had a great
and not unnatural objection to try them ; but necessity has no law, it was
Chinese labor or none at all. At first they were imported from San
Francisco in isolated instances ; but gradually as the white woman saw
her neighbor get some relief from the killing domestic slavery of colonial
life she also adopted them, and, by the sheer necessity of the case, their
employment as domestic servants became general, and at last universal.
Such white labor as could be had was eminently unsatisfactory, not only
on account of scarceness and price, but because, especially female servants,
they would not submit to consider themselves in the household arrange-
ments as in any respect subordinate to their employers. Immigrants who
went to the mines, as in- Cariboo, could get $10 a day, and some of them
got claims yielding in many instances, and for a considerable period 600
ounces of gold to every wash-up. Success of this kind made ordinary
labor to those engaged in that avocation ever after distasteful It is not
too much to say that without Chinese servants the privations in family
life, extreme and of wearying monotony, would have become intolerable,
and a general exodus of families would have been the result. Indeed as
it was numerous industrious settlers with wives and families were driven
out of the country on that account. The high prices the Chinese obtained
from the first, as wages, up to the present day, are a very fair test of the
necessity for their employment. From $15 per month, the lowest to an
inferior man, up to $35 a month for the best (with board and lodging be
it remembered) have been the continuous rates. Young boys, even $8 or
$10. It is a singular fact that Chinese servants are the only class of people
that are positively paid to learn their duty. This arises from their pecu-
liar facility in adapting themselves to any work they have to learn, and
their success in acquiring that knowledge. But if white servants, who
would do the same work, and as weU, at anything like the same wages,
and who could be depended on to stay, were to ofier themselves, they
would have been gladly accepted. But as a rule white domestic labor
such as it is has constantly been tried and found wanting. White
laborers attracted from the East by the prices here, invariably "fall into
the ways of the country," and refuse to work at anything like what ordin-
ary employers of labor consider reasonable or practicable rates. The relief
given by Chinese aid to overworked households when sorely needed created
a good feeling towards them. This good feeling lasted for some time.
Their number was limited and no serious fears had yet been entertained
of their competition in the labor market.

143 CREASE

8. This good feeling continued more or less nntil about the time of the This continued
commencement of the Canadian Pacific Railway works in the province. worL^Were^'

begun.

9. Then a very laudable feeling arose that, if possible, such a vast Laudable desire
expenditure of public money should be utiUzed by bringing into the KtnSn''*"^*
province white settlers, who should become heads of families, take root in bringing in new
the soil and add greatly to the substantial strength of the Dominion. To '''"'^^•

this end it was deemed desirable that all the labor on the railway should
be white labor, whose earnings would be spent and invested in the country,
instead of going to a foreign country. And then began the cry, " No
Chinese need apply ! " But experience soon showed that the hope of any
"exclusive employment of white labor was far from being realized. The
American and continental railways were simultaneously large rival bidders
in the labor market. White labor in quantity and quality sufficient was But white labor
unattainable, and nothing is more certain than that in the absence of not to be had.
Chinese labor the enormous railway works, which are now progressing to
completion, would have been indefinitely prolonged, if not postponed to the
Greek Kalends from sheer want of hands. The outcry against the
Chinese takes its rise in a great measure in the efibrts. of persons, who, for
political motives, are desirous of posing themselves as the friends of the
working classes, through their sweet votes to gain political power and . .
influence. All political parties, the "ins " as well as the " outs," aim at this ; p(§ltioal.''
and through the press- and orations, and even no little misrepresentation,
exaggerate. Admitted objections to their being adopted as citizens, and to
too large an influx of a heathen element in our midst, were distorted into
a desire for the proscription of the whole race. The bait to the working
man : the exclusive command of the labor market. All political parties
tend to this, and urge collectively the passing of laws which they do not
hesitate, as individuals, to class as unconstitutional, in the hope that by
constant clamor and agitation, in one direction, to overbear all the solid
considerations on the other side, to break through all treaties which place
Chinese on an equal footing with other nations, to impose illegal taxes and
discriminating restrictions so that that may be obtained by injustice and
persecution which could never be expected from justice and right. The
object of course being to restrict the admission or, if possible, procure the
total exclusion of Chinese labor and to win the sweet votes of the working
man. The practical result of which, if successful, would necessarily be to ppactioal r It
create the worst of all monopolies, next to that of capital : the tyranny of excluding
of labor under whose withering blight mines, fisheries, manufactures, arts, monopoly and" the
and improvements of all kinds would speedily languish or die, and the blight of flourish-
development of the country, to which it is undeniable the labor of the
Chinese has so largely contributed, would be indefinitely retarded and
cui bono 1

10. One chief outcry has been against their habits and mode of living They overcrowd,
as being injurious to the public peace and health. Coming from a swarm-
ing population in China, and, as I have stated, of the lower order of coolies,

they have undoubtedly a tendency to congregate ; at all events to submit
to being cooped in large numbers within a small area. But this in British
Columbia is directly owing to the fact that as foreigners, held in dangerous
■disesteem by an active section of the whites, they naturally cling together
for protection and support. Their very language keeps them together arid Undoubtedly^
apart from the whites; but much of this overcrowding is attributable to hStebumeie"*
the whites themselves, who extort heavy rents from them for very scant 'i^^^^ ^^^^
house accommodation, and they accentuate the very evil for which in public ^ '^'^ "'®*

CREASE

U4

Do not flaunt
their vices.

they profess such profound dislike. Much has been said of their immor-
ality, habits of prostitution, opium dens and gambling houses, and there is a.
certain amount, indeed too great an amount, of truth in these accusations.
It would be unreasonable to expect that a low class of laborers in any
country should be free from such evils. All these, however, can be as
readily dealt with by the police as the same vicious habits among the
whites. Indeed the latter in several respects do not gain by the compari-
son. For the Chinese do not parade their vices ; their prostitutes do not
set up large houses in the most prominent places, with brass plates on the
door, or ply their trade with an air of semi-publicity, nor drive about in
open carriages, or flaunt themselves on public race courses and assemblages,
or advertise for the payment of debts due to them through the medium of
the public press. Their "opium dens " and "gambling dens " are all known
to the police and capable of being suppressed. But what of the white dens :
whiskey establishments, and gambling saloons, and the sale of liquor to In-
dians, who get it by the canoe load and wholesale ? I do not say that all
these evils whether white or Chinese should not be determinedly sup-
pressed, but there is such a manifest spirit of exaggeration in the com-
plaints that are made, for the purpose I have described, as very materially
to lessen in impartial eyes the accusations levelled against the Chinese.
They are as a class very cleanly in their persons ; indeed, as to all those mat-
ters laid to their charge, they are no worse than the same things done in
our midst by white men themselves. If enquiry were made of the railway
servants and the engineers on the permanent railway cuttings, what an
account they can give of white, as well as Chinese abominations that
abound there. Who that has seen a leading mainland town on the railway
line on pay-days can ever forget the disgusting sights that everywhere met
his eyes ? Furious drunken men in the streets, saloons and corners at all
hours of the day and night, week-days and Sundays all alike, the fights, the
uproar, the gambling, that made day and night hideous, besotted drunken
whites kicked out of the houses, prostrate in the morning in the places
where they fell over night sleeping off the effects of the previous debauch,
only to stagger up and engage again in the same round of vice. These
are the sights which one would fain forget, with other things about which
the pen blushes to write.

The charges
against them
made in a spirit
of exaggeration.

Are there no
white abomina-
tions ?

Drunken scenes
of riot.

Contributed to
progress of pro-
vince, nor can
they be dispensed
with now.

11. But without the Chinese in any event the province could never
have been developed as far as it has at present progressed. The best test
of that is that we cannot, at present at all events, do without them.
Their presence is not only necessary but in many respects desirable for the

simple reason that the work must be done, and can only be done in a

province and by people, still very poor— through the agency of the
Chinese or some similar labor. There is none other procurable at present
which can do the work well.

If Chinese were
withdrawn rail-
way work would
stop, as would the
canneries and the
shoe factories.
Earmers would be
non-plussed and
mines would bo
bandoned.

13. If we ask ourselves what would be the effect of their suddenly
going hence compulsorily or otherwise, the answer is immediate and
overwhelming. The railway works would "peter out" for want of labor to
construct them. The canneries would instantly be stopped. The shoe
and other manufactories the same. The farmers would be at once'
injuriously affected. The coal mines would in several most important
instances be abandoned. Improvements now only possible by Chinese
labor would come to a sudden end, and the misery — domestic misery to
80 out of every 100 families here— would, to those who have not gone
through it for so many years as we have, be inconceivable. It would be

145 CREASE

perfectly appalling. The wail of the housewife would sweep through
the land, and find a very decided expression in every husband's vote at
the polls, and that in a manner not very flaltering to those who now aifect
to be the white laborer's friends. There is an unreality about this outcry An unreality
against the Chinese that strikes one directly he takes pen in hand to write ^ °" ' " '^^y-
on the subject. The advocates of exclusion make all the greater fuss over
it, one is tempted to opine, the less likelihood they may think there is of
•its being carried out. 'The strike of the Chinese in Victoria when resisting
an intentionally discriminating and illegal tax of $30 a head on all Chi-
nese— although it occurred a few years ago — is too fresK in the recollection
to be forgotten. The travelling public would soon let their voices
be heard against such an exclusion ; for hotels and boarding houses Hotels and board-
would be shut up, or offer utterly inadequate accommodation. Every j^^si5°,t^up "'°'^''*
house would have to grow its own vegetables or pay an extortionate
white price for them. Indeed the whole country would be in an uproar,
and all its industries and progress would receive a check from which it
would take many years of great suffering to recover — and for what 1 All
for a political cry : " We are ruined by Chinese cheap labor ! " Yes !
The commonest manual labor cheap at from $1.5 to $35 a month and
Jound !

14. The real fact is, and the more completely it is recognized the better, inB. C, the
-that we cannot do without a certain number of Chinese for manual labor be done without,
and for domestic servants, and that throughout all British Columbia. For
.any great works, too, which have to be carried out, such for instance as rail-
ways, Chinese manual labor cannot at present be dispensed with. Good
white labor is so far superior to Chinese, that it will of itself, when it can
be contented with reasonable prices as in the East, infallibly work Chinese
manual labor out of the field. No reasonable man will employ the labor
of a person whose language he can never understand if he can get even as
good service from one who cannot mistake his orders and can enter into
all his wishes for the work in hand. But what is as necessary for the
white man as the Chinaman is, that he should be sober, honest -and steady
at his work, and exhibit a fair share of all those qualities which go to
constitute good labor. A certain number are at present an absolute
necessity. At present all told, including the Chinese on railway works,
and along the whole line, about 13,000. Of these there are probably
only 5,000 or 6,000 engaged in domestic and family out-door work in the
province including those in mines and canneries. So useful indeed have
they been found that even in coal mines they have been employed by
working miners themselves to assist them as their servants in getting out
the. coal. They do not compete at all with mechanics, artisans, or x)o not compete
handicraftsmen, or in any skilled labor. They are good market-gardeners, j^^,* *"''"1
fair servants, and tolerable laborers; imitate quickly and learn quickly,
and are good traders and merchants et voila tout. They will never
assimilate with the Anglo-Saxon race, nor is it desirable that they should. ^,_^^^^^
Certain degrees of labor contract of limited duration, amounting while it assimilate,
lasts to a species of slavery, are said to be common among them. Like all
low classes of people they have a low estimate of women. They do not
regard British Columbia as their home and when they die send ther bones
home to he buried in China.

t is very difficult, almost an impossibiUty, to fix any definite limit P'g^^-Ste k[bo°r-
or even approximate of the proportion which Chinese immigration should ers.
bear to white immigration, if the best interests of the colony and the

15. It
or even

CREASE

146

Whites come to
B. C. expecting
certain rates and
if they do not get
them skip across
the line.

Twenty per cent
of the population
should he Chinese,

comfort of the people are to be regarded ; and if only for this reason that
no matter how many white people come to British Columbiah, they all
' come expecting certain rates, rates which British Columbians have not got
the money to pay. If they do not get these rates, it is not as in Australia
where they are obliged to stay, they can just skip over the boundary line
into the United States, and there even if they do not get what they exact,
they get more than than they can in a more newly settled country, and
we never see them again. They go to swell the numbers and volume of
the United States, just as the Swift, the Quesnelle, the Thompson and
LUloett Rivers and other affluents go to swell the depth and volume of the
Eraser, or the colonies of England add strength and depth and volume ta
the British Empire. If restriction of the Chinese took place, those who
are here already would at once raise their price, and thus the very object
of the anti-Chinese would be indirectly gained, and we should once more
be without domestic help, once more thrown back twenty years upon our
own resources. If one could venture on an estimate it would be. at the
rate of one Chinaman to each family, counting as in Europe each average
family as consisting of four persons. Probably, if there were no great
railway or other works to be considered, if twenty per cent, of the popula-
tion were Chinese, we might get on fairly well. But every one of these
would at once on his arrival find remunerative employment.

Capitalists would
not come to B. C.
if they had to
depend on supply
of domestics
from Europe.

16. If the domestic servants coming from Europe or other parts of
America were the only ones we could obtain, no persons of capital would
(if they knew the truth) think of coming to British Columbia. They can
get all the comforts and luxuries they may wish in other and cheaper
places. They simply would not come — that is come to reside.

17. The answers I have already given to the previous questions suffi-
ciently answer this one, except as to this :

At present res- 18. I do not think at present any restriction on Chinese immigration is

idCTt?" "°' '^^^''' necessary or expedient Time should be given to see whether those at
present in the country who are engaged solely on railway works, will not
leave the country altogether as soon as the works which drew them hither
are concluded. Though possessed of all the qualities I have described. China-
men do not make good settlers in the sense of raising up citizens of a free-
and progressive country, which must in the course of years aspire to nation-
ality however far remote the time. Miscegenation with the race is on
any scale impossible. Patriotism is not known among them. In their
legal contentions in court among their economies is a remarkable economy
of truth. Six witnesses wUl get up and swear positively and to the point
on one side, when six will get up and swear point blank the reverse, con-
tradicting every allegation with a circumstance. This may be attributable
to two things : our ignorance of the proper mode of binding their con-
science by an oath, or our ignorance of their language which prevents our
being able to sift out the truth as we could when white witnesess swear
directly opposite to each other with respect to the same facts.

A combined effort 19. As to a combined effiart of the people and the legislature to encour-
peopieandiegisia- age white immigration, I do not believe, though most of all to be desired
T?hfte°iSi|ra- ^^^ encouraged, that such a combination, with the unlimited United
tion would not States alongside, would succeed to any appreciable extent. The moment
succeed. ^j^j^ combined effort " furnished an effectual supply of white labor " to the

colour at any given time, I cannot possibly believe that it would stay sup-

Do not make good
settlers.

Without
patriotism.

Testimony
untrustworthy.

147 CREASE

plied. The moment an immigrant " laborer " touches British Columbia
he becomes in his own mind a boss (as it is termed) and will do as little
manual labor as he can help. I exclude from this consideration all chop-
pers, timber-men and the like. They never seem to lose the old time spirit
for their work. The axe to them is a handicraft which no white man not
born or educated up to the mark, can imitate. So with the regular miner
and blaster. He is almost alone in his art; but I speak of the mere laborer.
He can get rich land and a homestead for a mere nothing and become a
fanner, and in a short time an employer of labor himself, looking out very
likely for " the first Chinaman that comes along " whom he may " boss.',
f
20. To the question can white people find now remunerative employment whites can get
and steady work and a provision for old age, I answer, yes, most certainly, Plenty of work,
if they do not want it all at once. That is the trouble. The world, the
Columbia world, is to him that can work and wait ; and I may add success
requires here the same kind of qualities as ensure it anywhere else,
sobriety, industry and honesty. Here there are no poor. To men with
such qualities success is a mere question of time, especially here. British
Columbia with its opportunities, unrivalled climate, regular succession of
seasons, and unlimited resources, is a paradise to the poor man.

21. The railway and the opening of the railway lands has already had a Opening of rail-
marked efiect upon the immigration of settlers to this province. I presume Ji^u^ay hld"^^-''
it is within the scope of these enquiries to add that survey should precede cteed a marked
or as quickly as possible overtake " settlement," and much more informa- fmmigration.
tion as to what lands in particular are open to settlement should be given

to intending settlers. There has been a great stride in that direction
under the present government of the province, but it is a difiicult thing to
do, and certain preparation is required. But these things prepared, a
great increase of immigration can well be provided for in British Columbia.
There is a very erroneous impression about the agricultural capabilities of
British Columbia, or I should say incapabilities. It cannot be called an
agricultural country, compared with the level, arable plains of the interior
of North America ; but there is good agricultural land enough to support
millions of population, but first comers require assistance, British Columbia
is so far away from most countries.

22. Instead of being retarded by Chinese immigration, I am fully Whiteto^Jgra-
persuaded that white immigration has been assisted by it. I know of g^jj^^jatedbythe-
retired officers and persons of settled incomes who would not have thought ^^^^^°^

of coming here if they had not known that Chinese servants could he had
here, though very indifferent compared with those one can obtam m
China itself.

23. I do not think the effect produced by the Chinese on the morals of Effect^on^whtte^
the whites has been a beneficial one, for the simple fact that they are f^^^^^ ^^^ vicious
heathens, and some quantity, I beUeve, of the whites are Christians. But J^^s f^T^-Jf^
where there are white people of allied habits to the immoral among the Chinese.
Chinese they are more likely to be injurious to their fellow whites than

any Chinese, not only from intelligent depravity, but because they have
from their language greater facility in communicating the moral virus and
ill example to both old and young.

24. No. The proportion of immoral people among the Chinese here is jrt^profof^Won^^f
not more than among white people similarly situated, where there are no „ot greater among:
/,., . Chinese.
Chinese.

CREASE

148

White depravity
surpasses that of
the Chinese.

Disease.

Deprecates any
active step to
restrict or exclud(
Chinese immi-
^gration.

'Gravity of the
■duty which the
Oonunission has
.to discharge.

25. For open wickedness and parade of vice, for the public defence and
spread of it in various alluring forms, for the numbers of youths mocu-
lated by it, there is no comparison between the two ; white vice and
depravity are far ahead, more insidious, more alluring, more permanently
injurious.

26. I have no personal knowledge whatever of the presence of leprosy
among the Chinese. Now and then one hears a report to that effect, but
in those cases reported upon by English doctors they have denied alto-
gether its existence. They have, I believe, some singular and peculiar
illnesses among themselves, such as produce wasting away and death, but
these do not spread beyond themselves, although said to be almost invari-
ably fatal among that people.

27. No. I have not spoken of the legal aspect of the Chinese question,
, as that is not before me ; nor have I alluded to the treaties, as these sub-
jects will naturally come in their order before the Commission, and are,
after all, matter of diplomatic negotiation. But I do as a citizen and a
very old, early pioneer of British Columbia, deprecate any active step
whatever being taken, since my opinion has been asked — certainly for the
present — either to restrict or exclude Chinese immigration into British
Columbia. It would not take so much as is generally supposed to drive
them entirely out of the country, the effect of which would be simply dis-
astrous. I am aware it is a matter even now in serious discussion among
some of their leading men here, and these have been advised before taking
any active step in that direction to await the result of this Commission.
Of its existence and objects they are well aware, and expect its report
with an interest they do not affect to conceal, for it will, for good or evil,
affect, and that perhaps for a long period, enormous interests — social,
financial, and political.

Henry P. Pellew Crease.

ONDERDONK. ANDREW Onderdonk, civil engineer and contractor; eighteen years
engaged on railroads ; eight years a, resident of California and British
Columbia ; contractor for sections 60, 61, 62, 63, 92, 93, Canadian
Pacific Railway in British Columbia, for Dominion Government;
subsequently contractor for Canadian Pacific Railway Company from
Savona's into Eagle Pass, B.C. ; has employed as high as 9,000 men at
one time — 6,000 Chinese and 3,000 whites, and has studied their
habits and adaptation for work, gives the following answers to the
questions submitted ; —

'Chinese immi-
I grants laborers in

food health, who
0 not burden
public charities,
who are indus-
trious, sober, law-
abiding, true to
their contracts,
who do not inter-
fere with whites
■save in labor
market, and who
on first coming
supplied a felt
want.

1. Laborers.

2. Yes.

3. No ; they take good care of themselves.

4. They are industrious, sober, economical, and law-abiding ; they are
not drunken, extravagant, or turbulent.

5. Yes, to the letter.

6. No.

149 ONDERDONK

7. Yes.

8. I do not know.

9. I do not know when the agitation began. Politicians make the chief Agitation chicfijr
agitation to gain votes from ignorant people.

10. No; they live by themselves, and do not associate with, whites to Notinjiuiousto
,'•'•' ' health or pubhc

any extent. peace. Have

contributed to
1 , -TT development of

11. 1 es. province.

12. Yes; in order to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway alone Chinese still ne-
„ „r.„ .11 1 .1.1 ■ • cessary, and for
2,000 more will be required m the coming spring. C. P. ft. 2,000 more

wUl be rctjuired

13. The development of the country would be retarded and many
industries abandoned.

14. For railway work, 2,000 more. The gravel mines will give work to White men cannot
a large number besides ; white men cannot make these gravel mines pay. JSfne^ pay.

1.5. Owing to the mining, British Columbia will support more Chinamen ^^uj^'^g^ppOTt^'^

than whites. The presence of Chinamen give much business to whites. more Chinamen

than whites.

16. Most of them would have to do their own work or pay exorbitant ^^g'g'™*^t^^l^^ts
rates, which would discourage them from bringing their families into the wouid not bring
province. in their families.

17. I am confident that the matter of Chinese immigration will regulate ^,''^lg^^«4™^|",,e

itself ; that Chinamen will cease to come when they are not in demand, regulated by de-
' mand and supply

18. I think it will regulate itself ; but if any action is taken it should ^Sctf,';°action
be made known a year before going into efiect ; and, as any restriction ^^^l^^^^^^^^:
will be experimental, it should be made for a short length of time, and y^g policy should
renewed, if found popular, or rescinded if found detrimental. short time''. ^

19. No ; instance mining, and the fisheries, and the railway. I have ^^^^^f^'i ««f°'''
tried to encourage whites to come as well as Chinese. I do not believe whites would do
in assisted immigration for whites. Those who are good for anything do no good.

not need it ; those who do are always a burden to the rest of the
whites. Many industries, now giving employment to seventy-five per cent,
of Chinese and twenty-five per cent, of whites, would have to be abandoned
as non-paying, in a competitive sense, with other countries, if it was
not for the Chinese, thus the twenty-five per cent, would loose their

occupation.

Chinese create

20. Yes ; the more Chinese the more employment for whites. wTS""""' '"'"

21. I believe it has ; but white labor is very scarce— room for many Openingu|^o^f^

mnro attracted white

"'"'*'■ immigrants.

22. No ; the employment of Chinese has created openings that other- ?ete"ded white"'
wise would not exist. immigration.

23. The influence of Chinese upon the morals of whites cuts no figure ^^.^^^^^^^^^^
one way or the other. It is too insignificant and rare to need mention. {^^ovaAs of whites.

24. The proportion of depraved and immoral Chinamen is smaller than P™?™"™ "'^^n
in any other class I know of. among Chinamen.

XJNDERDONK

150

Do not flaunt
their vices.

25. No ; they are quiet and retiring at their worst. Ninety-nine per
cent, of the Chinese here are industrious and steady.

26. No ; I have never seen a single case of leprosy in some 6,000 that
I knew individually.

Any sudden res- 27. No ; except to say that any radical or sudden restriction will close

close down many down many industries and seriously injure the prosperity of British
industries. Columbia.

Andrew Onderdoxk.

Victoria, B.C., August 9th, 1884.

TWHARTON. E.MILY Whartox, examined:

Tour years an
opium-smoker.

Misery led to
indulgence.

A fi'nnk criticism
on T. De Quincy's
Opium Eater.

'Could not live
-without the drug.

Feels all right
after influence
has passed away.

Symptoms of
needing it.

Q. What is your name ? — A. Emily Wharton.

Q. What age are you ? — A. I am twenty years of age.

Q. How long have you been an opium-smoker ?-— A. ATmut four years.

Q. Did you learn to smoke opium in Victoria ? — A. No ; I learned in
San Francisco.

Q. Why did you commence to smoke opium ? — A. Why do people
commence to drink ? Trouble, I suppose, led me to smoke. I think it is
better than drink. People who smoke opium do not kick up rows ; they
injure no one but themselves, and I do not think they injure themselves
very much. I know opium-smokers who are sixty-five and seventy years
of age. There is a man over there who has smoked opium for thirty years.

Q. Ha\ e you read De Quincy's Opium Eater 1 — A. I ha\ e.

Q. Had that book anything to do with leading you to become an
opium-smoker ? — A. No ; I was an opium-smoker before I read his book.
I believe he has drawn more on his imagination than on experience.

Q. Do you realize the pleasures and visions he dilates on ? — A. No ,:
nor I believe does any opium-smoker. I believe De Quincy's book is a
pack of lies.

Q. If it does not afford you any such pleasure as that author describes,
why do you smoke? — A. Because I must ; I could not live without it.
I smoke partly because of the quiet enjoyment it gives, but mainly to
escape from the horrors which would ensue did I not smoke. To be twenty-
four hours without smoking is to suffer worse tortures than the lost.

Q. But does not the smoking make you wretched, just as drinking
would 1—A. No ; I require about twelve pipes, then I fall into a state of
somnolence and complete rest. When I awake I feel all right, and can
attend to fixing-up the house. I am brisk, and can work as well as any-
body else. I do not fpel sick or nervous, neither have I the inclination
to smoke more opium.

Q. Then why do you return to the use of the drug ? — A. Ah ! that's
it ; there is a time when my hands fail me ; tears fall from my eyes ; I
am ready to sink ; then I come here and for a few bits have a smoke

151 WHARTON

which sets me right. There is too much nonsense talked about opium-
smoking. Life without it would be unendurable for me. I am in excellent
health; but, I suppose, every one has their own troubles, and I have mine.

Q. I do not want to be offensive, but are you what is called a fast Opium-smokers.
woman ? — A. I am. But you would be greatly mistaken if you imagined
that all the women who come here to smoke are of that character. In
San Francisco I have known some of the first people visit opium houses,
;and many respectable people do the same here.

Q. Are women of your class generally addicted to opium-smoking 1 — ^[S?H' j*?^ 5"?'\
A. No ■; they are more addicted to drink, and drink does them far more than opium,
harm. Drink excites passion, whereas this allays it ; and when a fast
woman drinks she goes to ruin pretty quick.

Q. You have for four years been accustomed to go to opium dens such Never experien-
as this, how have you been treated by the Chinamen whom you have met ™om''c^inamenTn
in such places ? — A. They never interfered with me in the least. Wak- an opium den.
ing or sleeping, one act of rudeness from a Chinaman I have never experi-
enced. In that respect they are far superior to white men. Unless you
speak to them they will not even speak to you ; and, indeed, after the first
whifF of the opium you have no desire to speak. You rather resent having
to speak or being spoken to ; and when you want the smoke the desire to
get your pipe ready is far too earnest a business to allow of any desire for
idle talk. But I have known Chinamen who were not opium-smokers, and
I believe they are far more certain not to offend or molest a woman than
white men, especially white men with a glass in.

Q. You express yourself well, you have been well educated ? — A. Yes ;
I was well educated, but that is neither here nor there now. We will not
^o into that. Of course I have not given you my real name.

Q. Have you anything else to add bearing on opium-smoking in con- i£ opium joints
nection with the Chinese here in Victoria ? — A. No ; I will say this, whisJiey saloons
though : that if opium houses were licensed as drinking saloons are one should be closed.
need not have to come into such holes as this to smoke. There would be
nice rooms with nice couches, and the degradation would be mitigated. At
all events I think the government that will not license an opium saloon
should shut up public houses and hotels where they sell vitriol for whiskey
and brandy, and where men kill themselves with a certainty and a rapidity
beyond the power of opium.

Q. Is there anything else ? — No.

Victoria, B.C., October 18th, 1884.

Major L. T. Dupont, District Inspector for the Inland Revenue District duponT.
of British Columbia, answers certain questions as follows ; —

Sir, — In accordance with the request in your letter of the 27th ultimo, I
heg leave to send you herewith a return of the excise duty collected from
•Chinese cigar manufacturers in this city for year ended 30th .lune last
•and the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

For purposes of comparison, I give you also the amount paid by white
■"cigar makers for the same periods.

DUPONT

152

Chinese very
methodical and
regular in their
dealings with
Inland Revenue
Department.

l,io8 Chinese
employed in
mining for gold.

Chinese working
claims white
miners had
abandoned.

In a great many
things the Chinese
miner under the
same expense as
the white.

Large profits
accrue to whites
from Chinese
mining.

I beg to state in connection with this subject that the Chinese are very
methodical and regular in their dealings with the department, submissive
to regulations and prompt in making their returns paying their duties.

I enclose you also the report of the minister of mines for this province,
laid before the local legislature at its last session, as requested in your
letter.

In the tabular statement at the commencement of this report it is.
shown that out of the total of 1,965 men employed in mining for gold in
this province in the year ending 31st December, 1883, 1,458 were Chinese,
500 were whites, and seven Indians.

By far the larger number of claims in the province are owned and
worked by Chinese, their more frugal habits, their greater industry, and
more moderate expectations of reward, making profitable to them claims
that the white miners regard as not having sufficient attraction.

Indeed in many cases the Chinese are working claims that white miners
have abandoned, and obtaining from them very good wages.

Thus, but for the Chinese, the production of gold in this country would
not reach nearly the sum shown.

The Chinese miner, although more frugal in his habits than the whiter
miner, has in many items to incur exactly the same expenditure as the.
white miner. His picks and shovels, axes and saws, wear out equally
with the white miner's. His horses and harnesses, either to hire or own,
cost him as much ; and man for man he pays as much for travelling either
by stage, railway or steamer. Nails and other hardware are as dear to
him, and as necessary in building flumes, or wing-dams, or in other ways.
In hydraulic mining he needs the same description and quantity of hose.
He wears the .same rubber boots. He has to pay the same rates for
transportation or teaming of his supplies and groceries from the coast, and
it is well known that the Chinese miner does not stint himself either in
quantity or quality of food. In no way does the Chinese miner interfere,
with the privilege of the white miner to prospect as energetically as he
may please for gold. The country is open to all, and whatever favor or
assistance is given is to the white miner, certainly not to the Chinese. A
large amount of profit accrues to the white community from Chinese
mining ; certain articles needed by the Chinese miner being inanufacturetf
by white labor, and all steamboat and stage lines travelled over being owned
by white companies.

I have the honor to be. Sir,

Your obedient servant,

Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq.,

Secretary of Chinese Commission,
Ottawa.

L. T. DupONT.

For tiscal year
ending 30th June,
1884, $1,731.73
collected from
Chinese manu-
facturers in B. C.

Statement of revenue collected from Chinese manufacturers in British
Columbia, for the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1884, and for-
three months ending 30th September, 1884 :

Fiscal year ending 30th June, 1884.

Duty on cigars |1,581.75

Licenses 150.00

.-41,731.75

153 DUPONT

Three months ending 30th SePTEMBEE, 1884. mon'ahs'endUng"

Duty on cigars $ 529.53

Licenses 150.00

30th September,

1884.

$ 679.53

Statement of excise revenue received from European cigar mnnufacturers, Kevenue i'e^|j^v'"i
for the fiscal year commencing 1st July, 1883, and ending 30th June, manufacturers for
1884, and for the three months commencing 1st July and ending t^'^^n^'^^
30th September, 1884 : ' ' '

Revenue from 1st July, 1883, ending 30th June, 1884.

Duty on cigars $5,682.70

Licenses 300.00

$5,982.70

Three months ending 30th September, 1884.

Duty on cigars $1,252.12

Licenses 300.00

,552.12 .$1,552.12.

H. N. Good,

Collector of Inland Revenue.
Victoria, B.C., 14th October, 1884.

STATEMENTS PUT IN.

Statement of the Hon. M. W. T. Drake, President of the Council, DRAKE.
British Columbia:

I have been a resident in British Columbia since 1859, practicing my BefOTe i870.ab-^
profession as barrister and solicitor. The Chinesie did not appear in any IH^^ '^ '^
large number until after 1870, but even before that time they gradually
absorbed all the light labor which used to be done by white people. They
first invaded the washing interests and gradually ousted the women who
did this work ; then they absorbed the market-garden work, and are now the
sole suppliers of garden produce ; and in all the various industries which
require light work they have driven all competitors from the field. The
effect of this is that white people will not come to compete with the ^Ji^j'^^'^^^^JJj""^^
Chinese, and one consequence is that all persons requiring house- work done ^"h CMnSc."
are driven to employ Chinese at extravagant wages. |25 to $30 a month Extravagant rates-
is the ordinary rate of wages, and they are so well organized that if any
attempt is made to reduce the wages it is impossible to obtain a servant.
They will not compete against each other, and the ordinary law governing
demand and supply is entirely evaded by a higher law of compulsion. If
any one attempts to act for himself in this direction, the general body
have means at their disposal to compel obedience to their rules. False
charges are trumped up against the offender, or his fears are worked upon
so that they dare not disobey their secret rulers. Hard to obtain

1 have had a very large experience in Chinese cases, especially m gS™™"e th^^
criminal cases, and I find that where Chinese alone are concerned a criminals.

DRAKE

1S4

Evidence
untrustworthy.

conviction is hardly ever obtained. The calendar of convictions gives
no criterion of the number of offences. Several murders have been
committed and no clue to the perpetrators The administration of justice
obtains no assistance whatever from the Chinese themselves ; if, however,
the question is one between Chinese and white persons, the Chinese
strain every nerve to obtain a conviction, and are utterly indifferent
whether the charge is brought against the real criminal or some other
white person.

The Chinese are utterly unacquainted with truth, and it is a universal
comment on their evidence that you cannot believe anything they say.
They shelter themselves under their ignorance of the English language so
that no cross-examination can reach them, and it is generally believed
that the interpreters guide the evidence. In one case that came before
me, a charge of murder was preferred against a Chinese, and he was
arrested. The murder was committed at Seattle, and the presence of the
prisoner distinctly sworn to. I was, however, in a position to prove that
the prisoner was on his way from San Francisco to Victoria at the time
of the alleged offence, and after producing that evidence the prosecutors
who were applying for extradition abandoned further proceedings, but
compelled the prisoner's friends to pay .f2.^0 for expenses, stating if they
did not do so they would have him arrested on some other charge. The
reason I after discovered was that the prisoner had refused to pay a sum
to a secret society which exists among them. They are governed by laws
of their own entirely uncontrolled by the laws of the country where they
reside.

The Chinese never pay any taxes connected with estates of deceased
Chinese, and it is impossible to discover anything connected with their
property. The number of Chinese who entirely evade taxation is very
large, so much so that I doubt if above five per cent, of the laboring classes
pay any tax at all. They arrive here in a state of abject poverty, and in
that condition a very large number remain to the end of time.

Prostitution of the most flagrant character is carried on wherever a
few men are collected. The women are slaves and sold by their importers
at prices varying from $300 to $600. Cases connected with the system have
frequently been brought before the court, and in no case have, I think; the
true facts ever been elicited. The complaint of inveighling boys into
these dens of infamy, and the diceases which are there caught, are numerous
and painful.

The Chinese are not settlers in any sense of the word ; they are no
benefit to the country as settlers ; they tend to exclude a more valuable
population, and even where they are engaged in numbers the employers
would prefer white people but cannot get them. The numbers that are
in the province it is very difficult to estimate, as the leading merchants do
not wish the numbers to be known, but there can be very few short of
18,000. It is not expected that those present should be driven away, but
it is hoped that such restrictive legislation will be passed as to prevent
their influx. There are sufficient numbers here to fulfil all the requirements
of labor for years to come, and if restriction is granted we shall find that
white labor will become more plentiful at once.

Governed by
laws of their
own.

Evade taxes.

Prostitution of a

flagrant

character.

They are not
settlers.

About 18,000 in
province. ,

M. W. T. Tyewhitt Drake.

155 KNIGHTS OF LABOR

Statement of Knights of Labor L. A. No. 3,017, Nanaimo, B. C :

British Columbia has been well described as a land of almost limitless Wealth of British
resources ; but few countries in the whole world have been so favored
by nature, certainly no other portion of the Dominion. Though, possibly,
possessing a smaller area of agricultural land than some of the other
provinces, the extreme fertility of the soil compensates for this, while her
Mjther advantages throw everything else into the shade. The climate is
unrivalled ; there are great forests of the finest timber ; the fisheries furnish
an exhaustless source of wealth. Gold has been found in large quantities,
and many other useful and valuable metals are known to occur. Indeed,
from the many valuable discoveries already made, and constantly being
made, it is a certainty that the metalliferous deposits are extremely rich
and very extensive. In addition to all those advantages the province
possesses a right royal dowel- in her vast stores of coal and iron, which
render her well fitted to become the seat of great manufacturing indus-
tries. Geographically the province is also well situated for trade, and,
'with her numerous splendid harbors, is in a commanding position for
carrying on an extended foreign commerce. Taken all in all British
Columbia is a grand province, a most valuable addition to the Dominion.

No one of the other provinces has all the means within herself, as she xo other province
has, of becoming a rich and populous nation, with large agricultural, J^fg^n^s wtS™' *''''
mining, manufacturing and commercial industries. Surely then, it should herself of becoin-
be the aim, as it is the manifest duty, of all Canadian statesmen to attach mg a "»*><"»•
this grand province to the Dominion in the firmest manner possible.
They should seek to develop her immense resources in such a manner as
will conduce to the best interests of the whole nation. They should ^ettled'w°"h'\in'' "
endeavor to settle her lands with an intelligent, independent people, intelligent patrio-
imbued with the spirit of patriotism, and bound to their brethren in the "" '"""' '^■
other provinces by the sympathetic ties which always exist between
those who are akin in blood, who speak a common language, who have
the same manners and customs, who have been trained under the same
laws, institutions, rules, and usages, and who are animated by the same
hopes, aims, and aspirations. Such a people would be of incalculable
service in eradicating those prevalent, narrow, sectional feelings, and local
jealousies, born of long-continued isolation and neglect, and in infusing ^,,^5^ ^p^,^ ^^^g,
and spreading a wide, healthy, national sentiment, and an abiding faith i^p ^ true natio-
in the resources and destinies of the great Dominion, without which nal spirit.
Canada can never become a great nation, united and powerful.

That the Chinese are not such a people it hardly requires argument to J^Sablebu^
prove. All who have ever come into close contact with them are satisfied dangerous,
that they are not only a most undesirable but a positively dangerous class
to any country having free popular institutions. The great Australasian
colonies recognized the danger and enacted laws to restrict their coming,
while our nearest neighbors the United States have been forced to prohi-
bit their entry into that great country ; and our own experience confirms
that of others and warns us of the dangers of allowing them to come to our
'SliorGS

They have no conception of a popular government ; by the people, of the '^^^^^^Zl rf
people, and for the people, and consequently are not fitted to enter into our consUt^tiWmal
political life ; nor do they seem desirous of doing so, for, except in «
■very rare cases, they never attempt to assimilate with us ; nor do they ever
voluntarily conform to our laws, rules and usages, but remain under all
circumstances a distinct and separate people, having distinct and separate
iams, taking no part in our social or political life, and having no sympathy
id our higher aims and objects.

KNIGHTS OF LABOR

156

Parasites.

Overcrowd and
are filthy.

Nations sink
when the labor-
ing class becomes
degraded.

Evade taxes. They contribute but little to the revenues of the country, and that little

is always difficult and expensive to collect, as they evade the payment of
taxes in all possible ways. Did they come as settlers, and help to build
up the country, there possibly might not be so much objection to them ;
but it is well known they only come to enrich themselves, without any
thought of staying. They are simply parasites preying upon our resources,
and draining the country of the natural wealth which should go to enrich
it, and serve to still further develop it, but which all goes to their native
land, from whence comes their chief supplies of food and clothing, and to
which they invariably return dead or alive. They have no ties to bind
them to this land, for they come without wives or families, and rarely
make permanent investments, holding their property in such a form as
can be easily realized upon, or carried with them. At least such is our
experience : for out of 1,000 Chinese in this district only three or four
have wives, while not one has made a permanent investment, thus proving
the temporary nature of their residence. They live, generally, in wretched
hovels, dark, ill-ventilated, filthy, and unwholsome, and crowded together--
in such numbers as must utterly preclude all ideas of comfort, morality,
or even decency, while from the total absence of all sanitary arrangements,
their quarters are an abomination to the eyes and nostrils and a constant
source of danger to the health and life of the community.

Weighty though the above may be, we have other and higher reasons-
for desiring to exclude Chinese labor. All history proves that a free,
manly, intelligent, and contented laboring population, is the foundation
and the source of the prosperity of any and every nation, and essential,
to the stability of free, popular institutions. No nation has ever yet
become or remained free and powerful, which degraded its labor or sought
to deprive its workers of a just share in the produce of their toil. Now,
Chinese labor is confessedly of a low, degraded, and servile type, the
inevitable result of whose employment in competition with free white
labor is to lower and degrade the latter without any appreciable elevation
of the former. Their standard of living is reduced to the lowest possible
point, and, being without family ties, or any of those institutions which
are essential to the existence and progress of our civilization, they are
enabled to not only live but to grow rich on wages far below the lowest
minimum at which we can possibly exist. They are thus fitted to become
all too dangerous competitors in the labor market, while their docile
servility, the natural outcome of centuries of grinding poverty and
humble submission to a most oppressive system of government, renders
them doubly dangerous as the willing tools whereby grasping and
tyrannical employers grind down all labor to the lowest living point.

It is for this latter reason, chiefly, that we object to the Chinese, not
altogether because they accept lower wages. In many pursuits, in coal
mining especially, Chinese labor is little, if any, cheaper than white
labor : for while the individuals receive less the collective amount paid
is little, if any, less than white labor would receive, while by the latter
the work is almost invariably better and quicker done. But white men
demand the treatment of rational beings, while Chinese are content to be
treated like beasts of burden, consequently they are preferred by all who
seek to tyrannize over their fellows, or who are resolved to keep together
a great fortune, regardless of how their country prospers.

Had our provincial legislature adopted in the past a wise, liberal,
statesmanlike policy, instead of a narrow, sectional one, the national
protective policy of the Dominion would have been productive of <n-edt
results in this province. Our wonderful natural resources would have

Low standard of
comfort.

Tools of grinding
employers.

In some pursuits
the Chinese do
not undersell
the whites.

157 KNIGHTS OF LABOR

been more fully developed than they now are, and we would not now be
suffering so severely from the keen competition of Chinese labor. We
should have had the chance, at least, of becoming ourselves emyloyers of
labor, and in any case there would have been a great many collieries in
full operation, and the coal industry would have been so extensive as to
compel the creation of a home maket by the establishment of manu-
facturing industries.

All this has been prevented by the absurdly stupid policy of our

provincial legislature, aided by the grasping ambition of individuals and

the neglect of the Dominion. For twelve long years a very large, and

admittedly the best, portion of the coal lands of the province has been

locked up, so that no person could obtain a single acre on any pretence.

Thus all progress was retarded, for the uncertainty resulting from this

foolish policy prevented other portions of our coal fields being thoroughly

and systematically prospected, though enough has been done to show that

the most valuable coal seams are within the railway reserve. And now, by

one crowning act of blundering stupidity, all hope of a rapid, sound

development of our resources taking place, has been forever extinguished.

There is now no hope of a number of small, independent companies being

formed to work our mines, and a consequent healthy competition arising,

for by the terms of the infamous Settlement Act all the immensely valuable Settlement Act

coal lands contained within the vast railway reserve has been handed

over to one company, the principal shareholder in which commenced but a

few years ago, without a dollar, to develop a few acres of coal land,

which the then favorable laws of the province allowed him to acquire.

At that time the price of producing and shipping the coal was much

Jiigher than now, while the price obtained was if anything lower. Yet so

large have been the profits that he has accumulated a princely fortune, and

has become all powerful in the province, his influence pervading every

part of our provincial government, overshadowing our provincial

legislature, and threatening its very existence.

He is, outside of this grant, the largest coal owner ni the provnice, and
the largest employer of Chinese labor, next to the great railway company.
He has avowed his belief in and determination to employ Chinese in
every possible way, and his associates are like-minded with himself ;
therefore it is reasonable to suppose that the Island Railway will be
constructed chiefly by Chinese. Thus it will prove of small benefit to
white labor, as it will be of little practical value when finished. This
company is thus placed beyond the reach of all competition. While we
must for ever remain in the subordinate position of employees, must we
likewise be forever compelled to endure the crushing competition of a
race of degraded Asiatics, who are practically serfs ? . „

No part of Vancouver Island is better suited than Nanaimo to become ^^dTb^cLe
a large town, the site of great manufacturing industries. It is the centre a great manu
•of an extensive coal field! and surrounded by a large area of first-class factunng centre,
agricultural land. The harbor is a magnificient one, while the expen-
diture of a comparatively small sum would give us the largest diy-dock
in the world. Our trade relations with foreign countries renders the district
peculiarly suited for the establishment of woolen manufactories, sugar
refineries, and many other industries, while iron works could be esta-
blished, either here or at Comox, as abundance of the finest ore is close at
iand Yet, by that absurd sectional poUcy which has been the curse ot
the country, no advantage has been taken of the great natural facilities ;
and instead of being a large thriving town, with a prosperous and con-
tented population, Nanaimo remains to-day a comparatively small Ian-

KNIGHTS OF LABOR

158

Chinese taking
the place of white
men.

Rapid increase
of Chinese
population.

guishing village, her lands unsettled, her resources only partially-
developed, and her sparse population largely composed of Chinese.

And these latter are increasing very rapidly, taking up the places of
Vhite men. They are thus not only preventing any rapid increase of the
white population, but are slowly, yet none the less surely, driving the
more intelligent of our workers out of the country and lowering the
status of all who remain.

The returns of the provincial revenue tax furnish a ready, if not very
accurate, means of comparing the rapid increase of the Chinese with the
slower increase of the white population. The following are the figures
for the last four years, as taken from the official records : —

In 1881 226 Chinese and 666 Whites paid the tax.

1882 334 " " 807 " " " "

1883 459 " " 845 " " " "

1884 708 " " 985 " " " "

The returns for the present year are only up to July. Now, it is well
known that the Chinese immigration has increased very largely during
the last few months, so that the increase for this year must be very large.
The figures are, however, sufficiently alarming, showing, as they do, that
the white population has only increased fifty per cent., while the Chinese
have increased nearly 200 per cent. But when we reflect that those
figures do not, by any means, show us the full extent of their encroach-
ment, owing to the extreme difficulty of collecting any tax from them, we
must be certain that there is a veiy large number unaccounted for. As
a matter of fact it is known that there are, at least, 1,000 to 1,200 Chinese
in the district.

Of these fully one-half are employed in and about the mines, and year
by year they are being -so employed in such ever-increasing numbers as
renders it apparent that the time is not far distant when the bulk of our
mining population will he Chinese. Already, even, they outnumber the
whites at the Wellington Collieries by nearly 100, the numbers being,
about 450 Chinese to a little over 300 whites (possibly there might be
350 whites). Of the former quite a number are still employed digging
coal in spite of Mr. Dunsmuir's assurance that they would not be so-
employed. In the other collieries only one-fourth of the total number
employed are Chinese. The Vancouver Coal Company, employing 600
men, have 1 50 Chinese ; the East Wellington Coal Company, employing
about fifty men, have twelve or thirteen Chinese. It is thus clear that
they are not absolutely necessary to the working of our coal mines.
Indeed the fact is freely admitted that they might be dispensed with
altogether. In the Wellington, and to a certain extent in the other
collieries, they monopolize every employment, save the digging and
running the machinery.

Thus our boys have very little chance to be employed in the mines,
while out of them nearly every other calling, where they might find
profitable employment, is filled by the ubiquitous heathen. In consequence
our boys grow up to near manhood without an opportunity to earn any
part of their living, such as they might have were there no Chinese, and
such as boys have in other parts of the world. Our girls, too, cannot find
remunerative employment, from the fact that the Chinese are largely
employed as domestics. Thus every industry, every source of employment,
is being gradually filled by the yeUow serfs. A healthy public sentiment is
well nigh impossible, and there will soon be no resource left us but to fly
from evils we cannot successfully combat.

We, therefore, appeal to the Dominion to come to our rescue before it is .

But real increase
far larger than
returns show.

Bulk of mining
population.

White boys have
no chance ;

And girls are
excluded from
employment.

159 KNIGHTS OF LABOR

too late, before our country be overrun and our civilization buried beneath
the advancing tide of Mongolian immigration, or we be compelled to take
up arms to preserve ourselves and those liberties dearer than life itself.

We do not in any way exaggerate the terrors of this great cancer on our Deponents know
social, industrial, and political system. Living amongst the Chinese, com- ilpeak™ "'
pelled by the strongest of all means of coercive circumstances, over which
we have no control, to labor with them and in opposition to them, we
have ample opportunity of studying their habits and acquiring a practical
experience of the crushing nature of the competition. W e number the
most considerable, as we certainly are the most influential, portion of the
workmen of the district, and knowing whereof we speak our opinions are
entitled to some weight and our wishes to some consideration.

Many of us have invested the savings of years of hard toil in the district ; letitSn renders'"
our interests are therefore here. We must support such institutions as it nearly impos-
befits a civilized people. We must live like rational beings and take aii lab'orer'to live^ ' "
intelligent interest in the concerns of our country, and we must maintain the life of a good
and educate our families in such a style as will enable them to take our
places when we are dust and ashes. To do this, it is necessary that we
obtain a fair share of the wealth our labor produces ; and this is becoming
more and more impossible in the face of this degrading Chinese competi-
tion. Our best, most intelligent, men are leaving us. Many have already
gone, more are preparing to leave ; so that unless the plague be speedily
stayed, a great nation will be strangled in its birth, and in a few years
there will only remain a few immensely wealthy men and a poor, servile,
slavish people, chiefly Chinese.

We do not, therefore, ask as a favor, we demand as a right, that the Further Chinese
further immigration of Chinese be at once stopped. We demand it in the ™J^t^c stopped,
name of justice. It is unjust to place a few individuals, already too
wealthy, in possession of nearly all the natural resources of the country,
and thus beyond the reach of all competition, and at the same time expose
us who are the producers of wealth and the source of all prosperity to the
killing competition of a degraded race who are practically slaves ! As
British Columbians we demand it as our right. We did not surrender
every principle of self-government when we entered the Dominion, and
we have repeatedly, through our representatives, intimated the manner in
which we wished to deal with this giant evil.

As Canadians, we demand it in the name of that grand national sentiment Xational senti-
which it should be the aim of all true Canadians to foster and encourage, ment demands
No universal national feeling can arise or exist in any country which
allows its labor to become degraded.

We demand it as of vital necessity to the stability of those free, popular
institutions which our fathers poured out their blood to wrest from tyrants,
and which it is our bounden duty to maintain, and hand down a precious
inheritance to our children. The continuance of such institutions is not
possible where a few individuals are allowed to become supreme by reason
of their great wealth, while the people grow poorer and poorer. Decay
and death is the inevitable doom of every sfcate " Where wealth accu-
mulates and men decay." As nationalists, who desire to see Canada
become a great nation, united and powerful ; as workmen, on whom the
prosperity of that nation depends, on every principle of reason and jus-
tice, on every principle of sound political economy, we demand that the
further progress of this gigantic evil be at once arrested ; that the full
benefits of the great national policy of the Dominion of Canada be
extended to us, and that we be protected from this terribly great Chi- {X'^^i'^e^^as
nese competition, even as the capitalists have been protected. capital needed.

KNIGHTS OF LABOR

160

' The question will
not brook delay.

Do not suppose that this matter can be longer delayed. While we
suffer under such a great wrong it is impossible that we can remain
peaceable or contented. We warn you that the agitation upon this vital
question is widespread and growing ; that the great mass of the people
of British Columbia is burning with deep resentment for the continued
neglect to deal with this matter. The longer it is delayed the worse it
will be to deal with, and the deeper will grow the resentment of the people,
and the stronger the determination to have it dealt with. We sincerely
hope that the Dominion Government will attend to it at once, and that in
the ensuing session of Parliament a law will be enacted that will meet
the wishes of the people and settle the matter in an effectual manner, once
and all.

Signed, on behalf of the assembly,

T. R. Jones,

Master Workman.

James Young,

Recording Secretary.

Victoria, B.C., August 14th, 1884.

BRADLEY. Statement of John A. Bradley

Chinese immi-
grants brought
under contract.

White men
cannot compete
with them.

Bring demoraliz-
ation into house-
holds.

Failures as cooks.

As a working man and head of a family I beg to enter my protest
against any further influx of Chinese.

1. As to their coming. They do not come like any other class of peo-
ple. They are brought here under contract to work a number of years,
and are virtually slaves during that term. They are at the will of their
bosses, and if they disobey orders get killed. I know this. Their women
are nearly all brought here for purposes of prostitution.

2. Their competing with white labor. It is impossible for any white
man or woman to compete with them in any work they adapt themselves
to. Their expenditure for food, clothing, and living, is so far below that of
the white race that it would take an education of hundreds of years grada-
tion to bring Europeans down to their level.

3. Their influence, morally and socially. Large numbers being engaged
as domestic servants, and in the care of children, has a most corrupting
influence on the youth of both sexes, especially girls. If parents only knew
one-tenth of the pernicious and filthy ideas imparted by Chinese servants
to the youth in their households, they would be excluded from every house.
As cooks they are failures, and in this respect they inflict untold misery
on the community.

4. General objections. Fearing to be tedious I will not attempt anything
like a complete catalogue of reasons why the Chinese are undesirable. J

In Australia and
/the Sandwich

Islandsfound r^. . i'° ;. — •' """ """'"^«"= "^^^ "iiucsuaoie. f.

the same dislike ] have lived m Australia from 1856 to 1870, and have travelled over Tas-
te the Paciii^ ^° mania. South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and all
.states of the u. S. of New Zealand, and found Chinamen everywhere, and everywhere the
same dislike against them. I have lived in the Sandwich Islands where
Chinese are in large numbers, and they are as universally hated there as
any place I have been in, although their labor is of great value to the

161 BRADLEY

"planters. I have been on this coast since 1870, and have visited California,

Nevada, Arizona, Old and New Mexico, and Central America, and have

seen Chinese every place I have been, and have heard them objected to by

all classes of people in these countries. " If your mind dislike anything obey

it." The mind of man everywhere I have been dislikes this race. Why

is this ? Are the instincts of millions of men in various parts of the world,

under every conceivable opposing conditions and interests, at fault 1 You

ask men to give their reasons why the Chinese are objectionable ? There is

an inner consciousness that impels men to the belief that these men

should not come here, that is as potent as the belief in a Supreme Being.

How many men could go before you and explain why they believe in a

God ? Men who employ Chinese are opposed to their coming. My experi- Their labor not

ence teaches me their labor is not cheap labor. You may ask : " If so, why "^^'^^ ''^^°■■■

are they employed ?" The reason is, for expediency. Contractors employ

them because they give less trouble about pay, food, or lodging than white

men. One can hire about 500 or more to work, and have only to treat with

one man as boss, and never be troubled with individual grievances as to

pay or otherwise. Their system enables these bosses to give sixty or

ninety days credit or time on contracts for labor White men cannot do Not law-abiding ;

this. It is said in their favor that they are law-abiding, not addicted to ■£i^k*do"s'not'

drink, etc., etc. This is not so. They defy and despise our laws. They affect them' as it

make their own laws. They are constantly smuggling in defiance of law. ""^ ^ '

They are, many of them, habitual drinkers, but drink does not affect them

«s it does Europeans. They only get stupidly drunk, like animals

when intoxicated. A man must have brains to get hilariously tipsy and

noisy under the influence of strong drink. They have introduced leprosy

■on this coast, and many white persons are now afiiicted with this terrible

disease. The youth of the coast are being corrupted and depraved by these

people. The gross clasps of a lascivious Chinawoman can be procured for

fifty cents or less. Hundreds of men and women are now irredeemably

lost by the vice of opium-smoking, and the habit is on the increase. In Opium-smoking.

all sincerity, gentlemen, believe me that there must be some soundness

in the judgment of so many thinking and learned men who oppose the

coming of Chinese to this country, as well as in the almost universal

voice of the masses of the people. That voice most unmistakably says, the

law allowing them to come to this country must be amended or ended.

John A. Bradley.

Statement by the Hon. Huang Sic Chen of the Chinese consulate, San HUANG SIC
-P, . ■' CHEN.

a rancisco : —

I have the honor to submit for the information of the honorable the
■Commissioners appointed to enquire into the Chinese question, a series of
statistics (see Appendix C) relating to the Chinese trade and commerce in

British Columbia. , ■ , t i.

I also submit for their consideration a few remarks which I hope may
be as interesting, as I trust they may be instrumental m removing the
unjust prejudice exhibited by certain persons against the Chinese domiciled

in this province. , /; . i, x-

The Chinese merchants and laborers are chiefly composed of the natives Chm^Be immi^
of the various villages of Canton. They depart from Hong Kong direct for gt^^erchante
British Columbia or via San Francisco, paying as passage money and outfit ^om v;jJga|««„^_
about $70 per head.

HUANG SIC CHEN 163

The charge brought against the Chinese immigrants, who arrive in Bri-
tish Columbia, that they are bought and sold as slaves, is not authentic.
No Cliinaman is permitted to leave China unless he does so voluntarily.
The Chinese are employed and hired in the same way that the Englishman,

No slavery in American, Frenchman or German, is employed and hired. There is no

such thing as slavery in China and never has been as far as I know.

Chinese iiad It will be found upon enquiry that the presence of Chinese in this pro-

provfnce° "^"^"'"^ vinoe is not only not an injury, but a positive benefit, in that they hav&
cheapened labor and the products of labor, and it is a fact well known to
manufacturers, merchants and others, that many industries essential to the
progress and welfare of this province, would not, and could not, have been
developed successfully had it not been for the presence and the aid of th&
Chinese.

Kailway. I have been told that one of the main inducements offered by the local

legislature to the Dominion Government to build the Canadian Pacific
Railway, was the certainty of getting the China trade from San Francisco
to Esquimalt, to cross the transcontinental railway to Canada.

I am curious to know how this can be done, if, by hostile and restrictive
enactments, and an apparently innocent absence of all moral and interna-
tional obligations, the people of this province are determined to drive it
away.

Misrepresented as The charge of immorality alleged against the Chinese by ill-informed
to their morals. • " • j. j.-

persons is a gross misrepresentation.

The history of the Chinese people, and the evidence of travellers like
Count Lzchenyi and Mr. Colquhoun, proves that the Chinese are among
the most moral people in the world. A comparison with other national-
ities in British Columbia will show that, in proportion to numbers, my
countrymen will lose nothing on the scoi( of morality.

There are upwards of 9,000 adult Chinamen in this province. I have
ascertained that the number of Chinese prostitutes is under seventy. I
venture to remark that it would be difficult to show, if this is a test of
morality, anything better in any country. Of course in saying this you
will observe that I am not defending prostitution ; I am only defending
my countrymen against the unfounded charge of immorality. One of the
most striking features in the character of the Chinese is the easy way in
which they adapt themselves to circumstances.
For a long time The commercial relations of England, America and other foreign coun-

Chinese ports tries is full of significant proof to this effect : for many years after the

Se'^worid'tabtance English and other Europeans had succeeded in forcing commercial rela-
of trade against tions with China, the balance of trade was heavily against the Chinese ;
*^'*"""' they sold us their linen, cutlery, opium and tobacco, and in payment took

our silver. They bought in return only a very small quantity of tea and
silk, and as a consequence a considerable amount of specie left China
every year not to return. 80 unequal were the conditions of trade that,
for many years, our commercial relations assumed the appearance of a
calamity. But we submitted with patience and equanimity, trusting to
time and fair dealing to adjust arrangements which appeared to be abso-
lutely intolerable.
Unlust policy It is unjust in principle for Europeans to insist upon the right of un-

towardsChma. restricted commercial relations with China, and at the same time to
enforce unjust and unequal restrictions upon Chinese merchants and
laborers. The Chinese are charged with the habit of opium-smoking, and
this habit is said to be demoralizing. If this charge is true, who is to
blame : the Chinese who use the vile drug, or the English who introduced
it and forced the trade upon us in defiance of the repeated protests of the

163 HUANG SIC CHEN

Chinese government ? I am well aware that the revenue of India is bene-
fited by opium to the extent of upwards of eight millions annually ; on Opium,
the other hand the amount the Chinese government derive from this
traffic does not exceed one million sterling. It is known that, without
this income, the British Government in India would have some diflficulty
in carrying on their aiFairs of state. I think it will hardly be disputed
that, in this difference, there lies a very substantial grievance, a grievance
which sinks the imaginary complaints of British Columbians into utter
insignificance. You will not, I feel sure, deem it irrelevant if I repeat the
.opinion of an eminent writer well acquainted with our habits and customs.
In writing of my countrymen, he says :

" They toil on in their steady and persistent fashion, keeping their Chinese toil with
families from want and enriching the country by their labor. They steadiness and
11 1- 1 -I'l-iiiij.! perseverance,

have all the virtues necessary not merely to success m lite, but also to the

preservation of society. Their sobriety, morality, and good temper with Resourcefulness
one another are not less remarkable than their patience, resolution, and ^^g^^a^lr®
fertility of resource in every pursuit of daily life, whether as the tiller of
the fields, or as the laborer in the crowded city. As a merchant, mechanic
or seafarer, they alike show the same extraordinary tenacity of purpose
and powers of endurance."

These I respectfully submit are qualifications essential to the develop-
ment of new countries, as well as the stability of old ones.

My countrymen, under circumstances different from any they have
previously experienced, in British Columbia as elsewhere, have come into
competition with many races ; and I can affirm that they have generally
conducted themselves orderly and peaceably, and, in the face of a series
of reckless misrepresentations and dastardly illusage, have borne them-
selves as temperate and law-abiding citizens.

In conclusion, I think I can with confidence fairly lodge the claim of
the Chinese to that measure of justice and consideration which Canada
and the great English people accord to other nations.

Huang Sic Chen.

Victoria, B.C., 21st August, 1884.
Statement of Gilbeet Malcolm Sproat : SPROAT.

As the state of my health at present does not permit me to attend the
meetings of the Chinese Commission, I avail myself of the opportunity,
which the public invitation of the Commissioners affords, to write a page or
two on the general question of Chinese immigration. Perhaps, under the
circumstances, it is proper to state that it is twenty-five years since I came
to this country. 1 have been a merchant for twenty years, and a large Twenty-flve years
employer of labor. For several years I was Agent-General for the province in the country,
in England. As Indian Reserve Commissioner and government explorer, it
has been my duty to examine thoroughly almost all the settled portions of
the province between the Rocky Mountains and the west coast of Van-
couver Island. I have compiled many hand-books describing the province,
and wrote, among other things, an essay on India and China to which the
first prize of |1,000 was awarded by the Governors of Madras and Bombay,
and the Secretary of the India Office, London, who acted as judges. The
late Sir Bartle Frere informed me that, among the many competitors for
this prize, there were sixteen highly educated Chinamen.

SPROAT

164

Uniformity the
Ohinese ideal.

'Civilization at
times establishes
a kind of serfdom
no less stringent
than has existed
under feudalism
or militarism.

' China a vast
reservoir of
helotry.

Circumstances
existing for ages
have enabled the
Chinaman to
exist on the least
which will " drive
the muscular
machinery ".

You are no doubt aware that the Chinese ideal is to make all their
people alike, and that they have succeeded, with the result that all progress
in China has long ago stopped. It is because foreigners deviate from the
adopted type that the Chinese regard them as barbarians or monstrosities,
hating all of them, and, particularly, the western nations, with a hate of
which we can hardly form a conception. This stationariness of the people
in China, and the persistent peculiarities of their social organization and
national jharacter, would make their description a comparatively easy
task, were it not for the difficulty of understanding a people so different
from ourselves, and the lack of opportunities for including within our view
any but small detached portions of the vast population. If the eye could
embrace a sufficiently extensive surface of human life and human ways
in China, a competent observer could speak more positively about the
Chinese people than is possible respecting people in Europe, where indivi-
duals and classes in the different nations are extremely unlike one
another. But this wide observation has not been possible owing to various
reasons, hence accounts of the Chinese people written by foreigners long
resident in China vary much, and those who know most by study and
the exercise of an educated judgment are the most diffident in expressing
positive opinions. Still there are broad facts which are appreciable by
ordinary observers, and among these some which bear so directly on the
question now being investigated by the Commission that it may be worth
while to mention them.

China has a peculiar and apparently indigenous civilization, remarkable
in many respects, but the country exhibits proof of what indeed has been
noticed also, in a less degree, among western nations, namely that, in the
world-history of industry, civilization sometimes establishes in the long
run, a species of industrial serfdom not less stringent than has been
established in pre-civilized eras, or, afterwards, by such causes as feuda-
litism or militarism.

Speaking generally, and after due allowance for local peculiarities and
exceptional social conditions, having their rise in topographical, climatic
and historic facts, it is not an exaggeration to say that, in the Chinese
state, there are an enormous mass of helots at the foot, and bureaucrats,
or rather, pedantocrats at the top, all going in a mill-horse round. It is
with the former class that we are now chiefly concerned, as the compara-
tively few Chinamen who emigrate to foreign countries trickle out from
that vast reservoir of helotry. Let us, therefore, ask what is the cause of
this lamentable condition of the mass of the Chinese poor, and what is
their actual character as men 1

Owing to the populousness of China, and its strictly organized social
and industrial condition, the dense ignorance that prevails, the hatred of
foreigners, and consequent prohibition of emigration, the slavery to custom
and the repression of thought and conduct by iron maxims and rules, it
has resulted that the ordinary Chinese laborer, throughout ages past, has
been forced to regulate his life, in a very direct and exclusive manner, in
reference to the primitive human instinct of self-preservation, or at any
rate, a low animal existence with a few coarse enjoyments. The long
continued, uniform operation of overmastering external conditions, has
compelled him, and it also has enabled him, to subsist on the very least
which in his case will merely maintain the nerve-force that drives his
muscular machinery. This is a physiological fact which it is necessary to
recognize plainly, however we may conclude finally to deal with it. But
there is something more that must be recognized at the same time, namely,
what that fact carries with it, bearing in mind that the total energy of a

165 SPROAT

human body is a definite and not inexhaustible quantity, and that, if this ,^\^ Chinese

•' , . ... ^ •, 1 1 ? • ii mi laborer m China.

energy is used in one way, it is not available tor use in another, ihe
Chinese laborer, who, in his own country, laboring with merely intervals for
sleep, cannot earn more than about five cents a day and has to exist on
that, is in such a state of physical bondage that he has, perforce, to
sacrifice everything to the available energy for his daily toil. The
repression of the natural development of the man, which ought to be
moral and intellectual as well as physical, together with an inherited
inaptness, prevents his advancing much beyond the ways and means which
the passion of self-preservation inspires and stimulates. The instinct for
higher social development has no scope under the organized social condition
of his country, and therefore ceases to be influential. The strange anomaly strange cycle in
in human affairs thus appears in China, that, after ages of incessant and"civUto,tioL
exertion, the mass of the people in one of the oldest organized civilizations,
a civilization which must have had its start in a good set of customs and
must have been influenced by extraordinary men, are brought again by
the revolution of ages almost into the rudimentary condition from which,
presumably, they emerged and are doomed to be content like oxen for the
sake of the oxen's provender. We have seen, it is lamentably true, some-
thing of the same kind among our own race, but we have also seen this
downward progress checked by the existence of social principles, that give
scope to the remedial power of nature, which often places the antidote
close beside the bane, and causes reaction to follow action. In China the
evil attains complete development, because, in that country, the laboring
poor, debased automatons of a single type or form, are absolutely without
any inclination except for what is customary. The ethnologist and the iniDossible for
historian both freely admit that it is utterly impossible for such a people |^°^,;' p^°pJ''J"
to join any society of human beings with the distinctive character of the ^vestern civili-
stock which we include generally in the term of " western civilization." nation.

It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to add that these Chinese laborers, thus Many of the im-
l r I' y J '' .. -ij. migrants come

evolved by a brute-makmg process, cannot much change tneir persistent enmeshed in
character when they reach British Columbia from China. Yet, in crossing labor contracts.
the sea, something more than the sky is in their case changed. Many of
them, enmeshed in labor contracts, with their own performance guaranteed
by cruel penalties to their relatives at home, are less free here than they
were in China. This is the condition of the majority of the Chinamen
now in British Columbia. Others have escaped from China on easier terms,
or have come from British possessions in the East. In the case of all of
them, when opportunity arises, a powerful human passion — that of aquisit-
iveness — receives greater stimulus, and has freer scope here than in the
countries whence they came. This is not discreditable to the people, but
it is hurtful to our community, as the Chinamen have to send, or do send, r^j^^y g^^^ j^^gt
most of their money to' China, or hoard it for that purpose, and do not °f^\^f^™i°J^y *? '
become settlers. The Chinese helot in British Columbia is the helot of become settlers.
China, plus a more cruel slavery in the case of many, and in the case of
all plus the devolpment of what is practically a powerful aggressive
instinct.

Such then, shortly described, is the Chinese laborer round whom the Xot desirable
war of opinion now rages. The mere description of the man, and of the in^nngfa," s.
causes, or the conditions of existence, that determine his character, goes a
long way to answer the question whether he is a desirable immigrant ?
His history has been stereotyped for several thousand years. The dis-
tinctive character of his class in China is the largest fact that meets the
eye in my survey of mankind. That character is of a fixed, persistent
type, alien, beyond any control or chance of change, to everything that

SPROAT

166

The question
whether the
Chinaman is a
■desirable imnii-
^ant best re-
solved by a
Jinowledge of
China itself.

Abject slaves of
-custom the
Chinese despise
western civi-
lization.

Igrnorant and
debased aliens
who cannot
become citizens
and who will not
adopt the family
Isolation.

A ^rave evil that
Chinese should be
allowed to com-
pete with white
nBvorkinen.

It is because the
Canadian work-
man is a civilized
man that he is
unfairly weight-
-ed.

concerns western civilization. The fact of his being what he is suffices to
throw the whole burden of defensive proof upon those who permit his
presence in English-speaking communities. Well informed men, who reason
upon such questions, have known his unsuitableness from the first, and
now the fact has been recognized in every English-speaking community
except the Canadian. It is by knowledge of China, and what Chinamen
unfortunately are, rather than by considering certain comparative morali-
ties and habits observable on the surface of Chinese life here, that a judg-
ment respecting Chinese immigration should be formed, though the
observation of such things in British Columbia may suggest lines of direc-
tion, and afford some glimpses of the true state of the case to those who
begin to study it. Such enquirers should be careful not to mix facts that
refer to the Chinese immigrants of a better class who accompany the
ordinary laboring immigrants, with the facts that may help to show the
character of the latter, bearing all the while in mind that none of the
Chinese, whether the cultured or the debased, will join our social or politi-
cal life at any point. The inherited abhorrence and contempt with which
they, and especially the educated Chinese, regard us and our ways, and
the abject slavery of all of them to custom and tradition, effectually
prevent this.

The substantial grievance of the white settlers in the province, from the
social and political point of view, consequently, is that while burdened
with a mass of uncivilized Indians whose numbers exceed their own, an
additional enormous mass of ignorant and debased aliens, male adults
without families, and absolutely without any capabilities for citizenship,
are forced upon them, in remorseless disregard of their well-being and of
the repeated resolutions and acts of their legislature. I must think that
the mere statement of this grievance condemns those who refuse redress,
unless it can be shown that the Chinamen will adopt the family relation
or become citizens, or that some overwhelming national need justifies the
social and political sacrifice, to a large extent, of this portion of the
Dominion. If what has been stated already is correct, no such expecta-
tion can be entertained as regards the Chinamen, and what the justifica-
tory national need may be supposed to have been will be discussed farther
on.

For the present, putting aside attenuated comparisons of human rather
than specially Chinese moralities, and also pharisaical pleas that could not
be the basis of legislation, let us follow the above statement of the social
and political grievance of the white settlers in general, with some remarks
on the efTect of Chinese immigration upon the most important class in all
communities, namely, the workingmen. Here again the statement of facts
already made carries everything with it, in the judgment of thoughtful
minds. Is it possible to exaggerate the gravity of the mere fact that a
mass of foreign labor of the kind described is invited or permitted to
compete with our workmen, who have not the same race-history as the
Chinamen, and who cannot make the sacrifices necessary to place them in
a similar physical condition without detriment to our national hopes and
our civilized position 1 It is not from want of industry or will that the
Canadian unskilled workman cannot compete with the Chinese laborer,
but from causes which are so rooted in history that he is utterly unable
to remove them — significant difierences which we do not wish him to try
to remove. The Canadian workman is unfairly weighted, and weighted
because he is a civilized man, in being forced to offer his labor in competi-
tion with that of a man who, as the product of a debased social condition,

SPROAT

is capable of existing here on ten cents a day, the bulk of his earnings
going to his contract-masters, and who remains absolutely outside our
community, in a state of low animal apathy to all that concerns its well-
being.

Strange to say, this extraordinary juxtaposition and competition of the Yet the attitude
civilized and the decivilized man is permitted deliberately by the Dominion western nations
Oovernment at a time when, if there is one portent to make social ^ake'stotosmen
reformers and statesmen grave, it is the unrest of labor everywhere loolt narrowly at
among the western nations — a profound dissatisfaction with labor's social ''^'^ question,
position, and a firm determination on the part of the toilers to readjust it.
There is not a more indisputable fact in history than the fact that,
speaking generally, in most European and also American communities,
the wages, particularly of unskilled labor (which are settled, as the best
economists are agreed, by a real though commonly tacit combination
among employers) have been so low as to give rise to many of the evils
which are noticeable in the case of the Chinese. Various economic cir- amongwliite
cumstances, however, together with the spread of intelligence, have enabled ^g^'J^'^J^'^^ des-
the working classes in modern days, more particularly the artisans in cent to Cliinese
Europe and America, to lessen the misery of their position in some ^'^^^\
degree by meeting combination with combination, and getting thereby
better chances in offering their labor. A descent towards the Chinese
level has thus been timeously checked. The combinations on the pai-t of
capital and on the part of labor, respectively, are legitimate, provided that
the ends are sought by legitimate means. In England, the govern-
ment, representing educated opinion in these disputes between the wealth-
takers and the wealth earners, admits that the pleas in support of the
rights of capital serve equally to justify the moral basis and views of
unionism, and it therefore stands aloof from both. This principle, or
rule, is utterly violated here by the invitation or permission given by the
Dominion Government to Chinese immigration. Capital, in consequence, rp^g Canadian
continues to exercise its now more opportune right of combination, but ;g;;J'^^?°fp^g^^
the scale is weighted unfairly against the Canadian workman, because he
cannot associate with the Chinaman in the general interests of labor or
for any purpose whatsoever. Instead of standing aloof, the Dominion
Government, by practically introducing and permitting two or more China-
men to stand beside each workman in the province, fetters labor by the
power of the state, while leaving capital free in the negotiations as to the
conditions of employment Such a thing could not be attempted in Eng-
land, nor has it been permitted by the Australasian colonies, nor could it
have been done here had not British Columbia been part of Canada.

Having made these few observations on the broad, social, political, and
industrial aspects of the question, it is unnecessary for me to accompany
you farther beyond the central position that has been reached, along the
many natural pathways of research which open out from that standpomt,
and will be found to afford good means of acquiring interesting, if not
decisive, information for the satisfaction of those who require it. Legis- Le|islaUon must^
lation, of course, must be based on some such broad considerations as considerations,
those mentioned, and not upon possibly strained inferences from, or the
judicial balancing of, piddling details and volunteer opinions, collected
rapidly in a career of one of the provinces of the Dominion.

But a word or two may be in place, before concluding this letter^ on a
subject which, it is hoped, after the next session of the Canadian Parlia-
ment, will have only historical significance— I mean the supposed justi-
ficatory national need for permitting the unrestricted introduction ot
Chinese immigrants.

SPROAT

168

The Chinese have
produced wealth.
But how ?

Chiefly useful
in assisting to
construct the
C. P. R.

But the need to
employ Chinese
labor was not
absolute.

On certain British
Columbia stand-
points respecting
this question.

That the labor of the Chinese in this country has produced wealth ia
too obvious an economic truth to be gainsaid by any one. The important
questions are : What is the nature of that wealth, and what has been the
effect of their disposition of their earnings ? Were the 15,000 or 18,000
Chinamen, who are said to be here, removed to-morrow, it would not
appear that they have created many taxable objects on which the govern-
ment could lay its hand. They have helped little to grind down the sur-
face of our portion of the earth for peimanent civilized occupation and
use. In some industries they have enabled a larger amount of capital to-
be employed; but probably their productive energies have been chiefly
useful in assisting to construct the Canadian Pacific Railway within the
province — a line of communication which may tend to facilitate the
creation of wealth. As regards the disposition of their earnings, these
are consumed, for the most part, unproductively, inasmuch as the China-
men do not apply these to purposes of further production, but largely
remit them to China, either directly or in an indirect manner.

As counterbalancing, therefore, the evils caused by the presence of the
Chinamen, the government can do little more than point to certain assist-
ance in constructing a portion of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This is
the national need which is supposed to have justified their introduction.
This is the sum of the merely material advantage which can be set
against the various evils resulting from their presence and likely to afilict
us permanently.

It would ill-become a British Columbian writer, perhaps, to object to
the means found necessary to make the railway quickly. The Dominion
Government might say : "You urged us to make the railway soon, and we
" took the only means to make it soon. We authorized the use of the
" only labor that could be got." To this many persons here would reply
that there was no absolute need to employ Chinese labor, and that, if the
need existed, it was not of such an imperative character as to justify the
policy adopted, without specific negotiations on the subject between the
province and the Dominion. Is it true that white labor could not have
been found 1 What would have been the actual expenditure for such
labor, as compared with the cost of Chinese labor ; and how would the
comparison stand between the two kinds, in view of the admitted greater
efficiency of white labor and the tendency of white laborers to become
settlers or to use their surplus earnings productively, in a manner to
develop permanent taxable resources t These are questions which, no
doubt, the Commission will examine and elucidate in order to give the
Canadian Parliament a complete view of the whole case.

May I be permitted to advert to a matter of which, perhaps, more
will be heard, the failure of the Commission to secure, in this place, the
sympathetic cooperation of many persons here who are very averse to
Chinese immigration ? I do not speak with any authority, but from what
I hear this has not arisen from any disrespect to the Dominion Govern-
ment, or to their Special Commissioner who personally represents, in one
sense, a portion of the people of Canada to whom the people here are
specially well inclined. The aloofness appears to be caused by an opinion
that the Dominion Government, not however with any constraint of
its discretion afterwards, is bound, constitutionally, to accept the resolu-
tions of the provincial legislature on the Chinese question, so far as
British Columbia is concerned. It is not considered that any transient
commission, or body whatsoever, unknown to the constitution, can properly
be instructed practically to review these resolutions. At the same time
it is admitted that a Dominion Government Commission may properly

169 SPROAT

enquire here into subjects that belong to it, such as the effect of Chinese '^^r ^'^I'c^mmis-'
immigration upon the well-being of the Indians, or suitable custom house sions.
methods in view of legislation, or may enquire into anything, so long as it
if not proposed to set the result of the enquiry against the repeated res-
ponsible decisions of our legislature on the same subject, or to claim a
right to blame those persons who stand aloof, for reasons not at all of a
personal or party character. These opinions may be wrong, but they are
at least such as may be honestly acted upon by moderate men who dislike
misunderstandings and disputes when they can possibly be avoided.

Regretting that circumstances do not permit me, at present, to do more
than make these few statements and suggestions as a small contribution
towards the solution of a question in which all the provinces of Canada
will soon find they have a common interest.

Gilbert Malcolm Sproat.

R. O'Brien, M. D., president of the Nanaimo Trades Association, submits O'BRIEN.
the following in that behalf : —

Ever since Confederation the Dominion Government have endeavored
to infuse into the people a national sentiment. In pursuance of that
laudable purpose the national or protective policy was introduced in 1878-
79. The avowed object of that policy was Canada for the Canadians. It
was designed to increase the wages of labor and secure a partial monopoly
of the Canadian market to Canadian manufacturers and employers of
labor. In the eastern provinces that object was in a measure attained.
In this province where nature has done so much to encourage manufac-
turing and so very little to encourage agriculture that policy should have
borne good fruit. Coal and iron are placed in juxtaposition inviting the
industry of iron smelting. At Nanaimo nature has done so much towards Resources of B. C-
the construction of a dry-dock that the expenditure of $50,000 would
give «s one of the largest docks in the world, and we have every facility
for ship-buUding. Our relations with Australia and the Sandwich Islands
are such as to make it possible to manufacture woolen goods and sugar at
the lowest cost, nevertheless so narrow-minded and sectional has been the
legislation of our provincial government that the possibilities above referred
to have been rendered impossible. It is a very well known fact that
although Vancouver Island has been prospected in every direction for
coal the only known workable seams yet discovered are comprised within
the railway reserve — a belt of land twenty miles broad, and according to
the report of Marcus Smith, C. E., who surveyed the route in 1874, 180
miles long. For twelve years no person has been able to secure an acre of
this reserve on any pretence whatever. Had it been opened in blocks of
5,000 acres, fubject to a royalty, ten years ago, dozens of coal mines would
now be in operation, the price of coal would have been reduced and manu-
facturing rendered not only feasible, but in a manner compulsory. But
the intent of Dominion legislation has been effectually thwarted by the
alienation of the reserve to a company that commenced twelve years ago
without a dollar to develop 200 acres of land, and when coal was cheaper
in San Francisco than now, when digging cost $1.25 per ton compared
with 90 cents now, and the profits have been so large that the principal
shareholder has made a visible fortune of $2,000,000. The consideration
paid for this enormous monopoly is the construction of a railway for which
not one valid excuse can be offered, and from which no one but town lot
speculators in Victoria will reap any benefit.

-O'BRIEN

170

Vancouver
Island Ry. Co.
employing
Chinese.

Civilized work-
men cannot
compete with
Chinese.

Chinese degrade
labor.

Further importa-
tion of Chinese
should be stopped.

Anglo-Saxon will
be driven out of
"the country.

Laborer should be

Srotected from
ihinese competi-
tion.

It is just now that this corporation — the Vancouver Island Railway
Company — are employing Chinese to the largest extent possible. Having
secured the possibility of competition, enjoying such enormous profits from
the exportation of coal in the raw state, that generations must elapse
before they will *e compelled to create a home consumption for their coal
by engaging in manufacturing, they endeavor to extort another dollar of
profit per ton by employing Chinese railway laborers and miners. This
we contend is contrary to the intent of Dominion legislation.

It will be granted, we think, that a healthy, dignified, intelligent labor-
ing class, animated by patriotism and sympathy with the general welfare
of the whole Dominion, eager in all honorable ways to better their con-
dition and elevate the general status of the nation, is desirable and is
worth protecting, yet this class of men can now never become employers
of labor themselves, because the resources of the country which
they would have developed by the employment of labor have been forever
placed beyond their reach. This class of men, of whom Nanaimo possesses
1,000, are constrained to remain forever in the subordinate position of
employees. As such they are exposed to a terrible competition. Civiliza-
tion has made it necessary that they should live, eat and clothe them-
selves in a certain style, that they should marry and educate their chil-
dren, that they should take an intelligent interest in the politics of their
country, and should lay up a few dollars for their maintenance in old age.
There is a minimum rate of wages below which they cannot subsist. The
Chinese grow rich at wages below that minimum. True, they live upon
food and in habitations that would kill white men ; true, they take no
interest in politics and have no sympathy with our aspirations ; true, they
do not come here with wives and children and become Canadians in the
true sense of the word ; true, there is no excuse for employing them in
coal mines on the ground that the small profits of the business make it
necessary, for the facts belie that contention ; nevertheless they are used
as a foil to degrade that labor which is the source of all prosperity, and to
further increase those profits that have become so large that our very
provincial legislature is threatened with extinction in their presence.
We would ask that the further importation of Chinese labor be stopped
on the ground that it is detrimental to the national interests. To be
consistent, either the Chinese should be placed in possession of immense
tracts of coal lands and be permitted to compete with our capitalists, or
that we like those capitalists should be placed beyond all fear of compe-
tition with them. If things are permitted to go on as they are now, the
system will be reintroduced ; a few white men will reign over a com-
munity of serfs, and that class of people who have carried civilization over
the whole world, have wrung liberty out of despotism, and made con-
stitutional Government possible, will be driven gradually but surely out
of the country. As nationalists, as protectionists, as British Columbians,
who have always opposed the construction of the Vancouver Island
Railway, as Canadians, we appeal to the Dominion to extend to the
30,000 inhabitants who are not protected, the same protection that has
been granted to the Vancouver Island Railway Company — protection
from Chinese competition.

On behalf of the Nanaimo Trades' Association.

Robert O'Brien, President.

1:71 BENNETT

EVIDENCE TAKEN AT PORTLAND, OREGON.

Portland, August 28th, 1884.

Nelson Bennett, formerly of Toronto, contractor for the Cascade divi-
sion of the Northern Pacific Railway, examined :

Q. Do you employ many Chinese ? — A. Not as many as white laborers. Two CMnamen
We employ Chinese because we are at present shoving things, just because white man"* "'"'
we need them. I prefer white labor if I can get it. I am partial to
Scandinavian labor if that can be got. Two Chinamen are worth about
one white man.

Q. How much do you pay the Chinamen ? — A. Eighty cents a day, and 80c. a day paid to
they furnish themselves with board and tents. Ph^e^Sd mSi

tent themselves.

Q. And how much do you pay the white laborer 1 — A. Two dollars a $2 a day and tents
day, and I furnish tents and they pay their own board. given to whites.

Q. Then you get the Chinaman for less than half ? — A. Yes ; but we

get no trade from them. They furnish tliemselves through their own

offices and stores, whereas the white men buy their provisions and clothing H'^^'Ji^'^ number
n * TTT 1 r. 1 1 iT/^ 1 ^c> 1 of whitemen •

irom us. We make a profit on that, and the dinerence between $z a day cheaper for a

for the white man and eighty cents for the Chinaman is compensated by contractor.

the profits on that trade and the greater amount of work done by the

white man. Half the number of white men is cheaper for a contractor

than double the amount of Chinamen. They have not much endurance.

Men that do not eat, they cannot endure.

Q. What is your system of emplyoing them ? Do you deal individually
with them 1 — A. No ; we hire them in companies or gangs. When you They are hired in
hire them in gangs you cannot individualize them, and consequently if you
have a trouble with one Chinaman it is a trouble with the whole gang. On
the other hand, if you have trouble with one white man you can discharge
him alone.

Q. We have been told that if a Chinaman was not satisfactory he was
pointed out and at once removed 1 — A. Yes ; and the next moment he is J^'^^^J''"''""^''
in another gang.

Q. Is there anything else which occurs to you as likely to prove useful
to the Commission in its enquiry ? — A. The Chinaman is of no earthly ac- JSorerlem-
count in a country. If you employ white laborers one out of ten settles in v^°y^ed. one in ten
the country. We find this in Montana where we employ white laborers
altogether ; but on this coast where Chinamen are employed you will find
500 miles at a stretch without settlement excepting railroad employees.

HUANG SIC CHEN 172

Huang Sic Chen, who put in a statement at Victoria being here,
was examined :

Q. Can you tell me the number of Chinese in Portland 1 — A. About
9,000. Last year there were 30,000, but 21,000 have gone away because
the railway stopped work.

Q. Where have they gone 1 — A. Some to San Francisco and some back
to China.

Chinese buildings ^" ^° ^^^ Chinese hold a great deal, of property here 1 — A. Most of the
buUt by them- Chinese buildings are built by themselves. The land cannot be purchased
^^ ^^^' from the white man here, and therefore the buildings have been put up on

long leases.

Chinese treated a Q. Are the Chinese treated better in Portland than in San Francisco f

httle better m . -cr i-,,i ^ ,,

Portland than in — A. Yes, a little better.
San Francisco.

Q. Have you any idea of the value of property held by the Chinese in
Portland ? — A. No, but it is very large.

'h"'^^ of Mor- Q. What are the principal staples of trade among the Chinese here 1 —

borers inostly A. Most of them come from China, such as tea and rice. The clothes of
bought in U. S. merchants and laborers are mostly bought here. Certain kinds of dress

come from China. Such a di'ess as I wear [a light blue silk] comes from

China, and the shoes.

^^f^T"*"^ Q, How many women are here ? — A. About 300 married women.

vv om 6X1 •

Q. Are there any prostitutes 1 — A. About fifty.

Prostitutes. Q. Is there much opium-smoking here 1 — A. Less than in San Fran-

cisco. Very few Chinese gentlemen smoke opium. Opium-smoking is
Opium-smoking, not as injurious as drunkenness.

Q. Besides working on the railway and having shops of merchandise,
what are the principal occupations of the Chinese here ? — A. Fishing.

e^ioyidpre- ^- ^'ishing?— A. I mean about .5,000 are employed in the trade of

serving flsh. preserving fish — fish caught by the whites. The Chinese are only em-

ployees of the white fish preservers.

$20 to $60 a month. Q. What wages do the Chinamen SO employed earn ? — A. From |20 to
$60 a month and they feed themselves.

Q. You have accounted for -5,000 out of the 9,000 ; of what classes are
the remaining 4,000 made up ? — A. Cultivators of wheat.

Q. But I thought you said they lived in Portland ? — A. Most of those
employed in fish preserving do their work in Astoria. At present the
whole 5,000 in the city because the fish works have stopped.

Q. Then when the fish-preserving works were going there could not
have been 9,000 1—A. No.

Q. You say 4,000 are engaged in husbandry ; are there 4,000 besides
these to add to the 5,000 in ord^pr to make up the 9,000, for people enwacred
in husbandry cannot live in the city? — A. Yes, we have 4,000 made-up

173 HUANG SIC CHEN

of merchants, mill hands, washermen, cooks, railway laborers near the city,
vegetable cultivators, pedlers, some are servants of the white people and
some are laborers who go to and fro from the interior to here.

Q. "When you said there were 30,000 Chinese in Portland, you must 30,ooo Chinese
have meant in this state I—A. Yes. '^'^'"^ ™ Oregon.

Q. And now I gather you think there are 13,000 Chinese in the state ? Now only I3,ooo.
—A. Yes.

Q. Has there been any such movement here against the Chinese as in No such move-
San Francisco I—A. No, not like San Francisco. Chhfetf a"fn

San Francisco.

Q. But has there been any movement at all? — A. Very little. The
reason is because most of them in San Francisco are Irish, and they do not
like the Chinese.

Portland, Oregon, August 29th, 1884.
Obetrude Rathbun (see Appendix D), examined : RATHBUN.

Q. What is your name ? — A. Gertrude Rathbun.
Q. Are you a native of Portland 1 — A. I am.

Q. Are you the only white person employed in this establishment ? — Two white girls

A. No ; there is one other young lady employed here. Chinese mer-

chant.

Q. During what hours in the day do you work 1 — A. I come at nine in
the morning and work until nine o'clock at night.

Q. Have you worked for white people ? — A. I have worked in two
white shops.

Q. Which do you like best ? — A. Well, the Chinese pay better, and are C^^inese e^m-^^^^^^^
much more polite than Americans would be. I should prefer working than white, and
for them than a Jew any day. It is just as good working for them as for thl™AmericM
the ordinary white person. They are perfectly respectful, much more employers,
than Americans. They never show the least tendency to take a liberty.
The man who owns this shop is a perfect gentleman.

Q. Do you find them straightforward? — A. Perfectly. They are the Very honest,
most honest people you can have any dealings with.

Captain Coknelius, in the absence of the chief of police, was examined: CORNELIUS.

Q. Are you the next in command to the chief ? — A. One of three next
in command.

Q. Have you an opportunity of knowing the character of the Chinese
population? — A. Yes.

Q. Is it a law-abiding population ?— A. I do not think it is ; I say, no. ]^^"atfdtog.

CORNELIUS

174

Q. What is the proportion of crime among the Chinese compared with
that among other classes, taking the relative numbers into account 1 — A.
Well, in petty offences, I do not suppose they are much in the majority
to any other class ; but I think there are very few Chinese who are not
dishonest. They steal when they get a show. Another thing which pre-
vails among the Chinese, nearly all their women are prostitutes.

In petty offences
not worse than
others.

They will all steal.

300 prostitutes.

Furnish nearly
half the criminal
business of court.

Twelve in peni-
tentiary.

Governed by
their own laws.

Q. Do you know how many 1 — A. I do not know. There are at least
three hundred ; probably not over four or five legitimate marriages.

Q. If the criminality among them is as you describe, you ought to have
a good many criminals ? — A. The court records will show that. They
furnish nearly half the criminal business to the courts. They buy and
sell women and children, and they are governed among themselves princi-
pally by their own laws.

Q. Well, have you more of them in gaol than whites 1 — A. No ; because
they are bailed out by the companies to which they belong, unless they
are very bad criminals. They hire the very best talent we" have in the
states to defend them.

Q. Yes, but to have a man tried does not prove he is a criminal. How
many have you in goal or in the penitentiary under sentence ? — A. There
are none in the city gaol at present, but there are twelve in the
penitentiary.

Q. Is there anything else you think would be of use to us ? — A. They
bring their Chinese customs with them, and are governed by their own
laws. They buy women and sell them, just as they do at home in China,
and they settle the difficulties among themselves the same as they do m
China.

HICKEY.

Convicted less
criminals to the
hundred than
among any other
class ; but there
is much crime,
only it is difficult
to bring convic-
tion home.

Wm. Hickey, police officer for fifteen years, had had a little to do
with the Chinese, examined :

Q. What is their character as regards crime ? — A. There are less
criminals to the hundred among them than among any other class ; but
that does not mean there is not as much crime among them. But it is
impossible to bring conviction home to them. First, because let a China-
man commit a crime and run in among .his countrymen, none of them
would give him away. Secondly, because of the difficulty of identification.
I believe they are all thieves, all except the merchants. Anyway they
are a curse to the country, a curse to the laboring classes, because they
can come here and live on rice, and undersell the laborer in his own
market.

BRENNAN. A. B. Brennan, examined :

Q. What is your name 1 — A. A. B. Brennan.

Q. What is your business : a constable 1 — A. Yes.

Q. How long have you been a constable?— A. Going on sixteen,
years.

175 BRENNAN

Q. Are you brought much in contact with Chinamen? — A, Yes, there
are a good many on my beat.

Q. You have heard the ■ evidence of Captain Cornelius, is there any- Majority use
thing which occurs to you to add, that you think would be useful to us in ""'"'" '" ''*''^^^-
our enquiry 1 — A. Only this, that while a good many Chinamen do not
use opium to excess the majority of them do. There are a great many
whites among the young of both sexes who use it, and these become
degraded worse than Chinamen. Get a white person addicted to this
vice and they care for nothing, society or anything else ; they will even
steal. A great many of them are brought in here. I heard you ask, a ^ijjjg opiutn
moment ago, whether drinking whiskey was not as bad as opium. But it smokers,
is a mistake to suppose that Chinamen do not drink. The Chinamen
drink, and they have got now that they will go to the ordinary saloons ; Chinamen drink,
and at their own saloons they have big dinners, where they drink a great
deal, all their own liquors, wines from China. I have seen them frequently
pretty well on ; but on these occasions they never come out. If they
came outside they would have been sent in. The other night at a white
restaurant on Fourth and Oak streets I saw two Chinamen and two Chi-
nese women in there. This was something very unusual.

Q. Do you know how many Chinese prostitutes are here ? — A. No, xhere are Chinese

I cannot tell ; but the number is large. There are a lot of loafers among l°f*?^„^^J°. '''''=

j-^1 . Ti 1 TT- ii- j.*j.j." ^^ tne prosEiiu-

these Chinajnen who buy these women and hve on their prostitution, tlon of women.

This has been proved in court. They were useful in building the rail-
way, but outside of ihat they have been no benefit to this country.

A. B. Slanson, examined; SLANSON.

Q. Mr. Slanson, I believe you are connected with the press ?— A. Yes ;
I am on the staff of the Oregonicm.

Q. Is that the leading paper here 1 — A. Yes.

Q. How long have you been in Portland ? — A. A little over two years.

Q. Have your duties led you to observe the conduct and character of Chinese useful in
the Chinese?— A. Yes. I am the regular court reporter of the paper. In "P^Stoy."" ***
opening up the country they were probably of great value to the railroads.
At that time it would probably have been impossible to have supplied
their place.

Q. What do you think of them from a commercial point of view 1 — Their presence
A. They do a great deal of business as labor contractors and clearing up m°™liy detrimen-
the country, and they deal quite largely in various staples. Some very
wealthy merchants here who do a large trade. But from a moral point
of view their presence here is detrimental. There is nothing in their
manner of living to encourage morality ; on the contrary, I think it is
quite the other way. They will steal whenever they get a chance, and are nj^g t^e old-time
vbry much Uke the old-time down-South negroes from a police point of ^^-^nVi,
view. They are very often in court. In fact they furnish the heavy business
of the court in petty crimes : larceny and fighting among themselves.
Only the other day a man struck another with a hatchet. The company
sentenced the man to be killed, and they sent an assassin and had him
killed. Only two weeks ago there was a murder among them. The man

SLANSON

176

Unscrupiilous in
; their revenge.

Effect ol restrict-
ive legislation
..good.

White labor
would be on hand
but (or the
Chinese.

Public opinion
■ divided.

is now in the county jail. There is no doubt he wiU be hanged because
the evidence is strong. They are unscrupulous in their manner of dealing
out revenge.

Q. What do you think of the effect of the amendment to the Restriction
Act 1 — A. It has been a good thing.

Q. But you would not drive those that are here out, would you ?—
A. Well, I do not know. I do not see why they are much good. I think
now white labor would be here if not for the Chinese and certainly they
would be better than to have the Chinaman.

Q. What is the pubHc feeling regarding them in Portland 1—A. There
is a public sentiment against them. But there is a public sentiment for
them. I think there are more against them than for them. Our repre-
sentatives are against the Chinese. The recent Chinese Amendment Act
was earnestly supported by our senators and representatives.

KENNEDY.

A landlord.

Portland, Oregon, 30th August, 1884.

Joseph B. Kennedy, waited on the Commission and wished to be
examined :

Q. Mr. Kennedy, what is your business ? — A. A property holder.

Q. Are you a landlord ? — A. Yes.

Q. How long have you been in Portland ? — A. Two years ; four years
in the state.

Agitation
unprincipled.

Q. Have you had much to do with the Chinese
siderable dealings with Chinamen.

-A. I have had con-

Q. Well, what do you want to say ? — A. I wish to say that I believe a
very wrong and unprincipled agitation is being got up against them.
They are very good people, much better than my own people. They have
cleared most of the land. They are honest and clean.

Good tenants. Q- -A.re any of them tenants of yours ? — A. Yes. They are good

tenants and clean, according to the numbers in the buildings, and punctual

to pay their debts — their rents. I find no difficulty with them. They are

Habits better than ''^^ry industrious, more so than my own people — the Americans. Their

those of Ame- habits are better than those of the Americans. There is not so much

drunkenness. All they want is to learn our language and become citizens

of this country. They would make good settlers. They have buUt our

railroads. I hire them, and they are very attentive and do their work

' as agreed upon. Their moral character is good. They are not as profane

as the Americans, nor so much inclined to theft and murder and robbery.

Moral character In fact they are superior morally to any other race which comes to this

gooi- country, excepting in education and learning our language.

Not so quarrel-
some aa Ame-
ricans.

Q. You describe them as perfect paragons. Do they not quarrel among
themselves ? — A. They are not so quarrelsome among themselves as the
American people. I had four hundred of them in one building, and there
was no quarreling to speak of among them ; and taking into account their

177 KENNEDY

numbers they were clean, more so than any other nation. With four

hundred Americans in one house there would be a great deal of fighting

and gambling and drunkenness. I have no prejudice against people on

account of color. Simple justice is what I ask for them, and if it was any Wants justice.

other people I would speak out in the same way. I think that any one

coming to this country should have the same right as another.

Q. Four hundred tenants in one house ought to pay you well 1 — A. I
have said they pay well.

Q. Have you visited their schools ? — A. I have, also the mission schools. Agitation a
They are anxious to learn our language and very quick. They show great
aptitude. I can hardly account for this antipathy to them. Everything
seems to be in their favor. Their habits are good. They wish to do
what is right. It is all political. For political reasons the press have
agitated against them and disturbed the people. I think if they had
votes they would not seek to get control of the government as other
nationalities do.

Q. "Where does your property lie ?— A. On Sixth and Fourth streets.

Q. Have you anything else to add 1 — A. No, sir.

12

179 McCOPPIN

APPENDIX A.

Abstract of Evidence taken before a Joint Committee composed of
a committee of the Senate and a committee of the House of Repre-
sentatives of the United States, which commenced its sittings at San
Francisco, October 18th, 1876.

On the 6th of July, 1876, the Senate of the United States appointed a
committee of three to investigate the character, extent and effect of
Chinese immigration to the United States.

On the 17th of the same month the House of Representatives appointed
three of its members for the same purpose.

Subsequently the two special committees were authorized to act as a
joint special committee.

This Joint Committee visited the Pacific coast in October, 1876, and f^^j^^'^^gf^
examined one hundred and thirty witnesses. The plan adopted was first
to examine persons " opposed to the unlimited introduction of Chinese ; "
then to hear those favorable to " such introduction," and then to " afford
time for witnesses in rebuttal."

Hon. Frank McCoppin, representing the Senate of the State of Calif ornia, McCOPPIN.
in the course of an argument against Chinese immigration, made the
following statements : —

China, brought so near to America by steam, contained a population of
400,000,000 souls. If encouraged, the Chinese will become the most
migratory on the face of the globe. They do not assimilate. They
threaten to overrun the Pacific coast ; but they are determined to return
to China. They have no desire to acquire real property in America. The
assessed value of all the real property in California was $600,000,000 ; but cunese pay less,
the Chinese, though numerically one-sixth of the population, do not own to ^ft^e tevenSf
exceed $1,500,000 of this amount, and therefore pay less than one tour ^^^i'-ed^fo/^t'JI^j
hundreth part of the revenue required to support the government ot
the state. Chinese population of California is 116,000, of which 30,000
is domiciled in San Francisco. Of these only five or six hundred are women,
mostly occupants of forty or fifty houses of prostitution. These women Prostitutes,
are sold into this degrading slavery. Fifty or sixty gambling houses
constantly open in the Chinese quarter. A pretty large proportion ot the L^^ge jjroportioB.
class called criminal found among these people. Inhabitants of China- of cnmmals.
town governed by the Six Companies rather than by the mumcipality.
Frugal and requiring little the Chinaman can undersell the European undersell the
laborer. A portion of a shelf fifteen to thirty inches wide serves him for European
a bed and a little rice suffices for his food.

Frank M. Pixley, representing the Municipality of San Francisco, in PIXLEY.
an argument against Chinese immigration, stated :

The Chinese in the state number from 150,000 to 175,000. The ^r Pix^|y go^^^^^
Chinese when through with any work undertaken outside the city return in the state "um-
to Chinatown, and in the winter not less than 75,000 Chinese residents ?fi7'|°oflO.''"'°"^
in San Francisco ; in the summer, 30,000. The Chinese are atheists and

T>IXLEY

180

Polygamy.
Prostitution.
Testimony
worthless.

All intend to go
back to China.

Dangerous to
white population
because they
labor so well.

Rate of wages.

Chinese laborer
"without wife or
family.

^Chinamen capable
of living in an
overcrowded
state.

If 60,000 white
laborers took the
place of 60,000 Chi-
nese, San Fran-
cisco would have
300,000 white
people to extend
its bounds and it.'^
business.

'Chinese prevent
immigration of
white laborers.

Sanitary con-
edition.

Small-pox.

' NumlDer of women

"in California and

in San Francisco.

Six Conipanies.

No Chinaman
until he is free on
the books of the
company , to
which he belongs
can leave Cali-
fornia.

heathens. They believe in Confucius without following his moral precepts.
Polygamy and prostitution prevail. Their testimony is worthless, and the
Chinese prostitutes corrupt and infect the young white boys. The men
come voluntarily to California but most of the women, i.e., the prostitutes
are enslaved. All contemplate returning to China. They have no
knowledge of American institutions. They are expert in all kinds of
light labor. Many of them are most excellent laborers.

One of the things which make them dangerous to the white laboring
population is that they labor so well. They learn trades and become
manufacturers and drive the white man out of the trade he established.
Skilled Chinese labor receives from 50c. to $1 per day ; railroad and
tule laborers, from 60c. to f 1 a day ; farm hands, $1 a day ; fruits
pickers, fl.lO ; all boarding themselves. Chinese labor drives the white
laborer to starvation. The white laborer requires meat and bread ; the
Chinaman only rice, tea, dried fish and dessicated vegetables. The food of
the one can in San Francisco be purchased for ten cents a day ; that of
the other will cost several times that amount. The white laborer, as a
rule, has a wife and family ; the Chinaman is an adult male who has no
wife, no family, no child. The white married laborer requires at the
least two rooms, and if he has grown-up children another room at least
for them, and if the children are of different sexes, each must have a
separate room. Chinamen would throw a partition through a large room
build bunks on the side, and lie down on the floor, and would cook in a
brazier not bigger than a spittoon. One hundred of them would live in
this room, while the poorest Christian familly of five in the state would
think themselves cramped in double the space. Sixty thousand people
live in six or seven blocks of this city. If sixty thousand white laborers
took their place, San Francisco, instead of 60,000 Chinamen, would have
300,000 white people to extend the city and stimulate business. The
Chinese have no duties to the state. They do not act as jurymen ; they
cannot be called out to quell a riot ; in case of war they would supply no
soldiers ; they buy but little property ; pay but a small amount of taxes ;
and so live that they pay but little rent.

The Chinese prevent the immigration of white labor to the Pacific
coast both from the eastern states and from Europe.

Independent testimony of the highest authority proved that in China
and in California the Chinese are not a cleanly people. Their sanitary
condition is bad ; they introduced the small pox into San Francisco ; and
only for the climate it would drive the whites into the sea. Vaccination
they do not believe in ; but they inoculate ; inoculation is compulsory in
China.

They come mainly from Canton, the port of which is the English
sailing port of Hong Kong.

He believed he could show there was not in the entire state a Chinese
family as Americans understood the sacred relation.

About 4,000 Chinese women in the state and in San Francisco ; from
1,200 to 2,000 made up of prostitutes, or concubines, or second wives.
The prostitutes are held in bondage, and are of the most debased and
abandoned kind.

The Six Companies are voluntary institutions without any recocTiition
under American law. They keep immigrants, taking large interest for
advances ; they arbitrate and settle difficulties ; they have secret tribunals
exercising a criminal and civil jurisdiction. When a Chinaman is a
creditor for money or obligation he cannot leave the state of California,
except by consent of the company to which he belongs, an arrangement

181 PIXLEV

existing between the Six Companies and the Steam Navigation Company,
that no Chinaman is to be passed without a certificate that he is free on
the books of the companies.

Mr. Pixley having dwelt on the religious character of the Chinese
stated that he would show the balance of trade as between China and
America was against America.

He admitted that Chinese labor had contributed to the more speedy Chinese labor had
development of our material resources ; their convenience as domestic mOT?s''p''e*ldy"' *^
servants ; nor would he represent the Chinese as wanting in many of the development of
essentials of good citizens. Calitorma.

"The burden of our accusation against them is that they come in con- The indictment
flict with our labor interests ; that they can never assimilate with us *** "gainst Chinese,
that their civilization is demoralizing and degrading to our people ; that ,
they degrade and dishonor labor " *** and are " an element both demor-
alizing and dangerous to the community within which it exists."

Mr. Cameron H. King, addressed to the joint committee an argument
on behalf of the anti-coolie clubs of San Francisco. He briefly went
over the same grounds as the two previous speakers.

P. A. Bee, as attorney for the Six Companies, then put the other side of BEE.
the question :

Legislation in the state and city had been one sided. The Chinamen One-sided legisla-
who sold vegetables paid a tax of $10, whUe the white man who drove his ''""■
waggon only paid $2. The China laundryman who carried the clothes to
his patrons paid $15 (unless he was right in supposing this had been
declared illegal) while the white man who drove the laundry waggon
only paid $2.50.

At the time the Burlingame Treaty was negotiated, England controlled Trade and oom-
ninety per cent, of the commerce of the Orient. The American merchant orient,
bought the bulk of his teas in the English market. But all this was
being changed. The Pacific Railroad had been built ; the Orient and the
Occident had been brought nearer ; and were they now going to close
their ports to trade and commerce with the Orient 1

The government of the United States had forced the present relations
(1876) upon the Chinese Government. Under the treaty the Chinese
immigrant came, and the riches of China were opened up to the American
merchant marine. Were they willing to forego these advantages, because
150,000 honest toilers had come to California?

He had seen the Chinese immigrants stoned from the time they left Ill-treatment of
their ships until they reached Chinatown. He had seen them leaning '^'>™''^e.
over the sides of the waggon with their scalps cut open. No police
interfered. In portions of San Francisco, no Chinaman . dare be seen.
The Chinese had no privileges.

First the capitation tax of $20 existed for two years. Next the Chinese chineseunoqually
were each taxed $5 a month for mining. The tax of $5 a month levied taxed,
on all foreign miners was, as a rule, collected only from the Chinese. They
have been taxed for landing $10 and taxed for shipping to their homes
the bones of their dead.

Mr. Bee read an address of the Six Companies to the American public,
dated April 5th, 1876.

BEE

182

Without the
•Chinese the crops
could not be
gathered in.

Mr. Bee went on : Without the Chinese, sufficient labor could not be
had to gather in the crops. It costs fifteen cents for white labor to sack
a sack of potatoes. A Chinaman does this, sews them up and puts the
sacks in a pile for ten cents. The poor man buys his potatoes five cents
a sack cheaper in consequence. By Chinese cheap labor Californians can
compete with the granaries of the world. A million acres and more of
swamp and tule lands had been reclaimed by Chinamen standing up to
their waists in soft tule-marsh, and this land produces seventy-five bushels
of wheat to the acre. The white man could not be found to go into that
ditch. The white boss has to veil his face for the mosquitos.

The Five Points in New York was more of a cess-pool of disease and filth
than six Chinatowns like that in San Francisco. The frugality and thrift
of the Chinamen were made points against him.

400,000 tons (American) engaged in Chinese trade. For the first nitie
months of 1876 there was sent to China from San Francisco other than
treasure exports to the value of $2,211,798.

The Chinese laborer insisted on as much as was paid in the western
states to a laborer, good servants, ingenious, necessary to manufacturing
enterprise in California. Ten years before 1876, 140,000,000 was sent
East to buy commodities ; now (1876) owing to the development of
^^rto'lbiygoods. manufactures by Chinese cheap labor only $20,000,000 sent east. A large
number of those who denounce Chinese labor employ Chinese in their
houses. No Chinamen come under contract of servile labor. The Chinese
are hardy, industrious laborers. They have but few vices and do not
drink. They respect American usages and laws.

Mr. Bee then read an appeal from the Chinese published in April,
1876, asking for the protection of the police. In this appeal, as in the
address to the American people referred to above, a willingness is ex-
pressed to see the treaty repealed or modified.

Mr. Bee also read an address, dated April 5th, 1876, from the Six Com-
panies to the mayor of San Francisco, calling his attention to a report that
Chinese uaFt r *^^ Chinese quarter would be attacked by a mob ; asking for protection,
would^bel'ttacked ^-nd saying that failing this, should the attack take place, they had not
by a mob. the power, even if they had the disposition, to prevent their countrymen

selling their lives as dearly as possible.

The queue designated a Chinaman as having certain religious and social
claims, and to lose it was an eternal disgrace. Mr. Bee denounced the
"queue ordinance," which brought a Chinaman arrested for the most
trivial ofi'ence " under the scissors." The law, Mr. Bee admitted, was
general — namely, that the hair be cut two inches from the head. But
then the white man had no queue. The law was aimed at the Chinese.

The Chinese servant did the domestic drudgery of 75,000 of the popu-
lation of San Francisco. He holds the balance of power against Bridget,
as he does against trades-unions.

Under the cubic-air ordinance men were arrested, forty at a time, for
being in a room which had less than 500 feet of cubic air, and put in gaol
where they had not 200 feet. In the letter of the 5th of April, 1876,
the Chinese declared their willingness to see Chinese immigration stopped!
It would be a blessing to have those here sent away, unless they
received the protection of the laws. The strong feeling against the Chi-
nese was confined to a small portion of the people.

SidSmooSxf *^''- ^^°°^^ (on *l»e same side as Mr. Bee) addressed the Committee,
to the wealth of ^nd necessarily touched on some points already dealt with. Chinese
California. labor, in building railroads and in reclaiming tule lands, had added

With Chinese
cheap labor Call
fomia can com-
pete with the
granaries of the
world.

1,000,000 acres of
tule lands reclai-
med by Chinese.
Five Points in
New- York worse
than any China-
town.

American trade
with China.

Chinese laborpaid
as high as white
labor in the East.

Up to 1866, $40,000,
'flOO a year sent

Those who
<ienounced them
employ them.
Do not drink and
are law-abiding.

Address of Six
Companies to
mayor respecting
rumor that the

Significance of the
queue.

The queue ordi-
nance.

The Chinese
servant held the
balance of power
against Bridget
and the trades-
unions.

■Cubic-air law.

A blessing to
Chinamen to be
sent away unless
they were pro-
tected.

183 BROOKS

9,700,000 to the wealth of the state. The Chinese went all over the
land and made it habitable ; whereas an Irish Catholic servant girl would Domestic servants
not go beyond the sound of the bells. They were indispensable to the
farmers. The anti-Chinese sentiment was entirely confined to the Irish. Irish sentiment
Mr. Brooks dwelt further on the need of the Chinaman to develop against Chinese.
California, and replied to the charge that they supplied a considerable
proportion of the criminal class. He denounced the cubic-air law as par- Cubic-air law.
tially administered and oppressive. What was the use of making them
pay $\0 a piece for sleeping in a place where they chose to sleep, a thing
which hurt nobody 1

Mr. PiXLEY pointed out that the friends of the Chinese had widened Not desired to
the issue. He and his friends had not asked, nor had public opinion, to men'from'the^
exclude the Chinese then in California from all the rights which they hiwi rights they had
under the treaty. Public opinion had not even gone so far as to exclude
Chinese from coming. What they aimed at was that Chinese immigra- Chinese immi-
tion should be regulated and restrained. The feeling against the Chinese gration should bo
so far from being confined to the Irish, was universal. To say that the restricted.
Chinese had been stoned and bruised was a gross exaggeration.

Mr. Bee produced four books, known as the Four Books, the Chinese
classics, and which stood in their schools as the first, second, third and
fourth readers did in American schools.

WITNESSES.

San Feancisco, October 23rd, 1876.

-Feederick F. Low, formerly a member of Congress from California, LOW.
Collector at San Francisco, subsequently Governor, and later Minis-
ter to China, where he resided for three years and a half, after which
he returned to San Francisco in the autumn of 1873, sworn and ex-
amined

Was of opinion that the immigration of any people who cannot assimi- Non-assimilation
late, amalgamate and become part and parcel of the government and its ° "'^^^■
people is a disadvantage. To prevent such immigration was only possi-
ble by special legislation and analogous to that by which the number of
passengers in a vessel coming from Europe was limited. The immigrants
come principally from the province of Kwang Tung of which Canton is the
capital, embarking from the free port of Hong Kong ceded to Great
Britain, which essablished a colony on the Island (namely, Victoria).
The class of people who emigrate from this port are chiefly laborers : a
"few merchants being the exception. A "coolie" in China, is simply a " Coolie" deflned.
" laborer" of the lowest grade, and as applied to immigration is a synonym
for contract labor. The wages of this class in Kwang Tung ranges from
$3 to $5 per month.

Respecting female immigrants he knows nothing, excepet from public
report. There may be some wives of merchants who come, but from
inference the larger portion, nine-tenths or nineteen -twentieths, areprosti-
tutes, brought over for the purpose of prostitution. Prostitution in China Prostitution,
is regarded with more aversion and disgust by respectable Chinese than it
is, if possible, by Americans or Europeans ; but with the common class of
laborers who emigrate there is a looser opinion regarding it. A graduate
after passing his examination, and before he can fill any official position.

LOW

184

has to prove that none of his family, for so many removes, has ever been
guilty of being a public prostitute.
Marriage. The custom of marriage in China is that parents betroth their children

as advantageously as possible, the children taking no part in the matter.'
On arriving at a proper age they are married. After a man is married he
is allowed to take other wives, perhaps through long custom, but it is more
in the nature of purchase than betrothal. A married man who takes a
fancy to a daughter of a poor man, who has several daughters, purchases
her by giving so many taels, and she becomes the second, third or fourth
wife, but subordinate to the first, on his simply announcing the fact, the
children of all being legitimate. The taking of a second or third wife does .
not affect the standing of a man in society. Male children are more
desired than female, it being considered an imperative duty to have a
son to perpetuate the name and raise a family. In thickly populated
districts, that is around cities, and where the morals of a certain class are
low, there is very little hesitation in destroying female children at early
birth, it having a sort of semi-official sanction, although there is a law
against it.

The religion of the Chinese is the teachings of Confucius, which might be
regarded as a code of morals. On this has been engrafted the Buddhist
faith and the Tauist.

The Chinese at home are a most industrious people, all kinds of labor
being respectable, the only idle class being the officials. They emigrate
for the purpose of making, money, with no idea of remaining, there being
but few isolated cases of any permanently settling in a foreign country.
The government of China does not expatriate its idle or venal class, and on
the subject of emigration is indifferent.

If Chinese immigration was limited or cut off entirely the natural out-
come would be that the Chinese Government would improve its oppor-
tunity to try and limit Americans in China to a similar degree.

In a way Americans in China have more rights than Chinese in America.
They are not subject to the Chinese Criminal Code or laws, but ta
American. If an American commits a civil or criminal offence he is ar-
rested by the Chinese authorities and handed over to the consul at the
nearest port, who tries him and sentences him under American laws. This
is one reason why China cannot be opened up to foreigners as this country
is opened up to the Chinese.

In discussing the subject with the government, witness said : " Why do
you not open up your country and let foreigners come here and go and trade
and do what they choose 1 What is the use of keeping these lines of demarka-
tion drawn 1 The Chinese and all other people come to our- country ; they
go where they choose, and they trade and traffic and perform labor, and
there is no harm comes of it ; the government is just as well off ; it does .
not affect us." The prince replied : " When the Chinese go to your country
they put themselves under your laws, and if they offend agauiiast your laws,
or your customs, you punish them. When you come here you bring your
law book under your arms, and when you commit an offence against the
Chinese you say: 'we do not know you.' We cannot touch you, we can
only go to your consuls and ask redress. If your people will come here -
and put yourselves under our laws, you may come here and go where you
choose, and do what you choose."
Travel in China. Americans have no right to engage in permanent business anywhere

except at treaty ports ; but they have a right to travel for purposes of
pleasure or business anywhere inland on obtaining a passport from their ■

Filiacide.

Religion.

An industrious
people.

Government of
China indifferent
on subject of emi-
gration.

Comparison
between the posi-
tion of Chinese in
the United States
and citizens of the
republic in
China.

185 LOW

consul or minister, and are safe in so doing, except in some of the extreme
western provinces.

The exterritoriality clause of the treaty is a festering sore and must
always continue to be.

No American could trust himself in the empire subject to Chinese laws,
the punishments being most cruel and barbarous.

Chinese cannot become citizens of the United States under the present
naturalization laws.

They do not assimilate with the people, being of a different civilization. Non-assimilation.
Their costume is of a mongrel kind, consisting of civilian boots and pants,
with soft hat and coat of their own.

A large proportion of their clothing is manufactured in the state ; a few Mucli of their
of the better class may import coats and shoes from China, but the labor- tured in the
ing class soon drop into wearing part of our costume. They consume a state.
good deal of rice.

Unlimited immigration ought to be discouraged, although up to this iYbo'°in^fd™n-*^^
time (1876) Chinese labor has been of material advantage to the state, tage.
In consequence of its insolation, the laboring classes of the eastern states
and Europe have not been able to come, on account of inconvenience and
expense ; but with the completion of the railroad from this time forward
there would probably be sufficient labor to replace the Chinese who return
home. The state would

The state would not suffer in its material interest if Chinese immigra- mitSSl iSerest
tion should practically cease. ,,...,• ,. grSceS"

Unlimited importion of Chinese and setthng them m colonies, as they

do here, by raisins competitioh with free labor does harm, but that harm Harm much
' •' ° ^ T exaggerated,

has been much exaggerated.

The Chinese at present in the state are necessary. The crop this year g™jP^r^°^/eV°*
could not be harvested were it not for their labor, but on economical, without Chinese,
ethnological, and political grounds I am in favor of adopting some feasible
and proper means for limiting- the number.

Chinese immigration fluctuated in different years, with the demand
for labor, from 2,000 to 20,000, and in 1868 the emigration from here
was a third of the amount of the arrivals, and in 1871 and 1872 more than
half.

In 18.52 there were 20,000 arrivals; 1853, 4,000; 1854, 16,000 ; 1855, immigration from-
3,000; 1856, 4,000; 1857, 5,000; 1858, 5,000; 1859, 3,000; i860, ^'''*°^''' "
7,000 ; 1861, 8,000 ; 1862, 8,000 ; 1863, 6,000 ; 1864, 2,000 ; 1865,
3,000 ; 1866, 2,000 ; 1867, 4,000 ; 1868, 11,000 ; 1869, 14,000 ; 1870,
10,000 ; 1871, 5,000 ; 1872, 9,000 ; 1873,17,000 ; 1874, 16,000 ; 1875,
18,000.

Demands for labor in the State caused the increase. During 1873,
1874, and 1875 laborers were imported to work on different railroads.
If the demand should diminish it would have the effect of diminishing
Chinese immigration.

Chinese were imported during the Koopmanschap year to work m the
south to supplant the negroes on the plantations, and some experiments
tried with ill results. The Chinamen not being paid, left.

If 10,000 white laborers had been imported to work on the Central ^P^^fnt^f e^o*^^
Pacific Railway, instead of the 10,000 Chinese that were introduced, a teoome settlers,
majority of them, with the profit of their labor would have remained,
whereas the bulk of the Chinamen with the profit of their labor went back Four-flfths of
to China. Four-fifths of the grading on the Central Pacific Railway was f^-^£,^^ ^«"-
performed by Chinese labor. In making levees and digging ditches, much done hy Chinese

-LOW

186

White labor
would have
been slower and
more expensive
for these works.

White labor and
iChinese labor.

Union Pacific
constructed by
white labor.

Whites stronger
men, but Chinese
quick and agile.

The Chinese
immigration must
ibe assisted.

The Six Com-
panies.

the larger proportion is performed by Chiiiese, because it is useful labor
and can be commanded in any quantity. In reclaiming tule lands it is useful :
first, the labor is cheaper : secondly, it is unhealthy work, and they are
not affected by malaria as Anglo-Saxons are. If they had been shut up
to white labor it would have taken a much longer time to build these
works. They could not have got the labor, and it would have increased
the expense very much.

Witness was one of the Commissioners when the Pacific Railway was
in course of construction on this side of the Sierra, and had occasion to go
upon the road to report. Was on the road when Chinese labor was intro-
duced ; started with white labor and came to a stand still. Objection was
taken by the foreman, a sharp pushing Irishman, to Chinese labor. The
foreman finally consented to put on enough Chinamen to fill dump carts,
and a Chinaman to hold a drill, while white men drove the horses and
struck the drills. Strobridge, the foreman, saw the progress made by the
employment of Chinese, and in less than six months they had Chuiese
doing everything. They did 80 per cent, as much work as the whites,
and were paid $31 a month and boarded themselves. White labor was
paid $45 a month and board which was equal to $2 a day.

The Union Pacific Railway was constructed by white labor, no Chinese
being employed. The labor market was inexliaustible, if inducement in
the way of wages was offered. The employment of Chinese on the
Central Pacific Railroad was a question of economy, and getting them in
sufficient quantities, and steady. White labor could have been brought
from the east by Panama, if sufficient inducement in the way of wages
had been offered. Not twenty per cent, difference between Chinese labor
and white labor by the day, after they had been at work four months.
In many instances Chinese labor is worth more than white, but in hard,
strong labor, which requires bone and sinew, white is better than Chinese.
The whites are stronger men, but in many farming operations the
Chinese can do as much because they are quick and agile. After they
learn a thing they vsdll do it over again with greater accuracy and preci-
sion than whites, being imitative but not inventive. Hop-picking, straw-
berry picking and work of that kind now done by Chinese might open an
avenue for boys unemployed. There may be unemployed youthful labor,
but it comes as much from the false teaching of our people as anything
else. When parents raise a boy, they think he must be a lawyer, or a doctor,
or some profession that does not require manual labor. The tendency of
servile labor is to prevent white competition and render labor dishonorable.
This is the tendency of Chinese labor. Boys will not work with Chinese ;
they consider it degrades them.

On being cross-examined, witness said : Chinese labor had not a
tendency to degrade the dignity of labor. When a man employs Chinese
labor here he employs it as free labor. No similarity between Chinese
labor and slave labor.

As to the manner by which the Chinese arrive here, from witness's
knowledge of them, and of the poverty of the laboring class, he does not
think it possible that they get here by their own means ; they must
come here by somebody advancing them the means to pay their passage,
they working it out after they get here. They cannot return without the
permission of the Six Companies, nor can they purchase a ticket from a
steamship company unless they bring a certificate from the head of the
Six Companies that they are free from debt.

The contract entered into by them is not a written one, but merely
a verbal understanding ; in other words, they say that it is proper

187 LOW

for a Chinaman to pay his debts before he leaves the country, and they
want to see his debts paid. Chinamen get $1 a day here and find them-
selves and their lodgings. No doubt it would be pretty hard work for a
white man to sustain himself, and find himself, and board himself and
family, in this city, on that amount. Where simple muscle is all that is Where it is a
required the Chinaman can beat the white man, considering the different S'ulelertheCMnV
stahdard of comfort, but where brains and muscles come in the white man ™hite^TborCT
beats the Chinaman. In 1867 the cigar industry was just being developed, "^ ^ " ^ °^^^-
and the manufacture of boots and shoes had commenced, and very likely
this had something to do with bringing here, in 1868, 1870, 1874 and in
1875, 11,000, 10,000, 1Q,000, 18,000 Chinese, respectively. In a way the
introduction of Chinese labor has the same effect upon the labor market
as the introduction of machinery.

The laws of the United States against the importation of servile labor
govern the importation of immigrants on board of American vessels, but
they cannot operate in Hong-Kong. There, however, it would be impossible
for a ship to take on board a cargo of coolies for California, such as
are sent to Peru.

Chinese labor in this country is not cheap in comparison with the labor Chinese labor in
of the eastern states. No Chinese employed on public buildings, upon cheap as compared
i;he streets, building sewers, or any municipal works of the city. Saw ^tiJe^asf ^'^''"'^
only one drunken Chinaman in his life, and that one was in China. A very
large percentage read and write a little. In early days whites had come
to the country under contract.

Chinese do their banking business by draft or cheque, and export
a great deal of merchandise ; buy silver and ship it themselves ; borrow
money and keep accounts at the banks. But for them it is doubtful Very little manu-
if any manufacturing industry would have been here ; it certainly the Chinese,
would have been small as compared with the present. The very fact
•of their being here and their labor held at a moderate rate, has induced
the opening of manufactures, and perhaps now, or shortly, as they
can get apprentices at work, Chinese labor can be dispensed with.
This result is. gradually coming about, quite a percentage of the manu-
factories working with white laborers. The Chinese are engaged in shoe-
anaking, tailoring, making cigars, making cigar boxes, overalls, and miners'
clothing, besides acting amongst the more moderate-living class, who
•cannot afford white labor, in different household capacities. prevent wMte'^'^

It is possible that their presence here has a tendency to prevent labor coming,
white immigration from the east.

In the year 1800 the import of opium into China from India was 4,000 Opium,
chests of 133 pounds each; in 1869, 85,000 chests were imported. This
includes 32,000 chests smuggled from Hong-Kong into China, and 53,000
chests actually imported. In the year 1800 the domestic production of
opium was nothing; in 1869 the estimated production was 75,000 chests,
making a total consumption for 1869 of 160,000 chests, 21,000,000 lbs.,
or 10,500 tons. The value of the opium imported was $68,000,000, equal
±0 75 _per cent, of all the tea and silk exported.

KING 188

San Francisco, October, 23rd, 1876.

Thomas H. King, merchant of San Francisco, ten years a resident of China
active man in Consul's Office at Hong Kong, assisted and aided in
placing Chinese on board, and a traveller through that portion of
China from whence these immigrants come, sworn and examined :

All Chinese coolies embark at Hong Kong. Have superintended the

The law8 of the examination of immigrants to comply with the coolie laws of the United

Se'cmifi^s'dea"^ States Government, which law enables the Consul to exact large fees from

lings with every coolie, which the ships pay, and requires them to charge more charter,

"°'' '®^' money. The Consul also, having the option, can make obstacles and

compel the Chinese to pay large fees to remove. The consuls alsO'

require many conditions from ships in the shape of large unofficial fees,

or indirect revenue, which makes the coolie-trade to California a very

remunerative one for consuls, consequently it is their interest to continue

Nearly all Call- it ; and especially is this true of the women. Nearly all, with the

appearto'l^Snder exception of a few boys, or those who had been to California before,

contract. appeared to be under contract, seldom knowing the purport more than

that they were going for three or five years, for as many dollars per

month, to labor as directed, often knowing that they were to be cared for

if sick and sent back at the expiration of their contract, or their bodies if

dead, but otherwise ignorant as to be easily scared if any one intimated

they were being deceived. Sometimes they refused to go on board at

Hong Kong, as was the case with a few cargoes a few years ago going to

New Orleans, when they nearly all jumped overboard some drowning in

the harbor. They often abscond from their contractors bringing them to

Contracts. Hong Kong. Have often seen their contracts, and had them translated.

They often bear the seal of some petty Chinese official of the interior, and

state that their relatives or friends pledge for their security, and that the

contract will be kept by the coolie ; contractor advancing money to be

repaid out of small earnings with interest often as high as five per cent.

per month, and that pay as due shall be given or remitted to China.

Nearly all who come to California are from two districts near the city of

Canton — Sinong and Sinwai. They are always at variance and often fight.

There are few artisans among them, they being mostly ignorant agricul-

Mostly laborers of tural or other laborers of the very lowest classes. Most of those who are

wes c ass. brought here come to supply the coolie-broker or contractor who hires

them out. They send their agents to China to pick them up, with credits

to disburse their expenses and advance money on contracts. Others are

largely those who, earning a few hundred or thousand dollars, return

to China, and bring m proportion to their means bands of coolies under

contracts, and these are often sub-let to Chinese as well as Americans here.

" On their arrival they are packed like hogs to such companies, having his

" contract vised, and commences his fees to insure his care of sick, and

" return, dead or alive, but not his pay from the contractor, but that he

" shall fill his part, if able to compel him, the coolies to do it, or prevent

" his return until he does. When breaking his contract the companies'"

" spies hound him to prevent his return to China, by arranging with the

" steamship company, or through Chinese in the steamship company's

" employ, to prevent his getting a ticket, and if obtained by others for

" him he will be forcibly stopped on the day of sailing by the large force

" of the Six Companies' highbinders, who can always be seen guarding them.

Highbinders. « Highbinders are men employed by these companies here to hound and

" spy upon these Chinese, and pursue them if they do not comply with*

189 KING

"their contract, as they see fit to judge it." According to newspaper
reports these men have been known to assassinate. There is no dis-
tinguishing mark upon them only they are rather better dressed than
coohes. All sailing vessels to China have conditions in their charters All saUing vessels
to take no Chinese but those supplied by the companies. All coolies dftlons to toke^nS"
returning to China complain of the extortions, deception, and arbi- Chinese but those
trary conduct of the companies here. Of late the companies have SSes'' '"^
made a reputation by modifying the contracts, so that a coolie when
successful can earn higher wages, but this only stimulates him to greater
■dissipation, so that he is still kept in debt to the contractor or in his
bondage. No force is used in bringing them to this country, but a part
•of them come very unwillingly, being inveighled here by these Chinese
contractors, taking the objectionable employment of a voyage as a means
to get rid of debt or to support their friends — to better their condition in
China. Pamphlets containing all sorts of stories are circulated by con-
tractors in the districts where the coolies are obtained, about golden times Contractors cir-
and chances offering, which are read to most of the coolies who cannot '^^^^ in China
read. From observation and investigation during a number of years I tSuS in*CaSl?rni°a
am satisfied that it is a system of bondage labor, which is attested by the '^"^ elsewhere,
mortality among them by dissipation and misery. Although the condition
of the coolies, generally speaking, is improved over that in their own
country, it is nevertheless a competition which is fatal to the American Chinese competi-
or Europe9,n laborer, and but few contractors and companies, and those only f^ ^^^^ *^ white
who supply them with necessaries and luxuries, derive any further benefit
from them. Of the women but very few, rarely any, come of their own
will, but they are bought in China, generally from brothels, to be sold
here on arrival, or held by importers' in brothels here. In a few rare
instances there are some who send to China direct for mistresses, rather
than rely on the limited market here. The coolie women, or bawds, make Mfomen.
a business travelling to and from China conducting this trade, and not-
withstanding the recent outcry against it, the stream continues from China
nevertheless, vid Portland, Oregon. The white prostitutes are brought prostitution,
here from the east under much the same circumstances, but they are
more or less free ; but these are so many chattels. , Many are kept in
slavish life and they often pass from one to the other, men or women, by
purchase, kept in debt by advances, and when free often sell themselves
for long periods. They are all inveterate gamblers. As passengers on
board ship they are dirty in their habits ; very few before embarking Dirty ; lice ; itoh.
but have lice in both hair and clothes, and a large part of them have the
itch. Frequently they offer to embark with the small-pox and venereal small-pox ; vene-
diseases. The practice on ship-board of sodomy and pollution is common, real disease ;
They seldom use alcoholic drinks, but all use tobacco ; few use opium.
Those who have been here before use opium and alcoholic drinks.
Few come who have passed thirty years of age. Contracts and bonds are
given on ship-board for their gambling debts, contracted on the way, to
ihe contractors or to some man who will file his claim on arrival. Is
■convinced that no others come here except from the districts mentioned,
-their immediate vicinity, and the banks of the river Canton and the island
at its mouth, as well as Hong Kong and Macao. This section ( " Two Population of the
Kwang") contains many millions, in fact greater than the population ^° wang.
of the United States, the population of the city of Canton alone
being greater than that of all the Pacfic states. " The principal
" reason why other sections of China do not come here is the en-
" mity and the cause of trouble arising between the two sections or

KING

190

Chinese dialects.

Effect of restric-
tion on trade and
commerce.

In order to escape
punishment they
agree to emigrate.

They come to
make money and
intend to return.

Employments in
which the Chinese
are engaged.

" adjoining counties, as now here, and the greater ignorance of this-
" country, because those speak a different dialect from the other sections
" of China." The dialect differs almost every hundred miles apart in
China. The written language is the same, but the words differ. The
Commissioner to the Centennial from China, in passing through here,
could only receive a deputation from the Six Companies through an
interpreter. He could not talk with the other Chinese. They afterwards
communicated with him in the written language. The official language
in China is called by foreigners the mandarin dialect, court language.
They communicate with the lower class only through interpreters. The
European and American residents live in a separate section from the Chi-
nese at Canton and Hong Kong, only a few of the Chinese merchants who
deal with them being allowed to live there. As to the effect which the
stoppage of the coolie-trade would have on our commerce there is but little or
no knowledge outside of the districts they come from, and the American
in China is only known for buying tea and silk, and selling cotton drilling
and cloths, coal oil, and gin-seng, and being a "small fightee man." The
Chinese say that the American in China oppresses them less, fight with
them less, make less demonstration, have less men-of-war, less naval
forces than any other nation. They say he is a good trader, but a very
"small fightee man." Gin-seng is used for medicine. Chinese in one sec-
tion are not tolerant of those in another. If the information respecting-
this country is disseminated further it will be of no consequence, as the-
immigration from other sections will not be increased. Those here cannot
in justice to our own requirements be summarily disposed of to the detri-
ment of their rights. Our teas and silks would come along as cheap as now,
and China has no other market to obtain her flour and shells. A large
portion of the traffic and trade which the Chinese have the credit of mak-
ing here and paying duties is largely used by Americans, which is shipped
into the interior. Diminishing or stopping coolie cargoes would be more
than met by the increased freight before a year elapsed.

Only the Six Companies know how many Chinese are here. To avoid
punishment at home they agree to come here. The tune of year most
active in contracting for them by coolie-brokers is during the winter
months, when scarcity of agricultural labor weighs heaviest, and then
during the months of February, March, April and May. They conae in
greater numbers during these four months than all the rest of the year. Both
sailing ships and steamships constantly carry from twenty-five per cent, to
thirty per cent, more than the law allows, the steamers carrying them on
three decks when the law allows only two decks. Steamers limit their lug-
gage but not sailing vessels, consequently the latter bring sometimes ten-
fold the luggage, which is but cargo smuggled in free of duty for the coolie-
brokers. Frequently opium, and silk, and cotton goods, and often native
alcoholic drinks, are brought in in this way. It is a common occur-
rence with almost every vessel when searched to find the Chinese
in possession of opium. They come to earn a certain sum of money
and return. They never care to learn our customs or habits or follow
them. They know the police and courts punish or protect them, and
that the use of money by the employment of counsel enables them often
to escape punishment and to commit crime with greater impunity. They
have no respect for oaths ; and the English courts in Hong Kong never
rely on them. As domestics they plod along in drudgery ; they are not
so valuable as formerly. Before, many, including artisans', occupations
offered, but of late they canvass the cities as tinkers, chair and crockery

191 KING

menders, drive carts, and act as hostlers and gardeners, and large numbers
are pedlers of fruit and vegetables and provisions imported by Chinese,
such as rice and oil. They do the largest part of the work of the Pacific Do the largest
states, carry on fisheries of the inland waters, are largely employed in ofthe Paciflc"'^
agricultural pursuits, often are proprietors of garden and fruit farms, ""^^t-
and largely engaged in gold mining, generally working out poor or
abandoned diggings or claims. In this city they find employment in
factories, and in all work not requiring steam power. Learning the Soon set up for
trades they soon set up for themselves in the craft, and by their cheap
mode of living soon control such industries as shoe and cigar-making and
other kinds. They are the only scavengers of the city. Of late they
have entered into trades as masons, carpenters, painters, tinsmiths, etc.,
keep stores of their own and sell American commodities. It applies
more to this city than to the interior. Their character as laborers is Labor well but
plodding, attentive to learn, stimulated by hope of getting a bonus or ^^™ ^i^'io^^ y.
higher wages which is generally used in dissipation and vice. Without
tasks they are slow, indolent and careless, requiring constant watching B"' without task
and urging. They will only imitate, having but little originality or judg- indolent,
ment about their work, and will evade or slight work with or without a Imit»tive.
task. Trades they learn, and Chinese factory-work is hired from con- ^gh^^^k""^
tractors who receive the money for them and govern all disputes, the con-
tractors agreeing to furnish a given number of men or boys. Learning
the trades at the expense of the Americans they soon go to work for
Chinese or on co-operative plans, as seen by the many small factories in
the city, where they huddle in the work rooms, eating and sleeping in the
same space in which they work, under or above ground, in filth and
disease. As domestics, they receive about ten per cent, less than Euro- Pay as domestics,
peans ; as hostlers and gardeners, from thirty to fifty per cent. ; as laboreS,
agricultural laborers, twenty to thirty per cent. ; as common laborers, artisans,
fifty to sixty per cent. ; as artisans, from fifty per cent, and upwards
less ; as laundrymen and pedlers they earn about half that which sup-
ports white labor here. The labor market here is not overstocked. They
are fast closing upon all such pursuits, stopping white Europeans or xj^j^^^j ^^
Americans from coming here, as well as driving out those who have come White immi^a-
and have been engaged for many years past. As a rule of those away whiteTabor.
coming here out of every 800 some 740 show distinct marks of having smaii-pox.
had the small pox ; on going back there is a greater proportion than that,
showing that a great many of them must have had it here. They inoc-
ulate for small-pox in China. They frequently die of it here, and get a
burial permit and are buried, without any one knowing anything about it.
They are not attended by any physician. Cases are common in China f-^^^ed?^
where they have it two or three times. Their places of abode are filthy
here as are their persons ; they seldom bathe. A majority of them are
afilicted with skin, venereal, and similar diseases ; but their condition here
is above their condition in their own country. They have no regard for
sanitary rules, from the highest to the lowest. In the immediate vicinity
of Canton there are a dozen outlying cities and villages, including the
section that this people come from, besides Macao, Hong Kong, Swatow,
Namoa, Amoy, Chinchew, Hacitan, Euhchau, Tamsuie, and Keelung on
the Island of Formosa, the only open ports there ; Nanking, Cheichang,
Ningpo, Cheepo, Yangchau, Shanghai, Suchau, Hang-chau, Chefoo,
Nuchang, Tien-tsin. The extremes of these places is 2,000 miles. All
these places were visited by the witness who saw all classes from man-
darins down, and penetrated many miles into the interior without

KING

192

Family life ;
women.

Nurseries for
prostitution a
ousinessin China.

hindrance, and on the above excursions he bases his statement as to the
sanitary condition of the Chinese. The Japanese are a far more cleanly
people.

Not half a dozen legitimate families can be found in the Pacific states
among the Chinese. Often women who have been bought bear children,
who are cared for and treated as their children, care being bestowed to
raise them, especially if males. The companies only know how many
Chinese women are in this country and they never tell, fearing an outcry.
Few come except from Chinese brothels or raised for prostitution in Chma,
which is a business there. On arrival they are sold to Kve with some one
man in the city or the interior or to live in some brothel in the city. As
a rule they are young, often not more than thirteen years old, accompanied
by less diseases on arrival than the men, but mentally they are very weak,
acting like slaves, with but little or no education. The bawds often
advance money to prostitutes in China, who are brought under contracts
like men, all of which passes through companies here the same as men.
Bought and sold as applied to women means for periods not for life, yet
their contract is called a " Bill of Sale." It is a common practice in China

in'chSm to pur-"^ ^°'' foreigners as well as Chinese to purchase them and get a bill of sale
chase women. Tuuoc wv^iuijig

Origin of the Six
Companies.

Those coming here are for periods, it being more advantageous to the
owners, urging them to greater efforts for gain for a few years, only to
find at the end that it has induced dissipation and misery and deeper in
debt and bondage than ever. The small-footed women are called aristo-
cratic, but many of them are poor. These women are bought and sold
by bawds, never by parents, as a matter of speculation. It is customary
in China for the husband to pay a dowry with his first wife, the others
being handmaids or concubines, all matters of purchase.

Originally the companies were the agents of Chinese firms of Hong
Kong. The principals there were Wo Hang and Hing Wa, portrait
painters at Hong Kong in 1850 and 1851, who conducted it many years
afterward. They were the principals in opening the passenger trade and
sending men here to be hired out. Afterwards some other Chinese
merchants were added, and they requiring that some agents should be
here to collect the advances on contracts, their agents banded together for
mutual protection against the coolies evading their agreements and to
keep others out of the business ; also to ensure that the coolies should be
returned, dead or alive, at the termination of his contract, and to give them
confidence before starting from China that so important a part would be
fulfilled and that they were here to carry it out. Having these Chinese
to supply they became importers for them and all kindred commodities
that they could sell to Americans ; and their business growing with their
wealth, they became a power to hire immigrants, and they would
intimidate, overawe, and punish secretly the ignorant for any infrac-
They act as agents tion of their contracts. They also wished to prevent any Chi-
nese coming here except through them. They act as go-betweens
and arbitrators and judges between the Chinese, and punish offences.
They collect regular fees for purposes of registration and for con-
ducting the business of attending to the coolie contracts and their
enforcement, but they never guarantee the payment to the coolie by the
contractor. They are supposed to defend those who pass through their
respective companies if in trouble. They are the medium through which
the coolies remit money to China, profiting greatly thereby; they also
continue to largely supply coolies with goods which they import from
China. The companies are firms not corporations. They are known as
the Six Companies from simply having banded together to monopolize the

•and go-betweens.

193 KING

•coolie traffic. Their source of profit is the registration fee, the contractor
being the party paying it, the coolies knowing little or nothing about it.
Por this fee they agree to see the Chinaman returned to China at the end
of his contract ; if he dies to return his bones ; to look after him if he is
sick, and attend to his interests generally. All Chinese here can understand labor contracts are
each other. The companies do not take them all to one place. If a man ™'^'' "■"'^ carried
wants to hire 500 Chinamen he goes to the head of one of these companies
and contracts for so many men. As to the responsibility of these com-
panies and the American contractor to see the laborers paid, witness
knew gentlemen who came from the east and hired fifty or sixty
or one hundred men as laundrymen, and when they got east they
refused to comply with their contract. The money due them in the east
was supposed always to be paid to the contractor here, except a certain
percentage which was remitted. When they refused to comply with their
contract there was no means by which they could get their money.
In some instances they did not get it, the American claiming a violation
of the contract, and they did not know enough to sue for their services on
their individual account for work which they had done. The companies do
not guarantee the coolie that he shall get his pay. The companies become
individual firms and contractors. As a mercantile firm they would make a
contract and pass it through the company perhaps. Merchants advance them
their provisions and the Chinese contractor collects the pay for their labor.

The Chinese know nothing of our institutions, except the prisons. .
They do not know or care about citizenship, only to evade the merest nothing of our

duties or burdens of it. They are nearly all agricultural or other institutions except

. 17 . 1-1 prisons.

laborers, r^irely artisans. As a rule they are ignorant, slavish,

submissive, and often brutish in their manners, living in hovels, t i ■ h

poorly fed, worse clad, over-worked, profane and immoral in the submissive,
extreme. Very few people that witness had met in China, except ii™iad,' profane,
missionaries, understood the Chinese language. Those who do learn the immoral,
language are more from the northern part of China, such as Shanghai. It '

is a very rare thing for a merchant living there his lifetime to learn the
language. The Chinese have no conception or idea of free government,
-or the right of an individual man to be heard and be a part of same.
They are a slavish people. As diplomats, they have evaded, whenever Diplomacy,
possible, aU treaty obligations that they have undertaken. "When they
agreed to hold negotiations at Tien-tsin, and the English and others Treachery,
were going up for that purpose, they were all massacred without any
warning. When W. H. Seward stated they were the shrewdest diplo-
mats he ever met, witness thinks that he was rather too old and infirm
to judge and properly understand the question. Respecting their pro-
fanity, not knowing the language, could not say whether they swear
much ; but there were commonly-known vulgar expressions and profane vul-
garity which were the first things acquired, more especially in intercourse
with them commercially. They swear in the English courts at Hong Their Christianitr
Kong. There are many professing Chrstianity, but not one in a thousand
is sincere, missionaries themselves declaring that they do not believe
them sincere. Does not know whether the Chinese residents of Hong
Kong become British subjects under the naturalization law, but there are
certain terms provided by British law which entitle them to protection.
When they visit Canton &nd are arrested for some offence previously com- S^'^'^^^jO^ o^lSf
mitted, or for some debt, the English Consul at Canton generally succeeds Kong." ^ ° ™^
in getting them released if they are residents of Hong Kong. There is no
legislative body at Hong Kong ; it is a crown colony, and no municipal

13

KING

194

Value of human
life in China.

Punishment cruel.

Bambling.

Prostitution.

'Flower boats.'

Sodomy.

Indifference to
human life.

Chinese imperial
authorities cannot
protect foreigners
In the interior.

Commereial
character.

elective bodies. The value of human life in Chinese eyes is very low. They are
cruel, selfish, and ungrateful ; liars and dishonest in the extreme, the only
exception being where it is against their interest. They hoard and bury
money in fear of officials and . persecutors among themselves and of
thieves. Their mode of punishment is of a summary kind, cruel and
barbarous. They have no long imprisonments, except to compel money
payments. They treat their women badly, and place them in a ver}' low
scale. As to gamblers, his knowledge obtained by going through a Chinese
city and seeing at almost every short distance open gambling houses ; saw
them going on with their gambling in Chinatown here much the same ,
as in China, although it is said the police are very strict against it. In
Hong Kong the authorities license gambling houses for Chinese alone, and
do not allow foreigners to go into them ; but in Chinese places, in the
open market, gamblers' tables meet you at almost every turn. Respecting
prostitution, witness does not know of any street-walking here among^
Chinese prostitutes, nor did he ever observe them in China soliciting men
on the streets ; here they solicit them out of the windows — window-
tapping. Along the water-front of the city of Canton they have large
boats or vessels, a hundred or more feet long and half as broad. They are
flat boats, upon which are built most gorgeously fitted-up houses of one or
one and a half stories high, which are called "flower boats." They con^
tain sometimes from ten to twenty prostitutes, and are places of resort.
They are frequently taken by the better classes up and down the river
upon trips of debauch, and are known as floating brothels ; but there are
also on shore numberless quantities of prostitutes. Sodomy is a habit.
Sometimes thirty or forty boys leaving Hong Kong apparently in good
health, before arriving here would be found to be afflicted about the
anus with venereal diseases, and on questioning the Chinese doctors to
disclose what it was, they admitted that it was a common practice among
them.

With regard to their care for life, witness never heard that it was a
merit for a Chinaman to save life, and never heard of it being practised.
Has seen Chinese floating by in the water or clinging to the wreck and
their own boats pass them and go to the wreck to get plunder. In 1859,
went to the rescue of an American ship, the Vimcou r/>r, in the Shanghai
River ; found around vessels known to be plying for hire and carrying
cargo as their vocation; had to open a battery on them to drive them off;
they had driven the crew off' and taken possession and were plundering
her. In another case, the wreck of the Lucky Star, Captain Nelson, on
the Island of Formosa, they not only plundered the vessel and robbed
the crew, but they stripped the captain and his wife and marched
them many miles naked. Does not think the Chinese imperial
authorities have the power to protect foreigners who travel into the
interior from assaults and indignities ; nor does he think they have the
power to enforce the treaties with the eastern powers in the outlying pro-
vinces. Very little is known at the court of the doings of foreigners. In
China, as a rule, very few are educated beyond a few characters, and sel-
dom without the aid of a scribe are they able to read, much less make
out their contracts ; when made they take every advantage and commit
every wrong under it. To the credit of the Chinese here, as far as it goes,
witness observes that the companies here have more credit in this respect
and among this community than their principals have in China, for one
of their largest principals at Hong Kong, Wo Hang, is not able to make
a charter, and he is considered so wanting in faith that he would not be
trusted. The contract made with the coolies that leave Macao for labor

195 KiNGr

in Cuba or Peru is of the same nature as the contract made with the coolies S^P"** •■™'|<' ^^^^
that leave Hong Kong for California, only made by a Peruvian or Cuban
agent instead of with a Chinaman. There is a treaty between the Chi-
nese Empire and Peru by which they catry on the coolie trade, also with
the United States. A coolie can be brought here by stating at the Ameri-
can consulate at Hong Kong that he enters into his contract voluntarily.
In the case of coolies going to Peru or to Cuba, their ships are fitted
as prisons, with bars and grates, the same as slave-ships were fitted,
and with much larger crews. There are never only a certain number
allowed on deck, and they are treated with all the surveillance as if they
were prisoners. It is a common thing for them, when opportunity
offers, to take the ships and destroy them and escape from their bond-
age. The coolies say they go in these ships voluntarily. The shipment
of coolies to Peru has since been stopped, as it was found out to be slave-
labor, and when runners or pimps were caught in Canton inveighling
them away they were decapitated by the Chinese authorities for engaging
in the coolie traffic. There is no coolie traffic in this form carried on be-
tween this port and any ports in China. The coolie agrees to come here
and work for a certain period for a certain rate of wages — $3 to $5 per
month, very seldom more than that. Very few who come here have
families. They come here to work to pay debts of a doubtful character
contracted at home.

San Francisco, October 24th, 1876.

Respecting small-footed women, as a rule small feet are a sign of Women,
their being of a higher class ; yet a considerable number are seen in their
brothels, and amo,ng them the very lowest classes of street laborers and beg-
gars. [Witness here produced photographs taken in China showing that
the small-footed women as well as the large-footed ones are so engaged.]
The people coming here are not as fair repi-esentatives of quiet and order
as could be had from other sections of China. Every war with foreigners has p^^s emigrating;
arisen in the immediate vicinity where these people come from. Those sec-
tions have exhibited the most horrible means of warfare, such as attempting
to poison the whole foreign communities of Hong Kong during the last
war. Prom these districts come, with few exceptions, all the professional
pirates of the China seas. They prey upon foreign and native crafts
alike, and frequently plunder places along their own coast. The
record shows that nearly all foreign vessels attacked or captured in
China have been attacked by the people of these districts at the mouth of
the Canton River. In fact the people of these districts furnish largely Cantrnv district-
the brothels and the banditti to other ports on the China coast, the men littrind pros"
being dreaded wherever they go. Some of these pirates come to this ^*^tes for other-
country. Here is one of the worst of their pirates [producing photograph]
belonging to that class. He came here. Have known him for a long time
as a pirate. Here are also photographs of that class of people among
them. The riots at Tien-tsin originated in Canton.

The principals of the Six Companies are at Hong Kong where messages
were, addressed to them at the time of the agitation to stop immigration.
It is called a hospital. It is also known as a secret league of the Chinese
in a British colony, composed largely of Chinese engaged in the coolie
traffic, as well as of members of the Chinese commercial community there,
for carrying secret measures of their own instead of through the lawful
channels. They are there known as the defenders of those committing

KING

196

crimes, but not caring for the helpless. Knowledge of Six. Companies
gained from long and patient investigation of hundreds of men who have
been both connected with them here and at Hong Kong, during long
voyages at sea, and reading accounts of them in the Hong Kong papers
where they are under an English colony and an English government.

San Francisco, November 18th, 1876.

'Chinese in the
Straits SctUc-
ments.

The Chinaman in
iSiam.

'Chinese contrae'
■tors for labor.

On beiiag recalled witness said : The Chinese go under contract with
Chinese as coolies to the " Straits Settlements" the same as here, but in
far larger numbers, and to such an extent have they swarmed over those
countries that they not only mononplize the artisan as well as the agricul-
tural pursuits there, but they also own, manage, and conduct nearly all
trades and mercantile businesses, as well as most of the large fleets of
European style, sailing and steam vessels, trading to many parts of the
globe.

The continued immigration of Chinese to those places requires a large
fleet of European sailing and steam vessels to convey them yearly. Chinese
junks also are largely employed in carrying coolies besides.

In Siam, also, the Chinese coolie system has produced to the native
population no less disastrous results. The commerce and trade of all
kinds, with but little exception, has passed from the possession of the
Siamese into the hands of Chinese, they also monopolizing the carrying
trade to the exclusion of natives.

The above will largely apply to the other adjacent countries, as Java,
Sumatra, Borneo, and Luzon.

Europeans or Americans visiting China for the purpose of obtaining
Chinese emigrants have never been able to obtain them, unless through
Chinese contractors ; and in every case where the coolie has not passed
through the hands of the Six Companies he has violated his contract.
Several years since the cotton-growers of the south sent their deputies
to Hong Kong, who after many months there endeavoring to make con-
tracts with coolies direct failed to do so ; and at last, through the coolie-
brokers, obtained a few ship-loads. After paying them, large numbers
deserted the vessel, some drowning in the harbor in doing so, evidently
never intending to keep their contract, or any contract, when not bound
to do so by the fearful penalties to which they are said to be liable under
™,?S'J.™™"i?„*'^ *'*®^'' system both at home and abroad, where it is carried as far as among
themselves. I have heard that for no other reason but that these coolies
would not keep their labor contracts after arrival at New Orleans the
experiment was not repeated. So absolute was their bondage that their
labor- contracts were pledged to the ship for their conveyance. I have
known Mr. Koopmanschap state that all his engagements with the
Chinese were much of that nature ; he could not rely upon them ; he
could not engage them in China except through coolie contractors. '

In investigating this contract system I have found that a large portion
of them, nearly one-half, who come here are under contract to coolies
gone back from here, who, taking the result of their labors, three, four,
or five hundred dollars, are enabled to go to China and there hire ten or
a dozen under this system ; and the ignorant coolie remains in a state of
semi-slavery for the years of his bondage and at low rates.

In Japan, although for many years after the opening to foreigners to
live and trade there, the Chinese were not allowed except as ser-
vants of Europeans or Americans, yet they have succeeded m wresting

southern states.

Contract system.

Kn Japan.

197 KIN&

from foreigners, who surreptitiously got them a footing in the country, its '-'^*I"'?S '"^''lyes
foreign import and export trade to China as well as other countries, until the most affluent
now it is conceded the Chinese are the most affluent so engaged there, jjfpan*"*^ '"
and the streets of their largest city of foreign trade, Yokohama, is ablaze
with their business sign-boards at every turn.

This state of things is not because the Chinese merchant has any Low standard of
superior mercantile ability than our own ; but it is their ability to bring
into force their cheap mode of living, whereby they can compete or afford
to transact business at far less and make a profit. Their presence in the
countries mentioned has not had the effect of elevating their lower classes,
but the contrary effect on their better classes, as our manufacturers are

comfort.

finding out now to their cost.

Chinese competition is not only with the common laborer, but it is also
with the American merchants. The Chinese who used formerly to import
through American firms do that themselves, owing largely to competition.

San Francisco, October :24th, 1876.

John L. Meares, physician and health officer of the city of San Francisco, MEARES.
since 1st of May, sworn and examined :

As to the physical condition of the Chinese they are not equal to the
white man, not being capable of doing the same amount of heavy labor.

They live in large tenement houses many of which are unfit entirely for Sanitary.
habitation, and ought to be declared so. They live crowded in small
rooms without ventilation, and as they often have diseases of a contagious
nature they are exposed to it, breathing vitiated air all the time.

With regard to the epidemic (small-pox) which has been prevailing smalUpox.
since the 24th of May, seventy-four deaths have been reported among
the Chinese. When they die of small-pox they are removed to Cooper's
alley, Bull Run alley, or some other place of deposit for their dead. It
is impossible to ascertain where they die. On this account their houses
cannot be disinfected, and they are a perpetual source of contagion.
Occasionally a case is discovered in the basement, where there is a hall
opening upon the street ; one case in particular I found of a Chinaman
who had been sick for fourteen days and was then dying. During all this
time the poison was going through the hall to the street. I called a
meeting of the heads of the Six Companies and told them they were con-
ceahng cases of small-pox, and that it was absolutely necessary to do some-
thing. They promised they would correct this, and reported three or four
cases the next two or three days, but stopped from that time. The cause .small-pox epide-
of the existing contagion of small-pox among the whites can be ^l^^f^f^^J"
traced to the Chinese quarter. I do not think we should have
had an epidemic here if it had not been for the concealment of these
cases in Chinatown. It may be communicated by the atmosphere becom-
ing infected, or through clothing taken to an infected house for washing,
remaining there two or three days and absorbing the poison. Where
small-pox becomes epidemic in cities where no Chinese reside, it is caused
through the neglect of the local authorities. In the east the disease can
be sporadic in the winter and only occasionally epidemic, and it is rarely
epidemic in the summer time ; but here it becomes epidemic without regard
to the season of the year. It is entii-ely different from yellow fever, for
if that were brought here it would die out.

MEARES

198

Small-pox.

'Overcrowding
and filth In
Chinese quarter

(Opium-smoking.

inhumanity.

Overcrowding.

Venereal disease.

So-called leprosy
result of congeni-
tal syphilis.

Leprosy.

In fumigatmg the Chinese quarter by order of the city government I
found the condition to be inconceivably horrible. I found these people
living in big tenement houses, and large numbers crowded in individual
rooms and under ground, without proper ventilation, with bad drainage,
and a, great deal of filth, the odors from which were horrible. You go
into rt room which was originally higher than this room. They will
have bunks all around ; sometimes they will have a platform in one
corner, extending over one-fourth of it, not more than three or four feet
in depth, and numbers of them will sleep on that. I found cases of small-
pox concealed in places like that. Found one case in a box, probably
eight feet long, three feet wide, and four feet high, in a comer of the hall.
I supposed it was a cupboard, a place to keep something to eat or clothing
in. They will not tell you the truth about these things, and from my own
observation, taking them as a class, you cannot believe them on oath when
it is their interest to lie at all. Under ground they live in bunks, in great
filth, and no ventilation at all.

I cannot tell the amount of opium-smoking or opium cousumption, but
if you go anywhere in the Chinese quarter you will find them smoking
opium. In smoking opium they generally lie down with the paste and a
pipe and a little light in the hand with which they touch it occasionally.
Frequently half a dozen or more are lying about, and sometimes you will
find twenty people smoking together.

I ]ia\'e never seen any class of people so indifferent to the sufferings of
their fellow creatures. For instance, take the little hospitals in Aleck
allev ; you will find there small rooms horribly filthy, and Chinamen dying
of consumption and other chronic diseases, lying in their filth, with no
person to take care of them, and in a state of starvation. They will beg
of you for five or ten cents to buy something to eat. They ask for bread
and if you hand one a piece of stale bread he will devour it. They appear
to be perishing of hunger ; and yet these are the places procured, and
run, and sustained by these Six Companies, for benevolent purposes as
they call it. You may go into one of these hospitals to-day and riot find
a sick man in it, but to-morrow morning there will be three dead China-
men there, and no one will know where they came from. As for attendants
I have never seen anybody acting as such. I suppose somebody goes
there sometimes and does something for them, but it looks as if they were
starved. If a person not accustomed to those things opens the door and
goes in, it almost knocks him down, the odor is so terrible. It is a
notorious fact that the Chinese are indifferent to the sufferings of their
brethren. I have never seen any women in these hospitals.

Balconies, roofs, sheds and other buildings built about a house are
generally utilized. They utilize every particle of room they can. Fre-
quently I find bunks to sleep in in places of that sort. The cooking is
generally done in a kitchen, principally in a. large range, all using it in
common. I have never seen any cooking in a sleeping room.

There is a large amount of venereal disease among them, especially
among the females. The so-called leprosy they have here is simply
the result of generations of syphilis, transmitted from one generation
to another. Some months ago the authorities sent back to China
thirteen leprous cases. I know of two other cases here. The con-
dition of these leprous persons is horrible ; some of them with their
noses eaten off. Leper means " scaly. " It first commences on the
extremities, a little round, circular spot, red and shining, and then a scale
forms on that, and it is a succession of scales forming and dropping off all
the time, and after a while another adjoining that, and so on, until it

199 MEARES

will cover the whole body. I have seen men at the hospitals like that — Leprosy.-
some of those we sent back. Their feet dropped off by dry gangrene, and
their hands were wasted and attenuated, and their finger nails dropped off.
It is a matter of opinion, but I doubt it very much, if a man had con-
nection with a leprous woman that such connection would produce conta-
gion or cause disease to the individual. As an evidence of this these
leprous cases had been in hospital for years, and the employees in contact
with it constantly. In the Sandwich Islands they are compelled to Leprosy not
isolate cases of leprosy, because they do not want this disease transmitted "*'" agious.
from one generation to another ; but in China or Honolulu you do not
find white people afraid of taking this disease, and the best authorities
say that it is not contagious.

Syphilis appears to be worse with the Chinamen because they are not Syphilis.
treated for it, and it is handed down from one generation to another, until
it assumes a tertiary form and presents a horrible appearance ; but the
primary syphilis which people contract I do not believe is any worse in
Chinamen than in the white man or negro.

Opium-smoking I should say was very general. I do not think it is Opium-smoking,
any worse than excessive drinking, but excess in opium-smoking will
degrade more rapidly than excess in drinking. I think opium-smoking
in Chinatown is better for us than drinking alcohol, for if they drank
liquor to excess I do not know what would become of us. When they
smoke opium they are inoffensive, so far as we are concerned.

There have been 202 deaths among the whites from small-pox, and up Small-pox.
to this time, since the 19th May, there have been 1,002 cases reported —
three cases concealed. I think it was generally understood that there was
an epidemic in Central America during last February, March, April and
May. It prevails pretty much in all those South American countries.
It prevailed here as an epidemic in 1868-69 ; I do not know whether it
originated in the Chinese quarter. In Philadelphia, in 1872, there was an
epidemic, but I have no personal knowledge respecting it. I cannot say
that I know that it always exists in large cities.

A disinfectant is an antiseptic that will arrest the decay of animal or
vegetable matter, or will destroy that germ which is the seat of contagion.
I have often thought that one reason of the Chinamen being so largely Why^ 'f^^"'^
exempt from some of our contagious diseases, as scarlet fever, diptheria, ^^^^^ f™",
and measles, perhaps, was that they live in an atmosphere of smoke, diptheria, measles.
That, however, does not protect them from this specific poison small-pox ;
but I believe that this smoking of opium, and the inhalation of it con-
stantly, and tobacco smoke, and foul air, are deleterious to their health.
A great many of them die of consumption — lung disease. I look upon Many die of lung
them as a class as thoroughly protected against small-pox as any other disease,
class of people living. Every person in China is inoculated. It is
compulsory. I do not think the practice of inoculation is carried on
here. They may do it in infancy. Vaccination is not practised here
among them. , , .

Respecting the cubic-air law, I look upon it as exceedingly defective. f,';'jWc:air law
I do not think that a small space in this climate engenders disease to
the extent it would in eastern climates in the summer. If we had the
heat of the east here we should have a plague almost every year m

the Chinese quarter. , • , „ ,■

In the underground places already mentioned they have passages which Overcrowdmg.
go from one street or alley to another, and wherever I have been I found
people sleeping in these places. I found in small rooms large numbers

MEARES

200

Opium and
whiskey.

Chinese immigra-
tion if unchecked
bound to increase.

In San Francisco
cuts off from the
business portion
of city its
hiindsomest part.

Sanitary machin-
ery defective.

With proper
health laws great
change for the
■■*l)etter could be
made.

with their bunks built around. They seem to care less about ventilation
than any other people I have ever known.

From personal knowledge, I cannot say whether smoking opium fills our-
prisons and gaols to the extent that whiskey does ; nor do I think it makes
them vicious and quarrelsome ; nor does it increase our taxes in com-
parison with whiskey drinking.

Considering the advantages the Chinese have here, and with such a
population as China, I think they are bound to extend all over the country.
Chinadom is extending in this city and cuts off the most desirable pro-
perty— North Beach — from the business portion, and to reach that hand-
some portion of the city the street-cars have to pass through Chinadom,
which makes it very objectionable to ladies and gentlemen going through..

I do not regard our health ordinances as sufficient. We have four-
permanent inspectors, but during epidemics we appoint more. We have
now thirteen or fourteen. There is no regular inspection of those quarters
any more than any other portion of the city. Nuisances are reported at
the health office, but so far as Chinatown is concerned nuisances are
rarely reported. On that account for the last eight months we have had a
special inspector for that quarter, but we could use profitably all the
time three times as many as we have. The abatement of nuisances pro-
perly belongs to the health department, in connection with the police. If
we had health laws here the same as in Boston, giving power to the
Board of Health to declare any house unfit for habitation, it would be
very beneficial to us. From the natural location of the Chinese quarter
it ought to be healthy. With proper police and health regulations the
evils might be largely abated ; it would be the means of scattering them
which would be a great deal better for us. I cannot tell accurately the
death-rate, but it is less than the American, because more than one-fourth
of the deaths here are children under twelve months of age, and one-half
under ten years of age. I do not think I have ever seen a Chinaman of
seventy-five or eighty years of age. I have occasionally seen an old man,
a very old man, among the immigrants.

The percentage of death among the whites has been twenty per cent.
I have discovered cases of small-pox in Chinatown in a room where
twenty or thirty Chinamen were at work making slippers, which were
afterwards sent all over the state ; and this is one way of transmitting
the disease. I have never discovered a case in a Chinese laundry,
although I have had a hundred cases reported to me, much to my
annoyance. A large percentage of the white prostitutes live in China^
town. If we are to have this population, it would be better for us if
10,000 Chinese women were here. I cannot tell what diseases prevail in
Chinatown, not having been called there as a medical man. That could
only be ascertained through Chinese physicians ; but, from observation, I
believe that most deaths are caused through chronic diseases, principally
consumption. I consider the Chinese quarter engenders disease to a
greater extent than any other thickly-settled portion of the city. There
are other parts of the city very bad, but that is from defective sewage.
Our white population, as a rule, live very respectably ; but you will find
in some of our low portions a dozen families crowded into tenement
houses and a great deal of filth. The Chinese are not to be blamed for
this lack of sewerage. I have seen dead Chinamen on the street, but no
dead women. There was one case of a Chinaman dying on the street. A
gentleman opening his store early in the morning, found him in a horrible
condition ; he must have been sick at least two weeks ; it was a horrible
sight ; some Chinamen came along and carried him to Aleck alley ; he

How small-pox is
disseminated.

Chinese in San
Francisco mostly
die of consump-
tion.

Case of a China-
man dying on the
street.

201 MEARES-

must have been carried to where he was found ; he died within twenty-
four hours of small-pox. There was no necessity for an inquest, the
evidence of the cause of death being plain. It is a very difficult matter to
get a coroner to make an inquest in a small-pox case, or to get a jury for
those cases.

All Chinese women are looked upon as prostitutes ; as a rule, they are. Prostitution.
There are a few women here, but it would be a great blessing if there were
a great many more for the use of the Chinamen. The use of the prosti-
tution of Chinese women is confined to a very low class of white people.
You may go into some portions of the Chinese quarters and you will find
the lowest class of white people, and negroes, and Mexicans, and Indians,
all mixed up together horribly. I do not regard Chinese women as the Cliincse prosti-
chief source of syphilis, there not being enough of them. I think more chief source^of
syphilis is propagated from the unprof essionals than there is from the pro- syphilis.
fessionals amongst the white prostitutes. I doubt very much if there are
4,000 Chinese prostitutes here ; there are a large number of white. In
the Chinese quarter prostitutes are a more degraded class than the white
ones ; but there are some among the whites as degraded as it is possible
to be. I have never thought of the position of Chinamen as domestic
servants coming in contact with our children, and the question whether
these prostitutes to whom they have access are not a protection to fami-
lies. I think it would be better if there were more of them.

Alfred Clarke, clerk in the Chief of Police's Department ; tilled the cLARKE.
position eight or ten years, but has been a member of the Police
Department in diff'erent positions for over twenty years, sworn and
examined :

The number of Chinese in the city is given by Langley in the directory
as 30,000. From observation, the Chinese quarter whenever I went there
was pretty dirty ; I have not been there lately. There is a big number of A^large^numberof
Chinese prostitutes and gamblers. As to crime, it is not so easy to get crime.^
convictions in cases where crimes are committed among themselves, for
the reason that the witnesses who are cognizant of the facts are generally
Chinese. The number of arrests in proportion to the population of
the whites and Chinese does not vary much. We have ordinances here
by which the police are authorized to break up the dens of prostitu-
tion and make arrests and to punish want of cleanliness. The laws
iti relation to prostitution and cleanliness bear upon all equally, but
among the Chinese the officers have more to do. We have from time to
time endeavored to use legal means to bring to justice the violators of
this law, and the thing has been going on here for years. At one time
we had eighty or ninety of them in a little gaol that was erected for the
purpose, and during the time we pressed those prosecutions the practice
diminished very much. In 1866 there were not more than forty or fifty
prostitutes out of gaol. About this time a proposition was considered to ^jhinese^grosti^ ^
locate them away outside of the city, but an Act was passed by the Legis- exist in any part
lature known as the " Chinese house-of-ill-fame Bill " which prohibited "« California.
them anywhere. Keeping a house of prostitution is a crime here. It can
only be abated by convicting the persons guUty of the ofience and putting
them in gaol, and if they pay the fine there is nothing except the fear of
ithe law to prevent them doing the same thing over agam. It is very
hard to get another conviction because they are more careful. Respecting

CLARKE

202

Prostitutes held
in bondage.

Ten per cent.
belong to the
criminal class.

Chinese prosti-
tutes do not as a
rule know enough
to escape from
.slavery.

Kidnapping a
Chinese woman.

Secret tribunals.

Chinese women being held in a state of bondage for the purposes of pros-
titution, my line of duty has given me some knowledge of these things.
[Two original contracts for the service of these women produced. See
Rev. Mr. Gibson's evidence, p. 262.]

On being recalled witness said : If one of these women escape
after being bound by one of these contracts the owner usually
tries to find her, and if found in the hands of another Chinaman
he would be invited to give her up. [Here was read to the wit-
ness his answer to the Legislative Committee to the same question.]
They do not quite as often get them arrested in our courts ; they cannot
get them arrested, because the sheriff would not now give them a warrant
for stealing unless they brought corroborative proof of the theft ; but
some time ago they obtained some arrests and used the process of court.
Assuming the population to be 25,000 or 30,000, about ten per cent, would
belong to the criminal class. It is customary for the keepers of white
houses of prostitution to send east for new women, and also for them to
furnish money for their transportation, and generally an agreement as to
how the money is to be repaid. Often the clothing of these white prosti-
tutes is owned by the mistress of the house. There have been very few
instances of arrest of these prostitutes on the ground of their running
away and stealing the clothing they have with them. The main difference
between the importation of the Chinese prostitute and the white is that
among the former it is recognized as an established custom which ought
to be obeyed and respected, but among our own people they know there
is a law which gives them liberty. The Chinese women have generally
submitted passively and helplessly to this imposition, degradation, and
slavery, to be sold and bought and transported at the will of their masters.
As to these bills of sale it is on record in our court where a certain
person was charged with selling a woman, and tried, found guilty,
and sentenced to six months in the county jail. As to the escape and
recapture of these women, I have been informed of that by the women
and others connected with them. Arresting these women for larceny is
accomplished in this way ; a Chinaman comes and says a certain woman
stole a certain amount of money, say $200 or $300. He would get a
warrant out, he would go with an officer and point her out, and when the
woman was pointed out he would get other persons to come and file a
bail-bond for her. When the bail-bond was tiled, those who gave the bail-
bond would accompany her as friends, and go away with her. Aiterwards
the Chinaman would come to court and represent that the charge was
unfounded, that the property had been restored, and in that way get the
case dismissed. The Chinawoman would then be left in his posses-
sion. This is not now continued in practice. Two or three years
ago there was a case of kidnapping of a Chinese woman by white
men employed by the Chinese. This woman had been consort-
ing with a washerman in violation of her contract, and her masters
thought they had a right to the assistance of the Chinese to have this
contract sustained. The woman was captured in pursuance of that
obligation, and was kept until the contract-principals met, and an agree-
ment made that there should be no prosecution in the case, which
agreement was faithfully carried out in spite of all the oflicers could do to
bring evidence into court. Another young man was arrested a year or
a year and a half ago for participating in a similar affair. These facts I
gather from reports as told at the police office.

There is a secret tribunal called the Hip-ye-tung which demands from
those who bring Chinese women in and marry them something in the

203 CLARKE

■shape of purchase money, $5 a head. On one occasion a certain Chinaman secret tribunals.
•who had been guilty of marrying a Chinawoman was invited to appear before
this tribunal, and there give an account of the purchase money, or other-
wise conform to the custom of his countrymen. A complaint was lodged
at the police office against this tribunal, and officers detailed to make
enquiries, and watch the place. The result was that eight Chinamen
were arrested in the rooms where they held their sessions, and were tried
in the police court on a charge of conspiracy. The statement that Lup
Sam Yung gave was to the efi'ect that having married this woman he was Tlie Hlp-ye-tung
called before the Hip-ye-tung and told he would have to pay the price for money from a man
her. He also testified that he was threatened before that tribunal, and JJ'^Poml^™*''"^*
that weapons were drawn, and was told in substance that if he did not
pay for the woman he would be killed. The result of the trial was that
they were acquitted, the evidence not being sufficient to obtain a convic-
tion. A safe was brought down from the rooms and with difficulty opened.
Books were found, one of which contained a list of 150 women and some
accounts, also some papers which it was understood related to the tran-
sactions of the Hip-ye-tung. The tribunal consisted of thirty or forty
members or more. Only eight were captured. We had to rely solely on
Chinese proof. The man threatened was the strongest witness, but others
were called in corroboration.

My observation leads me to think that there has been a union of J^^'^^rt^^^'thos?
■effi)rt among those interested in sustaining Chinese prostitution, be- interested in CM-
•cause there is a good deal of money involved in the matter. If 5^,omnvo?Ted!*
there are one thousand prostitutes here and all worth $500 a piece,
there is a good deal of money at stake, and if all run away it would leave
their masters poorer.

The Chinese have societies for regulating matters among themselves,
•but this Hip-ye-tung, I think, was limited to affairs cormected with
prostitution.

The police \va,ve occasionally been called to suppress riots and dis-
orders which have occurred at assemblies of Chinamen; sometimes
there would be half a dozen badly hurt and a number arrested. I
have heard some of the Six Companies state that they had met among
themselves and arranged the matter, but am not so clear as to
their being a regular tribunal similar to our courts. I have heard and ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^
read of notices having been posted in the Chinese quarter offering rewards for assassination,
for assassination.

Respecting the regulation of the Chinese laundries here the washermen
have a board of management ; and it would not be allowable, under the
customs of the Chinese, for a Chinese washerman to start a laundry unless
he had the permission and consent of the board. The board is somethmg
like a trades-union among themselves. I think I have heard the sum of t^^S-unlon".
$2 and |5 spoken of as the license. , * » .v ,

As to the evidence of the existence of a secret tribunal to regulate the Secret tribunals,
business of Chinamen here, I have never been in one, and have no, clearer
knowledge than about the Hip-ye-tung, which I have described ; but there
is a case in court now where it is charged that a Chinaman was imprisoned
by his fellow countrymen for not settling a claim, and there are persons
under arrest for that. A great many Chinamen have been taken off and
killed, and it has not been easy for the officers to find it out.

Attempts have been made to suppress prostitution ; there are arrests of
white women every day ; I think they number about 1,000 not 5,000.

Besides the contracts already referred to, I have seen some three or four
others.

9LARKE

204

City officers aid
prostitutes to
escape from
1)onaage.

Cubic-air law.

Trades-unions.

Secret tribunals.

The city officers generally aid these women to escape from their bonds

At one time the number of Chinese prostitutes was down to forty out
of gaol. White men and white women are sent to prison for procuring
girls for the purposes of prostitution.

I understand that the Six Companies have a board of arbitration.

The most numerous class of offences for which the Chinese are arrested
is gambling, prostitution, and violation of the pure-air law, for the latter
a fine of |10 or five days' imprisonment. If he goes to prison, his hair is
cut.

Chinamen are arrested in large numbers, thirty and forty of a night,
for infringing the cubic-air ordinance.

The law excuses the cells in gaols and prisons from its application.

Sometimes the Chinese sue in our courts in civil matters, but most of
their disputes are settled among themselves.

Washermen, cigar makers, etc., I understand, allhave their trades-unions,
in which they meet and arbitrate their difiiculties.

No member of the Six Companies has ever said to me, in so many words,
that there was a tribunal among the Chinese which settled matters, crim-
inal and civil ; but a man would say that the thing had been arranged
— fixed up. This relates to criminal matters to a considerable extent.

Contact with our civilization improves them, but they have a tendency
to draw us down.

ELLIS.

San Francisco, October 24th, 1876.

Henry H. Ellis, connected with the Police Department for twenty
years, upwards of fifteen years a detective, now Chief of Police,,
sworn and examined :

Number in city
and state.

There are about 30,000 Chinese in the city, perhaps a few more. The
number varies very much. During the rainy season there might be as
many as 60,000 and from 120,000 to 160,000 in the state. Respecting
their habits and crimes, I have a statement compiled from the books, and
will read it as follows : —

For the year ending June, 1876, the white arrests made were 17,991 ; Chinese
Extent of Chinese 2,117 ; total, 20,108. July, August and September of the present year the arrests
crime. of whites was 5,047 ; Chinese, 876 ; total, 5,925.

" The Chinese population of the city and county of San Francisco is reported
by Langley as 30,000 ; 2,117 criminals, being equal to 7-0,5S, for the year end-
ing June 30th, 1876.

'Chinese per cent, of the whole number of arrests, say 20,108, for the year end-
ing June 30th, 1876, the number of arrests being 2,117, equals 10 2655-5027, or lOJ
per cent. Chinese per cent, of the number arrested, say 878, for the three
months ending September 30th, 1876, 2-92g per cent, of the "Chinese population
or oO,OUO.

" Chinese felons sent to state prison during the year ending February 17th, 1876,
say 68, equal to 13 31-63 or 13} per cent, of 504, the whole number of convicts,
sent during that time.

" We did not have the record down any later than last February."

These convictions were for felonies, that is for the state at large ; this
latter paper does not apply to the city alone :

" The white population, according to Langley, is reported to be 240 000- 17 991
cnmmals bemg equal to 7-49| per cent, for the year ending June 30th, 1876! '

2*^^ ELLIS

, ." ^i'i^V.VJ™'"'*'^ 'f *A^ *'^''?^ months ending September 30th, 1876, is 5,047, Percentage dt
being 2-10 7-24 per cent, of the whole white population of 240,000." Chinese crime

Here is a summary of the whole thing :

" 2,117 Chinese arrested, 1875 and 1876, being 7-056 per cent, of their population

" 2,117 Chinese arrested, 1875 and 1876, being 10-5 per cent, of the whole number
of arrests.

" 878 Chinese arrested, for three months, ending September 30th 1876 being
2'923 per cent, of their population. '

"68 Chinese convicts sent to state prison during the year ending February 17th
1876, being 13'63 per cent, of the whole number sent for the year.

" 17,991 whites arrested, 1875 and 1876, being 7-496 per cent, of their whole popu-
lation.

"5,047 whites arrested for three months ending September 30th, 1876, being
:2"103 of their population.

" 30,000 Chinese population, being 12-5 per cent, of the whole population of the
tfity."

As a rule it is more difficult to arrest Chinese than whites. This state- ^o'^<^ difficult to
ment embraces the crimes of Chinese against Chinese and Chinese against tS^ whites?^''
whites. It is very difficult where Chinese and Chinese are concerned to
get a conviction, their testimony being unreliable, with a few notable excep-
tions. I know from rumor and hearsay that the Chinese have a court to
settle among themselves civil and criminal matters.

One case came under my observation where an attempt was made to Secret tribunals,
settle a criminal case in which I was concerned. The criminal was event-
.ually found in an inner room adjoining the room where a large congregation
of Chinamen were gathered. The man that took me there informed me
ithat I would first have to wait to see what disposition was made by those
people. I have heard of Chinamen being convicted of offences, and judg-
ment being carried out amongst themselves. It has been understood by
the police generally that such was the fact. Notices have been posted
offering rewards for killing Chinese. I have seen notices purporting to be Assassination,
of that kind in the Chinese language and' have had them interpreted to
me verbally. There may be some copies preserved. I think their pre-
sence here has an injurious effect upon our civilization, their prostitu- Chinese prostitu-
tion being more accesible to boys and youths. Their mode of solicitation He^toboys!^'''^''^^"
is to stand at their windows and call people, asking them to come in.
They use enough English to make known their desires and wants. It is
universally believed by the police and people that these women prostitutes prostitutes held
are held as slaves. I have no faith whatever in their conversion to as slaves.
' Christianity, from the fact that I have seen some of them that professed Christianity of
Christianity come down and take a hand and an interest in cases in 9^"'®?? *
court totally at variance with their professions.

The condition of their quarter is very filthy as a rule. Without the Filth.
; police here they would be buried in their own filth in many places. They
: are compelled by the police to clean up once or twice a week. The nature
of their filth is refuse of all kinds, thrown out indiscriminately, even worse
than that. They have little places in some portions of Chinatown
where they have vaults overflowing with filth. As soon as the Chinaman
takes possession of a building, it seems to go to rack and ruin, and become
filthy, dirty, and discolored. The condition of their stairways is very filthy.

Chinadom is slowly extending. Some ten- or a dozen blocks have been Chinatown
given up to the Chinese generally, situated in the heart of the old portion '^'''*°'i>"S-
of the city, the northern part, beyond which there is a handsome quarter
out towards North Beach. To get to that quarter, the people living there
had one avenue ; but the Chinamen got in there, and whenever they get in
they maintain a foothold and crowd everybody else out. They did this on
this street, and now it is quite a task to go up and down that street alone
at some hours of the night ; and to a lady it is very disagreeable.

ELLIS.

206

Chinese injure a
street where they
reside, but pay
high rents.

Arrests.

Crowded and
filthy.

Prostitution and
the administra-
tion of the law.

More perjury
among Chinese
than among
whites.

Licenses imposed
on Chinese laun-
drymen TJtltra
vires.

Testimony oi
better class of
Chinamen
reliable.

Secret tribunals.

Chinese pay higher rents, and white people do not like to Uve beside
them. The effect of two Chinamen on each side of a man having a-
flourishing business, would be to injure his business and cause him to,
move away somewhere else.

The further extension of Chinadom would be disastrous to the whites,
causing them to move away, and their places to be filled with Chinamen.

If the Palace Hotel were divided up to be a hive of Chinese, it would
be profitable, and there is no law to prevent the owner from devoting it to
such a purpose, and nothing to prevent the Chinese from taking possession.
Public opinion might have some influence over the owners of property
in some localities, as it has against them living in other parts of the city,
the same having a tendency to drive them together. The Chinese quarter
is more densely populated than any other part of the city.

The percentage of arrests, as compared with the whites, is about equal,
the latter embracing women and children. It does not necessarily follow
that they should be filthy, because they are crowded ; they are filthy as a,
people. Chinese boys who have been any length of time in white families
acquire cleanly habits, but as soon as they return to their quarters they
lapse into their old ways.

Chinamen go bail ; two persons being required to go on a bond. In a
case of prostitution $100 is required, the fine ranging from $25 to |50._
Nearly all convicted go to the county gaol and serve their term out.
Probably there were more Chinese prostitutes arrested last year than
whites. We have an ordinance forbidding them to solicit prostitution.
Keepiiag a disorderly house is another offence for which the fine is $10. It
is difficult to prove a case against either Chinese or whites. One act
does not make prostitution in the eyes of the law.

In the trial of white persons the testimony frequently fails to convict.
Perjury is committed in all courts, every day on an average ; but there is
not one convicted of it in a year. Cases come up in the police court where
twenty persons have sworn to an alibi that neither court nor officers be-
lieved— Chinese. Not such a great number among the whites.

The Barbary Coast here is replete with crime. A few Chinese are
scattered through, as well as other persons, of all nations and all char-
acters. In some localities they are a bad lot, in some pretty good.
There is another district called the Tar Flat, made notorious by the hood-
lums.

Lately we have been quite active in enforcing the ordinances against the
Chinese, because of the epidemic, but heretofore these arrests have not been
so largely in excess of other arrests. ■

The Chinese laundrymen pay no license. There was a test case and the
court decided it was not valid.

Among the better class of Chinese their testimony is usually reliable,
and in their private transactions and dealings I consider them men of
probity, and honor and truthfulness.

The case already referred to in which I was personally interested, was
assault for murder, and the man was delivered over to me. This is the
only case that I know of where they attempted to settle among themselves
any serious crime. It is usual among benevolent associations of white
people to settle among themselves small difficulties that might be the sub-
ject of police investigation. The police have always understood that the
Chinese had tribunals to try, arbitrate and punish, but I have no evidence
of such being the fact. In the case of the Hip-ye-tung there was no evid-
ence to convict. One of the witnesses was considered a respectable man,,
and at the time I had no doubt as to the reliability of his testimony, but

207 ELLIS-

it was met by considerable evidence on the other side, and the judo'e
decided in favor of the defendants. ' "

Assassination is not confined to Chinamen, cases happening among the Assassination.
whites. During my twenty years' experience I should think there had
been a dozen cases of assassination of Chinese by Chinese, and three or four
cases where Chinamen have been assassinated by whites. I have read of
hundreds of them being assassinated in the mines.

The police have had more trouble with hoodlums of late, of whom there Hoodlums and
are several thousands. Other boys besides these visit the Chinese prosti- P™8titutee.
tutes. The prostitutes are confined to six or eight blocks. It would not
be possible with our police force of 150 men to exclude white boys, there
being only seven or eight men detailed to look after that locality. We
have special police for the Chinese, but these are the only regular officers
to look after that people, nor is this number increased during the wet ao,m Chinese in
season, when as many as 60,000 Chinese are in the city. At the close of SanFrancisco
the harvest they begin to come in, and go out again from time to time as s"asof. "''''
work opens up for them. They remain here two or three months. The
30,000 mentioned are the resident population, and the percentage of arrests
is based upon that number. The voting population of the whites number
about 30,000, and the arrests constitute grown-up men, females, youths,
and boys. There are about 1,500 white prostitutes and about 1,000 l,500 white and
Chinese in the city ; other nationalities do not figure much, but they are pr^tSSf^
not virtuous.

The centre of trade and residence has moved south, and the centre of Relative growth
Chinese population from the new city hall is about half a mile. The "^ '^''™'»''°'*^°-
population and region inhabited by the Chinese has not extended as
rapidly and as widely as the portion inhabited by the white, the former
extending only a few blocks and the latter for miles. The section in-
habited by the Chinese was a very lively place before they went there,
the criminal element predominating. They have been remarkably exempt
from fire considering their carelessness. They have wash-houses nearly
all over the city, as well as cigar-houses and other institutions in the
business part of the town, in many instances white people occupying the
same building or part of a store partitioned ofi". Those who carry on
wash-houses and cigar establishments eat and sleep there ; they have their
women there. There is a striking contrast as to cleanliness between the
wash-house Chinamen and the people who congregate in the Chinese
quarter, and there is an improvement in their condition when they become
servants.

Chinamen have been very badly abused here. The hoodlums stone, Chinese very
beat, and abuse them in a shameful manner ; and if he is found in a part of hSodhims^*^'^ *"*
the city alone where the police are not in call, if he escapes with his life or
without being maimed or badly treated he is very fortunate. Hoodlums
here have the same standing as " roughs " or vagabonds in the east, the
majority of them eventually becoming thieves and criminals. They fol-
low no pursuit, live in blocks, and commit every crime known to the cal-
endar. Several murders have been committed by them and several punish-
ed, but none has been hanged. Two hoodlums were arrested for stabbing
a Chinaman to the heart, one was sentenced to the state's prison for a term
of years, and the other was sent to the asylum from which he escaped
immediately afterwards and has never been caught.

I am a housekeeper and have a wife and six children. My water rate water rate,
is 14.50 a month ; $2.50 is the lowest rate and it runs up to $100 accord-
ing to the quantity used. "Water is a heavy tax on every citizen whether
hoodlum or Chinaman.

ELLIS

208

Influx of OMnese
bad for the white.

White boys
become bad
because they
cannot get worli.

Hoodlums.

When a police
officer was shot
the companies
found the man and
delivered him up.

Chinese riot.

I have known property to be destroyed by an incendiary, after sending
threatening letters to persons employing Chinese.

The influx of Chinese is very hurtful to the white population grow-
ing up here. The hoodlums are bad boys ; in fact they are idle and
cannot be anything else but bad. On account of the numerous Chinese in
the state it is unfortunate for the youth growing up ; I believe it is mak-
ing hoodlums of them. They become simply bad because they cannot get
work. I know as a fact that they cannot get work. There is no surplus
work here for boys to learn trades. I have been trying to get a place at
a mechanical trade for a boy of mine and cannot. The labor leagues of
the leading trades have articles in their constitution limiting the number
of apprentices, and these unions are not confined to San Francisco. Some
of these hoodlums have a fair education, a majority read and write. [Rev.
Mr. Gibson here gives the meaning of Hip-ye-tung as " Temple of united
Justice." Hip is strength, Ye is righteousness, and Tung is a temple.]
The regulation among the trades-unions limiting the number of appren-
tices to so many men employed is independent of the presence of the
Chinese. The hoodlums number between 400 and 500. They not only
stone Chinese, but they go in for a French or German baker, or anything
they come across, and commit all crimes from petty larceny to murder.

In the administration of my office, I have received assistance from the
more respectable members of the Chinese companies, societies, and mer-
chants, in apprehending criminals, and sometimes in giving evidence
and in the recovery of property. There was a police officer shot lately in
Chinatown, and I sent for three or four of the heads of the Chinese com-
panies. When they came, I told them they must get the man ; they said
they would, and they did. They brought him down and delivered him
up. It is not common to send for these men, but in cases of importance
we do it. They promise fair, and I have no reason to doubt their good
faith.

Respecting the riot in Dupont street, there were two factions of
Chinamen engaged in some shoe factory. They got into a quarrel about
a gang that had been discharged and another taken on, and used bars of
iron and hatchets, and had a fierce and sanguinary fight for a time.
The gang that was discharged went up to collect their wages, and insisted
on a return of their deposit which the proprietor declined to give them.

VREELAND.

EzEKlEL B. Vebeland, a resident of San Francisco for twenty-seven years,
and Commissioner of Immigration from 1873 to 1876, sworn and
examined :

Witness produced an exhibit from the captain of the vessel, and the

Particulars as to

the passengers , , ^ i j! _li ' "."". ■" " "' ""^ "v^ocoi, a,iiu uuc

which were sworu statement ot the passengers arriving by the ship Alaska on the

shfplJriyinl'''"''' l^th of February, 1875, said exhibit containing the names of all the
Etion Act^"" P'^^^^i^g''''® coming on that ship, their places of birth, age, occupation, sex
and last place of residence.

Every ship that comes here makes a report in that way. Accompany-
ing the statement is another one signed by the United States Consul at
Hong Kong, stating that they are free and voluntary emigrants ; also in
connection with that is a certificate from the English emigration office at
Hong Kong, that they are properly provisioned and have a certain number
of feet allowed for each passenger. The list contains 801 names, all
males. They all embark at Hong Kong, coming from different portions of

209 VREELANf)

China. Their ages run from eight, and even smaller, up to forty-five and immiBrants.
fifty years of age ; their average will be from twenty to twenty-five.
More young people than any other class. They are mostly classed as
laborers, the same as all women passing the Consul are classed as seam-
stresses. There is sometimes an invoice of Chinamen who come under the
patronage of the government, and in charge of some head Chinaman, and
these are classed as students. They go east to some college in Massa- Siudents.
chusetts.

In my opinion, the women that arrive are not all prostitutes. There
is a company here importing Chinese women, the Hip-ye-tung, and
six companies importing Chinamen. The importation of Chinese women
has been stopped since the United States Supreme Court decided the case,
and even before that. Eighty per cent, of the Chinamen imported are 80 per cent, of
brought out under the auspices of the Six Companies, the remaining twenty bJou^if out by
per cent, being brought out through the agency of their particular friends agency of the
or come personally. Those who come out under the auspices of the com- ''°™P'^'^'®^-
panies are generally attached to the companies on their arrival, and re-
main under their jurisdiction until the amount advanced them has been
liquidated. In most cases they are assisted into employment through
the agency of these companies. I think the companies are very
good institutions so far as Chinamen are concerned ; they act as guardians Companies act as
and protectors of their interests generally. After their dues are paid I do S"ardians.
not think the companies pay much attention to them, although they are
always "attached." The wages are collected by a party who accompanies wages collected
a gang of 100 or 200 into the country to work on a railway, this party J^.^^jn^man
representing the society. I have never heard any complaints of their
being robbed or treated unfairly. ,

I never saw their contracts, but I am told it is nothing more nor less tiontract simply
than a matter of honesty between them. The contract, as far as I got it {"^o^^ey"*^ *®
from Chinamen themselves, is simply to refund the money advanced. I
hieve known the companies to have contracts with the steamship companies
that they shall take none back without evidence of their dues being paid —
debts due to the companies alone. The Pacific Mail and all ships are under
obligations to these Six Companies from the fact that they furnish passen-
gers, l^e contract is in the nature of a security that the company takes
for the payment of the money, and that cannot be got back until it is paid.

The women are bought in China, as near as I could come at the facts Women ■bought.
of the case, and brought over here and sold at various prices, from $200
to $1,000, by the Hip-ye-tung Company. The commissioner stopped
twenty-two of them and took them before the District Court here, and
they were remanded back to the ship to be sent to China. The case
was appealed to the Supreme Court of the state, which court affirmed the
decision of the District Court. A writ of Jiabeas corpus was then got out and
taken before the United States circuit court. The judge discharged
twenty-one of them and kept one, so that an appeal could be taken to the
United States Supreme Court, which court affirmed the decision of the
United States Circuit Court, that no state had a right to prohibit the
landing of passengers of any character whatever.

The flow of Chinese immigration has its periods. At this season of the
year (October) there are more returning than coming this way. I under-
stand they go back to celebrate the new year. It is a fact that the Six
Companies and leading mercantile firms sent despatches stopping the T^^re come out
immigration. The period when more are coming out than returning is in *an r^eton jn ^
May, June, July and August, as many as 5,000 coming in the month of and August.

U

VREELAND

210

Voyage.

During his term
of office knew of
no case of small-
pox imported.

Some agents had
romplained that
two many were
coming.

For the companies
to hold a debtor
the indebtedness
must be to some
member of the
company or to the
company itself.

Home bad.

Home spod.

The British do not
allow men not
free or diseased to
leave Hong Kong.

.Six Companies ii
benefit to
Chinamen.

leprosy.

June. A great many of them visit backward and forward ; those who
have been here a while and have made money ; so that all who come back
are not new immigrants.

During the voyage over the steamship companies exercise a great deal
of care in taking charge of them ; they enforce habits of cleanliness among
them. Nearly every day they are driven on deck and their quarters
cleansed ; they do not want small-pox on board, as quarantines are very
expensive affairs. On their arrival, the Chinaman generally puts on his
best clothes and goes ashore in the best kind of style. During the time
I was in office I did not know of a case of small-pox among them on land-
ing, and no contagious disease. In China, before they go aboard, they are
stripped to the waist and examined ; and if a Chinaman is anywhere un-
healthy, or in any way maimed, or liable to be an encumbrance upon the
society, he is rejected. After being passed by the Consul, he is stamped
with an India ink mark. If there is any demand for labor here they will
hold out inducements in China for them to come. The companies make
money out of them, otherwise they would not encourage them to come.
Some of the agents on the wharf have complained to me that there were
too many Chinese coming here, that they could not get work for them,
but still they come in large numbers. They bring them without any
previous engagement ; the labor is engaged after the Chinaman arrives.
The influx depends upon the labor demands here ; but a Chinaman there
will take his chances and come. It is their desire to better their condi-
tion, the companies making the advance to assist them. If a Chinaman
owed me $100 and wanted to leave the country, and I went to the party
that represented him and stated the fact, I do not think they would care
about my $100, but let him go ; but I think if a Chinaman belonging to
the same company said the Chinaman who was going back was in-
debted to him $100 it would be different. The indebtediiess must be to
the company or some member of it, and for their protection. All the Six
Companies appear to act in unison. Some of them get demoralized after
they get here, and become a portion of the criminal class; some of them
are as industrious and honest as almost anybody — that is, they do not
commit crime ; but the larger portion think they cannot nial^ money
fast except by stealing. Contact with our people does not make them any
worse ; a large number of them must have been low in morals before they
left China. Other people who come here have low morals.

The British are very stringent in the shipment of Chinese at Hong
Kong ; they do not allow any man to leave who is not free, nor one who
is helpless by disease.

The Six Companies, according to my ideas of those things, are to a great
extent a benefit to Chinamen. I think if a man is in debt to the com-
pany they would look out for him and try to get him well ; but if he was
not in debt to them I do not think they would care much about him. I
have heard of cases of sick Chinamen being thrown upon the street to die.
As a rule, probably, the Six Companies do take care of sick Chinamen. A
good many of the sick poor are taken to the pest-house and small-pox
hospital.

There have been some Chinese lepers out at the alms-house or pest-
house which the companies did not take care of. Leprosy is a disease which
affects the body, not the face. I am not familiar with the disease. I
know by report that it prevails largely in the Sandwich Islands, and also
that it prevails in China. There is no provision here to prevent its im-
portation from the Sandwich Islands. I am told there is a place set apart
for lepers there.

211 BrVANT

Andrew J. Bryant, a resident of California for twenty-six years, Mayor
of San Francisco, sworn and examined :

During the fall and winter months last year there were from 60,000 to N'mnber of
70,000 Chinese residents, but going through the quarters now there do not
appear to be more than half that number ; it varies from 30,000 to 60,000,
according to the season and business in the country. If railroads are
building in the country, they go there ; if none in progress, they come to
the city. During the excitement of last April there was abundant pre-
caution taken, and I had two or three interviews with the companies.
They conversed with me respecting their protection ; they feared an
outbreak. I assured them they would be protected, and then 200 extra
policemen were put on the night of the tnass meeting. That night was as
quiet a night as we ever had in the city, and there has been no trouble
since. Since I have been a resident of the city, I have not known anything
like an organized riot or an attack against the Chinese.

In conversation with the Six Companies they told me there was a secret sctici tribunal,
tribunal in the city, and had been for a long time, the jurisdiction of such
being to settle their own difficulties, either by fine or punishment, among
themselves, and they had been informed by city officials in years past,
that it would be better for them to do it. They also told me about their-
regulations in regard to the laundries, that they allowed only so many on
a block, each man having to get a license from the laundry society, and
until he got that license he could not start a laundry. The leadmg-
feature of the organization is that they count the doors. I know one-
place where they paid a man $300 for cutting an extra door in his
building for two or three months, so that they could count one more door-
and get another wash-house for a certain length of time.

Chinatown is very dirty and has been so for years. Within the last f^anitary..
few months it has been made cleaner, the police having been instructed to
keep it as clean as possible on account of the city's health. It is very
hard to keep the fire ordinance or any of the city ordinances m force m
their quarters— in fact it is impossible. It is all but impossible to enforce ((ambling.
the ordinance against gambling and prostitution. The bars on their doors
are such that no one can get into their gambling houses. As to prosti- Pvostitntion..
tution, I do not think it is as public now as it was years ago, but still it
is carried on to a certain extent, as also is gambling. And as to
convicting them, we find it difficult to get testimony. White people will
inform one upon another, and by that means we find out where their

places are, but these people do not seem to inform one against anotJier.

I tried to get the Six Companies to take their sick, and told tiiem 1
thought we would be able to furnish them ground in the outskirts to build
a hospital upon if they would move them out of the heart of the city, but
I could not get them to do it. I also endeavored to get them to send back
their lepers ; but we got no assistance from them at all. We tound m
the pest-house some eleven or twelve. There were one or two women that
the health officer advised me to take to the pest-house. They were retained
with those who were there, and about two months ago we got the Mail
Company to take them back to China. The Chinese authorities knew
nothing of it until they were shipped. , , ^ . i.

The greater portion of the Chinese are working people, but there are a
large class gathered in the city who are gamblers. I have never seen a
Chinaman assimilate in any way to our form of government and habits
I thmk it would be impossible ; they are so totally different m every way
in their habits.

Sick

Ijcprosy.

BRYANT

213

Labor and wages.

White immi-
grants complain
■they cannot get
work.

^Manufacturing

Agricultural im
plcments.

*Oandles.

We have a large quantity of surplus labor here in the city, and the
country is well supplied. Wages aie about the same as in former years ;
men get $2 and |2.60 a day. Our labor is kept up. Farm hands get
about $30 to 140 per month ; that has been about the price for the last
two or three years. If it was not for the Chinaman, we should have more.
In travelling around this year, I noticed at the sulphur banks on Clear
Lake, that they were working quite a profitable mine there with nearly all
Chinamen. I was told they paid them a dollar a day and they found them-
selves. I also visited Mr. Hay ward's works in Nevada county, where he
had a large number of men, either Germans or Italians, and I think but
two Chinamen, who were building a large dam. The foreman told me he
had no dilficulty in getting white labor. The whites will work in these
sulphur mines, but they could not work for a dollar a day. There were
probably 100 Chinamen employed. If there had been no Chinamen in
the country, they would have employed white labor and paid them better
wages, and larger labor would have been here that now stays away.
Chinese labor has a tendency to keep laborers from the east and Europe
from coming here ; but some do come and some return, but not so many.
The state is growing, but I do not think immigrants are coming as fast as
they did a few years ago. During the last five years I think there has
been a steady increase in the state, and I think the city has been steadily
growing. Sacramento is about the distributing point for that class of
immigrants and working people. I think most who have come within the
last year are people who seek land for homes — farmers, Europeans, mostly
Germans.

The wages of miners in Virginia city and the mountains range from $2
up to .$4, not as high as $4. The sulphur banks could be worked profit-
ably with white labor. They have not been worked a long time, and the
superintendent told me that the quicksilver was an entire profit to them,
the sulphur paying the whole expense of working.

I have a great many complaints from quite a number of the immigrants
arriving here ; not so much from those who arrive but from people who
have been here some time. They complain they cannot get work. There
is not a day that I do not have a great many complaints, some of which
are really cases of charity.

We did very little manufacturing many years ago. The first woolen
mill that was started was started with white labor and then it drifted
into Chinese. That was about 1867-68. If we had capital, we could
employ a great deal more white labor than we do. There are some sorts
of manufactures that we cannot manufacture here as cheaply as can
be done in the east ; iron, for instance. To a considerable extent we
carry on the iron industry because we must get it done, and in the manu-
facture of iron our machine shops are conducted wholly by white labor.

I think for ten per cent, money could be obtained here for establishing
manufactures. Six or seven per cent, used to be considered a good
return for an investment in manufacturing in New England. I should
like to see the manufacture of agricultural implements established on this
coast, and it would be better if white labor was employed so that the
institutions of the state could be built up permanently. We bum
a great many candles, but how many I cannot answer. The bulk of
them are shipped from the east ; some are manufactured here but
not as many as are shipped. I think the degradation the Chinese bring
us is so great that it would be better never to have a candle manufactured
than to have the Chinese turned loose upon us. It would be better that
all the candles should be manufactured in the east.

213 BRYANT

I 'believe the treaty relations with the present Emperor of China had
better be abrogated than endure this system of immigration.

David Louderback, a resident of the state since 1849, prosecuting
attorney, and police court judge for twelve years, sworn and
examined :

LOUDERBACK.

Chinese do not get arrested for opium-eating. We have a large num"

bar of white men arrested for drunkenness, about 650 a month, and

other crimes connected with it, such as shouting and disturbing the peace.

It is difficult where Chinamen commit crimes upon Chinamen to bring ^^'Ul "ot co-

.. ., ■!«, • operate with the

them to justice or get evidence to convict them. A great many crimes criminallaw.

among themselves go unpunished. Their veracity is exceedingly bad.
They hardly ever prosecute, except when animated by malice and some Kvidenoe
conspiracy to convict somebody. The form of administering an oath to
them is this : the witness stands and holds up his hand, and the
oath is administered the same as to white men. As a class they do
not seem to realize that there is such a thing as sanctity about an oath.
I do not think they show any disposition to become citizens nor do I ^e°(,o,n^°cluzens'^
think they ought to. Not much more than half the people arrested are Kot desirable,
convicted. There may be just as large a proportion of Chinese convicted
as there are white people, where their crimes affect white people ; but
where it concerns themsehes, such as murdei-, there will be such infernal
lying that the jury cannot tell who is telling the truth, and will let them
go. Among the lower class of white people there is an immense amount ^(.g^u^y^mongthe
of perjury, but amidst this one can see that they have some respect for whites,
an oath. Perjury is committed daily ; conflicting oaths are given con-
stantly. There is plenty of crime and plenty of perjury among the white race.
Conviction for perjury is a very rare thing. The jury will almost invariably
disagree or acquit. There have been a great many arrests lately among
the Chinese for violation of the cubic-air ordinance, but they do not equal t'^Jibic-ah-^
the arrests for drunkenness among the white people. It is a rare exception
for a Chinaman to be arrested for drunkenness, nor do I remember any
for disturbing the peace. Chinamen exceed the Americans in obscenity.
I know of no crime peculiar to the whites except drunkenness ; there are
some forgeries and robberies, rolling on drunks, and confidence games C'hmamen con^^_
among them, but we have convicted Chinamen for rolling on drunks and cnnees.
picking pockets. As a general thing these crimes are committed by white
men, as well as garroting. I think the Chinese are arrested about the
same as anybody else, except for violating the pure-air law.

Hoodlumism has been existing in London under the name of Mohawks ; Hoodh.mism.
•and so in every other big city. I have sent small boys, fifteen or sixteen
years of age, to industrial schools, that have been affected by diseases by
contact with Chinese prostitutes. Either they encourage the boys orthe boys P™f itution andi
have courage to go there when they would not have courage to approach
a house where there are white prostitutes. I suppose that the exclusion
of boys from employment by the Chinese cheap labor has been one great Chinese cheap,
cause of producing hoodlumism.

SMITH

214

Numbers.

Efltect of eubic-air
ordinance.

Gambling.

Prostitutes.

Brothels.

Size of rooms

Hospitals for cure
of sick.

Wretched appli-
ances and attend-
ance.

Secret tribunals.
Highbinder.s.

San Feancisco, October 25th, 1876.

Michael A. Smith, a resident of California for twenty-seven years, a
police officer, sworn and examined :

At this time of the year the Chinese begin to come in and stay here
through the winter. Between 50,000 and 60,000, perhaps more, were
here last winter. Chinatown last winter was very filthy; it is still filthy,
but not near as filthy as it has been. The basements and lodging-houses
where the pooiei' class of Chinese live have been very filthy, and their
out-houses very dirty.

They crowd together very thick. Under the cubic-air law as many as
thirty have been arrested in a room which should only hold six. At the
present time they do not get in so thick as they did before the law was
passed. They ha^'e a great many gambling-houses. Some of them will
say they play dominoes, that they smoke opium, and such things. It is,
in fact, a long table ; and they have three doors. Each door is generally
two inches thick, and when tliey wish to gamble or have a look-out, they
can close those doors and ha^e big bars on them. Last winter, before we
began making raids upon them, they used to ha^ e a guard at the door ;
at the present time they hardly e^er do it.

At the present time I do not think there are over 400 prostitutes in
Chinatown. We have made raids against and have arrested them from
time to time. At one time there might have been 1,500 before the raid-
ing commeaiced. A great many have been sent away to the country.
There are two kinds of brothels in Chinatown: one where Chinamen go
exclusively, generally on the second floor ; the other, where white men go,
located in alleys. The prostitutes have a little wicket about a foot square,
and they get on the inside of it and keep it open. As a man passes they
say: " Siss, siss." Most of them can speak English enough to let you
know what their vocation is. In some of these houses there is an old
\yoman, the boss, and two women, sometimes five or six. The size of the
rooms is about four by six, sometimes five by eight feet. There may be
a little bed there — a liunk.

There are diffei'ent places through the city where they lia^e what they
call hospitals. I found in a great many of those places that the sick
seemed to want much and were not well taken care of. Aleck alley is a
very filthy place. There is a little shed like, and the sick are generally in
there. The room is about ten feet square and seven feet high. Six people
is the most I have ever seen there. They lie on boards or racks. I have
seen uo physician oi' attendants there, and rice is the only food — some-
time.s cooked and sometimes not — that I have obser\ed. I believe there is
a leper in Aleck alley at the present time, and can be seen by almost
e\erybody.

Respecting secret tribunals, I know that the washermen, the shoe-
makers and cigar-makers ha\e a society, and there is also a society called
highbinders or hatchetmen. The latter is a class of men who go around
and blackmail both the Chinese merchants and the prostitutes; sometimes
they go into a house and demand money, and if they do not get it they
will raise a fight. I suppose they are gamblers, blackmailers, and thieves
of all kinds. They have rooms to meet in. A great many of them carry
a hatchet about six inches long, with a handle and a hole cut in. They
have the handle sawed off a little, leaving just enough to keep a good
hold. Among the Chinamen they are called bad men, or hatchetmen.
Chinamen in business and others come to me regularly and tell me where

21ft SMITH

they have a room. We find it out, and then, perhaps, they move to some
other part of Chinatown. The room I speak of, on Washington street, is
their headquarters. Very often I go up there with two or three officers
and get inside the room and search each Chinaman as he comes in, and
sometimes arrest quite a number for carrying concealed weapons, such as Murderous
hatchets, knives and pistols. They are the terror of Chinatown. weapons.

In the Chinese houses of prostitution for Chinamen, there is no such DifflciU^ of con-
thing as getting a con\iction in one of them. La.st spring I went up and piosHfutea'arrest-
raided a Chinese house of prostitution and arrested fourteen or fifteen, ed.
and when they got into court it turned out they were all married women
— they all had husbands. Regarding the regular houses of prostitution,
with the wickets and window-tapping, they are pretty much crowded
out now. Last January there were from forty-five to fifty such houses,
lu regard to convicting those who buy and sell women, a case \ias
reported of fourteen coming here on the Colorado. We hunted it up
and finally arrested a woman who stated that she had been bought
in China by a woman here, and brought here for prostitution. She said f^^™^ prosti-
her mother had sold her for $1S5 to this woman ; besides paying her
passage the woman bought her clothes, which made the total $300, for
which she was to serve her as a prostitute for five years. We kept the
woman for five or six weeks in the county gaol, and when we came to
trial she swore she had not seen before that night the procuress (who
was also arrested, acknowledging at the time of arrest that she was her
girl), nor did she know the man who kept the house in which she was
arrested, more than to see him in the house ; that she came here as a
seamstress, and that her sister brought her. That is an illustration of the (Chinese testimony
general result of Chinese testimony.

There are from 1,200 to 2,000 white prostitutes here, where they have
an exclusive quarter for plying their avocation.

The gambling the Chinese indulge in is lottery and tan. They have Gambling,
a square plate in the middle of the table with numbers like 1, 2, 3, 4.
They have a large number of buttons on the table, and they have a little
cup or bowl. Thev place the bowl over a number of buttons and .put
them out at the centre of the table, and there they make their bets on
the different numbers. Ten per cent, of the winnings is in favor of the
dealer. If you lose you lose it all. In these gambling houses they exclude
everybody but Chinamen.

At the present time Chinese houses of prostitution for the whites is not Prostitution,
.a very profitable business ; at one time it was. There are only one or two
houses for the Chinese but what are up stairs. On and off they open up a
place, and if we find them out we arrest them. Lately the houses have
been broken up pretty well, and what they call Chinese families have
moved into some of those the prostitutes had moved out of. Large numbers
"Of them have been arrested in the last six months.

A Chinaman's bed consists of a mat and a little square block for a a Chinaman's bed.
■pillow covered with flannel, sometimes with velvet, and quilts. In
some of the merchants' houses they have very nice beds.

The white prostitutes sit at their windows and by signs and looks testify white prostitutes,
to those passing what their business is. Sometimes they are brought down
in large numbers from these houses, larger numbers than the Chinese be-
cause there are more of them. There has been no soliciting on the public
streets for years. The records will show a great many more white pros-
titutes than Chinese arrested for soliciting. There have been times when
these women were rescued from the bond-women and men and placed in

SMITH

216

Chinese prosti-
tntes sometimes
fly to oily hall for
protection.

Respectable
Chinese.

^rrafBckinft in
women.

Cubic-air
ordinance.

the missions. Sometimes the woman will come to the city hall herself for
protection. A few years ago they used to beat these women considerably
in these houses ; at the present time I do not think they use them near
as badly as they did.

In Chinatown there are merchants, in my opinion, of respectability who
have wives and children, and live as other families do. A great many
of these women who have been prostitutes Chinamen will marry ; some-
times they will have to buy them from their owners to liquidate their in-
debtedness. I have heard of men who made a practice of buying a woman,
saying they were going to marry them, live with her a while, and then take
her up the country and sell her and come back.

On being recalled the witness identified photographs of several Chinese
women, who came as repectafele persons, now plying their vocation as
prostitutes.

In enforcing the cubic-air ordinance witness has often gone into houses
at night and found in a room, fit probably for two men, sometimes six,
sometimes twelve in it. The poorer class of Chinese are found very thick
under the sidewalks and under basements, in mere holes, and the atmosphere
would be stifling in such quarters.

In distinguishing prostitutes witness could iiot tell one class from
another on the street.

GIBBS.

Leprosy.

Leprosy a

contagious

disease.

Lepers sent away

Chinese com-
panies circum-
yenting attempts
to get lepers off to
Chma.

Frederick A. Gibbs, a resident of the city over twenty-six years, one
of the supervisors of the city and county of San Francisco and
chairman of the hospital committee, sworn and examined:

When I took office I found that there were a large number in the pest
house represented as lepers, the place being set aside for small-pox. There
were forty-three patients, more or less. Accompanied by the health officer
and some physicians we examined them, and found a large number who
were really not sick, and discharged them, retaining fourteen lepers. I
afterwards found out that there were three prostitutes afflicted with lep-
rosy, who had been plying their vocation for two or three years. It being
a contagious disease, obtained by contact with the person, I gathered these
women together and sent them to the pest-house, where we had a great deal
of trouble with them, several Chinamen claiming them as their wives. I
called the Chinese companies together for consultation. We met, and after
discussion, carried on through an interpreter, we could get no satisfaction.
We were to meet again, but the representatives of the companies never
came. After consultation with the board of supervisors, we agreed to send
them away at the expense of the city rather than have a leprous popula-
tion, for there was danger even in shaking hands and sleeping in the same
I'oom. The Chinamen themselves were Aery much afraid of the leprosy.
I had another meeting with these Chinamen, this time in the Chinese quar-
ters, and laid the matter before the representatives of the companies ; and
they agreed to help me all they could. A vessel was then going to China
with a return cargo of Chinamen. I told them the city would pay the
expenses of these lepers if they would assist in getting them back. I
waited on the agent, who told me that the Chinamen had been there and
made representations that it would be impossible to get them on. I again
met the companies and told them that we would take them on the next
steamer, and that I wanted their assistance. I went to Mr. Goodwin, of
the Oriental line of steamers, about the matter, and he told me that the
companies were interfering with my arrangements; that I would be un-

217 GIBBS

able to ship them ; that he would not dare to take them ; that they had

threatened they would not ship passengers or freight by him. I dead-locked

it for a month, and gave out to the Chinese that I had determined to keep

them. In the meantime I made arrangements with the Pacific Mail steamer Lepers shipped to

to take them back to China. We got them on board just before the steamer ^'^i"'^-

sailed, but not without difficulty. There were fourteen in all including

three women, two of the original number having left the pest-house before

the admission of the women. I have never heard anything of them since. OfHoers 9f the Six

They were shipped about six weeks ago. The officers of the Six Companies oppostag!*^

threw every obstacle in the way of shipping them.

After coming into the board I found our gaols very crowded ; I also found
that our ordinances were not effective, were not enforced. In explanation
I was informed that it would be impossible to enforce them, that there
would be 1,000 Chinamen in the gaols if they were enforced. I then drew Drew up the queue
up the queue ordinance, and made it apply to whites and Chinese alike, ordinance.
It had the desired effect. Then the cubic-air law was enforced ; the laws
against gambling were enforced, and a number were brought up and fined (juhic-air law. .
at the police court $10 or $20. The fine was generally $10, and before
they would pay it they would go to gaol and serve five days. The queue
ordinance had the effect of making them pay their fines and relieve our gaols,
and applied to all who refused to pay their fines and went to prison — all
persons. If a Chinaman was convicted and paid his fine he would not have
his hair cut. I was informed that the first whose hair was cut was a white
hoodlum, and it seems to affect them about as badly as Chinamen.

Among other cases which I found in the hospital were a large number paralysis from
of Chinese suffering from paralysis resulting from Chinese syphilis. I Chinese syphilis. .
found also in the alms-house the same state of things. Even in the indus-
trial school were little boys, not old enough to understand the passions Little boys
of the race, who had been enticed by these women into their dens for inoculated,
the mere purpose of inoculating them with the disease. Boys were pointed
out to me who were ruined for life. When I came on the board I was
rather in favor of the Chinese, but after what I have seen my prejudices j^^™^^/° ^^g oj-
are very strong against them, and I would do almost anything to rid them (^™-f °
from our city. I think they are a perfect curse to our state. A perfect curse.

I have enquired very thoroughly into the disease of leprosy. I am told Leprosy,
it takes from three to five years to run its course — to develop after inoc-
ulation. In conversation with gentlemen from the Sandwich Islands I
was told that it originated there, some from Africans and some from Chinese.
It is the same as the leprosy in the Sandwich Islands. It develops m dif-
ferent ways. They live for years. One of the cases we had was such a terrible
case that two of the Irish expressmen, who were assisting in placing them
on board, became blind and could not see. It comes out in large projec-
tions on their necks, on their cheeks, and on their noses. There seemed to
be a white swelling there; and a good many of them had their nails tumble its horrible
out. The body dries up, as it were. My impression is that it cannot be « "c .
communicated otherwise than by flesh contact; but the Chinese seem to
have taken it by sleeping in the same room. I think it goes from one
generation to another. I was reading an account of its breaking out in
Scotland, where a lady got together a number upon her place, and
walled them in and kept them, and in that way killed the disease.
I know in the Sandwich Islands they have set apart an island tor
it. I never saw leprosy till within a year. I have seen, I suppose,
twenty persons from the Sandwich Islands, including a gentleman
from China who had been there, and they all described the symptoms
as beincr the same there as here. It is what we call leprosy.. The

-GIBBS

218

Lepers.

The gaol and the
cubic-air ordi-

Queuc.

Effect of queue
ordinance.

Sanitary.

skin is a sort of wliitish. They did not seem to have pain. I think the
women that had it were brought as lepers from China. I heard of a dis-
tinguished lawyer from the Sandwich Islands who died of it. I have no
hesitation in saying, and I think the facts will be carried out in time, that
we shall have a colony of lepers resulting from these Chinese. I have heard
of cases of leprosy in North America and also in Canada. I do not think
at the time of shipment of these lepers that the agent of the steamer un-
derstood the opposition at that time. I told him afterwards that I had
more to ship, and he said "no more," that he could not take them under
any consideration. I cannot account for these people being passed by the
Consul at Hong Kong. A Chinaman cannot leave this coast on his own
account at the commutation rate of $12.50 which is what is paid by the
companies. We paid full passages for these lepers : $52.50 or $53. They were
corraled on the deck behind the capstan. There is no restraint on people
coming from the Sandwich Islands. The travel between this coast and
the Sandwich Islands is very small. At one time we used to get our
sugar and potatoes from these islands, but I think not since 1853.
We had a few Kanakas here — seamen. Seamen are in the habit of
finding women in the ports where they enter, but there were very few
women here at the time they were here, and those that were here I do not
think were of the quality such as sailors would seek out. There was a
very high character of prostitution here at that time; it cost so very high
to get to the country.

In regard to the cubic-air ordinance we had 400 and odd in the goal. I
cannot give the dimensions of the gaol exactly ; our gaol is small. The cells
are on two stories, and those occupied by the Chinese were in the upper.
There is a cellar underneath, and they were crowded mostly there ; they
did not have 500 cubic feet of air, nor have the white men in the county
gaol half that amount. There is a window in the rear of the cell with a
large grating, so that they have a great deal of air. The lower prison is
very well ventilated, but the upper one is a very bad one and a disgrace
to the city. The centre of the city is moving south ; but we shall have to
use these buildings in addition to others. Those confined in the county gaol
are criminals, convicted for offences against the common law, not for
breaches of ordinance. The queue ordinance is enforced all through ; in
the county gaol upon those guilty of theft, and also in the city prison upon
all convictions in the two courts. Where the fines are not paid the pris'
oners are liable to have their hair cut off. The hoodlums are imprisoned
for breaking ordinances, general ordinances, such as the law in reference
to rows and assaults, etc., general drunks, and all that class. The
ordinances do not duplicate the state laws, they are merely municipal.
At the present time there are about 340 in the hospital ; not one China-
man. The object of passing this ordinance was to free our prisons from
criminals and as an extra punishment to the general class of people —
Chinese and whites alike. There is a class confined who do not wish to go
around with their short hair, and the cutting of the hair has made a differ-
ence among this class, and they let their hair grow out because short hair
has become a mark of disgrace. The ordinance was more particularly
directed to the Chinese, and to prevent them submitting to imprisonment.
There has not been a hundred who have had their queues cut off The
same law exists in the penitentiary ; they cut the hair of a Chinaman and
of a white man in our state's prison here.

The city has paid large bills for cleaning-up, disinfecting, and abating
n^^^^.j. ^g ^jgg ^j^g urgent-necessity fund through the

nuisances in Chinatown :

219 GIBBS

"board of health. We cannot tell the health of Chinatown compared

•with other parts of the city ; we cannot tell when they are sick ; if we

could we would like very much to have them in our hospitals to be taken

care of, but they have a dread of our hospitals and will not report when

they are sick. They will die, as in cases of small-pox, and we find

them. I think that the Chinamen are cleanly in their persons. The Chinamen cleanly.

ordinary Chinaman takes a wash every day, and I think in that way they

are comparatively healthy. The cases of death are very large, more I

think, in proportion than among the whites. As far as cleanliness of person is

concerned they compare favorably with the Americans, but in their crowd- Crowding.

ing together they breathe foul air. The rooms in which they live are

filthy, and there is a stench arising from them. ' If you go into any in lower' class of

Chinese house, with the exception of those of the better class of China- ^"^1? "^ perfect

men, or around them, you will find a perfect stench around them,

Geoegk W. Duffield, connected with the Police Department for ten DUFFIELD.
years, who does special duty in the Chinese quarter, sworn and ex-
amined :

The lower class of Chinamen are a bad class of people, but there is a
class in the Chinese quarter who are very clean — merchants, men who Crimes,
keep stores.

I have had occasion to arrest Chinamen for all classes of crimes — lar-
ceny, grand larceny, etc., fighting, cutting one another, and offences prin-
cipally among themselves. I find a great deal of difiiculty sometimes in
tracing Chinese criminals from others trying to shield them. Sometimes
I am able to procure convictions on Chinese testimony. Crimes of vio-
lence, as a general thing, if they can get out on bail, they will try and fix
up among themselves, no matter what the offence, unless it is murder.
As a general thing Chinamen give bail. The testimony of white men
stands high as compared with that of the Chinese.

The Chinese quarter among the lower class, the poorer class, is very
dirty — over two-thirds of the whole.

The Globe Hotel, formerly used as a hotel, would, perhaps accommodate Effect on houses.
150 guests. I should think there would be 100 or 110 rooms in it, some
large and some small. Since the place has been occupied by the Chinese
they have changed the character of the rooms. In a high room they will
build a kind of platform and sleep on this platform, making a kind of two
stories of it, occupying both floors. Sometimes there are as many as 300
or 400 in the hotel. The building is very dirty — the stairways, floors,
etc. ; the walls are black with dirt, accumulations of years, since they have
been living in it. They employ men to sweep it, but they never wash it
or clean it. The out-houses and privies are very dirty. They have regu-
lar pumps and patent water-closets, where it runs into the open sewer in
the street, where the stench is very bad, which arrises, I suppose, from
the filth and dirt that accumulates there and from opium.

A great deal of opium is smoked in Chinatown. Some Chinamen don't Opium,
smoke it at all, but a great many do. I cannot tell the proportion. The
smoke of opium is not a bad smell. I like the smell myself, but I never
took a whiff in my life. The other stenches are not so agreeable.

Some of the women in Chinatown are prostitutes, and some are mar- Women,
ried to Chinamen. About two-thirds are prostitutes. Some of them
lately have been making button-holes and pantaloons — the slop-made

DUFFIELD

220

Number of prosti-
tutes reduced by
one-half.

Humanity.

Testimony
unreliable.

Police paid by the
Chinese.

Chinatown.

Poll-tax collected
from Chinamen
going to China.

Unsatisfactory
police arrange-
ments.

goods the Chinese make. They have closed up all their houses, princi-
pally since the mayor and the chief have been in office. There are not
over one-half the prostitutes that there were when they came into office.
They have gone to China and some to the country. I cannot tell how
many. I was down to a Chinese steamer the night before last, and I saw
some sixteen going on board. There are none arriving now. They live
in very small places, some rooms being ten by ten, some twelve by twelve,
and some smaller. In some houses there may be five or six, sometimes
one or two, or two or three. I have known them to try and escape. If
they succeed they are very seldom brought back. They go to Mr. Gib-
son's place, or come to the station-house for protection.

Some of them, I believe, take very good care of their sick, and some do
not. I have found sick on the street ; I have taken them to the city
hall sometimes. I do not know whether they got out themselves or
whether anybody had taken them out : they were sitting on doorsteps,,
and the Chinamen around paying no attention to them. The Five Points
in New York never was so bad as Chinatown.

I do not think they have much regard for oaths. They are sworn in
court the same as any other witness. In 1852-53-54, they used to burn
papers to swear them in court. Among themselves I believe they use
animals.

I am connected with the city government the same as other police
officers, only I am paid by the Chinese. I collect from the stores up there
on the beat. I get from some a dollar, some half a dollar, and some two
bits in a week. I cannot tell what it amounts to in the aggregate. I
sometimes get more ; I cannot tell the average. Sometimes it amounts
to $50. They pay me just what they think fit. I make no demand, and
they are under no obligation to pay. It has been the custom for them to
pay for the last twenty-five years ; ever since the Chinamen have been
there. There are special policemen in other parts of the city, and the
white peple pay in the same way. There are 250 or 275 policemen in the
city dependent upon the contributions of the people for their support, and
who get no salary from the government. My duties are both day and
night.

The streets of Chinatown are just as clean as any other part of the city ;
but the alleys are dirtier than the alleys in other parts. I have never
seen any other part of the city as bad and low. There are other quarters
inhabited by a low order of white people.

I have seen officers stand at the gang plank and collect a poll-tax on
Chinamen leaving for China, but no collection from white passengers.
When a cargo of 1,000 or 1,200 arrive each man goes to his company-
house and mixes with the others, or go to their stores. When women arrive
they are sometimes taken into their stores or into their houses ; there is
no special house or regular depot for them.

Besides myself there are some six or seven special policemen in China-
town. They are more numerous there in proportion to the population
than ill any other part of the city, and they would not be there
if the Chinese did not support them voluntarily. I render no state-
ment to the department of the amount I receive ; I have not received as
high as $500 in a month ; I collect every week, but do not keep any
account by months. It is a position capable of abuse and could be used
as a means of oppression by a bad man. I was not appointed at the soli-
citation of the Chinamen, but by the police commissioners, and because
another man resigned. I solicited the position. I did not purchase it.
The regular pay of a city policeman is $125 per month. I cannot tell

221 DUFFIELD

within $400 or $500 what my receipts are. I pay for cleaning the streets
from what I get from the Chinese. It costs $40 or $50 a month. A
white man goes around every morning with a cart. I agreed to perform how the streets
this duty, and if the streets are unreasonably dirty the fault would fall "''"^ '^''p' clean,
on me. The alleys are swept every day and kept clean. I have nothing
to do with the vaults, back-houses, or things of that kind. The Health
Office looks after that. The rest of the city is cleaned by the superin-
tendent of streets. I have seen a corporation cart on my beat but twice Sanitary.
in five years. The city does not provide means for cleaning Chinatown,
because the Chinese pay for it themselves. The alleys are dirty, but no
garbage, or anything like that. I believe there are officers who are re-
■quired to go around and see the condition of the streets and alleys. If
the corporate authorities attended to this matter, I do not think they
■would pay me for it, and I see that the alleys are kept clean. As a
general thing they are kept as clean as other alleys, but they will bring
dirt out and deposit it on the alleys and I have it taken away. If
receptacles in which to put their dirt were furnished them the city would
not provide means for removing it. Since the present mayor has been
in office, the practice has been to have a health officer visit there every
day. The rest of Chinatown is under the supervision of other special
policemen who perform the same duties as myself. My beat is one block.
The city contract with a company to keep the streets clean.

Arnop Bainbridge, police officer for over seven years, sworn and BAINBRIDGE.
examined :

The interior of the buildings in Chinatown is generally filthy. The Sanitary.
streets are kept as clean as they can be under the existing population.
They are cleaned, under the system mentioned by the last witness, three
mornings in the week, before daylight or just at daylight. The Chinamen How Chinatown
bring their filth and dirt out in baskets, that has accumulated during the '^ "leaned,
interim, and dump them in the streets for the carts to take away. They
generally dump it between twelve and three in the morning, and the
carts come along at half -past three to four, according to the season of the
year, and work until they have carried it off. I do not know that the
amount of filth brought out lessens the amount inside. In their quarters
they are very much crowded. They- pay less rent individually, probably,
than any other class of people, but they pay a greater rent for a building
by 100 per cent, than our poorer classes of white people. I have seen as crowding,
many as forty or fifty in a room like this— about twenty-two feet square.
They would have an upper deck, two stories in a room of this kind, the
sleeping arrangements above. They generally cook in the same rooms,
I but in the more crowded places, where they could not stand the smoke.
They take their cooking into the hallway. Their cookmg apph-
ances generally are composed of a coal-oil can with a brick in the bot-
tom. Rice is their staple article of food, but they eat dried fish and
dessicated vegetables. Tea is a staple among the better classes, it
bemg seldom used among the lower grade. The cost of supporting
fifty Chinese, including their lodging, living as described, would pro-
bably be $10 a day, providing one person had the purchasmg and
disbursement of the money— about twenty cents a day each. The
class I refer to are workingmen. Idlers, and vagrants, and thieves
live in about the same style. They live like this when thfi^jr start

BAINBRIDGE

222

As they prosper
live better.

Prostitution.

Shamelessuess of
Chinese prosti-
tutes.

Opium-smoking,

Gambli g.

The game of tan
explained.

As many as 60 sit
round a table.

to work in the factories, and as they improve and accumulate some of our
silver coin they occasionally live at restaurants. There are a great many
restaurants in the Chinese locality where a Chinaman can get a bowl of
soup for five or ten cents, according to the grade of their custom.

As to prostitution, I have often been called upon to suppress disturb-
ances in places I should term houses of prostitution. I have found men
in their deshabille and women in the same way. They are very low. They
have no shame as to exposing their person or explaining or talking about
the act that they were about to consummate or had consummated. They
never seem to display any shame at all ; it seemed to be a natural thing
for them, as if they had been educated from the cradle and knew nothing
but that style of life. They hire premises with about ten feet frontage
and the depth of this room. They apportion a small space which the boss
lady of the house will use as a kind of reception-room, and the girls will
congregate around her ready to attend to a customer. They then divide
the balance of the space into three rooms, or, if it is wide enough, three
on each side, probably six by eight feet in dimensions. The partition
scarcely ever runs more than six or seven feet above the floor ; it never
goes to the ceiling except in extraordinary cases where they have these
places up-stairs.

As to their smoking opium, since the ordinance came into efiect I have
not had much chance of observation on the outside ; but, when I was oni
the outside, and before it came into operation, I saw a great deal of it,
I never entered a Chinese domicile of any kind but what I saw the signs
— that is, the platforms upon which they lie, and their pipes, and sundry
other signs or symbols of the practice, and every watch that I was on I
saw them under the influence of it. In showing visitors around I could
invariably take them in and show them Chinamen under the influence of
opium. If all the Chinamen who were drunk with opium were on the
streets, we should have more Chinamen arrested for drunkenness under its,
influence than white people under the influence of whiskey ; but they
draw on it until they become insensible and then slumber it off'.

In relation to their gambling, what is termed tan is their principal
game. It is played with small cash pieces, a small brass Chinese coin
with a square hole cut in the centre. They will have a large pile of them,
probably 300 or 400. The dealer sits at the end of the table with an in-
verted bowl — a tin bowl usually. These pieces are all scrambled up
together in a heap, and the dealer places a cup on the top. While the cup
remains there they make their bets, and the moment he gives the ^ord
the bets are closed. He has a piece of whalebone stick, tapered, brought
down to a little bow on the end. He rakes out the pieces by one, two,
three. They are all counted except the last four. They make their bets
as whether one will be left, or two, three, or four, or whether it is even or
odd on the four last counted. He takes all those on the edge of the bowl
first, and when he raises the bowl the betting is stopped, and he counts
those under the bowl. If one remains, and a man has bet that one
will remain, he gets four. If he bets that it is even and it comes two,
he gets the amount — that is, two ; or if he bets odd and it comes one,
he wins. I have seen as many as sixty sit around a table at once.
It is ostensibly a game of chance, but it can be made a game of skill by the
dealer, who can make it odd or even by concealing a piece up his sleeve
and letting it fall while he is handling them. The placing of the bowl
upon the table is merely preliminary to the betting. Everything is
counted finally. Fifty or sixty might win at a time if it came their way,
if they all bet one way. The dealer is the banker, and if it is a large

223 BAINBRIDQE

game there is a kind of paying-teller who sits behind the dealer and ^^'H'lJ ^''2?. *®"
attends to the cash. I believe there is a certain percentage, but that I sometimes U and
could never get at thoroughly. The betting is generally from ten cents *^''-
to half a dollar ; some better off in funds will bet $5 to $10. Gambling
is a natural passion. There are more professional gamblers among them
than of any other class of people in the world except Indians ; but the
Indians are not professional, they are general gamblers. More Chinamen Chinese the great-
seem to live off the receipts, or being connected with gambling, than any worid!"
other class. It is very hard for a white man to get in under any circum-
stances. I have often attempted it. I believe I made the first arrest in
the tan business, where I convicted the dealers, within the last
ten years ; that was five years ago. I struck a portly Chinaman, and I
walked up briskly close to him, and got by the doorkeeper and was beside
the dealer before any one saw me. Had I been seen the door would have
been shut in my face and a bar placed across it in an instant. They now
have doors three and four inches thick. Sometimes there is an outer door
and an inner one. If they get the first door closed on you that is about Does not think
all that is necessary to enable them to escape through a scuttle or window. j-ouJ^b; f^pecL^
If their places were forced by means of battering rams or grape and
canister, I believe they would get upon the roof and have their games
there. I do not think it could be stopped under any legal restrictions
whatever.

They have lotteries as well, and they are carried on on the same prin-
ciple as the policy business in the eastern states was carried on when I
was a boy.

They hardly ever accumulate money. There may be a few in the washing Gambling pre-
business who may accumulate a little, but they have such an inveterate Jfuiating moSeyl
passion for gambling that it nearly all goes that way, eventually finding
its way into the merchants hands, who are the only ones that can raise
any considerable amounts in the city. Chinamen who work in the country
occasionally bring down a few dollars, and if they get away to China
quickly or are allowed to go they take it with them. Those who accumulate
generally entrust their funds to the inspector or head men of his own
company. They do not use our banks of deposit. The merchants as
business men have to use our banks, but not the working classes.

I do not see how they retain health in the atmosphere they live in. I Horrible atoios-
had occasion to visit a Chinaman who had been shot through the shoulder, g'tt^l^^enUve.
the ball shattering his shoulder-blade into small pieces. He was
living in the basement. I went down probably eight or ten steps.
The basement on either side was built up with small compartments about
the size of a compartment in a sleeping car. The atmosphere in the
passage way was so terrific that I almost lost my breath. I found the
Chinaman lying there with his sore covered up with a large patch of some
kmd of medical stuff that* the Chinese doctors cover over all wounds. It
was suppurating and festering. T asked him : " How do you live here?"
He said : " Very good." That is about a fair average of the places the

common class reside in. i • i •

There are three or four places in the city that are called hospitals or Chinese hosp.tals.
asylums. The Kin Yung Company have one on Broadway. I have been
there several times, and have seen them lying around on the floor, but I
never saw anything that would denote that there was any medical
attendance given them. I have seen the same in the old Se Yup build-
ings, where I had occasion to go at late hours. They have men
who advertise and call themselves physicians ; I do not know the kinds
of medicine they give. I know that several of the doctors here claim to

;bainbridge

224

Chinese doctors
claim to cure
almost any dis-
ease with roots
and herbs.

Some consult
American phy-
sicans.

Markets in China^
town.

■Gambling.

Do not send much
money out of the
country.

Inhumanity.

^'JChincsc doctors.

White prostitutes
-iought.

'-The queues.

cure almost anything with herbs and roots, vegetable products of different
kinds. I have heard talk of such things as snakes being imported for
medicines. In a great many cases the Chinaman desires to be taken to his
own hospitals or quarters when trouble has been among themselves.
It is a matter of dollars and cents. If he is wounded or cut, or anything
of that kind, and the other can approach his friends they will try and
settle the matter up with money and get him away. The longer their
residence here the better they understand our usages, and they learn to
have more confidence in our physicians. I have a general idea that I
have known some of our noted physicians here to have Chinese cases
among the merchants and better classes of Chinese ; it is not a common
thing.

The markets in Chinatown are very well supplied with vegetables used
in making soup. They use a great quantity of pork ; the better part
being sent to the white butchers in the market for curing and sale, the
Chinese retaining the oflPal and rough parts, the parts of which the white
people make sausages. There are a great many smoked hams in the
Chinese restaurants, which are generally well supplied with food. In some
of them you can get anything you call for.

Ten per cent, of the money lost in gambling finds its way into the
pockets of the Chinese gentlemen who back the game — the bank — and
finally goes into merchandise. My general belief is that nearly every one
of them. is interested in more or less gambling, or more or less houses of pros-
titution. I do not think the laboring classes send much money out of the
country.

A great many of the companies' sick are put out in the street and there
found helpless, being left uncared for because they are no longer pro-
ducers. They pay fees to the companies.

One of the Chinese doctors, Li Po Ta, had a considerable practice
among the white population. At one time there was quite a demand for
him here. I think there are about a dozen of them practising. They
advertise in the American papers. The Chinese generally call in their
own physician. When they call in an American physician it is exceptional ;
generally for a surgical operation, as they seem averse to losing any
portion of their frame if they can help it. The ordinary Chinamen lately
imported have more confidence in their own physician ; those who have been
here a long time prefer others.

I cannot say that I have seen the better class of merchants, or scholars
and students in the mission schools, gambling. I have seen men I have
known to be connected with the' missions, in the vicinity of gambling
houses and around such places. I never saw a Mexican, high or low, but
what was an inveterate gambler ; but I class them with Indians.

There are cases of buying for purposes of prostitution among whites.
Witness reiterates that the Chinese butchers supply the white butchers
with the best part of the animal. They buy from the killer and sell to
the curer.

They have a great reverence for their queues, and consider it an
indignity for one to touch it. I would not Qut one off unless it was a
thief's. I believe they cut off the hair of all prisoners incarcerated in the
county gaol by conviction or sentence.

225 ROGERS

•James B,. Rogers, police officer for six years, sworn and examined :

As far as the Chinese women are concerned in this city, with very few Chinese pros-
exceptions, I look upon them as prostitutes, and not free women ; sold as ' " ^ ^ "^ ™'
slaves for such and such an amount of money, to be worked out at pros-
titution. I think there were from 800 to 1,200 in the city last January.
Evidence has been produced in the police court that they are held and
bound for this service.

The Globe Hotel is not a fair sample of the mode in which the Chinese
Uve in Chinatown. It was formerly a first-class hotel, and there are a
great many rooms there. Those rooms are now occupied by different
paities of Chinamen, each one distinct and separate in itself. One Chi-
naman hires the whole building and then sub-lets. There are not as many
massed together in that hotel as in various other portions of Chinatown,
the population of which I estimate at 30,000. The domestics around the Population 30,000.
K;ity congregate there nightly, and go back home at two or three o'clock in
the morning ; some, perhaps, are not allowed to leave the families they
belong to, but as a general thing Chinatown is headquarters for the
Chinese.

Some two or three years ago we had an institution called the Hip Ye a Chinese secret
Tung, and we used every means to break it up. We tried to find out the so""'*!'-
bottom of it but failed. I think it has been broken up under that name,
but I believe the same institution exists under another name, which I
■cannot recall. I remember seeing a Chinaman named Look-Chung with
a knife stuck in his back. He was in the drug business, and had a
partner. His partner had to leave and go to China, or he would probably
-have met the same fate. He has since returned and is in the city. This
was the result of a raid on the Globe Hotel, when we were enforcing the p^ ^qj ^bey
■ cubic-air law. They do not obey the municipal law, if they can avoid it. municipal law.
I think the presence of the Chinese here has a very disastrous influ- Chinese pres-
ence on our young men who visit the Chinese houses of prostitution, bad influences'
Besides the young men who visit them there are a great many old men,
and a great many men in good standing in this town who go there.

As witnesses they have no regard for our oaths. I have had Chinese ^^^j,'J™<=e untrust»
cases in court, when one side would come and ask me how many witnesses
the other side had, and when they found out that the other side had the
most they would go out and gather in sulficient to counteract it in
numbers.

There have been half a dozen hotels absorbed by the Chinese, and a
Baptist church. Dr. Stone's church is shut up. A portion of the Baptist
church is used for prostitutes, and the general use of Chinamen. They
sleep there and live there. Whether there is any gambling I do not
know. It is a large building, and formerly a very large congregation
worshipped there. It was the First Baptist church of San Francisco.

Assaults upon Chinese in other parts of the city is not of common Chinese^a^aulted
occurrence, although it may be frequent, and comes from a class of young of employment,
men who are out of employment. I never saw any Chinamen molested
riding in a street car. They walk our streets not only by day, but all
hours of the night, without molestation, cases of assault being exceptional.
A gang of boys, perhaps, get together, and if a Chinaman passes them,
they may do something to him. I do not think they assault or beat them,
but, perhaps, insult them occasionally. If those boys had employment,
they would not be out at that hour of the night. The Chmese work m The^assaiUts
iactories. The assaults upon them are exceptional, because I do not hear ^"^"^^
>of them as frequently as I should if they were common. Arrests are

15

ROGERS

226

always made if it is possible to do so, and convictions upon those arrests.
Stones are thrown at processions and still arrests do not follow. I have
Fatal assaults on known of Chinamen being assassinated. There is a white man serving a
sentence for life at this time for killing a Chinaman. There was another
arrested for killing a Chinaman by splitting his head open with a piece of
scantling, but whether there was a conviction I cannot say. I have heard
of their being assaulted coming from the steamers. In the course of my
official career, I have heard of white men having knives stuck in them
by white men ; and I know of one case of a Chinaman having a knife-
stuck into him, and any amount of them who have been injured or-
mutilated.

A large proportion of the hoodlums would go to work in factories and
in other trades if they had the chance. The class I speak of are too idle
to go to school. Our young men, outside of the hoodlum element, compare
favorably with those of the same class ia other cities.

Some time ago I was engaged in arresting the Chinese under the cubic-
air ordinance. I arrested fifty or sixty on the comer of Sacramento and
Stockton streets. I took them down to the city prison. I think there
was more air in the prison than in the building I took them from. They
were placed in the corridor, not in cells, until next morning. I arrested
some 1,100 altogether under this ordinance. I think all were convicted,
with one exception, that is, with the exception of those taken from one
room. Three quarters of them paid their fines, the other quarter going to
gaol. Their queues were not cut off, because the ordinance was not in
effect at that time, and it was afterwards declared unconstitutional, when
we stopped cutting off' their queues. I think another ordinance has
recently been enacted. I do not know a case of arrest of a white man
under that ordinance.

Hoodlums.

^Arrests made
under cubic-air
ordinance.

TOBIN.

Chinese a des-
picable race.

In Shanghai live
in a very poor
way.

The poor eat
offal.

John T. Tobin, six years a resident in China, sworn and examined :

I have resided in Hong Kong, Canton and Shanghai. In the latter place
I resided three years and ten months. My occupation was that of detec-
tive for the police force under the municipal government, my duties lying
outside of the city through the country. Shanghai is a city of Chinese
inhabitants ; several cantons. Outside of the city there are English,
French, and American merchants.

From observation I came to the conclusion that they were the most
despicable race I ever came across, and I have travelled nearly the
whole world through. In three cases out of every five the witness for the
defendant would commit perjury.

They live in a very poor way. The coolie inhabitants of the city there
labor for from twenty to twenty-five cents a day, when they can get
employment, and it costs them about fifteen cents a day to live. They
generally live upon rice and a kind of greens — cabbage they call it in
that country— which they salt down, and a little fish and salt pork.
Chinese pork is fed on everything that is refused by every other animal or
anything at all in the country. I have seen the pigs eat things that
would be disgusting for me to mention to the Commission. There is a
particular kind of breed of hogs there for the use of the Chinese. They
have not the appearance of any other hog I have seen in any part of
Europe or America. They eat every part of the animal : the poorer peo-
ple take the offal, and the richer people take the meat.

227 TOBIN

My experience of them as to their children is that all the females
who keep brothels and opium houses in every part of China go into the
country and buy up small children from two to five years of age, bring Children systema-
them into cities and there keep them as servants for the older girls em- prratkution.
ployed as prostitutes until they become of age to make them such. The
poor people, the parents from whom they are bought, receive from $5
to $10 apiece for them, according to their appearance ; and this
buying and selling of females for this traffic is a matter of open
notoriety where I have been in China. The morals of the people Character 9f
are very low. Among the middling and lower classes I never found two china,
honest people out of ten in regard to truth or honesty. Larceny is a
continual thing there from morning to evening. There is nothing but
arrests being brought in for that crime. What they term the cangue in
China is the most particular kind of punishment for these crimes. It is Crime and its
two boards, the shape of the neck, locked together around the neck of ch?na.
the prisoner, who is fed twice a day from rice water outside of the place
where the crime has been committed, and the bill of the crime committed
is the shape of the board. There are other punishments for crimes more
serious. They put them in a cage in the city in a position for every passer-
by to see them, and for piracy and burglary they behead them. They go
through the regular process of law. It is a kind of mixed court. There
are American, English and Chinese interpreters in every court there, and
they try them by the mixed court. It is the municipal law of Shanghai.
I have seen, when I have been in cities outside of Shanghai, prisoners,
taken for robbery or piracy executed in two days by beheading. I have
been in Ningpo, a city of about 200,000 inhabitants where they have
something equivalent to our trial by jury. They have something like a
magistrate they call a tippoo, the under magistrate, and the governor of
the city, and four other smaller mandarins constitute the court. That is.
the final decision. I have never seen any appellate court.

Their habits are filthy. Even in the streets of Shanghai, where there Habits filthy,
are English, French, and Americans, they are continually sitting on the
sidewalks, and arrested every day for the most filthy habits.

Their houses of prostitution are conducted openly. The opium-houses Hojjff^^rf P^st^-
are houses of a different description from the regular houses of prostitu- dens conducted
tion. They are houses where men go to smoke opium ; and they each openiy-
keep a certain number of girls for those men to go with when they feel
Uke it, being open day and night on the public streets. In the other
houses there is no opium-smoking, but they keep from fifteen to twenty
girls in some of the largest places. I know of no other mode of sup-
plying them with girls as already stated, except on some occasions where
girls from the age of fourteen to twenty are brought m also and dis-
posed of to these houses. During my residence of four years I never Marriage.
witnessed more than ten weddings or marriages among the lower and
middling classes of people. That was all done among the higher class— the
merchants. They buy a bride first and then have a wedding with a priest,
and it is an open public ceremony. The middling class of people generally
go together. On some occasions you might find one out of ten where they
go to a Joss-house and get the services of a priest. As a rule they form
these liaisons on contracts among themselves. Never, that I know ot, are
they true to the marriage relation when they assume it. They would
sell themselves, according to my experience. I have seen several from
■ that part of Shanghai in the port of San Francisco, but not natives ot
.Shanghai— natives of Canton, Hong Kong, and Whampoa.

I have seen criminals tortured in the city of Shanghai. Screws applied

TOBIN

228

Execute
^substitutes.

TTorni of oath.

Inhumanity.

Cruel punishment, to the wrists, and a place between two boards. I have seen them where the
boards were set together by screws. The executions take place in a public
square in the Chinese city. No executions take place where there are
Europeans and Americans living. I have seen as many as sixteen exe-
cuted at one time. On one occasion, the last I had anything to do with,
they tried to substitute a man stupefied by opium for the criminal. On
this occasion I knew it was not the right man. The man who committed the
murder was a Canton man and the one they brought out was a Shanghai
man. They beheaded the right man eventually, after torturing him
terribly, although I was not a witness to the torture. The Canton man
was worth some money in his own country, and they were trying to get
it from him. The gentleman who was murdered was Mr. Dore of the
British Navy. English and American marines were at the execution
to see it carried through. I have known prisoners committed for piracy
and burglary escape through sums of money, and others substituted in
their place. The mandarins mentioned as forming part of the court do
not serve in each case. They choose them by the tribunal for that
service. Witnesses are sworn in their own form of oath. In the mixed
court in Shanghai they swear them by an oath on a piece of paper
read to them, and then lighted from a Hght on the magistrate's table
and burned, repeating the words that are on the paper until it is
burned up, and then he breaks it in ashes. It does not cause them to
teU the truth. In China where I have been there is, to a certain extent,
a great deal of regard for human life, but there is no humanity to
the sick. I have seen cripples and sick people turned out upon the
streets to die there, and they have died. There is a certain number of
sick that they take to the Joss-houses and leave them outside of the doors,
and passers-by can give them any money they like to give them ; others
are left out on the side-walks not near any Joss-house at all, and left to
die. I suppose I have taken up over 300 dead Chinamen during my stay
there.

I have never seen sodomy committed between man and man, but I have
seen it with beasts, and detected them in the act — with hogs, dogs and
ducks — but not in a great number of cases. They were committed by the
municipal law. Every refreshment house is a gambling house; they license
them. Prostitution is not looked upon as a degrading occupation; it is
carried on openly. I know of rich persons in Shanghai who bought the
wives they married. Have known people leaving their wives to people
they are in debt to in Keu of such debt. They marry prostitutes out of
the houses.

Shanghai is a walled city about three miles and a half around. Inside
the wall is the city. Outside there are 50,000 northern Chinamen and 20,000
or 25,000 Cantonese. They are not of the lowest class. One-third of them
in proportion to population are superior to those in the city of Canton;
but they were very bad indeed. As a general thing the people inside
Shanghai are worse than those outside.

No difficulty in proving perjury against them.

Never heard of intermarriage between Europeans and Chinese; they
cohabit together and buy them. Have seen a few half-breed children, half
of whom are German, a part English and the rest American.

The lo-«rer class of people are generally idle and mostly live by stealing
rice, padi, and other articles. In the shops they are not idle, they support
themselves ; but the coolies are idle and are thieves.

Chinese sailors are employed on vessels belonging to the Pacific Steam-
ship Company. They make pretty good sailors, but in case of fire or a

Unnatural
.oflences.

Population of
Shanghai.'

No intermarriage.

Some class idle
and thieves.

Chinese sailors.

229 TOBIN^

storm at sea they go to their quarters. They could not save a ship at sea
in danger.

The authorities are not very prompt in administering justice for outrages Justice not
committed on foreigners if the culprit is a wealthy man, but if a poor man ™p*''''*'-
it would be administered right away.

Mrs. SoPHRONiA Swift, a resident of San Francisco for twenty-three SWIFT,
years, sworn and examined :

I have long been interested in the many industries of this city, especial- 5'^'"e^^'^^te eirls
ly with reference to my own sex who have to support themselves. I often out of light
receive letters from my friends in the east in regard to coming here for employmen .
employment. I answer that the avenues which were once open here to
immigration from eastern places are all filled up. At one time there was a
large number of young girls in the shoe factories. Many of them, under my
supervision, went into places and learned to fit shoes. Immediately after that
the Chinese came in, taking the labor from the women as well as from their
fathers and brothers. The same thing occurred in regard to shirt-making.
About ten years ago they commenced manufacturing them here by women.
Very soon the Chinese came in, making the shirts for forty cents which
we had a dollar apiece for. Then the button-hole work, the finishing,
was given to women, for which they got from twenty to thirty cents a
dozen, and sometimes as high as sixty cents a dozen for finishing up. That
was the -first of the Chinese taking our work. From that they went to
sewing machines, and now the fiuting that is made to put on ladies'
dresses, the hemming, the heavy work in dress-making, is done in
many instances by Chinamen. The same in regard to fiuting that
ladies wear around their necks ; that is done by Chinamen. All the Chinese stepped
avenues that they can step in and fill they have filled. Where a man Lbleaveuue^'^
used to do the work, having a small family, the wife doing her own work,
perhaps edncating three or four children, the Chinaman does the work and
the man is thrown out of employment. I have many times gone to differ-
ent places for situations for children and have found Chinamen filling the
places that children should occupy. The Chinese do the principal wash-
ing of San Francisco. The effort for the education of 'the Chinese to They have taken.
Christianity has taken the bread from our little girls and little boys, and JjJI ^^Sth^'^*{°*
from our husbands and fathers. The Protestant people have encouraged uttie girls and
., boys.

It.

I think their bad moral condition is purely the result of slave-labor. Slave-labor.
We are in a city where the lower industries are filled by slave-labor, or
coolie-labor, which is the same. The lighter industries have been occupied
by the Chinese. The elder children of the early immigrants have grown
to manhood and womanhood, and they have three or four smaller ones.
The children say : " I am not going into anybody's house and work with
Chinamen." The women, the mothers, have attempted to step out into
outside employments requiring brain-work, and they have found it very
hard to find employment outside when they could not find it at home. Have takenthe
You can find them now in many places where you would not wish your who have beeil^
sisters, or mothers, orwivfes to be, not because they are any worse than ^rij^«? j^^J^j^
yours but circumstances have driven them there from want of employ- service.,
ment. When immigrants do come here they find the crops harvested in
haste by the Chinese. Even our native Indians cry aloud on account of
this population of coolies. The Indians used to come into Sonoma and

SWIFT

230

Hoodlums.

Women's work
done by Chinese.

The church in
"trying to save the
Chinaman's soul
injured the
^whites.

The higher cln sse;

encouraged

Chinese.

-A large number
■of women otit
•of employment.

"Women will not
work in a house
where Chinese
are employed.

Chinese labor
makes the rich
richer and the
poor poorer.

Race-dislike the
great obstacle to
white labor.

Marin, and Napa, and those counties where large potato crops are har
vested, and get work to do, and take wheat and barley and carry it back
to the hills for the winter. They cannot have that work now.

I consider the existence of the hoodlums is owing to the Chinese being
here.

The Chinese make overalls wona by men, make stockings, knit at
factories, make undershirts and drawers at our factories ; the looms
which were occupied once by women are occupied now by Chinase. They
make all the work that is done on sewing machines such as gentlemen's
shirts. In early days the price for making a shirt was as high as two and
a half and three dollars, ten years ago it was a dollar and a half, eight
years ago you could contract by the 100 for a dollar apiece furnishing
your own material.

I do not wish to be misunderstood in regard to the religious question of
Protestants assisting Chinese. I do not charge them with attempting to
do us a wrong, but they stepped out to save these poor heathen souls,
a thing these heathen do not appreciate, while at the same time they are
taking bread from their own children. If the church had never taken a
step to assist these Chinese, they would never have occupied the position
in private residences that they do. The higher classes have encouraged
it to the detriment of their own nation. A Chinese boy attends Sunday
school to learn to read and write, and then a situation is found for him at
a dollar a week. As soon as he has worked one week he will pick up the use
of every utensil around the house. The next week they take him from that
place and get him $2.50 ; and with a class of poor people who cannot
keep servants, the mother is compelled to teach these young Chinamen,
so that they may go into another family and get better wages. Almost all
our people employ Chinese servants.

A very large number of women are now out of employment. The most
natural industry, her natural sphere, is making home what it should be.
I would not call them house-servants, for I do not consider there is any
more service in a woman working in a house than a man working in a
store. If labor is service then it comes under that name. Domestic
servants get from $15 to |20 ; a cook from $30 to $40, according to the
amount of work. Chinamen, as domestic servants, work for from §1 up
to $50 or $60. They do not like to work for poor people who have not
jewelry, diamonds, and silver, and a great deal of provisions on hand that
they can carry off. They are considered amongst some people good
cooks. They attend to just one branch ; not like our women who have to
do sewing, all the house-work, take care of children, and do washing and
ironing. As servants, the Chinese are not reliable. When a woman is
classed as a servant and the Chinese are classed as servants, and she is
put in the same catalogue, to eat in the same kitchen, at the same table,
and sleep in the same cellar or in the same garret, she will not work in
private families where Chinese are employed.

Shirts made by the Chinese are no cheaper. Their labor makes the
rich richer and the poor poorer, and it is a matter of making money
regardless of the humanitarian rights of our people.

The surplus of coolie-labor prevents our valleys from being occupied
with the best of our American people.

The great obstacle in the way of labor to the laboring class here,
particularly to my own sex, is the aversion to labor with this inferior
race. They look upon it as degrading. Where a second girl is wanted
in a family where they keep two or three — a coachman, a cook, and a girl
for the dining-room, if a Chinaman is in the kitchen, the girl will not go,

•231 SWIFT

^ncl vice versd. If they have a Chinaman in the garden and an errand boy
the best woman cook will not go, because she will not mix with them.
They might get employment if they would work with this inferior race.

Alexander Badlam, Assessor of the city of San Francisco, and a long BADLAM.
resident, sworn and examined :

The result of enquiries through my department and information fur-
nished by the deputies sent out by me the last few days to gather statistics,
is as follows : I find Chinamen engaged in the following industries : — In the
manufacture of cigars, about 2,800 ; cigar boxes, about 350 ; in clothing, in- wUch CMnese
eluding overalls, shirts, etc., about 3,250 ; vegetable pedlers and gardeners, are engaged,
about 2,500 — it may reach a little over that ; in laundries, about 1,200 ;
merchants, about 1,000, engaged in various occupations. Those who
engage almost exclusively in gambling amount to between 1,500 and 2,000.
They are marked down as professional gamblers. The laboring men
among the merchants, porters, etc., amount to 650 ; in the match factories,
■engaged in making matches, about 100 or 150 ; in boots and shoes, from
1,500 to 2,000— a little nearer 2,000 ; in woolen mills, from 500 to 700.
There was a much larger number than this in the woolen mills, but their
places have been fiUed by wliite labor, and they are being filled now.
'They are changing them. Engaged in making white shirts there are only
a little over 100. There were several hundreds in that business, but
they are changing to white labor, believing it to be more advantageous.
In tanneries about 400 ; engaged exclusively in making slippers, a little
■over 1,000 ; restaurant keepers and those engaged in Chinese restaurants,
from 700 to 800 ; in and about Joss-houses, attendants, etc., very nearly
100 ; fishermen from 1,100 to 1,200. House-servants we have estimated
by taking five or six blocks in a locality, and we estimate the number at
from 5,000 to 6,000 as house-servants, cooks, etc. We have taken
different wards and gone around the block, taking perhaps twenty blocks
in the city as an average, and then taking the number of houses and
residences. Dealers in old junks and chiffoniers, or rag pickers, from 500
to ( 00 ; that would include a class of persons who get around in the
morning and take plank from sidewalks, and appropriate whatever they
can pick up during the time the police are off duty, about six o'clock m
the morning. Engaged in canning fruit, pickles, etc., 2,200 ; Chinese
brokers, a little over 100. There are several other smaller establishments
that they did not consider worth taking. The whole of the population is
■estimated at 30,000. These statistics add up 30,150. There are Fobably
200 or 300 loafers who do not do anything, and something hke 100
■engaged in driving express waggons, where they have their own. The
women were not estimated. The Chinese occupy about nine blocks in
Chinatown. ,

The assessable worth of real estate in San Francisco m round numbers
is $190,000,000, and personal about $79,000,000. The real estate assessed _ ^ ^ ^^
^0 Chinamen does not amount to anything, perhaps $100,000 will cove t; l^roAt'^e^^
their personal property was assessed this year in round figures at $500,000. estate for which
The poll-tax referi to all classes alike; it is $2 until July, and $3 after ^hmamenare
•July and until January, and after January $4. , , ^ ,.„ ,, ^,

In the assessment of Chinamen we have a great deal of difficulty, the Great drBoulty
deputies reporting that they cannot believe any of them. When and chinamen,
wherever we find their property, we assess them m the same proportion
of value as white people. As to their paying their taxes I cannot tell how

BADLAM

232

Chinese "blight'
the value of real
estate.

A curse.

Not useful on
farms.

Public opinion.

Whites made
idlers by Chinese
labor.

Poll-tax not
collected from
Chinese on their
landing.

Pay taxes on
about $300,000
worth of property :
about $11,000.

far they are delinquent. With the poll-tax we have more difficulty with
them than any other class, because they trade receipts with each other,
and we are compelled to put a distinctive mark on them.

The presence of Chinese in any community has the effect of blighting
the value of real estate.

The property in Chinatown is owned by people of all nationalities.

In proportion to the population, in the rough, the Chinese pay more
poll-tax than the whites. We collect it from them when they are leav-
ing for China, it being impossible to collect it where they live, Chinamen
look so much alike.

The country would have been much better off if no Chinamen had been
here. I think they are a scourge in any country, and this opinion is
held by ninety-nine one-hundredths of the whole community. Had they
not come here the money that they have earned and carried to China
would have been distributed among the poorer people, who would have
benefited by it, and those that have become wealthy out of it would not
have had so much.

In Napa and Sonoma counties there are very few people who like Chi-
nese labor after having tried it. For the wheat crop they are not of any
use. They are skilled in some little industries, such as in woolen mills,
factories, cigar-making, etc., but take the farming interest there are more
white people engaged than Chinamen.

Merchants putting up signs stating that they do not employ Chinamen
in the production of their goods is one evidence of public opinion against
them, but this does not amount to much. I think the industries would
have been on a better basis if they had not the Chinese labor.

One per cent, per month is the interest required in investment of capi-
tal. A great many industries carried on by white labor pay more than that —
foundries and machinery, for instance. The manufacture of wooden-
ware and brooms and brushes, etc., is carried on by Chinamen. This
could be carried on successfully without them. Our idle population is made
idle through cheap labor.

A surplus of labor here, thousands of men being out of employment.
Never did believe much in the Christianizing of the heathen.- I have
observed a deterioration of morals among the whites. Chinatown is
extending. They lease property the same as other people do.

On being recalled the witness denied that the poll-tax was collected
from the Chinese on their landing from the steamers. They are not
residents until they have been here six months. No attention is paid to
any one on arriving.

The assessed value of the property upon which the Chinese pay taxes is-
about $500,000 — a little over. At $2.12 they would pay into the
treaisury about $11,000.

KING.

San Francisco, October 26th, 1876..
Cameron H. King, sworn and examined :

Constitution of

Anti-Chinese

Union.

The constitution of the Anti-Chinese Union provides for the formation;
of clubs throughout the state and no club can become a member of the
organization without adopting a constitution which embodies articles to
protect the Chinese. In this city there are 3,000 or 4,000 active members
formed of all classes — including lawyers and other professional men — alto-

233 KING

gether respectable people, mostly workingmen. These clubs have had an
influence in preserving the peace and protecting Chinese residents. I
think they have had a very beneficial effect.

The following is the constitution of the Union : —

" CONSTITUTION OP THE ANTI-CHINESE UNION.

" Article 1.

" Name.

" Section 1.— This Association shall be called the " The Anti-Chinese Union.

" Article 2.

" Objects.

"Section 1. —Its objects are to protect the people of the United States from Objects of the-
the degrading influences of Chinese labor in any form ; to discourage and stop Anti-Chinese
any further Chinese immigration ; to compel the Chinese living in the United Union..
States to withdraw from the country ; and to unite, centralize, and direct the
Anti-Chinese strength of our country to the end that good order and harmony
may prevail, that no law may be violated, and the great objects herein enu-
merated may be fully accomplished by the use of lawful means.

" Article 3.

" Section 1. — This association shall be composed of the oflicers of, and five Constitution.
(5) delegates from each anti-Chinese club in this State, which shall adopt a
constitution in harmony with the constitution of this association.

" Section 2. — Each anti-Chinese club in this State, desiring representation in
this association hereafter, shall adopt a constitution which shall among other
things contain the following provisions : —

" 1. That each member of that club shall pledge himself to abide by and obey
the constitution and by-laws of that club, and not to employ Chinese labor, not
to purchase any goods from any person who employs Chinese labor, and not in
any manner to sustain, foster, or encourage either the Chinese or those who
employ them.

" 2. That measures shall be taken by that club to ascertain and publish the Persons employ-
names of persons and corporations employing Chinese, and when so ofiScially jng Chinese to be
announced by that club, or by any other regular anti-Chinese club belonging to oDyeotted.
this association, as a supporter of Chinese labor, no member shall thereafter
purchase any article or commodities from such person or corporation, or bestow
patronage upon such person or corporation in any form whatever. No member
shall vote for any Chinese employer for any office whatever.

" 3. That any member of that club violating his pledge may be fined in an Fine,
amount to be fixed by the club, or if the offence is a grave one, such member
may, in the discretion of the club, be expelled. If a member be so expelled,
the various clubs belonging to the association shall be notified thereof. No An expelled
member of that club shall recognize or hold any intercourse, social or other- member to be. sent
wise, with any person so expelled from any club belonging to this organization. ^° Coventry.

"4. That only lawful means shall be used in the suppression of Chinese immigra- Only lawful
tion and the expulsion of the Chinese from the United States. The club shall means to be used,
not arm its menibers, nor organize itself into a military company.

" 5. That the club, and each member thereof, shall refrain from molesting. Violence to be
abusing, or maltreating Chinamen and discourage and prevent, as far as pos- discomitenanoed-
sible, s5l unprovoked assaults upon Chinese restaurants.

" Section 3.— The anti-Chinese Union will not hereafter recognize any anti-
Chinese club, until such club shall have adopted a constitution in accordance
herewith.

" Article 4.

" Section 1.— Any person aggrieved by the action of any club belonging to this
association shall have the right to appeal from the decision of such club to this
association ; and the decision of this association shall be final, and each club
belonging hereto shall respect and enforce such decision.

" Article 5.

" Section 1. — Questions of a political, partisan character, or incompatible with Non-politicaf.
the true aim of this association, shall not be allowed for debate ; nor shall
politics ever be discussed in this association, or in [the clubs which compose it,

KING

234

except as it may be connected with the true objects and interest of this associa-
tion and tlie principles which it espouses.

" Article 6.

" Section 1.— Tliis constitution can only be amended by giving one week's
notice of intention so to do to the secretary, at a regular meeting, stating the
nature and form of the amendment.

" Article 7.

Officers.

Twenty anti-
Chineae leagues in
the county of San
Francisco.

Chinese labor
degrades labor.

Eflfeot of boy-
cotting provision
to induce those
who employed
Chinese to dis-
charge them.

White men cannot
live on the wages
for which the
Chinese work.

Chinese labor and

labor-saving

machines.

Advantages of
high wages.

" Section 1. — The oflBcers of this association shall consist of one president, two
vice-presidents, and such a number of honorary vice-presidents as the club shall
elect, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary and a treasurer, and an
executive committee consisting of five (5) members elected by the club.

" Section 2. — The duties of the several officers shall be such as usually apper-
tain to the office, and also such as this association may hereafter prescribe.

" Section 3. — The officers shall be elected immediately upon the adoption of
this constitution, and every six months thereafter."

These anti-coolie clubs represent all nationalities and the membership
is confined to no religion. [Extracts here read of the constitution of the
anti-coolie club of the 11th ward respecting members of the club not
employing Chinese.] There are over twenty leagues in the county of San
Francisco, averaging considerably over 100 members each.

Chinese labor has a tendency to degrade the dignity of labor, the
laboring man disliking to work beside a Chinaman feeling that he is not
his social equal ; it has, to a certain extent, the same tendency that slave-
labor had in the south formerly — being dishonorable labor because it was
not free labor. [Reference was here made to another article of the con-
stitution of the 1 1th ward club respecting the publishing of names of those
who employed Chinese labor.] The effect of the article has been, in many
cases, to induce those who employed Chinese to discharge them ; the real
object of the club being to rid the country of the Chinese by any legal
means. Similar provisions are undoubtedly in the constitutions of the
clubs in other parts of the state. I had applications from the interior for
the names of parties employing Chinese — especially shoe manufacturers —
so that they could stop trading with them. The list is not now published.

White men, as a rule, cannot live on the wages the Chinamen furnish
labor for. One of the objections to their employment is the cheapness of
their labor, that they can live so cheaply — ten cents a day — that it would
force all the white labor out of the market. Cheap labor does not make
the product any cheaper. Competition would eventually lower the price.
There is considerable difference between Chinese labor and labor-saving
machinery. The Chinese are labor-saving machines applied to all purposes.
If a sewing machine is run by a Chinaman then there are two labor-saving
machines, doubling the difficulty of the laborer. The wife of a member of
the anti-coolie league will not buy from a Chinese pedler or any one whom
she has good reason to suppose buys of Chinese, and I presume a large
number of the members do the same.

There are many similarities between the free-trade question and the
cheap labor question. Our prices of grain and other articles are governed
by the supply and demand and not by the cost of production. It would
be better for the individual if he could produce cheaply, because he would
make a greater profit. All other things being equal, a laborer who receives
$2.50 a day is more likely to live well, and to lay by a margin of wages,
than where he receives twenty-five cents. The better labor is paid, the
better for the laborer ; but if it costs proportionately to live I do not know
that there is any difference. It is not the money that is the value ■ of
labor, it is what it will buy.

■235 KING

The third article of the constitution is to discourage and stop any fur-
ther Chinese immigration, and to urge the withdrawal of the Chinese from
the country, and is a part of the constitution of all the clubs at the present

moment. They would be willing to accept a modification in the shape of The anti-Chinese
-a limit to arrivals and an excess of departures creating a constant drain wmingtoaocepta
on the Chinese here — limiting the immigration so that the emigration will g^f e'lfmiting *the
■exceed it. immigration.

Labor will go where it can be paid. Free labor is the right to follow
whatever vocation one pleases, under all the terms one pleases.
There are two parties to constitute free labor, the employer being Free labor,
free to employ upon such terms as he can, and that without punish-
ment. In the case of prohibiting an employer from employing a
certain class of labor under the pain of having his business cut off, I would
simply say that free labor combines to protect itself against slave labor.
It was absolutely necessary for the white men to take that step. I think
white operatives are being taken in at the difierent factories to replace the
Chinese.

The Chinese civilization and our own are very different ; and Chinese are
a very undesirable class of citizens. I do not think they can assimilate. It Cannot assimilate,
would be impossible for an American to live like a Chinaman and be
received into the society of American people, and if any white people lived
as the Chinamen do under ground and crowded they would become diseased
And sickly and incapable of performing their labor.

The condition of our artisans and our mechanics is better in this city
than any other city in the union probably.

Maurice C. Blake, a long resident of the city, and judge of the muni- BLAKE,
cipal criminal court for eleven years, sworn and examined

Chinese witnesses pay less attention to our oaths than white witnesses,
those appearing as witnesses being generally friends of the criminals and
not of the better class of Chinamen. I think Chinese immigration Chinese immigra-
ought to be discouraged but not stopped. It would be better for the g?°Xaged°bu't
community to have white labor to do the work than the Chi- not stopped,
nese, because a white man will probably make a citizen and be good
for something besides labor, but Chinamen never will. There are some
races of white men who make better laborers than other races, but I do
not mean to say that I do not think, as far as mere labor is concerned,
that the Chinese are not good laborers. I think they are \ery Indus- Industrious,
trious.

The pohce have a great deal of difficulty in hunting up testimony, but Testimony.
I think Chinamen are easily convicted. He will deny everything, usually,
and when put upon the stand will tell a story that will convict him. He
has not, as a white man would have, any idea of telling a reasonable
story in his own excuse. I think juries are a trifle swifter in convicting
a Chinaman than a white man, as a general thing. I think that this
sentiment that divides the community to some extent influences jurors.
The defendant can testify for himself if he chooses. I have seen cases
that depended on Chinese witnesses where the testimony seemed to be
very fair, but I have noticed a good many cases where the witnesses
seemed to have had a story that must have been the result of conference
among themselves. The interpreter, if asked a question as to the cha-
racter of a witness almost always answers that he is a good person. They

AKBLE

236

Perjury.

get into a formal way of interpreting. They say that it is often very
difficult to give the nicer shades of meaning and distinction in the Chi-
nese language, and it often happens that they will say this man speaks a
particular dialect and it is difficult for him to understand it.

Perjury is committed daily in the court over which I preside, by all
classes of witnesses — whites, Chinese, and blacks.

I know of one case of a Chinaman being pardoned, and very soon after
wards being sent over again.

GEORGE. Henry Geoege, editor of the Evening Post, and Gas-Meters Inspector,

sworn and examined :

Employment of
Chinese not
decreasing.

Chinese laborers
cheap and there-
fore an injury.

Labor-saving ma-
chinery reduced
wages.

Distinction
between cheap la-
bor and highly
paid.

My observation leads me to a totally different conclusion from that
stated by Col. Bee that the employment of Chinese is decreasiag. I have
observed that they are getting into new trades, for instance they are now
going into deep mining. Lately they have been going into agriculture,
besides the various trades. There is a Chinaman running a printing press
in this city, and up about Marysville they are digging, as well as working
as foundrymen and coppersmiths. They prevent immigration by lowering
the rate of wages. If you go east on the Union Pacific, after a while
you fail to find the Chinese domestic and are waited upon by white girls.
If it were not for the presence of the Chinese in all these places we would
have white girls, and they would in due course become married and make
a permanent population. The essential thing about Chinese laborers is
that they are cheap, and an injury, by reducing the rate of wages, and
not lowering the price of the articles they produce. I do not think that
the rate of wages enters into the cost of production.

If two establishments were engaged in the manufacture of shoes, one
employing Chinese labor twenty-five per cent, cheaper than the other em-
ploying whites, the shoes of the former would not be twenty-five per cent,
cheaper; their labor would be; but so far as labor enters into the
cost of manufacture it would be twenty-five per cent, less, and they could
sell at a lower rate and make the same profit as the one employing white
labor. The higher the price of labor, the greater is its efficiency. In the case
of the reduction of wages you would not increase the efficiency of labor;
you would merely decrease the share in the product which the laborer
got. The effect of a labor-saving machine and of cheap manual labor is
the same on the cost of production, with this difierence: it might be
the same so far as the employer was concerned, but it is a very different
thing to the community at large. In the one case you increase the efficiency
of labor ; in the other you merely decrease the laborer's share in the pro-
duct and you may even lower the efficiency of labor. For instance, if the pro-
duct were $100,000 and a labor-saving machine increased that amount
twenty-five per cent., you would have a product of $125,000 to be divided
among all concerned; but if you merely reduce the rate of wages you would
simply have your product of $100,000, the only difference being that the em-
ployer would get more and the employees less ; in other words labor-saving
machinery makes the whole community richer ; it enables us to produce more
with the same amount of labor ; reduction of wages does no such thing.

In the matter of building ships, Adam Smith and Stuart Mill endorsed
the belief that American labor, although higher paid, is really cheaper^
efficiency considered, than English labor. Mr. Brassey, who has worked
men in ajmost all countries of the world, states as the result of his obser-

237 GEORGE

vatioix that the highest paid labor is always the cheapest, efficiency con-
sidered.

I do not know of any Chinese here learning the trade of setting type, Chinese as compo-
but they are employed in English offices in the East as compositors, and ^"°''^- j

they make excellent compositors — what I mean by the East is China and
•other countries there.

The theory advanced by those who are in favor of Chinese immigration,
that they are a great benefit to the state, will not hold water a minute.
The working and mechanical portion of this city is respectable, and
as to the character of those who are opposed to Chinese immigration,
instead of being confined to the idle and dissolute as was stated here, I
think it is the thinking portion of the community who are opposed to
Chinese immigration.

The influx of Chinese has tended to degrade the dignity of labor, and Degrades dignity-
its ultimate effects are precisely the same upon the white race as slavery. °* labor.
There is a general distrust and perturbation among the mechanical portion
in relation to Chinese labor. It is held in terrorem over them by their
•employers that if they do not submit to their exactions as to price of labor,
they will employ Chinese, and that is one reason why some of the employ-
ers favor Chinese immigration.

High wages encourages provident habits and discourages dissipation. High wages en-
Cheap labor means degradation of the workiiig classes, and ultimately their id™thlb?te!^
reduction to the same standard as the Chinese.

The object of trades-unions is not so much in limiting the number of objects of trades-
operatives as to prevent employers from taking in a lot of boys, teaching umons.
them but a portion of their trade, enough to make them useful for a time,
and keeping them doing that kind of work, and to prevent too great com-
petition in the labor.

Those who are not interested in making money out of the Chinese, of The wealthy favor
the intelligent class, are generally opposed to the continued immigration g^inese immigra^
in large numbers of Chinese; but I think the wealthy though are generally
in favor of it.

There are about 30,000 Chinese here, the majorty of them being at |o,ooo^OhiM3e^ln
work. They are industrious people generally, but they have their idle
class. I think they are very skilful laborers.

The Irish, German, or Italian immigrant who comes to this country, and
are indolent at home, become workers here, seeing a chance to better his
condition. The same state of things prevails in Canada and Australia.

As to abrogating all our treaty relations with China I do not think it is The Chinese Gov-
necessary, but I would take out the clause which permitted the immigra- £™^^'oh°e'^tion
tion of Chinese to this country, and I do not think there would be any ob- to ^cislng the
iection on the part of the Chinese government to that, or to abrogating cki™f fromthe
the whole. , ^ . ^ '■■'=^*'^-

My chief objection to their admission to this country is that their stand- chief objection
ard of comfort is lower than that of our people. Another objection is f^l^^^^^^owojr
their skill and the facility with which they take up new employments. It "lanthat^of
enables them to go one after another into all the trades and occupations, Rapidly take up
reducing wages, and ultimately the effect will be to drive out our laboring j^f^^^^^ploy-

population entirely. i i ■ i

The more trade we have with China the better for us; the only mistake .
is in opening the doors to the Chinese population.

My opinion of the treaty is, that it amounts to nothing at all except as
an excuse to tie our hands and prevent us from keeping out these China-
men, and that it may be a restriction' to legislative action.

The effect of the Chinese competing in the industries— such as the

GEORGE

^3©

Italians, Germans,
Irish, all make
better citizens
than Chinese.

Social and
political.

Chinese cannot be
incorporated in
American civiliza-
tion.

Chai'aeter of

Chinese.

Intellect.

Chinese institu-
tions and learning.

fisheries and gardening, in which Italian immigrants are engaged ; the
cigar-trade, in which Germans are engaged ; and washing, in which our
women in the east are engaged — is to take away that inducement which
these poeple had to come here. The Italians assimilate with us and
become a part and portion of our body-politic ; and so with the Irish and
Germans ; they become citizens and in time American. There is a
difference in that respect between Chinese and other races.

Chinese immigration brings with it elements of destruction to our
political and social fabric, and to the extent that it is encouraged to that
extent the difficulty is increased ; and to the extent that it is discouraged
to that extent our own family is encouraged and protected.

As a race they would not make fit citizens ; it is totally foreign to their
ideas ; and it would be utterly destructive to our ci^Tlization to incor-
porate them with us. They never attempt to become citizens. At the
commencement of the present Congress, I think they were declaring their
intention of becoming citizens.

~ Compared with the white race I think they are deficient in intellect and
incapable of understanding our institutions, our regard for personal liberty,,
dislike of arbitrary power, respect for law, and personal independence.

I have been told that Chinese students in our colleges are like the-
negroes. They learn very fast up to a certain point but beyond that point
it is difficult for them to go, and they are incapable of attaining the state
of civilization the Caucasian is capable of. I have the same objection to.
the introduction of the negro as to the importation of the Chinese. The
number of negroes in the country is fixed, while the number of Chinese-
may be increased indefinitely.

Their institutions are the growth of their own people and their con-
dition the result of thousands of years. Their learning consists of a
knowledge of the books of Confucius, Mencius, and other philosophers.
The man who knows the most moral and political maxims is the best
educated man. They understand the simple rules of arithmetic, and
I think they all read and write. There have been some Chinese graduates
in our eastern colleges.

HAIGHT.

On political and
moral grounds
desirable to check
Chinese immigra-
tion.

Larger number of
criminals among
Chinese.

Henry H. Haight, an old resident and formerly Governor of the State,
sworn and examined :

In my judgment, I think it is desirable to check the immigi-ation of the-
Chinese. My reasons are of a political and moral character. The
Chinese are unfit to exercise the franchise. They have no conception
whatever of the responsibilities attending that exercise under a republican
government, and their votes would be controlled by the use of money.
These would be bought and paid for beyond all question. The same reason
was urged when the Africans were imported as is now urged in favor of
Chinese immigration. There was a material gain to the country for a period
of years by the use of that labor in the south, but it would have been very
much better for us to have been without it than to have experienced the
evils which resulted from it afterwards. That is one reason. The vices
of paganism which the Chinese have are very difficult to be managed
under our institutions, and it is very difficult to get at these vices -in the
way of correction. When I was in office, the percentage of Chinese
crimmals was larger than that of any other class, larger in proportion to
the population than the number of white convicts. It is difficult to arrive
at the truth from Chinese witnesses.

239 HAIGHT

As to the moral results, there is a vicious element that comes over from yicious element
Hong Kong, and they have certain vices which it is much more difficult ™^'"^
to prevent and punish than among the whites. To my personal know-
ledge they have systematically imported prostitutes.

The prospect of becoming citizens, of having a voice in the govern- if Chinese
ment and of enjoying liberty in that way, is an attraction to the better oitizlns the better
class of immigrants from Europe. If Chinese were allowed to become classes would not"^
citizens it would not encourage the better class to emigrate with their ""^ attracted.
families from China, as Europeans do.

There is no question whatever but that there is some blind prejudice in strong feeling
this community against color ; but the intelligent, thinking, reflecting por- citn^se^^ffan-
tion, apart from prejudice, is altogether adverse to the increase of this chise.
class, or clothing them with the elective franchise. The same prejudice
existed several years ago in respect to the negro.

They are morally and intellectually incapable of understanding and
appreciating the privilege of enjoying equal political rights.

The negroes of California are very respectable, decent people, and there Negroes of Caii-
is no reason in the world why they should not vote, and they vote s?miiaWe°than
according to their convictions, and are not bought and sold en Tnasse. Chinese.
The argument against negro suffrage a few years ago was based upon
their extreme ignorance, upon their incapacity to judge intelligently of
what they ought to vote for. The negro, who has lived for many genera-
tions in this country has a greater adaptability to our institutions than
the Chinaman. They have been in the habit of hearing these things dis-
cussed, and the ideas have become engrafted in their minds.

The Chinese have added to the wealth of the state. I do not think Development of
the transcontinental railway would have been built so soon but for them, w®^!*-
Their education and habits of mind, the qualities of the race that have
become fixed for generations, disqualify the present generation from
becoming citizens. My impression is that they can generally read in their
own language. With the exception of the vicious class, they are indus-
trious and law-abiding. My impression is that the religious element is
somewhat wanting in the Chinese. They take out to the graves in the
cemetery provisions for the spirits of their departed ancestors, I believe, Chinese character-
once a year. I always supposed that they had no intelligent conception
of the Supreme Being. I think they believe in the immortality of the
soul. They are much attached to China, but that I think is more super-
stition than patriotism. They call us barbarians because our ideas of
virtue and vice do not agree with theirs. They lack the quality of truth
as a people ; they have very little conception of the difference between
truth and falsehood. A Chinaman, when it is to his interest, would as
soon state a thing one way as the other. That is the conclusion I
have drawn from observation. There is a great lack of truthful-
ness among native Californians. There is generally a great deal of perjury
and falsehood in our courts all the time.

¥ntil lately they were excluded from testifying in the courts, and I
suppose it had the effect of increasing the number of offences against
Chinese and their property.

I think I know of some who have been converted to Christianity. gome christians.

MELLON

240

John Mellon, farmer, sworn and examined :

-M.ith them.

Character of
1 Chinese labor.

White labor I prefer white labor. We pay less to the Chinese, but I think white

endf '^^ ™ ^ labor is cheaper in the end. We get more work out of white men, and
can put more reliance in them. I do not think there would be any diffi-
culty in procuring white labor to harvest the crops. The way that har-
vesting is done here now it does not require one-half the labor that it did in
early days. The Chinese do not understand farming in the broad sense of
Cannot be the term. I cannot trust them to do any thing unless a white man is ri ght

white man tetl^re there with them, you do not know when they are telling the truth. Our
boys and girls are really as good as they are, if not better, in the way of
picking fruit, berries, pease, etc., they being more intelligent, and can be
obtained cheaper. I had a boy, from the city, about twelve or fourteen
years old, and paid him twelve dollars a month during the summer. I
would not give that boy for any Chinaman I ever saw, he being able
to do many things that a Chinaman could not. In harvesting our crops
there are more Chinese employed than whites, for the reason that white
labor has been driven out of the country. Money earned by white
boys and girls in picking berries, etc., stays right here and goes to
the support of smaller brothers and sisters, and the support of their
fathers and mothers, and I think they should have the preference. I
can take one white man, and he will go into the field and bind more
grain than any two Chinamen I have ever seen. It is the same with
digging and picking potatoes. The Chinamen know that if they get
you in a tight' pinch they will squeze you very tight, and as soon as they
find an opportunity to get out of the contract they will quit. They are
paid sometimes $1.25, $1.40 and as high as $1.50 an acre for bind-
ing. White labor about the same. There are plenty of white men
who are good men, but not good binders in the harvest field. In
the plowing season they (the farmers) have to get all the white men
they can to do the plowing. A Chinaman is no man with a horse ; there
is not one in a hundred that you can teach to handle a team. In six
months I can get all the men that the state wants on a contract of $25 a
month and board. White men dislike to work alongside of Chinamen ;
they think it degrading their labor ; they are not on an equal footing with
the Chinese, and do not want to be classed with them.

Cheap labor has not any tendency to make our grain or potatoes cost
less. The quantity or scarcity in the market rules the prices.

They are dishonest to their employers. No man will trust to a China-
man to sack potatoes for market.

When white men cannot be got we do the next best thing and get
the Mexicans. I would rather pay more to a white man. A white man
earning $30 a month will spend that money in town in clothes, etc.,
whereas, whatever money a Chinaman earns, all he would purchase would
be a bag of rice for six and a-half or seven cents a pound, and a pair of
coarse brogans or boots, and daylight never sees the balance.

There are instances where poverty has stricken a family which was once
affluent, where the girls— after seeking employment in a factory, or at a
laundry, or dressmaking, or millinery, and been told " I don't want you,
I have got Chinamen,"— have become prostitutes and steal.

Chinese underbid white labor on farms until they obtain employment, ■
and after the white labor has been forced away, and they have you in a
tight place he will tell you : " me welly sick ; me lackee some money •
welly sick." He pretends that he cannot work. You must have your
gram cured, and you have to hire somebody else, and the same Chinaman

A Chinaman not
useful to plow— is
generally no man
with a horse.

Prices of farm
produce not
afTected by price
of labor.

Dishonest.

The white man
spends his money.

EfTeot on the girls
of the community.

When the China-
man has you in a
corner he will
>squeeze you.

241 MELLON

will bring you more Chinamen at a bigger price. When a bargain is made
■vnth a white man he will keep it.

White boys and girls consider it a degradation to sleep and eat in the Whites feel it a
same apartments ; and white laboring men consider the same, to be put ^wk or live with
on an equality with them. them.

If Chinese immigration continues for twenty years, as it has for the political,
last two years, the Chinese will be telling us to get up and leave. This is
1876, in 1976, if the immigration continues, the Chinese will be celebrat-
ing the anniversary of their independence from the United States. His-
tory will tell. Twenty years from now there will not be a white man seen
here if they continue to come at the rate they calculate to bring them —
5,000 or 6,000 a month.

William Vinton, tailor, a resident of San Jose, sworn and examined : VINTON.

San Jose is about fifty-three miles from San Francisco, and has a popu- San Jos6.
lation of about 16,000 or 17,000. In the city there are between 1,300 and
1 400 resident Chinese usually there. Chinatown occupies about a block i,400 Chinese,
almost in the centre of the town, its average population about 1,000. In this
•one block, from information from a missionary, there are twenty-eight
places of prostitution, the number of prostitutes being about 143. There are 143 prostitutes,
■thirty-eight gambling-dens, besides a number of opium rooms. There are
also two lottery drawings daily. At Chinatown there are about 400 who
never do a day's work ; they live by trading, stealing, and gambling, the Character,
two latter largely predominating. Every Saturday evening is their
harvest, as at that time a large number come in from Alviso to spend
Sunday. Alviso employs, according to the poll-lists, some 250 to 300,
and is adjacent to San Jos^ where they spend their time and money, and
Sunday, and get cleaned out. Among them there is a secret order of
thieves,' who have a Joss-house specially devoted to them, and they cer-
tainly deserve credit for one thing, and that is, they have got the cleanest
Joss-house, and the most elegantly ornamented I have ever seen.

As to their habits of cleanliness, words fail to describe it. It has to Dirt,
be seen to be understood.

Their presence here prevents white immigration, and the effect ot it on Effect moral and
labor degrades labor to a fearful extent, closing all the avenues to the em- ^""^'^ '
■ployment of our boys and girls and leaving our rising generation m a
iearful condition, so fearful that we shrink in horror as to what must be
■the final result. j. •

As to crime in San Jose, and from a return of the pohce court for six Crime,
months we find that there were 167 cases against the whites— half of the
■crimes so charged being committed by Spaniards— and thirty cases against

the Chinese. , . ■

Seven-eighths of the people believe that a change m their immigration

would be beneficial to general interests. .

Lotteries are forbidden by our laws. There has been one conviction Lotteries.

for seUing tickets. The reason there have not been more is from the un-

TeliabiUty of the evidence taken— the Chinese contradictmg themselves

"^^Thert^if a special police officer in the Chinese quarter, and paid by Spedai poiieemaix
them. He is appointed by the sheriff. . Chinese.

Efforts have been made, as I understand, to stop prostitution, but they
have been unsuccessful to secure conviction.

16

VINTON

243

Impossible to
suppress gamb-
ling.

It is impossible to suppress gambling, I think, partly by collusion with
the officers.

As far as drunkenness goes they are not a drunken, dissipated class.

I have seeil but one who could read and write the English language.

There may be 400 employed in Alviso, but the poll-book only shows
250. They are employed on strawberry farms.

MUTHER Frank Muther, cigar-maker, sworn and examined :

7,000 Chinese cigar-
makers.

Protective I'nion.

Chinese slower
workmen.

Cigar-makers.

Habits and
cleanliness.

Peculiar
characteristics
of the Chinese
cigar-maker.

There are between 6,500 and 7,000 Chinese cigar-makers in San Fran-
cisco. This estimate is arrived at from the revenue report, which gives taxes
paid on 9,300,000 cigars a month. They will not average 100 a day, which
would take 3,000 Chinamen at constant employment to make these cigars,
to roll them, besides over 500 packers and strippers. The Chinamen com-
plain that one-half are out of work — about 2,500. There are, perhaps,
150 white journeymen workmen here, the union numbering pretty nearly
100. The Chinese have a protective cigar-making union, one firm put-
ting the membership down at 9,000. No one is admitted unless he has
worked one year at the trade. Other reliable Chinamen say there are
only between 5,000 and 6,000. The number on the cba.st is estimated
by one as high as 20,000, by another at between 12,000 and 13,000. Out
of the 100 white cigar-makers there are between fifty and sixty employed,
their wages averaging $11 a week by piece-work, the Chinese averaging
about $6, because they work by the piece and are slower workmen.

The manufacturing is controlled under a good deal worse system here
than east. They make far inferior preparation for the workmen here,
that it gives the men no chance. If they would furnish the same accom-
modation and not work .the amount of men they do, it would be better.
Where we consider in the east a shop fit for twenty men, they work here
100 and 150 Chinamen. As a rule, cigars are dearer here than in the
east — that is, fair goods. Chinese cheap labor does not benefit the con-
.sumer ; but there is one class of goods that affects the retaUer — very
cheap, inferior goods. Such tobacco as white men throw away the China-
men pick up and work up, and they put it in the market. They pick up
everything — cigar-stumps, anything containing tobacco, whether it is
mouldy, rotten, or anything else — that a white shop throws away.

Their habits as to cleanliness in manufacturing cigars are fair where
white men control them, but where they work by themselves their
habits are ridiculous. One thing they particularly do is to take a cigar
in their mouth and spit on it to get it smooth, and then they will take it
in their hands and roll it in order to get a shine on it— what is called a
Chinese polish.

They were nearly all Germans who first manufactured here. In the
eastern states ladies work at the business, and I have known young ladies
working beside me, just after the war, throw out as much as $80 a month
to my 1100 ; and boys of fifteen years earn from fS to $10 a week in the
city of Chicago. The work is very easy and they do the work just as well
as men. The using of spittle on cigars is peculiar to the Chinese, and not
permitted in well-regulated establishments. Another thing they do:
where they are crowded they take to sweating, and it was a common thing
for me to see them, when compelled through poverty to work in the same
room with them, take the cuttings and wipe their arms and their faces.

243 MUTHRE

with Uiem, and iblow their noses into them. That is very common among
them.

The Chinese xstfer bribes to obtain employment. They will hrst go to
the boss who is working white men and offer him wages below what a
Chinaman will work actually on in the long run. If necessary, they will
.screw those wages down to almost nothing in order to obtain the shop.
When they cannot prevail on the boss they will turn around and try to Will pay lo get
bribe the foreman. They have offered $10 for every Chinaman they will 'rapioy""^"*-
put on, or $10 for every 1,000 cigars manufactured. I know one foreman
who will swear that, in the last few weeks, he was offered $1 for every
1,000 cigars manufactured in the shop by Chinamen or $10 for every
Chinaman he would put on. When they offer a man $80 and $100 a week
it is hard to hold honest men under such inducements.

The cigar-makers' union have no such law limiting the number of ap- Cigar-makers^
prentices. We have ladies working at the business in the city who belong apprentices,
to the society, and we would accept a child two years of age, provided he
could keep shop and make cigars. If a boy wanted to learn the trade in
all its branches he would have to serve three years, and when the time is
up he is paid little wages and has to go to another trade on account of the
Chinese who have got the trade. They have got us, so to say, conquered. ^^ oonscieutious-
No conscientious man in this city will take an apprentice, as a general ™g" ■"'" take a
rule. If the Chinese cigar-makers were excluded from the state there t^ the "ragarViisi-
would not be sufficient white labor here now because they have all been '^fjjte labor
driven away ; but New York reports 3,000 cigar-makers walking the driven away,
streets doing nothing.

When I came out here first from Chicago I had as many as 100 men Cigar-making no
writing me who wanted to come out, one-quarter of them with families. }?adl'^a^^??S?erly.
I then had a pretty good situation, but it has dwindled down so that I
cannot make within $8 a week of what I did two years ago. The nation-
ality of the white cigar-makers here is about one-half American, the other
half being Germans and Jews.

With respect to the GUroy Company endeavoring to get white labor, cigars made by
.and that they could only get two white bummers, that is a lie, because a^eT^ manu"
when that factory started they limited the room to twelve white tables. ^««^{^ed by
After repeated applications to the foreman for work, he overstepped the "
limit and put on four more white tables. The boys went to the foreman
.and offered to send east for white men, but he would not acknowledge
that they would give them work if they came. On further persuasion he
■overstepped the limit and made the white tables eighteen, but that was
only to enable the men to get a little money to leave the town. There
were over 150 white men in the shop at the time, and the cigars manu-
factured by the Chinese were put on the market and sold as the produc-
tion of white labor. This firm claimed to work 2,000 Chinese.

Hardly a day passes but white men come into shops here from the east, white men uome
notwithstanding all the discouraging letters that are written and pub- and cannot^flnd
hshe'd, telling them not to come. They are driven away, not being able
to find employment. The field is better east than here.

There is a shop composed of four parties. One of the firm lias gone wives can be
back to China. He had a couple of wives there, and he said he was going ^o^f^'iSd^g'^d'
to bring a few more along; that he could buy them there for |60, and sell forisooinCalitor-
them here for $500. Another partner said, he had a shop to work exclu- '"='•
sively apprentices, but could not say what he paid them. He gave them
their board.

Chinamen, when pinched, will take contracts below the actual cost of ^^^^'^'^'^^g^'i^'p'J:^
the goods — that is, certain companies — from the wholesale tobacco houses, the cigar business.

MUTHER

244

Cigars manii-
iactured by
contract.

Power of Chinese
societies.

"Cigar-makers so-
■ciety. Tlie mem-
tiers will work
only where white
labor employed.

Pretence of em-
ploying whites.

Fraudulent
labels.

tCigars made in
JSayana by
^Chinese.

The monopoly of this town is the wholesale business. They contract to
furnish all the cigars, such brands and such brands. They have to give
good quality ; everything that is not good they have the right to refuse.
The contract will absolutely say that they have to purchase the tobacco
from the wholesale house, and in this way the tobacco houses have the
monopoly. They have got the Chinamen, and they have got the public.
They invariably beat the Chinamen on the tobacco, and get the goods they
contract for ; and all the poorer trash the little white shops have to work
up. Tak, Lang & Co., take a very cheap contract ; they have 400 boarders,
besides apprentices. This firm say they can collect $400 to $480 a week
from all their boarders, and that they do not care if they do not make
anything on cigars. If they can get contracts they will take them rather
than lose their boarders.

I think there are trade organizations among them, because the China-
men that I have worked with all tell the same story : that they are com-
pelled to do as the Six Companies, or any company that they may live
under, wants them to do. But when they do not come under that head,
and do not obey the orders of the head of a company, they simply condemn
them and consider them outcasts ; and any Chinaman who will stone
them, and kill them after that, will get credit from the Six Companies.
If necessary, they will hire lawyers to defend him, and produce evidence
to clear him.

The firms which put up signs "No Chinese labor employed here,"
embrace Jews, Americans, and Germans, and in those establishments, in-
variably, no Chinese labor is employed.

The cigar-makers society is an incorporated society and its members
only work where white labor is employed, and where they work they have
a certain stamp that they put on their cigar as white labor. We have
legitimately a right to stick out this brand . " No Chinese labor employed
here." There is a white man appointed in the shop to keep a book of
every cigar manufactured, and if you want these stamps you can get the
amount you are entitled to and no more. These are copyrighted, and we
did that because so many men were swearing that they worked only white
men when they were working Chinese. The advertising dodge is to call
for twenty white men. If the white men go to the shop they will put
them on. They will then advertise all through the country that they have
been working white men, and are deserving of preference in the trade ;
but as soon as they get this thing established, by the next Saturday
Chinamen are there. Denicke Brothers is the firm I have reference to.

The cigars made by the Chinese are eventually consumed by human
beings, a great many being sent east — the common trash.

The stamp is on the box and similar to a revenue stamp, only a little
broader, and on the box it says : "The cigars contained in this box are
made by white men."

There are two classes of stores that put out the sign: one true and the,
(Pther not. Where it is a true store he has bad goods if he has Chinese
goods, and if he has them he cannot present them as the result of white
labor.

Cigalas are made in Havana by Chinese ; from what I have heard, about
.one-half.

245 WINN

Albert M. Winn, a resident of the state for twenty-eight years,
president of the Mechanics' State Council, sworn and examined :

Chinese immigration and cheap labor presents to our consideration a The rich want
complicated question of political economy. It has two sides. Most of poor cannot ' ''"'
the rich want cheap labor to carry on their shops and farms to the compete with it.
best advantage for an increase of profit ; the poor cannot afford to
compete with labor so far below the Ainerican standard of industry, which
creates a conflict of opinion between rich and poor. The question is no
longer treated from an individual stand-point ; it is national in its charac-
ter ; the nation's representatives have treated it in that way. [The witness
here read a lengthy document on the subject of Chinese immigration and
its effects upon white labor.]

The effect of Chinese labor is to throw our white working classes out of "^S^^^S^^^fP "^^
employment ; it degrades labor. If the Chinese were not here I think
white labor would flock to this coast ; their presence prevents immigration
of the white laboring classes. When men in the east, interested in labor
organizations, write me concerning the chance of getting employment
here, I write to them to stay away ; that the Chinese have filled all the
places here that they would be likely to get. These communications are Men of (amily
very common. When a man of family comes here he can only get Chinese Chinese wages-
wages, and he cannot support his family. A Chinaman has no fgimily to
support, and they can live upon a very small amount a day.

Chinese labor here is not much more than half the same kind of labor
is in the east — the wages of those Chinamen who come here green.
• I do not think the Chinese are a benefit in any shape. I think that they
are injurious to the country. They benefit a few wealthy men, men of
large farms and large factories, but they injure the poor mail who must
necessarily support the government. The grain raised by the Chinese
and the grain raised by the white men must both sell for the same price ;
the market governs the price, the same with vegetables.

They do not live like white men ; they can live on ten cents a day, and i.im standard of
they do not want more than two feet by six to lay down in. One hundred ^°^^
of them will occupy the room of a family of five or six. There is no com-
parison between the two as to their living.

The substance of the petition sent to Congress, and signed by 26,000 ^har|icte^ rf .op-
people, was to request the abrogation of the treaty with China with a view nese immigration^,
to prevent the immigration of Chinese, and to ascertain the opinion of the
people who were supposed to be interested in Chinese immigration. The
signatures to the petition in the financial and commercial centre of the
city averaged eighty per cent. The opposition to Chinese immigration is
not confined to the low and dissolute classes. The payment of the money
for the printing and sending men around with the petitions, was nearly all
subscribed by business men, the laboring men paying about $25 out of
$300.

I believe the ministers, generally, are in favor of bringing them here. I g^hmese m CaJl-^
•lo not think there are any Chinese Christianized at all. The information t?™i*ed!'
I get is that Chinese attend Sunday schools, go to church, and learn the
English language, and get the advantage of it in trade. Very few go
compared with their whole number.

1STOCK

246

Crowding and
fflth.

How Chinese
kill their vermin.

Inhumanity.

Eenest C. Stock, poliee reporter for the Mmrnimg Call for ten years,
and French and German interpreter for the courts, sworn and
examined :

JnhuniaBity. The Chinese have no regard for their siok or dead. [Here the witness,

cited the details of several cases of a horrible nature.]

On several occasions I have taken parties around through Chinatown.
On one occasion I took Mr. Hepworth Dixon, the lecturer and traveller.
I showed him, as I thought, some of the filthiest places he had ever seen.
He said he thought they were. Finally I took him into Cooper alley.
There I showed him a place, a second basement, a little room about eight
feet square and about six feet high, with two men sleeping in it. He
said : " Is it possible anybody lives here ?" I told him, "Yes ; " and I went
in and pulled up the curtain in front of the bunk and showed him the two
men asleep. When we placed our feet on the floor the boards sunk down
and slime oozed up through the cracks. He remarked at the time that he
had been in the Seven Dials of London, the slums of the eastern cities,
the sink-holes of Calcutta, the Five Points of New York, and other places
of that character, and in all his travels he had never seen anything so
filthy as that place.

It is a practice among a certain class of Chinese every morning and
evening to go into the courtyard around their houses, or in the courtyard
adjoining their houses, and build a fire of paper in little tin boxes, say two
or three inches square. They take ofi" their underclothes and turn them
inside out, and then pass them over the flames for the purpose of killing
the vermin. They burn them just as a housewife would singe a chicken.

Parties are turned out to die in Chinatown. Such things as that I
have never known white people to do. I have never known white people
in this city to take one of their own kind and put him out on the side-
walk because he was dying.

There was one case of a man dying in squallidness. The man had been
missing for twenty days. He was a man without friends, who kept to
himself all the time — an old hermit. They burst open the door and found
him lying on the floor.

The humanity that prompts the white race to look after their own is not
characteristic of the Chinese. There is nothing like the heartlessness of
this class of people. A law was passed by our Legislature prohibiting the
exposure of dead bodies, and this was forced upon them by the action of
the Chinese. I know instances where the coroner has been summoned to
hold an inquest on a living woman ; also of an instance of a Chinaman
going for a cofiin to put his child in, the child living sixteen hours after
its arrival.

Chinatown is visited more and observed more by foreigners than any
other part of the city ; and whatever is bad is more apt to be seen there
than any other part of the city. At times hoodlums pass through China-
town and abuse the Chinese. It is not a common resort for them at
night. Hoodlums would rather catch a Chinaman where he is all alone,
and where there are no ofiicers around.

I have visited the Barbary Coast, Tar Flat, Ragtown, Appletown, and
all those places.
Sanihiry. The authorities have instructed them as to sanitary measures, as, for

instance, to report all small-pox cases, and to report cases to the coroner.
It is generally understood among them that when there arp any sick
people the authorities will take care of them. They gain this knowledge
by instructing themselves upon the laws. The authorities publish the
laws and let the people find out for themselves.

The law against
exposure of dead
■bodies foreed on
Le^rislature by
"Chinepe.

Hoodlums.

247 BUCHANAN

William G. Buchanan, shoe-maker, a resident of twenty years, sworn and
examined :

There are between .2,000 and 2,500 Chinese shoe-makei-s in the city and
about 1,000 whites, one-third women and boys.

The manufacturers started originally with white labor. The average Manufacture
wages of a shoe-maker iive years ago was about $4 a day— $25 a week ; oriSnaiivt'iHf
now the average is about $16.50 to $18. I do not find any difficulty in white idov.
getting all the white labor I require. I have applications every day. The
■cost of making the labor part with Chinese is near about the same here as
It IS m the eastern states by whites, if any difference it is in favor of the
whites. In Einstein's shop here, where they used to employ 300 Chinese Cost of making
and now employ white, the cost of making shoes with white labor now is ^""""^ ^''^°^^ the
abou^t the same as it was with Chinese formerly. The shoes manufactured iX^rwith"*""
by white men go into the market at the same price as they did before *^'''°««e-
they were made by Chinese.

There is a white man's cooperative shoe-makers' establisment here,
paying interest on investment a good deal more than banking rates, last
year paying twenty-four per cent.

Chinese competition has kept back immigration considerably, and I White immigra-
know of any amount of cases where they had to leave the shops and their "™ ^""^^ *'*^-
places were filled with Chinamen.

The reason for employing white labor is that they turn out more work White labor tuma
at the same rate than the Chinese. A Chinaman will make eighteen ^*a"chinesT^u.
jiairs of shoes in a day, for which he receives $1 ; a white man will make
forty-eight pairs in the same time, for which he gets $2.88.

White labor is being crowded out on account of Chinese starting factories
for themselves, and competing with other firms at less profit. They will
work longer hours and do more for themselves than they will for other
manufacturers ; and their threatening to manufacture for themselves has
had the effect of forcing manufacturers to employ them.

The cause of the reduction of wages a few years ago was a surplus of Effect on labor,
help, both white and Chinese. The employers having Chines^ to fall
back upon for help, has a tendency to force the white men to accept the
j)rices that they see fit to give them.

At present white men work in the same shop with Chinamen, but there
■was a time when you could not get a white man to go in with them. It
is compulsion to get one to work on the same floor with them.

Chinese competition against employers has a tendency to reduce the Chinese labor
profits of the manufacturers. There are three-fourths of the Chinamen i^pfoy^^ ^''"*
;making shoes here, selling their own shoes, which supplies the market to a
•considerable extent and excludes so far the white employees.

There is no protective union or association among shoe-makers here. If
■the Chinese did not come into competition, the whites could make their
prices, but they would have to be moderate. I do not suppose that the
■employers would submit very gracefully to an advance of wages. The
feeling arnong mechanics that the Chinese stand in their way arises more
from men being out of work, and not in the way of the labor-union dic-
tating to bosses.

The cooperative union are both workmen and bosses ; it is the sale (^"fP^™'*^"
that regulates the work not the number of workmen. If the market is
■overstocked there must be less employment for the white workmen.

Customers from the interior districts go where they can buy the cheapest
whether made by Chinese or not. The cost of living to a laboring man
■or mechanic, I should judge, would be in favor of the east rather than
iere.

union.

HAYES

248

Miss Maggie Hayes, assistant forewoman at Einstein's shoe factory, sworn
and examined :

Labor o( girls
more valuable
than that of
Chinese.

Chinese workmen
not offensive to
girls.

Chinamen slow.

Girls could be
substituted for
Chinese.

There are twenty-three girls employed at present in the fitting depart-
ment. The work is done by piece-work. Chinamen are paid by the day; they
get $1 ; the girls on piece-work make from |1.50 to $2 a day. The com-
parative value of the labor is in favor of the girls in the proportion of
four dozen and a half to four dozen.

In the city there are about 250 girls employed at shoe-fitting. There
would be no difficulty in getting girls. We have to work for a living,
and if we have to work alongside of a Chinaman, we might as well do it
and say nothing. I have known of girls being driven out of employment
by the Chinese. Chinese working in the same room never say anything
to the girls. They work all the time. They do not behave badly, nor are -
they ofiensive in their manners. They talk to each other once in a while,
and work very steadily. They work from seven o'clock till a quarter to
six. The girls work from half-past seven till half-past five o'clock. In
other parts of the establishment those working by the week work from
seven till a quarter to six, those by piece can go at any time they like.
The Chinamen work longer because they work by the week. The girls get
from $7 to $10, and so on according to their worth, and the Chinamen get
$1 a day. The Chinamen do very good work but they are slow ; some, of
course, do bad, the same as girls, and some good. A new hand does not
do as good work as an old hand. Girls work in other factories where
Chinese are employed.

The establishment of Chinese shoe-factories here for years past, has had
a tendency to give employment to girls. There were a great many more
girls employed in this department five years ago than there are now, and
a girl could make good wages then to what she can now. Girls could be
substituted in this department for the Chinese.

LANCASTER. CHARLES S. LANCASTER, engaged in the shoe business nineteen years,
sworn and examined :

Shoe-makers
migrating
eastward rather
than westward.

Prices now (1876)
and in 1871.

I have been about six months in this city. The last place I was in was-
Ogden, Utah, where I worked one year : six months as foreman of a firm
and six in business for myself. During that time we had not a single
application for work coming from the west, and we had quite a number
going east. Last winter there were half a dozen or more applied to me
personally for work coming from this city, showing that the emigration of
shoe-makers was going east rather than coming west. '

The following is a comparative statement of prices at the present time
with those existing five years ago : —

The prices known as ladies' French kitt button boots, we are making-
now for $9, for bottoming them, making the shoe per dozen ; and formerly
it was $12. Women's kid balmorals are now $8.50, and it was $10.50.
Gentlemen's Oxford ties, $8.50, it was $10.50. Neilson ties, $8.50, it
was $10.50. Ladies' 3x cloth, fox-kid buttoned boots, $7.50, it was $9.
Ix quality, $5.50, it was $9. Ix balmorals, $5.50, it was $8. Imitation
sewed, $10, it was $18. Misses' French kid, 3x, $7.50, it was $9. Misses'
Neilson ties, $7, it was $9 five years ago. Those are the prices that were
paid and are now -being paid at Buckingham & Hecht's. Porter's shop :
morocco, leg calf -boot imitation stitch, $14, it was $28. French calf-top-

249 LANCASTER

sole plain, leg boot, $11, it was $23. Second quality calf, $7.10, it was
about $15.

There is no diificulty in getting all the help wanted at these prices.
White labor can compete with Chinese at the same rate. If the Chinese
formed combinations among themselves it would have a tendency to drive
us out of employment and force the masters to employ them.

The Chinese have factories. I believe it is the general custom with Chinese when
them, when they are discharged, to club their means together and start in factories on the
on a small scale for themselves, and by that means they can undersell the cooperatiTe
manufacturers here. They can sell for less profit.

The wages of all kinds of mechanics have suffered a reduction all over
the country during the last five years — the shoe-makers at least twenty per
cent.

Mrs. Henry J. Humphreys, widow, sworn and examined : HUMPHREYS^

My occupation is anything that I can get to do — scrubbing, or washing, Competition of
XI.- A J. XT c 1- • 1- T i J. j-i,- Chinesewith

or anything. At present 1 sew tor a living because i cannot get anything women.

else very well, unless I go out and work. I have my boy to attend to

and bring up, so I am obliged to do almost anything I can get to do at

home. I manufacture ladies' underwear, which is affected by Chinese

labor more so than any other branch of business here, mostly all being

employed in manufacturing it. We get probably a dollar and a half on

the dozen, a little more than the Chinamen, but we have to pay rent and

take care of our families. They prefer white labor when they can get it

at Chinamen's prices, but not at any more. Within the last six months

they have started little manufacturing places of their own ; they do not

sell them any cheaper than the white stores, but still the people imagine

they can get it a little better or a little cheaper from them. There is no

difficulty in getting white women to do this sewing ; by advertising you

will get them by thousands. A firm on the corner of 18th street advertised

for 200 sewing-machine operatives. I applied at a quarter past eight the

morning it appeared I was told by the man engaging that he had already

hired the 200, and had more than that apply. My branch of business

is the worst imposed on business in the city. Women are willing to earn

their living if they can get work. I have a bundle of work here — twelve

night-gowns — which took me four days to make, from eight in the morning

until ten at night, for which I am to receive $3 for five days' work at

ordinary working hours.

Feitz Stein, of the reportorial staff of the California Democrat (German STEIN.,
paper), sworn and examined .

They have no regard for human life, no heart at all. [The witness here inhumanity >
related a story of a shipwreck, he being a passenger on board, illustrating
the inhumanity of the Chinese to the survivors, robbing them of their
clothes and everything, leaving them on an island naked, as well as
robbing at least forty Chinamen who could not get off in the boats, but
stuck by the bowsprit which was out of watei'. They robbed them of
their clothes and put them into the water alive to drown, when they might
have saved them.]

€ONDON

250

John D. Condon, cabinet-maker, sworn and examined ;

Carpentering and
■cabinet-making.

Best workmen
■could not live on
the wages of the
•Chinese.

One white mai
does as much
work as two
Chinamen.

Opium-smoking.

Being foreman
over Chinese
makes a man
arbitrary and
unfit to boss
whites.

Cliinese compe-
tition has created
an immense
•overplus of labor.

Chinese cheap
labor does not
lower the price to
•the consumer.

The Chinese do not directly affect cabinet-making proper. The sash,
door, and blind dejiartment is pretty nearly exclusively in their hands,
tliey also doing nearly all the common varnishing. White labor can
be used profitably in this industry. As a general thing there are a few
white foremen in the shops where Chinese are Qfnployed. The best work-
men could not make a living at the wages paid Chinamen, the latter's wages
averaging $1 or $1.10 a day. As a general thing they work by the piece
all the time.

There is a sufficiency of white labor to carry on this industry. As an
instance, a firm advertised for two white boys in the painting work.
There were over 100 applications for work within three days. I saw
upwards of thirty boys there at a quarter to seven in the morning — a very
good class of boys.

The present wages of the white mechanic is about $15 a week, judging
from myself. The whites are much ahead of the Chinese in speed,
invariably doing as much as two of them.

While in the state's prison acting as foreman for Cole <t Co., over Chi-
nese convicts, I have seen them lying under the bench for an hour, after
opium-smoking ; and after they had recovered they would be so stupid
they were not worth anything for an hour afterwards. There were three
of us foremen there. A foreman having more or less Chinamen working
for him, as a general thing does not treat them as he would a lot of white
men. He becomes arbitrary. When they discharge the Chinamen and
employ white boys, they carry out the same system of tyranny to the
boys as to the Chinamen. The boys feel as though they were not treated
as they should be, and consequently there is a rupture and they are dis-
charged. Being foreman over Chinese has the same effect upon him as
upon the white overseer that slavery had upon the slave-driver.

There is no provision in the various constitutions of the trade societies
in the city or state that prohibits boys from becoming apprentices. I
have known instances where the number has been limited to so many
journeymen. One of the objects of trades-unions is to encourage and to
defend their fellow-craftsmen in trying to hold the prices of labor.

The effect of Chinese competition on our trade has been to create an
immense overplus of labor here. There are at present from 10,000 to
1 2,000 white men out of employment, representing nearly all branches of
industry, which is attributed to a great extent to the presence of the
Chinese. There are a great many men out of employment all through
the east as well as all through Europe. There is a general depression.

There has been a considerable falling off in the immigration to this
state from the east, those who can get means to take them back
going back every day. Further on the witness said, if correctly
reported, that there was an excess of immigrants over emigrants.

The Chinese do not use any furniture made by cabinet-makers, with the
exception of little stool-benches. Probably the merchants use a little.
A hundred Chinamen would not use as much cabinet furniture as a
family of six American mechanics. In consequence of Chinese labor, sashes,
doors and blinds which used to come from the east are now made in the
state.

I do not think that Chinese cheap labor has any tendency to lower the
scale of prices to the consumers It would be better for eastern manu-
facturers to have the work than to have Chinamen here do it.

There are several thousands more mechanics here now than there were
■ten years ago. The development of industries here brought them.

251 MARSHALL

Levin Marshall, tailor, a long resident of the state, sworn and ex-
amined :

I have followed my occupation here sin.ce 1862. There are at least Now (1876) one
1,000 Chinese in the custom (ordering clothes by measurement) and fncu"tomlnd*"
manufacturing, and not quite a dozen white men. Before the Chinese fffl^*'*^ Y^^the
came there were one hundred. The effect of the competition has been Chinese a&me m.
that they all had to give it up. Last year I had about twenty girls and
live men working for me, and now I have nothing to do myself. I used
to get $9 a dozen for boys' pants, now I make them for |5.50 ; for men's w^eL™ "'^''^
I used to get |15, and now I get $6.50 to $7.50. Tailors used to make
from $15 to $20 a week, after paying off all the hands and the rent. The
Chinese make about $7.50 a week. The clothes manufactured by them The public
are not any cheaper to the public. The manufacturers are making the "° sainers.
money ; it is no saving to the public. Girls that used to get from |8 to
.$10 and $12 a week work now for $5. You cannot get any at that price ;
the Chinese have driven the girls out of the trade altogether. I used to
get for boys' jackets $12 a dozen; they are making them for five bits
apiece — $7.50 a dozen. For men's coats we used to get $1.50 and $2.50,
.and some $3 ; now they pay $1.25, and $1.50 for double-breasted coats
by the dozen, the same by the piece. For pantaloons, boys', $3.50 ; men's,
$5.50 to $6. 50 — Chinese labor. The whites make men's pants for $9,
^hen they used to get $15 for them.

Manufacturing commenced here, in 1865, with white labor — all white.
There are about five white firms here who manufacture clothing, employ-
ing altogether between thirty and forty tailors, the rest is all manufactured
by Chinese — pants, coats, overcoats and blanket coats. There are but a
few tailors in the city that manufacture fine clothing, such as the Chinese
do not make, probably forty ; all custom work. Each of them has a custom work
tailor, and they give out their custom work to whites. There are now given to whites,
about twenty women engaged in tailoring, there were plenty in 1865.
Clothing is made with Chinese labor cheaper here than in the east. One
man would make about three pairs of pants a day — the same as a white
man. Nobody makes pants and vests now except the Chinese. Before
we commenced manufacturing cloth here it was all imported.

The tailors have no trades-union.

Eeeic Westine, tailor, sworn and examined : WESTINE.

I have been tailoring in the city for over five years. There are not
many Chinese in the custom trade, they are mostly engaged in manufac-
turing. At a rough estimate I should think there are between a dozen
and fifteen Chinese merchant (?) tailors in the city.

Chinese competition shuts off the immigration of tailors and keeps a
good many away, besides driving many away that we had here. In the
custom trade, five years ago, the Chinese were employed more than they
are now, because the employers are getting tired of them. They
have tried them, and I do not think they can make good use of them in
that branch of business. The manufacture of clothing can be carried on
profitably by white labor on this coast. I do not think that the clothing
manufactured by the Chinese costs any less than that manufactured by Chinese do not
white labor. If tliere were no Chinese on this coast there would be plentjr f j^t^?J|^P\^e
of labor to carry on the manufacture of clothing, etc, public.

WESTINE

252

Manufacturing was established five years ago, but not to the extent that
it is to-day. The city is growing and so is manufacturing, all the time.
There are between 300 and 400 white tailors engaged on custom work in
first-class tailoring establishments. Manufactured clothing came from the
east before we commenced work here.

Tailors mostly work by the piece, and the wages average from $15 to>
$20 a week if they have work. The prices in New York are reduced
about the same as here.

GILLESPIE.

Between Chinese
and white labor
very little
difference.

Price of brooms
not any less.

Whites kept to
keep Chinese from
stealing, etc.

Effect on wages.

White workmen
xnake one quarter
more.

Robert H. Gillespie, broom-maker, sworn and examined :

There are about forty-five engaged in the business in the city and about
the same number outside of it. Between Chinese and white labor at the
present time there is very little difference — not a quarter of a dollar on a
hundred brooms. Before Chinese competition, white labor was paid for
by the piece. A man could make from $15 to $25 and $26 a week. Very
few can make $15 now. The Chinese made as high as $14 some two
years ago ; when some of the factories first employed them by the piece.
The price of brooms to the public with Chinese labor is not any less than
it was with white labor. It is an occupation that furnishes employment
to women and boys, and the employment of Chinese has a tendency to
drive out these girls from the broom factories. The Chinese on the
Pacific coast, as far as I can find out, use about seventy-five dozen brooms
a year ; and, as far as I figure it, there are one dozen brooms used to
between fifteen and sixteen whites in one year on the coast — men, women
and children. There are about 70,000 dozen brooms manufactured and
sold on the coast.

In 1865, I think it was, the broom factory on Drumm street was the
first one that employed Chinamen, and it has been going on ever
since in every factory, with one exception — that is, the factory on Sacra-
mento street, where they have got all whites. Most of those places that
have got Chinese have only got whites enough to watch the Chinese
and keep them from stealing and over-counting on their work, and that
they expect them to do for nothing over what they pay them by the piece.
In 1865 manufacturers were making more money then than what they
are now, although broom-corn was higher. At the present time brooms,
are at a pretty good figure, and broom-corn is very cheap. The reasons,
that I give for it are that the middlemen and the wholesale dealers are the
parties who make the profit ; and therefore compel the manufacturers to
grind the labor down. Labor is cheaper, broom-corn is cheaper, and
brooms are higher now than in 1864-65. The supply and demand of
brooms does not regulate the price, all the surplus stock being shipped tO'
foreign ports. It has only been within the last six or seven years that
we have been shipping any brooms. We used to consume all we
made here.

Broom-corn is raised here. Before the manufacture was commenced
we had to get our supply from the east. We ship about 12,000 dozen a
year to the Australian ports, competing with the English colonies.

There are some Chinamen who make as high as $10 a week now. Some-
kinds of broom they can make 600 a week, other kinds only 300. Of th«
kind that the Chinese make 300, a white man would make about 400 ; and
of the others a white man would make about 800 to the Chinaman's 600.

Six years ago the wages were higher east than here at that time.

253

GILLESPIE

Besides shipping to Australia we ship to Callao, the Sandwich Islands,
New Zealand, and Chili— about 20,000 dozen being shipped from here to
foreign ports every year, leaving 50,000 dozen to be consumed here.

Manufacturing would have been gone into if the Chinese had not been Manufacturing of
here just as largely as it is now, and more so. Not one of the firms that hav°e'be^''2ine
commenced with white labor failed ; but one or two have failed with into as largely if
Chinese labor. hwe*^''"^''' °°*

Edwaed L. Cortage, workingman in a broom factory : CORTAGE.

"There are somewhere between ninety and one hundred Chinese em- Broom-making,
ployed on the coast in broom-making. The industry can be carried on
without the use of Chinese labor, because, in 1869, it was carried
on without them to the same extent as now. The broom-makers
who were formerly here are scattered to the four winds of the
world, some in Australia, some in South America, and some in eastern
■states. The prices paid in St. Louis are exactly the same paid here
now ; there might be a quarter of a cent on some kind ofwork more or a
quarter of a cent on another kind less, but it is about the same thing.
For New York and Chicago, I can say nothing. We have a foreign
market, shipping about 20,0,00 dozen.

The lower wages of the Chinese operate to reduce my wages, and I
cannot very well live upon the wages they receive. Ten dollars a week
for a family, wife and four children, is hardly sufficient to live on. Rents Cajinot support a
for white men are seldom less than $15 a month unless be moves in the on Chinese wages,
fourth story of a tenement, and then it will cost $12 a month, and all live
together. We could not afford to live like Chinamen, because they are
single and can live on nineteen cents a day, at the same rate that our
prisoners live in gaol. If I were single, I could live on $4 or $5 a week
by putting it down to the lowest possible figure.

Most of the sober, laboring, industrious mechanics here have homes of
their own. It has been stated here that none but the vagrant
and dirty class come to testify against the Chinese ; on my part this
is not true.

Intelligent mechanics, honest, sober, workingmen, are terribly opposed
to anybody that causes them to struggle for a living.

I am a German and in conversation with my countrymen they all Chinese immi-
think Chinese immigration an evil, if not at present, in future.

The very man who engaged the Chinese first was so far reduced
that he wanted to earn a little, and he was the first man to try to create
a row by getting others to go in to raise the wages.

There was a Chinaman arrested for stealing at Mr. Cummings' establish-
ment. A Chinaman had a row with him about some settlement, and in
turning him out the Chinaman lost his balance, and he saw the top of a
whisk-broom, tipped with velvet, under his coat, and Mr. Cummings
pulled it out. He had him arrested for stealing, but whether he was
convicted or not I do not know.

Dennis McCarthy, boot-maker, sworn and examined : McCARTHY.

The trade can be carried on profitably with white labor. There are Bootrmaking ciua.
between 2,000 and 3^000 Chinese in the city employed at the business. I p?oftb^^ ™th
am connected with the United Workingmen's Cooperative Association, white lahor.

McCarthy

254

Of certain work
the Chinese have
complete control.

employing altogether white labor, and almost entirely confined to the
manufacture of men's boots. That line the Chinese have not got into as
yet, but in ladies' work, misses' work and children's work they have
almost the entire control. The slipper business they have altogether.
One year we employed fifteen Chinamen to make that class of work —
cheap shoes. After that year white, men applied for that line of work
saying they would make them as cheap as the Chinamen so as to get
employment. We discharged the few Chinamen we had, and now employ
white labor — between sixty and seventy.

I think a white man will do about one-fourth more work than a China-
man ; the latter will make about thirty pairs and the former about forty
pairs of these misses' and children's shoes.

Some five or six years ago there were no Chinamen employed at all in
this business, there being in the neighborhood of 800 men here then ; but
the manufacturers considered that there was more money by employing
Chinamen so they gradually introduced them, and I think to-day only
about 400 to 500 white men are employed ; whereas if the Chinese were
not in that business we would have, I think, about 2,000 white men in
that line of business here now. When I came here 100 men would cover
the number of white men employed in factories, which were then in their
infancy ; there are between 400 and 500 now in the manufacturing. The
custom trade is not affected by Chinese labor.

The return on the capital invested in the cooperative association would
be on an average fifteen per cent. The reason for this large profit is that
the Chinese are not yet engaged in the manufacture of men's boots. We
could not manufacture the other class and pay cost at Chinese rates.

The wages of shoe-makers east varies a great deal ; it depends upon the
season a good deal. In the hurried season their wages run up ; at other
seasons the wages are dull. Prices fluctuate there. I think the eastern
prices are higher than here.

White men do
about one quarter
more work than
Chinamen.

500 whites
employed whereas
but for Chinese
2,000.

Chinese not
engaged in
manufacturing
men's hoots.

HAYES.

Michael Hayes, a resident of California for twenty-five years, sworn and
examined :

The Chinese work-
ing the placer
mines.

Great loss to the
country.

I have visited the mines on many occasions, but I have never worked
in them. I think permitting the Chinese to work the placer-mines is a
great injury to California and a great injury to the United States ; it
reduces the quantity that finds its way into the banks of the United
States. The Chinese control nearly all the placer-diggings. They have
worked from year to year at those abandoned claims. They have taken
the gold out ; and it is the impression of most people that they carry it to
China, or send it to China through the Six Companies.

If they were permitted to become citizens it would have no effect on
their desire to reside in the country, because a Chinaman will return
to China.

PIXLEY. Frank M. Pixley, sworn and examined :

Broom factories.

About ten or eleven years ago, my brother, a poor man and a mechanic,
and a man of family, engaged in the manufacture of broom-handles, em-
ploying six white workmen, whose wages ranged from three dollars and
fifty cents to four dollars a day, according to their skill in running

■2^5 PIXLEY-

turning lathes. Shortly after he started some one else established a
broom-factory, employing four or five Chinese to work it. In a very
short time these Chinese became so expert in the manufacture that they instance of lower-
established the trade themselves, with one white man as foreman. They fOTt'of'caifnese'""
were required to keep a horse and waggon to dispose of their wares. This thrusting whites
horse was kept in a stable ; the Chinese lived in the same stable with the menf ""'p'"''"
horse, fed and cooked for themselves in an upper loft, and- slept there,
and so reduced the wages that much, thrusting, in this particular
intance, my brother out of employment. This is a single incident, tending
to show that no white person with a family can compete with Chinese.

If no Chinese had come to California it is my judgment that our trades eom'^Sfcaiitorma
and manufactures would have grown a little slower than they have ; that trades and manu-
some people would have made less money than they have. But they iMveg?o™°lower
would have grown, and to the present extent, with white labor, and just as '^V* would have
much money would have been made, which would have been distributed floney' would
among the laboring or workingmen more than it is now. To remove all dStr'butV"'"''
the Chinese workers from their various industries would create a tern- wisest to send
porary embarrassment, but we should soon fill their places with "^^'" ^^' away.
intelligent European and American laborers. I think it would be the
wisest thing that could be done to send them all away. The Chinese ^^"uW "?'', '^"J)''
problem would solve itself in process of time. I do not advocate the Chinese here,
exclusion of the Chinese who are here. I think they are here under the
guarantee of law and treaty, and I would give them the fullest protection.

I never saw women harnessed with dogs to carts in Europe ; but I
have seen women in Belgium and Germany attending dogs attached to
small carts, and they will assist in pushing the cart over difficult points.
I do not know of any part of Europe where a husband will not speak to
his wife on the street, and where she is not allowed to mention his name
and address. In Ireland they have their cabins of the poor, they have
their pigs and their poultry, and they live very poorly in some places,
but I would not have any objection to receiving them as immigrants
because they have been compelled to live more meanly in that country
than they can live here. The European immigrant, however poor he may
be, immediately on his arrival here takes a position in society, so far as
comforts and home are concerned, and educates his children, and clothes
them up to the fullest possibility of his earnings ; the second genera-
tion is an improvement, and the third generation is American. We are
all immigrants for that matter, or our ancestors were.

The outrages against the Chinese are grossly exaggerated. In reference Thinks the whita
to this question of the persecution of the Chinese I am only surprised very forbearing,
that there is not more of it. I think our laboring people are a long-
suffering and forbearing people. Our city has been as near to a disgrace-
ful and bloody riot as it could possibly be, but it was avoided by people
who have not had the credit of saving the town from such a scandal.
Mr. A. M. Winn was one of them. There were men, leading men, in
this anti-Chinese movement who could have stirred up a riot, who, by the
lifting of their thumbs, could have cleaned the Chinese quarter out. The

people who were going to create this riot were driven to starvation and IIi?i;?,„S®'iPi'' j
.,,9° ii-ii T ■ 1 n 1 j_ 1 ,1 deprived of bread,

poverty, with their wives and children, deprived or employment by the

influx of Chinese immigration, men to whom this question comes to the

breakfast and dinner table, to whom it is the question of bread.

The Chinese are patient, industrious, hard-working slaves, respecting Chinese, patient

our laws through fear, and being compelled to labor for their own sup- worMng™!avra! '

port. Socially they are inferior to any race God has ever made, in my socially.

opinion. I think it would be infinitely worse to have Chinese instead of Socially inferior to

negroes down south. ^"'' ™'=" ™ ^'''^^'

PIXLEY

256

Did not "disorirai
nate " between
classes of China-
men.

400,000,000.

Threatened with
such a barbaric
scourge as once
Tislted Europe.

Should be
discouraged, not
restricted.
The criminal
perfection of 4,000
years.

The civilization of
a redundant popu-
lation ; flliacide ;
prostitution.

Chinese civiliza-
tion and learning.

American civiliza-
tion incapable of
convincing China.

Outrages.

The introduction
of 150,000 Chinese
no effect on
oriental trade.

I do not discriminate between these Chinamen. Their organic construc-
tion is the same from the highest mandarin to the lowest prostitute ; they
have the same religion and they have the same habits. If by some
judicious tribunal we could bring the very best and better class of Chinese
to this country under the treaty, men who come for business, who come
for pleasure, who come for the higher pursuits of commerce, I would have
the door open to them.

There are 400,000,000 or 500,000,000 Chinese. They are separated
from our coast by a narrow and a very mild sea. They can come here for
$12 a piece. To throw open our continent and its broad area, all its
mineral wealth, its agricultural resources, and its mechanical employments,
to the importation of this people, is simply to invite upon us the barbaric
scourge that once visited Europe.

There are Chinese merchants, but no bankers that I know of. I think
it would be good policy on the part of the government to discourage them,
not to restrict them.

There are parts of Africa where the standard of intelligence is lower
than that of the Chinese, but the standard of morals is better ; that is,
they are honest. These people have got the perfection of the crimes of
4,000 years, of a civilization that has grown out of a redundant popula-
tion. As, for instance, why do we treasure our girls, and why do they
murder theirs 1 Because they have so many they cannot feed them. Why
do our parents die for their children, while they sell theirs for whores 1 I
think it is the necessity and poverty of the lower class that compels the
woman to sell her child.

They have a civilization of a kind at home. They have arts, sciences,
and all that. They have a literature, the teachings of Confucius and
Mencius.

The Chinese religion, if I understand it, is pure fatalism ; the African
religion is worse, fetish, if they have any at all.

I think the contact of 40,000,000 of our civilization with 400,000,000
of the Chinese civilization would improve them. I think it would reduce
ours to their level and not elevate ours, but theirs, that is the danger.
Our civilization has accomplished great results, but it cannot accomplish
the Christianization or civilization of China, they having ingrained in them
prejudices the growth of 4,000 years.

Respecting the outrages committed upon them. In the great meeting
of the 5th of April, if you could have heard the remarks of the speakers
on that occasion, I think there was not one of them who did not call
upon the people to maintain order, to be quiet and wait for a peaceful and
legal solution of this difficulty. The second resolution which they passed
declared that we are a lawful and law-abiding people, that we recognize
the obligation and binding force of the treaties by which the Chinese came
here, and we propose to respect it, and continue to protect it. It is unjust
to the large majority to hold them responsible for such outrages. If
you saw a Chinaman assaulted in Montgomery or Merchant street, and
there were three white people there, two of them would turn in and defend
the Chinaman against the assailant. Yet the outrages do happen in
certain portions of our town, We have got an element of wild young men
here, and they dislike the Chinamen.

I do not think the introduction of the 150,000 Chinese we have now
has any appreciable effect upon our oriental trade, nor has the introduc-
tion of their traders had any appreciable effect upon our trade.

I would desire to keep this coast and this country as the heritage and

257 PIXLEY

home of an immigration that can become united with us, that can assimi-
late with us, and that can make a great state and a great people, highly
civilized, and belonging to our race, and not to come in contact with any
other civilization. I think the case of our state to-day is parallel with
that of Virginia. One hundred and fifty to 300 years ago Virginia had a
broad acreage, a splendid soil, an inviting climate, but few white people ;
labor was dear. They wanted cheap labor, and through the merchants
of Boston and New England, then engaged in the slave-trade, negroes
were imported there, and the result, after 100 or 1-50 years, has been a
war and a desolation that has injured our country more than all the other Virginia 100 to 30»
things united in the world. Now we have the parallel of it here. We have pared with Cali-
a broad empire, we have a splendid climate, rich land, and there are some ro™>ato-<iay.
people who indulge in the heresy of thinking we ought to have cheap
labor. I do not think so. They sent to China for it. We are planting
the seeds of Mongolian slavery here, that will grow up to be just as for-
midable, and is growing more rapidly than it did on the eastern coast ;
for it took Virginia 100 years to get as many Africans as we got China-
men in ten years.
Chinese labor, technically, is free ; in fact, it is not.
They do not speak our language nor understand the philosophy of our
law ; we do not speak their language, and cannot communicate to them
even their rights.

Contact with the Chinese tends to deteriorate us and retard our
growth.

If they were enfranchised they would exercise that privilege freely of
their own volition at once. They are a shrewd, subtle, keen, intelligent
people ; anybody who undertakes to underrate them as inferior, mistakes
this whole problem. They are not the inferior race ; tested by many
things they are superior to us. When I spoke of their being inferior I Cliinese in some
referred to their vices. They could be bought and sold if trusted with to us^.*^ ^ ^"'' "
the elective franchise. Politics with them would become merely mer-
chandise. They would sell their votes, and place them where they would
do the most good for themselves ; and when they got a majority, where Vote.s. Political,
they could control the politics of the country, they would take it and
elect their own people.

In this way are they inferior ; They attained the acme of civilization
a long time ago, and they have stood still. We are a progressive nation. Liniitations of the
They invented type, and yet they have not carried it to the extent of a
power press ; they invented gunpowder, and yet they did not carry it'to
the extent of developing the machinery of war for its use ; they invented
the compass, and yet they never extended their commerce over the whole
world guided by that compass — they are an anomalous and curious people
to us.

Herman Silverbekg, foreman at the Standard Shirt Factory, sworn and SILVERBEJIG.
examined :

There are in the neighborhood of 100 Chinese engaged in the manu- Manulaoture o£
faoture of white shirts ; in the colored line, which includes clothing, Chinese employed,
overalls, etc, there are a great many more. At our factory we have in
the neighborhood of seventy or eighty inside and perhaps double that
number outside. The manufacture can be carried on by white labor, and
is paid by the piece. An experienced hand either white or Chinese can
earn from $8 to $10 per week.

■SILVERBERG 258

At present not jf the Chinese were absent there would not be enough white labor, at

faboH;o carry on present, to carry on the business. There might be eventually. Chinese
the work. labor was not skilled when first employed, but it was the class of labor

that was here, and they were instructed in the business, for there were no
others here to do it. The work is done almost exclusively by female
•Chinese oompeti- help. There are several other smaller factories here. I do not think
ou" 'white''immi- Chinese competition has the effect of preventing white immigration at
gration. present.

The manufacturing interests which I represent were started three

years ago, and assumed their present proportion something over a year

ago ; previous to that we were supplied from Philadelphia and New York.

;300 to 600 females There may be in the neighborhood of 500 or 600 females engaged in th^

makme ^" ^'""^' business, directly and indirectly. Five years ago there were, perhaps,

twenty-five or thirty.
Industrious and The Chinese are industrious. It takes them from a year to eighteen

•ih*™-ht'^*'™^'^'' "^ months to become experienced hands in our trade. They learn as readily
as the whites.

There are one or two girls who are working for us who say they get
more wages here than they did at home. White help is employed in separ-
ate departments, not in the same class of work as the Chinese. The
Chinese are paid by the piece, and receive their wages individually.

There are a few Chinamen who learn the business and teach the others.
When more help is wanted, we tell some one of the workmen and they
bring their friends along. In China they have no knowledge of making
such shirts as we are accustomed to wear.

We advertised that we were willing to employ all the white labor that
we could use, providing they would give time to learn the business. We
have perhaps of fifty or sixty applicants about twelve remaining who have
become fair workers ; it took some of them two or three months to become
such. They were paid by the dozen in the meantime. New hands are paid
according to the grade of the shirt, from $2 a dozen upward. They would
make perhaps at least one dozen, one and a half, afterward two and three.
We have some girls now who make four dozen after being there four
or five months, and are enabled to earn from $8 to $10 a week. All
the work is done in the factories except in one branch — hand needle-
work— which is done outside by white help, mostly by women who have
families, or girls who have to help their mothers or parents at home.
There are three different parts before the shirt is made, and for each
particular part there is a different price. In making bosoms it depends
upon the amount of labor required — from ten cents to $2 a dozen is paid.
For finishing from $1.25 to $2 is paid.

:MAH0NY. Cornelius A. Mahony, engaged in the smelting business in Peru, sworn
and examined :

There are a number of Chinese in Peru. In 1872 and 1873 there were
-8,000 in Peru. from 70,000 to 80,000. They all come under labor contracts, in point of

fact they are simply slaves. Their contract binds them to serve for
eight years. They get, generally, a bounty of $20 — some small sum — va.
Macao, where they are shipped. Macao is a small island at the mouth of
Canton River. Their contracts are generally made, as I understand, before
the Portuguese authorities there and before the Peruvian Consul. They
then are brought on board ship, and confined in a manner that would

259 MAHONY

recall the horrors of the middle passage, and brought to Peru. In 1872
the number of Chinese who came was 14,530, and of that number there
was an average of about ten per cent, of death-rate on the passage. The
Chinese there are just the same class as the Chinese here, and are charged
with being river pirates, or of that class, in fact of the lowest order. The
firm I was employed with were the largest cooKe importers in Peru.
I believe the traffic has now been stopped. I had under me from thirty
to forty Chinese.

In 1873, I believe, a dispute arose between the Portuguese authorities
and the Peruvian Government as to the treatment of the coolies on board
ship, at the Chinchas and Guanape Islands, where they were employed in
the guano trade. That was got over, and in 1874 the importation was
very large. In the meantime a strong sentiment was growing in the
country against the Chinese. The laboring people, the peons, considered Sentiment grew
that the Chinese were likely to reduce the price of labor just as the people Siem.
here think now, and they did in fact ; because a Chinaman's contract
bound him to work for $4 a month and two pounds of rice a day.
Consequently it was very likely that a peon who wanted a little comfort,
who wanted a little meat with his dinner, and wanted a comfortable
habitation, naturally felt that he was suflFering, and in Peru, as revolu- Congress of 1875.
tions are easUy got up, it brought a certain pressure on the Government.
It was the Congress, I believe, of 1875, which passed the Act putting
an end in future to all this importation of coolies into Peru. The firm I
was connected with, I am told, has been no longer able to carry on
because of this law.

No Chinese women at all were imported ; in fact I only saw one little
Chinese girl. The result of this was that crimes of the most horrible and
unmentionable kind were common among them which it was found im- Sodomy,
possible to prevent. They were in point of fact sodomites of the worst
kind. They were treated very badly, in many cases, in Peru.

In the Guanape Islands the unfortunate wretches have thrown them-
selves by the hundreds into the sea in distraction. They used to get a
lot of negro overseers armed with whips, and they would beat them
around and all that kind of thing.

There is a class here that does not exist in Peru. I allude to merchants
and some respectable Chinese; otherwise their condition, intellectual
qualifications and general moral and physical condition was the same as it

IS ll6I*6

The Portuguese Government has regulated the traffic. They published
a law or regulations, all of which I have seen published in a paper m
Callao— the South Pacific Times. They were not observed.

A Chinaman in the streets of Valparaiso is a very rare occurrence^ I
have been in all parts of Chili where there are large copper mines. I* they
could get Chinese cheap labor there they would get it, because the labor
is necessarily cheaper where a man only gets $4 a month and is to find his
own clothes. , ,

The feeling against them in Peru in 1873 and 1874, was stronger than
it can possibly be here, for the reason that the people believed that it tended
to lower not only the rate of wages but their social status, and feared an
intermixture of population. At the end of his contract it is compulsory
for him to go back, or sign another for a like period. If they were allowed
to go free and compete with labor there, there would be an insurrection
ahnost immediately. That they work in factories I have no doubt but
that they are fit to work along with white men in such work as smelting
•or any work of that kind is not the fact. A man cannot work on rice

MAHONY

260

Chinamen learn
Spanish easier
than Xjnglish.
His idea to go
hack to China.

ness.

In a state of

slavery.

Inhumanity.

and do hard manual labor. They are not capable of doing anything that
requires physical strength. They appeared to come to us with a constitu-
tional scrofulous taint about them. They were always weak in the joints
Pliys^ai condition or getting sores, or getting into a nasty and fearful condition. We used
to send four or five in a month out of thirty to the hospital over at Callao,
and there was no reason for that that I could see, except that they must
have been originally of a very poor, degraded class in China.

They do not learn English fast, but they do Spanish. The Chinaman's
idea all the time appears to be to get back to China.

The condition of the Chinese here is worse than their condition in Peru,
where they are to a certain extent Bondsmen. They are made, in a ma-
Enforced cleanli- jority of cases, in that country to keep a certain amount of cleanliness,
such as making them sweep out their quarters, and turn out their mats
and shake them, clean the whole place, disinfect it, and all that kind of
thing.

They seem to be quite careless, and have no care and no sympathy for
one of their sick, and no respect for their dead.

I have seen three Chinese funerals during the two years and a half I
have been here.

The condition of the native classes in Peru and Chili is good. They are
industrious ; they will do more work than a Chinaman. I allude to the
peons and cholos. The cholos do most of the skilled labor. A peon is a
term generally applied to a workingman ; a cholo signifies a half-breed
between an Indian and one of the Spanish, or descendants of the Spanish,
people who settle in the country. There is no such thing as a bondsman
in Peru with the exception of the Chinese.

The coolies imported to the Spanish forts are taken all over the country
— over sugar plantations and works of that kind. There are no China-
towns there.

The form of government in Peru is republican and every Peru%-iau is
entitled to vote. A peon is a free citizen not a bondsman.

I am an Irishman and have been in Ireland and in numbers of cabins
of the peasantry. Every cabin has its pig's sty, but it is not attached by/
any means — it is a mere traveller's story. I think the true labor problem
is not the cheapening of labor, but its distribution ; that its solution is to
be found, not in the bringing here of a worthless class to overwhelm white
labor, but in the taking of the men who have no employment in the east
and bringing them here, giving all our own people meat and bread, and
enabling every man to bring up his children as good citizens.

Solution of labor
problem.

GRAY.

Prostitutes.

San Francisco, November 9th, 1876.
Giles H. Gray, Surveyor of the Port, sworn and examined :

The provisions of the Page Law, 1 87. 'i, prohibits the immigration or land-
mg of prostitutes and convicts from oriental countries, lepers and diseased
persons and paupers not being mentioned. Previous to this Act there had
arrived upon these steamers 200 to 400 women, frequently, the steamers
arrivmg twice a month. During the quarter from 1st July to the 1st Oc-
tober, 1875, there did not arrive 161 females, and we had no information
which would enable us to prohibit the landing of any of them ; the next
quarter, the last of the year, the number was reduced to forty-four In the
first quarter of the year 1 876, it was reduced to fifteen ; in the second quarter

261 GRAY

-thirty-two ; and in the third quarter, twenty-four. The women which' Precautions
have been landed since we have commenced to enfore the Page Law I have ^^fon of prosti'"
«very reason to believe are respectable women, and they are all accom- t"'"^-
panied by a photograph and a letter— a certificate like this : [witness pro-
duced letter and certificate which were read]. When a vessel arrives here
no woman is allowed to go ashore until after the mail has arrived and
she is compared with the picture. Sometimes it is twenty-four hours
before they can go ashore.

Before coming to California she has to tile a written application, which
is referred to a committee of examiners appointed by the Consul. They
take such testimony as they see proper, procure the photographs, compare
them, and if the testimony is satisfactory, they then permit them to come,
and forward to us a letter and the photographs. [The witness exhibits
three photographs of women who were prohibited from coming.] These
women did not arrive. I do not think there are any prostitutes arriving
here at all now. I think the Page Law has effectually stopped that source
of immigration. No complaints have been made at the custom house in
relation to Chinese women.

The authorities at Hong Kong .are exercising diligence now in prevent-
ing prostitutes from coming.

Every Chinese passenger arriving is accompanied with a certificate from
the Consul. The certificate shows that they are not included in these
limitations, and I think it goes on to say they are not contract-laborers or
contract-coolies, or criminals. It gives the names, and occupations, and
where they come from. If the certificate authorizes the landing of 1,000
and there should be 1,200, we should keep the last 200 on board, we
cannot tell which is which, whether they are the proper ones sent on
board or not. I have seen it stated in the published reports of the proceed-
ings of this Commission, that there are criminals- arriving, not that they
are all criminals, perhaps.

Referring again to the excess of passengers arriving and not on the
certificate, we measure the vessel to see if there is an excess over and above
what the vessel is allowed to carry; if a vessel has more aboard than she
is allowed under the United States laws, we report the vessel for fine, and
proceed against the vessel in every case, and get fines imposed. To that
extent we have suppressed immigration in that manner.

My opinion is that excessive Chinese immigration should be stopped or Excessive Chinese
suppressed. There are Chinese merchants here who are, I believe, honest Xsulfbe'stopped.
business men, and they are a benefit to the country; but there is a class
of coolies which come here which might be prevented by the United States
Consul, and which never should come, but ought to be prohibited. They
are a sort of wild race of Tartars. The largest portion is this kind and H properly
ought to be prohibited. If Chinese immigration was restricted by jj^rm in it.
proper regulations, I do not see any harm in it.

The proportion of industrious working people and idlers among them
is about the same as among the whites.

The Chinese ought to be compelled by law to separate and to take space
to live in the same as white people. The Japanese adopt oui' habits
when they come h6re, and there is scarcely any prejudice against them,
whereas the Chinese come here and bring their customs, and manners,
and ways of living, and they do not make desirable citizens.

The Chinese merchants import, not the Chinaman individually. They
•also use imported goods.

We always had the sympathy of the Chinese merchants in stopping the
ijnmigration of prostitutes. They did all they could to help us. There

GRAY , 262

are some of those merchants whom I believe to be honest, and who woo Id
tell just what was the truth.

GIBSON. Rev. Otis Gibson, in charge of the missions of the Methodist Church

here for eight years, formerly a resident in China for ten years, sworn
and examined :

The translations of the two original contracts I recognize as my own
work, and they are correct, as follows : —

Contaaets binding " An agreement to assist the woman Ah Ho, because coming from China to San
VToatitutes into Francisco she became indebted to her mistress for passage. Ah Ho herself asks,
aiavery. jjp Yee-Kwan to advance for her $630, for which Ah Ho distinctly agrees to

give her body to Mr. Yee for service as a prostitute for a term of four years.
" There shall be no interest on the money. Ah Ho shall receive no wages. At-
the expiration of four years, Ah Ho shall be her own master. Mr. Yee-Kwan
shall not hinder or trouble her. If Ah Ho runs away before her time is out her
mistress shall find her and return her, and whatever expense is incurred in find-
ing and returning her, Ah Ho shall pay.

On this day of the agreement, All Ho with her own hands, has received from
Mr. Yee-Kwan $630.

" If Ah Ho shall be sick at any time for more than ten days, she shall make up-
by an extra month of service for any ten days sickness.
" Now this agreement has proof. This paper received by Ah Ho is witness.

" TUNG CHEE.
" Twelth year, ninth month, fourteenth day."

That would be about October, 1873. The agreement is supposed to be
made here. One of these cases mentioned in this agreement was arrested^
and tried by me. I would not know them now. One was sent to the-
mission house. The following is the other contract: —

" An agreement to assist a young girl named Loi Yau. Because she became
indebted to her mistress for passage, food &c., and has nothing to pay, she-
makes her body over to the woman Sep Sam, to serve as a prostitute to make
out the sum of $503.

" The money shall draw no interest, and Loi Yau shall receive no wages. Loi
Yau shall serve four and a half years.

" On this day of agreement Loi Yau receives the sum of $503, in her own hands.
When the time is out Loi Yau may be her own master, and no man shall trouble
her.

"If she runs away before the time is out and any expense is incurred in catch-
ing, then Loi Yau must pay that expense.

If she is sick fifteen days or more, she shall make up one month for every
fifteen days.

"If Sep Sam should go back to China, then Loi Yau shall serve another party
till her time is out.

" If in such service she should be sick one hundred days or more, and cannot
be cured, she may return to Sep Sam's place.

" For a proof of this agreement this paper.

" LOI YAU.
Dated second day, sixth month, of the present year."

These papers bear their signatures in the shape of a mark. Sometimes
they do not use the agreement. The girl has a copy of this paper and is
supposed to keep it. She sometimes loses it, and has no redress.

Fuh Chau is in the province of Fuh Kien about half-way between Hong
Kong and Shanghai. I lived among the Chinese, studied their language,,
and became conversant with the common people and with the merchants.
For six months I was interpreter for the American Consul, and did all the
business of the consulate, so that I came in contact with many officials and
all classes of society, being able to converse with them in the Fuh Kien
Chinese dialects, dialect of Fuh Chau, the leading dialect of the whole province, embracing

263 GIBSOI*

Sbtiae 25,000,000 people. The dialect is not understood in Canton. The
written language is the same through all the land. Since I came here I
have been compelled to learn this dialect so far as able, called the Canton
dialect. The people who come from the country, a few hundred miles from
Canton, generally have a somewhat different dialect. We commonly speak
of them as the Sam-yup and the Se-yup. The Sam-yup is the city dialect,
the leading and controlling dialect, and three-fifths of the people" here speak
the Se-yup. The laboring people are largely of that class. They can un-
derstand each other, but not quite so readily as they can understand their
own people. I have had constant intercourse with them here all the time
for eight years.

I know something about the action taken in reference to sending back prostituteB.
prostitutes. On one occasion I sent back ten. On the arrival of a
steamer here the police authorities corraled a number of these women, and
sent for me to come down and ask them certain questions. I went, and
asked them where they came from, and why, who were their parents, and
if they had any friends here, etc. ; if they wished to remain or go back, .
what their business was, and many questions of that kind. The result
was that out of the whole number there were ten who said they had been
kidnapped or forced to come here, and wished to go back. They were
sent up to the mission house. I sent a China boy down to the Chinese '^^^Jll^^^^^^l'''^
merchants to tell them that I had ten women who wished to go back, and wished to go.
who said they had been brought here against their will. The merchants tack,
sent all the money necessary, and more, to send them back. They were
not sent back because they were lewd women ; it was simply a voluntary
matter on their own part. A large part of the women who come here
are brought for lewd purposes.

I am not in favor of a large and rapid influx of immigration from any
foreign country whatever. At times it has been too rapid for the best in-
terests of the country. I believe that a large portion of the European Believes a large-
immigration so rapidly admitted to citizenship and the right of suffrage is P^^'^^^^^'^^i.
more dangerous to the institutions and prosperity of this country than is sration^more^^
the smaller and better regulated immigration from Asia. the^Asfatic. ^^

It is well known here that the Chinese pay high rents and pay p^y more than
promptly. They pay more than $1,000,000 annually in rents alone g,0O0,MO annually

As to Chinese cheap labor, all testimony goes to show chat in Calitornia
we have no cheap labor as compared with the eastern states. The pres-
ence of the Chinese has reduced the exorbitant price of labor which pre-
vailed in the early days of our history, and by this means they have
opened industries, cheapened products, and made it possible for poor
white men to come here with their families and Uve and thrive. It is an
indisputable fact that at the present time in California, m spite ot a
peculiar cry about the evils of Chinese labor, labor for industrious white White^iabor m a.
men is as abundant, if not more abundant, wages are as high, it not higner, condition in
and living as cheap, if not cheaper, and the general condition of the white Cahforma.
laboring classes is as good, if not better, than in any other part ot the
United States, or of this world. Cheap labor makes cheap products, Che^ap labor^ ^^^^
cheap living. Flour at $50 per barrel, wages $10 per day, h^e days ducts-ehaap
work will buy a barrel of flour ; with flour at $6 per barrel, wages $'2 per l>"ng-
day, three days' work wiU buy the same barrel. T believe that all the
industries of the state, all the capital of this state looking for investment
in industrial pursuits, demand this competition of labor as an indispens-
able element of investment, of development, and of success as a question Insunceto^ prove-
of political economy. I know an instance in this city oi a gentleman wno ^^^^^^^ ^-^^^^ j„r-
proposed to invest largely in a certain manufacturing enterprise. Before manufactories.

GIBSON

264

No overalls and
slippers for the
trade made until
Chinamen came.

The Cliinese not
taken employ-
ment from
women.

Instance in which
a young China-
man cut off his
queue and adopted
-American dress.

doing so he enquired the price of white labor, and the price of the product
that he should manufacture, and found he could not invest his money.
He then enquired how much Chinese labor would cost, and he found, if he
would bring in a part of Chinese labor and a part of white labor, he could
manufacture with some profit. He went into the business, but he would
not have gone into it if the Chinese had not been here. I think the same
thing is true generally. This competition here is limited to a few of the
lighter and slower industries. The Chinamen make overalls, slippers,
shoes, cigars, shirts, etc., but no overalls or slippers for the trade were
made in this country until the Chinamen made them. They do no labor
upon the public works of the city, nor upon any public buildings of the
state. Generally speaking, there are no Chinese house-carpenters, brick-
layers, painters, plumbers, glaziers, blacksmiths, foundrymen ; no Chinese
printers, bookbinders, tailors,milliners, mantua-makers ; no bankers or
insurance agents, no commission merchants of American or European
goods. They oifer no competition to our lawyer, nor to doctors, preachers,
school-teachers, nor to any profession whatever. Instead of driving any
of these mentioned laborers or professions from the field, the presence and
labor of the Chinese have opened up industries which have certainly
stimulated the demand for such white laborers and professional men as I
have mentioned. As to the charge that the Chinese have taken employ-
ment from our women and girls, there may be single instances of that
kind, but as a general charge it is not true. House-servants, sewing-
women, and laundry work are as well paid in San Francisco as in New
York, Philadelphia, or Chicago. My wife dismissed a Chinese boy whom
she was paying SI 6 a month, and took a girl into the house who came
from the east, where she had been working on a dairy-farm at f 2 a week,
milking cows, summer and winter ; we gave her ^the same wages as the
boy, $16 a month.

It is objected that the Chinese do not learn our language, and do not at-
tend our schools. The fact is they are taxed to support our schools, but
are peremptorily refused admission to their privileges on account of race-
prejudice. There are many young children in Chinatown, but neither the
state nor the city is providing any schools for their education. Many of
the Chinese are learning something of our language. There are about
750 average attendants upon the various evening mission schools and pri-
vate classes in the state, involving a roll-cfdl of 2,500. There are
about 1,000 average attendants upon the various Sabbath schools, involv-
ing a roll-call of about 3,000. These are all studying the English language.
Besides these there are thousands learning our language in famiHes as
family servants. It may be safely said that we have no other foreign
immigration that, with so little encouragement, makes equal efforts to
learn our language, laws and customs. A young man, a son of a Chinese
merchant, who has attended our mission school for two and a half years, ,
has just been admitted to Napa Collegiate Institute in this state, and is
doing well. Of his own free choice, and with the full consent of his
father, the young man cut off his queue and adopted the fuU American
dress. There are hundreds of other young men anxious to do this same
thing, but want of money prevents their doing so. If the rights of
citizenship and the elective franchise depended solely upon a knowledge
of our language, laws, and customs, and a good character as regards intel-
ligence, industry and morals, quite a number of Chinese would soon ask
for naturalization papers, and have a right to them. The fact that there
are now in our eastern colleges and schools between 100 and 200 Chinese
youths, supported and schooled by the Chinese Government, indicates a

265 GIBSON

strong national desire to become acquainted with our language, customs,
and principles of government.

As to the morals of the Chinese, the civilization of China is lower than Chinese morals
the Christian civilization of our country. The standard and practice of tian, but higher
morality by the Chinese people is not equal to the standard and practice n'jw^gloie^ ""^
of those who accept the Gospel of Christ as their rule of practice ; but nation,
the standard of Chinese morals is higher and better than that of any other
heathen nation in the world. They are very fond of their children. They
have profound respect for age and experience. They are great traders,
and have the reputation in all the world of being as honest and reliable
in commercial and business transactions as are the peoples with whom
they have traded. Even here they have the reputation of paying promptly
their rents, taxes, and debts.

The charge of immorality brought against the Chinese here may be
brought with almost if not quite equal force against most of the European
immigration, whether the specific charge be drunkenness, profanity, fight-
ing and quarrelling, gambling, or prostitution. The same labor that has
lately been bestowed in ferreting out the vices of the 30,000 Chinese in
this city, if bestowed in special efforts to ferret out the vices of 30,000 im-
migrants from Europe of the common laboring classes, would produce a
chapter of crimes, vices, and misery quite equal to that presented against
the Chinese.

The charge that Chinese prostitutes are demoralizing our boys, if true to ^*ji"®|^^P^^|'''
■any extent is a sad comment upon our boasted superiority. But there is ^cys.
one very important and material consideration in connection with this
matter of demoralizing our boys that ought not to be ov6rlooked--that is
this ; There are more liquor saloons and liquor groceries in this city and
in this country than there are Chinese prostitutes. It is quite safe to say
that all these boys who visit these prostitutes take their first lessons of
demoralization in some one of the 3,000 whiskey saloons or liquor
groceries licensed by this Christian municipality, kept mostly and patron-
ized largely by immigrants from Europe. The same class of demoralized
boys, and in quite as large a proportion, is found in all our eastern cities,
where Chinese prostitution is not known.

The statement has been made that the Chinese fill our prisons, gaols,
hospitals, and asylums, but the facts as shown by ofiicial reports do not
exactly sustain the charge. In the state's prison a larger per cent, of Average of crime.
Chinese criminals is found than of the whites, but the comparison is made
as between the Chinese on the one hand and all the whites, including
American-born, on the other hand. It is well known that a larger per
cent, of crime, vice, and misery is found among the immigrants from
Europe than among native-born Americans. It will only be fair to com-
pare the statistics of crime, vice, and pauperism among the immigrants
from some European country— Ireland, for instance. On this basis we find
at the present time in our San Quentin prison, 1,158 prisoners, of whom
199 are Chinese, 160 are born in Ireland, 615 native Americans, and 184
from all other foreign countries. About 400 of the whole number are
Roman Catholics. I do not think that there are more people m the
state from Ireland than there are from China. The Irish population has
more women and children, a class always producing less criminals; so
that, bad as the case is against the Chinamen filling our prisons, the same
■charge stands with equal if not greater force against the Irishman. Ihe
■official reports of the industrial school for the year ending July 1st, 1875,
give the total number as 225 ; their nationalities being 194 native
Americans, seven Irishmen, and four Chinese. The alms-house official

GIBSON

266

Dishonest or in-
effectiTe charac-
ter of municipal
police.

Perjury.

In brain-power
and poaaibility ot
onlture they are
the equal of any
other people.
Not slaves.

report for the same time, gives the total number as 498 ; native bom,
143 ; from Ireland, 197 ; Chinese, none. The hospital report
for the same time, gives the total at 3,918 ; natives of the United States,
1,112 ; born in Ireland, 1,308 ; born in China, eleven. One hundred and
eighteen Irishmen to one Chinaman is the way the Chinese are filling our
hospitals. The pest-house report, which is the Chinese hospital, for the
same time gives the total number at twenty-two ; Chinese none.

If we continue to make our comparisons between our Chinese and
European immigrants, we shall find as large a proportion of the one selling
liquor as of the other selling opium.

It is a fact that the Chinese are addicted to gambling and all kinds of
chance games, but there can be no doubt but that more money is lost and
won in this city every day by white gamblers than by all the other Chinese
in America.

The remedy for this class of evils, as well as the remedy for dirty
streets, alleys, tenements, etc., would seem to rest in the municipal govern-
ment rather than in the abrogation of national treaties or special Acts of
Congress.

Gambling and prostitution are not legalized and licensed by the laws of
China. The laws and the higher mandarins generally prohibit these
vices ; but, as in other countries, petty ofiicials receive bribes to permit
the unlawful traffic. The municipal authorities here lately demonstrated
their ability to suppress Chinese gambling and prostitution houses to a
large extent ; but nearly all the gambling-houses, and many of the houses
of prostitution, are now open again.

The Chinese excite less riots, commit fewer assaults, and murders,
etc., than almost any other foreign population among us. There is a class
of bad Chinamen who do such things. Riots among themselves have
been few, and they have never incited nor engaged in a riot against white
men in this country. No riot among themselves in this country has ever
begun to equal the outrages of the Alameda local option election in this
state in which drunken Europeans insulted and assaulted respectable
American women, and respectable American-born citizens were driven by
brute European force from the polls. Chinese immigration has never
yet committed such an outrage upon American people nor upon American
institutions.

They seldom commit assaults among themselves, almost none upon
white people. Hardly a day passes that our newspapers do not record a
case of unprovoked and frequently unpunished assault upom some in-
ofiensive Chinaman.

There is no doubt but that they constantly perjure themselves in our
courts, but the class of Chinese who get into our courts are generally the-
most depraved and unreliable. They are not the only ones who commit
perjury. A late judge of the county court (Judge Stanly) remarked to me
that perjury in our courts by white witnesses is as common as the smoking
of cigars upon our streets.

I do not hesitate to express my opinion that in simple brain-power and
possibilities of culture, the Chinese race is equal to any other people in
the world.

The Chinese who have embraced Christianity all assert, most posi-
tively, that the Chinese do not come here as slaves to any person nor to
any company. The thotsands of Chinese house-servants all receive their
own wages and use the money as they please. If they were all slaves
their masters would not allow them to spend their earnings in gambling,
as many now do. There is no class of laborers in America to-day more
free to do as they please than are the Chinamen.

267 GIBSON

They often borrow money to get here, and agree to pay high premiums
or interest, but the agreement is in the amount of money rather than in
in the number of years of service. At the present time the most who immigrants,
come, if assisted at all, are assisted by their relatives, or friends, or
townsmen who were here before them. They come for the express pur-
pose of making money to better their condition. Many of them become industrial
attached to this country, and choose to come back, after their return to ''^^^^^''^■
China, to live and die here. They are willing to do any kind of labor ;
and as laborers they are generally industrious, faithful, and satisfactory.

Instead of preventing white labor coming from Europe and from the stimulated
eastern states, I believe that up to this time we have had a larger immi- ^^^^ ^hite
gration of that class than we should have had if the Chinamen had not immigration,
been here.

As to health, we have no more healthy class among us than the Chinese. Healthy.
As to their cleanliness, they are not a clean people ; but in this city and a^aT^hl%^e'^
county I do not think they are more filthy than the same number of^iimber of Euro--
Tn IT iji. pean common

liiuropean common laborers would be. laborers.

The Chinese in America are nearly all from the province of Canton, in
the south of China, and sail from Hong Kong, a British port.

Few Chinamen in this country, in proportion to their whole number Few Chinamen
have brought their families with them. It is not their custom when emi- families,
grating to any point in their own country to take their first wives and
children with them. Their women are averse to coming. Many of these
men become attached to the prostitutes whom they visit, purchase them, They sometimes
and live with them as husband and wife ; and the children, if any are ™tes^hey vFsrt.^ ^"
born, are considered legitimate. Lately many are marrying after our
forms.

I suppose there are .5,000 or 6,000 Chinese women in this country, the
most of whom are prostitutes. They are bought and sold like slaves at
the wUl of their masters.

There are six Chinese companies, representing the principal places from Six comganies
which the Chinese have come. Besides these general companies there are
several societies, or guilds, or unions representing different trades and
pursuits, composed of men from all the different six companies.

The Hip-ye-tung and the Po-sang-tung associations, whose principal Two^ other^asrocia-
business has been to stimulate and protect the gambling and the women tlon of gambling
traffic, are different from the Six Companies. There is also the Chinese and prostitution.
Young Men's Christian Association, which has severed all connection
with the Six Companies.

The famous Six Companies are simply voluntary associations for The Six Com-
mutual protection and benefit. It is the universal custom of the Chinese,
when emigrating to any new country, to at once form themselves into a
guild or association of this kind ; and every Chinaman from the same
region naturally reeks membership in this guild. They have their place
of meeting, and elect annually their officers in a very democratic way.
Differences that arise among members are referred to the officers and
leading influential members for arbitration and settlement. Advice and
aid are given to the new comer and to the sick. They are not mercantile
firms in any sense ; neither are they courts of justice, but voluntary asso-
ciations for mutual aid and benefit. They do not claim, nor do they
exercise, any judicial authority. All the restraining power which these
companies hold or exercise over the people is through an arrangement
with the various steamship companies, by which no Chinaman can pur-
chase a passage to China without first procuring a permit of departure
from these companies. They claim to do this in order to prevent dishonest

GIBSON 268

Chinamen from running away before their debts are paid. They claim
that all Chinese in this country belong to one or another of these six
companies, except the Young Men's Christian Association, which is sup-
posed to have a membership of about 1,000 ; but they never claim, and
they deny the charge, that they have ever imported any of these men who
belong to their companies.

The masses of Chinese here are ignorant of, and take little interest in,
our politics ; but among the merchants, and especially among the young
men attending the schools, are found very many who take an intelligent
intei'est in the politics of this country.

The most of the Chinese now in America were common laborers,
farmers, and such like in their own country, mostly poor, industrious
people ; their physical condition is as good, if not better, in this country
than in China, and is constantly and gradually improving.
The population of China is from 350,000,000 to 400,000,000.
Chinese civiliza- The civilization of the Chinese Empire is the oldest known in history.
The Government, which is Abrahamic or patriarchal in theory, is suffi-
ciently powerful to hold in check and comparative order the immense
mass of 400,000,000 of beings. As a people they are eminently conserva-
tive, the same school-books, the writings of Confucius and Mencius, have
been used in their schools for hundreds of years. This has stamped a
common character upon all the people. The written language, common
in all parts of the empire, is not a spoken language in any part of the
country. There are various dialects in different localities. These different
dialects are almost as numerous as are the great cities of China, and differ
almost as do the spoken languages of Europe. The Chinese of one locality
have but little affinity for or sympathy with those of a different locality.
What the Chinese ""^^ *" scholarship, the average Chinese scholar knows little or nothing
"scholar" knows, about geography, mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry or astronomy.
His knowledge of history is confined to an epitome of the history of his
own country and people. He knows no language except his ols^n, and yet
he is no mere novice, his memory is truly wonderful ; his knowledge of the
relations and duties between man and man, between the people and the
rulers, is remarkable ; and in diplomacy the Chinese have no equals.
Schools abound in China. Probably not one-fifth of the population have
what might be termed a common school education. The masses knowthe^
written characters representing the common articles of food and clothing
without being able to read a single page of literature. In the arts the
Chinese have made no progress for centuries,
stagnation. For many hundred years no new inventions have appeared in China.

Their system of printing from the first has been the same as now. They
cut it on boards, the size of the page, and it stands out in relief. In
Religion, fatalism, science, government, and religion, everjrthing is stereotyped ; everything
runs in the same old rut. The religion of the educated may be formulat-
ed as blind fatality ;; the religion of the masses, a heartless, superstitious,
idolatry. The whqip land is full of idols. The whole civilization of China
has stood still for centuries, and to purify it, it needs to be moved and
stirred from centre to circumference by contact and friction with the
Christian civilization of America and Europe. They have always dis-
couraged emigration from their shores, and have been constantly and
bitterly opposed to every attempt by 'outside nations to settle among them.
Livmg thus, the Chinese people seem generally to be filled with
fefles^ai'^slS^rior *^® strange conceit that they are superior to all other nations
to au other ot the earth. For centuries the civilization of the Chinese has

nations ot the been in advance of the nations and peoples of Asia, with whom

269 GIBSON

alone they have had intercourse. They have schools and colleges ;
they understand political economy; they have an immense coast
and inland commerce ; they understand agricultural pursuits equal to any
people in the world ; they build houses, and temples and immense stone
bridges; they have a great navigable canal system, reaching through
almost the entire length of the country ; they make silks, satins, and
cotton cloth ; they are elaborate carvers of ivory, wood, etc.; they make
beautiful bronze castings, and exquisite chinaware ; they are industrious
and frugal to the last degree.

The marriage relation is recognized and honored in China. Polygamy Marriage rela-
is allowable, though not very generally practised. With them marriage """•
is rather a civil contract than a religious rite or ceremony. No public
register is kept ; no certificate of marriage given. The parties pledge each
other in small cups of wine, and perform together a whole ritual of pros-
trations befoie the open heavens and also before the family penates. There
is a great deal of form and ceremony, according to the rank of the parties.
In taking a secondary wife, or concubine, forms and ceremonies may be
omitted, she taking her place in the family with as little ceremony as a
hired servant would in America. Under certain circumstances divorces
are allowable, but they are not frequent. If a man marries when poor and
afterward becomes rich, he may, not for any cause, put away the wife who
shared his years of poverty. It is not considered respectable for a widow
to marry again, and if a young girl loses her bethrothed before marriage
it is considered highly meritorious in her to remain unmarried all her life.
Sometimes a young lady bereaved of her betrothed husband before the
consummation of marriage publicly commits suicide, in order to make her
widowhood perpetual and to remove herself beyond the temptation to
marry another. An instance of this self-sacrifice occurred during my
residence at Fuh Chau. There is no practice of personal courtship in Marriages
China as with us here. Older heads make the selections of life partners rS^ves o/the
for the young and inexperienced boys and girls, as well as arranging parties.
other details. Betrothals are often made while the children are
quite young, and sometimes conditionally even before they are born.
The married woman is subject to the will of her husband, and some-
times to the control of her husband's mother. The faithfulness
of married women in China to their husband's will compares favorably with
the practice of the same virtue by the women of Europe and America.
Husbands are not generally so chaste as the wives. Female prostitution
exists in all parts of the empire, and is especially prevalent in large cities
and in all sea-port towns. This class of women is usually confined to some
particular quarter of the city or to boat-population. Poor people often sell
their female infants to this class of panderers to human depravity, and the
poor girls are brought up to perpetual bondage to the will of their villain-
ous masters. Infanticide of female children is practised in all ports of the Filiacide.
empire, in some sections to an alarming extent. Proclamations are some-
times issued warning the people against it, not only because it is a crime,
but also because the girls are becoming so scarce and expensive that the
common people cannot afford to marry, and public morals are endangered.

The people of China are noted for their industry and frugality. Every Industrious and
man has something to do. Few people walk the streets simply for the ex- "^"^^ '
ercise, or to see the sights. There are no railroads, no horse-cars, no stage-
coaches. All land transportation, especially in central and southern China,
is done by the bone and muscle of human beings. Merchandise, house-
furniture, and building material are all packed on men's shoulders. In
his habits of living the ordinary Chinaman is exceedingly economical and

GIBSON

270

liow standard
of comfort.

Chinese not clean
in their personal
habits.

Progress of
Christianity
among the Chi-
nese.

frugal. Rice and vegetables, fish, pork and fowls compose the principal
diet of the people. The average Chinaman can live nicely in most parts
of the empire on from seven to fifteen cents per day. The price of labor
corresponds to the cheapness of living. Fifteen to twenty cents per day
is very good pay, for a common laborer. Literary men of good ability can
afford to teach for salaries from $6 to |10 per month, and board them-
selves. House-servants receive from $2 to $4 per month and found. Serv-
ing in white families in China, in the open ports, Hong Kong, Canton,
Amoy, Fuh Chau, Shanghai, etc., they receive from $3 to $10 per month;
mechanics and stone-masons receive from twenty to forty cents per day.
The currency used in all parts of the empire is a brass "cash," about the
size of a twenty-cent piece, quite thin, with a square hole through the cen-
tre. A Mexican silver dollar is worth about 1,000 brass cash. The banks,
in changing brass cash for silver dollars, always take the dollars by weight.
In large mercantile transactions payments are made in sycee, i.e., in bars
lumps, or masses of silver by weight. They have a custom of squaring
accounts at the close of each year, and the rule is that debts must all be
paid at that time.

It cannot be said that the Chinese, generally, in their houses and per-
sonal habits of living are a neat and clean people. They bathe their
persons often in warm weather, it being common for them to take a
sponge-bath from a little bucket of warm water at the close of each day's
work. They do not believe in cold baths under any circumstances. Their
clothing in warm weather is frequently washed and kept comparatively
clean. On the other hand, the water-carrier might not think it out of
place to wash his feet in the water-bucket, and after rinsing bring water
in the same bucket for you to drink. I saw an instance of this while
living in Fuh Chau. A Chmaman will often scrub his teeth and rinse
his mouth in the same dish and same water in which he has just washed
his face. The dish-washer might not think it amiss to wipe his face and
your dinner plate with the same cloth. In the cold weather they do not
bathe their persons so frequently, nor wash their clothing so often, and
the consequence is that they become exceedingly filthy, and the clothing
and persons of the common people often become alive with vermin. [At
this point an extract was read by the witness from Mr. W. H. Seward's
" Voyage Around the World," on the civilization of the Chinese.] The
work of Christianizing the Chinese nation was at first slow, but is
now progressing much faster than ever before. It was ten years before
a single convert was baptized at Fuh Chau, but now that mission.
(Methodist Episcopal) numbers about 2,000 active church members and
probationers scattered throughout the province, and about twice that
number of attendants upon the regular Christian services. In this one
mission there are some seventy native preachers, several of whom are
ordained. These Chinese Christians are not often found in the service of
the mercantile community nor in the employ of ship-captains. They are
almost never seen by this class of Americans and Europeans. The
missionary work in China is all done in the Chinese language. Few, if
any, of the Chinese Christians can speak the English at all, and that
excludes them generally from European and American service. The per-
sons who testify that there are no Chinese Christians are persons who
know nothing about the matter, have never visited the mission, and have
never come in contact with Chinese Christians. There are now over
12,000 communicants of the Protestant Christian churches in China,
and a line of Christian chapels and communities all along the coast
from Canton to Shanghai, a distance of 800 or 1,000 miles. You can

^'^^ GIBSON

travel all the way from Amoy to Fuh Chau and stop every night at
a chapel.

In California there are about 300 Chinese who have been baptized and
received into the different Protestant churches. If we include the Young"
Men's Christian Association and other associations for learning Christian
doctrines, the number comes up to nearly 1,000. Most of these men make
sacrifices and endure contempt for the sake of the truth. I know instances
of such being the fact.

Something has been said about the cruelty and piratical character of Humanity in
the Chinese, their unwillingness to aid tjieir fellow-men in suffering. In *^'''"*"
China they have public granaries from which the poor are fed at public
expense in time of famine. They have lately inposed severe regulations
jequiring all vessels, sailors, soldiers, and officers — civil, and military, and
naval — to aid and succor shipwrecked vessels, to save life and property,
^ving rewards to those who obey and punishing those who neglect. In
the recent floods, the officers required all boats to assist the suffering and
rescue the drowning. Those who refused were immediately punished. The
dealers in rice formed a ring and raised the price so high as to distress
the people. The mandarins immediately published a fixed rate for ,rice
and food. Any violation of the rule was followed by confiscation of
property.

The vicious element among them here are as easily controlled as the
vicious among the foreign inhabitants from any country. They are more
subject to law.

I think the Chinese have the capacity and brain-power to understand Chinese capacitr
our political institutions. ^""^ brain-power.

In China the son of a poor man may rise to the highest office. The
father of Confucius was a scholar but a poor man.

I was in Shanghai in 1862. It was the time of the rebellion in that
northern part of China, and the imperial army and the army of the rebels
had scoured the country all round about and devastated the fields, con-
sumed the means of living, and tens of thousands had been driven into
what we call the foreign city of Shanghai and its surroundings. There
was great suffering, cholera prevailed, and thousands of people were dying
. for the want of food. These people were compelled to beg, or steal, or die.
The character given to the Chinese by Mr. Tobin, that half of them
were beggars and thieves is not correct. It might apply to this outside
population driven in by the war, but not to the Chinese city of Shanghai.
Nor is it true, as stated by him, that the common people do not marry. As
a general thing they do not live together at all unless they are man and
wife, except professional prostitutes. I think there are much fewer of what
Chinese consider to be illegitimate children in China than in almost any
other country, but it must be understood that there is a system of poly-
gamy, concubinage, and the children of concubines are legitimate.

I believe the Chinese have a constitution. There are six boards regu-
lating the whole division of government divided into six departments.
Each of the six boards has its regular constitution. They have a regular
judicial system of courts, with appeal from one to the other up to the Judicial system.
Emperor.

There are foundling asylums in the cities in China, where I have been, ^rap'itei^^
for castaway children. They are supported by contributions from rich
men, aided by the government.

If a man cannot pay his debts in, China, there is no way of compelling
Jiim ; it is simply a disgrace.

The custom of their trade is to sell tea and such like by sample. With SJ™™^?!*'^

GIBSON

272

Six companies.

regard to this great transaction in tea, and all the great mercantile trans-
actions, they must of necessity involve great confidence by our merchants
in the compradors. A Chinese comprador is sent up into the country
with $250,000, $300,000 or $500,000 in bulk to buy tea, and there is no
security except his honesty and integrity. That class of men in China
have a good character among European and American men of business for
reliability and honesty.

The position of women in China compare favorably, or better, than the
position of those in the eastern part of Europe.

White servants in families here are paid from $20 to $30 per month.

There are, perhaps, 200 or 300 Chinese children in the city now.

The revenues of the Six Companies are made up by voluntary contribu-
tions and by permits granted to Chinamen when they want to depart.
The ofiicers are paid out of these revenues. They have also collections.
If they are in need of money, they will issue their statement of a tax of
so much, asking people to pay a certain sum. Some pay more and some
less — -half a dollar for a man, usually. It is all voluntary. Their osten-
sible business and practice is of a charitable nature.
Help eaoli other. Their friends take care of the poor. They are a great people to help
each other. Large numbers of those who are here have come for the-
second time.

The vessels engaged in the coasting trade are usually engaged in a dis-
reputable trade. Although the Chinese hate to punish their own people
for assaults upon foreigners, so far as my experience goes they always did
it, and did it quite efficiently when required to do so by our Consul.
Many things that Mr. King said are true, but many things are not true.

I think there is a difierent standand of living required for American
laborers from that the Chinese subsist upon. The' American laborer's
family cannot be supported on the pittance that a Chinaman can possibly
bring himself down to, but an American family can be supported on thfr
wages which Chinamen get. The Chinese, for the most common and un-
skilled labor, get $1 and $1.25 a day— $30 and $35 a month. For skilled
labor they get $60 a month. I think white labor in this state is as well
paid as in any state in the Union. No man need work at a $1 a day besides
a Chinaman, if he does not want to do so, in this country. In regard to -
house-servants, of course if the people here fill up with Chinese, they do
not want any whites, some employ Chinamen because they get them at
low wages ; some from choice, at the same price they would to whites. I
think there are very few people here without work — those who want to
work. If you employ a white girl to do the work of a family of a man
and his wife and several children, you have got to put out your washing
and get somebody to wash the windows and front steps besides, whereas
a Chinaman will do the whole work. The difficulty of getting employ-
ment for women and girls is not general. The fact of there being 3,000
Chinese house-servants here does not have the tendency to exclude white
girls ; because the very presence of these Chinese servants in these
families makes it possible for those families to be here with all their in-
dustries, and those families could not live here if they had not Chinese
servants-. So far, in my opinion. Chinamen have only multiplied labor
here. I think a few thousand unskilled laborers in any city will certainly
multiply the facilities for skilled labor and higher industries. When labor
IS exorbitant so that industries cannot be carried on, then the reduction
of labor down to the prices that the industries can be carried on is a bene-
fit. Decently paid labor is necessary to American civilization, and we
have It here. The supply and demand of labor will have something to do-

Labor qusstion.

Difficulty of
getting employ-
raent for women
and girls not
general.

Chinamen only
multiplied labor

273

GIBSON

in bringing down the price of labor generally below a decent price. I
cannot educate my family, attend to my duties, give them decent clothes,
and meat and other food, such as Americans live on, at a dollar a day.
I do not want to ; I do not need to ; neither does any other man.

There may be some instances where Chinamen are employed as nurses. Children and
Children acquire a great deal of knowledge from their parents, but from p^irnurael^"""'
their nurses, white or Chinese, I think they never ought to learn. If they
have good, intelligent nurses, well-behaved American girls, they learn
something. I think the house-servants in the east are largely foreigners,
a.nd I should have just the same objection to employing them as nurses
as I have against Chinamen as nurses.

I do not know how to reconcile the fact of the Chinese fondness for
children and the infanticide which prevails in some parts of China. Some
of them sell their female children, which does not show a fondness for them Sale of female
in the persons who sell them. Sometimes they are sold knowing that they "•^'''i™"-
would be better off, sometimes for purposes of prostitution.

The Chinese, generally, are peaceful among themselves, but they have
riots among themselves. I read about the bloody riots recently at Virginia
City and at San Jose. Sometimes they arise over a woman ; sometimes
about money. Feuds often occur in China between villages.

There is no slavery in China as to the male sex ; there are no slaves Not slaves,
among them here. I have read somewhere that miany of the Chinese get
to this country by giving onerous obligations, which are secured by their
certificates, and that where there is a failure to return the money the
relatives themselves are sold in order to make good the contract. It is
not the custom in China to sell a family.

I do not think the Chinaman here would be professed Christians except
from sincere sentiments.

Perhaps my avocation would be gone if there were no Chinese here. I
am a lessee of property in Chinatown, occupied by Chinese, and I shall
hold it as long as I can. It is not an opium den ; I know they smoke
opium there, for I have seen them, the people rooming there being opium- Opium-smoking
smokers. In some other rooms that I have rented I have seen people trinkinj'^*^
smoking tobacco, cigars, and drinking whiskey. The use of opium stupefies,
puts them to sleep, makes them languid. It is more injurious than
tobacco ; it debilitates the system. The effect of smoking opium is
different from the efifect of drinking whiskey, the latter stirs people up,
makes them rampant, and fight sometimes ; Chinamen never fight when
under the influence of opium. The building I rented was simply for the
purpose of securing a chapel.

The Chinese sick are largely taken care of by their friends. There are
but very few paupers who do not manage to get a little something one
way or the other. They are a great people in their own country to live
upon their friends.
The Chinese here are industrious, if you exclude the women who are phinese

, , , , , T mi in ■ n industrious^

prostitutes and the class who are gamblers. There are hardly any idle

persons among them There are fewer fights among them than among

the lower whites.

They are excluded from the public schools on account of race-prejudice.

In Sacramento there is a Chinese girl who attends school. I never heard

'of one here ; there may be others in some country school districts, but I

do not know of it. I made application here once, and was refused by a

-formal written answer. If they were admitted the night schools would

have a large number of them. The mission schools are quite full all the ^jf '°° schools

*une. The difierent branches of Protestants have schools for the Chinese

18

GIBSON

274

Labor question.

Limited iinmigra
tton.

Many would
beconae good
citizens.

Admits two ob-
jections against
them not appli-
cable to other
people : (1) non-
assimilation or
very slow; (2) a
possibility of too
large an influx of
them.

The Chinese gov-
ernment do not
desire their people
to come here.

here. There are 300 or 400 regular attendants nightly. Perhaps there-
are 1,200 or 1,500 who attend altogether. In my school they are expected
to pay $1 a month. We teach them reading, writing, geography, and
grammar, the same as any other school, and employ teachers.

All Protestant denominations are represented in mission work in China.
The Catholics are not there now.

In regard to the effect of Chinese labor upon white labor, hardly at
any time has there been too much labor here, more than could receive
adequate employment and payment. There may have been a few months
once or twice when that may have been the case. At the present time
the demand is equal to the supply. ' The presence of the Chinese here I
do not think interferes with white labor on this coast at this time. I think
it has stimulated labor and helped hundreds of white people to honorable
employment. I believe the presence of the Chinese here has been an element
in the prosperity of this country up to the present time.

The Chinese assimilate with our people, but do it more slowly than any
other people who come here. That, I think, makes them a less desirable
peoph' as far as that one element is concerned.

I believe the matter of supply and demand will hold a good check upon
Chinese immigration. I -should like to see them limited to a couple of
hundred on a ship.

If they were allowed to become naturalized, at tirst they would be slow
to embrace it. I think only those who knew the language would care
about it. Many already desire to become citizens, and would make very
good citizens. It would be unhappy and unfortunate, exceedingly unfor-
tunate, if the Chinamen should all at once have the right of suffrage ;.
but I think they should be allowed to be naturalized on the same condi-
tions as other people. If immigrants from Europe were not allowed to
become citizens, but compelled to ramain aliens, I doubt if they would
come in such large numbers. It would tend to lessen immigration ; it
would segregate and degrade them, and make them an inferior class.

There are only two objections that can be made, that reach my mind at
all, against Chinese immigration, which do not prevail with equal force
against other immigration from foreign lands. They assimilate more
slowly. That is one point. The second objection is, that in case of
intestine wars in China, and rebellions, and the devastation of
great regions of their country, there is a simple possibility that there
might come over a large influx of Chinamen to this country that could
not be handled very well in the interests of the country. By limiting
the number the rates of passage would be higher. It is now about |55,
and the condition of Chinamen is not so much better as to make them go
through very much to come if they have to pay largely to get here. They
like their own country the best of any country. The treaties that are
made between our country and China are for our benefit, not for the bene-
fit of the Chinamen. If I understand it, the Chinamen to-day have not a
single right or advantage in this country that they would not have if there
was no treaty at all with the nation. We have many rights in China
which the general system of government in China would not give us with-
out the treaties. For no crime under heaven can a Chinese authority
touch an American in China.

I do not think the Chinese Government desire their people to come
here.

The masses that first arrive have little or no knowledge or idea of our
institutions whatever, except that it is a free country, and that they have
nothing to do but obey the laws and go on.

275 GIBSON"

The religion of China is a lower religion and their standard of morals
is lower than that of those who follow the teachings of Christ, but
the standard of morals among the Chinese people is higher than among
any other heathen people in the world. I think the Christianity of the Religion and
Bible is superior to the teachings of the Chinese or any heathen re-
ligion ; but the general tone of morals in the Chinese civilization is, I
think, equal to the morality of the serfs in Russia, and that of the
common people of Ireland, and very likely to that of the peasantry in
Prance or Germany. The system prevailing in France among the peasantry,
of having one wife who cares for her children, is superior to polygamy
existing among the Chinese. The plurality of wives is lawful in China,
but it is not usual, nor is it generally practised if a family
has a son. If a man has no son, and is able, he will take another
wife in order to get a son. This one point in their civilization is
not so desirable as the system of monogamy, but as a general thing I Their morality
think the morality of the Chinese may be compared favorably with the ab^T^wifh that of
peasantry of Europe. There are other causes besides the teaching of re- the peasantry of
ligion which aifect civilization. The Chinese are not without religion, ^^'™P^-
and worship has its effect upon any people. The idolatry taught in China
is not taught as a system. There is no teaching of idolatry as a system ;
it is simply the habits and customs of the people.

The teachings of Confucius is a system of political economy as relates No idolatry as a
to the relative duties of man and man, the rulers and the people, the
people and the rulers, the parent and the child, the child and the parent,
the brother and the sister. These teachings are temporal in their charac- Teachings of
ter ; but there is, however, reference to a future world. The doctrine of °" ""^^
the golden rule is found in the writings of Confucius almost exactly as in
the teachings of Jesus, except that Confucius puts it in the negative form.

Their idols are supposed to receive divine honor. It is a system of demi-
gods— heroic worship. It is within the province of the emperor to issue
a proclamation and to establish the worship of a new god. Some person
has been of great value to the community somewhere, a great statesman,
a great benefactor; and after his death the people petition that he shall be
enrolled among the class of persons who may receive divine honor.

They have what we call in Chinese a "sinchepur," a family tablet, a square Worship of
piece of work, with an upright piece, which slides up. On the inside of
this tablet are written the names of their ancestors, the father and grand-
father, and all the ancestors of the family, and it is kept in the family of
the eldest son ; it is the family record, and there are stated times when these
tablets receive worship. They believe in the immortality of the soul. Beli^3^'e^i^i^immor-

They are not entirely unaccustomed to elections. They elect their elders
of the villages who do the duty of magistrates, and settle all small troubles
in the community. Their decrees are binding in custom, and are all over
China.

The Chinese civilization is not progressive, the Christian civilization is.
The Chinese civilization is better than the Darwinian system.

I think Chinese literature is better than the French in moral tone. Climese^Utcrature.

Dr. Loomis is a good authority upon Chinese matters, as well as upon French.
Chinese literature and the writings of Confucius. [An extract was here
read by Senator Sargent from Dr. Loomis's work, under the head of "Life
of Confucius," bearing upon the future state of man.]

ROBERT 276

Geokge D. Robert, President of the Tide Land Reclamation Company, a
resident since 1850, sworn and examined :

The company proper started in with 120,000 acres of land, and have

40,000 acres of partially reclaimed 30,000 or 40,000 acres. Tule-lands we call the over-

TecfairnM. flowed lands forming a delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin River,

and also lands on the margin of the river farther up. Reclaiming these

lands means building dykes, gates, and ditches, preventing the overflow.

We generally employ Chinese labor by contract. In building the docks we

contract by the yard, so much a yard. We go to some of the Chinese

merchants or business men, and tell them we want to give a contract for

a certain number of miles of levee. They will contract in large and small

bodies of land, sometimes for as much as 1,000 yards with one individual

Work generally The work is measured after it is done and they receive their pay, the work
;satisftctorily i, i • ^- n ^ ■■, n i

performed. generally being satisiactorily pertormed.

As day laborers we prefer them, for some class of work, to white men.
In higher class of but generally in the higher classes of work we employ white men. The
whites. lands could not be reclaimed successfully with white labor at this time ;

But white men it is a class of work that white men do not like. The special advantage
this land. ™'"^"" in Chinese labor in work of that kind is owing to the contract system.
Advantage of the They form communities among themselves, forty, fifty or a hundred, and
contract s.Tstem. they are jointly interested in the contract.

I do not know anything about the Six Companies hiring out labor. We
never hire of them. The contractor is generally paid as the work pro-
gresses. We pay from ten to fifteen cents a cubic yard ; and they expect
to make about a dollar a day. When we hire by the month we pay f 27,
and they find themselves, houses, camps, and everything, their actual
days' labor being tallied.
Tossibly detri- Possibly Chinese labor is detrimental to a certain class of white labor,

Sassof'whftT'"'" bu* *o the general prosperity of the country I think they are a great
labor ; advantage. The wealth that chey produce stimulates prosperity to such

but generally an j. i j.i, j. -x ■ i_-i i • i -i- rni • i

.advantage. an extent that it gives white men higher positions, iheir presence here

does not affect the price of intelligent labor. The aggregate product of
the wealth produced by Chinamen in this state is equal to our mines, in-
cluding Nevada and Dakota — probably sixty, eighty or ninety millions a
year in wealth. In fair dealing and honesty they will compare favorably
with the lower classes of white men generally. The reclamation of these
lands is open to white men. We give them the preference, and sometimes
pay a little higher for white labor. If there were no Chinamen here at
present we would have to give the business up. In the cultivation of
these lands white men are generally employed ; that is, white men are
generally the farmers who buy or lease, but as a rule the farmers employ
more or less Chinamen. I have leased lands to poor white men who did
not have money to buy teams, and we furnished them with teams, seed, a
house, and everything necessary to start them. They would have nothing
but their labor as capital to start on, but it would be but a very short
time until they would have Chinamen doing their work for them and they
would be bossing the job.

Chinamen work in gravel mines, and in some instances in quartz-mining,
but generally surface-mining. They work in deep-mining as carmen:

They do work that does not require much skill, such as binding and
shocking wheat. They are the best field men we have ; better than the
Swede, and the Swede is the best worker we have had. They occasionally
rent land, paying as much as $25 and $30 a year per acre. They raise
pretty nearly all the sweet potatoes that are got here. The Chinaman is

277 ROBERT

the best human labor-machine in the country for certain classes of work.
We employ white men, 200 or 300, all the time. Immigrants coming
here will hire by the month and stay two or three months at the outside.
They are not satisfied with $30 or $35 a month. They did not come to
this country, they say, to work for that ; they came to make money.
They want to speculate.

Chinese labor puts more labor into the hands of the white people. If chinoso labor puts
it were not for them we could not employ white men. In the state they white men.
are generally employed as farm hands, in vineyards, building railroads,
draining tule-lands, in certain classes of manufacturing, as house-servants,
and in washing. White labor could not be got to reclaim these lands.
In some cases we might have got them by paying decent wages, but as a
general thing white men will not do that work. As a general proposition,
when I buy a thing I buy it as cheap as I can. White men are more
trustworthy in handling horses and machinery. We can explain things
to them, and they are better than Chinamen in that respect. I am very much
opposed to extending the franchise. I have no doubt the more intelligent
of the Chinese would make good citizens. The objection to Chinamen voting if Chinese had
would be that they would probably be controlled by men who employed b°'eontroSed'bv*
them, because they do not understand the language, and are not familiar those who
with the institutions of the country. I think, considering their subjection, °"^^ °^''
that they are much better than slaves or negroes were. Thej' are not
politicians ; they do not care about our parades or excitements. As to
contract-labor, I think that is a mistake. I find my Chinamen entirely V.^'/l'"^'"! ° '"ndeS-
independent of the bosses. When the bosses do not pay them they come
to me. Each man has his account, and he holds the boss responsible.
The percentage the bosses make is simply the profit on selling rice. It is
very seldom they make anything at all on the contract per acre. It is the
storekeepers who do the contracting. The boss says: "I get twelve
cents a yard ; here is my contract ; you go and work at twelve cents ; " and
they let it out in small contracts in that way. We do not pay the indi-
vidual Chinaman ; we pay all to one man, and he has to pay out to his
own men. There have been two or three instances of dishonest bosses,
who have made use of the money and defrauded the laborers. I do not
think they are models as to honesty, but they are about as reliable as the
common run of men who fill such positions.

charac

Rev. David Deal, a representative of the preacher's meeting of the DEAL.
Methodist Ministerial Association, sworn and examined .

Witness read a memorial from the association in which the " habits of
industry and quietness of demeanor" of the Chinese was dwelt on ; their Chinese
freedom from alms-seeking; their eagerness to learn the English laiiguage,
and interest in the Scriptures, as manifested in Sabbath schools. They
had been personally acquainted with a number of genuine converts, and
were impressed with a firm conviction that faithful Christian effort
would lead the Chinese to appreciate "our Christian civilization." The
Chinese native preachers in the face of persecution, display heroic devotion.
The memorial concluded by asking " that the Christian sentiment of our
land be not wholly ignored."

He was not acquainted with the precise number of converts in the Chinese
chapel.

LOOMIS

278

Rev. Augustus W. Loomis, a missionary in China from 1844 to 1850,
sworn and examined :

How money got
±0 emigrate.

'Syomcn.

Morals.

On the Pacific coast since September, 1859. Over seventeen years wit-
ness was engaged in Chinese missionary work. Four or live different
dialects spoken in Canton, the province from which the Chinese come.
Largest portion of Chinese immigrants are from the rural districts. Some
pay their own passage ; some are assisted by relatives ; some mortgage their
portion of the paternal estate, a corner of the house, a room, or a share of
a small farm. Many borrow the money giving heavy interest. In early
times some had wages and outfit advanced with an agreement that the
capitalists should share equally in profits and losses of their mining adven-
tures for a specified number of years. Of late years, many have come here
under labor contracts. All Chinese male immigrants are free, but women
have been decoyed, or kidnapped, or bought, and then brought here for the
vilest purposes where their price is much advanced. Many have been pur-
chased as secondary wives. Of late the Chinese are bringing their first wives
here, and many spoke of going home for their families.

All intend to return home, but of late some talk of abandoning their
purpose of returning.

The Six Companies commercial guilds ; they also partake of the charac-
ter of benefit societies.

A Chinaman who is insolvent or suspected of a desire to defraud his
creditors will not be allowed to return to China.

Each of the Six Companies have large rooms to which the immigrants are
allowed to go until they find employment. These buildings are like the car-
avansaries of the East. The initiation fee is from $5 to $8, and bone-
money from $2 to $8. Special assessments are made, as for instance, for
the purpose of employing lawyers.

On the faim, in the house, in the factory, the Chinese immigrant finds
employment. Very many of those who arrive, come to take the places of
brothers, cousins, or friends who will return to China as soon as they have
taught the new comer his business as servant, laborer, or factory hand.
Thus the Chinese population is not to be judged by the arrivals, because
the number I'eturning is very great.

As to the morals of the Chinese immigrants, they come mostly from the
rural farming districts, a large proportion being vigorous and enterprising
young men, and very many mere boys, who are all taught to be honest,
industrious, obedient to parents, superiors and magistrates ; to be kind to
the sick and poor ; to fear the gods ; but like other races their practice
sometimes falls beneath their knowledge. Of all heathen nations the
Chinese are outwardly the most correct and thrifty, and as a body in
California they are in the main a quiet, inofiensive, docile people. There
are gamblers, opium-smokers, pimps, idlers and thieves among them. It
had been reported that gambling houses and brothels had brought immu-
nity by regular payments to certain officials.

Without Chinese labor many manufacturing enterprises would not
have been started.

Railroads, wagon roads, dykes, all more advanced, and there are more
houses and more white people than there would have been had there been '
no Chinese labor. Without it the crops could not be saved in season.
The Chinese importations stimulated commerce ; they paid a large pro-
portion of customs duties ; supported insurance, gas and water companies,
and paid city, county, state and poll-taxes, internal revenue and licenses.

The Chinese had improved portions of California, which but for them
would still be unimproved.

279 LOOMIS

Chinese prostitution as well as other prostitution could be expunged, Prostitution.
and they could be got to live in more roomy quarters.

They have been made to pay discriminating taxes, yet their children
are excluded from the public schools. Their sick are not received into
the hospitals without paying a specified rate per week, $3 it used to be.
They cannot vote. A Chinaman showed him three " tax-receipts" : poll-
■.tax, $2 ; hospital-tax, $1 ; road poll-tax, $4.

Many Chinese immigrants have contracted prodigal and vicious habits Cliinese immi-
and gone to ruin. But the general effect on the Chinese good. The Shnsthe^Xie
whole of China will benefit thereby, and this will benefit the world. of China would be

Two hundred and forty-six members of churches. "'"^ " '

Chinese immigration regulated by the law of demand and supply.

They have been afraid to buy real estate. They pay very heavy rents,
and lease for a term, usually from twenty to twenty-five years. Only a
few had applied to be allowed to become American citizens. At home
they show a good deal of religious toleration.

With precautions, such as seeing that every immigrant understood and
was in sympathy with American institutions before being allowed to vote,
they would make good citizens. Many boys now growing up would be
entitled, on coming of age, to vote ; yet they were excluded from the
public schools. But the Christian schools, voluntarily supported, were
doing the work.

Most Chinese women originally brought to California for bad purposes. Women.
Some of these stolen; some decoyed on promise of marriage; some sold by
poor parents on the assurance that they would be trained up as adopted
daughters, many however have become either secondary wives, or regularly
married. More merchants than formerly are bringing their wives to Cali-
fornia.

Only four or five instances had occurred of Chinamen having white wives,
and in each case the wife had been brought from some other place.

The conduct of white prostitutes is more disgusting than anything seen
in the Chinese quarter. But thfe houses occupied by the Chinese prosti-
tutes were shut up, whenever the authorities set themselves about it in
earnest.

About 300 Chinese in California have been baptized and received into
the Christian church. They compare well with other Christians.

If the Chinese were dismissed from all the places where they are now
employed, great disturbances in all branches of business would be the
result. The manufacturing interests would be seriously affected, if not
stopped, and the cultivation of the small fruits, grapes, hop-picking,,
potatoe-digging would have to cease or be greatly diminished.

Many had come from the east because Chinese labor was here. This
class, the Chinese gone, would cease to come.

Civilized nations bound to communicate its discoveries and revelations to
less favored peoples.

Had lived in China for six years. Filthiness not nearly so general in Chinese at home.
China as has been represented. Beggars and many poor people in China.
Their cities crowded ; streets narrow, yet remarkably free from filth. Streets
paved with broad flat stones; garbage gathered up and carried off every
night to the neighboring fields; the cleanliness of the people, who bathe
after the days' work is over and change their apparel, the tidiness of their
small apartments, their fondness for flowers, ornaments and singing birds,
their refined tastes and courtly manners, have always been a subject of
remark and delightful surprise.

Socially the Chinese are superior to any other heathen people. They SociaUy.

LOOMIS

280

Schools,

Religion and
humanity.

Savings.

Resentment at the
queue ordinance.

Intellectual capa-
city high.

Benefit to the
country.

live in families ; the wives are faithful, and the penalty of unfaithfulness
may be death. No drunkenness, no rioting, no such shameless exposure
by lewd women as on the streets of San Francisco by white prostitutes.

In China there are public schools of a high grade; many supported by
the endowments of rich men; but most are private schools " supported by
tuition."

There is a religious sentiment in China which prompts to the support of
benevolent institutions and self-sacrifice.

To be a scholar is the highest honor and opens the way to office and
advancement.

The classics are taught in the schools, also books of proverbs, and their
early education cannot fail to make them industrious, frugal, as servants
or citizens.

There are innumerable little savings and loan societies among them,
and many servants in families and boys in our schools are silent partners
in some of the large stores.

A deep feeling of dissatisfaction in China on account of what their
countrymen have suffered in San Francisco. The queue ordinance is
regarded as a national insult. Young Wing, L.L.D., of New Haven
College, said to have been appointed Minister from China to the United
States, said : " But rights have been violated and we will demand justice."
Young Wing, an American citizen.

The intellectual capacity of Chinamen is of a high order.

They have been a benefit to the country, and if double the number were
needed, double the number would be of service. If they did no more
than to benefit themselves and benefit China, they would benefit us. If
they were coming in such crowds as to make California an Asiatic pro-
vince, it might be time to make some demonstration on the subject.
There are millions of acres which might be cultivated, and which none
but Chinese would cultivate. The Chinese would make a garden of
those plains between Ogden and Omaha. Those who were buying ranches
would make good citizens. The Chinese can be Christianized and their
civilization changed.

If the Chinese came in until they were twelve to one American, the-
Americans would still be the dominant race. He would restrict them
from the ballot.

He thought they could assimilate with Americans by intermarriage.

Americans had a grand mission to train up young Chinamen to go back
to civilize their country. No danger that in the contact of the two civil-
izations the American would deteriorate.

Chinese less dangerous to American institutions than certain other
immigrants.

Mr. Thomas H. King wrong in supposing there are coolies, or that
there is a coolie traffic. The Chinese immigrants are free and go and
come as they please. Instead of two some five dialects are spoken by
them.

Knows nothing of the highbinders, except what he read in the papers,
and he did not believe the Six Companies employed such people.

Hundreds of times he had seen the immigrants on their way from the
ships maltreated, while police officers took no notice. Never made a
complaint. He was wrong in that.

Captain King said the Chinese were inveighled here, but did not
prove it.

The Chinese resort to the companies as friends.

A Chinaman could not get himself under any bondage by contracting a
gambling debt.

BaUot.

A grand mission.

The coolie traflic

281 LOOMIS-

The feeling in China towards the republic good, and this valuable from Trade,
a commercial point of view. In 1841 and 1842 the Americans took away
a great deal of the trade that was in the hands of the English. Not true
as Captain King said that the Chinese generally know nothing about the
emigration to America. But they have newspapers, their merchants travel
extensively, and scholars from all parts of the province assemble at the
provincial cities to attend the literary examinations.

Skin diseases amongst them not as generally represented, nor are they
more liable to vermin than other peoples.

They smuggle opium. They do not smuggle for brokers.

They come under labor contracts for a term of years. Labor contracts.

As a rule they do not dissipate their earnings.

Read the Cubic- Air Law as passed by the California Legislature. This Cubie-air law.
Act (set out on page 477 of the Report of the Joint Committee) declares
" every person who owns leases, lets, or hires " to another, a room or apart-
ment within an incorporated city, or county, which contains less than
500 feet of cubic space in the clear for each person or any person or per-
sons found sleeping, or lodging, or who lives or uses for sleeping, or lodging,
any such room, to be guilty of misdemeanor, and upon conviction, to be
punished in the former case by a fine of not less than fifty ($50), nor more
than five hundred ($500), or by imprisonment in the county gaol, or by
both such fine and imprisonment ; in the latter case by a fine of not less
than ten ($10) nor more then fifty ($50) dolUars, or by both fine and im-
prisonment. This Act dated April 3rd, 1876, and had been enforced only
against Chinese.

The next law was the Foreign Miners' Tax which imposed on foreign S"'^" miners'
miaers a tax of $4 a month, and which sometimes went as high as $20.
It bore date May 17th, 1861. After a number of years this Act was de-
clared unconstitutional. It was never enforced against any class except
Chinese, that he heard of.

Under an Act passed by the last Legislature prohibiting the use of nets le^slaHra "^
with meshes less than certain specified dimensions, only Chinese had been Nets with meahee-
arrested. On the 23rd of April, 1855, an Act was passed that every
Chinese immigrant should pay a tax of $55, but it was declared invalid.
(The people versus Downer ; VII California Reports, page 169.) An Act
(April 26th, 1858) prohibited all persons of the Chinese or Mongolian races
from entering the state or landing at any port thereof, unless they should
be driven on the coast by storm or unavoidable accident and then they were
to be reshipped and returned to the place whence they came. An Act (26th
April, 1862) provided that every Mongolian over eighteen years of age
should pay a monthly capitation tax of $2.50, except those engaged in the
tnanufacture of sugar, rice, cofiee, and tea. This act pronounced invalid.
(Ling-Sing versus Washburn; XX California Reports, page 534.) March
31st, 1866, an Act approved declaring all Chinese houses of ill-fame
nuisances. By an Act of March 18th, 1863, Chinese and Mongolians were
not allowed to be witnesses in an action wherein a white person was party.
This afterwards repealed. By an Act (April 3rd, 1876.) the Board of
Supervisors of San Francisco were empowered to appropriate a sum not
to exceed $5,000 to be used in defraying the expenses of a delegation to
Washington, to solicit such action on the part of the Federal Government
as should modify the Burlingame Treaty, so as to prevent the immigration
of certain classes of Chinese under its provisions, whose arrival in our
midst is detrimental to the moral and material interests of our own
people.
A city ordinance approved March 15th, 1876, provided that all laundries

LOOMIS 282

should pay licenses : using a, one horse vehicle $2, per quarter ; two
horses, $4 per quarter ; no vehicle, $15 ; that was afterwards declared
invalid.

City ordinance (June 14th, 1876) provides that every male prisoner
imprisoned in the county gaol of San Francisco, under a judgment from
the police court, should have his hair cut or clipped to a uniform length of
one inch and this was acknowledged by the officers to apply to the Chinese.

Sections 2,949 to 2,968 of "The Political Code of California," provided
that persons suffering from certain infirmities and having no relatives to
support them, or lewd or abandoned women, unless a bond of $500 was
given to the people of California to indemnify against possible costs. Un-
der these sections several Chinese women were detained and by order of the
California Supreme Court sent back to China, but on appeal to the
United States Supreme Court this legislation was pronounced unconstitu-
tional and void.
Contributions t<i From statistics obtained from the clerk of the revenue department it

will be observed that a Chinese tobacco-dealers' license for a single store
is $5, and the number of dealers 200; tobacco-manufactories, 70 ; license
for factory, |10 ; the whole amount of stamps sold for cigars manufac-
tured in this district, $500 ; number of Chinese dealers in leaf tobacco,
20 ; license per dealer, $25 ; Chinese who sell liquor, 50 ; license, $25
per dealer. The whole amount received for duties at the custom house for
year ending 1875 was $8,000,000 ; the approximate amount paid by
Chinese would be $2,500,000 directly in their 'trade. Their property
(according to the assessor) assessed here, is $250,000 — real estate ;
others give it as $600,000. The personal property-tax is given as
$500,000 ; and the poll-tax collected was $30,000 up to July 1st. Only
Chinese pay the foreign miners' license-tax. The poll-tax is collected
from the Chinese as they come off the steamer, and also on their de-
parture.
Do not beg. There are very few Chinese beggars in San Francisco : you may see one

once in a while.

The hukahs are a class of people in China who were regarded as coming
from another province. Hukah means stranger. Some of them are here ;
one of the Fuh Kien company -houses belongs to them. As a class they
are as respectable as the others — industrious and economical. The Six
Companies do not Import Chinese here for labor purposes ; neither do they
make contracts hiring labor out ; nor receive the money of the Chinesa
for labor performed.

With the exception of paying a fee of $20 to the companies a China-
man is as free to leave the state as a white man. A white man can leave
the state owing debts, but a Chinaman cannot well do so.

In many instances the Chinese are badly treated, and I think the
majority of citizens disapprove of it very strongly. It is limited to a low
class, and those connected with labor institutions.

The information as to the collection of the poll-tax was derived from
captains and officers of the steamships.

Eespecting the $500,000 personal property-tax, I am not quite clear
whether it is the amount paid in as taxes, or whether it is the assessed
value of property.

283 FRANCIS

Rev. John Francis, Baptist, five years in charge of a mission school,
sworn and examined :

The mission has about 100 pupils and six teachers. In regard to con- c;iiinese converts,
sistency, Christian deportment, and steadfastness, they compare favorably
with converts of other nationalities. None of our converts, as far as I
know, have returned to heathenism ; fifteen have been baptized in con-
nection with this mission, their ages ranging from seventeen to twenty -five.
The pupils are instructed in the English language until they can read the
New Testament. The ages of those who are instructed range from
ten to twenty-five.

The Chinese are just like other people ; I cannot perceive any difference Chinese jig; like
at all. All our young, with very few exceptions, have proved themselves
to be honorable, just, reasonable, and honest in their character and in
their deaKngs with us. Our converts are in demand in photographic gal-
leries. Pecuniary aid would extend the sphere of usefulness of these
schools. I am not aware of any converts cutting off their queues ; as far
as I understand, it is simply a national badge. I think the Chinamen
understand that they are sought for on account of their Christian
profession.

Our work would be greatly facilitated if the Chinese were permitted to
attend our schools and get an English education.

It is possible that some Chinese become Christians through mercenary
iQotives.

A very large proportion of the Chinese population here are under
twenty-one years of age.

[Mr. Gibson here stated that probably one-third of the population were
under twenty-one, and a large proportion of the whole under thirty.]

San Francisco, November 11th, 1876.

Joseph A. Coolidge, Secretary of the Merchants' Exchange, and a COOLIDGE.
resident for twenty-seven years, sworn and examined :

There are seven Chinese firms as stockholders and twenty-four as sub- J^hara^tor o^f^Chi-
scribers to the Exchange. The subscribers can be seen daily m the room
and on 'Change during the hour. They are intelligent, shrewd, courteous
and gentlemanly ; honorable in their business transactions, and compare
■favorably with people of any other nationality. I have been informed by
merchants who have had extensive business transactions with them that
the usual contracts in writing were unnecessary, their word being a suffi-
cient guarantee for their fulfilment ; and in a term of years, m which
Ibusiness to the extent of millions of dollars was transacted, not one cent
"has been lost by bad faith on their part. I have never been acquainted
with Chinamen in any station of life who could not read and write in their
•own language. In cleanliness of person they are remarkable. I have
-observed them closely in their various occupations and on the streets, and
■cannot call to mind an instance of dirty face or hands, or of soiled garments, p^^^^^^ ^j^^^^ ^^^
Their habitations, however, are filthy. They are industrious and frugal, habitations filthy,
and unassuming in their demeanor. We do not hear them about the
streets making night hideous with unearthly yells and screaming, as is
the case with very many who consider themselves their superiors.
'Through the prejudice that exists against them many are arrested for

COOLIDGE

284

If the Chinese hero
are of the lowest
order it speaks vol-
umes for their civ-
ilization. ■

A debatable ques-
tion whether tnc
Chinese civiliza-
tion is not as good
iis ours.

crimes which, if committed by what is called a white man, would pass un-
noticed ; and our court records show a larger proportion of Chinese
arrests than if the laws were impartially executed. The same prejudice
existed at one time against Irish immigration, the results of which are
before the country. The results of Chinese immigration are to be proved.
If the greater portion of the Chinese now here are of the lowest order of
their countrymen, it speaks volumes in favor of Chinese civilization, and
a strong inducement to encourage a larger immigration of the better
classes.

On 'Change they are treated the same as the people of any other nation.
My experience among them has not <been very extensive as to testing their
education.

I have known people of other nationalities who have really not been
citizens who wanted positions on the police force and on public works, but
I have never known the Chinese to want them.

I would consider the unrestricted immigration of Chinese as desirable
as that from any other nation, but not as desirable as unrestricted immi-
gration from New England and old England. If a conflict of interests
should arise between European and Chinese immigrants, I think I should
favor the former, because their civilization is mine. The Chinese civiliza-
tion is different, but it is, I think, a, debatable question whether their
civilization is not as good as ours.

So far as investing them with the elective privilege, I think it could be
conferred upon them as well as a great many that it is conferred upon —
I refer to all ignorant foreign populations, as well as the ignorant Ameri-
can population — and might just as well be conferred upon them as upon
the freedmen of the south. In other words, I put the Chinese in all
respects — in their morals and civilization, and in the desirableness of their
immigration — upon the same plane as other foreigners of the same degree.

I do not think the entire European immigration is equal to the number
of Chinese.

The Chinese in business compare favorably with European immigrants
who are in business as merchants and manufacturers, and for capacity and
integrity I think they have no superior. By segregating the classes, I do
not think they are equal to the average of the Germans, who, I think, are
superior to any immigrants that come here. The Chinese are the equals
of the French and superior to the Italians and the Irish — in fact superior
to every class of European immigrants except the Germans — in morals
and everything else. I do not know anything about the Scandinavians
or the Welsh.

The Chinese occupy very dirty quarters ; I do not think it is the same
with other foreign citizens here. In decencies and comforts other nation-
alities are superior.

I do not question a man's belief. My idea of a good citizen is, if he
lives a good, honest, square life he is as good a man as the greatest pro-
fessor of religion or church member. I do not know what their belief is,
but I have been told by some of them that they believe in a God, and
their worship is similar to that of the Catholic worship. I have heard
that they have images in their Joss-houses of one kind and another. If
the Chinese believe in devils and have a superstitious fetish worship, I do
not see that they are much different from what we call white men, for
they all believe in them in some shape or another.

I cannot see that there is any advantage in restricting the immigration
of the Chinese nor any need of legislation in addition to that which we
have.

Comparisons bet-
ween Chinese
and other
immigrants.

Religion.

^^^ COOLIDGE

I thjnk the hoodlums of this city are of no particular class or nation-
.ahty— except that they are not Chinese. The cause of their existence
here is, I think, want of government by the parents of the young men
They are allowed a great latitude here. At night you can see children of
■six or seven years of age around this city until two o'clock in the morning.
One cause of hoodlumism is the want of sufficient clerkships to go around^
and because the unemployed are unwilling to take positions as artisans or
laborers.

The Chinese are employed because their labor is cheaper ; and that Employedbecai.se
being the case, it closes an opening for young men to get employment, *'\^^'' '^^"'^ ^
compelling them to seek clerical and other positions which Chinese do not ""''•
fill.

iSoLOMON Heydenfeldt, a resident for twenty-seven years, at one time heydEN-
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, sworn and examined : FELDT.

California owes its prosperity very much indeed to the iudustry
•of the Chinese who have come to this country. Their advent here has
<;onduced to bring white people, giving them homes and employment.
The Southern Pacific Railway would not have been built but for the The bestlaboring
■Chinese. I think they are the best laboring class we have among us. °^^^^-

The reclamation of tide-lands was considered a hazardous thing to Tide-lands
undertake. Capital was rather diffident in taking hold of it. There has ■''"'''^'™«'l-
been a large area of these lands reclaimed by Chinese labor. I do not
think there is any surplus labor in the state ; there is employment
enough for everybody.

The present success in manufacturing, except foundries, is owing to the Success in manu-

Chinese. Our farming interests would not have been so far in advance faoturing owing to
, „ , Chinese,

out for them.

In my opinion, there is no prejudice against the Chinese on the part of prejudice against
native-born Americans, unless it is politicians — probably office-seekers. I Chinese confined
believe the great prejudice against them originate among the foreign- citizens^"
born citizens. I think it is confined to a class.

I find Chinamen employed everywhere where I have been on this coast. Good servants.
As domestic servants, I have heard nothing to their disadvantage. As
iar as concerns their industry, and frugality, and fidelity, and general in-
telligence, and their cleanliness, I think those who have been in the habit
of employing them and know something about them place them above the
corresponding class of other people.

I am not in favor of the immigration of anybody to the United States.
I think we have people enough for production and for progress ; but if
people will come I think it is as much to our advantage to have Chinese
as any other people. I do not see how a limit could be fixed upon this
inunigration. If it should be attempted by legislation I think it would be
an infraction of the treaty, and the Chinese would regard it as a breach of
faith.

As to the impartiality of the legislation of this state as between Chinese Discriminating-
and other immigrants, there have been some ordinances probably of the i'Sgislation.
city which, while general in their character, have been aimed more partic-
ularly at the Chinese on account of their peculiar habits, customs, etc.
There was a tax imposed upon all foreign passengers coming here in
vessels. That was probably intended for the Chinese. It was a general
law.

HEYDENFELDT 286

The government has, unquestionably, the power of preventing immigra-
tion of any kind that would be injurious to our people.
If large numbers Unrestricted immigration of any sort is not desirable. Unlimited immi-
they woulcTadopt gration of the Chinese would not, I think, have any bad effect upon the
American civiliza- morals of the people. The Chinese, who are an imitative and progressive
race and learn very rapidly, would conform themselves to our habits, our
views, and our ideas. They would adopt our civilization instead of drag-
ging us into a semi-barbarous civilization.

There is no parallel between the condition of this state to-day and that

of Virginia 200 years ago.

Chinese equal in European families are not a particle better than the people who come

all respects to the from China. The Chinese are equal in all respects, in civilization and

pean immigrants, morals, to the negroes and European immigrants. I do not see why the

franchise should not be given to the Chinese. I think they would make

very valuable citizens, and if they had a chance they would very soon

acquire our language and become identified with us.

I do not see why the Chinese should not intermarry. I think China-
men would make better husbands than usually fall to the lot of our poor
girls.
Miscegenation When slavery existed I was in favor of it, and in favor of keeping it.

mirara""* ''™'"' "' I* ^^s ^^^ observed that in the crossing of races between the African and
the white that such an admixture has a tendency to die out. Whether
that would be the case with intercommunication between the Chinese and
our race I do not know. That would have to be tested by experience
alone. There are more points of similarity, however, between us and the
Chinese than there are between us and the negro. Such an excess as.
8,000,000 Chinamen to 1,000,000 whites upon this coast might breed
harm.

Taking the classes of immigrants that we have here, in morality and
behavior, the Chinese are something better. I think they are more faith-
ful, more reliable, and more intelligent, and have more industry than the
corresponding class of whites. The merchants have an exceedingly good
reputation here, especially the hig'her class. If the law was altered so as
got ™tJfs'it woi^l *°. ^^^^ *'^®™ *'° citizenship, I think a good many would accept it, and be
have a good effect, willing to undertake the duties of a citizen, and it would increase the
tendency to assimilation. If the Chuiese were allowed to vote, a great
many whites, probably, would coalesce with Chinese who now avoid them.
They understand substantially the first element of our institutions, that
all men are equal before the law.

There are contractors among them for large works, and they show a
great deal of executive ability.

I think their general intelligence is greater than that of Americans in
the same corresponding class. My impression is that there are very few
Chinamen of the ordinary laboring class who cannot read and write their
own language. I find them quick to understand and quick to appreciate.
In engaging them as servants for the various' employments they seemed
to act for themselves, and consult their own pleasure, and leave without
asking anybody.

287 WHEELER

AiiFBED Wheeler, attorney-at-law, and a resident of the state for
twenty-seven years, sworn and examined :

I am a real estate owner, and have been engaged in farming and
mining. I own several thousand acres of land.

As to the numbers of Chinese in California, there would probably be,
in my opinion, 90,000 within the state proper, or rather on this coast.
They all come here, and spread in every direction. They go to Nevada,
TJtaJi, and some of them have gone east. There may be a few arrivals at
the northern ports in British Columbia and Oregon, but none at any other
ports in California.

Upon the subject of immense immigration, I think we take unnecessary
alarm. There is always a proportion betwixt supply and demand. Com- The fear regarding
merce regulates immigration as well almost as the demand for labor does. graHorf^CToun"^
If we have less than 100,000 in the state after twenty-five years' immi- less.
gration, in the same proportion it will take 2.50 years for 1,000,000 to
come here.

The books of the custom-house would now show the number of
arrivals, because they have kept a record more carefully than they did in
early days. I do not think there is any other record that would show the
arrivals from the beginning except the Commercial Herald, from which I
gathered statistics enabling me to compute the departures and arrivals
from 1853 to 1873. The total arrivals up to 1873 were 135,399, and the Arrivals and de-
total departures, 60,909, leaving an actual gain in the state of 74,400 '*
Chinamen. These figures have been published and have never been
controverted. A great many that return to China come back a second
time.

I think that the immigration of the Chinese has been vastly beneficial
to the growth of California, and it is greatly beneficial to every white
man, woman and chUd in the state. The white laborers of the state are
vastly benefited by that immigration instead of hurt by it. The presence
of the Chinese has greatly increased the demand for white labor. I do
not see that there is any plethora of labor. There are certain seasons of
the year, during the gathering of the harvest, when we must have an im-
mense amount of labor, but that is only temporary. For that reason we
require a class of labor in that season of the year which must be idle the
rest of the time.

As to the presence of the Chinese depriving white men of their labor, I Use*^"l *» ""'hit©
may instance the building of the Central Pacific Railway. If it had not
been for the 5,000 or 10,000 Chinamen who were employed in building
that road, there would not have been a demand for the ties, which were
made by white labor ; for the bridges and culverts, made by white labor ;
for theVailroad iron, the cars, the engines — every branch of business which
followed, all being done by white labor ; and now the road is run and car-
ried on by white men, furnishing a field for white labor. Then, by laying
a foundation for that superstructure by means of Chinese labor, there is a
door open for white men always. The same thing applies to any other
branch of business in the state. Before the advent of the Chinese here
we imported mostly from Massachusetts, and our money went out of the
state to contribute to the manufacturers of the east ; and every man paid
100 per cent, more for the boots and shoes that he wore and the blankets
that he used than he pays to-day. The 750,000 or 1,000,000 men in
California must pay the 500 or 1,000 shoe-makers in the state double price
for boots and shoes or pay it to Massachusetts, or let the boots and shoes
be manufactured by cheaper labor, in which case the greatest good is

WHEELER 288

done to the greatest number. In addition to that, by encouraging the
manufacture of boots and shoes in this state we give use for our own
leather ; we encourage our own tanneries ; we encourage the raising
and production of hides. In our woolen mills it is the same. We give
encouragement to the production of wool ; we use white labor in carry-
ing on the industry in every way, except in the single manipulation
White labor gets of the wool by Chinese. The white laborer is able to get everything he

causl^he'^C^iliirae ^"^ys •'^s^P^'' ^O'^^^y '^®*'*"^® *^® ^^"^®®® ^^^ here; and every man who

are here. lives in the state to-day would have to pay twice as much for living if we

had no Chinese. The same is true of the food he eats, the luxuries of

life, the various melons and fruit of 'every sort. The white man gets his

flour cheap because we have cheap labor to raise wheat ; he gets his boots,

shoes, and clothing cheap because these are made here by cheap labor. In

fact the white laborer of California has got the most blessed spot in the

Union in which to live, and live well and cheaply.

General and moral As to their general morality and behavior I have found them a pacific,

r goo . jQjji^}^ g^YLd gentle people. Those who have been in my employ as domestic

servants I have always found extremely subordinate and respectful, quiet,

attentive, and rather avoiding difficulties than seeking them. They

are conscious of the prejudice existing against them. The children of the

community are disposed to pelt them with stones, and they avoid the

opportunity. I never saw them provoke anyone.

Those who have had them in their employ have always given the high-
est endorsement of them as an industrious, hard-working people; and also
as being expert, ingenious, and capable men in all the branches of business
in which they are placed.
Looking at the Leaving out the question of the homogeneity of the two races, and the

^materiS'afpect undesirability of having a race among us that cannot become homogeneous,
b '^'"*^^ ^^^^ ^^^ looking at it only in a material aspect as to whether it is beneficial to
OU8. the industries, prosperity and wealth of the country, I consider that the

Chinese immigration is advantageous.

If our laws permitted them to become citizens, the experiment of their
assimilating with us would be more easily tested. One of the greatest
prejudices now existing against the Chinese, probably, independent of
their rivalry as laborers to certain classes, is that their dress and manners
are peculiar, and that they retain those individual characteristics which
make them obnoxious. The Japanese come here and dress as we do.
Bright workmen. As workmen they are very bright and intelligent ; as tradesmen they
Sadera.'"^"^'" are exceedingly sharp men of business and true to their obligations.

Arrivals and de- For the six years up to 1875 there were 212,000 arrivals of passengers

partnres. oyer departures. There was a gain in 1875 of 44,937, and by sea of

21,000, making 65,000 in all for the year.

If labor east is I have seen it stated that the prices of labor east are less than the

less m price than . ■ t i^ r^^ ■ iii

Chinese in prices paid tor (Jhmese labor her, ceonsequently I cannot understand

Seir°presenc™ ^^^^ *h® Chinese labor in this state would prevent the influx of eastern
would not check labor. Immigration from the east has been very much on the increase
gration westward, since the completion of the Pacific Railway. Up to the present season
Both Chinese and *^^ Chinese immigration has increased in the last three years, just as the
white immigration white immigration has been greater than it ever has been before,
on the mcrease. -r,. t^ i, ,j . n i i •■ .n. .

it IS a very dimcult matter to nnd white servants willing to go to the

country.

If it costs $60 for an immigrant to come from Chicago and $30 to come
from Hong Kong, I do not know that the possibilities of immigration are
greater from China than from the east. The Chinaman comes here to
get work in the harvest season chiefly ; we know that they go back ; we

289 WHEELER

see by the statistics that almost as many go back as come here. The im- ^? ^^^ white im-
migrant that comes from the east of the Rocky Mountains comes to rematn heTa'sure-
remain, to become a permanent citizen, and in that respect he is more ^ 'i"^ ™°^^ desir-
desirah'o than the Chinese. I have always considered that a white im-
migrant, all things else being considered, is far better for us than a
Chinese immigrant.

It is possible that 400 ships could bring 1,000,000 Chinamen here in a
year.

The railways throughout America and Europe have been built by white
labor ; but there has never been any part of the world where the wages of
white labor were so high as in California. There may have been individual
cases where a demand was made on the Central Pacific Railway on the
part of white labor, and there may have been white labor that could have White labor could
been obtained. By the payment of sufficient prices they could have obtained at a sufii-
obtained 10,000 white men to do anything. Before the company started to cient price,
build the Central Pacific they had, probably, only $100,000 or $200,000 ^^^^^^Jf J^gt^
among them ; it is now said that each individual member of the company should have been
is enormously rich. It would have been better for the- state if part of distnbuted.
that enormous wealth had been distributed among the many.

Immigrants might have been brought here by Panama for $75 per
icapita.

Chinese immigration makes the country richer, and makes the poorer Chinese immigra-
olasses more comfortable and richer. If I thought that it had a tendency pootct^Imb more
■ to make the rich richer and the poor poorer, I should be very much averse comfortable,
to speaking in favor of the immigration of such a people.

Chinese cheap labor comes in competition and rivalry with the boot and Competition with
shoe trade of Massachusetts, lessening the demand for those articles there, makers. "^
and cutting off their export; and it would fail to increase the demand for
labor to the extent that California was a customer. If there were
100,000 white shoe-makers in the whole of the United States the importa-
tion of 100,000 Chinese shoe-makers to take that labor would injure the
white labor, but it would benefit the 40,000,000 of people who wear
shoes. The direct efiect would be to drive the white laborers out of em-
ployment. The same with regard to the manufacture of woolen goods
and cigars. The displaced labor would necessarily have to seek new
avenues for employment. All things being equal, I would prefer to see
the white race advanced in material prosperity, as well as in morals and
oivilization.

So far as a Chinaman displaces a white man who now has work, it is a The disadvantage
disadvantage and an inconvenience to the individual man. The query is, ment^of w?ii^e''"
whether the many are not benefited more than the one inconvenienced '? labor discussed.
The advantage to the million of population of the state is more to be con-
sidered than the advantage to any one particular class of laborers in the
community. The only benefit that could be derived by the people of the
state by Chinamen displacing white labor would be in the lessened cost to
thgm of articles they buy. If every avenue of labor should be filled with
•Chinese it would do a very great injury.

The table already referred to respecting arrivals and departures gives Arrivals and de-
in 1854, 16,000 arrivals ; in 1855 there was a loss of Chinese in the state ; p^^'^™^''" °* '^^'■
and in 1856 the arrivals were 4,800; in 1857, 5,900; the next year,
3,500 ; the next, 3,100 ; the next, 3,000 ; then the number was 2,000 ; m
1865, 3,000 ; in 1866, 2,200 ; in 1867, 4,200 ; then in 1868, 1869, and
1870 the arrivals were 11,000, 15,000, and 11,000 ; then they fell off to
5,000 again. Those were the years just about the time of the completion
■of the Central Pacific Railway. The largest excess of arrivals over

WHEELER 290

departures of late years was in 1869 — 10,000. In 1854 there was a gain

of 13,754 ; in 1869 there was a gain of 10,000. In five years there was.

a loss, and in the others the gains amounted to 1,700, 4,800, 3,400, 700,

6,800, and then that year, 1869, 10,000. Then, in 1870 there was a gain

of 6,800; in 1871, 2,000; in 1872, 4,000; and in 1873, first quarter,

2,000.

Building of other I think that the demands for labor that have existed in this state since

Pacific ''an™ Cei> then during the building of other railroads by the Southern Pacific and

t""*l P«*ifl9 T^'VB Central Pacific have caused the increased immigration from China which

creased immigi-a- has taken place in the last four years. In the years 1869 and 1870,

tlon from China, -virhich were the years of the completion of the Central Pacific, there was

the largest immigration and the largest gain of the immigrants over

emigrants.

The growth of the shoe industry has been brought about by Chinese
labor.
Chinese absorb all The Chinese, no doubt, would absorb the box-making business if they
the industries they ^^^^^ . ^^^^ absorb all industries they can. The more labor there is the

greater is the production.
Number of Chi- On being recalled, witness said : The total arrivals of Chinese from

Stotei""'^"'""'^ 1848 to October 1st, 1876, as shown by the San Francisco custom house
records, and the estimate of the State Senate Commitee, were 233,136 ; the
departures, 93,273 ; leaving a net gain by sea of 139,863. The depar-
tures inland to other states and east of the Rocky Mountains cannot be less
than 20,000 ; and the death-rate at two per cent, would be 29,900.
Deducting these from the net gain by sea, leaves the present Chinese
population of California, 93,693, or 113,000 in the United States.

GIBBS. Cornelius B. S. Gibbs, adjuster of marine losses, and a resident of

twenty-eight years, sworn and examined .

High quality and As men of business, I consider that the Chinese merchants are fully
netebusTnessmcm *1"^^ *° °^^ merchants ; as men of integrity, I have never met a more
■ honorable, high-minded, correct and truthful set of men than the Chinese
merchants of our city. I have never had a case where the Chinese have
attempted to undervalue their goods or bring fictitious claims into their
adjustments. Chinese merchants as a class, I think, are more honorable
than other nationalities, even our own. I think they are the best mathe-
maticians I ever saw in my life. They would make good citizens. I do
not think there are over 2,000 merchants in the city. They understand
the principles of insurance. I never had a law-suit with them, or ever
had a complaint from them in my life.
Chinese scent I visit these merchants at their homes. Their houses are as cleanly as

abouttheirhouses. ^j^g houggs of American merchants ; they do not smell as well, because
there is a Chinese scent about all their houses. For cleanliness, the houses
of Chi-Long and Qui-Nong-Chong, on Sacramento street, are as cleanly as
the house of any member of the firm of Macondry & Co., or the house of
Mr. Hecht, or of any other American or foreign merchant here. Their
accommodations are not as ample. I have never seen their .sleeping
apartments. I never saw a Chinese wife ; I have seen their children.

291 HEYNEMANN

Herman Heynemann, merchant and manufacturer, sworn and examined :

I have been fifteen years in business, importing goods, and am president
of the Pioneer Woolen Factory and theagent of the Pacific Jute Manufac-
turing Company.

Our manufacturing here is entirely for our own use ; we are not able to Wooien8L
compete with Europe yet so as to export. We consume about 2,000,000
pounds of wool here, and we export 38,000,000 pounds. There are$l, 000,000
~ invested in the Mission and Pioneer Woolen Mills. The Pacific Rolling
Mill is the only establishment that could compare at all with ours. In
the two mills we employ about 600 operatives — not all Chinese.

Testimony has been given here of late to the effect that a good many white
laborers have been displaced by Chinese. The contrary has been taking
place in our factory ; white girls have taken the place of Chinese. Origin- White girls in wit-
ally it would have been an absolute impossibility to have run the factory dfs^piioedC^ineset
upon white labor, simply because we could not get white operatives ; it
could not have been started with white labor. As labor is offering in this
paflticular factory every day, the number of white girls is increasing and
the proportionate number of Chinese is decreasing. In the course of time,
as labor becomes more plentiful here, I have no doubt the Chinese will be
displaced altogether, except where they amalgamate so that they really
would lose the distinctive name of Chinese. Inherently, I do not believe No inherent differ-
there is any difference between the two races at all.

We could not displace the Chinese without great disadvantage ; to dis-
charge them all would disorganize everything. As operatives they have
great power of imitatipn, but very little power of invention. I do not ^^^'l^fenUvt!'^'"''
think for generations the Chinaman will ever be the peer of the American
laborer.

In our factory, during -the last fifteen years, we have not had a single Quiet,
case before the police court. They all live on the premises ; they have a
building there ; and we have not had a case of any kind before the police
court of murder, or rows among themselves, or theft upon the proprietors. Not amhitious, not
We have thought them very honest. If the Chinaman has enough for his S™w hltes *"'
daily wants he is satisfied and does not look for more. He is not ambi-
tious. They are not more steady than the whites ; as a rule I should think steadiMss^nrtjjno-
that steadiness is not one of their virtues at all.

I think this so-called coolie business is a mere trick, a sham, and illu-
sion. I do not believe they are any more slaves than any other people,
except as a general rule they are very poor in their own country, and
have their passage money advanced. Many of them have not been able
to repay it all, and thus they are constantly in debt, which hangs over
them.

About half our operatives are Chinese, exclusive of the Pacific Jute Fac-
tory. There the number is almost entirely Chinese, except the foreman.
We tried there to have Scotch help— white girls. We imported them for toported^Scotch.
that very purpose, but could not keep them a fortnight. They ran away.

There are a good many thieves among the Chinese, just as there are a Thieves,
good many thieves among the whites ; probably more, because as a general
rule they are poorer.
Establishment of manufactories here has largely increased the work ot

the whites.

It might be beneficial to the political welfare of the country to place
some restriction upon immigration generally, but I do not say it should
be done. To place a restriction on Chinese immigration to this coast, and
not restrict other immigration, would be a restriction upon the commerce

HEYNEMANN 292

of California. Their presence here increases the immigration of white
labor to this coast, and increases commerce, as well as increasing the
value of real estate.

Commerce is our chief element of wealth. Our exports are grain,
wool, wine, precious metals ; grain leading everything.
Exportation of sil- Without the grain trade and the export of grain California would not
^^'^^ exist as a state as she does now. The silver sent from here to China is

merchandise everywhere, and one of the products of the coast. It is an
exchange transaction. It would be very much to our benefit if we could
get more money for our silver — if we could establish the bullion market
here, so that the price here would regulate London ; because it is certain
that we can send silver to China cheaper than they can send it to Lon-
don, simply on account of transit. European nations have been in the
habit of paying a considerable amount of silver to China. If that money
was paid through this port it would undoubtedly be an advantage to us.
Silver would be worth more if sent from here to China by English orders.
As regards the immigration of the Chinese, I have always thought there
Supply of Chinese were not enough of them here. I rather differ from Mr. Wheeler ; I
e™cee^th?d™*^'^' think the supply sets in after the demand. Suppose there has been a good
mand. year in 1875, and the Chinese companies have found employment for all

the men who have come here, and that their passage money has been paid
back ; the fact of there being plenty of employment for those who came
would induce others to come, and when these next arrivals come they may
not find any employment at all, which was the case in the early part of
this year. The result would be that the immigration would be smaller
the next year, and the supply would not come directly upon the demand.
The treatment the Chinese receive in California would naturally have
an efiect upon our commerce with China.

Every machine invented for economziing labor is a benefit to the poor
man.
wwt ' w"r^ °^ ''■* ^^ * perfect impossibility for a Chinaman to compete with an Ameri-

can artisan. If a Chinaman builds a house he does not employ Chinese.
There are three houses on the corner of California and Dupont streets,
just built now, and they were all built by white men.

The cause of the hostility against them is the same that has been pre-
strangeness of valent all over the earth — strangeness of manners. It used to be in
to^tl^o^MeX England that any man who did not speak English was a "bloody
the prejudice foreigner." Instead of keeping themselves in their peculiar dress, if they

-agains em. -,yere to drink whiskey and patronize the bar-rooms to-day, just like others
do, the prejudice would disappear immediately.

I have no objection, so far as our woolen factory is concerned, to a rea-
sonable restriction upon the Chinese coming here ; but I think it would
Paciflic Jute Fac- be a prejudice generally to our factory. As to the Pacific Jute Factory, it
Ji?rmthont"them' ^'^^^'^ ^°^ S° °^ without Chinese labor, the looms being so much heavier
few women can stand to run them. Women run them in Scotland ; but
it is very hard work. Before we established this factory on this coast all
the bags consumed here came from Scotland. If the tariff did not protect
us, our farmers would get these bags cheaply made in Hindostan. We
have not asked to have the tariff kept up, except that we introduced the
industry, and we found that we could not compete without Chinese labor.
If we had no local factory you might have to pay twenty cents for bags.
There are more women regularly employed who earn their living in
manufactories now than at the time of the introduction of the " mule."
If Chinamen were put into the places of the women employed in these
factories all the women would have to starve.

293 HEYNEMANN"

I think there is a choice between Chinese immigration and other foreign White people pre-
immigration. I think the so-called white people the most desirable, but I '®™^'®-
would as soon have the Chinese than a good many of them. Take .the
average class of Germans and the average class of Chinamen who come
here, I would prefer the Germans by far. Unrestricted immigration of
Chinese would not have a tendency to prevent the immigration of
Germans.

A great many Germans are in the anti-coolie leagues. There is just as
bitter hatred among the Germans as among any other class of people.
Being a native German, I am very much opposed to the prejudice against
foreigners. I consider a Chinaman nothing but a foreigner, and put him
on the same plane as any other foreigner.

RiCHAED G. Sneath, vice-president and manager of the Merchants' Bank, SNEATH.
of the state and a resident for twenty-six years, sworn and examined :

I have dealt a great deal with Chinese, and with the Chinese merchants
in this city particularly. I have always found them truthful, honorable. High character oc
and perfectly reliable in all their business engagements. I have done businessmen,
business with them perhaps to the amount of several millions of dollars.
I have never had a single one of them to fail to live up to his contracts.
I never lost a dollar by them. I cannot say that much for the white race.
Regarding the advisability of the unrestricted immigration of Chinese
to this coast, I am inclined to think that there are not more Chinamen Not more Chinese^
here at present than are really needed, and I think it is a question how than i^eeded, but
far this immigration should go. I should say it was a proper subject of power to restrict,
legislation to have a general restriction or power to restrict.

I should think that they cannot assimilate and become a portion of our
people, nor are they likely to do so. The coming and going of the China-
men would not change the relative relation of the two peoples to each
other ; they would remain the same general alien people. The younger
people learn our language very quickly. The masses do not speak it.

Our civilization is superior to theirs. Civilization-

Immigrants from Europe and the eastern states, as a class, would be
more desirable than the Chinese. As to the influx of the Chinese, as
having a tendency to prevent immigration of white labor from the east, I
should say that the immigration of whites depended very materially upon
their success here ; that is, the wages they receive, their advancement, and
all that. Wages are about the same here now that they were ten or fif-
teen years ago. As a rule the Chinese do not come here for permanent gfe^^J^^JJ'™' °^
residence ; foreign and eastern immigrants come here for the purpose of
remaining and making their homes here. I think that without Chinamen
it would be impossible to develop very many of the material interests of
the state. With them I think that our people, perhaps, are better off ; ,
we can progress more rapidly. I do not think it would be desirable to
make the Chinese citizens by giving them the franchise. gi ve thlS'Se '"

Among the common Chinese whom I have employed, I have found them (ranchise.
to be an industrious people, and, as a general thing, very reliable. In a
great many situations I much prefer the Chinese to white labor. Then,
again, in farming I employ nearly all white men, for the reason that the ^'^etoldChtoeslt:
Chinese do not understand farming. They can only be worked in gangs, in farming, whites..
where they have th'^ir own head man. I have paid higher wages to
Chinamen than I ever paid to white men — as cooks, for instance.

SNEATH

294

To compete with j^ order to compete with other countries, it is absolutely necessary that
must have cheap we shonld have cheap labor. They have it in other countries, and we

labor.

In hydraulic
mining white
labor would
jiot pay,

must have it here. Then, cheap labor necessarily furnishes a higher order
of labor for a better class.

The leading idea with those employing Chinese labor is to make money
out of them ; but I know plenty of cases where it is demonstrated by
figures that it is impossible to employ white labor. The case I refer to
is one of hydraulic mining, where a mine will not pay with white labor,
and with the use of Chinese labor they are able to pay expenses and a
little more, and hope to make it up eventually. I know of two other men
whose experience is the same. The tendency of employing Chinese is to
find cheap labor ; it is a question of dollars and cents.

SEAMAN.

.ST a Ms tics.

Vernon Seaman, five years a resident in China in a mercantile house,
sworn and examined :

The exports from China and Japan to the United States of America of
teas are from 50,000,000 to 60,000,000 pounds per annum, about one-half
coming from each country. Of this about 8,000,000 pounds is sold in San
Francisco ; the balance is distributed over the country, in transit through
this city and by vessels, direct from China to New York and other
northern cities. The better grades of teas pass through this city, and
the lower qualities are shipped by sailing vessels because of the economy
in freights. To England and the continent about 160,000,000 to
170,000,000 pounds of tea are annually shipped.

The silk trade is largely European, 88,000 bales being the average an-
nual shipments to Europe, and some 10,000 bales to America.

The following statistics, compiled from recent China prices current,
show the annual exports and imports for the year 187-5, the comparative
values, etc.: —

Frmn China.

Imports.

25,000,000 pounds tea, 50c $12,500,000

5,000 bales silk, $500 2,500,000

12,000,000 pounds sugar, 8c 960,000

50,000,000 pounds rice, 4c 2,000,000

2,000,000 pounds cassia, 12c 240,000

300,000 boxes fire-crackers, |1 300,000

500,000 pounds camphor, 15c 75,000

60,000 bales matting, $4 240,000

700 cases straw hats, $40 28,000

2,000 cases fans, $4 8,000

2,200 cases preserves, $5 11,000

2,000 cases chinaware, $20 40,000

50 cases vermilUon, $40 2,000

770 cases cassia oil, $110 84,000

2,200 cases cassia buds, $20 44,000

500 cases aniseed oil, $200 100^000

110 cases aniseed star, $20 2,200

Opium and sundry 1,000,000

$20,134,200

295 SEAMAN

To China.

Treasure, about $ 7,650,000 Exporta.

13,000 barrels flour 650,000

18,000 flasks quicksilver 1,000,000

2,000,000 feet lumber 50,000

15,000 tons coal ^ . . . 150,000

Sundry (as per Commercial Herald) 1,000,000

$10,500,000

FrQim the foregoing it will be seen that we receive from China annually
double the amount we send away.

The average arrivals of Chinese in California is about 20,000 per
annum, against 80,000 of all other nationalities. Of the foregoing imports,
about $5,000,000 worth are consumed in this city and state.

In China^the Chinese are a quiet, industrious people ; their merchant Quiet, industrious
class being strictly honorable and upright in their dealings. In all my P^°P^^g'\„^j^^j,3
experience there I never knew but one case of dishonesty in packing teas cheats,
or silks, and that was the placing of scrap-iron between the outside mats
and the boxes of a cargo of tea shipped to London. The shipment was
condemned and sold at a loss, which loss was promptly paid by the native
merchant who originally sold the goods. The wages of a coolie in southern
China is from $4 to $6 per month ; in the north about $1 higher. They
come here to better their condition. The companies advance their
expenses, and they refund the same from the proceeds of their labor.
Foreigners in China have very little to complain of. They do about as
they please. They have extensive steamer lines on the Yang-tse and
Canton rivers, and are largely interested in all branches of trade,
insurance, etc.

The Chinese as a people have many peculiarities that are not especially
in accord with the ideas of foreigners. Aside from the habit of opium-
smoking, which is by no means an universal one, they are not dissipated. Not dissipated.
At their annual New Year they drink unlimited quantities of " samshoo,"
a spirit distilled from rice.

I have seen 100 of them at work making shoes at Sampson's manufac-
tory at North Adams, Massachusetts ; 150 doing laundry work at Captain
Harvey's steam laundry in Belleville, New Jersey ; and some 500 to 600
on cotton and sugar plantations in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas ;
also have seen them railroad-building in Alabama, and levee-building at
and near Baton Rouge. In these various works their employers were Good laborers,
satisfied with their labor. In cotton-raising, on the place of Colonel
Sessions, at Luna, Arkansas, are employed 100 Chinese and 100 negroes.
Each class cultivated one-half of his plantation. The result of the year's
work, as he stated to me in 1872, was five and a half bales to the iiegro
hand, and eight bales to each Chinaman. The wages paid them in the
south three years ago was $28 per month, and they boarded themselves.
Some trouble between the Chinese and planters occurred, but in all cases
that I became cognizant of these were caused by the non-payment of
wages. Then there were some 1,500 Chinese in the south. They had
gone there originally under contract to Koopmanschap, Williams, and
others, the most of them for the Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad
Company. They completed their work, received no pay, and were fear-
fully abused and turned off in the swamps, where they managed to exist
on roots, berries, and anything they could get, until they were relieved by

SEAMAN

296

Not a desirable
element for Cali-
fornia.

Chin Poo, a very intelligent Chinaman, who had made the tour of the
country with me studying this very labor question.

I do not consider them a desirable element for California, by any means.
All Chinese can read and write their own language. All male children
go to school in China. Females are looked upon in a different light.

Railroading and telegraphing are yet in their infancy in China.

The statistics already quoted, as to arrivals, were taken from the tables-
of the Merchants' Exchange here.

I know nothing of the massacre at Tien-tsin except from what 1 have
read in the papers. I recollect foreigners taking refuge on board a
steamer, but don't know how many were killed. A great many mission-
ary women were dishonored and killed. When I spoke of foreigners hav-
ing no reason to complain of their treatment in China I was not speaking
of missionaries, but those doing business with the merchant class. The
missionaries take upon themselves extra risks by going into the interior.
Tien-tsin is about 600 miles from Shanghai — a day and a half's drive from
Pekin. It is an open port, with a foreign population of about, 200.

The statistics of the Pacific Mail Company will give the number of
Chinamen who return to China.

The same statistical papers go to the custom house that go to the
exchange. The custom house record is the official record. It is their
business to know how many Chinese arrive. I believe they collect a cer-
tain revenue when they arrive.

PECKHAM. Robert F. Peckham, woolen manufacturer, and a resident of California
for thirty years, sworn and examined :

I was practising law from 1850 until about 1869, Since that time I
have been carrying on a woolen mill, at present president and managing
agent of the San Jose Woolen Mills, California,

We employ Chinese, and they are very generally employed by other
parties in fruit-raising and hop-raising. They are also employed in washing,
as house-servants, and everything of that kind.

When we are running full we employ about twBTity white hands in the
mill, and eight or ten on the outside, and about sixty-five Chinese. About
three-fourths of the expense of running the institution is paid to white
labor, and about one-fourth is paid to the Chinese. We employ Chinamen
because it is necessary for us to compete in the business. In comparing
pay-rolls with several institutions in the east, a year or two since, we found
that there was very little difference. At this time they are twenty per
h£"w^oofe*n facto™ °^"^^' ^^^^^ ^^- With the prices that are demanded for white labor here we
with the prices de'^ could not carry on the business. There are about $3,000,000 of capital
manded for white engaged in the business on the Pacific coast, and I suppose they are all in
the same fix. We have tried a number of boys, and our experience with
them has been that where their parents are with them in the mill, to look
after them, we have no trouble. We have several of them from
fourteen to eighteen or twenty years of age, to whom we pay wages consider-
ably in advance of Chinese. We have tried boys whose parents were not
in the mill, and it has been a failure ; they would work a few days and
then go off. The white boys and girls, where they are trained and willing '
to work, are just as good as the Chinese. The Chinese, though, are very
industrious people. They are a little crotchety ; they understand how to
combine ; they will learn you before you learn them. They all require
watching. They are the most powerful imitators that I have ever seen, as

Chinese a little
crotchety ; can
combine.

297 PECKHAM

a class. I think that a Chinaman will learn to weave as well on a fancy Powerful imita-
loom in one month a;s most American girls would learn in two months, ^°^^'
but they do not exhibit any inventive genius. They are conservative.
They do not discover any new processes.

Our process of securing Chinese help is through a Chinese merchant in
this city, who acts in the capacity of an intelligence office, getting a
commissiom from them for procuring their situations. They are bound to
him, and they observe their agreement in the utmost good faith. I pay the
man who employs them for me.

I have seen but one drunken Chinaman in California. As to their Chinese sober and
honesty they will average well with the same classes among other people. ''°"'^^'-
In business transactions the percentage of loss between the two races is
decidedly in favor of the Chinese.

Whenever we can get a white person, boy, man, or woman, who
can perform the duties of a Chinaman, we will give them $5 a month more
than we pay the Chinaman. We prefer to give the labor to white people
even at a pecuniary sacrifice.

Fruit-raising and agriculture are our two principal productive pursuits.
Besides our own institution in San Jose, there are some tanneries, two
establishments for canning and preserving fruit, two machine-shops where
they make castings, steam-boilers, steam-engines, and other industries.

White persons can be got for picking fruit if you will pay the wages with no more
demanded. At the present time, if there were no Chinamen here and no niJ^'^^^no'chi-
more white men than now, it would be found that there would be a very neee a short sup-
short supply of white labor for the business of the Pacific. the Paciflc™^^^ °

If we had not had the cheap labor which the Chinese have afforded us,
the industries of the state would not have been developed as much as
they have by at least twenty years ; and it has the same efiect upon the
situation of white laborers, probably, that the invention of labor-saving
machinery has. By the employment of Chinese and the consequent develop- Development,
ment of industries upon the coast, situations have been made for a great
many white people who would not otherwise have found employment.
With the wages paid to Chinese labor the white man purchases more of
the necessaries of life than I could with my wages in 1849, when I worked
for $16 a day. The purchasing power of labor from 1849 to the present
time has been increased.

The most of our manufacturing in the state is for domestic use. To a
limited extent our woolen products find a market in the east.

White labor on farms here commands from $30 to |40 a month and ^'e^^tabo^ ™"
board ; the value of such labor in the east would range from $18 to $25
and board. Chinese labor here on farms, get about $30, a month and they
will board themselves.

Chinese as a general thing are not very muscular, but they are service-
able in heavy work. In the fruit business a Chinaman will do as much as
a white man. Some white men will do more than others. In my business,
there is not room for any great difference between the labor of the two
classes. If our Chinamen were taken from us we should close up to-morrow.
The reason why we are compelled to have cheaper labor than white is on
account of the difficulty of competition with eastern products in this home
market. We are trying to substitute white labor for Chinese. We picked
up, within the last year, two or three poor women who were willing to
work for what we could afford to pay them. They stayed with us, and made
first-rate hands, and when we find more of that kind we will employ them.
We pay them from twelve and one-half to fifteen per cent, above what we ^oy whitelabor
pay Chinamen. There are very few men who would not employ white if they could doit.-
labor, if they could do it, instead of Chinamen.

PECKHAM

298

Chinese indispen
sable.

Industries.

The profit upon the capital employed in our business for six years,
would not be, I think, over nine per cent, per annum. As to the value of
our stock, I bought 100 shares day before yesterday for thirty-eight and
one-half cents, but would not sell for that.

Our surplus fruit goes to the east by train loads, but what it brings, or
how much profit there is in the business, I do not know.

The tanneries in Santa Cruz county, when I was there, were very
extensive, and were not run by Chinese labor.

There are many industries in this state which cannot be carried on
successfully with Chinese labor. Cotton is not profitable with Chinese
labor in this state, at the present wages ; it is regarded by men most
conversant with it as a failure. The raising of olives, the making of olive-
oil, the putting up of sardines, the raising of rice, castor-oil, beans, flax-
seed for oil, and all those things are in our future. The industries of
California are in their infancy. We want cheaper labor than we have, even
if done by Chinese ; and as those branches become developed, they will
give additional employment to whites.

The money-making facilities of the state and the development of its
industries would be increased by the importation of any class of people
who can be employed in building up the industries of the country at rates
that will command confidence on the part of capitalists, and induce them
to put their money into it, be they white or be they Chinese.

The Chinese ought not to become voters ; as a class they do not want
to be voters, and we ought not to force suffrage upon them. I see no cause
why our institutions should not stand in the presence of a large adult male
population here, disproportionate to the whites, who are not allowed to
\'ote.

The result of the stoppage of our factory would be our people would be
compelled to purchase wherever they could get the commodities we manu-
facture. I do not know that there would be any difierence to our people
in the cost of buying those articles. Outside of the advantage to the sixty
Chinese we employ and the money that our stockholders make, there is
some advantage to the state in our producing so much. It lays the balance
of the United States under contribution to us to the extent that we ship
goods east and sell them ; it makes the balance of the United States, pro
tanto, tributary to us instead of our being altogether in their power.

Every article produced by the Chinamen in our own markets, and sold
in our own market, such as woolen cloths, clothing, shoes, cigars, slippers,
and everything of that kind, necessarily, if sold here, excludes just so
many of the same articles of eastern manufacture, and comes into competi-
tion with them.

Regarding the propriety of limiting Chinese immigration, I have no
objection to it, providing a reasonable restraint is to be placed, but I do
not know how that is to be done.

It would be more profitable to use our capital in banking, and loaning
it at one per cent, per month compounded.

The production of cotton here has been tried and fully demonstrated,
and compares well, both as to quality and quantity to the acre, with that
grown in the southern states of the Union.

The industries mentioned as being in the future could all be carried on
here, if it were not for the question of labor.

It is better for the United States as a country to manufacture her own
goods than to buy them from Europe. What is true of the whole
country is true of a state, and it is true of California. It is better for this
state to manufacture her own goods even with Chinese labor than to send

Shouldnot become
voters.

Employment of
Chinese an ad van-
vantage to the
state.

Importanceof Chi-
nese labor.

299 PECKHAM

her products abroad, to buy them in a foreign market, or even to send to
Massachusetts.

As to restricting Chinese immigration, I have no iixed opinion. It seems
to be the impression among the Chinese themselves that there are too impression ot the
many of them here, and that they cannot, under the present state of things, are^tocT many'of'^''
all get employment. When they are unemployed they become vicious and them.
idle, and an American does the same.

The influx of Chinese during the last twenty years has not affected our
civilization, nor are we degraded by the presence of these people.

At one time the products of our mines was estimated as high as
$50,000,000, and it took nearly all to keep us clothed and get something
to eat. We had not much left.

The demand for California cotton at the present time is greater than the
supply. Cotton can be imported for fourteen and one-half cents currency ;
it cannot be produced in California for less than fourteen and one-half
cents or fifteen cents gold.

I do not think that free competition among laborers of good morals and Labor controlled
correct habits injures a country any more than free competition in matters Jjfand?''^'' ^"'^ ^'^
-of property or merchandise. Everything is controlled by the law of demand
and supply, labor as well as anything else ; but there is one limit beyond
which labor cannot go : they cannot compel capital to pay them more for
their labor than the products of their labor will sell for in the market.

My opinion is that every nation and state is powerful in proportion to
the population it supports and supports comfortably, the character of the
population having something to do with it.

Eev. William W. Brier, cultivator of fruit, minister of the Presbyterian BRIER.
Church, and a resident since 1850, swoi-n and examined :

So far as the country is concerned, I regard the moral and physical ^nf "physfeliTon-
condition of the Chinese laborers better than any other nationality by far. dition^rf tte Chi^
They are temperate, cleanly, and healthy. In regard to their religious Sfr than smrother
condition, I know nothing about it. nationality.

The only bondage, the only obligation, they are under is for money ad-
vanced for their passage here. They are debtors, and they agree to work
so long until that money is paid back. I think that is the only style of
bondage that there is among them.

They all come here to make money and then go back. After being here
a while they are a good deal like other people; they become attached to
the country, and when they go back they want to return. They do not
become attached to our institutions and reconciled to live and die here.

The Chinese mostly perform labor that is disconnected with team work;
almost every other kind of labor in the world, except in connection with
the running of threshing-machines, the Chinamen perform, more particu-
larly m the fruit business. I regard the Chinaman as superior to any f JiP«™^t?°„Sy
other nationality as laborers in their own departments. At the present as laborers in their
prices it would be impossible to carry on the fruit business with white "^ departm .
labor. The Chinese are more skilful and reliable than white men. They
will stay until they learn their business. White men will not do that ;
you camiot keep them. If the white man amounts to anything, he will
soon acquire enough to start in business for himself. I employ Chinamen
because I would not have boys nor girls from the city. If somebody
would board them and put them in my orchard to work, I would not have
them, from what I know of them. I could not afford it. There is too

BRIER

300

much competition to make people who are wide awake to employ boys..
If I undertook to work boys at all, I would take boys from the needy-
class. It is a matter of necessity that employers and farmers cannot work
boys to advantage. In my business I pay Chinamen $1 a day, and they.
Chineseaneoessity board themselves. I furnish them with a house and wood. At present
0 1 -growing. pj.jpgg Qf iTniit we could not raise it without Chinese labor. I think the
employment of Chinese labor in this depa,rtment, and all other depart-
ments, has kept up the price of white labor.

The immigration of Chinese to this country has been an advantage to
the pecuniary interests of the state.

The present rate of white labor has prevailed for about twenty years.
Most articles are cheaper now than they were twenty year's ago ; clothing
is cheaper, meat is higher, and the price of those things manufactured by
Chinese has decreased.
Sees no reason for I cannot see any reason for restricting Chinese immigration, and I can-
ne^s*eimmfgration. '^°* ®^^ ^'^'^ i* could have any effect upon the moral condition of the white
population.

In regard to the employment of white girls as house-servants in the
country, I think they cannot possibly be obtained. Catholic girls do not
like to go to the country, because they have not got their churches. Be-
fore we had any Chinese servants in the house, we had to depend upon
Indians and such classes of people. The white girls who go to service are
almost all foreign-born — Irish girls and Germans. I have seen but very
few American girls going out to service, and these have been in wealthy
families, in the higher departments — women to wait at table, housekeepers,,
and such like.

Farm wages were from $2^ to §35 a month in 1856, 1857, 1858, and
along there, before the Central Pacific Railway was built.

I think the wages of women in service have been reduced during the
last twenty years ; I suppose there is some competition there. I am in
favor of low wages, and of a sufficient profit to carry on the business.
The more labor put into our country the more prosperity there will be at
large, because we can compete with foreign countries and other states of
Capital and labor, the Union. In California they are giving as much as they can afford to
give. They will get labor as cheap as they can ; it is human nature. Our
cheapening of products and of manufactures, and cheapening them through
our own manufactories, has been of great advantage to the laboring class
of people. The interests of society require that in the division of the
profits made by any business the laborer shall have a decent share. If we
cannot compete with foreign countries with the price of labor at a certain
figure, I believe it is the interest of the country to reduce the price of
labor so that we can compete.

I imagine there can be too many Chinamen ; but I do not think there
are too many now. My opinion is that if i-estrictions are to be made in
respect to China, they ought to be made upon people who are far worse
for us than Chinese. I would trade a certain nationality off for China-
men until there was not one left of the stock-in-trade, for I consider some
of them an evil. An extreme of Chinese population would be an evil ;
but my opinion is that we have not arrived at that extreme yet.

I suppose the object of those who asked for this investigation was to
make political capital. They might have had some other motive, but their
chief reason was political. I say this from my own convictions ; and in
all my acquaintance I do not know a farmer of my district who agrees with
me precisely in all these opinions. I do not know a solitary man in
Washington township or in Alameda county that disagrees with me in

Extreme of Chi-
nese population
an evil.

301

BRIER

some things : that the Chinese population, so far as it has come here, is a
necessity to the farming interests of the country, and that to interfere
■with it -would be a serious mistake. That is the universal opinion in
Alameda county, without an exception.

I know that Mr. Page was the author of the law restricting the immi-
gration of certain classes of Chinese — prostitutes ; but we believe in
restricting that class.

I should not think it would be very good taste in a white woman to
marry a Chinaman, nor would it be desirable for the state.

I regard the Chinese very much in the light I do any other thing we Regards the Chi-
want to use— horses or machinery. They do a certain kind of work that chine^ "^^*"' """'
we cannot have done unless by some such labor. I do not wish the
.committee to understand that I am for an indiscriminate and universal im-
migration of the Chinese ; but I have not seen any reason for any interfer-
ence with'the present treaty with China. I do not think the immigration
of Chinese to this coast has interfered with white labor, or will in the
future ; or that the number coming here will be so great as to be feared ;
but if the time should come when they should begin to be in excess of the
•demand and of the use that we can put them to, then I should certainly
be in favor of breaking up any treaty at all hazards.

[An extract was here read from a letter from Mr. Blakeslee.J

In speaking of the universal opinion of the people of Alameda county,
I referred to those who employed men to work. Mr. Blakeslee is not a
man who employs labor. I do not know of any man who employs whites
■or Chinamen in all my acquaintance in Alameda county who believes that
we have too many Chinese. Men who make money out of them believe Not too many CM-
we have not enough, and they are the men who are the best judges. nese.

I believe that God has sent these Chinamen here for a great and good
purpose to the human race ; to learn something of our institutions and
religion, and by their going back and forth they may diffuse virtue to a
great and dark people. That is the chief ground of my opposition to
Congress interfering with the present relations with China, or interfering
at any time before there is an absolute necessity for it. I do not believe
there will ever be any necessity for interfering with them myself.

The Chinese will come only as the demand calls them here. I think Demand and sup-
there has never been an over supply, and I do not believe there will be for '' ^'
this reason : the Chinese, in their labor system, differ from all other
people, and from our own people. They have companies — the Six Com-
panies Most of these Chinese in California are members of these com-
panies. Those companies have no absolute control over them, but they
are for security — the security of their persons — to take care of them if
sick, and to look after them generally and see that they get employment.
All these companies appoint certain men to look after the Chinamen in
a given district. I know this from the Chinese — from talking with them.
Every man who employs Chinamen has one that he calls the boss China-
man. When he wants men he just says to the boss: "I want so many
more men next week than I have," and that boss obtains the men. He gets
a small percentage, I suppose. I know it is the case with my Chinamen. I
suppose it is universally the case with the boss Chinaman, who secures
■employment for other Chinamen, to get a certain percentage of the
wages of all the men who work, to reward the boss for his agency in the
matter.

I have heard of Chinamen starting in on their own hook, but I never Chinamen do not
saw a Chinaman who bought or owned any real estate. I conceive it to tate.^' '" ^^^^ ^'
be right and proper that Chinamen should have the right to buy real

BRIER

302

Chinese civiliza-
tion.

Would not allow
them to Totc.

Comparison be-
'' tween European
and Chinese im-
migrants.

estate. There is no danger of its being done to any great extent, because
most of the Chinese come here to make some money and go back.

There is a great deal worse class of foreigners in our land who have all
the rights of citizenship and everything else ; and I do not see any reason
why we should exclude the Chinese — it is according to their character and
morals that I judge.

The Chinese are a polite people. They are not people easily excited,,
they are very equable in their temper of mind. They are a cleanly people,
keeping themselves neat, clean, and nice, and there is nothing offensive^
about them. Scarcely any of them ever swear. None of them that I have
ever known drink whiskey ; I have^never seen but one drunken Chinaman
in my residence in California, and that one, I thought, was becoming
Americanized. I have never had but one Chinaman come to my house
and ask for something to eat, or to ask if I had anything to give him ;
and I suppose there are more than 100 fed there of white men of other
nationalities every year, from which I infer that Chinamen do not spend
their money for whiskey as other nationalities do. If not drunk when
they come, they are generally just otf a spree. The reason why I judge so
harshly of whites and so leniently of Chinamen is because of their man-
ners. The whites are begging, and the Chinamen are not ; the Chinamen
make their living by work, and the white men drink whiskey and do not
make a living. I believe in doing all men of all nations justice.

As to allowing Chinamen to vote, I never would allow any foreigner in
the United States to vote until be could read and write and pass an exam-
ination on the constitution of the Umted States and the form of govern-
ment we have. When a Chinaman could do that, I would make him a
voter if he had not been here more than two weeks. I know quite a num-
ber who can read and write in our language, and I would put them on
the same footing with all other nations of the earth, and on the same
footing as Americans. Independent of any question of making money
out of the Chinese, I think I should still be in favor of their unrestricted
immigration. I should not like to see our country flooded with either
Chinese or European immigi-ation.

The great immigration we have had from Europe in the last sixty or
seventy years has been, I think, a great trial to the stability of our insti-
tutions. If I could choose between 100,000 German, Swedish, Italian,
English, French, Irish, and Scotch immigrants in the same general pro-
portion as they come to California now, and 100,000 Chinese from Hong
Kong, I would prefer the European ; for this reason : they would be more
likely to remain here and become permanent citizens, and more easily
moulded into our ideas and thoughts. The second generation would im-
prove ; the third generation would be about as good as we are. The
ultimate condition of the country under white foreign immigration would
be improved by the immigration of 100,000 adult male Chinamen who
come here and go away.

Christian civilization is superior to Buddhism and heathenism ; it is.
better in its effects upon the country and the people of the country.

I am in favor of cheap labor. If I could get more with ninety cents a
day than with one dollar and twenty cents, it would be better prosperity
for my family to get ninety cents.

303 HASTING

S. Clinton Hastings, a resident since 1849, engaged in general real-estate
business. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the organiza-
tion of the state, sworn and examined :

So far as the material interests of the state are concerned, the influence
oi the Chinese has been beneficial. The construction of the Central P'''^'®i''P'?'y^'^f
Pacific Railroad was the great desideratum for the prosperity of the subsequently
Country ; but in the construction of lateral roads through our difier- detrimental,
ent counties, I think their influence has been detrimental. In that and
a moral point of view they are highly detrimental.

The presence of the Cninese, unless they can be driven from the country
after a year or two, would be very injurious. At the present time we
need them in the businesses in which we employ them. We should have
some legislation to restrict them. Their privileges in this country should
be no greater than the privileges of our people in China.

As to the question of their assimilation or civilization, I think it would Miscegenation
be destruction if miscegenation should be general. We would not pro- destruction,
pagate.

There is no race of the Aryan or European races, whether it be an Irish- superlorto thfe

man or a Russian serf, who is not infinitely superior to the Chinaman, in a Chinaman from a

1...., ,. J r moral pomt of

moral point or view, as a human being. view.

There is an irrepressible conflict between the white man and the China- ■ Discourages

man when they come in contact. Their presence has a direct tendency to uon.^ immigra-

discourage white immigration; it demoralizes, also, another branch of Demoralizes our

° , T ■ 1 boys and girls,

our people — our boys and girls.

Chiuese labor has been indispensable in developing some of the resources
of Cahfornia, such as the reclamation of submerged lands. Some China-
men are very reliable ; and, perhaps, for steady employment in that low
grade of labor, are better than any other race.

We must come to this crisis of excluding the Chinese some time or
other. Now is the time. They cannot assimilate with our race, never
can miscegenate, and they do not desire to do so.

In erecting buildings white labor is employed ; if they were erected by
Chinese labor there would be no tenants. The poor white people of this
city will not rent a building of a man who employed Chinamen to erect it. ^K?"^ prejudice
The prejudice is so great that if there were incendiaries among our labor- classes. ""^"^
ing classes it would be a very great incentive for them to fire our build-
ings.

The progeny of Chinese and whites cannot procreate, or their ofl- Miscegenation
spring would be so imperfect that perhaps in the majority of offsprings it least undesirable,
would be no better than a mule. The offspring of negroes and whites
probably would be more prolific but I think it would be imperfect also.
There is a great difference between the two.

The present employment of Chinese labor in this country is as detri- As bad as slavery,
mental as slavery ever was in the southern states. Chinese labor is a peonsT' ^ ''*^''^~
servile caste ; the Chinaman is in a state of peonage. So far as the great ^ fungus,
body-politic is concerned, they are a fungus, a foreign substance, an un-
healty substance ; they are not freemen.

You cannot induce a Chinaman to become a citizen. They have no idea Educated China-
of the obligations of an oath. The educated Chinaman is very much of a birt"to^(§iristiai5ze
gentleman. As to Christianizing them that is preposterous. They are fully preposterous,
satisfied with their religion.

A peon is a person who in all Spanish countries becomes indebted to
his superior, and when so indebted he is obliged to serve him until he dis-
charges that obligation. The Chinamen come here as peons, and perform

HASTINGS

304

How the Chinese
come.

The educated Chi-
naman.

a certain service to pay for the expense of bringing them here and the
expense of taking them home. He belongs to the great companies until
the debt is paid. They order him to go here and there ; they see that
he is not starved ; they see that he is fed, and that he is employed. Hence
it is that you never hear of their people being beggars.

There are a great many immigrants from Europe who borrow money
to get here, promising to pay it back out of their wages; but this is differ-
ent from the way the Chinese come here. In the case of the European
immigrant he has the liberty to say that he will be employed in this or
that way, with no one to control his movements. In the other case the
Chinaman is under constraint ; he is enslaved to these employers until he
pays back the money advanced.

I get my information from a knowledge of the Chinamen for the last
twenty-five years. I employ them because they are here and they are
cheap. I think they are more faithful than white men. I never heard
of such a monstrosity as a Chinese vote. I heard that they voted at the
last election in this city.

I have met leading merchants at a dinner party, which equalled any-
thing in splendor I ever knew. No man feels degraded in associating with
cultivated Chinamen. The educated Chinaman is as adverse to assimilat-
ing or affiliating with the Anglo-Saxon race as we are. He has a civiliza^
tion of his own kind. As a merchant he is equal to any other merchant,
and is equal to any foreigner in the observance of his monetary obligations ;
but these high-toned Chinamen are unfit to amalgamate with the Ameri-
can race.

We cannot get white household servants in the country, but there are
thousands and thousands of them who would go to the country and would
become servant girls if it was made as honorable as it is in other countries.
Our girls would take to that kind of employment in preference to wander-
ing over our streets and falling into a vicious life.

■COLTON. David D. Colton, vice-president of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and

connected with the Oriental and Occidental Steamship Company,
sworn and examined .

Southern Pacific
would not have
been done so
quickly without
Chinese.

Effect of construc-
tion of railroad.

White labor not
impeded.

Testimony to
■Chinese.

pn the establishment of the steamship company absolute orders were
given that the females should be the wives and daughters of Chinamen
coming. The regulation has been enforced.

The Southern Pacific was constructed principally by Chinese, the heads
of construction being white. It would not have been done as quickly with-
out Chinese labor; about seventy-five or eighty per cent, were Chinese.
The testimony given by the head of the construction department is very
favorable to that class of labor. Two Chinese have been employed in my
house, one for seven years and the other five years, and I find them reli-
able, industrious and cleanly. I have never seen a Chinaman who could
not read and write. They are experts as accountants.

The construction of railroads has been the means of opening up thous-
ands of acres of land. Settlements follow the roads ; and, as a rule, the lands
increase in value from 200 to 1,000 per cent.

Chinese labor has been beneficial to the state. The law of supply and
demand will govern Chinese immigration. There is not a plethora of
labor on the coast. The presence of the Chinese does not retard the settle-
ment of the country with white people. Their intellectual ability in the
management of business is very good. They are aii intellectual people, a
thinking people, industrious and frugal.

305 1

The principal business houses among them have sprung up from very
small beginnings compared with what they are now.

I have never seen anything in their presence here that would tend to rJonotdemoraii/.e„
interfere with the morals of our people. I consider the Chinese, taking
them altogether, infinitely more intelligent and better qualified to exercise
the right of franchise than the negroes of the south, who can neither read
nor write.

If Americans in China were treated in the same way as the Chinese are
treated here, the nation would be in favor of wiping China from the face
of the earth.

I never saw a drunken Chinaman in my life ; they do not have any sprees. Firatrate laborers
I have heard of this smoking of opium, but out of 3,000 or 4,000 on the ^'' sprees.
road there are no opium-smokers. There is no trouble with them, they are
always on hand iii the morning. They do a full day's work, and they are
certainly the most cleanly laborers we have.

When acting as attorney of an interior county, 1 applied the foreign
miners' license-tax to all who did not declare their intention of becoming
citizens.

Chinamen, in Wyoming, do all kinds of work in coal-mining.

They were engaged in tunnels on the Southern Pacific. White men were White men paid
never refused work on the road ; they were paid twice as much as the Chinese, c^nele "'""'^ "^
They were engaged in teaming, etc. Teaming is a business the Chinese
have not taken to.

The moral and political condition of the country is governed, to a cer-
tain extent, by the general prosperity of the state.

As a desirable class of immigrants, if the eastern people were industri- Would prefer New
ous, I would prefer them as settlers to the Chinese; and if there was any chme"e bette?*
-way in getting 300,000 families from New England, I would walk bare- than none,
footed from here to Chicago to accomplish it. But when we cannot get
them, I would rather have the Chinese than none.

Donald McLennan, connected with the Mission Woolen Mills for sixteen McLENNAN-
years, sworn and examined :

The mills were established by Chinese labor, for the reason I could not High character
get white labor. I found them very intelligent, sober, and industrious, faborers'^^ ^^
and ready to adapt themselves to anything and everything that turned up.
I found them equally as intelligent as the same type or class of labor of
any other nationality. They would readily do the most intricate and com-
plicated work, and in fact learned it in one-third less time than any other
class of white labor. They are very imitative and ready, very apt, and
can do almost anything you show them how to do, and do it more care-
fully than white persons. I never found a case of theft among them.

The large landed estates are a greater evil than the Chinese, and they Large landed
keep out a larger number of immigrants. t^i tifanfho

The Chinese have added very largely to the wealth and welfare of the Chinese,
coast.

We employ 300 Chinese and 300 whites; used to employ from 600 to Development of
800 Chinese. We found a scarcity of Chinese labor, which partly led to '^"""'''y-
the substitution of white, and a desire on our part to accommodate our-
selves to the wishes of the public.

The Chinese are reliable and a very steady people. I have never seen a
dftuiken Chinaman in my life.

In New England, the very best class of farmers' daughters, well educa-

20

Mclennan

306

•Chinese keep
down strikes.

t'ompeting with
eastern markets.

Not as desirable
.as Americans or
Germans. II
driven out the
state would be
bankrupt.

Five or six
hundred whites
setting a living
because Chinese
•employed.

White men prefer
jible to Chinamen

ted, bright, and intelligent, work there in the mills, and the Chinamen,
1 think, are more than their equal in adapting themselves to anything of
an intricate kind of work.

We pay our white men from $1.75 to |6 a day; Chinamen we pay
ninety cents. White help is more skilled.

One of the advantages of the Chinese is that they are a check on the
whites as to striking.

The whites we employ are steady and industrious, and we are gradually
substituting them for Chinese, at the same time competing successfully
with the eastern market.

The Chinese are not as desirable as our own nationality and Germans.
If they were driven out the state would be more than half bankrupt. If
they should increase so as to largely outnumber the whites, the effect might
not be so favorable as it would be to have so many white people and Euro-
peans among us. I do not believe they have materially gained in numbers
within the last six years. As the Chinese increase the white population
increases also. We have 108 white families averaging five and a half tea
family, and 300 Chinese at work. There were 500 or 600 white people
getting a living from the fact of our being able to employ so many ^Chinese.
We could not carry on our business without them.

The Chinese are large consumers of the goods manufactured by us.

The work they do is too heavy for white girls. It takes so long to teach
them; there are very few you can teach. We want to teach them, but we
cannot afford to do it.

On starting the mill we had to educate the Chinamen to fill these places
of employment.

The European, or the New England, or western man is preferable to the
Chinaman, because they more readily assimilate with our ways of living,
our ways of thinking, and with our religious views, and in all our moral
aspects they are like us.

Cotton can be raised here very well. There is not so much this year as
in former years ; it has not been as remunerative as expected ; it is better
and stronger cotton, but coarser, and makes a stronger fabric. We us eall
we can get, and pay the same price in gold that we would pay for eastern
cotton in currency. It cannot be raised here by free white labor any more
than fruit. It does not take any more labor to raise cotton than corn, ex-
cept the picking and gathering. There is a great demand for it.

:beaLS. Heney C. Bbals, connected with the Commercial Herald, sworn and

examined :

'Cordage could not
■be manufactured
without Chinese.

'imports.

Respecting the manufacture of cordage, Mr. Hiram Tubbs says it is
utterly impossible for him to manufacture it without Chinese labor. They
had tried white labor and were convinced that the employment of white
people was a matter entirely beyond their control. There are two fac-
tories : one here and one at Alameda. Almost the entire amount of
cordage that is used here is manufactured by ourselves. We receive a
little cordage from Manila, but not much. We import the hemp in a
raw state.

The imports of cordage in 1871 werel2,741 coils and 1,930 packages ; in
1872, 11,337 coils and 2.535 packages; in 1873, 7,370 coils and 1,766
packages; in 1874, 5,288 coils and 485 packages; in 1875, 7,238 coils
and 874 packages ; which show a large falling off. The consumption
of cordage on this coast approximates 6,500,000 pounds per annum.

307 BEALS

Formerly boots and shoes were brought here from Philadelphia and Boots and shoes
Massachusetts, and some from New York ; but since the establishment of from^ilassaohu-
our factories the quantity brought has diminished very materially. ^'''*^'

The exportation of flour is a growing trade between this port and Flour exported
China ; they are very large buyers. They handle a great deal of gin-seng. *° China.
In 1875 we exported 445,143 barrels of flour, and of this China took
145,555 barrels, a little over one-third.

Within a few years the trade in cigars has entirely changed. Eight Cigar trade,
years ago most of the cigars used here were either imported from
Manila or Havana ; but now probably two-thirds of all the cigars con-
sumed on this coast are made here.

Our commerce with China is increasing every day, and very rapidly. Commerce with
The China steamers go out twice a month, crowded to overflowing with f'li"* increasing,
goods and merchandise. The Chinese buy and handle more quicksilver,
probably, than any other class of people here. Hong Kong is our great
market for quicksilver.

It would be bad policy to abrogate treaties, or any portion of treaties,
which would tfend to retard and cut ofi' this trade. It would be irrepar-
able. There are a score or more of Chinese merchants who do a vast
amount of trading in buying and selling our own products, such as flour
and wheat, and recently barley. There are on an average twenty of them
on 'Change every day. They are very gentlemanly in all their intercourse Credit liigh.
with white people; none more so. Their credit is Al.

The ebb and flow of the Chinese is periodical. I do not think, from
my own knowledge, that there has been any visible increase of the popula-
tion. The increase in extent of the portion of the city occupied by the
Chinese does not increase in the same proportion as that occupied by other
people. The city is extending with wonderful rapidity, and covers an
immense area of ground.

I class the Chinese as one of the labor-saving machines of this country. Chinese classed as

Leaving out the women, who are objectionable, the condition of the saving machines
Chinese is good. Chinese girls or women have a bad influence upon our ^*rostitutS*and
boys — what we call hoodlums — a greater influence, probably, than any hoodlums,
other class of prostitutes.

A white servant girl, in the capacity of nurse, receives from $20 to $25 As servants.
a month ; a cook, $30 ; chambermaids, generally $25 a month. These
rates have continued for six or eight years past. Since the agitation of
the Chinese question here it has been a very difficult matter for any one to
■hire white help. A'good Chinese servant will do twice the work of any ^^^"ant^U do"
white servant- woman you can have here. American-born girls, be they twice tt.e work of
of Irish parentage or otherwise, as a general thing, will not go out to ser- 3aln. ^^^''™" "
vice. White girls will not go out of town into the interior.

I do not think Chinese immigration has had any material eff'ect upon the
white laboring class or with honest labor.

If I could have my way, I would have this country settled with white ^iSteteopl^
people, most assuredly. They assimilate more to our ways of domg busi-
ness. I prefer our government to that of any other.

American or white girls, as a whole, are above the business of going
out. They prefer to be educated ; they all want to be ladies ; they want
to be considered as such. They do not like to be called servants.

I do not see any necessity for limiting them by restricting their
immigration.

SHERK

308

San rEANCisco, November 14th, 1876.

Jacob B. Sherk, sworn and examined :

Impossible to raise
hops and compete
with eastern
markets.

Witli white men
there would be
thieving.

Need cheap labor.

Chinese at Jl a
day not extraordi-
narily cheap.

Would prefer
white men.

Not in favor of
unrcsrricted
immigration of'
Cliinamen.

Hop-raising is my principal business, and I employ from 140 to 180, and'
sometimes as high as 200, Chinese in picking. We have leased our ground
for four years more, and if we thought the Chinese were going to be driven
from the country we would not have any use for it. We sell our hops in this
market, but they are shipped to all parts of the world. Eastern hops
have taken the lead here always, but in the east our hops have a better
demand than theirs. So far as raising hops with white labor it is impos-
sible at the present time, and compete with the eastern market.

For picking hops I pay $1.20 per 100 pounds ; it would be impossible-
to get white men. If I should hire 180 white men there would be more
or less thieving.

The land rents for $20 an acre ; if sold it might probably be bought
for $300 an acre.

One of the five Chinamen I have with me at other seasons of the year
hires all the Chinamen who have picked my hops for the last year or two..
When the Chinaman hires by the day I pay him at the rate of $1

I am in favor of cheap labor so long as we have to compete with foreign
markets. I do not consider Chinese' at |1 a day extraordinarily cheaj)
labor. When wages are high, other things are generally high in propor-
tion. If commodities are low in proportion, it is not to be supposed that
you can get very high wages. The price of labor here affects the price
of flour ; it affects the raising of the flour. The amount of grain con-
sumed here does not affect the price of wheat in Liverpool, nor does it
interfere with the price of flour here to any proportional degree.

I would prefer immigrants from the east to Chinese, because I like-
white men better. I would rather pay my money to a white man than
to a Chinaman. The immigrants who come from the eastern states are
more intelligent generally. They make better citizens, and have a higher
civilization ; they come here to make homes and develop the country ;
they marry and raise children, and in all these respects are better than
Chinamen.

I am not in favor of unrestricted immigration of Chinese. The Chinese
have been a great benefit to our country up to the present time, and 1 do
not think there are too many here. I think every man can get employ-
ment if he searches for it.

In one instance the presence of Chinamen interfered with the employ-
ment of white men.

SHEARER.

Chinese popula-
tion.

A panic would be

the result of

limiting immigra- men,

tion.

Rev. Frederic E. Shearer, stated clerk of the Presbytery of San
Francisco, and the Synod of the Pacific, sworn and examined :

The number of Chinese now in America is about 100,000, The total
arrivals from January 1st, 1852, to April 1st, 1876, at San Francisco,
were 214,226, and the departures, 90,078 ; and at Astoria, 6,786 arrivals
and 1,1 S8 departures.

[The witness here read a paperj|comparing the estimates of arrivals with
the United States census, also respecting the progress made by mission-
aries in converting the Chinese to Christianity.]

Some people seem to fear that the country will be overrun by China-
If immigration was limited, I believe that all capitalists would

309 SHEARER

fear that the Chmese in the country would be insuificient to meet the
demands of labor upon them, and a panic would be the result.

Their habits of life are entirely different from ours. Compared with
the laboring classes, their moral and physical condition is better than Character,
some others and worse than some others. Their general reputation
is favorable for their faithful performance of what they undertake to do.
By some people they are treated as other foreigners are, but by the labor-
ing classes they are not so treated. In their dealings with men, includ-
ing their honesty and integrity, the opinion of the people would be in
favor of them.

They come here to make money, but many of them, not a large per-
centage, abandon the idea, returning to China permanently. Some are
content to die here. Others return to China, and then come back again
to the United States. If they were equal before the law and treated as if equal before the
other immigrants are treated, many of them would marry and settle down ^^ ^tSe dowif *^
like other people. A good deal of the prejudice against them is in conse- like other people,
quence of their habits and dressing in an outlandish costume. Quite a num-
ber have abandoned their dress and dress like Americans. They have
intellectual capacity to understand our constitution and laws. If they
were put upon an equality with other people, not more than one-tenth, for
alapse of several years, would become American citizens. There is no
danger of any immediate great influx of Chinese to this state, because I I^S-Pj^^'iSred
regard that supply is regulated by the demands of capital and the necessity B.v demand,
of labor.

Nearly all the Chinese women on the coast are prostitutes. There are g^g^iyg'^l^t^gn
Chinese gamblers in towns in the interior. on the coast

There is a society of women in connection with our associations, engaged prostitutes,
ill the reclamation of prostitutes. About 100 in the last year have been
instructed in industrial arts : eighteen in the last year were received into
their home for fallen women ; several of them have married and are leading
very commendable, and it is believed virtuous, lives with their husbands.

There are three denominations in China : Buddhists, Tauists, and the Religion.
ioUowers of Confucius. They have many of the same customs ; their every-
day hfe is the same. They dress in the same general way, except their
priests. I think that some priests of one class do not wear the queue ;
the people in general wear the queue, which is a native symbol. If they ^hcqu^ue^a ^^^
•cut it off they are looked upon as having renounced their nationality.
Out of the 246 converts to Christianity I know of two who have sacrificed
their queues; if it had been required, I suppose every one would have cut
it off.

The gospel teachings of Christ and Christian civihzation are superior to
the Chinese religion and civilization. , , .

An immigration from New England would be already assimilated m An^°}^^^^^{m^
part, both religiously and politically, and therefore it would be superior to preferable,
an immigration from Asia. At present I am in favor of unrestricted In l^^^o-^.o'^'jnjl:
immigration. tion.

The Chinese will assimilate as readily as some of the elements now
undergoing assimilation.

STOUT

310

Arthur B. Stout, physician, a member of the State Board of Health,,
and a resident of the state since 1849, sworn and examined :

IS very vigorous.
Light weight men
capable of great
industry.
Their health bet
ter than that of
like classes of
"whites because of
the frugality of
their lives.

Very few tires
which have orig-
inated in the
Chinese quarter.

Has known of no
pestilence.

They eat to live,

Up to within the last six years I have resided in close proximity to the

Chinese — in the midst of their quarter. I was among the last to leave.

Chinese men of As to the physical condition of the Chinese they are men of small stature

mv^cula^^'but'th' ^^^ ^°^ muscular, but the muscle that they have is very virgorous. The are

muscle tliey have witty, quick, and strong for their development. They are what we would

call light-weight men, and as such are capable of great industry and have

a capacity for labor which is remarkable. Their health, as a general thing,

among similar classes in similar conditions, is better than that of the whites,

because the frugality of their lives exposes them less to diseases than parties

who are subjected to various excesses.

Previous to the time of my leaving the Chinese quarter, with the exception
of the general conflagration in 1849, and a small portion that was destroyed
on Stockton street, there have been no tires of any consequence. There
have been very few fires that originated in the Chinese quarter.

During my residence among them I have not known of any disease, any
pestilence, originating and spreading there, although they live in their
quarters very closely sometimes.

They eat to live and they do not live to eat. They are clean in their
use much wat'erf habits, and they drink no whiskey. I have never seen a drunken Chinaman
in my life. As mechanics or as workmen they keep themselves very clean ;
using a great deal more water for ablutions than for cooking purposes. The
women are generally cleaner than the same kind of women of other localities
and of other races.

The death-rate is greater among the whites than among the Chinese.

As to epidemics, the small-pox has been among them, as it has been

among others, but, ratio of population allowed, there has been less among

Small-pox noteven them than with the whites. The true source of small-pox is threefold One
halt due to China ■ n r\ ^^e • i ., i •■,-,. ^

source is from California, where it has prevailed to a very great extent,

and has swept northward, going thi-ough San Francisco and other portions
of the state. A small ratio, and least of all, has come from China ; and
small-pox prevailed to a very serious extent long before any Chinamen
came here. In the very early years I recollect sending vaccine to Washing-
ton Territory, to the Indian agent there, to vaccinate a tribe of Indians
about being destroyed by small-pox. It is engendered here ; it arrives
from southern California : and last and least it has come with vessels from
China.

The hue and cry made about leprosy is a farce. It is a disease of a
past epoch, which can never return again, owing to the diflferent changes of
civilization and of life that have occurred. I consider it a curable disease,
and I have no idea of its contagiousness by quick contagion. If you were
to sleep with a man for six months or a year, be in close contact, get the
scurf from the skin upon you, and breathe his breath for a long time, very
likely then you might catch the leprosy ; but it is one of those chronic
diseases which, although in that way contagious, need excite no fear ; and
it is not near as horrible as other diseases of the skin that we have,
such as psoriasis and phthosis.

Their mode of living being different, it makes their hospitals appear
very difierent from ours. They have no beds ; they lay the sick on mats
on the floor, which are kept clean. In some cases the mat* are not
changed, and they are liable to gross negligence. The European hospitals,
only a few years ago, were just as much places of carelessness and reckless
inhumanity as are theirs. The Chinese have a system of medicine of

Death rate less
among Chinese.

or Chinamen.

Leprosy— the cry
about this is a
farce.

Hospitals.

311 STOUT

their own, and professional physicians. They are but very little educated
in anatomy and physiology, with very little knowledge of surgery. The Medical know-
Chinese dislike surgical operations. They desire very much to establish ''"^^'''
a general hospital and also a small-pox hospital for their own people, the
same as the French and the Germans.

Their treatment of their sick is very variable. The tenderness of Tenderness to
those who know one another is not to be surpassed by any people. They ^^"^^ ^^ Mends,
would give the utmost care. If some friends will pay they will get pretty
good care, if not they will be very much neglected. They desire to take Heard of sick put
care of their sick to the best of their ability. I have never seen China- butn"ever.?awit '
men put out on the street to die, but I have heard of them.

They are excellent tenants. Before I leased my property to the Chi- Good tenants,
mese, in consequence of the locality, I could get only very inferior
tenants, many of whom would cheat me out of my rent, and others would
abuse the property, etc. The present tenants have paid a better price
punctually. There has been no swearing, no noise, no trouble, no riotous
conduct about the premises.

The squalor of the Chinese quarter is not much greater than that which Squalor not muclt
exists in other parts of the city amongst other people. There has been a other parts of the
great exaggeration in all those charges against the Chinese, at the same "''y-
time I do not pretend to say that their quarter might not be cleaner.
They would be clean if they were forced to be so. The city authorities
undertake to clean the city in other parts, but the Chinese are left to
take care of themselves and clean their own quarter at their own expense.
Except early in the morning, when they are required to throw out
garbage, which is very foul and disgusting, the streets are quite clean.

Occasionally the Chinese have a fight or riot among themselves, and Chinese very bad-
they fight very fiercely when they do fight ; bvit excepting those cases, which ^
are very rare, I never heard any trouble there. They are more sinned
against than sinning. They receive a great deal of crimination, and yet
the occasions of recrimination are exceedingly rare; not because they lack
the courage, but because they are overawed and prefer peace. If they were
not so maltreated, I think they would feel a great regard for the American
people. They occasionally resist, but they generally submit to it and leave.
I have seen a great many cases of assaults upon Chinamen committed in
daylight.

Their hospital on Clay street is in a state of decay, owing to the fact of
the hoodlums of the neighborhood constantly bombarding it with stones. Hoodlums. .

The police do their duty towards the Chinese, not because they are
anxious to favor them, but to perform their duty according to their oath of
oifice.

They have syphilis the same as other races, but I do not think the dis- syphihs not worse'
ease is any more, nor do I think it is worse, among the Chinese than that than"among white
which originates with other people. In some parts of Europe the disease people,
is fatal in three days.

It is stated that there are 4,000 Chinese prostitutes in the state; it is There should be
also stated that there are about 1,000 of them here. That number is too ™oi«P™s
little; there should be more. Prostitution is irrepressible: it is a neces-
sity. If there is a certain supply of women of that character, the family
is much more sacred and much more pure. The statement about the dis-
ease being propagated among the boys by Chinese women is nonsense.

The hoodlums — the boys — go among them more to molest, to annoy, to Hoodlums,
disturb them, than to use them; and when they use them they do not get
more malady than by going to other houses. Prostitutes do not.

The statement that the morality of our white boys is mtluenced by demoralize white,

boys.

STOUT

312

Prostitutes
compared.

J >o not get drunk.

<Iubic-air law.

Prostitution.

Expulsion would
do no good.

Would not assim-
ilate well.

Intermarriage.

Opposition arises
from jealousy and
ignorance combi-
ned.

As servants as
much trusted as
^others.

going among the Chinese is a gross exaggeration. Very few, anyhow, go
among them for that purpose. They can go farther and fare better. The
Chinese prostitutes do not exercise any influence among the white virtu-
ous people, the white prostitutes exercise a very degenerating influence
upon them ; but it is inevitable. When men are unable to be men of fam-
ilies, they are. nevertheless subject to the law of nature, and they must go
among the prostitutes. .If there is a comparison to be made at all, the
white prostitutes who promenade our thoroughfares in rich attire, are
more likely to have a had eflfect upon our poor white girls than the Chinese
prostitutes. As far as the depravity of white young men is owing to female
influence, it is the white prostitute more than it is the. Chinese in this city.

Garroting, highway robberies, rolling on drunks, etc., I have never
known among the Chinese ; but such crimes are very common. I have
never seen a drunken Chinaman ; they drink some whiskey, but moderately.
Their dissipation is rather in opium ; but the cases in which they become
maniacal from the use of it and lose their health are less frequent.

I read Dr. Meares' statement, and while I consider him a man of veracity
and probity to the highest degree, yet I think he has exaggerated his dislike
to the Chinese.

This agitation of the Chinese question injures me very much.

The cubic-air law has been misconstrued, and applied simply and entirely
to molest and drive out the Chinese ; but if applied to all classes, nearly
every block in the city would be found defective. The law is violated by
whites as well as Chinese. There may be an occasional case where it is
enforced against the whites.

Referring again to Chinese prostitution I think they should be allowed
to come with the same facility that any other immigrants come, and I
think that if 20,000 reputable Chinese females, virtuous women, could
be brought into this city, and accepted into the family — the human
family — it would be a great advantage. The municipality should use
legitimate means and proper sumptuary laws to guard the morality of the
city ; but I do not believe that the entire expulsion of these women would
do good. I believe in limiting that as in limiting every other misfortune
of the iiuman family to the smallest amount.

The Chinese cannot directly assimilate with our people. No two races
have been known to assimilate well. The black and the white assimilate,
and the quadroon and the octoroon become quite a different people. There
have been intermarriages already in this city. I think if a first-class
Chinese woman and a first-class white man would marry, it would be a
very much better cross than tlie white man on the negro or the white
man on the Indian.

The opposition to the Chinese arises from a misconceived view of the
competition of the Chinese against the other class — the laboring classes.
It is jealousy and ignorance combined. The more intelligent and the
more highly cultivated class of our population is that which most strongly
advocates the Chinese, as well as that class which constitutes the house-
keeping— the family of our city.

A very considerable number of Chinese are employed as servants in this
city. I think the same degree of trust is reposed in them that is accorded
to the servants of other races, black or white.

On being recalled the witness was cross-examined in regard to his
modified views of the question.

The Chinese can buy property, why not naturalize them 1 The tidal
wave of bad immigration is just as strong from Europe and other countries
as from Asia.

313

STOUT

The Chinese race goto the two extremes. You can get the highest Bad and good
enlightenment, according to their system of education and religion, and cSiln^Jn. "'
you can get the most degraded. China has not turned out bigger repro-
bates than England, or France, or Germany, or the United States, but
rather more of them.

Americans or Europeans of respectability cannot live in California as Whites could not
the Chinese tenants are living, and it is not desirable that they should, linants.^ Chinese
They can sleep in the same places but not according to civilization, decency,
and morality.

The Chinese do not conflict with the industries of the other laboring Do not interfere
they are entirely different. ""^^^ "^^^^ '"■i""'-

William M. Dye, insurance solicitor, sworn and examined : DYE.

The profit has been so great to insurers of Chinese property that a
premium is offered for that particular insurance over that of white people.
There are less losses ; there may not be fewer, but they are smaller in Less losses from
amount generally. There are less fires in the Chinese quarter than in Less flres!^ ^"^^^
other parts of the city, taking the same proportion of houses. For sixteen
years there has not been a single building entirely destroyed in the Chi-
nese quarter. There have been two or three sh,anties that have been utterly
destroyed ; but they were of no great value at all^probably not more than
from $200 to |500 a piece. The company I represent, the Liverpool, Lon-
don and Globe, has paid $60,000,000 of losses in the United States. My
employer says that he would prefer to settle , a loss with the Chinese
rather than with white people ; that they were more reasonable in case of
fire and partial loss. The State Investment, a local company, take Chinese Chinese more
policies and pay a larger premium than other companies to get that in- off"" trfd parM
surance. Some companies pay a broker who brings business five per loss,
cent. ; some will pay ten per cent. ; some will pay fifteen per cent. The
State Investment pays fifteen per cent. There are two or three companies
that have discontinued taking insurance on Chinese property.

The establishment of Chinese wash-houses all over the city has had the
effect of raising the insurance. There are American laundries in the Laundries.
Chinese quarter, and some in other parts of the city. Were it not for the
Chuiese wash-houses the washing would be done by women in families
more largely than it is done. Their establishment has very likely absorb-
ed the business. White people mostly patronize these laundries.

The premium is the same on property occupied by white people as it Premiums the
is on property occupied by Chinese. There is not one cent difference.
The same with personal property.

The Chinese pay for fire insurance, probably, not less than $5,000 to
$6,000 a month ; for marine insurance, they pay not less than from $6,000
to $7,000 a month.

Chaeles Crocker, engaged in building railroads, sworn and examined : CROCKER.

The construction of the Central Pacific was commenced with white labor, ConstrucUon o
and continued for a year and a half, when we found we could not get suffi- pacific,
cient labor to progress with the road as fast as was necessary, and we were
driven to the ex.pediency of trying Chinese labor. There was a prejudice
^nd a disposition not to employ them. We advertised thoroughly for

CROCKER

314

Failing to get
more than 800
white men tried
the Chinese and
found they
worked well.

Chinese equal to
the heaviest
work : reliable.

Without their
labor industries
would be thrown
back.

Has an elevating
influence on
white labor.

Perfectly sober.

Had seen them
under the influ-
ence of opium.

One strike among
Chinese.

A factious cry
against Chinese.

white labor, and offered large prices, but failed to get more than 800 men.
We tried the Chinese, and we found that they worked well ; and
as our forces spread out, and we began to occupy more ground
and felt more in a hurry, we put them into the softer cuts, and
finally into the rock cuts. Wherever we put them we found them
good, and they worked themselves into our favor to such an extent,
that if we found we were in a hurry for a job it was better to put Chinese
on at once. Previous to that we had always put on white men ; and to-
day if I had a big job of work that I wanted to get through with quickly,
and had a limited time to do it in, I should take Chinese labor to do it
with, because of its greater reliability and steadiness, and their aptitude and
capacity for hard work. Their powers of endurance are equal to the best
white men. This was tested in a tunnel of the hardest granite, where they
worked on one side and Cornish miners on the other. The Chinese cut
more rock in a week than the Cornish miners. In using the hammer and
the drill they proved themselves equal to the best Cornish miners in that
work. They are very trusty and intelligent and live up to their contracts.

The presence of Chinese as laborers among us goes very far toward the
material interest of the country ; without their labor we would be thrown
back in all branches of industry. I believe that the effect of Chinese labor
upon white labor has an elevating instead of a degrading tendency. When
we began employing Chinese labor, instead of our white force decreasing-
it increased from 800 to 2,500 and 3,000, and instead of these white men
being engaged shovelling dirt, or with a pick and shovel, they were team-
sters, mechanics, foremen, and men in an elevated grade of labor, receiv-
ing wages far above what they would have done if we had had the same
number throwing up the dirt and digging the rock. I know of several
who used to be foremen and who never expected to be anything but shov-
ellers of dirt, hewers of wood, and drawers of water, who are now respect-
able farmers, owning farms. They got a start by controlling Chinese labor.

The Chinese that we employed were all temperate. Out of the 10,000
on the work I have never seen a drunken Chinaman. I have no recol-
lection of ever having seen a drunken Chinaman, I have seen them
under the effect of opium by going into their rooms where they smoke
opium.

They are peaceful in their habits while at work in gangs. In one or
two instances I have known of fights among them — clannish fights. We
had one strike with the Chinese — a strike for higher wages ; but I think
they were incited to this by emissaries from the other side, who wished to
keep us in the mountains while they were building the road over the
plains. The strike lasted one week, and they all returned peaceably tO'
work.

There is labor for all, and there is no conflict between the interest of
the white and the Chinese laborer. If the white laborer understood and
realized his true interest he would be in favor of the present proportion
of Chinese labor in this state. There might be an increase of the immi-
gration to such an extent that it wonld'be injurious, but the present
equilibrium is not too much. One in ten of the entire population is about
the number. The law of supply and demand wUl regulate itself if they
are left alone. I recognize a Chinaman as more than an ordinarily intel-
ligent man, and they will not come here unless they can get profitable^
employment.

I believe if this question was argued calmly and deliberately before the-
people, without any of this hue and cry, eight-tenths of the people would
vote for the amount of Chinese labor there is here now, and against this.

315 CROCKER

anti-Chinese sentiment. I have heard farmers and fruit-raisers, manu-
facturers and mechanics, express the opinion that Chinese immigration
was an advantage. It has not the same tendency to degrade free white c^ine e i b r n t
labor as that of negro slavery in the south— because it is not servile labor, servifetabor.'^ "°
You cannot control a Chinaman except you pay him for it. You cannot
make any contract with him, or his friend, or supposed master, and get
his labor unless you pay for it. I made a contract with a merchant here,
for Chinamen, Koopmanschap, who brought me 500 ; I never made any
contract with the Six Companies. We have always procured our China-
men through the house of Sisson, Wallace & Co. here — Americans. They
gathered them one at a time, two, three, four of them in a place, and got
them together to make what is called a gang. Each gang is numbered
and has a bookkeeper to keep the account among themselves. We '
have a foreman, and he keeps the account with the gang and credits
them. When pay-day comes the head man of the gang is paid for all their
labor, and then they divide it among themselves.

The Chinamen who are here are not as of much advantage to the state,
as the same number of immigrants from the state of New York and New
England would be ; but their presence here does not prevent the New
Englander from coming, nor has it done so. On the contrary, if a New
Englander comes here, he can use the Chinaman very much in opening a
farm, and cultivating it after he gets it open. I do not believe there is a
slave among them ; nor do I believe that the Spanish system of peonage Prefers white
prevails among the Chinese here. I also believe that white population is 'iT'good'siibstSute.
better for the country than Chinese. Chinese labor is not better than
white labor, but it is a mighty good substitute. The poor white man
was degi'aded by negro slavery, because it was servile labor ; but now that
the negro is free and can earn his money, the next generation or two will
not feel ashamed to labor alongside of him. I have given some money to
the missionaries here. I am a common carrier, and would rather have
white men than Chinamen for travellers. If there were no Chinese going
between here and Hong Kong our steamship line could be run with
profit.

I do not think it woul^ be a good idea to admit Chinamen to citizen-
ship, nor is the presence of a large non-voting male class desirable. I Should not vote.
beUeve in an educational standard for voting. If a Chinaman has lived
in our country long enough to become educated in our language and to
understand our institutions, he will make just as good a voter as myself ;
and I would let him vote. But I do not believe they are going to remain
here long enough to become good citizens, and I would not admit them to
citizenship. They have no particular care about our political institutions.
They are harmless and indifferent ; and they would not affect our politics,
nor affect our morals, nor affect our status in any way.

A white laborer can afford to labor alongside of a Chinaman when they
are both paid for their labor. There is an objection with them to do so,
but I think the feeling of prejudice is fast wearing out. I should not like
to see an even number of Chinamen with the whites here.

We paid the Chinamen $35 a month, boarding themselves ; their pur- ^^^t himself"
chases at the store would average |9 a month. A white man can support on Chinamen's
himself on the same wages. At the present price of provisions, clothing, ^'^^es.
etc., a white laboring man with a family would have to live very plain
and simple on a dollar a day. The actual wants of a man are very few,
and a dollar a day will buy a good deal of common and ordinary pro-
visions— good meat and good flour. I believe that the white man is bet-
ter than a Chinaman. I believe that when the brain of the white man

CROCKER

316

Believes that the
white man has got
more brain than
the Chinaman.

Number of China-
men in proportion
to whites less than
in 1860,

- Class-prej udice .

rubs against the brain of the colored man the white man will come out
ahead all the time, When the white man comes in contact with Chinese
labor he is impelled to greater exertion, and he comes out a better man.
I believe that the white man has got more brain than the Chinaman, and
when he is driven out of a lower class of labor he will aspire to a better.

The number of Chinamen in proportion to the number of white people
here is less now than it was ten years ago, and less than in 1860.

1 think the white population of the state in 1860 was in the neighbor-
hood of 600,000.

The white immigrant is worth more to the country than any other
because he can become a member of our institutions and be a white man
among white men ; but I would have Chinese grow apace with our immi-
gration. If we had 12,000,000 of white men, 1,000,000 Chinamen would
not come amiss to do our laboring work, and the state would be more
prosperous for their presence.

A homogeneous population is better than a heterogeneous population.

There is great prejudice against the Chinese in this state, which works
to their injury. I do not believe that a majority of the people justify this
oppression. There has not been so much of it recently as there was about
six months ago ; the excitement that was fanning into a flame has died
away. There is a class of lawless people in the community who, when
there is an exciting cause, do these things, which they would not do if
they were not excited by class-prejudice.

CLARKE Heney K. W. Clarke, lawyer by profession, engaged in farming, and a

resident in California since 1849, sworn and examined :

The rolcfi they All. Chinamen are generally employed as cooks in farmers' families and
hotels in the neighborhood where I farm ; and to a very great extent they
occupy the places of domestics outside of large cities and towns. You
will very rarely find an American-born woman occupying those places.
They are employed also in various manufactories, on railroads, in dyking,
and in fruit raising, I sometimes see them, but not often, employed as
plowmen.

The moral condition of the laboring classes is remarkably good — free
from what we call public vices. They are a remarkably temperate
people, and the most quiet and docile people I ever saw. The Chinese
and the Portuguese are the two most industrious classes we have in
California ; and their industry is accompanied with great economy. For
faithfulness they compare well with other laborers.

In regard to their services I find that we pay Chinamen as high wages
as we do white people for the same work. Cooks are paid as high as
$40 a month. Women would be preferred, but it is impossible to pro-
cure women to go into the country to do that work. It is very difficult,
even in cities, to procure white girls as maids of all work for a small
family. Chinamen will perform all the duties about a house, all the
work of a small family.

I have heard and read a great deal about coolie labor, and from obser-
vation I am satisfied there is no truth in it. They come here as others
do, to get money, with the intention of returning ; many would remain
and become permanent citizens if there was any encouragement given
them.

High character of
Chinese laborers.

Chinese paid as
high as whites.

Their object in
coming.

317

CLARKE

I ^now of a boy who learned to read and write the English language. An Americanized
He was first employed in a stable, and having by nature some gift with ^'''"'^™™-
the pencil he became quite expert as an artist and painter. He assumed
American clothes and lived in San Diego for many years. I think he is
as well informed as any laboring man I know of in that community, and
as much attached to American institutions. He is treated well, and the
people there all speak well of him. Changing his habits, etc., has had a Appiication for
great deal to do with it. In 1866 he wanted me to make an application ''"i^ienship.
for him to become a citizen. I did so. The court said his impressions
were that Mongolians could not be citizens. The court did not receive
his declaration, but took the matter under advisement, and it finally
dropped. He would have made as good a citizen as any we have.

Their treatment here by certain classes, generally a low class, has been Thoir treatment,
very brutal. By the vast majority of people I think they have been
treated very well.

Working up old diggings is very heavy labor. My experience is that
a Chinaman will do any work that you will pay him for doing. They are
not large-boned or large-muscled people, but exceedingly active and Not large-boned
patient to toil. Blasting in tunnels, building levees in the tule-lands, butfpaMentt?M.
and work of that kind, is done by Chinamen.

Their notions are very elevated in regard to their contracts ; you can Can be relied on
rely upon them. I have never had any litigation with a Chinaman ; tra™ts. """

there have been suits between Chinamen and white people. For truth-
fulness they compare favorably with other people in' the same class
of life.

We have laws against perjury, but they are very rarely enforced. Peijury.
Perjury is very common in the courts, and is not confined to the lower
class. Class with class the Chinese compare very well with the whites
in this respect. ^

I have always supposed that their employment had a tendency to elevate Employment of
white labor. I consider the Chinaman in farming a labor-saving vaisc^white^late..
machine.

San Francisco, November 15th, 1876.
Henry K. W. Clarke's examination continued : CLARKE.

Limiting the immigration of Chinese by legislation would be a violation Treaty,
of the treaty with China. It would be very bad political economy. Bad policy, to
Immigrants coming from an English port, in an English ship, the question otChi™^'^'^*'^°"'
would be between England and our Government.

The Chinese are different to us in their habits. They dress differently, a separate dis-
associate differently, their treatment of women is dmerent. ihe man- ating people, only
ner in which they live is different. Very little is known about what HouTlrcum"""
their feeling is toward republican institutions. The opinion among stances,
the masses is that they are an inferior race. From the mo-
ment the Chinese land here until they lay down their bones or leave
this shore there is a constant opposition, a constant building up of a
Chinese wall between them and the American people, which has the effect
of making them a separate colony or community in our midst. As they
talk: Chinese and do not talk English, they naturally associate together.
Ithmk the Chinese would associate just as well with the American
people as Germans and Irishmen if they were treated in the same way.

CLARKE

318

Nothing to
prevent Chinese
mixing.

Labor not semi-
servile.
Heterogeneity
useful to a people.

■Opposition to
Chinese the child
•of ignorance.
Used bypoliti-

Outrages.

The prevailing
opinion among
politicians that
the Chinese use-
ful. They join
agitation merely
for political pur-
poses.

Chinese men and American women do not assimilate ; they cannot by
reason of the difficulties that we raise, not by reason of difficulties that
exist in nature. There is nothing in nature, disposition or habits, that
would prevent the Chinese in the course of time from assimUating in
customs and habits with the Americans. I do not think their labor is
semi-servile.

My opinion is that a heterogeneous population is more beneficial to the
country than a homogeneous population. A people will improve better.

The opposition to the Chinese originates through ignorance. That is the
true source. People of more intelligence, wishing to avail themselves of
that degree of ignorance, use it for political purposes. The prejudice
against the Irishman coming to this country was just as strong as it is
now against the Chinese. But this prejudice disappears ; the people
become enlightened.

Judge Campbell agrees with me in regard to this question — the benefit
of Chinese labor — as well as several of my neighbors who do not employ
Chinamen. I cannot say that the daily press of San Francisco are in
favor of Chinese immigration as I am. Every paper panders to its
class.

On the subject of Chinese immigration I am satisfied to have it go on
record that those who differ with me are ignorant. On some subjects
they may be very intelligent but on this subject they are ignorant.

To a very large extent what we call the non-producing class is opposed
to the Chinese.

I know there was a very great outrage committed upon the Chinese at
Antioch about a year ago, but I am not familiar with the circumstances.

The resolutions of political parties I regard as rather a race or struggle
for a particular vote. In conversation with Judge Glascock, referring to
the passing of resolutions at a democratic meeting against the Chinese,
he said : " O, well, we do this simply as politicians ; but as a citizen of
California I am as much in favor of Chinese immigration as you are." My
experience satisfies me that that is the prevailing opinion among
politicians.

BABCOCK. William F. Babcock, a resident since 18.'i2, sworn and examined :

The evidence given by this witness is the same as given before the
Canadian Commission.

[See Minutes of Evidence, p. 13.]

EVANS. West Evans, dealer in railroad ties, etc., and a resident in the country

for twenty-five years, sworn and examined •

Chinese better for
building rail-
roads.

In the manufacture of railroad ties I have used white labor ; in build
ing railroads I use mostly Chinese. The latter give us better satisfaction
generally. I have had probably 400 or 500 white men employed in my
busiest time. A year or two ago I advertised for 100 white men. I sent
White men apt to more than 100 up to the work, but when they got there not more than
from twenty to thirty would work. They thought it was too hard.

There was a threatened conflict in Mendocino between the white labor-
ers and Chinese ; it came from the Irish side, who ordered my superin-
tendent to discharge all the Chinamen.

319 EVANS

I want men now and cannot get them. In building the road we start-
ed the men in on $40 a month and board ; if a man was worth more we
paid it to him. To some of them, bridge-building, we paid as high as
fllO a month and boarded them.

At stated times, during political compaigns, the men get troublesome witness has had
and dissatisfied. I never had any trouble between white men and China- "ween'wWte'and
men, except with the Catholic Irish. The Protestant Irish and men of other Chinese except in
nationalities never meddle with them. The opposition to the Chinese cathoiicirish.
comes through politicians and this class I speak of. I never heard any
business men opposed to Chinamen.

The Chinese have been a benefit to the state. I have done work that P^*?®^" ?■ ''™eflt
I could not have done without them. If white men had been here and
had worked I could have done it ; I tried to get white men to do this
work and failed. It is quite likely that a great many white laboring men
came here last year and year before and went back east, but they went
back because they did not want to work. White men are not generally Some white men
loafers, but there is a large percentage of the white population here who wSk.'^'"'^* ^^"^^
ichoose their work. Labor is classified. There is labor here for every Lahor is classified,
man in the state if he will work.

James H. Strobridge, engaged in railroad building, and a resident in STROBRIDGE.
the state for twenty-seven years, sworn and examined :

I was superintendent of construction on the Central Pacific, which was Could not get
started with white labor. We wanted several thousand men, but were ^j^Jj® itbor em""^^
never able to get more than 700 or 800 white men. We finally resorted Plfy^f^'^j^^f''-
to Chinamen, at one time working fully 10,000 of them. The white labor ploying Chinese,
was increased to 2,000 to 2,-500, who were made foremen, teamsters and

hostlers.

The Chinamen were good laborers, and as reliable and honest as other Chinese reliable,
.people— much more reliable ; they would not get drunk and go away as
white men do. They were furnished to us by difierent companies, some-
times Chinamen, sometimes white men. Latterly, Sisson, Wallace & ^„'JJ,^S.^y
Co. furnished pretty much all the Chinamen we worked.

Some Chinamen we employed were unreliable. White mechanics are Some.Chmamen
almost always steady men ; the teamsters and hostlers, as a rule, were ™™ ^^
not steady ; and the white men working in the pits were generally un-
steady. Our foremen were very unsteady ; eight-tenths of the foremen
were taken from the pits, from shovellers and from drillers. The class of The «^^^«„°*p^™ „
men who go upon public works are rather unsteady men. It is about the works are rather
same thing on railways building in New England, only that the workmen unsteady men.
are a little more riotous there than here. ^ .,, ,

The Chinese at work were not more docile than white men ; the trouble ^\X|^-X'r|pt
with the latter comes in when they are paid and they get drunk. Seven- drunkandbcdster-
tenths of the white labor employed, except mechanics, got drunk and ^^j^
boisterous after being paid. It was the rule in other states as well, where
raOroads were being constructed. With white men we had no difficulty
ingettingthemto go on any work, rock-cutting or anything else, but „ ,, .

with Chinamen we had a great deal of difficulty in getting them to go on Sonje^ difficulty m
rock, and to do much hard work, because they were not accustomed to it. goon heavy work.
The Chinese are cheaper. I am not satisfied with them as laborers m every ^^jJ^Ylyl^tisfled
respect. We get along with them with very little difficulty. If they had wUh them as
done a great deal more work than they did I would have been better
satisfied.

STROBRIDGB 320

Difficult to control Jq large bodies Chinamen would be preferable ; it is difficult to control
whites when paid, large bodies of white men after pay-day. They go on a spree. Indepen-
They go on sprees, ^g^^ ^f ^j^g^j. j ^^^j^ pj.gfgj. ^y^^^^ rpj^^^.^ j^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ difference between

the amount of work of a gang of white laborers and a gang of Chinese^
when they are well handled.

PECK. Charles S. Peck, drayman, and a resident for eighteen years, sworn and

examined :

Our business is almost exclusively with the Chinese, perhaps to the

amount of |25,000 a year. Including the custom house draymen the

General opinion Chinese perhaps pay |75,000 a year. In dealing with them we have found

havVbeen bene^ them strictly honest. The general opinion among those of my acquaintance

flcial, that what seems to be that the Chinese have been beneficial to the state, and that

cnmgh'^ taUhat ■"'lia.t is here is well enough ; but they think there should be some measures

somi Jestrictton ^^^^^ perhaps to limit the immigration in the future. Some think so and

in the future. some do not ; some think that it will be according to supply and demand.

There are about 3,000 draymen in the city, and probably two-thirds of this.

number I have conversed with and with whose ideas I am familiar.

Bencflcial to h.ive If the Chinese population should increase in a certain ratio with the

popuSn^'in- ^^^^^ population it would be beneficial to the state and country. With a

crease in a certain population of 1,200,000 I think we could endure another .50,000 Chinese,

white"'"'' ^^^ "^"d I *^"^^ i* would be desirable to restrict the ratio at about that figure

as to the labor of the state, There is a certain class — the laboring class

which is opposed to Chinese immigration,
nraying and If the draying was monopolized by the Chinese I presume those engaged

inese abor. j^ ^.j^g i,ugj|jjess would find something else to do. I think the majority of
those engaged in doing the draying business are of opinion that we can
sta,nd an increase in the number of Chinese here. The draymen have a
union and I have heard individual members express themselves, but not
in general discussion. I have also heard others express the opposite
opinion, and a few that they ought to be driven out of the country.

ven?thlm°ownin """ ^° ^^°* ^^^^ *^** ^^^'^^ ^^ ^^^ ^™^* ^ ^^^ amount of land they may
rlS estate.""''""*' acquire and the number of colonies they may create. I think there are
but few Chinese who would venture in that class of entei-prise, and I do
not think the state would be overrun ; at the same time there is nothing
to prevent them getting possession of the soil of the state, as long as we
do not restrict them in any way. Everything considered, I would be in
favor of a reasonable restriction in the number allowed to come.

CAMPBELL Alexander Campbell, lawyer, at one time judge, and a resident of
twenty years, sworn and examined :

SonTbeS^™" The effect of Chinese immigration to this time has been a benefit to

the whole state, and I do not see any necessity at the present time m

limiting or restricting this immigration. I believe it will be regulated

by the universal law of supply and demand.

gr^int doe"Sot ^ """^f Chinamen very highly as laborers and as touse-servants. I

differ very much repose the same confidence m them as I do in any others I do not think

g™'Ste°o«he'^re t^-; Chinese immigrants differ much from any other class of immigrants

ranlc in life. ot the same character and standing as themselves— in the same vocations.

321

CAMPBELL

ioUowing the same line of life. The merchants, from what I hear, as a
•class, are a very high-toned mercantile people. I prefer Chinese servants Prefers Chinese
to any others. They are more quiet, they are more systematic, they are servants,
very cleanly, and very intelligent ; and when there was a press of matter,
such as another servant leaving, or sickness in the house, when extra work
was required to be done, I have found them very ready to take their share Never had occa-
■of that extra work ; and so far as my personal observation goes, I have white men in his
never had occasion to distrust any of those who have been in my employ. ®™p'°5'-
They have free access to pretty much everything. I have never had the Dora not think
least reason ever to suspect that they are under the influence of any other tends to'preTsent
person than themselves. I contract with each one individually. I do ^'lie^^Jthe "'
not think their presence here tends to prevent the immigration of whites sttite. The build-
to the state. The building of railroads and other works performed by thrown open targe

Chinese labor has thrown open large portions of the country for settle- portions of ooun-

. . i „ V j^ '^ J , . ■' try lor settlement,

ment, causing immigration to flow into those regions.

I think the opinions of disinterested parties, who have no political ^bSc" o^oinion in
objects to gain — the intelligent portion of the community — are favorable favor of Chinese,
to Chinese immigration on a limited scale.

The Chinese are a convenience and a profit at the present time. If .
they were received and treated as other people coming to these shores,
my impression is, from their natural intelligence, that they would make
good citizens as soon as they had time enough to become acquainted with
our position.

I think our civilization is higher than theirs ; and in their morality The Chinese as a
-and religious teachings they are not so good as ours. I do not think that Sf Americal?"
the Chinese as a nation are equal to the American people as a nation. people.

My impression is that if you would give them a fair chance they would ™nta a they got
assimilate ; they would adopt our manners, habits, customs, and become would become
•republicans. I do not know of any who have assimilated, nor a,m I 8o°d republicans,
aware of any Chinaman who does not wear, in part or whole, his Chinese
•<!Ostume and the Chinese queue.

I have heard of their attending our Christian churches, and I have
seen them attending the Sunday schools.

My impression is that they do not generally learn to grasp intelligently ^g^„«4*f f JS^fJ'^3
our form and structure of government. The number of intelligent Chinese Ihat of other
compares very favorably with the intelligence of almost any other people Peoples,
that I am acquainted with. I never met one who could not read and
write his own language. Imitative but not

The Chinese are imitative but not inventive. inventive.

At present I would not give them the right of the elective franchise ; Wouid^not^^ve.^^
their civilization has not advanced far enough for that ; but I would give bxit would give
them schools where they could be educated.

In some branches I am inclined to think there is a conflict between More ^abm^.^^^^.
American and Chinese labor. I think there is a great deficiency of labor labor has done a
on this coast ; more is wanted instead of less. Chinese labor has per- b"°^ ^o"" •
formed a very large part in the development of the state: buildmg rail-

I think the opposition to the Chinese originates in an unfounded O^LT oK an
jealousy on the part of the workingmen, that they are to be cut out ot ^founded
their employments. I think also that political agitation has arisen out of ■>

Cheap labor has not a tendency to elevate the working classes; if i* ten^s^tolepre-
goes iaelow a certain point sufficient to give them the necessaries of life ^^.^t^ j^^^'*"*"
at may have a contrary «ffect. Anything in this country which tends to i^„rious.

21

CAMPBELL .|2f

depreciate either the standing or value of labor, I think would be injuri-
ous beyond a certain point.
Community I am inclined to think the community would be better if the people

« the^peopfe were ^^''^ rather homogeneous than heterogeneous. I do not think it ad-
homogeneous, visable for whites and Chinese, or whites and Indians, or whites and
negroes to amalgamate. My impression is that there is not, either men-
tally or physically, so great a difference between whites and Chinese as
between the whites and the negroes. I have never visited the Chinese-
quarter to inspect and examine as to their character, conduct, and way of
living.

The Chinese ratio of increase since 1860 is not greater than that of
whites.

ARMSTRONG. Edward J. Armstrong, sworn and examined :

Proportion of The number of cases in the district courts of this city up to the present

in district courts, time is between 69,000 and 70,000 ; in the fourth district court, 28,000.
In that court there were twenty-nine actions in which the Chinese were
defendants, sued for breach of contract, or debt, or on promissory notes ;
for the foreclosure of a mortgage, one ; damages for assault, one ; and for
malpractice there were two. There were numerous cases for ejectment
and occupation of land, to quit titles, where Chinese names appeared.

EASTERBY. Anthony W. Easterby, a resident in California for twenty-seven years,,
affirmed and was examined :

Mixed character The feeling among the intelligent people with whom I have come in
on Sus quesF^on?" contact, in regard to the Chinese question, is mixed. Some have
prejudices against them, and some think that they fill a position that
others could not fill. I think their presence here does not diminish the
employment of whites or lower their rate of wages. In the interior
Theposition.sihey they fill the places of servants, cooks, etc., work which white people
would not do. It would be impossible to get girls to occupy those
positions. Girls would not go among a crowd of men, farm -laborers, to
live there alone unless they yrere married and with their husbands ; then
the climate is such that it is very severe upon them in the hot seasons.
All the farmers that I have ever spoken with are in favor of having
Chinese for servants. In some cases they use them as laborers on the
farm doing light work, and where horses are not used. They do not seem
to understand the use of horses as whites do. They are faithful and you
can depend upon their attending to their work without watching them.
I have never found a dishonest Chinaman, nor have I ever known one to
drink liquor. They are very industrious, and work continuously. Some-
times there is a difficulty in getting sufficient white labor to save the
harvest, all farmers requiring men at the same time. After the harvest
is over, there is no more use for the hands until the rain comes, when it
is necessary to plow, and then only a much smaller amount is needed.
In hiring the Chinese you generally employ a foreman to get the amount
Perfectly inde- «* men you require ; I think they are perfectly independent of their
Foremen."* *""" *°'"<^"ie»' ^^ I ^^^ve seen some of them leave without their wish. I hire
them and pay them through the foreman.

I am an old farmer, a reclamation and canal maker, and employer of
Chinese, and as such I am speaking of the Chinese entirely in reference to

323

the material interest of the country, and their contributing to our con-
Tenience and comfort as laborers, as well as our money-making capacity
with them.

EASTERBY

Samuel H. Dwinelle, judge, and a resident in San Francisco for twenty- DWINELLE.
seven years, sworn and examined :

I have no monetary interest in this question. I have au interest as a
citizen.

Under some circumstances Chinese immigration should be restricted, if there was a
but I am not prepared to believe that it is necessary at present. If we syu'Pliis popula-
should have a surplus population it should be limited. The extreme fmmigratton
influx of population — too much for the resources of the country — might regtrioted ■
make it necessary to prevent immigration of all kinds, Chinese as well as necessary at
any other. I think the proportion of the white population is becoming P''®^''"'-
greater than the Chinese population.

Jn one sense there is a conflict between Chinese and white labor, Chinese labor does
springing out of the high price of white labor, particularly in regard to pfoymint of^ite
domestics. The employment of Chinese labor does not prevent the em- {"■•'or ; has been
ployment of white labor. I do not think there is a plethora of labor on state. "^^ * "
the coast. Chinese labor has been beneficial to the state. The railroad
across the continent and various business ventures could not have been
carried op without cheap labor.

There is a strong prejudice prevailing among the laboring classes Class-prejudice.
against the Chinese, which, I think, grows out of an apprehension that
the Chinese are taking their work from them, or will do it hereafter.
This opposition is confined pretty much to the laboring classes. Farmers
in the interior say they prefer Chinese to white labor ; and some of them
have said their crops could not be moved without the assistance of the
Chinese.

The testimony of the Chinese is very conflicting ; they do not stand Testimony unre-
the test of cross-examination any better than any other witnesses. '^ ®'

I should prefer white labor to Asiatic, because they assimilate more to
our ways, our customs, and our religion. To some extent I am in favor
of cheap labor, where we must have labor to gather our crops. The
Chinese come here as adventurers, to make money. The people from the
east come here to stay, as a general thing. White laborers are more White labor more
desirable, at a little higher figure than Chinese at a lower, in our Indus- h?|h?^flgure!*
tries and mechanical employments.

I think the majority of the people of this city are opposed to Chinese Public opinion
immigration, and from my observation in that part of the state where I immigration.''^**
have been, I think the people would not be opposed to it. The fact that
all the political conventions of all parties, county, state and municipal,
have, passed resolutions against Chinese immigration indicates popular
opinion on the subject. The daily press, I should judge, is opposed to it.
The complaint that comes from the laboring men should not be disre-
garded. They ought to be heard.

HYATT

324

Thomas H. Hyatt, engaged in farming, at one time Consul at Amoj,
China, sworn and examined ;

: Sources of the
■Chinese emigra-
.tion.

:SO,000 Chinamen
living on the
waters of Canton.

^Shipping coolies.

^Piratical immi-

igVATita.

Would favor any
legislation which
would encourage
immigration other
than Asiatic.

Chinese labor in
rural districts less
aembarrassing than
white labor.

'Coolies going to
Peru went for ^5 a
month and their
board. The con-
tract seemed fair

' enough.

' The contractor in
'China has a pow-
. -erful hold over the

Witness read a letter of his own which appeared in the Daily Evening
Bulletin of April 14, 1876, entitled "The Chinese question honestly,
philosophically, commercially, politically, civilly, impartially and indepen-
dently considered."

The Chinese who come here are usually of the lower class, many of
them from up about Canton ai^d Amoy. A good many of them are idle,
and a good many of them are sons of farmers from the adjoining country.
They come here to better their condition. Those about the town are
generally rather a rough, hard, loose set, but back in the country among
the agricultural population of China, you find very respectable, reputable,
and decent Chinamen.

At the time I was residing there it was considered that there were
80,000 Chinamen living on the waters of Canton, in their boats. They
were born, brought up, married and died there in their boats, and only
taken on shore to be buried. Then up and down the coast every little
inlet is filled with what are called Chinese pirates.

The departures of coolies from Amoy and other parts along the coast,
either went directly to San Francisco or to other ports. They did not go
to Hong Kong. Sometimes a vessel goes, to Hong Kong to fill up the
cargo or something of that sort, but those who go as coolies generally go
direct from Amoy. I know that very many coolies were taken on the
ships that were sailing from Hong Kong to San Francisco but the great
bulk of them were engaged all along up the coast. A great many of the
immigrants from China come from the piratical class, which is an immi-
gration we could do without very well, and had better be discouraged by
any proper legislation restricting them from coming here. If we must have
that population, if we had not laborers enough, let us send and get a better
class — the rural laborers in the interior ; or, better still, send and get the
better class of people from New England and the eastern states. Almost
all my farming business is done directly or indirectly with white labor, and
I prefer to do it in that way ; but in the busy season it is very difiicult to
get enough white laborers. I would favor any judicious legislation that
would encourage eastern and foreign immigration instead of Chinese or
Asiatic. There is no difficulty of white laborers in our region of the
country getting employment; but there have been times when it was
impossible to get any other than Chinese help. While Chinese labor
would be very embarrassing to laborers here, it would be less so in the
country. •

The ship I came over in in 1861 brought 500 coolies from Hong Kong
direct to San Francisco. A coolie is an employed laborer who lives on
his labor. The contracts and obligations are different for those coming to
California than those going to the Peruvian Islands. I class laborers on
canals, farms and ditches as coolies, not slaves that I know of — not peons.
Coolies going to Peru were taken for ten years. I think at $5 a month
and their living. The contract appeared fair enough upon the face. I
do not know of any coming to California under such contracts. I had
supposed there were a great many, but I never knew. I have no know-
ledge of any kidnapped men being brought to California. When they
were constructing the Panama Railroad, they sent over agents to engage
Chinamen to come on and do that work, and they furnished the coolies
with means. Every coolie has some tie that binds him back to China,
and he does not go and violate that contract^ because in China they take

325 HYATT

a brother, or they will take the father, or any of the family, to make up coolie, because m

1 i j.1_ J.V, i J. J -, mi • • that country the

what the other man may refuse to do, as security. They can imprison next of kin can he.
the next of kin for debt, which is a pretty powerful influence upon the ^§^°"®^ '"'"
mind of the coolies.

They sell female children in China. I have had mothers offer me their Girl-babies sold
girl-babies for two bits — twenty-five cents. Among the poorer class they *°^' '"^ ^^*^'
do not regard girls as worth anything, and they want to sell them or give
them away. I do not think they consider it a crime ; they thought it
would be a benefit to the child. The women, although sold for $25 or The women sold
|30, consider themselves wives. I do not think they have the idea of si^li-^hemfeives"
degradation that prostitutes have. I do not know of an out-and-out sale as wives.
for promiscuous intercourse.

I think the Chinese Government at the present time are very much Chinese Govern-
opposed to their people going away, and they would not look with disfavor the?r people gohig:
on restrictive legislation. The presence of foreigners in China is not so awa,y, and woulcT
disagreeable, because they find it profitable. If they did not trade directly tion with disfavor-
with us they would through Singapore and other islands where there are
English and Americans.

John Stuart, employed in the freight business of the Pacifio Mail Steam- sTUART.
ship Company since 1865, sworn and examined :

The Chinese cannot very well be surpassed for integrity and honesty in ^^^^j""^^''^'''*'^
dealing. I have always found them very correct, honest, straightforward, Chinese,
and reliable. In many cases I would prefer to do business with their
merchant class than with our people. We have no difficulty whatever in
collecting freigh1>money. The commerce between China and this country
varies in a great measure ; some years it is greater than others, but for
the most part it is increasing.

The Chinese are as cleanly as any other nationality I have seen come Clean.
off an American ship ; rather more so than otherwise. There is very
little disease among them, and very few cases of sickness on the voyage, vei-y little
In conversation with Chinamen they always appeared to me to be opposed disease,
to the coming of Chinese prostitutes.

With reference to the immigration of Chinese, in my opinion it never ^^^d neve?
will assume proportions that will interfere with the morality of the state assume formid-
to any extent. From 100 to 200 is the number, per steamer, arriving; ^ '« proponona^
and from 400 to 600 returning. There are regular seasons for them to
arrive and to return. Many of the coolies that we have heard about to-
day are of the mercantile class. Their character for credit stands very
good.

BRIGGS.

Rev. Martin C. Briggs, minister, sworn and examined :

There are two classes whose opinions are entirely difierent on the E«^f^«d statc^oC
Chinese question. The laboring classes, and more especially the Irish "
people generally in our community, seem to be strongly and violently
•'dftposed to the Chinese in every way. The other class are persons who
have some permanent interest, persons who are engaged in labor, and per-
sons who wish to engage in labor, do not entertain the same feeling, and
do not sympathize with that view. Very generally the latter not only
do not wish the removal of the Chinese, but they judge that it is on the

BRIGGS

326

whole better for the state that they should be here. Our people would
prefer white labor if they could get persons who would be quiet, indus-
trious, temperate, and well-behaved. They employ Chinese because they
are more docile and pursue their work more steadily. The small farmers
in the country very generally are inclined to look with patience, and a
large majority of then with favor, upon the presence of the Chinese here.
I do not think it necessary at the present time to limit Chinese im-
migration.

Chinese docile
and steady.

San Francisco, November 16th, 1876.

Not a tithe of the
laborers in
California that
'Ought to be hero.

Chinamen en-
tirely ahead of all
•others.

HOLLISTER. WiLLiAM W. HoLLiSTER, farmer and a re.sident in California for twenty-
four years, sworn and examined :

I think I own not far from 75,000 acres of land, and about 50,000 sheep.
From my experience in this state we never have had a sufficient amount
of reliable, patient, kindly labor. The field of labor is so enormous that
I do not see when the time will come when it shall be fully filled. My
opinion is that there is not a tithe of the laborers in California that ought
to V)e here now. As to the character of the labor of the country in this
state, I put Chinamen entirely ahead of all others ; there is no man who
perform.^ the labor of this country in a kindly way to suit, and does his
very best for the proprietor, like the Chinaman ; I have never seen a
better laborer any time in the course of my life. I do not see how the
industries of California can be possibly carried on if there is not more
labor, instead of less. I cannot see how I can myself carry on my work
as a farmer.

It would not be wise to put a stop to Chinese immigration. I would

open the door and let everybody come who wants to come. The only

inducement for the Chinaman to come here to-day is the great wages paid.

I have never seen a drunken Chinaman in my life. The moral condition

of the 400 Chinese in our county is so good that there have been but five

arrests in the course of a year. Two of them were dismissed ; two cases

were for petty larceny. So much better does this immigration compare

morally with other immigration of the same class that, if the teachings of

paganism make honest men as I find Chinamen to be I think of becoming

pagan myself.

, . As an average the Chinaman is not quite up to the average of the white

^^ite, buT"^'' population in physical strength. They are not very strong men, but they

earnest, good men. are very earnest, good men. Their health is first rate. In regard to

cleanliness, they are better than the whites. They shame our population

in that respect.

I never supposed or believed that there was a particle of peonage or
slavery among the Chinamen of California ; and I do not believe there is
to-day.

I have never seen a single instance where a Chinaman has desired
own property and stay. All they seem to want is a place to work, and to
get our money. They return when they get enough.

I do not believe that any of them care a straw about the franchise, and
I do not see why a Chinaman is not just as good as any other man, so far
as citizenship is concerned. They perform almost every kind of labor
that is done on farms or in the household. They are not skilled as
horsemen.

Moral condition
■of 400 Chinamen
in "Witness's
county so good
only five arrests
in a year.

Not quite up in

■Clean.

No peonage or
slavery among
^hem.

Never met a
"Clhinajnan "who
•desired to stay.

They don't care
about the fran-
■chise.

327 HOLLISTER

I think I may have seen a few Chinamen under the influence of opium, Opium-smoking
, , , ■' . ...,., r ! not universal,

but SO tar as my experience goes it is not universal.

As to proprietors, I think there is a common sentiment and feeling in AH proprietors
favor of the Chinamen. They are a last resort. They are the only thing they area^iaai
that the farmer can rely upon at all. They adapt themselves to all work resort,
because the others will not do it at the price at which they work. The
bummer always goes against the Chinaman. The man who demands big
wages is simply running against himself ; he breaks down all employment
and nobody can hire him.

The Chinese are employed as house-servants ; there is nothing else to No other class to
employ. White women will not go to the country. house-servants.

In the same proportion as the la,bor adds to the wealth of a country a The Chinaman

Chinaman adds to the wealth of the state. He does not take any of it ^:^^ "n^'^'es

away ; not a dollar. If I hire a man and pay him a dollar, I get an more than he gets

equivalent for that money in the labor performed. If I am not a fool, '" labor.

that labor is worth more to me than the money I pay.

The Chinaman is the best man in California : he is honest, truthful, The Chinaman
„..,., , 1. 1 J. J. the best man m

faithful, and never breaks a contract. California.

I do not see how the employment of Chinese can affect white labor,
though it may be so. The Chinaman opens two doors to labor where he Tho^Chinaman^
closes one. A great many of our industries would not have existed to-day to labor where
but for the presence of the few Chinamen who have made the under- ho closes one.
takings possible. I think their presence here is a strong incentive for
European and eastern labor to come here.

The railroads, which have been the means of opening up and settling a Railroads^oould
vast extent of territory in California, could not have been built without built without
Chinese labor. They might have been built, but at such an expense that *em.
they would be almost worthless. The railroad has given new life to the

whole country. , t i, t •

Labor is twice as high as what it is worth ; it is. a dollar a day and board. LgK-yj^f/ ""^
There is not an industry nor a farm in the state that will stand over fifty worth,
cents, a day. The laborer can live better when he gets four bits a day,
and the cost of living is lowered, than when he works for three dollars a Wages.
day and pays three dollars for a sack of potatoes. A man can live on
fifty cents to-day just as well as it was ever done, but it presupposes
honesty, economy, persistent industry, and all that ; the virtues practised
forty years ago. I would hire an American quicker than any other man
in the world, because he is the best man if he is a good man. I hire
Chinamen at $15 a month, and I pay $30 a month to American., and
the Chinaman are doing iust as much as the Americans. ,, ,,„

All the women can get employment if they will work at pnces that All ^vomen^n^ .^
^iU justify employment, and beyond *hat they have no right to ask I W wm^be co.^^
expect to see some hardship m this revolution from high to low wages. ^^^^ ^^^^^
Everybody has got to expect it. . , , i • xi,

I have been part proprietor of 318,000 acres of the richest lands m the
state. The orignal cost varied from $1 to $1.50, some few ranches cost as
high as $4 or $5 an acre.

Ever since I have been in the state I have employed to some extent
Chinese labor, more of it latterly because my business adniits ot it

The money paid for white country labor goes in whiskey^ ^f'^ '] ^^^\S^^ Zs
more money wasted in whiskey and idleness than would pay the national in whiskey,
debt. If ever there was a country in the world given up to bummerism,
it is the state of California. The rule is for American laborers to-day to
be drunkards. They are bummers.

So long as I get the work performed, I make no difference between

HOLLISTER 3g8

the muscle of a horse, the power of a steam-engine, the power of a China-
man or the power of a white man, or any other man employed by me.
The wealth of the country will be due to the advent of cheap labor.
The white man the I think the white man is better than any other man.

Labor cheap enough to justify employment is a necessity for social
Cheap labor is a progress. There is no other way for it. Unless we contraue to reduce labor
progress! "' ''°"*' agriculture will cease to be an employment in this country. The farmers.

could stand about $12 a month, to make a success of their business.
Best for all men to I think that all men ought to work, and all women to the extent of
*'"''^- their power. It makes a man a better citizen ; the child more level-

headed, with less vagaries in the brain. They grow squarer ; straighter.
A fair and equal distribution of mental and physical labor is always best.-
Hoodlums. In regard to the existence of hoodlums, there are a great many causes,

operating to bring about this condition of affairs. Apparently the parents
have been getting along pretty well, speculating, making money, and are
careless about the education of their children, and it may be ascribed in
American disin- part to the common disinclination of our people to work. The American
The American to-day wants to live by his wits. I should think, from what I see in our
liis'wits' '" " ^^ towns in the country, that if the proportion is the same here as there,

perhaps two-thirds of the entire population are doing little or nothing.
Chinamen live ]y[y Chinamen live just as well as anybody. They live just as I do. I

witness. Has have known a Chinaman to pay $2.50 for a chicken. I think they will
m"aT^ve'$^!5(rfor l^^ve just what they want, cost what it will.

a chicken. On being recalled, the witness filed a letter on the problem of labor

(Appendix E, to Joint Committee Rep., Ex. '1) ; also a communication

with reference to the criminal statistics of Santa Barbara (Appendix

R to Joint Committee Rep., Ex. 2). The former is to the effect that

should 'work'^Eami l*^"'" ^^^ progress go hand in hand ; muscle, brains, and capital must

in hand, and with have an equitable partnership; exportation at a loss is ruinous;

reciprocal aavan- production before commerce; antecedent to all trade is labor; money

not wealth ; money, a measure of value and has no other value ;

labor, morality, and civilization march abreast ; labor is the penalty we

pay for civilization ; we must work on an equality with other nation^,

and work more ; lalaor is the only weapon ; capital is brain and muscle

done up in a form agreed upon by the world and carried conveniently

in the pocket ; without labor capital is useless ; laborers enough east

if they will only work at prices capital can afford to pay ; high-priced

labor strikes hardest on agriculture, it makes high-priced products ;

labor-saving machines have not of late years cheapened products ; a

monopoly of muscle demoralizing ; labor and capital must be joined by

good-will ; what use is capital when labor places an embargo upon it t

Cheap labor a necessity and a blessing.

Seven hundred According to the latter exhibit the estimated number of Chinese in Santa

Chmesc m Santa t^ i ° . . .^^ . . ««« .^ ^^ . , ^ , -.^^^ ,

Barbara county Barbara Was : m county, 400 ; m city, 300. From December 8th, 1875 to-
year"i875-76 fl*l September 18th, 1876, there were five arrests among them, two for gambling,
arrests. one being dismissed and the other fined ; one for ftssault, not guilty ; one

for petit larceny (stealing fruit from a garden), fined ; and one for dis-
turbing the peace, fined. No Chinaman received public support or aid
Chinaman' re° ^^°^ °^'^7 °^ oounty during the present clerks' terms of office, over two.

ceived public vears.
alms. •'

329 HILL-

John H. Hill, farmer, a resident iu California since 1850, sworn and
examined :

I employ Chinese labor, and from my experience I find them to be

temperate, industrious, honest, and good laborers. In my district there

are, perhaps, some 500 Chinamen employed, largely in cultivating the Chinese necessary
^» S J. mi_ • J i 111 i I 1 J J -i -i. for the cultivation

grape for the farmers. The industry would have to be abandoned it it of the grape.

depended upon white labor. White labor could not be got to do the work

on the spur of the moment. Judging from circumstances and what I

know I think the opinion of the people in my county is favorable to the

Chinese.

Thomas Brown, cashier of the Anglo -California Bank, sworn and BROWN,
examined •

Our exchange business with China and Japan will average in the Exchange^,^^
neighborhood of a million or a million and a half a year ; probably over china and
that. We sell a large amount of exchange to Chinese merchants, and so ^Ji^o^qo^®'''*^''®
far as our business with them is concerned they have always been very jjjgjj commercial
straightforward and very correct. Our business with them has very character,
materially increased during the last five years. of'chin^an"

I think a large influx of Chinamen would have a bad effect upon our '^"'^^f^^l^^^^
people here. whites.

As servants I have always found the Chinese very honest. House-servants.

I do not think it desirable to extend the Chinese quarter over the city. UndestaWe to^
Its extension has a depressing effect upon the value of real estate, and quarter; depresses,
drives out pretty much all other commercial business in that neighborhood, l^^^f^^
as well as families. The Chinese quarter at one time used to be the seat away^wMte h^si-
of a large and prosperous retail trade. families.

John M. Hoener, farmer and a resident on the coast for over thirty HORNER,
years, sworn and examined

I employ any labor ihat I can get, all nationalities, a great portion CouW farm wi^h-
Chinese I could carry on my farming operations without Chinese And them very
labor, but I find them a very convenient class of laborers. The «™^«"4^j .^^^^
whole success of farming does not depend upon them. It is when we have ^^^ pro;>erty ,
abundant crops, and not enough help around without them, that they are .ho^'^ders m witness^
convenient. There has not been an overplus of labor m my neighborhood Chinese,
this fall, even with the Chinamen. All who own property there employ In comparison
them ; and they are as a general thing in favor of it. That arises more Chinese lahor not
on account of its reliability than on account of its cheapness. In compa- «^h^«^P- ^^^^^^^^ ^^
risen with the east Chinese labor here is not cheap. those who hold

Three-quarters of those who own property in my neighborhood would property would^
vote for Chinese labor if submitted to them aside from politics, home ot ^^^^^
those who employ Chinese labor think if it could be properly done it would Some rf.those who
be well to have restrictive legislation. of restrictive

On being recalled, the witness read a statement bearing on the ques- legislation,
tion, which was not taken as testimony.

There are a large number of Chinamen unemployed in the stete, some idle
all the time, and sometimes they are here in thousands. When labor is
scarce they cannot all be employed.

HORNER 330

Unitel States''to ^ think it would be a benefit to the whole United States to have the
have the Chinese Chinese by millions, scattered all over the country, if the proper laws were

by millions PTifni-pprl

scattered over the "ii™' '-''"•
• country.

MORGEN- Max Morgbnthau, manufacturer, and a resident for twenty -seven years,

THAU. sworn and examined :

30,000,000 bags im- There must have been imported from Scotland last year from eighteen

ported from to twenty million bags. We manufacture, on an average, 12,000 a day.

Witness manu-' When we first started we ordered the machinery from Scotland, and with

fachues 12,000 a j^ ^ ^.^^^.g^ ^f yfhite people. They came, but they left us ; they thought

White labor went they could do better. In consequence we employed Chinese labor. The

emnfov^Ciiin''^' '° stook does not pay six per cent, per annum. I would not put in another

cent if I had $50,000,000. I have found out that factory -business here is

a very bad business. Any person who is willing to come and take all my

.stocks and dividends may have them to-day for cost.

Cannot compete We cannot get white labor to enter into the manufacture of goods to

whSc^abm'^* " '"' '^'^J considerable extent to compete with the east. All classes buy where

they get the cheapest article.

The t'liinamon In the case of the boot business, after the Chinamen learn that business

hook in the bo'ot " they will go away and start business for themselves, the machinery does not

and shoe business amount to much ; but in a woolen mill or jute factory it requires from

chlnery is cheap. §200,000 to $300,000 to get machinery. Their starting on their own

mmorajute'"" ''°°'^ "^ *^^ ''°°* ^^^^ ^^1°® business is the reason, it seems, there

factory it requires is SO much opposition to them ; and I have no doubt if the thing is carried

|30™000 for Hw on the Chinese will get control of that business. In our business it

chmery. requires too much capital to get machinery. Any business that does not

Any business that require capital and machinery they soon control. In the cigar business

capital and''""^" we used to import every cigar from the east, afterwards they were shipped

soon'control!"^'^ ^'"°™ ^®'"® ®^®*' ^"* *^^* ^^ stopped now because the eastern people can

work equal with tlie Chinese here. The coming down in the price of

cigars is in the cost of the making — in the labor.

Manufacture of I started the candle factory with white labor, and found the great

difficulty was that there was not enough of tallow here. Our factory

turns out about 60,000 boxes, and another factory about 75,000 boxes.

We import to-day not less than 500,000 or 600,000 boxes, at an average

value of $3 a box. The manufacture of candles here is not a paying

business. We cannot compete, our people having a particular love for

goods made outside of San Francisco. In six years, I believe I have

never sold fifty boxes among our own people here. I sell them out on

Front street, and have a few mines to sustain me.

but elfperVeSt "'" ®™P^°y Chinese, but not all. There is no factory run on this coast

goes to white ' but that you may say sixty-six per cent, goes to white labor. The

'*^°''' reason I employ Chinamen is not on account of their cheapness but

Jjli^unreliability on account of the unreliability of the white man. I should prefer

reason he em- ^ white labor any time. The eastern manufacturer puts candles on the

ployed Chinese. market here at a less price than I can. They do this to freeze us out, to

drive us away.
Up to the prescni I have more respect for the white laboring classes than I have for the
out Chinese*! but Chinese. As far as we have gone we could not do without the Chinese,
^l/woiiid ™ t" ^^^ ^ ^° '^°* believe they would make very good citizens ; they do not
make good intend to stay here ; they want to make a little money and go home, and

•citizens. perhaps come back.

331 MORGENTHAU

A great many in the state are not opposed to them. The better class The better class
of people are in favor of them. There must be from 4,000 to 5,000 '" ^""^ " *"""
Chinese employed in our private families. I believe all our ladies, if they
were taken from their employment, would try and beg of them not to Women could not
leave the country, and they would say they could not get along without fhem!°"^ without
them-. Since the 4th of July I have had about twenty-four girls in my
house. Out of that number about four or five had to be carried away. I
even had to send for the police to get them out. Our cook would be so
dead drunk we could not get enough to eat. We are scarce in girls to-day. Does not care to
good girls. I have three or four grown daughters, and I do not want any !„ his houro!"^"
Chinamen in my house, because I am not in love with them at all.

About a month ago I found that two or three Chinamen wanted to get
two bits more a day. The moment I got that notice I sent to the intel-
ligence office for four or six white men, offering a dollar and a half a day.
They came, and because it was common work: — shovelling — they would Would rather
not stand it. Before I would give a Chinaman a dollar and a quarter I fiyaothana^ ™°'"
would rather give a white man a quarter of a dollar more. Chinaman ?l.2a

If we manufactured all the goods that we consume here, we should be
the richest people on the face of the earth. I do not call our manufac- Difficulties of
turing manufacturing at all. What we are doing here is a drop in the th™eMt"^
ocean compared with what we import. Another thing we have to con-
tend with is the cheap money in the east, which is a great drawback.

Simon L. Jones, auctioneer, and a resident in the country for twenty- JONES.
four years, sworn and examined :

I have had considerable dealings with the Chinese here, and I have
always found them honest in their dealings — amounting to about a million
dollars. I never want to deal with better men than Chinese. I have CMneseJionest im
lost by them, but not a very large amount ; much larger by others. Some
laborers have built themselves up as merchants, and some merchants have
been sent from China with capital.

William H. Jessup, match manufacturer, and a resident of San Francisco jessup.
for about twenty-seven years, sworn and examined :

I have had experience in the employment of boys and girls, and Matches.
Chinese. My experience with boys and girls is very unsatisfactory. The
boys were unreliable, both in constancy to labor and in their conduct
about the. factory. We tried them about a year. Before hiring Chinese FaM^to be^abie
I hired white men, and gave them good wages from the first. They were boyTand^girl^.
not satisfied to take the rate we could pay to compete with imported
matches. With the girls I found more difficulty than I did with the
boys, and could not do anything with them. They were unreliable and
dissatisfied, because they could not make good wages from the first.
They could not get their minds down to business. The next change I SiTexcMedThe
made was to hire Chinamen, with the result of building up a factory to imported matches,
the exclusion of the imported matches. The Chinese were more attentive
to their business ; there was no fooling or leaving work. They would
stay and work, and they were satisfied with the wages that they made,
depending all the while on the facility in getting along faster, turning out
more work after a while, and they would learn. As far as I have seen

JESSUP 332

rfChin''erete°'ood ^^^ moral character of the Chinese is good. I have never seen a steadier,
Stead^*^* ^°° moi'e cleanly set of men in my life than I have had to do with in my
, manufactory. As far as I know, speaking of my own factory, they sur-

Ciean. pagg the white laboring class in cleanliness. As a class the Chinese are

Most industrious the most industrious men I ever knew in my life. I have never seen a
peop e. Chinaman who I thought was under the influence of liquor.

The treatment of the Chinese has been anything but flattering to the
Chinese had been conduct of the whites. I do not know what to attribute this abuse to,
unless they imagine that their labor comes in conflict with the labor per-
formed by the Chinese. The origin is prejudice which probably emanates
K they dressed in f^oj^ that cause. I have met Chinamen dressed in American fashion,
a diirerent habit , „ ,, Tr,i.-i./>,i _li •

there would be who were generally treated setter. I think if they were to dress m a

lees abuse. different habit, there would be less of that abuse.

. I have employed them as domestics, and have found them, as a general
thing, very good ; and put the same trust and confidence in them as in
other servants. As far as my experience goes, I find them very truthful.
The introduction of the Chinese has had a very good effect upon the

Certain raanufac- prosperity of the state. Light manufactures would never have succeeded

tUrCS V?01llu. Q67GP *■ ^ V O

have succeeded here without the aid of Chinese labor. I should like to see Chinese im-
withoutthem. migration limited.

OLMSTED William N. Olmsted, merchant, a resident in China from 1862 until
1870, now of San Francisco, sworn and examined :

The house I was with in China was largely engaged in the purchase and
sale of merchandise. We were brought closely in contact with various
Chinese merchants.
The Chinese The word coolie applies to laborers in general. It was used as a term

an'fperu bought '^^ reproach during the period of emigration to Peru and Cuba, and at a
and sold. later period when they were shipped they were known among the Chinese

themselves, and by foreigners in referring to them, as pigs — those men who
were bought and sold like so many cattle — the lowest of the laboring
Mercantile and classes. The classes which emigrate to this country are the mercantile
emtoate*to^^ and laboring classes. A great many of them are poor and have not the
Paciflc coast. means to pay their passage, etc., but there are always to be found

men in China willing to provide funds. The men who ship the coolies
generally buy passage-tickets in large quantities, upon which they obtain
a discount — their first profit. The advances which they make are after-
wards repaid to them, or agreed to be repaid to them, at a high rate of
interest. The security they give in those contracts is very often the
Security of rela- personal security given by relatives and friends in China, and if there is
passage money. default those relatives can be proceeded against in China to the extent of
fine and imprisonment. They are generally averse to subjecting their
friends to fine and imprisonment on their own account. In that way they
are more loyal than almost any other people I have ever met.
The immigration Their being inveighled here I would consider an impossibility. The
cphld not be emigration laws in Hong Kong, our own consular laws, and our own laws
forced. ought certainly to put a stop to any forced immigration. I have heard of

force being used in the Portugese colony of Macao in shipping coolies to
Peru and Cuba,
^^^ojj" "i"nks ; The use of alcoholic drinks in China is very small. Gambling is as com-
mon there as it is elsewhere. In Canton I have known the Chinese
authorities attempt to suppress it, also in other open ports.

333

OLMSTED

Prostitution is regarded in China very much as it is here. In Hong Prostitution.
Kong all the brothels require a license ; how it is under the Chinese
'Government I do not know.

The immigrants who are here mainly come from Kwang Tung province Source of Chinese
—some merchants, some laborers, and some artisans, the larger propor- ™">ier'^t*''"-
tion of them agricultural laborers. There is nothing that is degrading in
labor in China or elsewhere that I am aware of. I think immigration
will keep pace with the demand. When the demand ceases the influx will Up to this time
cease. Chinese immigration up to the present time, I think, has been *'™''*^"*'-
beneficial to the state. I think our trade with China is increasing.

A Chinaman earning $4 a month at home, and who could get here
for $25, I think, would not come and work here for |12 a month.

The Chinese can labor here cheaper than the white laborer who has to
maintain a family. At the same time I think a great many whites can
labor here vastly cheaper than they are doing. " I think that a great
many employ white labor when they could employ Chinese, and pay more
for white labor, in order to obtain a better remuneration for the product
of that labor.

There is a large floating population in Canton. I think there are very
iew of those Canton boatmen who come here. I have observed the C'liinainen not
Chinaman in my ordinary every-day walks, and I do not think they are than the whites,
any more immoral than the whites. I have heard of their being addict-
ed to sodomy, having communication with animals, geese, etc., but I have
never heard cases stated by any one who was in possession of facts. Mer-
chants, and people with whom I was in the habit of communicating, have
.stated it.

As to cheap labor and low-priced labor being synonymous I do not A Chinaman not
know. Labor may be cheap, and yet it may not be low-priced ; it may be ]SSerio°aS"and
low-priced, and yet it may be very dear. A Chinaman is not equal to an can never corn-
American, nor will he ever be able to command the same wages that an wages. "^ ^'""''
American will.

It takes a Chinaman some time to acquire our language. Still a great
many of them pick it up very readily. They compete with Americans
under the management of 'foremen just the same as a foreign vessel trad-
ing in China will employ Chinese crews with an interpreter.

The most of the Chinamen who come here return in a few years. They
may come back, but they go home to visit their families. I never knew six Companies.
of any of the Six Companies being engaged in any mercantile operations.
I think the Chinese are very prone to resent any offence offered to them.

I have one employed as a domestic, and I find him as honest and as As domestic
iaithful a servant as a man could wish for. I frequently leave the house found"the^'all^*
in his charge, my silver and all quite under his control. He is neat and that could be
truthful. I have had several in my employ and I find them all more or ^^"^ '
less truthful. I generally have found them very faithful and attentive to
their duties ; and as to their honesty it is unquestioned. As to my per-
sonal knowledge I have nothing to say against them to their disadvantage.

AVERY

334

San Francisco, November 17th, 1876.

Francis Avery, a resident in California for eight years, sworn and ex-
amined :
Have employed Chinese as servants and found them trustworthy and
competent. To some extent they displace white girls.

The witness thinks it is not policy to restrict the Chinese immigration

at the present time. The necessities of the people require the gradual

In favor of un- increase in the same proportion with the increase of whites. In favor of

restricted im- unrestricted immigration if the Chinese do not get control of the country,
migration provid- „, , , , " i •, ,. . ■ ,i r ji j

ed the Chinese do Should have some hesitation m saying that they were as good as

rn^fy.'^""*™' °' Germans.

MACONDRAY. FREDERICK W. Macondray, engaged in the China trade, and a resident
of San Francisco for twenty-four years, sworn and examined :

The merchants are honest, upright and have a good reputation for
integrity ; never lost a dollar by them in twenty-six years. Contracts
made with the Chinese are verbal. Those who emigrate here are of the
mercantile, laboring and artisan classes. Their physical condition is
healthy and strong. They come here voluntarily ; some have come under
contracts but not of a servile nature. Those who have come here have
certainly added to the material prosperity of the state ; but there are
quite enough of them here now. If the people did not employ Chinese
they would not come here. The Chinese merchants are satisfied there
are enough Chinamen here now, and are not anxious that any more should
come at the present time. They are generally an educated class, all
being able to read and write. They are sober and industrious. It is
owing to public opinion that their presence is not desirable. There are
not as many white people here as it is desirable to have. It is better
for the civilization of the state that it should be settled up by white
people. If more white people came here there would be no harm in
having a few more Chinese.

The Cantonese boatmen are of the lower classes. Those here are not
all of that class ; they come from different districts around Canton. The
northern Chinese do not emigrate at all. The people who live in the
boats are poor and honest, and do not belong to the class called river
pirates.

High commercial
character of the
Chinese.

Quite enough of
them here now.

Sober and indus-
trious. "

Better for tiie
civilization of the
state thatit should
be settled up with
white people.

The immigrants
not all of the
Cantonese boat-
men class.

CASTLE. Frederick L. Castle, merchant, and a resident in California for twenty-

six years, sworn and examined :

In some vocations the Chinese are a benefit and in others they are a
purraite'chinese detriment. As workers in agricultural pursuits they have been a benefit
a benefit ; but ' to the community. They have tended somewhat to interfere with female
tolnterfere w^Ui* l^-bor here, and no doubt the mechanics have sufiered somewhat from
female labor. their presence. White boys are employed in my business packing teas.
They make an excellent substitute for the Chinese. If the white boys of
this town imitated the Chinese, they could supplement them.

335 REE1>

Kev. Hiram W. Reed, Baptist minister, sworn and examined :

This witness's evidence related principally to the evangelization of the
Chinese. He condemns in toto the idea and practice of importing prosti-
tutes from any country. The moral effect upon the country would be
decidedly bad. Leaving out the moral aspect of the question of their a great influx of
immigration, there is no objection to their coming here. If their immi- t'^ynese undesii--
gration was unrestricted and millions came, it would be undesirable.

Henry Hart, agent in China of Pacific Mail Steamship Company, sworn HART,
and examined :

Witness proved that each Chinaman before he leaves Hong Kong had ^'o Chinaman
to be passed by the Consul and each woman had to have a certificate, and Kong wittiou "^'
as emigrants, and as sailors, gave them a high character for docility and Pii^sing the Con-
fairess in dealing.

Charles Sonntag, chief deputy of the license department, sworn and SONNTAG.,
examined :

The licenses range from f 4 to $151 a quarter, the uniform license paid
by the Chinese being from $i to $16 a quarter, one or two firms paying
123.60. Among the prominent white merchants of the city the licenses
ran from $40 to $151 a quarter, according to the amount of business done. From ?23,ooo to
The total amount collected from the Chinese' is between $23,000 and l^i^Vfrom"'"
124,000 a quarter. Chinese.

Mrs. Anna F. Smith, a resident of the city, sworn and examined : SMITH.

In Colorado, witness employed Chinese labor in a laundry, and found Found Chinese
them honest, truthful, fair, and straightforward in their dealings ; although tmthtaretc!""'^'"
as servants their reputation varies. There are good and poor among them.
They compare favorably with whites, and in Colorado receive the same
wages as white persons. In a general sense the Chinese have invaded the
domain of female labor in this city, reducing the prices of their labor and Had interfered
the opportunity for them to get it. [Senator Sargent here read a petition J^^gJ^'^finlisco.
signed by fifty-nine working-women of San Francisco, respecting Chinese
competition on their labor.] The witness admitted that the condition
of the working-women and working-men was deplorable in San Francisco,
but in the east, where there were no Chinamen, it was as bad as it was
here. Their condition is not caused altogether by the Chinese. White
boys and white girls can get employment if they are desirous. Witness jj^ ^.j^j^^ ^^ ^^_
not an advocate for the importation of Chinamen in droves, and we elude ™e ""^^ o*
have no right to exclude one race of people for the sake of building up InSther. " "^'
another.

Benjamin S. Brooks, lawyer, and a resident since 1849, aflirmed and BROOKS..
examined .

The statement of this witness, as counsel for the Chinese, is already
given ; and his evidence was substantially the same as his argument.

ANTHONY

336

George W. Anthony, formerly acting Vice-Consul at Bangkok, Siam,
also acting United States Consul at Yokohama, Japan, sworn and
examined :

Chinese equal to
Japanese ; the
latter more pro-
gresaive.

As to character, business capacity, habits and intelligence the Chinese
are equal to the Japanese. In some respects they are superior. I think
they are more diligent, more assiduous, and seem to be more thrifty. The
Japanese show more progressive spirit, an inclination to adopt our
customs, our dress, and our mode of thinking, our style and our accommo-
dations. To a certain extent they have adopted our international code of
laws.

McHENRY.

San Francisco, November 18th, 1876.
John McHenry, lawyer and a resident since 1850, sworn and examined:

The causes of the agitation against the Chinese may be many ; one
cause that has contributed to it is politics, men who desire office try by
this means to get it.

LESSLER. Morris Lessler, who was engaged by Mr. Bee, counsel for the Chinese,
to prepare certain statistics, sworn and examineid :

Manufactures of
San Francisco.

19-20ths of grape
picking done by
Chinese.

Overseers always
whites.

Trade in native
wines.

Gerkes's vineyard
produces annually
150,000 gallons.
California crop
for 1875, 8,000,000
gallons of wine
and 80,000 gallons
of brandy.

About 400 Ger-
mans employed in
Kohler & Co.'s
vineyards.

Auger employs
more than half
Chinese.

Half Chinese em-
ployed.
Pacific Jute
Company employ
450 Chinese.

He proved that the statistical statements in reference to all the manu-
factures of the city, giving the number employed, both white and Chinese,
and the rate per day (Appendix S to Joint Committee Rep.), and also a
list of bodies (2,614) buried in the Chinese cemetery (Appendix T to Joint
Committee Rep.) were correct.

The following is a summary of Appendix S of the Joint Committee's
Report, which appendix was very voluminous : —

Mr. J. M. Curtis, wine and spirit commission agent, of Jackson street, states :
That from information I have had from the wine-growers personally, the picking
of grapes is almost done entirely by Chinese labor, and I can safely say that niae-
teen-twentieths per cent, is done by them. Some Chinese are employed in work-
ing on the fields or vinebergs, but then generally in company with whites ; the
overseers are always whites. Our native wines appear to be steadily but silently
gaining in public fa^or. The report for the first nme months of 1876shows a total
export by sea and rail of 561,033 gallons of California wines ; the receipts being
1,266,736 gallons of wine, and 43,050 gallons of California brandies.

Mr. Henry Gerkes's vineyard Is producing annually about 150,000 gallons of
wine. Cahfornia has now nearly 40,000,000 of vines growing, three-quarters in
bearing condition. The crop of 1875 amounted to about 8,000,000 gallons of wine,
and probably some 80,000 gallons of grape brandy.

Messrs. Kohler & Frohlmg work up annuallyfrom three to five miUiou pounds
of grapes in their Los Angeles and Sonoma vineyards. They employ during the
vintage season from 300 to 400 hands, mostly Germans.

Mr. B. E. Auger, of Battery street, agent for the Buena Vista Vinecultural
Society, states that they employ at present sixty -five people : more than half are
Chinese.

Mr. John Bach, of Montgomery street, states that they employ about half
Chinese and half natives (Mexicans and Indians), all the overseers being white
men. Six or eight years ago the Chinese came down to Anahein, and they are
increasmg very much every year. We pay them from f 1 to J1.25 per day, and
they have to find themselves.

In Chinatown there are seventy-six vegetable stands and forty-five markets.

The Pacific Jute Co. employ at present 450 Chinese at $1 per day, and
twelve whites at from $3 to $4 per day.

Mr. E. Grisa,r, of the CaHf omia Wool Exchange, states that for herding, washing
and chpping sheep nothing but white men are employed. A very few Chinese,
are employed, but only for minor work. The wool production for 1^6 is estimated

337 LESSLER

at 32,000,000 pounds, the total being from 1854 to 1876 inclusive, 323,918,668 pounds.
California cannot compete at present with Australia or South America in raising
tine wool.

Mr. Gerald Douglas, part owner of the sheep rauche Los Guntos, testifies that °."?fJP ■ S??'
there are about 12,000 people employed to look after sheep in the state, seven- flSnlovod "^'^
eighths white to one-eighth Chinese, the average pay being$300 per annum and ^ ' "

Mr. Bissenger, of Louis Sloss & Co., of Sansom street, states about 175,000 raw
beef-hides and over 500,000 sheep-hides are coming yearly to this market from the
state and out of this about 60,000 beef-hides and about 50,000 sheep-hides are
tanned here in San Francisco, employing about 300 or 400 tanners.

Mr. J. Landsberger, of Jones alley, the largest Champagne manufacturer in Champagne
California, states that he employs about forty whites and twenty Chinese, the manufacture :
latter only for minor purposes, as washing bottles, &c. ^^ ^ ^ nloved ''™"

Mr. J. W. Schaeffer, cigar manufacturer, of Sacramento street, states that at ' •" •
onetimetheyemployedonly white boys and girls to make cigars, strip tobacco, &c.

Mr C W. Kellogg, of the San Francisco cordage factory, states that they at Cordage factory :.
present employ about thirty Chinese at $1 per day, and forty-five white men at from employed
12.25 to $4 per day. .,,,,, ^ ^, , u ^ r^v,- <-

Mr. S. Lachmann, jr.. Market street, says they employ about one Chinaman to
four white men, the former receiving $1 and the latter between $2..50 and $3 each

""^Mr^S' B. Swan, of the Union Box Factory, testifies they employ no Chinese,
but seventy-five white men at $2.25, and about forty-two boys and girls at from
seventy-five cents to $1.50 per day.

Mr E Briggs, of the Consolidated Tobacco Co., states that their factory employs Tobacco: 700
aenerally about 700 Chinese at $1.50 per day, about seventy-five whites from $1.50 Chinese em-
to $2.50 per day, and about 150 Chinese field laborers at $1 per day. „. , ,

Mr Code fruit and pickle preserver, employs at present about fifty Chinese at PicMe preserver
eighty cents, and about fifty white boys and girls at from $1 to $1.50 per day. fSSf^H^ ^

Mr. Sydney M. Smith, of Cutting & Co.'s fruit and pickle preserving and cider ^" ■== •
factory, states that they employ generally about 400 CMnese in summer andabout Pjf'^^i^'^^g^, "l^"^'

^^. L T*Loose, of the California Powder works, states thatthecompany employ Wder company
Chinese labor only for minor purposes, and for coopering and filling cartridges. ^™i°=yed only

In the manufacture of agricultural implements, whites only are employett, at minor purposes-,
an average of $3.50 per day ; bag manufacturers, white, average $1.84 ; bed Manufacturing
comforters, white, $1.50; bolt and nut makers, white, $3.25 ; boiler makers, white, 'XSSndthe^
US- beU foundry and brass works, white, $2.60 ;bellowsfactories,thirty-six white glasses employed.
Ight Chinese, $1.50 to $2.25; barbers white, «2.25 ; blacking? white $2.20 ; belt g^jj^^^^ g
factories, white, $2.35; box factories (packing), white $1.25 to $3.50, box facto- Chinese,
ries (paper), white, $1.50 to $3 ; box factories (tm) white, $1.25 to $3; beds and
beddmg, white, $2 50 ; boxes (fancy), white, $2.50 ; biUiard factories, vyhite, $3.30 ,
boo^ndrrs white, 75c. to $3 ; bakers, white, $1.50 to $2 ; broom and brush fac-
torieswhUe, 75c to $3; box factories (cigar), white, 85c. to f; boot and shoe Boots and shoes,
fSieMSl white, 170' boys, 351 girls, 1,970 Chinese 50c. to $3 ; m retail shoe l9,0Chmese
stores 700 white, 200 boyi, 100 #rls, $1.25 to $4; blankets and woolens, 150 Blankets and
white sStv bovs forty girls, 700 Chinese, 90c. to $3 ; candles and soap, woolens, 700
Snefeen wlSte ten boys, sSty-eight Chinese $1 to $4; cofl-ee and spice miUs, Chmese
Xe $2 to ^'; canned 'fSts, ifo white, thirty boys, ninety g rls, eighty Chi- Canned (ruits, 80
nese, 80c. to $1:56 ; cracker factories, white, $1 to $5 ; pofdage factories, 100 white Chmese

Ste??ief±it?&;tp%r^iii^hfw^^^
whitef$125to$^Tflourm^^^^

Lrseshoe nails, ' ^hite, $3.20; iEO°-«^f„t,™^"jf^to'' $3 50 -^ lead fifes i"nd Gunpowder, B3.
factory, twelve whites, and *S0 Chmese, Si to »ou, leap^^ white, Chinese.

m^'mT^or'ffctor; S"S 7maVla!U?es',^wXe /h&^^^ Jute, 450Chinese.

four 'b'^sTtUnt-S^e Chined $1 to $2.75; maccaroni and vermicelli, whi^^^^ i^*£^ife*°""'
$2.20; marble yards, white, $3.25; mucilage, white, $2.25 nickel-platers, wnite, 25 Chinese.
S3.75 oakum Wory, white, $1.25 to 82.25; organ builders, white $1.25 to^, p.^^,
pickle preservers, thirty white men, t^eil^yf ,^t„'=°y«^- ^^^.YnuMic^ 29 Chinese,

nine Chinese, 90c. to 3; pumps, steam, white, $1,50 to $5, P^^^* ^'^'l^nTo »5 ■ na^^^
white, $2.50 plumbers, white, $2 to $4; planmg mills !Tl"*^iff *°fl^e'Xftr Rice mills, 3
mills, white, ll to $4; pi-ovision packers, white $2.o0; "ce mills, hve wmte, Chinese,
three Chinese, $1.75 to $4; saw manufacturers, ^^Inte, «K5 ; saw fliers, ^^ite, $3.20
soap manufacturers, white, $1.25 to $2.50 ;_ safe factories, ^^f*^' *^-^" iiXtv- Shirt factories,.
buifding, white, $1.10 to $3.50 ; shirt, factories, t^7*y„«;| ^'?'*f^„ar "^^^^^ 129 Chinese-

six girlil one hundred and twenty-nine Chmese, $1.10 to $2.50 , sugar renneries.

LESSLER

338

Wire springs,
Chinese.

white, S1.25 to 9i ; tools for blacksmiths, white, $1.50 to $4 : trunks, etc., white,
$1.10 to 82.50; tanneries, white, $1 to 83 ; tool engravers, white, $d.50; type
foundry, white, $3 to $5 ; upholsterers, white, $1.25 to $4; wood turners,
white, $3.25 ; wire works, white, $3.25 ; wire springs, eight Chinese, twenty-
eight white, $1.50 to $2.25.

DOUGLAS. Charles D. Douglas, corresponding secretary Central Anti-Coolie Club,
eleventh ward, sworn and examined :

The Chinaman The opinion of the anti-coolie clubs is that the Chinaman should be

MbitedOTrntag prohibited from coming here. It y^pvld be impossible for him to amal-
He could not ' gamate with the white race. His habits, religion, and traditions being
rt^Te mc^* different from ours.

TUCKER.

George W. Tucker, ship-master, connected with the Chinese trade
since 1851, sworn and examined :

Hif h character of This witness spoke highly of the character of the Chinese merchants in
«hantr """^ China, and the behavior of the Chinese on board ship. In regard to the

coolie traffic he said the worst of them go to Peru.

HUMPHREY, Patrick H. Humphrey, quarantine officer for two years, and a resident
of California for eight years, sworn and examined :

This witness denied that the introduction of small-pox into San Fran-
cisco was due to the Chinese.

There should be a national law so as to prevent an overplus of immi-

Dcnies that small-
pox intrpduced by
Chinese.

There should be a

national law to .. j. • j. j ■ • j. • •

prevent overplus gration or any tainted immigrants coming m.
iof (or any tainted)
immigration.

BROOKS. Charles Wolcott Brooks, for seventeen years agent of the Japanese

Government here, and a resident of this city, sworn and examined :

This witness was examined before the Canadian Commission, and his
evidence will be found under its proper head.
[See Minutes of Evidence, p. 28.]

SWIFT. John F. Swift, a resident of San -Francisco since 1852, and a traveller

in Asiatic countries, sworn and examined :

Unrestricted
immigration of
■Chinese perni-
-cious.

An alien element
.-a disadvantage.

I consider unrestricted immigration of the Chinese, and have for some
years past, exceedingly pernicious and undesirable, and I think that is
the settled opinion of the intelligent people of this coast. Those who
oppose restrictive legislation are of the more fortunate classes — the
wealthier classes. They do it because a labor element like this is a com-
venience to the more fortunate class of people ; it makes life easier. The
question of domestic servants is one that is apt to bear heavily upon those
who are able to keep them — that is, wealthy people. Again, an indus-
trious element like this tends to some extent — ^that is, irrespective now of
its disadvantages — to the material wealth of the community. The pres-
ence of a perpetual alien element in a community is a great disadvantage.

^^^ SWIFT

By this I mean an element that will always be alien, not bringing women

with them ; and therefore, the prejudices are great against them Thev

cannot assimilate so that the next generation, and the one after, and all Cannot assimilate.

the generations will be equally alien and ignorant, without speaking of

the present men, the individuals who happen to make up this Chinese

community now.

What the Rev. Mr. Loomis said is true as to the strong prejudice of
this community ; it is a fact. It may be disagi-eeable ; you may think it
It a pity ; but it is human nature and it is our nature. This pre- The preiudice
judice has grown. It is ten times as strong as it was ten years ago In against them
1852 the Chinamen were allowed to turn out and celebrate the fourth of Kgrown'
July, and it was considered a happy thing ; in 1862 they would have been
mobbed ; in 1872 they would have been burned at the stake. This pre-
judice is not confined to one party; it is found in all parties. Then it Degrades labor
degrades our labor ; it makes work discreditable. The doctrine so much
heard of, that it takes the bread out of the mouths of workingmen, riot
so much a point as they think. It does that to those who 'first
come, and, therefore, prevents their coming ; but in time the white
men settle down. The tendency is for them to settle down into the
condition of a superior class, making money out of Chinese labor. The
-conditions of life become too easy instead of too hard. Therefore, a Chinese make life
boy of seventeen or eighteen can beg and borrow, sponge, bum a better whittuborer'"'
living, get more bread and butter, and easier, than in any country instead oftoo
he can get it by work. In fact young men can get along here without ^^''^'
labor. That is the result of the work being done by this element ; it >

makes labor disreputable. White men will not work any more ; they
do not want to work any more. White boys do not work, and besides
there is not a very good chance for them to work. These Chinese
come in and the whites will not work with them ; their prejudice is so
great ; and this prejudice is growing ; it is increasing. The influx of
the Chinese has had a worse efiect upon the respectability and dignity A worse effect on
of labor than slavery had in the south. There is a stronger feeHng relptctabUit?'*of
here against the Chinese than there is in the south against the ne- labor than
groes. I would rather have negro slavery to-day, for negroes are born so'ivtlL'^ ^"
in the country and at least take an interest in it. In the absence of
Chinese iminigration our manufactures would undoubtedly be set back. Manufactures
because we base our community here upon Chinese labor, and the by stoppin^"'^'^''
transition from that back to a sound basis of homogeneous labor and a Chinese labor,
homogeneous society of course would be difficult.

Prom what I have seen while travelling in Asiatic 'countries, the Inhabitants of
inhabitants there have not the slightest idea of a representative govern- understand no
ment, or any government except despotism. fesoSiSn'^*^"'

As to a change in our naturalization laws, so as to allow them to
become citizens, I think the first one that got naturalized would be hanged I' Chinese were
to a lamp-post when he left the court-room. Perhaps I am going too far would not be
when I say that ; but he would not be allowed to vote, I am sure. Their allowed to vote,
being allowed to become citizens would not tend to stop this feeling
against them ; it would increase the antagonism ; the feeling would be Enfranchise
intensified. The effect of giving 30,000 the franchise would be simply 30:000 votes™ the
making 30,000 votes for sale. market.

If Chinamen are to remain in the state, they will change our institu- The presence of
tions undoubtedly ; our society will be changed by them ; changes ultimately change
are now going on. The existence of Chinese in the state is utterly incom- y™|"'''*" xnstitu-
patible with anything like a government by the people.

Chinamen cannot be Christianized unless they are born here. No Difficulty of
Chinaman imported from China under their present system, to stay here Chinese.

SWIFT 340

until they die or return without reproducing here, can be Christianized. I
do not believe in the sincerity of any Chinese converts at all unless they
are born and bred to our religion.
If turned awa> I should not wonder, if the Chinese were excluded, if in two or three

for them iii^a^few years there would be a clamor for them, because we have so long had them ^
yc'ii's- and they are so convenient to the wealthy classes of people, that the

turning away of 100,000 laboring men in a small community like ours
of only 700,000 or 800,000 people would be temporarily a very consider-
able injury to the material prosperity of the state for the time. Men, as
a rule, are very selfish, and they think more of a dollar than they do of
any principle.

I do not think there is a plethora of labor on the coast. An unskilled
laborer who comes from the east has difficulty in bridging over the first
In their own lines three or five years before he will have learned sufficiently the ways of the
with Chinamen'!''' country to get a living by the advantages of Chinese labor. Nobody can
compete with Chinamen in the things that they do; no white labor can
compete with them, because they live so low. In that way they under-
work him, and he either does not come here or cannot get the work he
would naturally tnrn his hand to when he first comes. There is no
inducement for white men to come here and work at wages that the
Chinese work for. It is a question of wages. There is no room for any
more labor except Chinese labor. I do not believe you could get so many
Chinese here that we could not find work for, and if they were gone I do
not believe you could get too many white men here.

Right to exclude It would be right to exclude from our country any race of men against
from the country i-it.t j <i o"

anj; race against which we have a prejudice.

prejudi^^ ^^^ " Those Chinese who arq here I would allow to die and return home, as

they will do in the course of time, and prevent any more from coming.

I would cut off entirely a new supply.

Sde'cMnese!'' ^^ ^* ^°*^ ^^'^ *°'" *^® Chinese, we ought, in the last five years, to

But for Chinamen ^ave doubled our population. An immense population came here last

should have doub- year, but it stopped dead, simply because of the impossibility of the immi-
16(1 popuiflition m , I- 'Jill /->(T • i. J

five years. grants competing with the Chinamen.

No idea of I do not think Chinamen ever think of citizenship either at home or

ci izens ip. jjgj.g^ jjj. ^jjg^^. ^.jjgy \xiQi^ what it is, or know anything about it. They do

not intend to stay here long ; they go back in great numbers. If we have
10,000 who come here in a year we have 6,000 or 7,000 going back. I
had Chinamen employed as domestic servants in my house at one time,
and I have had opportunities of knowing that the cook, or the waiter, goes
back, and returns again and resumes their employment as much as three
times in five years,
^nf^riorinhonesiy As to their honesty and integrity, I think they are inferior to our
More'confldcncc P^ople in that respect. I can trust European servants with more con-
in Irish or German fidence than I can trust Chinese. I can go to an intelligence office at any
irchfnaSen.' """ ^ine and employ an Irish or a German woman that I have never heard
of, and put her in the house and go away at once, and I have never had
a betrayal of that confidence. I employed Chinese about three years, and
I cannot positively say they robbed me.
fur'e'l "stobiithed • ^ 'l*^! ^^ ^^"^^^ whatever that very many manufactories were established
earlier in conse- in this city through Chinese labor that would not have been established
?alfo"?^°*'^'''"'"^ ^* present ; or they would not have been started quite as quick as if we

had not had the Chinese labor.
whuAit'woufd Assuming that the white immigration would have been no greater than

Sot^'tohlv" hld^' '* ^^' ^'"'^ then taking these additional Chinamen, of course 100,000 work-
Chinese, mgmen add to the material wealth ; but if these Chinamen have prevented

341 SWIFT

an equal number of white men from coming by taking their places them-
selves, I say it would have been better if we had not had the Chinamen,
and had had white men, which would have been the result without the
Chinamen.

To stop the immigration of the Chinese I would be willing to abrogate if necessary
all treaty relations between the United States and China ; it cannot be tTabrogLI aii"^
stopped any other way. treaty relations

between the
United States and
China.

Henby H. Bigelow, manager Home Mutual Insurance Company, and a BIGELOW.
resident of San Francisco since 1850, sworn and examined :

The presence of the Chinese poisons any portion of the city where they Poisons the place,
go. It increases the rates of insurance nearly double; 'and where there Ssuramj™*'"''
are wash-houses from one to three and a half per cent.

Unrestricted immigration of the Chinese has been a very vexed ques- Detrimental to the
tion, but there is only one opinion with all business men, and that is that ^
it is detrimental to the state. Personally I, am in favor of Chinese
immigration, on the ground that it produces wealth here. I was very
much in favor of slavery and on the same ground that I was a strong
advocate for slavery I am an advocate for Chinese immigration ; but it Would make
will drive away the white population and make California what Peru is ptruls'to-day?
to-day. I endorse every word Mr. Swift said on the ground of our white
race.

There are some 5,000 or 6,000 Chinese in the state who own property Few losses.
and insure largely, but they insure everything, both by sea and against
fire ; but the rani and file do not insure at all, being merely producers
and owning nothing. We have had very few losses. The class that insure
are as good business men as you would expect among the same class of The class who
Americans or Englishmen, and they are a help to us. Outside of these men of the same
6,000 or 6,000, the others are peons or slaves, only our laws do not so ^h?tts?^ '^""'"^
term them. The same system is here that is in Peru. They come here come here under
under contract. I do not think they are as free in their labor to hire or contract,
not to hire as white people. As workers three Chinamen are about equal
to two white men ; they stick to their contracts very well, being indus-
trious. I would prefer them to white men to do my work ; you can count Can count on
on them better, if you contract with the head men. Their exclusion than on whites.
from the coast would damage us very materially for a time. Their effect Effect on hoys
on the boys and the agricultural population here is very disastrous indeed ; pSpiSaSon dis-
but looking at the interest of the state, I do not know whether we should astrous.
look at that consideration. It takes the labor which the boys would be
paid to do out of their hands, because they can labor more cheaply than Makes labor dis-
boys ; and this makes labor disgraceful in a measure. ^^"^

There is labor for ^11 — cheap labor — but it would be a servile labor
like the Chinese labor instead of being free labor as in Illinois and other
western states.

The Chinese are very careful with fire. They think it is the devil, and
they keep him in due bounds. Where towns have been burned up most Where ^wns^^^^
of the fires originated in Chinese quarters. Any one going through their ^p the flres as a
quarters must wonder why they have not been burned up long ago. It g^fn°J^^"u*rters"
is the very nature of the race, that while they are careful with fire they
are dirty. They will have fire in a coal-oil can right on the floor ; but
they are afraid of it and will be careful. Yet they live like pigs. Wher-
ever a wash-house is inserted in a block we always steer clear of it. For

BIGELOW

342

So many fires—
recently had de-
clined to insure.

Chinese create
hoodlnras.

Raised up an idle
class.

the last ten years and up to within the last year and a half the Chinese
quarter has been very free from fire ; since then we have had so
many that we have declined to insure for them. Within the last year
there have been half a dozen fires in Chinatown that have been caused
through incendiaries. The fire in Brannen street was lit by hoodlums.
I know it as clearly as I know anything about my business. The presence-
of the Chinese makes our cities liable to conflagration, so much so that
ii great many companies refuse Chinese insurance altogether. The Chi-
nese create the hoodlums, and then the hoodlums react in the way of
hazard from fire. In settling with the Chinese I have no trouble ; they
are keen, of course, to get the last cent, but they are not unduly so^
They are a very sharp people. I know of several places being burned
after threatening letters were sent.

The presence of the Chinese has raised an idle class among us.

KIRKPATRICK John Kiekpateick, a resident in California, since 1852, and sherifi"of an
interior county from 1861 to 1866, sworn and examined :

L?cense Lawmen- '^^^^ witness while in ofiice as sherifi" enforced the Foreign Miners' License
forced. Law on all who were not citizens, or who had not taken out their first

papers declaring their intention to become citizens. The law was im-
partially executed against all, whites and Chinese alike.

PHILLIPS.

Chinese go to
Sandwich
Islands on assign-
able contracts.

Will ultimately
prove detrimental

Chinese do not
amalgamate.

2,000 Chinese out
of a population of
S6,000.

A few Chinese
married Hawaiian

Stephen H. Phillips, formerly attorney-general of Massachusetts, subse-
quently attorney-general of the Sandwich Islands, now a resident of
San Francisco, practising at the bar, sworn and examined :

The Chinese come to the Sandwich Islands upon contracts of labor
which are indefinite and assignable. They are indefinite as to the party
Hvith whom they are to be performed ; they are indefinite as to the kind
of work which is to be performed ; and generally speaking, there are only
one or two limitations, such as that they shall have a certain number of
days at the China new year, etc. With that exception they are bought
and sold out body and soul to the person who employs them. They are
bound for a term of years ; I think it is ordinarily five years.

There is a present necessity for their labor, but that it will ultimately
be beneficial I never have thought, and never can think. Importation
of cheap labor in the mass I think tends ultimately to degrade the
whole character of labor.

It is notorious that Chinamen by their habits and associations keep
themselves entirely distinct from other people. We had a few Japanese
out there and I was very much struck with the diflFerence between the
Chinese and the Japanese. The latter conform themselves very soon to
the habits of the country in dress, language and everything. They mix
right in and become citizens like the rest of us, but the Chinese" keep
themselves entirely distinct.

In the Islands there were about 2,000 Chinamen out of a population of
about 56,000.

In the Islands there was no family relation among them. There werfr
a few Chinese women, but very few. A great number of Chinese married
native women — Hawaiians. They do not remaiu there entirely ; a great
many of them expect to go back, and some few come here.

343 PHILLIPS

I have seen the contracts already referred to, and it would be some-
thing like this :

" That Sam Wang agreed to serve some one else out in China, and to Form of contracts,
work for him for the space of five years * * * and to serve him well, and
that he was to have so many dollars a month, and so many days at the
Chinese new year;" and I think some of the latter contracts had some
provisions about sickness and medical care, but there was hardly any-
thing else. It was an assignable contract — to him or his assigns. There
was an effort made by the Hawaiian government to annul this contract,
but it was unsuccessful. The Legislature has been abridging the rights of
contracts lately, providing tha* they should be executed with more form-
ality. The government of Hawaii have spent a good deal of money in Government had
encouraging the importation of Chinese. They fill the prisons there a
good deal. I tried eight of them for murder ; convicted five and hanged Had tried eight
three. One of them murdered the French Consul, by chopping his head murdlr. "^
open with an axe while in bed ; another murdered some poor old natives
in the Island of Maui and stole their money.

The employment of Chinese upon the sugar plantations there, brings
the sugar-growing states of our own country into competition with Chinese
labor.

The Chinese merchants in Honolulu are men of the highest respect- Chinese mei-
ability ; men I should be glad to see in any position of trust, or honor, or hih"men o£°h?^h-

anything else. ''^^ respectability.

If class legislation was done away with, and they were treated the same ^"J^I^^'^JJj^*?''-

as other foreigners, our schools thrown open to their children, and they cans of, not a good

would come into our general system of government, I think they would be element.

as good as any other people, but if they keep themselves entirely under

the influence of their own system of government and social regulations, I

do not think they would be a good element here.

I think some of the discriminations against the Chinese are unjust. As g'™^"^^?^g'f8''^-

a lawyer, I think some of the legislation against them will not bear them unjust.

inspection.

The planters in the Islands pay from $4 to $5 a month for Chinese ™^*°'^'^jPtf;''^

labor, finding everything but clothing. They paid the parties in China ^^ ,he comprador-

whatever they had to pay. *" '^*'"''-

John R. Coryell, a resident of the city, formerly consular clerk in CORYELL.
Shanghai, also in Canton, sworn and examined :

This witness unhesitatingly asserts that all the Chinese women with Prostitutes,
one or two exceptions imported into California are prostitutes, and brought
here for the purposes of prostitution, nearly all of them belonging to the
boat population of Canton, considered in China the very lowest class. A
resident in China for any length of time can easily distmguish them from
respectable Chinese wives. They are as distinct as black and white. The Chinese nnt
character of the Chinese wives is that they are chaste ; remarkably so.
A Chinaman prefers to tell a lie to the truth.

BLAIR

344

Matthew Blair, hay and grain dealer, and a resident of San Francisco
for fifteen years, sworn and examined :

This witness, from the location of his place of business, being in the
neighborhood where several industries are carried on by Chinese labor,
has been in a position to observe the effect of that labor upon the
white population of the city. Among the industries is the Mission Woolen
Mills, mostly carried on by Chinese labor. When the factories first start-
ed, there were some hundreds who came from Lynn, Mass., Cincin-
nati, and other eastern places. They have returned because their places
were filled by this class of labor, and because they could not obtain em-
•Chinese kept out ployment. Then, again, there is the candle factory, a spring mattress
factory, chemical works, a soap establishment, three or four tanneries, an
oakum factory, and a trunk and box factory, the labor in all these trades
being done by Chinese. If these Chinamen were not employed their
position might be filled by white labor from the east. The effect of their
presence is degrading to our laborers.

Employers, on being asked why they do not employ white people, say
they cannot work the two together. That is one of the great difficulties ;
the consequence is the Chinese absorb all the labor and send the circulat-
ing medium out of the country. There are no persons on the face of the
earth under our civilization that can compete with them. The Chinese
Chinese so easily are so industrious, so quiet, and so easily trained, that our people cannot
to train steady train our own children. If we take an apprentice, or anything of that
joung whites. kind, they are so much more troublesome that it creates a feeling against
our people and we discriminate against them and call them hoodlums, and
have no respect for them.

the whites.

Degrading to
-labor.

Tal^e the money
out of the coTintrv

J3URKEE.

Liability to fire
in consequence
of their careleness.

JoiiN L. DuRKEE, tire marshal, sworn and examined .

Witness read a report from the fire wardens which was submitted to
the board of supervisors April 20th, 1876, showing the carelessness of the
Chinese in that regard, and recommending that an ordinance be passed
prohibiting them from making certain additions to the roofs of the build-
ings occupied by them.

The liability of the city to conflagration is greater from their carelessness
than from any other one cause.

Within the last two or three years there have been several cases of in-
cendiary fires ; and fires are of frequent occurrence in the Chinese quarter.
As a general thing they are not destructive. Mostly all the property in
Chinatown is insured. The merchants insure.

San Francisco, November 18th, 1876.

ESTEE. Morris M. Estee, practising lawyer and owner of farming property,

and an old resident in California, sworn and examined :

Injurious. The Chinese population here, and those who will come, are injurious to

the best interests of the state and the nation. They do not assimilate
B(M:ause being so with our people ; in any line of labor that they follow they necessarily
iconoiSlcaf Xive (^^ive out intelligent white labor, and they do that for the reason that the
out white labor. Chinese as a class are industrious and economical. Their habits of life

345 ESTEE

are not exactly barbarous, but that is the nearest we can come to it. They
live on what no white man can live upon. They have no families, no
children to educate or to clothe, and their style of living is so different Free from duties
from that of white people that they come in direct competition with the Whites,
white laboring element of the country. This is so much the case that in
this city now, I suppose there are not half a dozen persons who do wash-
ing, except Chinese, because they underbid any white person in that line.
The same is true of all other pursuits. Chinese muscle is the cheapest
muscle in the world to-day, and they have got more of it. It is not an
intelligent labor. I look upon the Chinese element here, so far as its
effect upon the community is concerned, just as I would look upon the
admission of a large slave element here. They have no interest in the
community. Every Chinaman comes here with the Chinese wall around
him, and they are insensible to all our modes of life. They take no inter- Noideaof tlie
€St in public affairs. They have a regard, I think, for the rights of IndTittleofTife.
property, probably as much so as any other people of their intelligence ;
but they have no notion of the rights of liberty, and very little of life.
It was not unusual in this state some years since, when there was a diffi-
culty between two companies, for one to put up posters offering so much
for a certain Chinaman's life. If the government is intended as a govern-
ment for men, and not as a mere money-making institution, this is a very Cannot malce
dangerous class among us. They possess none of the material that makes
good citizens, except that they are industrious and economical. They
help the material development of the country, and they help a few men to
make money ; but the making of money is not the highest duty of a ^^''j^^J:'^!;'' °' ''
country ; it is to have an improved society of good men, and moral,
«levated classes of people.

There are some Chinamen more intelligent than others, but they would
not make good citizens, any more than slaves would make good citizens
if they were honest. They have not any large intelligence ; they have not I'hinese defects,
any literature that amounts to anything ; they have a little knowledge of
the sciences, and some knowledge of the arts ; they have no notion of
music or poetry, or very few of the exalted ideas which distinguish
between barbarian and civilized men, except honesty. In many matters
they have considerable ingenuity. In some respects they are inferior to
the negro, and in some respects they are far superior. In mathematics, that
is adding and subtracting, and those things, they understand them better ;
and their capacity for making money is a great deal better. The negroes ^Wnaman an^d^
of course have much finer taste for music and for literary attamments
generally. As to their morality, there is no comparison ; the negro is
vastly more moral than the Chinese here. I have never seen a Chinese
woman here who is a moral woman. There may be some. As a race the
negroes here are more moral. The Chinese are quite as industrious as T^^ .P'^J }j^'4«^ ^^ =
either the whites or the negroes. The prejudice against them is free ]at,or vs. uninteiu-
intelligent labor against unintelligent labor. i'^**"

There have been outrages committed on the Chinese in the state, and
there have been fights among themselves where several have been killed— ,
at Los Angeles, for instance— but I don't know whether any one was
punished or not. Indignities and assaults are frequent in this city, and
whenever the offenders are caught adequate punishment is administered.
I do not think the good people of San Francisco, whether they be working
people or foreigners, have ever endorsed brutality to the Chinese, because
they are objects of pity more than anything else. We have a bummer
element here ; but the great mass of laboring people are as intelligent
and as industrious, and as enterprising as any like number of people m

ESTEE

346

Public opinion
against further
immigration.

Number under-
estimated.

the world. There is a feeling among this class that the Chinese take the
bread from the mouths of their children.

Public opinion of this state, among thoughtful men, the laboring element
also, except a few people who necessarily use Chinese labor, is ovenv^helm-
ingly against the further immigration of Chinese. I think the public
sentiment is in favor of treating those who are here kindly, and in favor
of limiting the immigration.

There is one Chinese male adult here to two white male adults. I think
the number of the Chinese is underestimated rather than overestimated.
When one thousand Chinese come there are one thousand male adults;
when one thousand white people come there are probably two hundred or
two hundred and fifty male adults.

LAKE.

Immigration of
Chinese should be
restricted.

Cannotassimilate.

Public opinion
strong against
them.

An inferior race.

Not truthful.

Delos Lake, lawyer, several times judge, six years attorney-general, and
a resident of California for twenty-six years, sworn and examined :

Witness is of opinion that the immigration of the Chinese should be
restricted, and the unlimited immigration of them an evil to be deplored
and guarded against.

The Chinese as a race are quite as repugnant to the white, and heter-
odox to our people as the negroes. They are quite as objectionable as a
population as the negroes, for the reason that they cannot properly assim-
ilate and amalgamate with the whites.

Among the intelligent and disinterested people of California there can
be no doubt but that there is a strong and overwhelming opinion against.
Chinese immigration.

If they were allowed all the privileges of citizens, and did not assimilate
physically, they would still be an inferior race socially, but not legally.
They are now inferior in a legal point of view.

They are said to be a cleanly people.

In all cases they do not receive the equal protection of the laws here.

As household servants, they make an engagement and leave very
unceremoniously. They are not a truthful people ; their word not
being reliable.

Outside of those pecuniarily interested in Chinese labor the sentiment
is against them.

SCOTT.

How the indus-
tries of the state
could have been
developed with-
out Chmese
explained.

Ieving M. Scott, foundryman and manufacturer, and a resident in the
state for sixteen years, sworn and examined :

This witness's firm employ 520 men and boys, exclusively white. They
have their proportion of labor divided into six distinct classes of work —
blacksmiths, boiler-makers, moulders, machinists, pattern-makers, and
draughtsmen — all organized. With the boys from the public schools they
have had gratifying experience ; they have never less than sixty learning
their trades, and they think with those boys they can meet the question
of cheap labor in any shape, form, or way, and meet it intelligently, and
make a good citizen of the boy, teach him a trade, so as to be self-
dependent, a producer. The common sense of the boy is appealed to ; if
he is a bad boy he is not wanted ; if he is a good boy he wants to stay.
It takes four years to learn a branch of the trade. Other trades,
similarly circumstanced, by adopting the same rule, could have developed
the industries of the state without Chinese aid. 'Among the laboring
classes there seems to be a strong feeling that the immigration of the
Chinese should be restricted.

347 WHEELER:

Edward D. Wheeler, judge, and an old resident of California, sworn
and examined:

Witness thinks that public opinion probably favors a restricted immi- Restricted im-
gration in preference to an absolute and total exclusion of Chinese coming '"ig''ation.
to this coast hereafter.

They never will assimilate with our population here; the matter has Cannot assimilate,
been decided in the course of a quarter of a century. They still retain
their peculiar costume, and follow their original national habits in matters
of food and mode of living. They are not politically ambitious. In the
district courts the Chinaman is fully protected, both in civil and criminal
cases. The negro, before he was given the ballot in this state, showed no
disinclination to assimilate with our white people as the Chinese have
always shown, although the negro was not a voter. The reason it is a larger number-
desirable to limit Chinese immigration is that a limited number can be ^'''"gerous.
easily managed and controlled ; whereas a greater influx would become a
very troublesome and dangerous element. A small percentage of China-
men here is desirable. If the naturalization laws were open to them they
would all become naturalized. They are not a healthy element in our To enfranchise
body-politic, and if they were enfranchised it would be the worst of evils, otiylis. "^^ '^''™'

John Rogers, Rear Admiral in the navy, sworn and examined : ROGERS.

No country can attain secure prosperity except its prosperity be founded
upon a population identical in its interests with those of its rulers.

After a short apprenticeship the Chinese can well and cheaply manu- Danger of the
facture all our goods, run all our machines, sow and reap all our fields, statef^** ° "
supply the places of all our domestic servants. They can supplant, by
their cheap labor, the more expensive American or European workman in
every branch of industry. The effect of this will be to build up a state of
society such as existed in the southern states before the rebellion.

In Java, in Singapore, and in Tartary, the Chinese are unquiet, and
occasionally they inspire alarm.

They can come to California more cheaply, and, according to their A certain number ■
standard, more commodiously, than the American or European immigrants, t" aUowe™to
and when here they can supplant them. A certain number annually come,
might be allowed to come, so that when from these are subtracted those
who return there would remain no inordinate increase.

In China the foreign merchant employs only Chinese workmen, under in China foreign
the direction of Chinese or foreign superintendents, paying much higher chfnese"*^ ''"^^°''
wages to the laborer than a Chinese employer would give for the same
service. The servants in European houses in that country are Chinese,
and they are paid nearly twice as much as a Chinaman would pay them.
Thus the rights and advantages of emigration with labor from one
country to the other are not reciprocal.

Our blue flannel and woolen stockings are made in California better than Danger to the
they can be made for the same price elsewhere in the United States ; and JistlmSr.^'"*
if Chinese labor comes here without restraint, no reason is apparent why
the success in these articles might not attend other similar productions,
and California thus become the great manufacturing centre of the United
States, and ultimately starve the operatives of our eastern cities or drive
them to Asiatic wages and conditions of life. Americans thus reduced
would be unfit for the elective franchise, and hence would arise domestic
political complications.

ROGERS

348

The United States is interested in this Chinese question; it is the grand
question between Asiatic labor and American labor.

A Chinaman is clever, astute, and possesses all the advantages of a good
workman. He comes here single, and even if married his expenses
would be a very small proportion compared with the expenses of an
American citizen. The Chinaman does not get drunk, and he can work
on Monday as well as on any other day of the week.

As to miscegenation, Aggassiz has. written the result of his observa-
tions in Brazil. The Spaniards and Portuguese are the most mixed race
in Europe, and they are, politically, behind the other races. The
intermingling of different ethnological divisions is an injury.

If there had been no Chinese this state would have grown up with a
white population exclusively, and would have grown exceptionally fast
owing to the great abundance of gold and silver.

As far as the people in China have been trying the experiment with
other races, we find that where the white race mingles with a different
color it is a deterioration.

No doubt Chinese labor has developed the industry of the state to ail
enormous extent ; but sometimes a man climbs up a ladder to a certain
height, and then he finds it convenient to kick it away. Now, while I
would not absolutely kick the ladder away, I would not climb any higher.
I would not increase the Chinese immigration. I should limit it ; it
should not be left unlimited. I would not turn away the Chinese ; I
would protect them and give them security, as much security as the white
man, except the vote. I do not think' it desirable that a mixed race
should be enfranchised.

The growth of California has been stimulated excessively by Chinese
labor. If it would arrive to the same condition without Chinese labor it
would not be quite so pleasant to the white man, for the white man gets
drunk and strikes ; but it would be more healthy, and not nearly so far
advanced.

If you sent the Chinese away now you would ruin a great many people.
Without increasing the number of Chinese from this point, let there be
white development.

They come principally from Hong Kong.

The question was
between Asiatic
labor and Ame-
rican labor.

The Chinaman is
clever and does
not get drunk.

Miscegenation.

Without Chinese
the state would
have grown fast
with white labor.

Where the white
race mingles with
a different color it
is a deterioration.

Would not in-
crease the Chinese
immigration.

Chinese labor
stimulated the
growth of the
state.

From this point
let there be no
increase and only
white develop-
ment.

BLAKgSLEE. Rev. Samuel V. Blakeslee, orthodox Congregational minister, acting
editor ol' The Pacific, and a resident in the state since 1849, sworn
and examined :

Moral and reli-

fious effect
estruotive and
degrading.

Degrades labor.

Public opinion
opposed to them.

Influx of Chinese
Affects laborers
adversely.

From my travels and residence in this state, I believe the moral and
religious effect of the immigration of the Chinese is very destructive and
degrading. Their presence here excludes a large white immigration, and
is exceedingly demoralizing to the present white population. It renders
labor contemptible. The work of Christianizing them does not begin to
equal the power of demoralization and unchristianizing influences affecting
our population. I travel 7,000 miles and converse personally with about
20,000 persons in the course of a year. The average of public opinion of
the people of this state is strongly opposed to them.

Whatever affects the laboring interests of the country affects the whole
country ; anything that comes in competition with them affects us as a
people most seriously. I believe that the influx of the Chinese will affect
laborers very adversely. A great deal of the looseness of morals is

'^^^ BLAKESLEE

owing to the fact that our good laboring classes cannot very well secure
homes of their own. A man can hardly marry, if he is poor, and secure
for himself a home in this country as a general thing.

In comparison our morals are much inferior to New York ; we are very San Francisco
immoral. The number of places for assignation or prostitution are much than n^w York
greater here than m New York ; our Sunday-carousing, drinking classes
are much greater ; and our swearing class, our open, boastful, ruffian class
is much greater here, and it is increasing; our stay-at-home class of
people much less ; and there are more who spend their evenings in rough
places. The Chinese element has a strong' influence in bringing about
this state of things. Our boys, to a great extent, like to v^^ander through
the streets where the Chinese are, and the police tell me they find the Police find boys
Chinese women entice boys of eight years of age into their houses for with Chini" '''"^
nothing. The police of Sacramento frequently find boys eight years old prostitutes,
in bed with Chinese prostitutes.

The Chinese are generally industrious, and as laborers are skilful in Chinese can do
everything where there is no requirement of intellect. Directed by Intel- thJgra°| rf aj"
ligence they are good. They come in conflict with every branch of labor, imitative intellect...
There is nothing that an American can do, where no inventive genius is
demanded, but what the Chinese can do it as well. They come in com-
petition in all labor.

The labor market is not crowded but the particular demand for our Restriction,
present civilization is crowded.

If the Chinese were restricted so that no more should come, and then
allow those who are here gradually to go away, there would be more and
more call for white labor, and white labor would be reputable.

The large land holders could not cultivate unless thay had inferior Chinese absent
laborers like negroes of the south, like the Chinamen, and like the "bum- wouid'give'way to.
ming " white men. If the Chinese went out of the country these large ^™'^'' Jarms.
tracts of land would be broken up into 150-acre farms, and the land, in-
stead of being impoverished as it is gradually getting now, would be
restored much of its richness.

The Chinese are dififerent in religion, difiierent in tastes, difi'erent in
habits, different in their clannish attachments, different in their race pre-
judices, and essentially different in their language. In all these things
they are kept separate, and always will be distinct. They can never Can never
assimilate and become homogeneous. We have got to be homogeneous or
else we are ruined. You could not elevate the Chinese by giving them
the ballot. They despise our civilization, and are proud of their own.

Whenever the American comes in contact with a lower class he goes Americans in
down towards the lower class ; he may elevate the lower class, but he will fowerrace "*
lower himself. The most degraded people on the earth are American descend,
people who wander among the Southern Pacific Islands among the
Indians.

Through the gospel we have Americanized about 500 Chinese out of 9]J'°*^^?!S['?
about 239,000 who have come here. If they are not restricted they will bee^n craiverted to
continue to increase until they become a vast, distinct, powerful body in H™l"they hlvi^*~
our midst. They have converted -hordes of Americans and made them made hordes of
abandoned creatures. abandoned

The proportion of prostitution among the Chinese is immensely greater creatures,
than among the whites. As a race they are immensely more licentious More licentious

+!,„ ±1 r ■ than Americans.

tnan the Americans.

DAMERON

350

James P. Dambron, lawyer, and a resident in the state since 1849, sworn
and examined :

Ethnology.

Superiority of the
■ Caucasian.

'Confucius an
■exception.

Chinese langu igc
—difficulty of
learning.

Not more than
300 scholars in
China who can
read the classics.

Why China has
■aiot progressed.

gone on

groups.

Kaffres

seventh,

vidians

ascend.

Mankind is divided into four different groups. First, the black ; next,
the red ; next, the brown, and last, the white. Modern scientists have
and divided mankind into twelve classes, or twelve different
The first the Papuans ; second, the Hottentots ; third, the
; fourth, the negroes ; fifth, Australians ; sixth, Malayans ;
Mongolians ; eighth, Arctics ; ninth, Americans ; tenth, Dra-
eleventh, Nubians ; twelfth, Mediterraneans — named as they
[The witness here read an article on ethnology from the Popular
Science Monthly, vol. 4.]

The earliest civilization known to us is that of Egypt, which, perhaps,
was borrowed from China ; and from this foundation it is commonly said
all modern civilizations are derived.

Theodore Parker, speaking of the Caucasian race, says : " The Cau-
casian differs from all other races ; he is humane ; he is civilized and pro-
gresses. He conquers with the head as well as with the hand. It is
intellect after all that conquers, not the strength of a man's arm. The
Caucasian has been often master of the other races ; never their slave.
He has carried his religion to other races, but never takes theirs. In
history all religions are of Caucasian origin. All the great limited forms
of monarchies are Caucasian ; republics are Caucasian. All the great
sciences are of Caucasian origin ; all inventions are Caucasian ; literature
and romance come of the same stock. All the great poets are of Cau-
casian origin. Moses, Luther, Jesus-Christ, Zoroaster, Buddha, Pytha^
goras, were Caucasian. No race can bring up to memory such celebrated
names as the Caucasian race. The Chinese philosopher, Confucius, is an
exception to the rule. To the Caucasian race belong the Arabian, Per-
sian, Hebrew and Egyptian ; and all the European nations are descen-
dants of the Caucasian race."

In regard to the Chinese language a recent work gives the number of
characters in the language at about 52,325, which does not include all
the technical characters, and the difiiculty of learning the language pre-
vents the masses from ever learning it. Therefore, they remain ignorant,
and it leaves its literature in the hands of a few who devote their life-
time to study. More time is consumed by the Chinese student in the
mastering the written language than is given in other countries to the
acquirement of a liberal education, and it is said that there are not over
300 scholars in China who can read the classics. The masses are all
educated in the rudiments, so that they know a few characters, and can
make a few, but to them the classics, which comprises a large number of
books, they cannot read or understand any more than if they were
written in Arabic or Hebrew. A merchant may understand the characters
of his trade, but may not be able to read any other books ; and this
reason is assigned by some writers why China has not made any progress
in the last few thousand years.

The total population of the human races amounts to about 1,350,000,000.
About 150,000,000 belong to the woolly-haired races, and about
550,000,000 belong to the Mongols, and about the same to the Mediter-
ranean races. These two races are the most highly developed, far sur-
passing all other human species in numbers of individuals. The relative
number of the other ten remaining species fluctuates every year, and that
according to the law of development — the survival of the fittest. In
the struggle for life, the more highly developed, the more favored and

^^^ DAMERON

larger groups of persons possess the positive inclination and the certain
tendency to spread, and at the expense of the lower and smaller groups,
which must give way.

Thus the Mediterranean or Indo-Germanic species have, by means of Indo-Germanic
higher development of their brain, surpassed all other races and species in ^*'*"*^ "'■^*-
the struggle for life, and have already spread the net of their dominion
over the whole globe. The Mongolian species is the only one that can
successfully, in any respect, compete with them. For the first time in
the history of the world they have met face to face on the virgin soil of
California. These hardy Mongolians, with their peculiar civilization,
have met us at the Golden Gate, and have begun the contest for the
ascendency. The large numbers here, and the constant increase arriving
daily, and the nearness and accessibility to the hive they swarm from
Jiave alarmed the whites of California and the Pacific coast, and well
they may be alarmed. To increase their numbers here would make ^^5
this country an Asiatic colony. It is beyond question they can compete numberof Chinese
with the whites in almost all branches of industry. They are willing rauntey'ln'S^iatic
to work more hours and live on less, live on what a white laborer "olony!
would starve on, the white man being a flesh eating animal. To throw
open the country to their immigration, and foster and encourage it as we do
the European, would in a few years mean to be overrun, so that the white
man would have to emigrate, or begin a war of races. Learned ethno-
logists have shown that any race of people whose average heads do not Any race whose
exceed a brain capacity of over eighty -five cubic inches are not capable of „„? ™^^ ^am^ ^^
a free form of government ; that there is no instance in their history that cubic inches are
they evser have attempted it. The average of Chinese and American golemSt ^'^^^
negro is about eighty-two to eighty-three cubic inches of brain-capacity,
while the Indo-Germanic race reaches an average as high as ninety -two to
nimety-six cubic inches of brain capacity, and some going as high as 125
cubic inches.

Not having the brain capacity, they never can attain the high position Have not the
of being free men and using the ballot wisely and honorably in the selec- beoom??Uizen^
tion of the best and purest men to office to rule and govern them, but would
look upon it as something put into their hands by which they might make
a few dollars at the risk of liberty and human progress ; and such a class
■of voters are dangerous to republics, and their immigration should be
looked upon with disfavoi- by all true lovers of freedom and progress, for
it is a hard struggle to preserve a free form of government even with the
highest type of the Indo-Germanic races. It has heretofore proven
a failure, for there are a vast number of them that fall below the
average of eighty-five cubic inches of brain capacity ; and as we have
already reduced the average below that of England or Germany, it may
endanger the cause of liberty and free government to introduce any more
of the inferior races. Science has shown that the brain capacity of any j^fgrlor races,
animal is determined by the volume of its brain. The Gorilla has about
forty-five cubic inches of brain, while the lowest of the negro or human
race is not less than about sixty-three cubic inches, while the negro of the
United States rises to eighty-two inches ; but this is owing to the mix-
ture with the whites, as there are but few pure African-blooded negroes
in this country. This raises them to the average of the Chinaman,
while the average of the Anglo-American rises to ninety cubic in- Anglo-American
ches, the English to ninety-six cubic inches. The facial angle of the ??,e^^''^|iS^'
Gorilla is at an angle of 40°, while the negro rises to 85° and the white
race to 95°.

As the Chinese arrived, thousands of years ago, to the height of their

DAMEXO.N 362

Chinese willsuffer brain capacity, they will, like the Indian, who is a Mongolian, suffer exter-
rather than adopt mination rather than change their mode of life and adopt western civili-
western civiliza- 2ation. As they are an inferior race to the white man in brain capacity,
it perhaps would be as well to let him remain where he is, and encourage
trade and friendly relations. As they have a deep love for their own
N t re has country, let them remain where they are, being of a different type and

differentiated a different civilization. As no two races can live together on equal

aiid"odor!°'°'^ terms, and not amalgamate, nature has placed its mark in color and odor.
All naturalists will tell you that every species is protected by nature
in its color or its odor, or something of that kind. It is useless for a
government to attempt to remove it, for nature has, in its wisdom, made
certain distinctions, and placed certain safeguards around the Anglo-
Latin races Saxon race that it never has amalgamated with the inferior races, but in
amalgamated ,, , . . . . ^, , . « .,. . i , i -i ,
with interior all their emigrations have carried their families with them, while the

Sa»Mi never."^ ° Latin races have amalgamated, and we see the effect on the races in the
United States and South American states — amalgamation with inferior
races. Their offspring generally inherit all the vices of the superior races,
and but little of their virtues.

As they are of less brain capacity, falling below the Anglo-Saxon,,
which averages from ninety to ninety-six cubic inches of brain matter;,
while the Chinaman falls below eighty-five cubic inches of brain matten,,
to preserve the harmony of society it will perhaps be the best to dis-

Conflned to the courage their immigration. If they could be confined to the reclaiming

reclamation of pf tule-land and its cultivation, and to the growth of rice, silk worms,
tule-lands and the - c .n i i i , i mi i

like, an odvan- and the manufacture of silks, they would be an advantage. The admis-

^*' sion of the Chinese immigration would not be so dangerous if they were

restricted in certain classes of labor ; but the moment they set foot on the
soil they have a right to enter into any branch of business. They gener-
ally select that which pays the best and easiest, thus depriving a certain
class of laborers of employment, who are forced to seek a living by pros-
titution, which debases them and destroys their usefulness as wives and
mothers, for the poor white women have to work for a living. Washing,
sewing, cooking, and nursing are always open to them, which affords
ready employment to the unfortunate who' are forced to seek a living as
menials and servants. This last resort of the unfortunate and poor is
rapidly being monopolized by the Chinamen, and if they could speak the
English language readily, would drive out all competition before them.
Drive out the boys They take the places in the factories, where the labor of the poor boys,
and girls. ^^^^ gjpjg might be utilized, throwing them on the streets to grow up

in idleness, to be hoodlums.

The reversionary tendency and the unfortunate of all races have a
large supply of this kind of labor that have to be provided for as cheap
laborers or supported at the public expense, and to fill it up with cheap
labor of another race is unnatural and unjust. It at once disorganizes
society, engenders an ill-feeling between the two different races, for the
poor and unfortunate whites will feel that their places are taken from
them and given to another race, when they might be able to earn an
honest living, however humble ; that they are unable to compete with
the hardy, economical Chinaman, who has no family to support, no chil-
dren to educate, and no taxes to pay, no churches to contribute to, and
no God to worship, who are cold and selfish, almost destitute of feelings
Low in morals and of sympathy or charity, intent on making money, that they may return
contaminating. *° *^®^'" ^^.tive land ; like a swarm of busy ants, coming with nothing, and
taking all they can get away with, impoverishing the country and enrich-
ing their own ; bringing their loathsome diseases and leprosy, which has.
not heretofore made its appearance in the virgin soil of America.

353 DAMERON

They are our antipodes in every sense ; they are our opposites in almost Contrasted with
everything ; their seat of honor is on the left, while ours is on the right ;
they wear white for mourning, we black ; they think it no harm to lie
md cheat, we do ; they think it no harm to kill a child or drown a girl-
baby as a blind puppy, we do ; they worship the Evil Spirit, for they say
they have nothing to fear from the Good Spirit, while we worship the
great Good Spirit and detest the Evil One.

Like wine and water, we will never mix, and in the great struggle for SeK-preservation
existence the Chinaman will come to the top every time if left to free and nature.^ "*
equal competition. The first law of nature is self-preservation, and to do
this Chinese immigration must be discouraged. In a free country there
cannot well exist two different classes or races of people possessing a dif-
ferent brain capacity. The cry of oppression will be raised that these
inferior races must have the ballot to protect themselves ; and whenever If the dominant
it is necessary for the dominant power to put the ballot in the hands of Sedessa?yt^ give
Chinese to control the elections of California and the Pacific coast it will cmnese vot^es^it
be done. It was placed in the hands of the negroes of the south, who are far
below the Chinese in intelligence, belonging to one of the lowest types,
while the Chinaman stands next to the white man.

These, united with the negroes of the south, will endanger the elective
franchise, and sink it below that average of intelligence and virtue that
is necessary to preserve a free form of government.

It was necessary to give the negro the ballot to protect his rights ; so it wai have to be
will be with the Chinaman whenever the time comes and he demands it. ^"po tect'tS
As the vexed negro question of the south has and will endanger the rights.
Hberty and harmony of the government — and it was an evil day to
America when they were first introduced, under the plea of necessity, that
they were good laborers and made better servants than the Indians — so
the vexed Chinese question will in time grow with an increase of num-
bers, and we may have two vexed questions instead of one. The negro
question one hundred years ago was of little or no importance. So it may
be with the Chinese question to day. But one hundred years hence they
may control the entire Pacific states if left to an unrestricted immigration. May overrun the
They are learning our language, and they find out they can do better by Pacifle coast,
staying here, as many of us did who came in the early days of Calif orma.
None thought of staying, but necessity forced us to stay, until we got
weaned of our prejudices and love of home. So it is with the Chinaman
Cahfornia did not prosper until we commenced to make homes here and
our families. The Chinaman takes all the surplus wealth he earns
out of the country ; and he helps to impoverish by taking all away.
But it is better to do this than have him stay and become a citizen.

I am not a Darwinian, but I believe in the doctrine of evolution, [ihe
wit&ess here read a paper pertaining to the Chinese Empire, its area, ex-
ports and imports, tonnage of foreign vessels entering her ports, revenue,
converts, religion, form of government, marriage, army and navy. J

James Patterson, engaged in saw manufacturing, for ten or eleven years, PATTERSON.
in San Francisco, sworn and examined :
This witness employs from twenty-five to thirty white men and boys Hasno^roubie
steadily, and never has any trouble with them ; he speaks very highly ot
the boys in regard to their reliability and industry.

23

ARNOUP

354

John Abnoup, journalist, a resident on the coast for fourteen years,
sworn and examined :

Inhumanity of
Chinese.

[nunigration
should be
restricted.

Witness cited an instance of the inhumanity of the Chinese in refusing
to give a starving inan food, after being asked for it five or six times in
the day ; he had been among Indians and never knew them to be guilty
of that. He has seen white men supplanted by Chinamen at a less rate
of wages. It is not desirable to erdarge the immigration, and public
opinion favors legislation to this end.

WOODS. David C. Woods, superintendent of the industrial school,

examined :

sworn and

Chinese morally
and physically a
curse.

Corrupt boys.

White girls
corrupted.

The Chinese are a curse to this community, both morally and physi-
cally. Physically they iatroduce venereal disease among the boys. There
is hardly a day since I have been at the school that I have not had boys
under treatment by the doctors, and they have invariably got the disease
from Chinese prostitutes, so the boys say. Probably one-twentieth of the
boys I receive have it. One boy had to be sent to the county hospital
for scientific treatment.

The presence of the Chinese afiects the employment of boys. Chinamen
hire so much cheaper. The boys are good average boys and would do
well if they had a chance.

The boys being inoculated with the disease, it extends to the white
girls, also. The hoodlum element is rampant, and will not let the girk
alone. On coming to the school they acknowledge they have been with
these young men. The thing is introduced here by little Chinese girls.
There is a certain disease introduced by them called the China-pox,
distinguished from other syphilis by that name.

GALLEGO.

Can manufacture
as cheap with
white labor.

Sinister pollcy
of Chinese.

Chinese labor not
more reliable
than white.

Romulus C. Gallego, superintendent of a bag-factory for eight years, and
a resident of the city for fourteen years, sworn and examined :

As far as Chinese labor goes, we can manufacture just as cheap with
white as we can with it, if not cheaper. We can get all the hands
wanted and more. In the busy season we employ 200 hands — men, boys
and girls — and have no difficulty in managing them. Two years ago we
were ofiered all the Chinamen we wanted at fifty cents a day ; at that
time we were paying |1.50 to the girls. I think the object was merely
to make an mroad into our business so that they could understand it and
then carry it on themselves.

As to the willingness of boys and girls for work I may mention that on
the 3rd of July I caUed all the boys and girls up, and said " I am very
busy; I want to work; are you willing to work?" I only had two
dissenting voices out of the whole of them.

To a certain extent Chinese labor is reKable, but not more so than
white labor. If you hire white boys and girls and treat them properly,
they become attached to their work and you cannot drive them away.
You can keep them just as long as you want them. On the other hand,
you hire a Chinaman from another man. You go to the boss and hire so
many, and he furnishes so many ; and their system is so good that the
Chinaman will not leave that place until he has permission from the boss

355

GALLEGO

or from the company that he belongs to. That is the reason a great many
are employed; but white boys and girls can be employed here as profitably
as Chinese. White labor is better than semi-servile labor.

John W. Dwinblle, lawyer, and a resident in California since 1849, DWINELLEI
sworn and examined :

I do not consider it desirable to have the Chinese here. They are not Undesirable..
capable of assimilating with us. They do not come here with the inten- ai'slmSte *"
tion of growing up with the country, but only to acquire a certain amount '
of money and return to their own country. They have no desire to
acquire our language, or assimilate with our institutions, as they are inca-
pable of doing so. Cheap labor is not desirable in California. We should
have cheap capital rather than cheap labor.

The land-killing system of California is a curse to the country, and it is band-killing
sustained mainly by Chinese labor. It is better for California that our fOTiSf^a^ciSse.'
lands should remain waste than be wasted, for then there would be a pos-
sibility of their being occupied by a homogeneous race.

The effect of Chinese immigration upon the present white labor is that
it degrades it.

I regard the existence of two different populations as a morbid
hybridism which is disastrous to both parties.

I would not favor the experiment of giving them the elective franchise Better never ta-
to improve their condition. As to there being too many Chinamen here, ^^^ ^^ a
it would have been better if we had never had any, if we had never come
in contact with that race. I do not believe he belongs to us at all. He
- belongs to the human family, but I believe he belongs to a race that has
ripened and is now rotting. I certainly would prohibit any further im-
portation of them.

The agriculture of California grew up simultaneously with the intro-
duction of the Chinese.

Their notion in regard to our institutions is that theyWre inferior to Chinese think
their own American

tueir own. ... institutions

In 1870, I published a pamphlet in London and Paris, in which I inferior to their
stated that Chinese immigration was a pest and a detriment to California. °^"'

I do not think that the Chinese form any comparison with the French
• at all.

Charles T. Jones, district attorney of the city and county of Sacra- jONES.
mento, and a resident in the state since 1854, sworn and examined :

The Chinese are a great deal more likely to commit crime than the Chinese disregarcL
other races here, and they are a great deal harder to convict. They ' ® ^'"'
have no respect for our laws at all. They have courts wherein they try
cases that occur between themselves, although such courts are in violation
of our law ; and they respect the decision of such a court in preference to
our own.

In regard to the Chinese advertising to take life, witness submitted
some papers which were taken from a room, after arrest of its occupants,
where they had been deliberating on two Chinamen. One paper offered
12,000 for the life of one Wong San Chee, and $600 to destroy the name
of Wong Yee Nui ; if only wound and not kill, only one half. The

JONES

356

other paper was a solemn compact proposed for adoption by the members
of the company in regard to the expulsion of the latter.
Their testimony. The Chinese have no regard for an oath at all. They use our courts

for the very reverse of what they are intended. Perjury is committed
by white people, but not to the same degree as committed by Chinese.

"PETERSON. Charles H. Peterson, an officer of the Order of Caucasians, sworn and
examined :

Public opinion. This witness presented to the Commission several petitions, signed by

residents in Montero county, against the Chinese, expressing the opinion of
the people of that county generally. He also handed in a circular of the
Order of Caucasians, the object of the society being to protect labor.

RUSSELL. Joel Russell, farmer, sworn and examined :

Public opinion in
the San Joaquin

Galley.

My opinion and the opinion of the farmers in my neighborhood is that
the presence of the Chinese conflicts with the interests of the farmers.
It is not true that the white laborer is a bummer and a drunkard, and it
is decidedly untrue in regard to-the small proprietary farmers. Nine-tenths
of the agriculturists throughout the San Joaquin Valley and my own
county are in favor of legislation restricting Chinese immigration.

'O'DONNELL. Chaeles C. O'Donnell, physician, and a resident in the state for twenty-
six years, sworn and examined :

'Chinese cha-
.racter.

Small-pox.

Public opinion iu
■ Calif ornia>

Prostitutes and
<lisease.

Leprosy.

I have lived in the midst of them for over twenty years, and have
visited all their gambling-houses and bagnios. Their habits are very
immoral, low, degrading, and filthy. In regard to filth, the stench in
that vicinity is sufficient to produce any disease.

They were the first that introduced small-pox here about five years
ago. This last time it originated with them. The steamer Crocus
brought a cargo of some 830, termed by the captain pirates, with small-
pox among them. The coolies that come here are of the very lowest type.

None but capitalists, and those who make money out of them by swind-
ling, are in favor of them ; seven-tenths of the inhabitants of the state
of California are opposed to them.

Nineteen-twentieths of the Chinese women here are prostitutes. The
disease that they have spread among young men is horrible. • The virus of
the coolie is almost sure death to a white man. There are cases of
syphilis among the whites that originated from the Chinese prostitutes
which are incurable. The Chinese are not as much affected by the
syphilis as the whites.

There are one hundred and fifty cases of leprosy in Chinatown now.

VALE.

'The European
immigrant.

William Vale, sworn and examuied :

In the latter part of 1862 I was commissioned by several residents of
California, among them Mr. Hollister, to procure farm laborers, gardeners.

357 VALE

cooks, and a general assortment of household and farm servants from
Europe. From the eulogistic letters in my possession from some
employers of these immigrants, and from the position some of them have
attained through their own labor, they are undoubtedly good classes of
citizens. Fifty thousand eligible immigrants could be procured from dif-
ferent sections of Europe, both male and female, and would be 'preferable
to those brought from Asia, and would be invaluable.

Henry Degroot, miner, sworn and examined : DEGROOT.

The effect of the presence of the Chinese here has been very detrimental The Chinese aa
to the labor interests, and to the mining industry also. They were hired
first in placer-mining, and then in drift-digging to some extent, and final-
ly in hydraulic-mining to very great advantage, except for moving stones
and working in the pit ; and as they became educated to the business they
greatly displaced white labor, and now we have them- employed in every They displace
kind of mining as laborers at good wages. This operation is constantly ^ ^ « ^ <"■•
going on and displacing white men. In former days we would not allow
them to come in ; but that is a long time ago. For fifteen years they
have not been molested any more than whites. There is not a single

minine town in California but what has a Chijiese quarter planted in the Effect of China-

n ., 1 mi 1 • V.1 1 £ 4.-U towns m western

centre of it, as here. The women are very undesirable, and many oi the cities.

men are gamblers. The presence of these is corrupting the youth of the

inland towns at a fearful rate. They are not only coming to California,

but the vessels that go from Oregon to China bring back cargoes of Chinese

who go silently up the Columbia River and drop into the mining regions

adjacent to Oregon, as well as into Idaho and Montana. I never met a

laboring man or a miner, who did not employ labor, but what was dead

opposed to the Chinese. On the other hand, there is a class in the mines

in favor of their presence here — men who are aggregating small claims into

large mining estates and employing Chinese to run them, just as farmers

and manufacturers do here. The merchants in the mining regions are

averse to them generally.

The Chinese pick all the berries to the exclusion of girls, and they are Effect on girl-
hiring land and raising berries, and pretty soon will monopolize the whole * "'■•
business. The same with the cigar trade. One firm advertised for girls
to learn the business ; they did so, and after seeking employment in other
firms they were told that they would not be taken on if a handsome sum
accompanied them ; Chinese could be employed cheaper. The same with
sewing-machines. I can take you to a cellar where there are thirty Chinese live too.
Chinamen running sewing-machines, who eat and sleep in that cellar, and ° "*'' ^•
whose living does not cost them forty cents a month apiece ; not thirty
cents, perhaps, so cheaply do they live. It is utterly impossible for us to
compete with them and live.

If there had been no Chinese here the white population would ^«f »» J^^i*^
have been much greater than it is at present. I have seen whole
car-loads of emigrants going east within the last year, discouraged
from remaining here in consequence of the presence of the Chinese.
While a few men would not have been so rich, the great mass of the
white people would have been a great deal better off in the absence of
the Chinese. Morally, we can hardly estimate the injury that they have
inflicted upon us by degrading labor, by injury to the juvenile population,
more especially in the inland mining towns.

In their absence probably some branches of industry would not have

DEGROOT

358

Economic effect.

Employed In
tanneries.

Mining.

been developed to the same extent that they are ; but they would have
had a more healthful foundation, and their absence would have had a
tendency to the distribution of the large landed claims, which can only
be worked by their cheap labor ; they would have been sub-divided into
homesteads and sold to people who wished to settle. There should be
some method of checking any further immigration of this people.

In most of the large tanneries Chinamen are employed. The manufac-
ture of boots and shoes by Chinese is a disadvantage to white laborers.
Wherever Chinese labor comes in competition with our mechanics they
are poor, and growing poorer all the while. If Chinese labor was driven
from the manufacture of boots and shoes, instead of their being only 250
girls employed in that industry there would be 2,000 or 3,000 of them.

In regard to mining, there are 4,000 Chinese in the neighborhood of
Oroville, in one community ; and they are to be found from one end of
California to the other, even in underground mines. White miners would
be glad to work the diggings the Chinamen work, but they will not work
for the same hire that a Chinaman does. The gold extracted from the
country by Chinamen — many millions — goes to China.

JACKSON. Thomas W. Jackson, foreign commission agent, formerly a resident in
China, but of San Francisco since 1867, sworn and examined :

Chinese culture. People are very much mistaken as to the extent of Chinese education.

They all understand a few characters, but the written language is so
exceedingly intricate and abstruse that it requires a life-time to learn it.
A carpenter will know the characters for different kinds of wood and
labor, and they all know the figures, etc., the bricklayer will know the
character for bricks, and the miller will know the character for flour
and wheat ; but there are very few of them who are able to read a letter
upon any general subject, and even those who profess to have a knowledge
have spent years in studying it. If the Chinese require a letter to be
written they go to a literary man to have it written for them. They
cannot write it.

So far from washing themselves habitually from head to foot, they do
not even change their clothes generally for several months, especially in
winter. Most of them do not wash themselves thoroughly more than three
or four times a year. It is customary for them to sleep in their clothes.
Their cleanliness and their education are generally very much over-
estimated.

Their morals are such that no English or American family in China
having children will allow their children to come in contact with them more
than is absolutely necessary, their influence being considered not only
injurious but positively dangerous. I cannot recall more than about two
Chinamen whom I should consider to be strictly and decidedly honest. In
business they invariably tell lies. They invariably falsify, and, as much
as possible, use false weights and measures among themselves. In the
Canton trade it is not so much the case. Where they are honest it does
not arise from conviction, but from the adage "honesty in the best
policy." They do not expect honesty among themselves.

The compradors. In China the compradors almost invariably do the whole of the business,
do the buying or selling of six or seven establishments, employ four or five
house-boys, and seven or eight coolies, a-nd make fortunes besides. They
always make money whether the foreign houses do or not, because they

'Chinese clean-
liness or the
reverse.

Morals of
dhinamen.

359

JACKSON

get a commission from the buyer and a commission from the seller, on
•everything bought.

The Chinese multiply so' rapidly that whenever they get a foot-hold into
any country, they almost take possession of it. Polygamy is common in
China. Every woman is married, and every woman produces children.
They are very prolific, more so than in other countries ; and where they CMnesc prolific,
get a foot-hold in a very short number of years they become the greater
part of the population. That is the case in Singapore, which was only in Singapore,
founded a few years ago by Sir Stamford Raffles ; the Chinese had no
footing there whatever, and now there are probably three or four China-
men to one of the other population. If they were allowed the privileges
of citizenship here, the result would be that in two or three years they
would outnumber the whites three or four to one. They can get money
very much easier here than in their own country.

Where they are in any very great numbers and feel very strong they Ng^riy ^u the
are more dangerous to foreigners than otherwise. The worst classes are Chinamen in
in the southern part, especially in Swatow and Canton, and all the Chinese Canton— their
■who have ever come to California so far have come from the province of character.
Kwang Tung, excepting about sixty who once came from the neighborhood
ef Shanghai, some years ago, and who have all disappeared. They have
no conception of our government or the principles that underlie it ; and I
have never met a Chinaman who had a right idea of his own.

Lewis M. Foulke, supervisor of internal revenue, formerly miner, and foulKE.
collector of taxes, and a resident in the state for twenty-four years,
sworn and examined :

I do not consider Chinese labor desirable ; it has the same tendency to Reasons why a
degrade free white labor that slave-labor in the sou.th had. A larger |^''^^^r^'^JJ««« ^,
importation would be very undesirable, for the reason that a population undesirable,
with ideas of government so utterly foreign to those of ours, and the
presence of a vast number of that class of people different in color, habits
of thought, traditions and religion, is apt to create caste, and probably
would lead to civil war. They cannot assimilate to our institutions.

As supervisor of internal revenue I find that over one-half of all the Chinese as contri-
frauds and of all the violations of the law were committed by the Chinese. J^^^^^ ^^^
The population being 30,000 Chinese against some 225,000 or 230,000
whites. The frauds were committed principally in the manufacture of
cigars and cigarettes without the payment of the taxes ; the re-use of
stamped boxes ; the manufacture and sale of friction matches, without
paying the stamp-tax on them ; also the manufacture of an article called
samsony, a sort of Chinese whiskey distilled from rice. A very small
number pay the income-tax. The non-payment of these taxes added very
much to the injury of those who were engaged legitimately, and compelled
to pay their taxes.

I have employed Chinese labor in mining but prefer white. I have Witness^s^expe-
never had any difficulty in mining with white labor, and m getting good miner,
men. My preference for them is from the fact that they usually have
their families and settle in the country.

More than three-fourths, I think- fully seven-tenths, of the intelligent
people of the Pacific coast are opposed to the further immigration of the
Chinese, or at least are in favor of restricting the further immigration to Undesirable to
a small number. Those who are here it would be undesirable to remove ; ^^^^2^^^'^™* '^"°
I think it would be unjust to all parties concerned.

FOULKE

360

The free white laborers generally consider the Chinese as cooUes or
slaves.

The negro here is far superior to the Chinaman principally from contact
with the white race.

The effect of elevating a Chinaman to a, voter would be fraught with
great dangers.

CADIZ.

Chinese in Pern.

Sold for certain
periods.

Inferior race.

Joseph G. Cadiz, a resident in California from 1849 to 1854, and from
1865 to the present time, and a traveller during the interim in South
America, Buenos Ayres, ChUi, and Peru, sworn and examined :

While in Peru Chinese were imported there under contract at Hong
Kong. They went there for a certain consideration, under parties pur-
chasing them and taking them to Peru. On their arrival they vrere sold
by one, or in lots of tens, twenties, fifties,' hundreds, and so on. There
were several lines of sailing vessels bringing them out continually, the
ships being overcrowded ; and on many occasions there had been revolu-
tions on board, risings and mutinies among them. They were sold at $350
to $400 apiece. When deeded to a party, whatever the number might
be, they were taken in a mass. This sale or lease was for a term of eight
years. These slaves were bound over for that amount of money, and the
buyer was to pay each one of them four dollars a month, of their cur-
rency, and find him in his clothing and victuals. They were bought and
sold as slaves, and recognized by the laws of the country ; and they were
of the same class that come from Hong Kong to California. In Costa
Rica, between 1871 and 1872, the government tried the experiment of a
cargo of 800 of them. They were purchased at Hong Kong and taken
there and sold. The same system prevails here only under a different
guise and form. The coolie-trade is very active now ; the same as
in Peru.

They are ignorant, and stupid, and very dishonest, and, in my opinion,
the most inferior race there is existing, the class that is here.

BASSETT.

Economic effects
of Chinese labor.

Public opinion in
favor of res-
triction.

Undesirable to
give them the
franchise.

James M. Bassett, journalist, editor of Los Angeles Herald, and a
resident in California for twenty-five years, sworn and examined :

The Chinese who are here and are coming here tend to make the rich
richer and the poor poorer ; their labor has been beneficial to a few
people and injurious to the masses. Some enterprises have been pushed
forward more rapidly than they could have been without the assistance
of some such labor as the Chinese. In the common occupations of life
their labor has been a disadvantage to the people ; and that, I think, is
the opinion of the masses. It tends to degrade white labor, the impres-
sion prevailing among the laboring classes that the Chinese are brought
here as slaves.

Public opinion of the state would be in favor of protecting those who
are here, and preventing any further immigration. Nine out of ten,
outside of the few who are benefited largely by Chinese labor, would
entertain that opinion.

In regard to the future of the state: politicaUy, if the Chinaman
ultimately becomes a voter, and they continue to come, he will hold the
balance of power in a very short time ; morally, the effect is bad.- If the
Chinese had a vote in San Francisco it would exceed that of the whites.

361

iVPPENDIX B.

ViCTOEiA, B. C, October, 1884.
Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq.,

Secretary, Chinese Commission.

i)EAE Sir, — Although I did not seek to be examined before the Chinese Commission,
while in Victoria, and have not officially received the paper of queries issued on the
subject, yet I may be permitted to hope that you will lay before the Commissioners the
answers as given, which are appended, together with the following remarks upon the
subject of enquiry : —

The existence of an uncontrolled immigration under any circumstances is full of
dangers. The first duty of a Government is the well-being of the governed ; and the
application of some restraint upon immigration, and a complete control over it, is a
primary duty as curative of present as well as preventive of future evils. No one can
complain of cruelty or injustice being inherent in the course of action taken in the
United States in the matter of white immigrants, who may import diseases, spread
poverty, or become burdensome, turbulent and dangerous to society. And the like course
of action may be found imperatively necessary in respect of the Mongolian immigration
into this province.

Now, if any one is acquainted with the efiects of a system of poor laws, and of the
extent to which the working out of this may press upon the springs of industry, and in
particular when the cost is superadded to taxation for the administration of justice and
the preservation of the peace, the question of immigration assumes an alarming magnitude.
In British Columbia, which has at present no poor laws, and is only slightly taxed for
internal administration, the question may seem remote or unreal. But if cheap workers,
say Mongolians, come in numbers and thereby exclude the white laborers, it may be
asked : will this be cheaper in the end and all round, when everything is paid for, and
when a Mongolian labor-league may have to be faced ? Or again, if these may not prove
exclusive absolutely of white labor, then both classes must compete at rates ruinous to
the white laborer ; and white man and Mongolian alike, after the inevitable depressions
and difficulties incidental to every community (nay, even though supposed exempt from
them) must go down, sinking into poverty and becoming permanent burdens on capital.

But while, in theory, "demand and supply" are correlative, an application of this,
principle to Mongolian labor in British Columbia is considerably modified by the force of
the two followicLg facts :— First, the enormous over-population of China, aggregated on
its eastern frontier and on the seaboard open towards our side, with the efforts towards
its relief, together with the profits accruing to shipowners from its exportation; Secondly,
the restrictions at present imposed in the United States upon this immigration. Now,
surely, if an unlimited number of MongoHans may in future be poured out upon our
shores, the consequences may be that— if these should continue to be smuggled into the
states from hence— very unhappy and strained relations between us and the states shall
ensue. But supposing that these immigrants should stay here, then a congestion ot the
labor market must arise. And this must either consummate the pauperizing of the white
laborer, or else involve his final departure, after he has become a burden on the rates
and given abroad a bad name to this colony, as having invited him to come so tar and
then subjected him to an unlimited and ruinous competition with Mongolian hordes to
hand. , .

And looking over the lists of farmers and residentiary owners here, working their own
lands, it is a remarkable fact that these are the very men who began as laborers ot one
sort or another, but have nobly carved out for themselves an independence by their own
ihdomitable industry and hard-handed toil. These then (the very most desirable ot

362

colonists), will either pass out or not approach, discouraged by reason of wages being
reduced to a minimum. For, the question at the very root of all this contention is not
that wages must stand at a maximum, but lest they tumble to a minimum and stay
there. But further, if interest binds the colony to the European immigrant, and to the
negro too, honest, civil and industrious as he is, also possibly, ere long, to the Japanese
immigrant, honor and humanity alike bind our colony to consider well in the case of the
Aborigines. Now, it would be a most inconsistent action on the part of the Dominion
or Provincial Government, after proving so humane and thoughtful of the interests of
the Indian population in many ways, if in the way of cheapening labor to the lowest
point, these should become sufferers, just at the time when their old resources by flood
and field had ceased to be as productive as before. Then, indeed, would they settle down
in disgust and despair of progress or pecuniary resource.

But should considerations of this kind be overlooked, what will the final result be ?
What else but a population of Mongolians, numerically predominant, who will remit
their earnings out of the province, who will practice exclusive dealing, and never per-
manently attach themselves to British Columbia, or become identified with her laws.
And then what stronger justification can be given of the current censure of inconsis-
tency, contained in the taunt, that what was once " British " was made " Chinese
Columbia."

And further, an uncontrolled immigration of Mongolians, to any extent, must leave
the colony subject to the additional and serious evils, arising from an enormously in-
creased expenditure in administration of justice and police, together with considerable
risks to life and property, and a corresponding want of confidence in the colony as a safe
place for investment of capital. But it is further submitted, that the rapidly approach-
ing facility for the adequate supply of white labor from Europe through the Canadian
Pacific Railway, leaves the question of the adequate supply and the danger of its falling
short (apart from Mongolian immigration) altogether answered, and in fact put out of
court. Very soon there will be no urgent need at all for them in any numbers at least.
Their main occasion of coming being the hurry to finish off the line by many hands
crowded on. After this is over there will be no valid excuse for their unlimited invasion
of the land. Also, it must be accurately weighed in the scales of a just judgment, whether,
while the non-imposition of restriction upon Mongolian immigration may not result in
injury and loss, the judicious restriction of it may be found not hurting any interest,
but on the contrary tending towards the adjustment of the labor market on a firm and
safe basis to the greatest gain of all, and with the least possible danger to any.

Further, it may seem a hard judgment to anticipate at some future time projects of
uprising with a view to Mongolian ascendency, fed by ambition and an unquenchable greed.
But experience in many lands and for ages past (say even in Madagascar in modern
times) points to something more than the possibility of this result looming in the future,
and as not so unlikely to occur again or prove so easy to be dealt with. Anyway, pre-
vention is better than cure ; and this even in the interests of the Mongolians them-
selves.

What is offered in these remarks comes not of prejudice, nor is clothed in terms of
offence, nor yet again is aught pressed forward unsustainable in theory or injurious in
practice on principles of enlightened humanity and political economy.

I advocate neither the clean sweep of expulsion nor the barrier of an absolute
exclusion, but only the establishment of a just and wise control over Mongolian immi-
gration, to be clearly defined and exercised as occasion may serve, and in the best
interests of British Columbia. Of course the law must be both clear and ample in and
its execution bond fide.

I have the honor to be, dear sir.

Your obedient servant,

PHILIP DWYER, A.M.,
(Some time) Canon of Killaloe Cathedral, Ireland.

363

APPENDIX C.

Numbers and Occupations of Chinese in British Columbia are as follows ;

TiCTORiA, 1,767—

Merchants 45

Married ladies 41

Girls 31

Doctors 12

Barters 20

Boot-makers 130

Saw-mill hands 17

Cooks and servants 180

Brick-makers 60

Farm laborers in the vicinity of

Victoria 40

■Carpenters 25

Vegetable-sellers 20

Fish-sellers.* 16

Tinsmiths 2

Sailors 3

New arrivals 380

IN"ew Westminster, 1,680 —

Merchants 12

Sewing-machine workers 6

Washermen ; 20

Ditch-diggers 156

Married ladies 4

Girls 2

Doctors, 6

Cooks and servants 50

Charcoal-burners 18

Fish-hands in canneries 390

Boys between 13 and 17 85

Nanaimo, 168 —

Merchants 6

Married ladies 4

School teacher 1

Cooks and servants 18

Cooks and miners 64

Barbers 4

New arrivals 22

Wellington, 685-

Merchants

Washermen

Coal miners

Doctors.

9

4

620

4

Boys between 13 and 17 15

New Mine, Wellington District, 69—

Merchant 1

Barbers 2

Bepaeture Bay Coal Mine, 47 —

; Merchants 2

Carmen andlaborers 42

Store employees 17^

Boys under twelve years l"

School teachers ^

Sewing-machine workers 3*^

Cigar-makers 2^

Washermen 90

Vegetable gardeners 114

Bricklayers 25

Match-makers 7

Charcoal-burners 16

Printers 3

Butchers 8

Pedlers 10

Fuel-cutters 65

Bark-strippers 30

Prostitutes 34

Boys between 12 and 17 92

Store employees 18

Barbers 15

Saw- mill hands 190

Fuel-cutters 82

Boys under twelve years 5

School teachers 2

Farm laborers 400

Vegetable-sellers 9

Carpenters 3

Prostitutes 7

New arrivals 200

Store employees 6

Children 2

Doctors 3

Farm laborers 13

Washermen 8

Boys between 13 and 17 15

Prostitutes 2

Store employees 8

Cooks and servants 19

School teacher 1

Barbers 5

Coal miners 65

Doctor 1

Cooks 2

Barber 1

364

Railway Construction, 3,510 —

Merchant 1

Railroad workmen 2,900

Boys under 12 years 300

Doctors 6

Barbers 22

Forks Quesnelle, 141 —

Merchants 2

Farm laborers and miners H8

Butchers 2

Prostitutes 2

Chist Creek, Cariboo District, 151 —

Merchants 2

Miners and farmers 142

Prostitutes 4

Store employees

Vegetable-sellers

Butchers

Wood-cutters

Eestaurant-keepers .

Store employees.,

Doctor

Barbers

25^

12

3

23a

11

Store employees.
Doctor

2
1

Cariboo, 321—

Merchants

Miners

Married ladies..

3

300

3

Stanley, Cariboo District, 66 —

Merchants 2

Miners 60

Mouth Quesnelle, 506 —

Merchants 4

Miners and farmers 490

Prostitutes 2

Soda Creek, 32 —

Farm laborers 27

Prostitutes 2

Dog Creek, 175 —

Merchants 2

Miners 120

• Doctor 1

LiLLOOET District, 163 —

Merchants

Farmers and laborers.
Doctor

2

60

1

Clinton, 36 —

Merchants 2

Cooks , 10

Prostitutes.. 2

150 Mile House —

Farm laborers and cooks

Lytton, 58 —

Merchants 3

Miners and farmers 50

Yale, lie-
Merchants 6

Laborers 100

Prostitutes 2

Store employees.

Doctor

Prostitutes

Store employees.

Store employees..
Doctors

4
62

Washermen.

Store employees.
Farm laborers....

Store employees..

Miners

Prostitute

Store employees.,
Farm laborers

Store employees..
Prostitutes

Store employees.
Doctor

4
48

4

95

1

2

20

20

365

BuREAED Inlet, 114 —

Merchants 5

Saw-mill hands 60

Married women 3

Prostitute 1

Cache Creek, 19 —

Merchants 2

Farm laborers 15

Kamloops, 62 —

Merchants 3

Miners andfarmers 56

Store employees lo

Washermen and cooks 30

Children ' ' 5

Store employees 2

17

Store employees 3

59

Skeena —

Fishery hands and doctor(l) ^n

iCassiae, 105 —

Merchant 1

Miners 100

Prostitute 1

Spence's Bridge, 24 —

Merchant 1

Farm laborers 20

Savona's Ferry, 55 —

Merchant

Farm laborers and washermen.

1

52

Haerison River, 36—

Merchants 2

Farm laborers and wood-cutters 31

Store employees 2

Doctor X

Store employee 1

Washermen 2

Store employees 2

Store employees 2

Boston Bar —

Workingmen 10

Okanagan, 25-
Merchant ....

Miners 24

Miners 20

Hope, 21—

Merchant

The following is the commercial condition of the Chinese merchants throughout
British Columbia : —
The amount of business done among the Chinese merchants in British Columbia

annually $1,320,000

The amount of trade done with China, Japan and the United States 500,000

The amount of trade done with white merchants in British Columbia 400,000

The annual amount paid for duties is (and more) 150,000

Internal duties on cigar manufacturing is (and more) 2,300

The approximate amount paid for freightage and drayage 26,000

The approximate amount paid for road toUs in the interior 13,000

The salaries of bookkeepers and storekeepers, together with the expenditure for
living of their families and families of merchants, of which there are four hundred

and seventy persons, and more 141,000

The Victoria merchants :

The annual trade license paid 7,560

The annual assessment on property paid 500

366

The amount paid annually ix) revenue and city taxes by merchants and employees... 1,100-

The amount paid annually for rents to white people 27,000

The amount paid annually for rents on 750 acres of cultivated grounds and charcoal

places by Chinese merchants to white people 6,180

The amount paid annually for city water by Chinese merchants and workmen 4,440

For gas 1,770

For insurance of buildings and merchandise 2,560

For interest paid to white people for borrowed cash 8,400

For postage and telegraph 3,000

[The above ten sums are paid out only by the Chinese merchants in Victoria,

and not by those in other parts of the province.]

The amovmt of real estate owned by Chinese in British Columbia is about 100,000

The value of brick and frame buildings owned by Chinese is • 81,000

[Seventy thousand dollars of this amount was expended within the last fourteen

months]

The kind of merchandise imported from China, Japan and United States by Chinese
merchants as follows : —

Eice, tea, oil, Uquors, tobacco, dry goods, chinaware, drugs, silk goods, paperware, books
and stationery, matting, clothes, shoes, opium, Joss-paper and sticks.

The goods purchased by Chinese merchants in British Columbia " and sold to the
Chinese in this province, as follows : —

Cloth goods, woollen and linen cloth, caps, boots, stockings, furs, kerosene oil, candles,
matches, papers, soaps, tobacco, cigars, sugar, flour, rice, sweetmeats, salt, pigs, lard, beef,
butter, fish, fowls, wines, ducks, nails, tools, plates, horses, carriages, wagons, watches, rope and
twines, lamps, fuel, coal, hardware, ironware, glass and crockery ware, woodenware, etc.

There are in the province of British Columbia nine thousand six hundred and
twenty-nine Chinese laborers :

A laborer's wages will average $25 per month ; per year $300 00

Deduct three months wages for winter $75 00

Provisions and clothing, per year 130 00

Eoom rent 24 00

Tools, fares, in British Columbia 10 00

Kevenue and road taxes 5 00

Eehgiousfees 5 00

Doctor, for drugs 3 00

Oil, light, water and tobacco 5 00

$257 00

Balance in favor of laborer $43 OO

Respectfully submitted,

HUANG SIC CHE]Sr.

APPENDIX D.

At San Francisco it was arranged that on the 25th of July we should, in company
with the Chinese Consul, visit Chinatown. Before making the visit to Chinatown His
Excellency the Consul-General for China, Huang Tsun Hsien,. Colonel Bee, the Consul,
and Mr. Tsang Hoy, the interpreter to the consulate called on Mr. Chapleau at the
Palace Hotel. In the course of conversation he enquired particularly respecting the
veto power of the Dominion and Imperial Governments, and expressed the hope that
the enquiry to be instituted by the Chinese Commission would be an impartial one.

Led by Colonel Bee and the official interpreter we went round Chinatown. The
traveller who had visited China, or anybody who has once explored Chinatown, were he
blind, would know he was in the midst of a bit of far Cathay, which had been trans-
ported to the Pacific coast. In addition to the ethnic smell which, as all Eastern travellers
assure us, would have been pronounced enough, there are the odors of opium, of cigars,
of dried fish and dried vegetables ; an odor such as one gets in the engine-room of a

367

steamerjand other odors such as on y an olfactory connoisseur could distinguish- the
whole contributing to a resu t so emphatic as to leave behind a life-long remeXan^e

In some of the finest cities in China the streets are narrow. In some instances the
gables look as though they would meet above the traveller's head. They have no side-
walks. But here the streets are wide and paved, and, needless to say, have sidewalks
Instead of the Tartar-tent-hke roofs and characteristic outlines of Chinese houses, the
houses here are built or the most part of brick and in western style. A transformation
has, however, taken place, and any man who knows China will tell you you areas surely
there as if you were m Canton or Pekin. It is not merely that the streets are full of
Chinamen dressed m Chinese fashion, shaven as to the fore part of the head and with
braided queues dangling to their heels ; it is not merely that the Chinawoman in black
calico trousers and blouse to match limps by; nor is it because all the dialects of Kwane
Tung are heard hke the cawing of a rookery ; strange signboards, Chinese lanterns
cages with singing birds, give to the American houses a foreign character The China'
man writes, not from right to left or left to right, but down, and so you see the horizon-
tal signboards covered with gilding or in gaudUy painted Chinese characters wholly
unmtelligible to one unversed in the monosyllabic group of languages. Unless indeed
when they are translated, and even then it must be confessed little insight is gained as to
the character of the goods for sale. When a general store hangs out for its sign " The
Temple of Sweetly Soothing Bliss," and a butcher's shop rejoices in the style of " Ten
Thousand Harmonies," we are more amused than enlightened. The magniloquence of the
sign IS generally m the inverse ratio of the importance of the store. A small retail shop
will sometimes have a firm name importing the most sacred character and heavenly
music. A five-cent cigar shop will glory in the designation of "The Temple of Celestial
Harmonies."

In Sacramento and Dupoiit streets there are large wholesale houses. We enter one a

general store. Boxes of tea and bags of rice are piled up on one side of the shop.
Behind the counter, on the other side, is the bookkeeper and one or two salesmen'
The shelves on this side are filled with shoes and clothing and many other articles. Some
of the men are smoking cigars. They show no anxiety to sell. The interpreter informs
them of the object of our visit, and forthwith some one goes and fetches tea, in tiny cups..
Then some cigars of the very finest brand are brought. We. visit several stores more or
less Hke this. All the wholesale houses are kept scrupulously clean. The proprietors
and clerks are neat and clean in their appearance. They are most polite.

We enter a workshop and find sixteen sewing-machines buzzing away. They are
very near each other. White men would stifle in such a contracted space. But these
Chinamen seem perfectly healthy and happy. They make shirts and overalls. In
another shop we find men making undershirts and drawers.

We turn into Jackson street and visit a silversmith. Here some ten or twelve men
are employed in making finger rings, hair-pins and other Chinese ornaments. A few
doors away is a shoe factory. Here the latest modern machinery is used. Some twenty-
five Chinese journeymen are employed, and the " boss " Chinaman is quite a nice-looking
and intelligent man. All sorts of boots, shoes and slippers are made.

In Washington street Chinamen are found making all kinds of ladies' fine under-
wear. In Dupont street there is a large tin shop. Every shop in these and bisecting
streets is a Chinese shop, small or large.

We pause in front of one of the best Chinese restaurants. It is a high building,
with balconies on the second and third stories, painted green, trimmed with red. In the
balconies a number of large Chinese lanterns are hung. We enter and find all the
appointments good. The chairs and tables in this and other restaurants, in all the large
stores, and in the private houses of the merchants, are made on the same general plan, of
the same wood, and are all imported from China. A carved screen of artistic workman-
ship and richly-gilded arches from wall to wall in the middle of the dining-room.

We were invited to lunch and sat round a circular table. Dried fruit, nuts, apples,
grapes, honied cakes, eggs a year old preserved in clay, were placed before us, and the

368

-chop-sticks.. Some shamshoo in small dainty cups was handed round. Tea was placed
in cups, which were covered with inverted saucers a little smaller than the circle of the
cups' rims. The saucer was pressed by the thumb a little into the tea in order to keep
back the leaves, and so without milk or sugar the tea was drunk.

One of the party subsequently dined at another restaurant equally good and as an Irish
friend who was present said, we had the dessert to begin with and we ended with the first
course, namely, soup. The dinner was good. The several kinds of meat were cut up
into very small pieces. The only ground .for complaint was that the dishes were too oily.
We had paper napkins ; porcelain jars of most brilliant blue tints were filled with flowers,
the rose, the lily, the camellia, the China-aster, the japonica. Tea was first handed
round. On the table were dried spices, preserved fruits, sweetmeats, pineapples,
bananas, oranges, -plums, grapes, all the fruit for which California is famed. Meats in
bowls instead of dishes were then placed on the table. Shamshoo hot and cold and
Chinese wines in silver jugs with covers and spouts were also placed on the table. Near
«ach guest was a small cup for drinking shamshoo or wine. We had meats disguised
by the cook but palatable, shrimps prepared in a peculiar manner, and many other dishes
the names of which have escaped the memory. There was some smoked duck which
tasted like ham, and meats of various kinds. Finally came turtle soup, made from
one of the turtles which we had seen on a previous day swimming in a big tub with many
others, all imported from China.

Little difficulty was experienced in using the chop-sticks which, once the plan of
cutting up the meat before sending it to table is adopted, are just as civilized as knives
and forks.

Dianer over our host rose and pledged us in a small cup of wine. We both bowed
low and emptied our cups. We then reversed the cups, tapping them with the finger to
show that the glass of friendship had been thoroughly drained. More polite or gentle-
manly persons than those met at this restaurant it would be hard to find. How unlike
the miserable wretches discovered elsewhere in Chinatown.

After the lunch mentioned above we visited a neighboring Joss-house. There are
some fine large Chinese temples in San Francisco, besides a number of smaller ones. The
"Eastern Glorious Temple" is the Joss-house we now enter. This temple is owned by
Dr. Lai Po Tai, who has a large practice among the whites. In the central hall are three
fierce looking idols in the midst of a lot of gilding and ornamentation, their stomachs
protruding in accordance with the Chinese ideal of manly beauty. The central figure is
"the Supreme Ruler of the Sombre Heavens," and on his right is "the Military Sage, "
and on the left " the Great King of the Southern Ocean."

In the courts of the temple the priests sold candles, and little spiUs of timber for
burning before the idols, and written prayers and charms, and there were various means
of enquiry of the oracle after you had prayed, such as two pieces of timber, each with a
flat and round surface, and if they fall in a certain way your desire will be granted.
Besides the votive lights we were told the principal light was kept burning continually,
as in the great temples in British India, and as of old in that of Jupiter Ammon.

We visited stores where the most beautiful porcelain jars were for sale ; exquisitely
carved work in ivory ; picture books ; all sorts of filagree ; fancy work ; fans ; what not.
We visited clubs, whose presidents are appointed by the Chinese Government. When
one of these was examined 12,000 candidates presented themselves, of whom only ninety-
nine passed. Either, therefore, the examinations are very "stifi"," or Chinese intellectual
power is not very great.

It is unnecessary to go further into detail. Many more stores were visited and the
general impression was that we had been inspecting a portion of a highly civilized and
well organized people. So much for the silver side of the shield.

VISIT TO CHINATOWN BY NIGHT.

On the 25th visited Chinatown at night under the conduct of two officers, detectives
wholly employed in the Chinese quarter— Messrs. Christopher C. Cox and John Avan. It

369

would be hard to give an adequate idea of what was seen. Had Dante been able to
visit Chinatown, San Francisco, he would have added yet darker strokes of horror to his
Inferno. We went from tenement house to tenement house ; we dived into cellars dug
beneath cellars — as it were, inverted stories ; and everywhere we saw the same scenes of
misery and degradation. We made our painful way behind our guide, who carried a
candle, into dens where daylight never entered, where one pure breath of air never pene-
trated, where the stench was something between a charnel-house and a wild beast's lair,,
but yet where human beings were, as it were, packed away. The Chinaman of the lower
or lowest class needs only space a little bigger than a coffin. An ordinary room will be
divided into bunks, and within one of these bunks he will stow himself, together with his
luxuries, and in some cases with the meagre necessaries of his existence. Sometimes, as
in the case of certain cigar-makers, he carries on his trade where he lies down to smoke
his opium pipe and sleep. In every little compartment there is a lamp on the mat — as-
it were in bed with the occupant — and he is seen putting the opium on the pipe with a
wire. Then he kindles it by means of the lamp ; then he inhales ; and in a few seconds-
the smoke comes through his nose. After a certain number of whiffs he lies off to sleep.
Frequently two men occupied the same bunk, the one lying down, the other with his
legs crossed. Pieces of meat, the entrails of animals, dried fowl, hung up in the midst
of filth, over cesspools, contiguous to slops of the most loathsome character. One of our
party, a pretty strong man, began to feel seasick, and it was only by an effort of will
that he repressed nature's protest against such scenes and such smells. Each man either
cooks himself, or is one of a little band, one of whom cooks for the rest. An open stove
of a crude sort is placed either at the door or near the window — where there is one — a
pane of which last has been broken through to serve the purpose of a chimney. Walls,,
ceiling, sills, posts, window frames — all are covered with soot, hanging like thick layers of
fungi. The marvel is that more fires have not originated in Chinatown. Dens where
criminals lived were visited, and here men were seen whose pigtails had been cut off in
prison. These were now spliced. The criminal, like the rest of the lower class of
Chinese, enjoys his opium pipe.

We visited the lodgings of cooks and found from sixteen to twenty, all in one room.
These cooks are employed in private houses during the day and come here at night to>
play and sleep.

The opium dens proper are not forgotten. These places are like the tippling-houses;
of the old style, where men went and soaked in alcohol. The opium-smoker comes to one
of these places, and for a couple of bits or more gets all the opium-smoking he wants. If
he is poor or economical he is furnished with a pipe ; if rich and extravagant, by paying
a little more, he can have pipes and prepared opium furnished him as he wants it.

A few words may be devoted to a description of the manner in which this fatal
drug is used. It is wholly unlike tobacco-smoking. The stem of the pipe is about the
length and thickness of an ordinary fiute, the end that goes into the mouth being flat-
tened to suit the lips. At the other end is a bowl of terra cotta about half the size of a
breakfast cup. Through the middle of this runs a small hole, which communicates with
the flute-like tube. The opium is a dark, gummy paste which, before being smoked, is
prepared as follows : the smoker, or the waiter on the smoker, takes, on the point of a
long needle, a piece of opium about twice the size of a pea, and roasts it, so to speak, in
the flame of a small lamp. This, I was told, was to the end that certain poisonous pro-
perties should be got rid of. The next thing— the opium so prepared is placed on the
hole of the terra cotta bowl, made like a cone, through which a hole is pierced. The
opium so arranged is then brought in contact with the flame of the lamp. Three or four
inhalations, and the little cone has disappeared. .But no smoke is seen for the present.
It remains either in the mouth of the smoker, or he has swallowed it. In a few seconds,
however, the smoke is blown out of the nostrils. The smoker, if he has no attendant,
then commences the same operation, which is repeated until he has had enough. Twelve
pil)es is a usual indulgence for smokers. They always smoke lying down. Sometimes on
the right side; sometimes on the left side. This is the position most favorable to the
full enjoyment of the drug.

370

The appearance of the men seen in the opium-dens spoke eloquently as to the
lierrible effects of this drug on the human system. As with white people and alcohol, so
there are among the Chinese some happy organizations who can smoke opium with
moderation. But these are rare exceptions. Universal testimony shows that the descent
■of the opium-smoker is quick from the first stage of a new joy to idleness, from idleness
to abandoned dissipation, and abandoned dissipation to unrelieved misery, a shattered
physique, the intellectual qualities paralysed and the moral depraved. Nothing can
deliver or distract the opium-smoker from the spell of his passion. At length, incapable
•of effort, wholly unfit for business, unmindful of the fluctuation of events and the lapse
•of time, dead to natural feeling, neither the misery of wife or child can touch him. In
China, opium-smokers who have been brought from opulence to indigence by this vice
have sold their daughters to the procuress in order to procure the poppy.

The appearance of the opium-smoker, like that of the dram-drinker, proclaims his
habits. He becomes emaciated; his eye glazed; his shoulders seem to get raised above
the base of the neck. Digestion soon ceases, and in the ultimate stage the drug is used
only to mitigate the horrors of existence. On another occasion the writer was shown a
man who had been for thirty-six hours without a smoke, and the evidence of agonized
-craving was pitiable. He begged for God's sake for a smoke.

It is worthy of remark that men fall into opium-smoking as they fall into
itippling. Just as misery drives some weak natures to drink, misery, where opium-dens
exist, drives others to opium-smoking ; or a man is sick and has a cold, and a friend
recommends a smoke ; or he meets an acquaintance and instead of "Come and have a
drink," he says "Come and have a smoke;" as with tipplers association in folly seeming
to increase the dubious pleasure. One man said he used to visit the opium-house with a
friend and refuse to indulge, but noticing how it improved the spirits of his friends, he
was induced to follow their example. From a luxury it became a necessity, and then
from being a minister of pleasure a master which made him its miserable slave.

On the day following a ship sailed for China, and we visited one of the so-called
■Chinese courts, where a case was said to be going forward, and a young Chinaman told
us some person could not get away next day unless a satisfactory arrangement was made.
On this, as on the previous occasion, we visited the Joss-houses but saw nothing to excite
surprise or call for comment.

We visited the quarters where were prostitutes who will only be visited by white men,
and the quarters where were those who would see only Chinese. The former, it seems,
are a superior grade. Prostitution is a degradation so absolute that it would hardly be
worth while to consider degrees of degradation in its regard. But this remark must be
made : that those unhappy women — all of whom, it is said, have been bought for sums
varying from 1500 to |2,500 — looked far less degraded than the men in the tenement
houses. The fact that these women are sold is dwelt on as a dreadful thing ; it is a
dreadful thing ; but unfortunately it is a thing not unknown in Anglo-Saxon and other
■communities. In one of the houses of prostitution we conversed with a woman who had
been kidnapped and who had given evidence against Wong Ah Nang. This man was
sent for four years to the state's prison.

We were unable to visit the schools of the missionaries, which are open only in the
-evening, but we satisfied ourselves that they were doing a good work.

APPENDIX E.

Portland, Oregon, August 29th, 1884.

In Portland there is not, properly speaking, a Chinese quarter, for isolated Chinese
r^hops are found in streets occupied by white people, and shops owned and " run " by
-whites are found in Second street, which is, roughly speaking, the Chinese quarter. The

371

Chinese have a bolder and a happier air than in San Francisco, and a glance convinced
you of that which testimony subsequently confirmed that they are more tolerated here
than in the leading city of California. Many houses are built of brick by the Chinese
themselves. A more respectable air pervades their shops generally than in San Fran-
oisco, and some shops exceeded anything to be seen in the latter city.

The above impression was accentuated by visiting several stores. The first was that
of Kwong Sang Wah who sells tea, rice, oil, dried fish, women's and men's shoes, socks,
china shirtings, fans, wines, dried oysters, all from China. In connection with this store
there is a butcher's shop and a coop looking out on the street, in which are a dozen or more
of live chickens in the next stage to complete maturity. , The next was that of Hong
Fook Tunk, a drug store. The screen dividing the ofiice from the shop proper is beautifully
carved and gilt. I learned through the interpreter who accompanied me, that no drugs
were dispensed without a prescription from a Chinese doctor. The next place looked in
on was a room at the base of the Joss-house. In this room a Chinese phrenologist was
examining the heads of his clients and thus doing a sum in bumps, making an equation
of cerebral protuberances. The Joss-house is magnificent, finer, perhaps, than the
finest in San Francisco. There were the eternal lights, and there, smothered in gilded
ornamentation, the ugly old Joss. The interpreter explained that the Joss was not a
god, but, he said, "like a monument to some distinguished persons among you."

" Yes ; but do not some of the less enlightened worship the Joss as a god 1 "

" Yes, they do ; after a time, they forget, think him God."

Turning up Morrison street, the Chinese shops were found to alternate with white
shops. Here we entered King Lee's shop, which he calls the Oriental Bazaar. On either
side, for some distance, the shops are all owned by white people. King Lee, the pro-
prietor of the Oriental Bazaar, speaks very good English. All sorts of hosiery, delf,
vases, every kind of haberdashery, Chinese pictures, what not. Ladies were shopping
here, and we learned it was a fashionable resort. Here we found the first instance of a
white person in the employ of a Chinaman. This young lady, who seemed intelligent
and cultivated, was working at what seemed a kind of frill. Having asked King Lee
-whether he had any "objection to her being examined, and receiving a reply in the nega-
tive, the evidence found elsewhere was obtained.

We next visited Duck Chung, Wing & Co., a general store. We asked how many
such shops were in Portland. Duck Chung took down a Chinese directory, written in
Chinese characters, and answered " about forty."

The next shop visited was that of Wo Kee, a clothing establishment. This shop
only made for Chinese. We visited six other tailor shops in various parts of the city,
-where they made clothes for only white persons. In each of these establishments from
nine to ten workmen — all Chinamen — employed.

In Second street there is a fine block of buildings, from No. 60 to 66, three stories
, -high, and all of brick, built by the Chinese. They have obtained a long lease of the
ground.

Pung Ti Lung, a bootmaker, who made only for white, was visited. He employs
ten men, all Chinese.

APPENDIX F.

Text of the Amendment to the Eesteiction Act op 1882.

The following is the text of the am,endment to the Chinese Restriction Act passed
hy the last session of Congress : —

An Act to amend an Act entitled " An Act to execute certain treaty stipulations
relating to Chinese approved May 6th, 1882."

Be it enacted by the Senate and House q/ Representatives of the United States of

372

America in Congress assembled, — That Section 1 of the Act entitled "An Act to execute
certain treaty stipulations relating to Chinese," approved May 6, 1882, is hereby
amended so as to read as follows : —

Whereas, In the opinion of the Government of the United States the coming of
Chinese laborers to this country endangers tl^e good order of certain localities within the
territory thereof ; therefore

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled, — That from and after the passage of this Act, and until
the expiration of ten years next after the passage of this Act, the coming of Chinese
laborers to the United States be, and the same is hereby suspended, and during such
suspension it shall not be lawful for any Chinese laborer to come from any foreign port
or place, or having so come to remain within the United States.

Section 2 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows : —
Section 2. That the master of any vessel who shall knowingly bring within the
United States on such vessel, and land, or attempt to land, or permit to be landed any
Chinese laborer, from any foreign port or place, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a tine of not more than five hundred
dollars for each and every such Chinese laborer so brought, and may also be imprisoned
for a term not exceeding one year.

Section 3 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows : —
Section 3. That the two foregoing sections shall not apply to Chinese laborers who
were in the United States on the 17th day of November, 1880, or who shall have come
into the same before the expiration of ninety days next after the passage of the Act to
which this Act is amendatory, nor shall said sections apply to Chinese laborers, who shall
produce to such master before going on board such vessel and shall produce to the col-
lector of the port in the United States at which such vessel shall arrive, the evidence
hereinafter in this Act required of his being one of the laborers in this section men-
tioned ; nor shall the two foregoing sections apply to the case of any master whose vessel,
being bound to a port not within the United States, shall come within the jurisdiction of
the United States by reason of being in distress or in stress of westther, or touching at
any port of the United States on its voyage to any foreign port or place : Provided,
That all Chinese laborers brought on such vessel shall not be permitted to land except
in case of absolute necessity, and must depart with the vessel on leaving port.
Section 4 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows : —
Section 4. That for the purpose of properly identifying Chinese laborers who were in
the United States on the 17th day of November, 1880, or who shall have come into the
same before the expiration of niaety days next after the passage of the Act to which this
Act is amendatory, and in order to furnish them with the proper evidence of their right
to go from and come to the United States as provided by the said act and the treaty
between the United States and China dated November 17th, 1880, the Collector of Cus-
toms of the district from which any such Chinese laborer shall depart from the United
States shall, in person or by deputy, go on board each vessel having on board any such
Chinese laborer, and cleared or about to sail from his district for a foreign port, and on
such vessel make a list of all such Chinese laborers, which shall be entered in registry
books, to be kept for that purpose, in which shall be stated the individual, family, and
tribal name in full, the age, occupation, when and where followed, last place of residence,
physical marks or peculiarities, and all facts necessary for the identification of each of
such Chinese laborers, which books shall be safely kept in the Custom House ; and every
such Chinese laborer so departing from the United States shall be entitled to and shall
receive, free of any charge or cost, upon application therefor, from the collector or his
deputy, in the name of said collector and attested by said collector's seal of office, at
the time such list is taken, a certificate, signed by the collector or his deputy and
attested by his seal of office, in such form as the Secretary of the Treasury shall pre-
scribe, which certificate shall contain a statement of the individual, family, and tribal
name in full, age, occupation, when and where followed, of the Chinese laborer to whom

373

the certificate is issued, corresponding with the said list and registry in all particulars.
In case any Chinese laborer, after having received such certificate, shall leave such vessel
before her departure, he shall deliver his certificate to the master of the vessel ; and if
such Chinese laborer shall fail to return to such vessel before her departure from port,
the certificate shall be delivered by the master to the Collector of Customs for cancel-
lation. The certificate herein provided for shall entitle the Chinese laborer to whom the
same is issued to return to and re-enter the United States upon producing and delivering
the same to the Collector of Customs of the district at which such Chinese laborer shall
seek to re-enter, and said certificate shall be the only evidence permissible to establish
his right of re-entry ; and upon delivering of such certificate by such Chinese laborer to
the Collector of Customs at the time of re-entry in the United States, said collector
shall cause the same to be filed in the Custom House and duly cancelled.
Section 6 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows : —
Section 6. That in order to the faithful execution of the provisions of this Act, every
Chinese person other than a laborer, who may be entitled by said treaty or this Act to
come within the United States, and who shall be about to come to the United States,*
shall obtain the permission of and be identified as so entitled by the Chi lese Govern-
ment, or of such other foreign government of which at the time such Chinese person
shall be a subject, in each case to be evidenced by a certificate issued by such govern-
ment, which certificate shall be in the English language, and shall show such permission,
with the name of the permitted person in his or her proper signature, and which certifi-
cate shall state the individual, family, and tribal name in full, title or oflicial rank, if any,
the age, height, and all physical peculiarities, former and present occupation or profession,
when and where and how long pursued, and place of residence of the person to whom the
' certificate is issued, and that such person is entitled by this Act to come within the
United States. If the person so applying for a certificate shall be a merchant, said cer-
tificate shall, in addition to above requirements, state the nature, character and estimated
value of the business carried on by him prior to and at the time of his application as
a,foresaid : Provided, That nothing in this Act nor in said treaty shall be construed as
embracing within the meaning of the word " merchant," huckster, pedlers, or those en-
gaged in taking, drying, or otherwise preserving shell or other fish for home consumption
or exportation. If the certificate be sought for the purpose of travel for curiosity, it shall
also state whether the applicant intends to pass through or travel within the United
States, together with his financial standing in the country from which such certificate is
desired. The certificate provided for in this Act, and the identity of the person named
therein shall, before such person goes on board any vessel to proceed to the United States,
he visid by the indorsement of the diplomatic representatives of the United States in the
foreign country from which said certificate issues, or of the consular representative of
the United States at the port or place from which the person named in the certificate is
about to depart ; and such diplomatic representative or consular representative whose
indorsement is so required is hereby empowered, and it shall be his duty, before indors-
ing such certificate as aforesaid, to examine into the truths of the statements set forth
in said certificate, and if he shall find upon examination that said or any of the state-
ments therein contained are untrue, it shall be his duty to refuse to indorse the same.
Such certificate vised as aforesaid shall be primd facie evidence of the facts set forth
therein, and shall be produced to the Collector of Customs of the port in the district in
the United States at which the person named therein shall arrive, and afterward pro-
duced to the proper authorities of the United States whenever lawfully demanded, and
shall be sole evidence permissible on the part of the person so producing the same to
estabUsh a right of entry into the United States ; but said certificate may be controverted
and the facts therein stated disproved by the United States authorities.
Section 8 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows :—
Section 8. That the master of any vessel arriving in the United States from any foreign
port or place shall, at the same time he delivers a manifest of the cargo, and if there be
no cargo, then at the time of making a report of the entry of the vessel pursuant to

374

law, in addition to the other matter required to be reported, and before landing, or per-
mitting to land, any Chinese passengers, deliver and report to the Collector of Customs of
the district in which such vessels shall have arrived, a separate list of all Chinese pas-
sengers taken on board his vessel at any foreign port or place, and all such passengers on
board the vessel at that time. Such list shall show the names of such passengers (and if
accredited officers of the Chinese or of any other foreign Government, travelling on the
business of that Government, or their servants, with a note of such facts), and the names
and other particulars as shown by their respective certificates ; and such list shall be
sworn to by the master in the manner required by law in relation to the manifest of the
cargo. Any refusal or wilful neglect of any such master to comply with the provisions
of this section shall incur the same penalties and forfeiture as are provided for a refusal
or neglect to report and deliver a manifest of the cargo.

Section 10 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows : —
Section 10. That every vessel whosemaster shall knowingly violate any of the provisions
of this Act shall be deemed forfeited to the United States, and shall be liable to seizure
ajid condemnation in any district of the United States into which such vessel may enter
or in which she may be found.

Section 1 1 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows : —
Section 11. That any person who shall knowingly bring into or cause to be brought
into the United States by land, or who shall aid or abet the same, or aid or abet the
landing in the United States from any vessel, of any Chinese person not lawfully entitled
to enter the United States, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall on con-
viction thereof, be fined in a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisoned for a
term not exceeding one year.

Section 12 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows : —
Section 12. That no Chinese person shaH be permitted to enter the United States
by land without producing to the proper officer of customs the certificate in this Act
required of Chinese persons seeking to land from a vessel. And any Chinese person
found unlawfully within the United States shall be caused to be removed therefrom to
the country from whence he came, and at the cost of the United States, after being
brought before some justice, judge, or commissioner of a court of the United States and
found to be one not lawfully entitled to be or remain in the United States ; and in all
such cases the person who brought or aided in bringing such person to the United States
shall be liable to the Government of the United States for all necessary expenses
incurred in such investigation and removal ; and all peace officers of the several states
and territories of the United States are hereby imested with the same authority as a
marshal or United States marshal in reference to carrying out the provisions of this act,^
or the Act of which this is amendatory, as a marshal or deputy marshal of the United
States, and shall be entitled to like compensation to be audited and paid by the same
officers. And the United States shall pay all costs and charges for the maintenance and
return of any Chinese person having the certificate prescribed by law as entitling such
Chmese person to come into the United States who may not have been permitted to
land from any vessel by reason of any of the provisions of this Act.

Section 13 of said Act is hereby amended so as to read as follows :

Section 13. That this Act shall not apply to diplomatic and other officers of the
Chmese or other Governments travelling upon the business of that Government, whose
credentials shall be taken as equivalent to the certificate in this Act mentioned, and shall
exempt them and their body and household servants from the provisions of this Act as to
other Chinese persons.

Section 15 of said Act is hereby amended, so as to read as follows : —
Section 15. That the provisions of this Act shall apply to all subjects of China and
Chmese, whether subjects of China or any other foreign power ; and the words Chinese
laborers, wherever used in this Act shall be construed to mean both skilled and unskilled
laborers and Chinese employed in mining.

Section 16. That any violation of any of the provisions of this Act, or of the Act of

375

which this is amendatory, the punishment of which is not otherwise herein provided for,
shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both such fine and
imprisonment.

Section 17. That nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to afiect any
prosecution or other proceeding, criminal or civil, begun under the act of which this is
amendatory ; but such prosecution or other proceeding, criminal or civil, shall proceed as
if this Act had not been passed.

Approved, July 5th, 1884.

APPENDIX G.

SUPREME COURT, OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Tai Sing vs. John Maguire.

Judgment of The Hon. Mr. Justice Gray, on the Chinese Tax Bill, passed by the
Legislature on the 2nd September, 1878.

September 23rd, 1878.

This is an ex parte application under the 79th and 82nd sections of the Common Law
Procedure Act, for an injunction to restrain the defendant from selling or otherwise
proceeding with the seizure of certain goods of the plaintiff, taken by the defendant as
a collector, under an Act passed by the Local Legislature of British Columbia, at its
last session in August, 1878, intituled : " An Act to provide for the better collection of
Provincial Taxes from the Chinese."

The second section is as follows :— Every Chinese person over twelve years ot age
shall take out a license every three months, for which he shall pay the sum of ten dollars
in advance, unto and to the use of Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors ; and such
license may be in the form A in the Schedule hereto.
No. Form A. Chinese Tax Act.

District of Date 18

Received of > *^en dollars, bemg three months license-

from the day of to the

dav of 1^

■^ Collector.

Other sections provide that every merchant, farmer, trader, or employer of Chinese-
labor is to furnish the collector with a list of all Chinamen in his employ or indirectly
employed by him, liable to pay the tax, under a penalty in case of failing to deliver such
list when required to, or knowingly making any false statement therein, of |100 for
every Chinese person so employed, " to be recovered by distress of the goods and chattels
" of the person failing to pay the same, or in lieu thereof shall be liable to imprisonment
"for a period not less than one month and not exceeding two calender months, the
collector (section 7) having power to levy the amount of the quarterly icense rom any
Chinese person not being in lawful possession of such license, with costs by "distress
" of the goods and chattels of the person who ought to pay the same, or of any goods or
" chattels in his possession, wherever the same may be found, or of any goods or chattels
" found on the premises, the property of or in the possession of any other occupant of the
" premises," the non-production of the quarterly receipt being sufficient authority for the
collector to levy, proof of the lawful possession of such receipt lying on the person whose-

goods are distrained. , . . ,. • r „„ i„,„

By the 8th section : any Chinese person not having m his possession a lice^^se law-
fully issued to him, and any person employing a Chinese Pf^^^.^^^^^/^^^^g ^o\nA
possession a license lawfully issued to him, shall, on conviction, forfeit and pay $100, and

376

in default of immediate payment, be liable to distress and sale of his goods ; and if suffi-
cient funds are not found, to imprisonment with or without hard labor, for a period not
exceeding two months or less than one month.

The 9th section makes the allegation of the offense in the prosecution sufficient
proof of the offence, unless the defendant prove the contrary; and the 10th section
gives power to any justice of the peace, in a summary manner, to hear and determine
the information in any locality where the accused shall be found.

The 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th sections provide for the employer demanding his
■ quarterly license of the Chinese person employed, and enact that the Chinese person who
neglects, refuses, or is unable to take out the quarterly license, shall be liable at the
instance of the collector, to perform labor on the public roads and works, in lieu thereof,
at the rate of fifty cents a day, the cost of food, five per cent, of the wages of the overseer,
five per cent, on the amount of the quarterly license for cost of wear and tear of tools, to
be added to the quarterly sum of ten dollars, and to be deemed payable by every Chinese
person performing such labor, in addition to the amount of the quarterly license ; and such
labor to be continuous until an amount of work equivalent to the whole sum due by him
has been performed, the labor to last from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with one hour allowed
at mid-day for food ; and in case of failure, refusal, or neglect to perform the labor afore-
said, to be liable for each day's default, to perform two days' labor instead of one, or in
default thereof, to be imprisoned with hard labor for any term not exceeding six months
on conviction in a summary way before a justice of the peace ; and if any person shall
obstruct others in the performance of their duties or do anything calculated to obstruct
the due performance of the labor, he shall, on conviction, before a justice of the peace,
be imprisoned with hard labor for a period not exceeding six months, the overseer being
required to prosecute in such cases.

The 8th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th sections, just mentioned, do not come into force
until one month after the passage of the Act, namely, on the 2nd October, 1878, but they
are necessary to be considered in determining the intent, character and effect of the Act
as a whole, in the light of the authorities and principles hereinafter referred to. This is
■one of twelve applications now before the court on behalf of different merchants and
employers of Chinese labor, whose goods have been seized, and the decision of which, until
reversed, will govern the remainder, as well as the present. The question is of more than
ordinary importance, as it tests the constitutionality of the power assumed by the Local
liBgislature to pass such an Act.

On behalf of the plaintiff it is contended :

1st. That the Act is ultra vires as dealing with trade and commerce ■

2nd. As an interference with aliens ;

3rd. As interfering with the powers and duties of the Dominion Government in
'performing the obligations of Canada as a part of the British Empire, arising under
treaties between Great Britain and China.

The province of British Columbia is a part of the Dominion of Canada, possessing
powers strictly defined by the "British North America Act, 1867," the federal compact
by which the provinces are united. No power of legislation whatever pertains to them,
other than as embraced in that compact. If the legislation of the Local Legislature be not
within and sustained by that compact, it is not and has not the force of law. The assent
of the Governor General cannot make an Act constitutional which does not come within
the powers conceded to the province by the British North America Act, 1867. It
becomes, therefore, necessary to consider that Act with the greatest care, to see how far
its provisions bear upon the question before us, keeping in mind that it is an Imperial
Act, passed by the consent and at the request of the provinces themselves, in order that
their relative rights should not be liable to fluctuation, abrogation, or curtailment at the
instance of any predominant party or conflicting interest in the Dominion. It is the
solemn guarantee of the highest power in the British Empire that the rights thereby
conferred shall not be diverted. If the Local Parliament could interfere with the distri-
bution of legislative powers, the Dominion Parliament could do the same, and thus in the

377

end the weaker must fall before the stronger, and British Columbia, with its sparse and
limited population, be powerless.

The 91st section specifies in detail, by sub-divisions, the subjects on which the
Dominion Parliament shall have exclusive legislation ; the 92nd section those on which
the Provincial Parliaments shall have exclusive legislation. When either party goes
beyond the list so defined, the Act becomes ultra vires, and it is the duty of that court
before which the question is raised so to declare it.

The 91st section, by sub-division 2, gives to the Dominion Parliament the regulation
of trade and commerce, and, by sub-division 25, that of naturalization and aliens, ex-
tending to all matters coming within either of' those classes of subjects. It is plain,
therefore, the Local Legislature can legally pass no Act interfering with the regulation of
either the one or the other.

Then, does this local Act interfere with the regulation of trade, or commerce, natural-
ization, or aliens ? By its preamble, it professes to prevent the evasion by the Chinese
•of the payment of the taxes upon real and personal property, on income, on unoccupied
land, and the separate tax for the maintenance of the school system, and declaring it
advisable that all should contribute to the general revenue, enacts the provisions above
set forth as a more simple method for the better collection of provincial taxes from
Chinese.

A preamble is really no substantial part of the Act. It is simply the professed light
by which it is alleged the Act should be read ; but in determining the objects of the act,
we must look not at the preamble, but really at its enacting clauses. Ttey may directly
conflict with the preamble, and it has been contended that the object of this Act is not
so much to prevent the evasion of the payment of taxes by the Chinese, as to prevent
their living or carrying on business in this country.

What is the effect of those enacting clauses ?

In arriving at a conclusion, I have been materially assisted by a leading decision in
the Supreme Court of the State of California, (Lee Sing vs. Washburn, 20 California
Reports, 534), in which the facts and points raised are almost identical with those in the
case now before this Court, except that in the California case the Act of the Legislature
boldly and openly avowed its object, viz. : to protect free white labor against oompeti-
-tion with Chinese coolie-labor, and discourage the immigration of the Chinese into the
State of California. The suit there was an appeal from the decision of an inferior tri-
bunal, which had sustained, under an Act of the California Legislature under the above
title, the enforcement of a monthly capitation tax of $2.50 on each person, male and
female, of the Mongolian race, of the age of eighteen years and upwards, residing in the
state, except such as had taken, or should take out licenses to work in the mines, or to
prosecute some kind of business, which tax should be known as the Chinese police tax ;
and exempting also all Mongolians exclusively engaged in the production and manufac-
ture of sugar, rice, cofiee and tea. The plaintiff Lee Sing, after refusal, paid {he |2.50,
on the seizure of his property by the collector, immediately re-demanded the sum, and
brought suit for its recovery. The case was most elaborately and ably argued on appeal,
the Attorney-General of the state appearing for the collector to sustain the tax. The
point was distinctly taken, that it was an interference with trade and commerce, which
could be regulated alone by the general government, and as distinctly met, that it was
not an interference, but more a matter of police regulation, and that even if it did inter-
fere with trade and commerce, the state had concurrent jurisdiction, and m matters of
taxation relative to its own internal affairs, of which this was one, an absolute and
inherent right to legislate. The position of the Attorney-General on behalf of his state,
was strengthened by the well known doctrine of state rights, that at the time of the
Union, being sovereign and independent states they had only parted with what they
distinctly gave, and that, therefore, all powers not absolutely expressed as parted with
remained in the state, a position which cannot be contended for on the part of the
provinces of the Dominion, the differences in this respect in their constitutions being, as
put forth in a work published in Toronto on this subject in 1872 : " In the United States all

378

" powers not specifically conceded by the several States to the Federal Grovernment, were still
" to remain with the several States. In Canada, on the contrary, all powers not specifi-
" cally conceded by the Imperial Parliament, in the proposed constitution to the separate
" provinces, were to remain with the Federal Government. The source of power was^
" exactly reversed. At the time of the framing of their constitution, the United States
" were a congeries of independent states, which had been united for a temporary purpose,
" but which recognized no paramount or sovereign authority. The fountain of concession,
" therefore, ilowed -upward from the several states to the United Government. The Pro-
" vinces, on the contrary, were not independent States, they still recognized a paramount
" and sovereign authority, without whose consent and legislative sanction the union
" could not be formed ; without their assent, their rights would not be taken from them ;
" but as they could not part with them to the other Provinces, without the sovereign
" assent, the source from which those rights would pass to the other Provinces, when
" surrendered to the Imperial Government for the purpose of confederation, would be
" through the supreme authority. Thus the fountain of concession would flow down-
" ward, and the rights not conceded to the separate Provinces would vest in the Federal
" Government, to which they were to be transferred by the paramount or sovereign au-
" thority." (Gray on Confederation, vol. I., p. 56.)

In every way, therefore, in the legal aspect of the case, both as to the originaL
inherent power, and the less distinctive and marked concession, the position of CaUfomia
was stronger than that of British Columbia, while the latter is relieved from all conflict
on the question of concurrent jurisdiction by the express terms of the federal compact of
the Dominion.

In that case, the court decided (Field dissent iente) that the federal constitution had
vested in the General Government the power to regulate commerce in all its branches,,
and this power extends to every species of commercial intercourse, and may be exercised
upon persons as well as property.

That commerce cannot be carried on without the agency of persons, and a tax, the
efiect of which is to diminish personal intercourse is a tax on commerce. If the power
to impose such a tax is acknowledged, it being a sovereign power, no limitation can be
affixed to its exercise, and it may be so used as not only to diminish but to destroy
commerce.

The power asserted in the passing of the Act in question, is the right of the State to
prescribe the terms upon which the Chinese shall be permitted to reside in it, and this
right if carried to the extent to which it may be carried, if the power exists, may be so
used as to cut oiT all intercourse between them and the people of the State, and defeat the
commercial policy of the nation.

That the Act could not be maintained as a police regulation ; that branch of the
police power had been surrendered to the Fedei-al Government as part of the power to-
regulate commerce, and its exercise by a state was incompatible with the authority of the
Government. That the Chinese might be taxed as other residents, but could not be set
apart as special objects of taxation, and be compelled to contribute to the revenue of the
state in the character of foreigners

The reasoning which supports these conclusions is clear and logical, and it is stated
in a note to the case, that they have been re-examined and approved. (People vs.
Raymond, 34 California Reports, p. 422.) Reference is also made to the State of California
vs. Steamship Constitution, January Term, 1872.

These California Reports are referred to as exceptionally applicable, the Chinese
question on the Pacific coast emphatically belonging to that State. There, almost every
argument that legal ingenuity could suggest has been used to take from the General and
vest in the Local Government the power of expulsive or prohibitory legislation as against
this particular class of foreigners ; and though towards them the mobs may there occa-
sionally exhibit a somewhat rude exuberance of license, few countries can be found where,
in considering their cases, more correct views of law are laid down, than in the higher
courts of that state.

379

Cooley on Taxation (chap. 3, p. 62), referring to the power of the Federal Con-
gress in the United States to regulate commerce with foreign nations, observes : " The
" constitution and the laws made in pursuance thereof, being supreme over the several
" States, the power of regulation cannot be interfered with, limited or restrained by an
" exercise of State authority. When, therefore, it is held that a power to tax is at the •
" discretion of the authority which wields it, a power which may be carried to the extent
" of an annihilation of that which it taxes, and, therefore, may defeat and nullify any
" axithority which may elsewhere exist for the purpose of protection and preservation, it
" follows as a corollary that the several States cannot tax the commerce which is regu-
" lated under the supremacy of Congress ;" citing McCuUoch vs. Maryland, 4 Wheaton,
p. 316, 425, per Marshall, C.J.

In the case of Regina vs. Taylor (36 Queen's Bench Reports, Ontario, p. 183) the
same points were much discussed, both on the argument on the demurrer in the Queen's
Bench and subsequently in the Court of Error and Appeal. Though the latter court
reversed the decision of the former court as to the application of the principles to the
particular case in hand, yet it did not differ as to those principles themselves, that
is, that if the Local Act was an interference with the regulation of trade and commerce,
not specially allowed by the 92nd section, it would be ultra mes. With the greatest
deference, however, for the distinguished Chief Justice who delivered the judgment of
the latter court, it is difficult to see the foundation for the conclusion at which he
ai-rived, that the term " exclusive legislative authority" given to the Dominion Parha^
ment, on the subjects enumerated in section 91, was to be construed as exclusive of
Imperial, not of Provincial legislation. .

The British North America Act,, 1867, was framed, not as altering or deinmg the-
changed or relative positions of the Provinces towards the Imperial Government, but
solely as between themselves. It was the written compact by which for the future their
mutual relations were to be governed. In consideration of the concessions of the
Provinces to the General Government, and for the purpose of enabling the latter to carry
out the responsibilities assumed on behalf of the former, each restricted itself as to what
for the future it would do. And it is to be observed that the expressions used m the
92nd section, though not identical in words, are identical in meaning with those used in
section 91. In section 91 the Dominion Parliament has " exclusive legislative authority ;
in section 92 the Provincial Legislature "may exclusively make laws' touching the mat-
ters assigned to each. The exclusiveness in the matter could certamly have no reference'
to legislation by the Imperial Parliament, because it would be incongruous, and it in the
former it was intended as restricted to Imperial legislation, then the mutuality m the
compact was gone, and the Provinces were obtaining nothing for the concessions they
gave Moreover, with reference to the Imperial Parliament as the paramount or
sovereign authority, the term would have no legal bearing. Such a construction weakens
the authority of the General Government of the Dominion. The British North Amerca
Act, 1867, was intended to make legal an agreement which the Provinces desired to enter
into as between themselves, but which not being sovereign states they had no power to
make. It was not intended as a declaration that the Imperial Government renounced
any part of its authority. It is submitted, with deference to that great and good
Canadian, Chief Justice Draper, that the original framers of Confederation nieant that
act to be the rule of guidance as between the Dominion and Provmcia Governments.
It is the charter of their relative rights; if not, the Act is a great bungle.

In the case of Regina vs. the Justices of King's County, in few Brunswick (Pugs-
ley's Reports, vol. 11.? p. 535), it was held that a Loca Legislature has no POwer, «^°e
the " BrSish North America Act, 1867," to pass a law directly or indirectly P™hibitmg
the manufacture or sale, or limiting the use of spirituous hquors. And an Act passed
with this object in view was ultra vires and void. The Court there clearly decided that
the power of regulating trade and commerce, given exclusively to the Dominion Parlia-
ment by the 91st section, was not limited to trade and commerce with foreign countries
or even between the separate Provinces, but extended to the internal trade and traffic ot

380

each particular Province. That " trade" meant the exchange of goods for other goods,
or for money — the business of buying and selling — while " commerce " might be more
correctly defined as an interchange of goods, wares, productions or property of any kind,
between nations and individuals. That the regulation of trade and commerce must
involve full power over the matter to be regulated, and must necessarily exclude the
interference of all other bodies that would attempt to intermeddle with the same thing.

Vattel, chap. 8, referring to our duties towards foreigners, observes : " Since the
" Lord of the Territory may, whenever he thinks proper, forbid its being entered, he has
-" a power to annex what conditions he pleases to the permission to enter. This is a con-
" sequence of the right of domain. If he annexes any particular condition to such per-
" mission, he ought to have measures taken to acquaint foreigners with it when they
■ " present themselves on the frontier. He ought not to grant an entrance into his state
" for the purpose of drawing foreigners into a snare. As soon as he admits them he
" engages to protect them as his own subjects, and to afford them perfect security as far
" as depends on him."

Kent, in his Commentaries (8th Edition, vol. II., p. 388) observes : " Every person
" is entitled to be protected in the enjoyment of his property, not only from invasions of
" it by individuals, but from all unequal and undue assessments on the part of the Gov-
" ernment. It is not sufficient that no tax or imposition can be imposed upon the citi-
'" zens, but by their representatives in the Legislature. The citizens are entitled to require
" that the Legislature itself shall cause all public taxation to be fair and equal, in propor-
" tion to the value of property, so that no one class of individuals, and no species of pro-
" perty may be unequally or unduly assessed." Chinese are not citizens, nor are French-
men, Germans, Italians, Spaniards, or Americans ; all alike are foreigners, unless natu-
ralized, and as such are entitled to the same privileges^ The United States, as the
sovereign power to which California belongs, made treaties with China. Great Britain,
as the sovereign power to which Canada belongs, has made treaties with China. Those
treaties are described for the purposes of peace and amity, trade and commerce.

Treaties are regarded as the highest and most binding of laws, beyond any merely
internal regulation which one of the parties thereto may make for the government of
its own people, because, on the subjects to which they refer they bind the people of both
powers, however dissimilar in other respects may be their institutions, customs or laws.
A remarkable case illustrating this principle will be found in 3 Dallas' American Reports,
p. 199 (Ware vs. Hylton): " During the revolutionary war between Great Britain and the
" United States the State of Virginia made a law that all persons indebted to British
" subjects, might pay the amount into the loan office, which should be a good discharge."
By the Treaty of Peace it was provided that " Creditors of either side should meet with
no lawful impediments for the recovery of their money." The defendant had paid the
money into the loan office, but it was held that in consequence of the Treaty of Peace he
was liable to the plaintiff. Judge Chase said : " In the constructions of contracts words
" are to be taken in their natural and obvious meaning, unless some good reason be
" assigned to show that they should be understood in a different sense. The universality
■" of the terms is equal to an express specification in the treaty, and indeed includes it,
" for it is fair and conclusive reasoning that if any description of debtors or class of
■" cases were intended to be expressed it would have been specified. The indefinite and
" sweeping words made use of by the parties, exclude the idea of any class of cases
" having been intended to be excepted, and explode the doctrine of constructive discri-
" mination." (Phillimore on International Law, vol. II., p. 89.)

Wildman on International Law, vol. I., p. 188, says; "Treaties of commerce and
navigation are necessary to secure, as a matter of right, that commercial intercourse,
which without treaty is merely precarious." At p. 179 : "They are to be taken as to their
stipulations, most strongly against the party for whose benefit they are introduced."
At p. 184: "Provisions in favor of natural justice and humanity, and consequently much
more those that are declaratory of the Common Law of Nations, must be construed
liberally." As a matter of history, it is well known that these treaties were forced on

381

China by Great Britain, and on the part of the former most reluctantly accepted As
stated by a late writer on the subject in a popular magazine, the terms of the treaty
between Great Britain and China permitted the subjects of Great Britain to trade in
China and reside there, and it gave in return full permission for the Chinese to trade^
and reside m the British Dominions everywhere. Many had already gone there and
their action was fully, legalized by the treaty. Is is said this permission was not asked
by the Chinese but was inserted by the English Envoy to give it an appearance of
fairness. The treaty was forced upon China. An examination of the last treaty in 1858
and the subsequent convention in 1860, shows that the Emperor of China actually
undertakes to withdraw the ban hitherto preventing his subjects from going abroad, and
to give than permission "to go and trade and reside and take service in the British
Colonies " and to enter into engagements with British subjects for that purpose.

By the 132nd section of the "British North America Act, 1867," it is specially
enacted that the Parliament and Government of Canada shall have all the powers
necessary or proper for performing all the obligations of Canada, or any Province thereof,
as part of the British Empire, towards foreign countries arising under treaties between
the empire and such foreign countries.

The same views with reference to the powers of Local Legislatures, when comin" in
contact with the Dominion authority, are sustained in Leprohon vs. The City of Ottawa
(2 Queen's Bench, Ontario, 478); Dow vs. Black (0. P. C. & R., 272); Union of St.
Jacques vs. Belleisle (do. 35) : The Queen vs. Chandler (Hannay's New Brunswick
Reports, 54).

Sumptuary laws affecting the domestic and personal habits of a people, where not
necessary for the prevention of crime, the preservation of the public health, or purposes
of morality, have always been considered objectionable. To enact that employment shall
not be given to classes, except on hazardous and ruinous terms, is practically prohibiting
intercourse with the particular class specified. If you cannot deal or trade with a man,
but at the risk of a penalty far exceeeding the value of the service, that dealing or
trading will be put an end to.

Looking at the British Columbia Act in the light of these authorities, we find, in
the first place, it goes far beyond the California Act, in Lee Sing vs. Washburn, declared
to be unconstitutional. It is not a license to do business, it can barely be called a
license of residence ; it is more simply a three month's permit of existence in British
Columbia. Every Chinese person, the traveller for pleasure, for knowledge or in view
of future trade or business, comes within its purview. It is limited to no locality,
attaches at an age, without reference to sex, when under the laws applicable to other
persons, the individual is not the master of his own movements or actions ; and under
the 12th section makes the inability to take out such license, immaterial from what
cause arising, whether from sickness, impotency, poverty, infancy, idiocy or old age, an
offence punishable by what, from caprice, misapprehension, or bad feeling, may be made
a grinding servitude almost indefinite in extent, and compared with which the ordinary
punishments inflicted for very serious crimes would be almost a luxury. How is a
Chinese infant, or female barely over twelve years of age, to comply with this Act ? By
the 7th section the liquidation of the offence is not limited to the offender's person or
goods, but may be atoned for by the seizure of any other person's goods happening to be
in his possession, or the goods and chattels of the accidental occupant of the same
premises. The Act exceptional in its nature as to one class of foreigners, bristles with
imprisonment and hard labor, and places the frightful power of conviction and punish-
ment in the hands of any justice of the peace throughout the country, at the instance
of a collector whose interest it may be to gratify the promoters of the Act.

Such will be the condition of the employed ; what will be the condition of the
employer ?

By the 8th section : " Any Chinese person who shall not have in his possession a
" license lawfully issued to him, and arvy person who shall employ any Chinese person
" who has not in his possession a license lawfully issued to him, shall, on conviction

382

" thereof, forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding $100, and in default of immediate pay-
" ment, the amount of such penalty shall be levied by distress and sale of the goods and
" chattels of the persons contravening the provisions of this Act, or if sufficient distress
" be not found, shall be liable to be imprisoned with or without hard labor, for any
" period not exceeding two months and not less than one month."

By the 9th section : " In any prosecution for the infraction of any of the provisions
" of this act, the averment in the information that any person named therein had not in
' his possession at the time of the alleged infraction a license lawfully issued to him,
" shall he sufficient proof that such person had not such license, unless the defendant
" shall prove the contrary."

And by the 10th section jurisdiction is given to any mayor, warden, or any justice
of the peace to hear and determine the information in a summary manner at any locality
where the accused shall be found. Thus a farmer in the urgency of a pressing harvest, a
merchant or trader in the emergency of business, before he can avail himself of this
species of labor or assistance, must lose his time, his harvest, or his opportunity in test-
ing the genuineness and lawful issue of the document, as well as the identity of the per-
son holding it. Distance, inability to prove identity, pressing necessity are of no avail.
Non-employment or the risk of the penalty ! It is a somewhat startling proposition to
confound the innocent with the guilty, and hold the free citizens of a country responsible
for the tricks and defaults of foreigners ! Such trammels must kill all trade and inter-
course with the proscribed race. Intercourse is necessary to trade. Social ostracism the
Local Legislature has no power to enforce. The Act has overreached itself. In contrast
with the California Act cited in Lee Sing vs. Washburn, the extent to which it goes is
astounding.

Secondly, from the examination of its enacting clauses, it is plain it was not intended
to collect revenue, but to drive the Chinese from the country, thus interfering at once
with the authority reserved to the Dominion Parliament as to the regulation of trade
and commerce, the rights of aliens, and the treaties of the empire. It interferes with
the foreign as well as the internal trade of the country, and in its practical effect would
operate as an absolute prohibition of intercourse with the Chinese.

" There can be no question that all parties who reside within the taxing
" power and receive the protection of the government may be called upon to render
" the equivalent, and that both with reference to persons and property the rule is
" applicable when within the jurisdiction." (Cooley, p. 15.) The Chinese, Hke all
other residents in the country, can be made to bear their proper share of taxation
when enforced in a legal manner, under laws constitutionally made. The 92nd
section gives the Local Legislature the power of raising a revenue for Provincial
purposes by direct taxation within the Province, and points out the modes and
subjects by means of which it may be done ; but under the semblance of such an inten-
tion the law will not permit an infringement of the constitution.

It has been said, that Queensland passed a law, putting an exceptional tax on Chi-
nese immigrants into that country, which after several unavailing efforts, was at length
assented to by the Imperial Government. The shape in which that tax was imposed, or
the reasons which induced the Imperial Government to assent to it, have not been shown
nor has the act itself been produced.

British Columbia does not stand in the same position, she is not autonomous. As
the State Legislature of California stands towards the Congress of the United States, so
the Local Legislature of British Colnmbia stands towards the Parliament of Canada,
and is restrained by the federal compact which governs the Dominion. Queensland, on the
contrary, is autonomous, legislates only and solely for herself, is restrained by no federal
compact, and in her relative position towards the British Empire is constitutionally on
the same footing as the Dominion of Canada.

The Dominion Parliament may pass such an Act as regulating the trade and com-
merce of Canada, subject to the confirmatory power of the sovereign authority in Eng-
land as governing the whole empire, but British Columbia cannot. Should the Dominion

383

Parliament pass an Act like that of Queensland, the Imperial Government might" see rea-
sons to assent to it. And if the interests of British Columbia, in the future, require
legislation of that exceptional nature, which is the opinion of some practical and sensible
men in the country, she must seek and obtain it through the proper channel, that is, by
the action of the Dominion Parliament.

The present Act is entirely beyond the powers of the Local Legislature, and is, there-
fore, unconstitutional and void.

The prayer of the petition must be complied with and the injunction issued.

This judgment will apply to each of the cases brought before me.

APPENDIX H.

Victoria, B. C, August 22nd, 1884.
Sir,

Herewith I have the honor to hand you a return of the Chinese cases which have
been brought before the Police Magistrate of this city for the five and a half years ending
on June 30th, 1884.

Also a statement of the number of cases, whites, Indians and Chinese, before the
same court for that period. These returns are compiled from the Official Record of the
said court.

I remain, sir, respectfully yours,

CHARLES P. BLOOMFIELD,

Superintendent of City Police.
INiCHOLAs Flood Davin, Esq.,

Secretary, Chinese Commission.

Calendar of Chinese Cases before the Victoria Police Court.

1879

Jan. a

Teb. 4
18

24

Ah Song

AhYue

Ah Few

Ah You (woman) .

KaiTow

Si Fung

Ah You

Ah Sin

Ah How (woman) .

Ah How

AhYee

Ah Quoi

Ah Sing

Ah Ling

Sam Ohong

Ah Sing

Ah Lin

Ah Fay

Ah Bow

Ah Boon

Ah Sim

Ah Tuck

Ah Moon

Larceny

Vagrancy

Vagrancy

Vagrancy (prostitution)

Larceny

Assault on Chinaman

Supplying liquor to Indians .

Vagrancy

Larceny

Vagrancy

Infraction city by-laws

do do —

do do —

do do —

do "do

do do —

Supplying liquor to Indians.

Vagrancy

Larceny

Assault on officer

Larceny

Safe-keeping

Larceny

SENTENCE.

3 months hard labor.

$20 or 2 months hard labor.
$20 or 2 months hard labor.

3 months hard labor.
3 mos. h. 1. and $100 fine or 3 mos. add.
$10 or 1 month hard labor.
Not proven.
$20 or 1 month.
$1Q, to be levied by distress,
do do do

do and $2 costs do
do do do

$20 or 1 month hard labor,
do do do

3 mos. h. 1. and $50 fine or 3 mos. add.
$25 or 3 months hard labor.
Committed for trial.
$20 and $3 costs or 2 months hard labor .
Not proven.

Remanded for medical treatment.
Committed for trial.

384

Calendar of Chinese Cases before the Victoria Police Court.

1 3T9 — Continued.

Mch. 6

15

27
Apl. 2

21

May 21

22

31

June 2

July 9

30
Aug. 1
13
21
Sept. 12
15
16

22

25

Oct. 2

3

6

7
20
22
29

Dec. 1
11
15

18

NAME.

Ah Foo

AhYeu

AhFow

Ah Hod

Gin Foo

AhChu

Ah Foo

AhYeu

Ah How

Wing John

Lo Chung

Jim

Ah Hoy (woman).
Tye Chung Yuen..

Wong Yet

AhLim

Ah Sam '. ■ ■

Guy Lee

Ah Song

Ah Foo

Ah Lee

Ah Yue

Song Ou Lung

Ah Tuck

Ah Kee

Ah Sue

Ah Lin

Ah How (woman) .

AhChu

Chang New

Chang New

Lee Pook

KaiTai

Sam

Mee Hing

Ah Keoi

Ah Qewn

Ah Sing

Ah Quong

Ah Shun

So Ling

Ah Get

Ah Sing

Ah Pow

Ching Yee

Ah Hing

Yue Choy

Wah Saw

Chin You

Sam Fook

Ah Bow

Ah Cliong

Supplying liquor to Indians. .

Vagrancy

Vagrancy

Supplying liquor to Indians . .

Larceny

Supplying liquor to Indians . .

Vagrancy ,

Supplying liquor to Indians. .

do do do . .

do do do . .

Infraction harbor rules

Supplying liquor to Indians. .

Vagrancy

Infraction sanitary by-law —

do do do

Supplying liquor to Indians . .
Unlawful detention of property

Trading without license

Supplying liquor to Indians.

do do do

do do do
Refusing to pay taxes

do do do

do do do

do do do

Supplying litjuor to Indians . . .

Malicious injurjr to timber

Vagrancy (prostitution)

Supplying liquor to Indians . . .
Assaulting Choo Hook

do Lee Hook

do Chung Lay

Vagrancy

Assault'g Mrs. A.F.Pemberton,

Infraction sanitary laws

Vagrancy

do

Larceny

Murder

Supplying liquor to Indians . . .
Vagrancy

I Unlawful Gaming. To wit :J
Tan-Tan.

SENTENCE.

6 mos. h.l. and $100 or 6 mos. addit'l.

$20 or 2 months hard labor.

$25 or 2 months hard labor.

6 months h. 1. and $100 or 6 mos. add.

3 months and $50 or 2 months addit'l.
$20 or 2 months hard labor.

Discharged.

do

Summons dismissed.
Discharged.

do

Dismissed.

3 mos. h. 1. and $50 fine or 3 mos. add>

Dismissed.

do

Discharged.

3 mos. h. 1. and $50 fine or 1 mo. add.
1 mo. h. 1. and $50 fine or 1 mo. add'l.

^ tax and costs $2.

do do

do do

do do

3 mos. h. 1. and $50 fine or 2 mos. add..
$5 fine and $5 damage or 1 mo. h. 1.
$10 fine or 14 days hard labor.
$50 fine or 3 months imprisonment.
Discharged.
Committed for trial.

do do

6 months hard labor.
Prosecutor did not appear.

$10 or 1 month hard labor,
do do

1 month imprisonment hard labor.

Committed for trial.

Discharged,
do

Bound over to appear when called on.
do do do

Pined $20 or 1 month hard labor.

Bound over to appear when called on.
do do do

do do do

I Unlawful Gaming. To wit : All bound over to appear when called
r Tan-Tan. on and to pay costs of prosecution.

i?ampering with witness |Discharged.

1880

Jan.

14

26

Peb.

4

12

Sin Quoi.
Ah Yung
No Tow..
Ah Hay..
Ah Hing .
Ah Yea..
Ah Hing.
Ah Lut..
Ah Jack.
Ah Long .
Ah Shing

Assault with intent

Infraction street by-law

Larceny

Vagrancy

do

Larceny of Chickens. .

9 fine and

Fined $2.50.

3 months hard labor.

do do

do do

Committed for trial.

50 costs or 3 mos. h. 1..

385

Calendar of Chinese Cases before the Victoria Police Court.

1880 — Continued.

DATE.

NAME.

OFFENCE.

SENTENCE.

Mch. 22

April 5
21

May 11
June

July 13

17
22
26

Aug.
Sept.

■Oct.

Nov.
Dec.

22

All Sing

Ah Sing

Ah Mow

Kwong Lee & Co

Ah Fan

Ah Lip

Hop Sing

Wong Pack Lung..

Sing Kee

Kwong Lee & Co . .

See Lee Lung

WahLung&Co..
Tye Chung & Co. .
Kwong Tong Sing .
TaiSoong&Co...
Tai Yune &Co....

Tong Lee

Chu Chung &Co..

QuongSing

Ah Gow

Kwong Ling Sing.

Mee Hing

Ah Cheong

Chang Lee

Ah Hing

Ah Sow

Ah Hop

Song Ou Liing

Ah Tow

Ah Wah

Ah Lin

Ah Lim

Ah Hing

Ah Ping

Gin How

FookChoy

Ah Mow

Bing Kee

Ah Sing

Lee Hung

Ah Lee

Ah Chu

AhLy

Ah Chow

Wah Kee

Ah John

Ah Bow

Ah Jim

AhFoon

Ah Buck

Wing Hing

Ah Tan

Ah Loy

Ah Song

Ah Sing

Ah Lee

Ah Wye

Ah Sing al. Ai Get.

Supplying liquor to Indians.. .

Trespass

Prison-breaking

Infraction sanitary laws

Unsound mind

Vagrancy

do

Larceny of moneys

Infraction of street by-laws.. .

► Infraction of Sunday by-law.

1 mo. h. 1. and $50 fine or 1 month add.
Discharged.
Committed for trial.
Dismissed on payment of costs.
Discharged.

$10 fine or 1 month hard labor,
do do do

Dismissed on payment of costs.

Dismissed.

Infraction of Sunday by-law..

Larceny

Infraction of sanitary laws.

Non-payment of road-tax.

Supplying liquor to Indians . . .

Larceny

Breach of prison discipline —
Unlawful possession of game...

Infraction of street by-law

Vagrancy

do
do
Unlawful possession of game...

Larceny of moneys

Unlawful possession of game.,
do do deer-skins.

1 Using threatening

V language to one

j Fred. Luxford.

1^ Non-payment of

) taxes.

House breaking

do
do
do

Vagrancy • ■ •;

Supplying liquor to Indians. .
do do do ..

On premises with intent

Assault

Infraction city by-laws

Larceny of jewelry

Supplying liquor to Indians. . .

Dismissed.

Dismissed.

Fined $10 or 1 month imprisonment.'

2 nios. h. 1. and $50 fine or 3 mos. add.

Discharged.

$50 fine or 30 days imprisonment.

$10 fine or 20 days imprisonment.

Discharged.

"SO fine or 2 months hard labor.

do do do

do do do

wj fine or 10 days imprisonment.
'3 months hard labor.
$5 ilne and $2 costs or 10 days impr'nt.
145 skins forfeited & fined $25 or 20 day s.
C Prosecutor did not appear.

{ Discharged.

Committed for trial.

do do

do do

do do

Discharged.

"0 fine or 2 months hard labor.
.^.JO fine and $2 costs or 3 months h. 1.
6 months hard labor.
$5 or 7 days imprisonment.
,$2.50 fine or 4 days imprisonment.
Discharged.

do

1881

Jan. 6
17

Quong Hing
Kit Long . . .
Yung Fou. .
Ah Long

Infraction street by-law,
do do

Vagrancy

do

Fined $5 or 4 days imprisonment.

do "1° , J , ,,

14 days imprisonment hard labor.'

Discharged.

2d

3-M

Calendar of Chinese Cases before the Victoria Police Court.
1881 — Continued.

Feb.

Mch.

Apl.
May

July
Aug.
Sept.
Nov.

Ying

Ah Jim

Ah Sam

Ah Sing

AhChu

Ah Weu

Tong Lee

Ah Jim

Toy

Ah Sam

Ah Long

Ah Quong

Ah Sing

Ah Tim

Kwong Lee & Co .

Ah Quong

Ah Quon

Ah Sun

Lim Sam

Gee Yack

Larceny

Larceny of duclis

do do

Larceny

Pedling without license

do do

Infraction fire by-law

Resisting revenue officer

On premises with intent

Obt g goods by false pretences.

Infraction street by-law

Assault.

Assault on constable

Assault

Infraction sanitary laws

do do

do do

do do

do do

do do

1882

SENTENCE.

discharged.

6 months hard labor.

do do

do do

Fine $5, $2 costs and $20 license or 1 m.

do do

Dismissed.
Committed for trial.

do do

Discharged.

Fined $1 and $2 costs or 1 day impris't.
Fined SIO or 1 month's imprisonments
$20 or 2 months imprisonment.
$10 or 14 days imprisonment.
Dismissed.
Fined $2.50 and $7 costs or 14 days.

do do do

Fined $5 and $7 costs, levied by distress,.
Dismissed.
Fined $2..50 and $5 costs or 14 days.

10

Apl. 28

May 30

June 10

Zi

28

30

Jan. 17 Ah Quong

Ah Moon

Feb. 3 Ah May

6 Wong Foon alias
Tay Wah

Ah Hoe (woman). . .

Ah Moy do

Ah Choon

Kum Soon

Wing Chong

Gar Lock

Chin Kee

Ah Kim

Lung Kee

Hung Yueu

Ah Poy

AhTima/.AhGung

Low Tow

Ah Moon

Lung Kee

Ah Sow

Tye Chung Yueu . .
July 7 Lung Kee (4 cases). .
20 Ah Sam

Ah Pah

20 AhHong

Ah Hang

7 Ah Kin

2 Lip Kim

26AhPow

30FookSing

Ah Wong

16 Chin Hoe

25 Ah Fee al. Ah Gun

30 Ah Sam al. Ah Mow

31 Sam Low

Sam Long

6 Ah Foo

10 Lim Sam

Ah Lep

25MeeChow

29 San Chong ...

Larceny of moneys .

Larceny

Cruelty to animals .

Aug.
Sept.

Oct.

ifov.

Murder

Accessory to murder

do do

Cruelty to animals

Accessory to murder

do do

do do

do do

do do

Infraction sanitary laws.. .

do do

Assault

Larceny

do '.'.'.'.'.'.".['.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.
Infraction sanitary laws ..

do do (2 cases)

do do do

Infraction sanitary laws ....
Defrauding the Revenue. . .
do do

do do

do do

Obtaining money by fraud . .

Larceny of fruit

Vagrancy

On premises with intent

Larceny

Arson

Burglary

On premises with intent

Assaulting Chinaman

Larceny

Vagrancy. . . ,'

do

Suspicion murder of Ah Si. .
Infraction sanitary laws

6 months imprisonment hard labor,
do do do

Committed for trial,
do do

do do

Discharged,
do
do
do
do
Fined $5 or 14 days imprisonment.

do do do

Dismissed.
Discharged.

6 months imprisonment hard labor..
Committed for trial.
Fined $20 to be levied by distress,
do $15 in each case,
do $10 in each case,
do $10 in each case.
Committed for trial,
do do

do do

do do

Discharged.

do
Fined $50 or 3 months hard labor.
Committed for trial.
Discharged.
Committed for trial,
do do

do do

do do

$20 and $2.50 costs or 14 days impris'nt^
Committed for trial.
Discharged,
do
do

Si7

Calendar of Chinese Cases before the Victoria Police Court.
1882 — Continued.

DATE.

NAME.

OFFENCE.

SENTENCE.

Dec 4

Ah Ki

Smu&T&flinsf

Discharged,
do

Ah Foo

do ...

6

Yap Wing .

Obtaining money by fraud

Infraction Sanitary Laws

Larceny

do on payment of costs.

U
18

Wah Chin (2 cases).
TjOw To\r

Fined $50 or 1 month imprisonment..
6 months hard labor.

20

Ki Chew

do

Committed for trial.

Ah On

do

do do

1883

Feb. 22
Apl. 0

16
20

May 4

June 16
19

July 8
16

Aug. 15
24
27

Sept. 1
14

Oct. 24
25

Nov. 5
12
15
21

23

Dec. 1

22

Ah Hong

AhChue -.

AhHee

Ah Yung

Hing Lee

Ah Hoe

Ying Long

Wye Ying

Loo Choo against

Kwong Lee

AhOu

Goon Gan

Low Tow

Amelia Fagardo.

Fong Ah You

Lee Woon

Ah Nim

Ah How

Chin Fook Gang .

Ah Yue

Ah Yue

Ah Yue

Ah Sue al Chum Ou

YickTai

Ah Lye

Ah Jim

Pun Wye

Lung Gee

Ah Yung

Ah Yee'

Ah Sit

Ah Quong

Ah Yung

Hang

Kay

Gee Chung

Low Tow

Ah Pack

Ah Pah

AhChue

Ah Chung

Ah Sing

Ou Hing

Lung Moi Choy
Lim Sam

I Malicious injury of property. .
'Felonious assault

do do

do do

Infraction sanitary laws

Assault on Ah How

Larceny

do

Infraction sanitary laws .
Drunk and disorderly.. . .
Infraction street by-law.

Vagrancy

Larceny from person

Larceny

do

Assault

Assault

Unsound mind

Larceny

do

do

Murder of Ah Fong

Victoria street by-law —

Assault

On premises with intent.

Larceny

Drunk and disorderly —
Larceny at Chinese Are . .

do do

do do

do do

do do

do do

Arson .
Larceny .

do
Larceny from Chinese fire.

do do

do do

do do

do do

Infraction street by-law.
Assault and robbery.
Recieving stolen property .

1884

Jan. 7

12
16
19

24

Ming Dew
Lim Sam.
Ah Kim..
Hing Lee.
Ah Chung
Ah Kim. .

Discharged.
Dismissed with costs.

do do

do do

do do

Dismissed on payment of costs.
Committed for trial.
Discharged.

Fined $10 or 14 days imprisonment.

Bail estreated $5.

Dismissed.

3 months hard labor.

Discharged.

Discharged.

Committed for trial.

Fined $20 and $15 costs or 2 mos. h. 1...

Fined $10 & $2.50 costs or 15 days imp.

Committed to Asylum.

Committed for trial.

do do

3 months hard labor.
Discharged.

do on payment of costs.

Fined $5 & $4.50 costs or 10 days.
Discharged.
6 months hard labor.
Fined 5 shil. & $1 costs or 6 hours.
6 months hard labor.

do do

do do

3 months hard labor.

do do

Committed for trial.

do do

Discharged.
6 months hard labor.
Discharged.

do

do

do

do ^ ^
Dismissed or payment of costs.
Discharged.
Committed for trial.

Larceny

do

Rape on white girl

Infraction city by-laws
Larceny

do

Committed for trial.

do do

Committed for trial.
Fined $2.50 or 7 days imp.
Committed for trial.
1 month hard labor.

388

Calendar of Chinese Cases before the Victoria Police Court.

1884 — Continued.

OFFENCE.

SENTENCE.

Jan. 26
29
31

Feb. 4

17
March 8

12
14
15
21
24

ApI. 1
11

May 13
17

22

June 2

9

14

30

Ah Kong

AhChue

Yap Loon

Chung Ah Ling. .

Chu Chung

Quong Ou Lung .

Chong Lee

Yueu Chung

Chin Ah You...
Chin Ah You....

Ah How

Ah Lim

Ah Gong

Ah Yep

Sing Sam

AhGim

Ah Jim

Ah Lee

Ah Foon

Ah Sing

Ah Moon

Low Tow

Ah Get

Loo Choo

Chong Quan

Assault

Infraction city by-laws

Safe-keeping (destitute sick) .
Infraction city by-laws

do do

do do

do do

do do <s

Abduction

Larceny

Vagrancy

Larceny

do
Infraction city by-laws .
Vagrancy

do

Infraction city by-laws.
Vagrancy

do
Infraction city by-laws .

Larceny

Infraction city by-laws..

do do
Defrauding revenue

Fined $10 & $2 costs or 14 days.
Fiaed $25 & $2 costs or 14 days.
Died in gaol.
Fined $5 and $2.50 costs.

do do

do do

do do

Dismissed on payment of costs.
Discharged.
Discharged.
1 month hard labor.

1 month imprisonment.

2 months do

3 months hard labor.
Dismissed on payment of costs.
6 weeks imprisonment.

$5 or 14 days imprisonment.
Fined $5 or 1 week imprisonment.
Fined $5 & SI. 25 costs or 14 days.

do do

Fined ?.j & $4 costs.
6 months hard labor.
Fined 810.50 & S2.50 costs or 1 mo. imp.
Fined S25 & -Si costs or 14 days.
Discharged.

RECAPITULATION.
Total number of Chinese Cases before the Victoria
period of five years and a half, 291, as follows :

City Police Court for the named

Larceny 76

Vagrancy 34

Assault 22

Drunk and disorderly 2

Indian Liquor Act 21

Sanitary by-laws 21

Other by-laws 44

Malicious injury 2

Tampering with witness.. 1

Refusing to pay taxes . .

Trespass

Murder and accessories.

Unlawful gaming

Breaking gaol

Breach of Game Law

Defrauding revenue

Harbor rules

Safe-keeping

12
1
11
10
2
4
7
1
4

Threatening language

Arson

On premises with intent. .

Rape

Abduction

Resisting officer

Cruelty to animals

Total 291

Number of Cases, Whites, Indians and Chinese, before the Victoria City Police Court
from January 1st, 1879, to June 30th, 1884.

January . . .

February . .

March

April

May

. June

July

August —

September .
'October —

November .

December . .

1879.

Total 1291 255 75 295 233

1880.

1881.

O

1882.

354 194 24 375 211 53 394 217 43 305 153 32

1883.

17 21
15 16
31 I 20
25 I 13

1884.

10
5

7
o

4
4

Note. — In this statement, under the heading of whites, are included all others than
.Chinese and Indians.

CHARLES P. BLOOMFIELD,

Superintendent of City Police.

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394

APPENDIX J.

City Hall, Victoria, B.C., August 14th, 1884.

Sir, — In response to your request I beg to submit herewith an abstract statement,
showing the amount of taxes under four diflferent heads paid to the Corporation of the
City of Victoria by the Chinese residing within the municipality, for five years, viz :
from 1st January, 1879, to 31st December, 1883, as follows : —

Year 1879.

Trade Licenses $2,210 00

Water Rents 2,468 00

Road Tax 962 00

Real Estate Tax 187 00

$5,827 00
Year 1880.

Trade Licenses $2,430 00

Water Rents 2,612 00

Road Tax 962 00

Real Estate Tax 187 00

S6,191 00
Year 1881.

Trade Licenses S2,675 00

Water Rents 2,738 00

Road Tax " 962 00

Real Estate Tax 187 00

$6,562 00
Year 1882.

Trade Licenses $3,385 00

Water Bents 3178 00

Road Tax , ■.■".' 962 00

Real Estate Tax 187 oo

$7,712 00
Year 1888.

Trade Licenses $3725 oo

Water Rents 3500 oO

Road Tax gg2 qo

Real Estate Tax 227 00

$8,414 00

The Road Tax is approximate, having been based upon the income of one year for
an average.

The amount under head of Real Estate Tax is small, this is owing to the fact that
there are only four who own real estate in the city ; but several of the leading firms
have erected this year substantial buildings on leasehold property, upon which in future
under the terms of their lease, they will have to pay the Real Estate Tax. '

I have the honor to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,

THOS. RUSSELL,
Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq., City Treasurer and Accountant.

Secretary, Chinese Commission.

395

APPENDIX K.

The number of Chinamen who have paid Provincial Revenue Tax from January 1st, 1882,
to December 31st, 1882 :— j > .

Victoria City, Victoria and Esquimalt Districts 572

During the year 1882, the undersigned was the only Collector of Provincial Revenue
Tax for the above named places.

RICHARD JONES.

The number of Chinamen who have paid Provincial Revenue Tax from January 2nd,

1883, to December 31st, 1883 :—

Victoria City, Victoria and Esquimalt Districts 1,102

RICHARD JONES.

The number of Chinamen who have paid Provincial Revenue Tax from January 2nd

1884, to July 31st, 1884, seven months :—

Victoria City, Victoria and Esquimalt Districts 1,040

The collecting of the above named tax is still going on.

RICHARD JONES.

APPENDIX L.

Department of Marine and Fisheries, British Columbia Agency.

Victoria, B.C., August 22nd, 1884.

Sir, — I have the honor to submit for your information the number of Chinamen, as
compared with white men and Indians, employed this year at the salmon canneries in
this Province. The number given may be taken as approximately correct :

Whites 273

Indians (men and women) 1,280

Chinamen 1,157

Total 2,710

Owing to a large quantity of the salmon put up in the past two years remaining
unsold, and also for the reason that this year was not expected to be a good one, eight
of the canneries have been closed.

The white men are generally employed as foremen, mechanics, and fishermen, the
Indians fish for and clean salmon, and Chinamen make the cans (with the aid of
machinery), fill them and solder them up, etc.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your most obedient servant,

T. REVELY, Agent.
Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq.,

Secretary, Chinese Commission.

396

APPENDIX M.

New Westminster, B.C., August 18th, 1884.

Sir, — I have the honor to submit, at your request, returns showing the number of
immigrants settled on the mainland since the opening of the railway belt in June, 1883.
3,795 persons have arrived ; out of this number 3,295 have settled in the New West-
minster District, and 500 have settled chiefly in Shuswhap, Okanagan, Spelumcheen and
Kamloops.

I may also remark that these are all a very desirable class of settlers and with con-
siderable meaiis.

I have the honor to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,
Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq., WILLIAM ROSS.

Secretary, Chinese Commission.

Custom House, Victoria, October 6th, 18^4.

Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 27th September, received this afternoon, I beg-
to state that the collection of duty from Chinamen during the month of August amounted
to $9,267 08 ; and for the month of September to |9,753 91.
I have the honor to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,

W. HAMLEY.
To N. Flood Davin, Esq.,

Chinese Commission.

( Telegram. )

Victoria, B. C, November 2nd, 1884.

Number of Chinese, from July to October, thirteen hundred and six.

W. HAMLEY.
To N. F. Davin. Esq.,

Statement of Coal exported from the Port of Victoria and Nanaimo, B.C., for three-
years, ending 30th June, 1884 :

TONS. VALDB.

Year ending JOth June, 1882 210,556 $713,147

1883 193,485 674,208

1884 218,856 766,018

Total 622,897 $2,158,373

W. HAMLEY.
Custom HotrsB, Victoria, B.C., November 5th, 1884.

Passengers arriving at Victoria, British Columbia, four months, during July, August,
September, October, 1884 :

WHITB. CHINBBB.

July 2,070 401

August 1,597 209

September 954 269

October 1101 427

Total 5,722 1,306

W. HAMLEY.
Custom House, Victoria, B.C., November 11th, 1884.

397

APPENDIX N.

Custom House, Victoria, B.C., August 11th, 1884.

Sirs, — In accordance with your request I forward to you herewith, returns of the
.amounts of duty paid directly by Chinese importers at the Custom House, during the two
jears ending June 30th, 1883, and June 30th, 1884. In the former year they paid
$87,459, out of a total of 1798,604.67, being at the rate of 11-20 per cent. ; in the year
following, the Chinese paid $99,779.75, out of a total of $790,676, or at the rate of
12-54 per cent. I send you for these two years detailed statements of each month's col-
lection from the Chinamen. In the month of July, 1884, last past, Chinese importers
paid $19,319.71, out of a total of $77,208.54, or about 25 per cent. In the foregoing
return the goods came partly from the United States and partly from China. Another
return, which I forward, gives the value and the duty of goods imported chiefly by
Chinese, but partly also by our own people, from China only, from 1871 to the present
time.

I forward also a return for the last four years of the passengers, whites and Chinese,
of whom we have any record at the Custom House, coming from the ports on Puget
Sound, from San Francisco and from China direct.

There are now, I believe, about 13,000 Chinamen in this country.

I have the honor to be, sirs.

Your obedient servant,

W. HAMLEY.
The Hon. J. A. Chapleau, and

The Hon. Mr. Justice Gray.

.Summary of Customs Revenue collected from Chinese firms during the fiscal year
commencing July 1st, 1882, and ending June 30th, 1883 :

1882

July 31st V $ 5,440 52

August 31st 10,421 35

September 30th 6,277 32 ■

October 31st 6,149 56

November 30th 8,579 17

December 31st 6,132 45

1883

January 31st $ 5,472 35

February 28th 2,730 40

March 31st 7,157 43

April 30th 10,442 28

m,Y 31st 7,630 24

June 30th 11,025 94

$87,459 01

Total of revenue coUected from July 1st, 1882, to June 30th, 1883, $798,604.17, of
■which amount the Chinese have paid at the rate of 1 1 j^ per cent.

398

Summary of Customs Revenue coUected from Chinese firms dviring the fiscal year
commencing July 1st, 1883, and ending June 30th, 1884 :

1883.

July 31st $14,298 25

August 31st 8,054 34

September 30th 7,976 51

October 31st 7,829 54

November 30th 6,654 25

December 31st. 6,854 07

1884.

January 31st S 6,404 72

February 29th 3,560 64

March 31st 6,006 67

April 30th 7,996 69

May 31st 14,989 61

June 30th 9,154 46

$ 99,779 75
Total of Revenue collected from July 1st, 1883 to June 30th, 1884. .S790,676, of

which amount the Chinese have paid at the- rate of 12.j^ per cent.

In the month of July, 1884, collected from Chinese firms .$19,319.71, out of a total

of 677,208.54, or about 25 per cent, of total collections.

Imports from China (direct) into the Province of British Columbia.

Goods entered for consumption.

Goods entered for consumption.

Year ending

Year ending
30th June.

30th June.

Value.

Duty received.

Value.

Duty received.

1871

Ml.

Nil.

1878

S 81,345 00

s 22,940 23

1872

Nil.

Nil. i

1879

121,976 00

30,410 78

1873

Nil.

Nil. 1

1880

44,936 00

14,186 25

1874

S 6,164 00

S 174 47

1881

127,852 00

39,204 48

1875

1,277 00

194 61

1882

240,170 00

78,433 65

1876

5,481 00

1,994 85

1883

326,239 00

104,738 66

1877

20,711 00

8,392 48

1884

393,728 00

111,300 15

Number of Passengers entering the port of Victoria.

1881 Sound ports 1,899..

1881 San Francisco 2,283.

1881 Cbina, 6 vessels .

1882 Sound ports 4,011..

1882 San Francisco 2,668..

1882 China, 18

6,510..
2,886..

1883 Sound ports

1883 San Francisco. . .

1883 China, 4 vessels.

1st half of 1884 Sound ports 5,888.,

" " San Francisco 1,111..

" " China, 3 vessels

1876, 1877, 1878,-1(,,. o vessels
1879 and 1880... / '^'^^^^' ^ vessels..

27,256

387...

813...

. 1,739..

280..

. 295...

7,508..

793...

. 1,874..

556 .

488 ..
384..
584..

15,701
...2,326..

TOTAl

2,286

3,096

. 1,739

4,291

. 2,963

7,508

7,303

4,760

. 556

6,376

1,495

584

18,027

.•599

NuMBEK of persons represented by goods passed free of duty under the head of

settlers' effects.

ADULTS VALUE OF BFPBCfrS

1884, {i year) 99 males, 97 females, 134 children $22,159

^883 181 males, 176 females, 207 children 35,670

1882 137 males, 121 females, 125 children 24,211

1881 particulars not kept 14150

N. B. — Settlers from eastern provinces are not included in this.

APPENDIX O.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Victoria, B.C., July 20th, 1884.

Sir, — In accordance with a suggestion from Mr. Chapleau as to information for the
use of the Royal Commission about to sit in Victoria on the Chinese question in a short
time, I have the honor to request from your department a return of the convictions,
against Chinese criminals during the last eight or te;i years, with the cost to the Admin-
istration of Justice of their prosecution ; such return to be as brief as possible, simply
stating offence, sentence, cost, year. Also a similar return, but entirely distinct, of con-
viction of other criminals, stating offence, sentence, cost, year, country. Such returns to
be prepared in columnar statements, with totals carried out.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Youi- obedient servant,

J. H. GRAY.
To the Honorable A. B. Davie,

Attorney-General.

Victoria, B.C., July 20th, 1884.

Sir, — Mr. Chapleau having written me to obtain certain information preparatory to
the sitting of the Royal Commission on the Chinese question at Victoria in a short time, I
have to request that you will prepare and transmit to me as soon as you possibly can :
1. A return of the number of vessels arriving in British Columbia annually with Chinese
immigrants, and the number brought by them, the period to be for the last eight or ten
years. 2. A return during the same period of the value of their importations and the
duties paid thereon by the Chinese, classifying in general terms the nature and character
of the goods mported — for instance, groceries, wearing apparel, rice — with the proportionate
amount of duty on each class. 3. If possible, the number of vessels returning to China
with Chinese and the number of the latter, and the value of goods or coin they took with
them. 4, Similar return to the United States from British Columbia. Also similar
returns as to other immigrants during the same period who may have arrived in the.
Province. In order to avoid complication, please to prepare such returns according ta
the financial year.

I have the honor to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,

J. H. GRAY.

To the Honorable William Hamley,

Collector of Customs:

400

Victoria, B.C., July 21st, 1884.

Sib, — Having learned from Mr. Chapleau that he proposes being in Victoria in
about ten days to open the Royal Commission on the Chinese question, I have the honor
to request for the use and information of the Commission a return of the taxes paid in
the city of Victoria by the Chinese residents during the last eight or ten years, the state-
ment to be annual, classifying the nature of the taxes and total amount under each head.
Secondly, a return embracing the sanitary regulations made by the Council for their
.government, with a statement of the number of infractions thereof by the Chinese and
the steps taken for enforcement of the regulations and punishment of the offenders.
' Thirdly, a return of the expenses, if any, which the city has had to pay for the support
and maintenance of Chinese poor and sick. Fourthly, the number of Chinese children
admitted to the public schools for education by virtue of the payment of the school taxes.
Fifthly, a return of any facts you may desire to be placed before the Commission. > I
have the honor to request that these returns, though general, may be so made up as to
stand the strictest scrutiny as to particulars, should further investigation be deemed
necessary. I have further to state that as soon as Mr. Chapleau arrives arrangements
will be made to hear the views and wishes of the Council on this important subject.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

J. HAMILTON GRAY.
To His Worship The Mayor of Victoria.

City Hall, Victoria, B.C., July 24th, 1884.
Sir, — Your communication of the 21st instant to His Worship the Mayor was laid
before the Council at their regular meeting held last evening, asking for returns for the
use of the Royal Commission on the Chinese question, and the following resolution in
respect to the same was passed, namely : " Resolved, That the communication be received
and the clerk instructed to reply, stating that the Council are willing to give all the
information that lays in their power."

I have the honor to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,

JAMES D. ROBINSON, C.M.C.
Honorable Mr. Justice Gray, Victoria.

Victoria, B.C., July 24th, 1884.

Sir, — I have to acknowledge your letter of this day's date, transmitting the resolu-
tion of the Council in reply to my communication of the 21st instant, to His Worship
the Mayor, and have to request that at the earliest possible moment you will favor me
with the information in detail particularly specified therein. I presume in your
accounts of the municipal revenues and expenditures annually, the totals under the
separate heads can readily be found. Should you omit any of the returns specified I
will at once call your attention to the fact so as to obviate delay. The moment Mr.
Chapleau arrives I will submit to him the question of expense attending the prepara-
tion of the returns, and hope such arrangements will be made as not to impose any
serious burdens on the city, while at the same time the information gained may tend
generally to the public good. Please to give me all the returns you can prepare by the
30th instant.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

„ ^ J. H. GRAY.

James D. Robinson, Esq.,

Clerk, Municipal Council, Victoria.

401

City Hall, Victoria, B.C., July 31st, 1884.

Sir, — Your letter of 24th inst. was read at the meeting of the Council held last
evening, and I was instructed to inform you that the City Treasurer and myself ar&
willing to give you all the information in our power, provided you employ some person
to do the work, as we find it impossible to make out the returns you ask for, or we can
probably find some one to do the work, provided you will guarantee the cost.

I remain, sir.

Your obedient servant,

JAMES D. ROBINSON,

Clerk, Municipal CounciL
Hon. Mr. Justice Gray, Victoria.

Victoria, B.C., August 6th, 1884.

Sib, — As directed by you I have examined the buildings occupied by Chinese in
this city, and have to report as follows: — More than ten houses were buUt at a cost
of about $41,000 ; three houses are at present building which will cost about $6,000,
and several houses are to be built, at a cost of about $8,000. Some wooden houses
were built at a cost of more than $5,000. Two Chinese merchants' stores were built
by white men, costing $7,000. Many houses are not yet built. This morning we
saw Governor Cornwall at his residence, and he was pleased to receive us. I hope you
will kindly let me know when we can see Hon. Mr. Chapleau, and also inform us what
we should say at the interview.

I am, sir.

Your obedient servant,

HUANG SIC CHEN_

Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq.,

Secretary, Chinese Commission.

Chinese Commission, \

Victoria, B.C., August 6th, 1884. /
James D. Robinson, Esq.,

Clerk, Municipal Council.

Victoria, B.C.

SiB^ The correspondence between yourself and the Honorable Mr. Justice Gray,

one of the Commissioners appointed to enquire respecting Chinese immigration, has been-
laid before the Commission. Mr. Justice Gray asked for certain information, and you
repHed that the Council were willing to give all information in their power. I have the-
honor to request that you will at your earliest convenience, and if possible in time to
be laid before the Commissioners at the first or one of their earliest sittings, furnish the-
Commission with the returns asked for by the Hon. Mr. Justice Gray. I am instructed
to inform you than any expenses you may incur in furnishing the required information
will be borne by the Commission.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

NICHOLAS FLOOD DAVIN,

Secretary, Chinese Com/mission.

26

402

The following letter weis received bj the Hon. J. A. Chapleau and Hon. Mr.
Justice Geat : — -

Langley Street, Victoria, B.C., August 7th, 1884.

Dear Sir, — A public meeting is to be held at the City Hall on Saturday next, at
eight o'clock p.m., to discuss the Chinese question.

I am instructed by the promoters of the meeting, amongst whom are the Dominion
and Local Parliament members, to invite you to attend.
Yours faithfully,

THEODORE DAVIE,

M.P.P., Victoria City, B.C.
IPlease send answer to Mr. Shakespeare, M.P., City.

Driard House, Victoria, B.C., August 8th, 1884.

Dear Sir, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant,
conveying an invitation to attend a public meeting to be held in the City Hall to-morrow
evening, for the purpose of discussing the Chinese question.

Under other circumstances nothing could well give me more pleasure than to attend
a public meeting in Victoria ; but I am here as the member of a Commission
whose duty it is calmly and impartially to investigate all matters bearing on the issues
which have been raised respecting Chinese immigration, and it would not be fit for me
to take part iu a public meeting where the merits of the question may be discussed, and
where conclusions may be formed on one side or the other respecting the very subject
under investigation.

I hope you will convey to the members of the Dominion and Local Parliaments,
and the other promoters of the meeting, my thanks for the courtesy which prompted
their invitation, and an assurance of the pleasure which it will give me and my colleague
to receive from them in the course of the enquiry any facts or other information which,
laid before Parliament, will assist in the solution of this question in the best interest of
-the Dominion.

I am, dear sir, yours truly,

J. A. CHAPLEAU.
Noah Shakespeare, Esq., M.P., Victoria, B.C.

Victoria, August 8th, 1884.

Dear Sir, — I beg you will convey to the promoters of the public meeting proposed
iK) be held on Saturday evening next to discuss the Chinese question my thanks for
their courteous invitation to attend. I regret my duty as a member of the Commission
will prevent my being present.

The views of the people of British Columbia have been already expressed by their
representatives in Parliament, and the Governor-General, by the advice of his Ministry,
has deemed it proper to issue this Commission to obtain evidence, make enquiries and
report facts, which will enable the Parliament to legislate in a manner conducive to the
best interests of the whole Dominion, including British Columbia.

It would be entirely beyond the scope of the Commission to discuss the question at
such meeting, and they ought not to be present, where their silence might be construed
into acquiescence.

I fully concur with the views expressed to you by Mr. Chapleau, and would simply
add that we shall form no opinion until the fullest opportunity for information hae been,
afforded, and the whole evidence calmly considered.

I am, dear sir, yours truly,

J. H. GRAY.

Noah SnAKBePEARE, Esq.

403

Victoria, B.C., August 11th, 1884.

Sir, — I have the honor of sending as follows copies of three Resolutions which were
unanimously passed at a public meeting held in the City Hall on Saturday evening, the
9th instant, Councillor Gowan in the chair, present — a full house ; also our Dominion
a;epresentatives, Messrs. Shakespeare and Baker ; the President of the Council, Hon. Mr.
Drake ; the leader of the Opposition, Mr. Beaven ; the other members of Parliament for
this city, and prominent citizens. For further details I would respectfully refer you to
the Victoria Daily Standard of this date, also to the Colonist of yesterday's date.

First Resolution — " Whereas the Provincial Government and the representatives of
the Province in the Parliament of Canada and Provincial Legislative Assembly have for
many years past petitioned the Dominion Government to pass a statute restricting the
immigration of Chinese into the Province, and have supplied the Government of Canada
with abundant information upon the subject : This meeting is of the opinion that the
appointment by the Dominion Government at this stage of the question of Commissioners
to enquire into the subject, instead of legislating as requested, is uncalled for and super-
fluous, and is equivalent to doubting the correctness of the information supplied through
our constitutional representatives."

Second Resolution — " That, in view of the apathy evinced by the Dominion Govern-
ment to our repeated entreaties for the restriction of the Chinese immigration, which is
thwarting our prosperity and threatening our very existence, we deem it necessary to
Tsiterate our demands for the enactment of restrictive measures at the next meeting of
Parliament."

Third Resolution — "Resolved that the Secretary of this meeting be requested to for-
ward copies of the Resolutions just passed to the Government at Ottawa ; also to the
Hon. Mr. Chapleau and Hon. Mr. Justice Gray, the Commissioners on the Chinese

■question."

I have the honor to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,

F. L. TUCKFIELD,

Hon. Secretary.
The Honorable J. A. Chapleau,

Commissioner on the Chinese question.

Copy of letters sent to Noah Shakespeare, Esq., M.P., Robert Dunsmuir, Esq., and

Robert Beaven, Esq. : _ ,„,,„„,

ViCTOEiA, B.C., August 12th, 1884.

Sir,— I am instructed by the Commission appointed to enquire into the "Chinese
question," now sitting in Victoria, to ask if you have any facts, or information, which
will be of use to the Commission, and if so, to lay the same before them.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

NICHOLAS FLOOD DAVIN,

Secretary, Chinese Commission.

Victoria, B.C., August 13th, 1884.
Hon. J. A. Chapleau.

Dear Sir,— Your reply to my communication of this date duly received, and I beg
to state that Mr. Booth and myself wUl be deUghted to have an interview with you to-
morrow morning at the Driard, between nine and ten.

I remain, your obedient servant,

NOAH SHAKESPEARE.

404

Victoria, B.C., August 20th, 1884.

SiK, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated August 12th. In reply
thereto would most respectfully state that, from a careful investigation of this matter in
all its bearings, I can add nothing further in relation to the Chinese question than the
statements I have already made, and which are already on record in the " Debates" of the
House of Commons.

I have the honor to be, sir.

Your obedient servant,

NOAH SHAKESPEARE.
To Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq.,

Secretary, Chinese Commissioit.

( Telegram.)

Victoria, B.C., November 2nd, 1884.
To N. Flood Davin, Esq.,

The Board of Trade by Resolution declined to give evidence, and I felt as if I gave-
personal views they might be liable to be construed as an expression from the Board to
some extent, hence I decided not to give them.

R. P. RITHEL,

President.

Washington, November 7th, 1884.

Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ultimo,
and in reply thereto to enclose herewith copy of a note which I have received from the
Secretary of State informing me that his department is unable to furnish you with more
than one copy of the Senate Report on Chinese Immigration, which is herewith
transmitted.

I am, sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

L. S. SACKVILLE WEST.
Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq.

(Copy.) Department of State, I

Washington, November 6th, 1884. J

Sir, — In reply to your note of the 31st ultimo, requesting to be furnished with 100
copies of the Report of the Joint Special Committee to Investigate Chinese Immigration,
I regret to inform you that the Department is unable to comply with your request as the
number of copies on hand do not exceed six or seven, one of which is herewith enclosed

Accept, etc.,

FRED. T. FRELINGHUYSEN.
The Honorable L. S. West, etc.

APPENDIX P.

On the night of Saturday, 9th of August, 1884, accompanied by the Chief of Police
Superintendent Bloomfield, a visit was made to Chinatown, Victoria, B.C. Chinatown had

4U0

already been visited in the day time, and it was remarked what fine brick houses the
Chinese had m Victoria, and how much superior they and their surroundings appeared
to the Chinese and Chinatown in San Francisco.

The opium dens were visited, under the guidance of the Chief of Police, and turned
out to be the exact counterpart of what was seen in San Francisco, only, of course, they
are not nearly so numerous. We found, to us, one novel feature. We had abundant
evidence that in San Francisco whites smoked opium ; but we saw none. In Victoria,,
however, we found dens where one or two whites were huddled in with Chinese indulging m
this powerful narcotic. In one, a young woman, well dressed and full of intelligence, lay
fixmg her pipe with a practised hand and inhaling the smoke. After much persuasion
on our part and on that of the Chief of Police she consented to answer questions, and
such information as she had to give will be found in the Minutes of Evidence.

APPENDIX Q.

The following is a report of a decision rendered by the Honorable George Ogden
Hoffinan, of the United States District Court.
In the Matter op ]
Tung Yeong >
ON Habeas Corpus. )

The very great number of cases in which writs of habeas corpus have been issued out
of this Court by Chinese persons claiming to be illegally restrained of their liberty, and
which were of necessity summarily investigated and disposed of, has rendered it impos-
sible for the Court to deliver a written opinion in each case. The evidence in the various
cases, and the rulings of the Court have been very imperfectly reported by the press,
and the latter though much criticised, have not, it is believed, been thoroughly understood.

It is deemed proper to set forth in an opinion, as succinctly as may be, the general
nature of these cases, of the evidence upon which the decision of the Court has been
based, and its rulings upon the more important of the questions which have been
presented for its determination.

The applications for discharge from a restraint claimed to be- illegal, may be divided
into three classes :

First — Applications on the ground of previous residence.

By the second article of the Treaty it is provided that " Chinese laborers now in the
United States shall be allowed to go and come of their own free will and accord, and
shall be accorded all the rights, privileges, immunities and exemptions which are accorded
to the citizens and subjects of the most favored nations." (22d U. S. Stat., p. 827.)

By the third section of the law known as the Restriction Act, the same privilege
indirectly extended to laborers " who shall have come into the United States before the
expiration of ninety days next after the passage of this Act.

The date of this Treaty is November 17, 1880.

The date of the passage of the law is May 6, 1882.

During this interval large numbers of Chinese laborers who were protected by the
Treaty have left the country, of course, unprovided with Custom House certificates, for
there was no law then existing which required them to obtain them or authorized the
Custom House authorities to furnish them.

The language of the law is ambiguous and perhaps admits the construction that the
laborers who left this country during the interval I have mentioned should be required
to produce the Custom House certificate provided for in the Act. It was not doubted
by the Court that if the Treaty and the law were irreconcilably conflicting the duty of
the Court was to obey the requirements of the law, but it was considered that no^
•construction should be given to the law which would violate the provisions of the Treaty,

406

i£ such construction could be avoided. It was, therefore, held that a Chinese laborer-
who was here at the date of the Treaty, and who left the country before the law went
into operation, might be admitted without producing a Custom House certificate, which it
was impossible for him to obtain, and that it was inadmissible, if not indecent, to impute
to Congress when legislating to carry into effect our Treaty with China, the intention to
deprive laborers, whose right to come and go of their own free will and accord was
explicitly recognized and secured by the Treaty, of that right by exacting as a condition of
its exercise the production of a certificate which it was out of their power to obtain.
{In re Chin A. On, 18 Fed. Rep., p. No. 8, p. 506.) It was also held that Chinese who
were not in the country at the date of the Treaty were not embraced within the provisions
of the second article, and also that a Chinese laborer, who, although in the country at
the date of the Treaty, had left after the law went into practical operation, and who
neglected to procure a certificate, was not entitled to return. As to the soundness of
this last ruling, doubts may be entertained. It is understood that the question will
shortly be submitted to the Circuit Court.

If there be error in these rulings it is assuredly not in favor of the Chinese. The
right of laborers who can prove they were in the couutry at the date of the Treaty, and
had left before the law went into effect, to be allowed to land without the production of
a Custom House certificate, being thus recognized, the Court held that the burden of
proof was on them, and that satisfactory evidence of the facts would be rigorously
exacted. In some cases this evidence was such as to establish the facts beyond all rea-
sonable donbt : as, for instance, the former residence and departure of the petitioner was
in one case proved by the testimony of the reverend gentleman at the head of the Chi-
nese Mission in this city ; who swore not only to his personal recollection of the fact, but
produced a record of the proceedings of the sessions of his church, in which the departure-
of the petitioner and his resignation of the ofiice of deacon, which he held, and the ap-
pointment of his successor is recorded. These records, he testified, were in his own
handwriting and were made at the date which they bore. In another case, a young lady
connected with the mission, proved the departure of the petitioner (who was a convert
and her pupil), not merely by her own testimony as to the fact, but by the production of
a religious book which she gave hiin at the time of his departure, on the fly-leaf of which
were inscribed in her own handwriting, and signed by herself, some expressions of regard,
together with some texts of Scripture. This book, she testified, was handed to him on
board the vessel at the date of the inscription on the fly-leaf, with the injunction to keep'
it and bring it back on his return. The book was accordingly returned and produced in
Court. On proofs such as these no rational doubt could be entertained, and the petition-
ers were discharged.

But in" the large majority of cases proofs hardly less satisfactory were exacted and
furnished. The Chinese on returning to their country almost invariably procure permits,
from the companies of which they are members, and which are furnished them on pay-
ment of their dues. The departure of the members and the payment of their dues are
recorded in the books of the company. These books the Court invariably required to be
produced. It also appears that in most cases their savings, accumulated in this country,
were remitted to China for their account by mercantile firms in this city, and also that
their tickets were, in many cases, purchased through the agency of those firms. The
production of the firm's books showing these transactions was in like manner required, and
they, together with the books of the companies, were subjected to the critical scrutiny of
Mr. Vrooman, the very intelligent, competent, and entirely reliable Chinese interpreter..

In very many cases all these books were produced in Court, and in some instances
the evidence they afforded was corroborated by testimony of white persons in whose
employ the petitioner had been, and who testified to the time of his departure. It is, of
course, possible, that in some instances the Court has been deceived, but considering that
in no case has a person been allowed to land on the plea of previous residence on unsup-
ported Chinese oral testimony, the number of such instances cannot be large. The proofs.
were in all cases sufficient to satisfy any candid and unbiassed mind. Of the whole num-

407

ber thus far discharged by the order of the Court, it is believed that those discharged on
the grounds stated, constitute nearly one-half. In justice to the Six Companies, I should
add that their presidents have spontaneously offered to the Court to cause copies of their
hooks, with records of departures of their members during the interval I have mentioned,
to be made at their own charges, such copies to be verified by Mr. Vrooman, by compa-
rison with the original records, and then to be deposited with the Court. When this is
done no means will any longer exist of interpolating or adding new names on the books
of the companies. It will still remain possible for a Chinese laborer to assume the name,
and personate the character of some one whose name appears on the records ; but this
mode of deception it seems impossible wholly to prevent.

Secondly — Applications founded on the production of Canton certificates.

The investigation of this class of cases proved exceedingly embarrassing to the
Court, and is attended with difficulties almost insuperable. The certificates furnished at
Canton by the agent of the Chinese Government, the law declares, shall be primd facie
evidence of a right to land. This provision of the law, whatever distrust might be felt
as to the reliability of these certificates, the Court could not disregard. The counsel for
the petitioner usually presented a Canton certificate to the Court and rested his case.
The District Attorney was necessarily without the means of disproving the truth of the
certificate except by such admissions as he might extract from the petitioner himself
when placed on the stand, or had been gathered from him upon his examination by the
Custom House officials. The District Attorney was, therefore, allowed to call the petitioner,,
and cross-examine him in a most searching manner, and contradict, if he could, his state-
ments ; in short, to treat him as an adverse witness called by the opposite side. This
method, though somewhat irregular, seemed to be the only one to be adopted with any hope
of arriving at the truth. Another embarrassment under which the Court labored was
the inability to attach any distinct and definite signification to the term " merchant," but
inasmuch as the Treaty expressly declares that the only class to be excluded are
"laborers" and that no other class is within the prohibition of the Treaty, it was held by
the Court that the enquiry was not so much whether the person was a merchant as whether
he was a laborer, and that that enquiry should relate, not to his occupation or status,
in China, but to the occupation in which he was to be engaged in in this country ; as the
intention and object of the law was to protect our own laborers from the competition
and rivalry of Chinese laborers.

At first sight it would seem that the production of the books of a respectable mer-
cantile firm in which the name of the petitioner was inscribed as a partner, would be
sufficient to establish his status as a merchant. It was soon found, however, that this
mode of proof was, to a great extent, unreKable ; for, first, the books might be falsified,
and the entry made to meet the exigencies of the case ; and, secondly, it appeared that
the Chinese are in the habit of placing their earnings in stores or mercantile establish-
ments, and in virtue of this investment they are admitted to a share of the profits. It
might, therefore, often happen that a Chinese laborer would appear on the books of the
company as holding an interest to the amount of a few hundred dollars in the concern,
while he himself remained a laborer, and could in no sense of the term be called a mer-
chant or a trader. The books above spoken of were in all cases subjected to a rigid
scrutiny, with a view of detecting interpolations and falsifications. I am satisfied that
in spite of the efforts of the Court, which in almost all cases itself subjected the petitioner
to a rigorous cross-examination, and in spite of the efforts of the District Attorney, some
persons have been admitted on Canton certificates who had no right to land. In what
numbers it is impossible to say, but this result seemed to be the necessary consequence of
the fact that the law made the certificates primA facie evidence of the petitioner's right
and of the difficulty of ascertaining the facts. A considerable number of cases were also
presented to the court where the petitioner claimed to be about to enter some mer-
cantile estabUshment in which his brother or his uncle or his father was interested.
The existence of the establishment was usually proved beyond a doubt, but the court was
at the mercy of oral testimony as to the intended adoption of the petitioner as a partner.

408

In some instances letters were produced from his relatives in this city, addressed to him
in Hong Kong, inviting him to come to this country to be admitted to the business, but
the genuineness of these letters was often doubtful, and no obstacle existed to their
manufacture in this city after the arrival of the steamer.

In several cases it appeared by the petitioner's own admission that he was a laborer
in China, that he came to this country wholly unprovided with money, and that he
expected to enter the store of his brother, or uncle, or other relative, as a porter. In
such cases he was remanded to the ship, but even in those cases where the petitioner, or
his uncle, or other relative declared that he was to be admitted to the business, the Court
became aware that it might be the victim of imposition if on such testimony any
Chinese person engaged in mercantile pursuits here could import as many laborers as he
might declare to be brothers, sons or nephews, and testify that he proposed to admit
them to the business. In some instances pretensions of this kind have been summarily
rejected. In other instances the Court has felt compelled to discharge the petitioner on
& preponderance of proof, though not without serious misgivings as to the facts of the
<caRe.

Third — Children brought to or sent for by their parents or guardians in this city.

In almost all these cases the petitions were filed on behalf of children of from ten
to fifteen years of age. Their fathers or other relatives testified that they had sent
for them to be brought to the United States with a view of placing them at school to
learn the English language, and later to adopt them into their business. The parents
who thus claimed to exercise the natural right to the custody and care of their
children, were in almost every instance Chinese merchants sometimes of considerable
substance resident here, and entitled under the provisions of the Treaty to all the
rights, privileges and immunities of subjects and citizens of the most favored nation.
Absurdly enough, these children in many instances were provided with Canton cer-
tificates, but though they were in no sense merchants, many of them being much too
young to earn their living, they were certainly not laborers ; and it was not without
satisfaction that I found there was no requirement of the law which would oblige me to
deny to a parent the custody of his child, and to send the latter back across the ocean to
the country from which he came.

TVj foregoing presents a general, but I tliink sufficient statement of the various
iiuestions which have arisen in these cases, and of the rulings of the Court upon them.

If there be error in those rulings I am unable to discern it.

It will be cheerfully corrected when found to exist by the judgment of a higher
Court, or even when pointed out by any one who shall firat have taken the pains to
ascertain what rulings of this Court have actually been a natural and one would think
necessary preliminary which has hitherto been largely dispensed with by the more
^ ehement of those by whom the action of the Court has been assailed.

That some persons have been suffered to land under Canton certificates who were
in fact within the prohibited class, there is great reason to fear.

How this could have been prevented by the action of any Court, honestly and fear-
lessly discharging its duty under the law and the evidence, has not been pointed out.

By the Constitution and laws of the United States Chinese persons in common with
all others have the right " to the equal protection of the laws," and this includes the
right " to give evidence " in Courts.

A Chinese person is therefore a competent witness. To reject his testimony when
■consistent with itself, and wholly uncontradicted by other proofs, on the sole ground
that he is a Chinese person, would be an evasion or rather violation of the Constitution
and law which every one, who sets ajust value upon the uprightness and independence
of the Judiciary, would deeply deplore.

But while according to Chinese witnesses the right to testify secured to them by
the Constitution and the law, no means of arriving at the truth within the power of the
Court have been neglected, and the ingenuity of the District Attorney and the Court
has been taxed in the attempt to elicit the truth by minute, rigorous and protracted
cross-examinations.

409

That it has frequently been baffled was naturally to be expected. But notwith-
standing these unavoidable evasions, the practical operations of the Act has been by no
means unsatisfactory.

Returns obtained from the Custom House show that from the 4th August, 1882, to
the 15th January, 1884, a period of nearly sixteen months, there have arrived in this
port 3,415 Chinese persons. During the same period there have departed no less
than 17,088. ^

It thus appears that not only has the flood of Chinese immigration, with which we
were menaced, been stayed, but a process of depletion has been going on which could not
be considerably increased without serious disturbance to the established industries of the
state. It is stated that the wages of Chinese laborers have advanced from |1 to $1.75
per diem — a fact of much signifiance if true.

It is much to be regretted that the notion that the law has through its own defects,
or the fault of the Courts, proved practically inoperative, has been so widely and per-
sistently disseminated. Such a misapprehension cannot have failed to be injurious to
the state, by preventing the immigration of white persons from the east to replace the
Chinese who are departing.

Another circumstance, which though not contemplated by the law, has incidentally
attended its enforcement, may be mentioned. The costs, the attorney's fees, and the in-
convenience and expense of attending upon the Courts until their cases can be heard,
must in effect have imposed upon the Chinese arriving here charges nearly or quite equal
to the capitation tax which in Australia has been found, it is said, sufficient to secure
their practical exclusion. On this point I have no accurate information. But the
liability to the charges I have mentioned cannot fail to exercise a strong deterring influ-
ence upon the lower classes of Chinese laborers.

In the case at bar, the proofs establish beyond a rational doubt that the petitioner
was in the United States at the date of the Treaty, and that he left the United States
before the passage of the law which enabled or required Chinese laborers to procure
Custom House certificates.

He is, therefore, in my judgment, entitled to be discharged.

APPENDIX R.

New Wbstminsteb, B.C., December 5th, 1884.

Sib, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication, instruct-
ing me to forward immigration returns since last report up to date.

I herewith enclose returns, showing number, occupation, sex, etc., of immigrants
recorded at the Provincial Immigration Office, New Westminster, during the above
period, and their ultimate destination.

Of Chinese we keep no record, but I am safe in estimating that not less than 1,500
have passed by the port of New Westminster, and are making great inroads on all the
industries of the country. We have Chinese as farmers, lumbermen, carpenters, black-
smiths, shoe-makers, tailors, merchants, stage proprietors, hack-drivers — ^in fact, we find
them in all and every kind of business, and to the great detriment of white immigrants
who are flocking in large numbers to settle up this province.

The Provincial Government forbids them any employment on provincial works,
directly or indirectly.

I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

WILLIAM ROSS,

Invmigration Agent.
To N. P. Davin, Esq.,

Ghi/nese Commission, Otta/wa.

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APPENDIX S.

Foreign Office, Honolulu, 18th December, 1884.
Nicholas Flood Davin, Esq.,

Secretary, Chinese Commission, Ottawa, Canada.

SlE,— I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, in which you ask
for certain documents and information concerning the Chinese resident here and their
relations with the rest of the population.

In reply I beg to say that the Chinese question occupies a somewhat diflferent posi-
tion here to what it does in the Dominion or other countries which have adopted restric-
tive laws against their immigration. In explanation of this I forward a series of replies
to some of the printed questions of which you sent me a copy.

There is no " Restriction Act" on our Statute book, but the Government, relying on
national rights, which are in the case of this kingdom not interfered with by any treaty,
has taken into its hands the control of Chinese immigration. A relation of the circum-
stances is contained in two of the appendices to my last report to the Legislative As-
sembly, of which I will forward a copy to your address. (See pages i. to ix., and civ.
to cxxvii.) The position taken up by the Government in this matter is strengthened
by an Act passed to meet special circumstances in 1878, of which a copy is enclosed
herewith. The steps thus taken have been successful, and as a stream of more desirable
population is about to be brought in, under control of the Board of Immigration, it is
not probable that any change will be made in the regulations now in force, unless some
unforeseen emergency should arise. It has not been deemed necessary to propose any
new legislation on the subject.

In reply to your enquiry as to the intermarriage of our people with Chinese, 1 may
say that this has taken place somewhat freely so far as the native Hawaiian women are
concerned. When the results of a census which is to be taken towards the end of this
month are available, I shall be able to give you definite information on the subject.

With high respect, I have the honor to be, sir.

Your most obedient servant,

WALTER M. GIBSON,

Minister of Foreign Affairs..

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS PUT BY THE CANADIAN CHINESE

COMMISSIONERS.

(See Minutes of Evidence, page 69.)

1. The immigrant Chinese are chiefly laborers for plantations, but as their terms of
service expire large numbers of them take to various trades, particularly carpentering,
tailoring, and shoe-making. They also take to pedling and the keeping of retail stores
and coflFee-shops. Only about half the Chinese here are believed to be actually at work
on sugar and rice plantations. The rest are engaged in commerce, rice planting, and
various trades, as stated above, market-gardening, and taro and banana culture. Most ot
our house-servants are Chinamen.

2. Usually [arrive in good health].

412

3. No ; the Chinese are always ready to look after their sick and indigent fellow-
countrymen.

i. Most Chinamen are industrious and thrifty; but those engaged in domestic ser-
vice are often lazy, exacting, and troublesome. They have never been turbulent here ; a
drunken Chinaman is exceptional. Their offences against the laws are chiefly petty
thieving ; graver crimes are not frequent.

5. As a rule they do [i.e., respect their engagements].

6. Yes; their competition is felt in almost every branch of trade, and in the country
districts almost all the petty stores and eating-houses are in their hands.

7. The Chinese were brought in as contract-laborers for plantatioiis by the Govern-
ment and by individual employers until the system was inhibited by the Government of
China and Hong Kong. Since then they have ostensibly come as voluntary immigrants,
paying their own passages ; but it is probable that most of them are under obligation to
Chinese firms, who are repaid for their advances with large profit out of the sums paid
down by the employers when they enter into engagement here.

8. So far as the planters are concerned, most of them would still welcome new im-
portations of Chinese laborers, wages being very high and the supply of labor less than
they need.

9. The Government first intervened in April, 1883, to check their coming, by a
protest and warning that they would resist the landing of any further shipload of male
Chinese. This year the immigration was resumed under the auspices of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, through misapprehension (as they allege) ; whereupon the regula-
tions of March 25th, 1884, were issued (copy enclosed). The people generally support
the action of the Government, but there has been no popular agitation on the subject.

10. They always live in crowded quarters, which in very many cases are unwhole-
somely dirty. In spite of the stringency of the law here and the vigilance of officers,
opium is smoked by them in secret to a great extent, and they lead the natives into the
same habit.

11. Very much [i.e., the Chinese have contributed to develop the Hawaiian
Kingdom] .

12 — 23. [No answers.]

24. Certainly not [i.e., the proportion of depraved people is not greater among the
Chinese than among the whites].

25. Ditto [i.e., the vicious among the Chinese do not flaunt their vices more than
the whites].

26. There seems to be little doubt as to their having brought the leprosy here. It
is known among the natives as "the Chinese disease." The number of Chinese who are
lepers is, however, very small.

J. S. WEBB,

Secretary.
-Foreign Ofiice, Honolulu, December 19th, 1884

413

FOREIGN OFFICE NOTICE.

REGULATIONS

For the admission of Chinese immigrant laborers into the Hawaiian Kingdom, made
»nd published under the authority of a resolution, of His Majesty in Cabinet Council,
passed on the thirteenth day of July, 1883 :

No. 1. From this date permission will be granted to masters of vessels arriving at
the port of Honolulu to land Chinese immigrant laborers, not exceeding twenty-five in all
from any one vessel, that number to be in addition to, and exclusive of any Chinese
passengers who may hold passports, as provided for in Regulation No. 2.

No. 2. Passports enabling their holders to enter the ports of the Kingdom may be
issued from the Foreign Office, Honolulu, or by His Majesty's Consul-General at Hong
Kong.

1. — To any Chinese resident in this Kingdom who may desire to visit any foreign country,
and return therefrom.

2. — To the wives or other female relatives, and to the children of Chinese now residing
in the Kingdom, or who may be about to emigrate to this country under the
provisions of Regulation No. 1.

No. 3. A fee of one dollar shall be charged for each passport issued in pursuance of
the foregoing regulation.

No. 4. All orders and instructions regulating Chinese immigration to this country,,
heretofore issued from this Ofiice, are hereby cancelled.

WALTER M. GIBSON,

Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Office, Honolulu, March 25th, 1884.

AN ACT TO REGULATE THE LANDING OF PASSENGERS ARRIVING
AT THE DIFFERENT PORTS IN THIS KINGDOM.

Whereas, Large bodies of immigrants are now passing from Asia to the coast of
South America, and the ships conveying them are liable to stop at ports of this Kingdom;
and whereas, further, it is inexpedient that such passengers should be allowed to land in
considerable numbers, without being subjected to observation and inspection ; therefore,.

Be it Enacted by the King and the Legislative Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands, m the

Legislature of the Kingdom assembled .

Section i.— That any ship passing from China or any other Asiatic port, and calling
at any port in this Kingdom on her voyage, shall not be permitted to disembark passen-
gers at any port in this Kingdom, without first having obtained the assent in writing of
the Governor of the island, or the collector of the port at which such ship may call.

Section 2.— Be it further enacted, before the Governor or collector of the port as
aforesaid shall grant such permit to land any passengers, as in the preceding section set
forth, the commander of the vessel shall furnish in duplicate a list of the passengers
whom he desires to land, and the permission, if granted by the Governor or collector as

414

aforesaid, shall be signified by inscribing the same on one copy of the said list, and
returning it to the master of the vessel as aforesaid.

Section 3. — Be it further enacted, that if the commander of any vessel, passing from
China or any Asiatic port, carrying passengers, as in the preceding sections set forth,
shall disembark, or allow to be disembarked, any passengers without first having obtained
the permission as aforesaid, such commander shall be liable to a fine of twenty dollars for
each and every passenger disembarked or allowed to disembark, which said fine shall be
recoverable before any police or district justice.

Section 4- — This Act shall take effect and become a law from and after the date of
its approval.

Approved this 1st day of August, A. D. 1878.

KALAKAUA, R.

APPENDIX T.

CANADA CHINESE COMMISSION, 1884.

(Postscript, 9th December, 188 J^, see Minutes of Evidtnce, p. 71.)

Since answering the queries of the Commissioners three cases have been brought to
my attention, which I think deserve to be placed before the Commissioners, as they
contradict my experience hitherto.

In my former answers, I expressed a favorable opinion of the Chinamen as being
law abiding, and generally as acquiescing and even aiding in the administration of justice
in our courts ; and further, as being rarely guilty of crimes attended with violence to the
person. Nor do I wish to modify that general opinion, which, indeed, was founded on
my uniform experience up to that time.

There have occurred since I wrote some very notable exceptions to this behavior :

1. At the recent Victoria assizes, in a case of Chinese abduction, where Chinamen
witnesses and interpreters were necessary, it was established to the satisfaction of the
presiding Judge (Mr. Justice Crease), that these were being terrorized by the threats of
certain Chinamen, alleged to belong to a secret association. Three persons alleged to
have used such threats were summoned before Mr. Justice Crease, who took immediate
cognizance of the charge, (the investigation then pending being paralyzed, so long as the
terror continued), and after hearing witnesses, and what the parties, who all appeared on
the summons, had to say in their excuse, he fined them $500, $500, and $1,000 respect-
ively, and in addition sentenced them to six months' imprisonment ; treating their con-
duct as a very high contempt of court.

2. Another attempt, or suspected attempt to pervert the course of justice is just re-
ported from Lytton. The body of a deceased Chinaman had been found under circum-
stances which seemed to point to a murder, and two Indians gave evidence before the
coroner which implicated two Chinamen in the crime. But at the assizes, these Indians
refused to repeat their statements, alleging that their former testimony was false, that
they repented of it, and that they had been bribed by some other Chinamen (who ap-
peared as prosecutors) to tender it. This is not a clear case ; though Mr. Justice
Walkem, (who presided at the assizes), appears to be under the impression that what the
Indians said before him was true in substance.

415

It is only just to the alleged suborners to recollect that the neighborhood of Lytton
has been the scene of terrible outrages against Chinamen, in all of which the perpetrators
have escaped scot free. One case in particular, which in its wholesale unconcealed
atrocity equalled anything which I have read of agrarian outrage in Ireland, the alleged
ringleaders, though fully identified by four of the surviving victims, were acquitted by
the jury upon evidence of an alibi which the prosecutors might well deem perjured — so
that in the present case the Chinamen, entirely misapprehending the principles of our
criminal law, may have imagined that subornation of perjury was a weapon permitted by
our courts, and that to acquit or condemn we only required the production of sworn
evidence, without troubling ourselves to enquire whether it were true or not.

3. There has been since the date of my answers yet a third case, contradicting my
former experience. At the late assize at Nanaimo last week, some Chinamen weye con-
victed of robbery, with violence dangerous to life, upon a Chinese woman named Ah
Chif.

The only observation on the above cases which seems at all material is, that they are
all entirely confined to ofiences of Chinamen between and among themselves : not in any
way concerning the white population. They may perhaps (the first two at least) be due
to the demonstrated impotence of our criminal law to protect Chinamen from the most
enormous outrages, as well as from petty annoyances. This is not suggested as in the
least detracting from the criminality of the offences now noted, but as possibly diminish-
ing their danger to society, and partly, perhaps, serving to account for the recent and
.-sudden appearance of these crimes among Chinamen in British Columbia.

MATT. B. BEGBIE,

Chief Justice, British Golwmhia.

INDEX.

Accidents :

statistics, 28.
Adair, W. B. :

documentary evidence (answers to questions) 113.

Agitation :

See Chinese Immigration; also "Feeling" and "Treatment" under same
head.

American Trade with China :

Bee, Col. F. A.

400,000 tons of American shipping engaged, 182.
Anthony, George W. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 336.

Anti-Chinese Union, Constitution of :
King, C. H.

objects of the union, 233.

persons employing Chinese to be boycotted, 233.
fines, 233.

an expelled member to be sent to Coventry, 233.
only lawful means to be used, 233.
violence to be discountenanced, 233.
non-political, 233.
officers, 234.

twenty Anti-Chinese leagues in San Francisco, 234.
effect of boycotting provision to induce those who employed
Chinese to discharge them, 236.

Armstrong, Edward J. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 322.

Armstrong, William James :

, documentary evidence (answers to questions) 116, 117.

Arnoup, John :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 354.

Arrivals and Departures :

Chinese immigrants from 1881 to 1884, 12.
" " average annual, 35.

Assassination :
Assimilation :
Assessments :

from 1852 to 1878, 39.

from 1853 to 1873, 287, 288, 289.

See Chinese Immigration.
See Chinese Im/migration.

Badlam, a.

$100,000 about the value of real estate for which they are as-
scssccl 23X*

great difficulty in assessing them, 231. , , ^-,, „„„

pay taxes on about $500,000 worth of property, about $11,000, 232.

Bee, Col. F. A.

Chinese unequally taxed, 181.

Associations, Benefit:

early Californian, 19.

AvEEY, Francis :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 384.

2il

i. I.

418

INDEX.

Babcock, William F. :
Badlam, Alexander :
Bag-factory

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 13, 14.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 231, 232.

See Manufactures
Bainbbidge, Aenop :

Bassett, James M. :
Baths :

Beals, Henry C. :
Bee, Colonel F. A. :

Begbie, Sir Matthew B.

Bennett, Nelson:
Big BLOW, Henry H. :
Blair, Matthew :
Blake, Maurice C. :

Blakeslee, Rev. Samuel V.
Bloomfield, Supt. :
Bodwell, E. V. :

Boots and Shoes :

See Manufactures.

Bradley, John A. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 221 — 224.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 860.

wbite ladies and Chinamen attendants, 59, 62.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 306, 307.

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 16 — 21.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 181.

documentary, 70 — 82.

postscript to communication (p. 71) 414, 415.

witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884) 171.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 341.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 344.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 235.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 348, 349.
witness (British Columbia, 1884) 47—49.
documentary evidence (answers to questions) 115, 116.

Brennan, a. B. :
Brier, Rev. William W. :
Briggs, Arthur R. :
Briggs, Rev. Martin C. ;
British Columbia:

Brooks, Benjamin S.:

statement put in to Commissioners, 160, 161.

witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884) 174.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 299—302.

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 1 — 12.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 325.

number of Chinese in, 43, 52, 53.
wealth of British Columbia, 155.
no other Province has so many of the means within herself of

becoming a nation, 155.
lands should be settled with an intelligent patriotic people 155
this would develop a true national spirit, 155.
resources of, 169.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 182^ 335.

INDEX.

419

Brooks, Charles Walcott :

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 28—36, 338
Beoom-making :

See Manufactures.
Beown, Thomas :

Beyant, Andrew J. :
Betden, John :
Buchanan, William G.
Bull, W. K. ;
Cadiz, Joseph G. :
California :
Campbell, Alexander :
Candles :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 329.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 211—213.
documentary evidence (answers to questions) 110—112.
abstract of evidence 1876) Appendix A., 247.
witness (Britisli Columbia, 1884) 61, 62.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 360.
Chinese from, 64.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 320—322.

See Manufactures.

Caeey, Joseph Westhrop :

witness (British Columbia, 1884) 42—47.
Cariboo :

Chinese resisted in, 60.

Carpentering and Cabinet-making:
See Manufactures.

Castle, Frederick L. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 334.
Character, Chinese :

See Chinese Immigration.

China and San Francisco :

trade between for 1881 : $16,185,165, 40.
China :

Dameeon, J. P.

diflBculty of learning the language, 350.

not more than 300 scholars in China who learn the classics, 350.

why China has not processed, 350.

they will suffer extermination rather than adopt western civili-
zation, 352.

nature has differentiated them by color and odor, 352.
George, H.

their institutions and learning, 238.
LooMis, Rev. A.

Chinese at home, 279.

socially, 279.

schools, 280.

religion and humanity, 280.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

Chinese civilization, 268.

what the Chinese "scholar" knows, 268.

stagnation, 268.

religion : fatalism, 268.

regard themselves as superior to all other nations of the earth,
268.

marriage relation, 269.

marriages arranged by relatives of the parties, 269.

flliacide, 269.

420 INDEX.

China — continued.

Gibson, Rev. Otis — continued.

industrious and frugal, 269.

low standard of comfort, 270.

not clean in their personal habits, 270.

progress of Christianity among the Chinese, 270.

humanity in China, 270.

Chinese capacity and brain-power, 270.

judicial system, 271.

foundling hospitals, 271.

commercial character, 271.

the Chinese Government do not desire their people to emigrate,
274.

religion and morals, 27S.

their morality compares favorably with that of the peasantry of
Europe, 275.

no idolatry as a system, 275.

teachings of Confucius, 275.

worship of tablets, 275;

believe in immortality of the soul, 275.

their literature better than French, 275.
Huang Sic Chen.

no slavery in China, 162.

for a long time after certain Chinese ports were opened to the
world balance of trade against China, 162.

unjust policy towards China, 162.
Jackson.

Chinese culture, 358.

Chinese cleanliness or the reverse, 358.

morals of Chinamen, 358.

the compradors, 358.

Chinese prolific, 359.

Chinese in Singapore, 359.
King, T. H.

diplomacy, 193.

treachery, 193.

their Christianity, 193.

status of Chinese residents of Hong Kong, 193.

value of human life in China, 194.

punishments, cruel, 194.

gambling, 194.

prostitution, 194.

'' flower-boats," 194.

sodomy, 189, 194.

indifference to human life, 194.

Chinese Imperial authorities cannot protect foreigners in the
interior, 194.

commercial character, 194.

women, 195.

Canton district grows the banditti and prostitutes for other
places, 195.

low standard of comfort, 197.
Olmsted, W. N.

the Chinese shipped to Cuba and Peru bought and sold, 332.

mercantile and leading class emigrate to Pacific coast, 332.

security of relatives in China for passage money, 332.

the immigration to Pacific coast could not be forced, 332.

alcoholic drinks ; gambling, 332.

prostitution. 333.
Speoat. G. M.

uniformity the Chinese ideal, 164.

civilization at times establishes a kind of serfdom no less strin-
gent than has existed under feudalism or militarism, 164.

China a vast reservoir of helotry, 164.

circumstances existing for ages have enabled the Chinaman to
exist on the least which will drive the muscular machinery,
164.

the Chinese laborers in China, 165.

strange cycle in Chinese history and civilization, 165.

impossible for such a people to become part of western civiliza-
tion, 165.
Tobin, J. T.

Chinese a despicable race, 226.

in Shanghai Uve in a very poor way, 226.

INDEX. 421

China — continued.

TOBIN, J. 1.— continued.

the poor people eat oflfal, 226.

children systematically raised for prostitution, 227.

character of Chinamen in China, 227.

crime and its punishments in China, 227.

habits filthy, 227.

houses of prostitution and opium conducted openly, 227.

marriage, 227.

cruel punishment, 228.

execute substitutes, 228.

form of -oath, 228.

inhumanity, 228.

unnatural offences, 228.

population of Shanghai, 228.

no intermarriage, 228.

some class idle and thieves, 228.

Chinese sailors, 228.

justice not impartial, 229.

Chinatown, San Francisco :

Bainbridge, a.

has seen the sick lying around on the floor in their hospitals, and
nothing to denote that there, was any medical attendance, 223.
Beowst, T.

undesirable to extend their quarter, 329.

value of real estate depressed, 329.

drives away white business houses and families, 329.
DUFFIELD, G. W.

effect on real estate, 219.

as clean as any other part of the city, but their alleys are dirty,
220.

police paid by the Chinese, 220.

how the streets are kept clean, 221.

the city (San Francisco) does not provide means for cleanmg
Chinatown, 221.
Ellis, H. H.

extending, 205. ^ ono

injure a street where they reside but pay high rents, Oib.
Huang Tsun Hsien.

rents paid for tenement houses, 39.

taxes paid by Chinese, 39.

landlords of tenement houses wilhng to renew leases, 40.

Meares, J. L. , , . _i- * „-4.„ ,-j.„

in San Francisco cuts off from the business portion of city its

handsomest part, 200.
relative growth of Chinatown, 207.

Gibson, Rev. Otis. ,, . , „-,

pay more than $1,000,000 annually m rents, 263.

^"""^t'^kfnds of brothels, one for Chinamen, the other for whites, 2U.
size of rooms : four by six, sometimes five by eight, 214.
wretched appliances and attendance m their hospitals, Hi.

Stout^A. B^^ beds in their hospitals, but lay the sick on mats on the
floor 310.

Chinatown, San' Francisco : . . a- -n\tRR vin

narrative of visit of Commission (Appendix D) 366-370.

Chinatown, Portland, Oregon :

narrative of visit (Appendix E) 370, 371.

Chinatown, Victoria, B. C. :

remarks on visit (Appendix P) 404.

Chinese Dialects :

differ almost every hundred miles apart, 190.
written language the same, 190.

^"'The'^IIhSendialect not understood in Canton, 262, 263.

422 INDEX.

Chinese Immigeation :

AGITATION:

Adair, W. B.

prmcipally by worthless white laborers, 113.
Ahmsteong, W. J.

commenced several years ago and aU classes joined in it, 117.
Begbie, Sie Matthew B.

commenced at Confederation, 72.
Beydbn, J.

by political parties, 111.
Ceeasb, Hon. Me. Justice.

political, 143
DUNSMDIR. R., M. P. P.

political, 130

if they had votes agitation would cease, 131.
DwTEE, Rev. P., A. M.

how it arose against them, 125.

movement against them not so much an agitator's as one of self
defence, 125.
Innes. J. W.

by white politicians and laborers, 101.
Johnston, M.

political, 112.
KJENNEDT, J. B.

"by all classes, 105.

unprincipled, 176.

political, 177.
Ladner, T. E.

a political cry, 97.
Ladner, W. H.

confined chiefly to adventurers, 102.

laborers, who are the first, when they get a piece of laud, to
employ them, 103.
Laity, J., and Trembath, J.

laboring married men agitate the question, 99.
Metcalf, J., .Jdn.

by general public since 1860, 83.
Moresby, W.

began in 1864, since when feeling against them intensified, 109.
Ondeedonk, a.

chiefly political, 149.
Pawson, J.

began in 1858, 132.
Peaese, B. M.

history and nature of, 95.
Robins, S. M.

commenced two years ago chiefly by white traders and white
laborers, 118.
RoBSON, Hon. J.

politically dates from 1872, 64.
Stephenson, W.

none against them in Cariboo District, 123.
Stevenson, E., M. D.

source of, 93.
Waed, R.

commenced ten years ago by politicians, 85.
Ward, W. C.

chiefly political and from laboring class, 103.
Young, J.

began in 1865, 87.

ASSASSINATION :

Claeke, a.

rewards offered lor, 203.
Ellis, H. H.

notices posted offering rewards for killing, 205.

not confined to Chinatown, 207.

ASSIMILATION :

Blakeslee, Rev. S. V.

they can never assimilate and become homogeneous, 349.

INDEX. 423

Chinese Immigration — continued.

A SSI MI LA TION— continued.
Bbiqgs, a. K.

do not tend to homogeneity, 9.
Campbell, A.

the community would be better if the people were homogeneou ,
322.
Carey, J. W.

a non-assimilating race, 46.
Clarke, H. K. W.

a separate, distinct, unamalgamating people, only because of
factitious circumstances, 317.

heterogeneity useful to a people, 318.

nothing to prevent Chinese mixing, 318.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

cannot assimilate with the Anglo-Saxon race nor is it desirable,
145.
Crocker, C.

a homogeneous population is better than heterogeneous, 316.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B.

cannot assimilate, a foreign element, 52.
Douglas, C. D.

they could not amalgamate with the white race, 338.
DWINELLE, J. W.

they are not capable of assimilating, 355.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

they do not amalgate, 38. . u •

their assimilating more slowly than other imnugrants an objec-
tion, 274.

HAIGHT, H. H. . ., , , ^, ^i,. ocn

negroes of California more assimilable than Chinese, Ai9.
Hastings, S. C. , ^ .^ „„^

the educated Chinaman adverse to it, dU4. ,
Huang Tsun Hsibn. ^ ■ , .-,

why they do not readily assimilate explained, 41.
King, C. H.

they cannot assimilate, 235.

'^'^^cannot properly assimilate and amalgamate with the whites, 346.

Low, F. F. ., , ,. 1 i 10Q

a people who cannot assimilate a disadvantage, ISd.

a different civilization, 185.
Stout, A. B. ., , .^, , „,„

cannot directly assimilate with our people, dli.
Swift, J. F.

an alien element a disadvantage, 66'i.

cannot assimilate, 339.
TiNDAL, J.

cannot assimilate, 121.
TUOKFIELD, Mr.

a non-assimilating race, 66.

^^''n'ev'^'rwiU assimilate with our population ; that has been decided
in the course of a quarter of a century, 347.
■CHARACTER :

See Crime, Criminals, Sec.

Adair, W. B. „„

do not burden white chanties, lid. _ ^ i„,„ „w/q,-r,o- 11^

with few exceptions, sober, economical and law-abiding, 113.
respect their engagements, 113.
^^^Chfne'^el^ual to Japanese in business capacity, habits, etc., 336.
the Japanese more progressive, 33fa.

^^^' take^'n into hospitals same as white men, 116.

fcltoterfere with whites, save m the field of labor, 117.
not inmrious to the pubhc peace or health, 117.

^^^^Xy'havtgreat reverence for their <iueue« 2|

do not send much money out of the country, 2^4.
^''^mSchants are gentlemanly in their intercourse with white people,
307.

424 INDEX.

Chinese Immigeation — continued.

CHARA CTEn— continued.

Bee, Col. F. A.

do not drink and are law-abiding, 182.
BEaBiE, Sir Matthew B.

do not burden public charity, 71.

industrious, thrifty, sober and law-abiding, 71.

if they were drunken they would not be in British Columbia, 71..

their ceaseless toil like nothing but an ant hiU, 71.

not turbulent, 71.

given to petty thefts, 71, 75.

respect their engagements, 72.

good tenants, 72.

not injurious to public peace nor public health, 73.

as a race not uncleanly in their habits, 75.

instance where a Chinese woman would seem to have liked to be
bought, 81.

respect the administration of British law, 82.
BiGELOW, H. H.

can count on them better than on whites, 341.

eflfect on boys and agricultural population disastrous, 341.
Blake, M. C.

food laborers and industrious, 235.
Ifficult to hunt up testimony, but they are easily convicted, 235 .

perjury committed daily by all classes, 236.
Blakeslbe, Rev. S. V.

they can do anything within the grasp of the imitative intellect,
349.

they have made hordes of Americans abandoned creatures, 349.

more licentious than Americans, 349.
Bloompield, C. T.

give no assistance in the detection of crime, 47.

difficult to enforce by-laws among them, 47.
BODWELL, E. V.

do not burden public charities, 115.

industrious, sober and law-abiding, 115.

keep their agreements, 115.

nothing in their habits injurious to public peace or specially
to public health, 115.
Bradley, J. A.

not law-abiding, 161.

they drink, but it does not afifect them as it does whites, 161.
Brennan, a. B.

Chinamen drink, 175.

loafers among them who live upon prostitutes, 175.
Brier, Rev. W. W.

do not invest in real estate, 301.

a polite people and not easily excited, 302.

scarcely ever swear ; drink no whiskey, 302.
Briggs, a. R.

a moral blight, 10.

keen judges of property, 7.

moral effect counterbalances their economic utility, 9.

moral effect hard to explain, 4.

generally frugal, good, faithful workmen, 7.

have litttle capacity for progress, 11.
Briggs, Rev. M. C.

quiet, industrious, temperate, and well-behaved, 326.
Brooks, C. W.

personally clean, 31.

merchants honest and compare favorably, 32.

temptations exist among the lower classes as among whites,''32.

mentally are not an inferior race, 32.

inherit largely developed brain power, 33.

centuries of isolation have rendered them conservative, 33.
Brown, T. '

merchants straightforward and very correct, 329
Brtden, J.

do not burden public charities, 110.

iudastrious, sober and economical, 110.

respect their engagements, 110.

law-abiding, 110.

not injurious to public peace or health, 111.

INDEX. 425.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

CHAR A CTER-continued.
Bull, W, K.

difficulty of collecting taxes from them, 62.
Campbell, A.

the Chinese as a nation not equal to American people, 321.

^";S ^^^^ ^°^ ^ chance they would become good republicans,.

average intelligence as high as that of other peoples, 321.

imitative but not inventive, .321.
Carey, J. W.

difficulty to collect taxes, 44.

proprietors of real estate, 44.

troublesome amongst themselves, 44.

do not respect the Sabbath or their wives, 45.

resj)ect contracts, 4.5.

habits of cleanliness, 45.
Clabke, H. K. W.

temperate, and a most quiet and docile people, 316.

can be relied on in regard to contracts, 317.

in committing perjury they compare very well with the whites,,
317.

not large-boned or large muscled but patient to toil, 317.

COLTON, D. D.

testimony to their intellectual ability, 304.

do not demoralize white people, 305.

first rate laborers ; no sprees, 305.
COOLIDGB, J. A.

merchants intelligent, shrewd, courteous, and gentlemanly, 282..

persons clean but habitations filthy, 283.

if those here (San Francisco) are of the lowest order, it speaka
volumes for their civilization, 284.
Cornelius, Capt.

not law-abiding, 173.

COERYELL, J. R.

untruthful ; prefers to tell a lie to the truth, 343.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

do not burden charities, 140.

industrious, sober, economical and law-abiding, 140.

crimes of violence and murders among themselves, 140.

their life made up of small economies ; good pay, 141.

they overcrowd, 143.

vicious habits, but these could be dealt with by the police, 143.

do not make good settlers, 146.

without patriotism, 146.

testimony untrustworthy, 146
Crocker, C.

reliable ; perfectly sober, 314.
Crowley, P.

habits and actions unbearable, 22.

live 75 per cent, cheaper than whites, 23.
Dameron, J. P.

low in morals and physically contaminating, 352.

they are our antipodes, 353.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B.

testimony unreliable, 51.

difficulty in detecting crime, 51.

government defrauded out of legacy duty, 52.
Drake, Hon. M. W. T.

evade taxes, 154.

they are not settlers, 154.
DUPFIELD, G. W.

testimony unreliable, 220.
DUNSMUIR, K., M.P.P.

industrious and hardy, 128.

temperate and peaceable, 128.

frugal and saving, except for gambling, 128.

keep engagfements, 128.
DupoNT, Major L. T.

very methodical and regular in their dealings with the Inland.
Revenue, 152.
DWINELLE, S. H.

testimony unreliable, 323.

426 INDEX.

'Chinese Immigration— core^mwec^.

CHARACTEB— continued.

DwYER, Rev. P., A.M.

do not burden public charity ; reasons why, 124.

industrious, but will shirk work, 124.

not absolutely temperate, 124.

spend but little money, 124.

in a sense law-abiding, yet will evade law, 124.

respect engagements, 124.

dangerous to public health, 125.
Ellis, H. H.

more perjury among Chinese than whites, 206.

testimony of better class of Chinamen reliable, 206.

ESTEE, M. N.

Chinaman and negro compared, 345.
Flewin, J.

filthy in their habitations, 49.

difficult to trace crime among them, 50.

evade taxes, 50.
Gallego, R. C.

sinister policy of the Chinese, 354.

their labor not more reliable than white, 354.
George, H.

incapable of attaining the civilization of the Caucasian, 238.
GiBBS, C. B. S.

business men honorable, high-minded, correct and truthful, 290.

houses clean but smell of scent, 290.
GiBBS, F. A.

cleanly in their persons, 219.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

constantly commit perjury in the courts, 266.

willing to do any kind of labor, 267.

healthy ; not more filthy than the same number of European
common laborers, 267.

few bring their families, 267.

they help each other, 272.

industrious, if women and gamblers are excluded, 273.

mission schools full, 273.

many would become good citizens, 274.
Gordon, D. W., M.P.

some show gratitude but many rob, 134.

compelled as slaves to be industrious, 134.

feed on wretched food, 134.

domestics an exception, 134.

merchants of a different character, 135.

their docility accounted for, 135.

explanation why contracts are kept, 135.

smuggle brandy, 135.

habits injurious to public peace and public health, 136.

send money out of the province, 138.
Haight, H. H.

reverence the spirits of their departed ancestors, 239.
Hanet, M.

seek no white charity, 121.

industrious, sober, law-abiding, 121.

respect engagements, 121.

do not interfere with whites save in labor market, 121.

nothing in their habits, any more than among other laboring
classes, hostile to public health and peace, 121.
Hastings, S. C.

educated Chinaman a gentleman, but to Christianize them prepo-
sterous, 303.
Helmoken, Dr.

they remain isolated, 55.

imitative faculties very great, 56

overcrowding an evil, 58.

workmen reliable, 58.

impose no burden on hospitals, 58.

require no assistance, 58.
Hetnemann, H.

imitative but not inventive, 291.

quiet, 291.

not ambitious ; not more steady than whites, 291.

INDEX. 427

Chinese Immigration — continued.

CHARACTER— continued.

Hktnemann, H. — continued.

steadiness not one of their virtues, 291.
a good many thieves among them, 291.
HOLLISTBB, "W. W .

as to cleanliness they are better than whites, 326.
never met a Chinaman vcho desired to stay, 326.
they don't care about the franchise, 326.
he takes no money away, 327.

he lives just as well as witness, 328.

in two years no Chinamen received pubUc alms, 328.
Huang Sic Chen.

toil with steadiness and perseverance, 163.

resourcefulness of their character, 163.
Huang Tsun Hsibn.

slow to change their habits, 40.
Innes, J. W.

do not burden public charity, 100.

industrious, sober and respect their engagements, 100.
Jessup, W. H.

moral character good ; steady and clean, 332.

most industrious people, 332.
Johnston, W.

sober and industrious, 112.

do not burden charities, 112.

respect their engagements, 112,
Jones, C. T.

they disregard the law, 355.

have no regard for an oath, 356.
Jones, B.

diflSeult to collect taxes, 68.

lend their receipts to each other, 68.
Jones, S. L.

honest in their dealings, 331.
Kennedy, J. B.

sober and industrious but working by the day requu-e more
watching than whites, 105. ., -.nc:

will not respect contracts, if likely to lose anythmg by it, 105.

no public spirit, 106.

good tenants, 176.

habits better than those of Americans, 176.

not so quarrelsome as Americans, 176.
King, T. H.

dirty, lousy and have the itch, 189.

without task are slow and indolent, 191.

imitative ; will evade or slight work, 191.

filthy and diseased, 191. .

they know nothing of our institutions, except pns9ns, 19d.

have evaded, whenever possible, all treaty obligations, 193.

treacherous, 193. , .,, „ , .,, , j f„ „

ignorant, slavish, submissive, brutish, lU-fed, ill-clad, protane,

immoral, 193.

indifferent to human life, 194. -, ,. r, ,. iq^

in China, cruel, selfish and ungrateful ; liars and dishonest, 194.

low standard of comfort, 197.
Knights of Labor. „^

not only undesirable but dangerous, loo.

no conception of constitutional government, 155.

evade taxes, 156. _

parasites preying upon our resources, lob.

overcrowd and are nlthy, 156.

low standard of comfort, 156.
Ladner, T. E.

industrious and sober, 97.

not a burden on charity, 97.

keepcontracts and do not mterfere with whites, 97.

Ladner, W.H. .

do not burden charities, 102.

industrious, sober, respect engagements, 102.
Laity, J., and Trbmbath, J.

lazy and turbulent, 98.

do not respect engagements, 99.,

thievish and filthy, 99.

428 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

CHABA CTEB— continued.

Lake, D.

an inferior race, 346.

not truthful, 346.
Lawler, Hon. J.

quarter to be seen to be appreciated, 36.

as witnesses are shrewder than any other nationality, 37.
LooMis, Rev. A.

in the main a quiet, inoffensive, docile people, 278.

savings, 280.

intellectual capacity of a high order, 280.

do not beg, 282.

would not give them the baUot, 280.
LoBD, D. R.

industrious and sober and keep contracts, 114.

nothing in their manner of living injurious to public peace or
health, 114.
LOUDERBACK, D.

no disposition to become citizens ; not desirable, 213.
Low, P. F.

at home an industrious people, 184.
McLennan, D.

as laborers very intelligent, sober and industrious, 305.
Macondrat, F. W.

merchants are honest, upright and have a good reputation for
integrity, 334.

sober and industrious, 334.
Mellon, J.

dishonest, 240.

when he has you in a corner he will squeeze you, 240.
Metcalp, J., JUN.

not burdens on charity, 82.

industrious and soberj but stupefy themselves with opium, 82.

break the law and will not testify against a Chinaman, 83.

keep contracts when it is their interest, 83

how the public is injured, 83.
Moresby, W.

had seen them begging, 108.

some steal to get into gaol, 108.

industrious and sober, but some go on week-long debauches, 108.

not law-abiding, 108.

df) not always respect their engagements, 108.

obstruct the law, 109.

O'DONNELL, C. C.

habits, immoral, low, degrading and filthy, 356.
Onderdonk, a.

do not burden public charities, 148.

industrious, sober and law abiding, 148.

true to their contracts, 148.

not injurious to public health or peace, 149.
Pawson, J.

sometimes steal, 131.

sober as regards whiskey, but smoke opium, 131.

do not consider contracts, 132.

huddle together, 132.
Pearse, B. M.

industrious, sober, economical, and as law abiding as the same
class among the whites, 94.
Peckham, R. F.

they are a little crotchety ; can combine, 296.

powerful imitators, 297.

sober and honest, 297.
PiXLET, F. M.

testimony worthless, 180.

all intend to go back to China, 180.

capable of living in an overcrowded state, 180.

patient, industrious, hard-working slaves, socially, 255.

socially inferior to any race on earth, 255.

does not "discriminate" between classes of Chinamen, 256.

in some respects they are superior to us, 257.

Chinese intellect limited, 257.

INDEX. 429

Chinese Immigration — continued.

CHABA CTER— continued.

Robins, S. M.

rarely burden public charities, 118.
industrious, sober, law-abiding 118.
respect their engagements, 118.

nothing in habits and mode of living injurious to public peace or
health, 118.
RoBSON, Hon. J.

destitute supported by their friends, 65.

habits and morals filthy, 65.
ROGEBS, J.

is clever and does not get drunk, 348.
Rogers, J. R.

do not obey municipal law, 225.

evidence untrustworthy, 225.
Scott, R.

do not burden white charities, 107.

industrious and sober, 107.

keep their contracts, 107.
Seaman, V.

quiet, industrious people in China ; in some instances cheats, 295.

not dissipated, 295.
Shearer, Rev. F. E.

compared, their moral and physical condition is better than some
and worse than some, 309.
Slanson, a. B.

like the old-time down-south negroes, 175.

unscrupulous in their revenge, 176.
Smith, Mrs. A. F.

found Chinese employes honest, truthful, etc., 335.
Sneath, R. G.

business men truthful, honorable, and perfectly reliable, 293.

industrious and reliable laborers, 293.
Speoat, G. M.

abject slaves of custom they despise western civilization, 166.

ignorant and debased aliens 166.
Stephenson, W.

do not burden public charities, 122.

industrious, sober, not open violators of the law but will evade
it, 122.

do not carry out their engagements, 122.

ninety-five per cent, liars and thieves, 123.

in Cariboo interferes with the business of white traders, 123.
Stevenson, E., M. D.

sober and industrious, 92.

indomitable virtue, 92.

CfrOTTT A. rS.

men of small stature, not muscular, but the muscle they have

is very vigorous, 310.
light-weight men capable of great industry, 310.
health better than that of like classes of whites because of the

frugahty of their lives, 310.
they eat to live and are clean and use much water, 310.
tenderness to sick by friends, 311. ,. , ^ ., „„

heard of sick put out on the street to die but never saw it, 311.
good tenants, 311.
do not get drunk, 312.
bad and good specimens of Chinamen, did.
whites could not live as Chinese tenants do, 313.

cannot be surpassed for integrity and honesty, 325.

clean, and very little disease, 325.

Swift J F

inhabitants of Asiatic countries understand no government but

despotism, 339.
inferior in honesty and integrity, 340.
no idea of citizenship, 340.

TlNDAX, J. . , i- ion

masters of dissimulation, izu.
filthy in their habits, 120.
expert thieves, 121.
do not come to stay, 121.

430 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

CHAR A CTER— continued.

TUOKFTELD, Mb.

appear clean in their persons, 67.
Tucker, G. W.

merchants in China stand high, 338.
Vinton, W.

they live by trading, stealing and gambling, 241.

words fall to describe their habits of cleanliness, 241.
Wabd, R.

do not burden charities, 85.

industrious, sober and frugal, 85.

never heard of any violations of contracts, 85.
Wabd, W. C.

do not burden white charities, 103.

industrious and law abiding, 103.

sometimes become spoiled by prosperity, 10.3.

often pilferers, 103.

never, hesitate to lie whenever it suits their purpose, 103.

keep their engagements, but leave their employment at
moment's notice, 103.
Wheeler, A.

general and moral character good, 288.
right workmen ; trustworthy traders, 288,
Wilson, C.

have their own arrangements in regard to sick and poor, 59.

sober and industrious, 59.

those coming to British Columbia, of a low type, 59.

evade taxation, 60.
Winn, A. M.

low standard of comfort, 245.
Woods, D. C.

morally and physically a curse, 354.
Young, J.

do not burden charities, 87.

work steady when well supervised, 87.

sober, not law-breakers, 87.

under the control of some secret power, 87.

not safe to run counter to them when they are strong, 87.

respect their engagements, 87.

CHRISTIANITY :

Blakbslee, Kev. S. V.

out of 239,000 Chinese, 500 have been converted to American civil-
ization, 349.
Cox, C. C.

makes no progress among them, 15.
Ellis, H. H.

no faith in their conversion, 205.
Haight, H. H.

some Christians among them, 239.
King, T. H.

not one in a thousand sincere, 193.
LooMis, Rev. A.

the mission has about 100 pupils and six teachers, 283.
Stevenson, E., M.D.

easier to convert them in China or in any other heathen land
than in America, 94.
SvriPT, J. P.

difflculty of Christianizing Chinese, 339.
Swift, Mrs. S.

the church in trying to save the Chinaman's soul iniured the
whites, 230.

the higher classes have encouraged them, 230.
Winn, A. M.

Chinese in California not Christianized, 245.

CIVILIZATION :

Clarke, H. K. W.

an Americanized Chinaman, 317.
application for citizenship, 317.

"TPTDEX. 431

Chinese Immigration — continued.

CIVILIZATION— continued.

COOLIDGE, J. A.

a debatable question whether the Chinese civilization is not as
good as ours, 284.
DWINELLB, J. W.

they think American institutions inferior to their own, 355
Gibson, Eev. Otis.

Instance in which a young Chinamen out off his queue and
adopted American dress, 264.
PiXLBT, F. M.

threatened with such a barbaric scourge as once visited Burone

256.
the criminal perfection of 4,000 years, 256.
the civilization of a redundant population, 256.
American civilization incapable of convincine China, 256.
Sneath, R. G.

white civilization superior to Chinese, 293.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASES :
See Leprosy and Small Pox.
Meares, J. L.

why they are exempt from scarlet fever, diptheria, measles,

etc., 199.
many die of lung disease, 199.

in San Francisco they mostly die of consumption, 200.
Stout, A. B.

has known of none originating or spreading among them, 310.
small-pox not even half due to China or Chinamen, 310.
the cry about leprosy a farce, 310.
death-rate less among them than whites, 310.
CONTSACTS :

See Immigrants.
King, T. H.

relatives and friends pledged for their security, 188.

manner in which they are made and carried out, 193.

half who come are under contract to coolies who have returned

with a Uttle money, 196.
experiment tried in the southern states, 196.
Vbbbland, E. B.

simply to refund the money advanced, 209.

COOLIES:

See Immigrants.
Hyatt, T. H.

those going to Peru went for $5 a month under contract for ten

years, 324.
the contractor in China has a powerful hold over the coolie,
because in that country the next of kin can be imprisoned
for debt, 324, 325.
King, T. H.

coolie trade with Cuba and Peru, 195.
CRIME:

See Character.
Clabke, a.

hard to detect crime, 201.
Cornelius, Capt.

in petty offences not worse than others, 174.
they will all steal, 174.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B.

more expensive than white, 54.
Drake, Hon. M. W. T. , ^x.. ^^ . .

hard to obtain convictions where Chmese are the criminals, 153.
evidence untrustworthy, 154.
Ellis, H. H.

extent and percentage, 204, 20o.

percentage of arrests, as compared with the whites, about
equal, 206.
Gibson, Bbv. Otis. . .,u ^i. t • i. no^

average of crime and comparison with the Irish, 265.

convicted less criminals to the hundred than among any other
class ; but there is much crime only it is difficult to bring
convictions home, 174.

432 INDEX.

■Chinese Immigration — continued.
CEIME— continued.

LOUDERBACK, D.

will not cooperate with the criminal law, 213.

evidence unreliable, 213.

convicted for drunkenness, 213.
Pawson, J.

responsible for much of it, 132.
Vinton, W.

percentage of crime in San Jose, 241.
Young, J.

diflflculty in punishing crime among them, 87.

CRIMES, UNNATURAL:
Cox, C. C.

a man's penis cut off, 14.
King, T. H.

practice on board ship of sodomy and pollution common, 189.
thirty or forty boys leaving Hong Kong in good health, on arrival
would be found afflicted with venereal disease around the
anus, 194.
Mahony, C. a.

in Peru sodomites of the worse kind, 294.
Stevenson, E., M. D.

not guilty of unnatural crimes, 93.
TOBIN, J. T.

has seen sodomy committed with beasts — with hogs, dogs and
ducks, 228.

CBIMINALITT :

Bee, Col. P. A.

not as large as among other people, 17.

statistics of San Francisco, 18.
Carey, J. W.

more arrests than convictions on account of difficulty in
getting evidence, 45.
Crowley, P.

above that of any other nationality, 23.

not a law-abiding citizen, 23.
Cornelius, Capt.

furnish nearly half the criminal business of the court, 174.

number in the penitentiary, twelve, 174.
Clarke, A.

ten per cent, belong to the criminal class, 202.
Lawler, Hon. J.

highbinders, 37, 38.

robbery, assaults with deadly weapons, etc.; 37.

testimony should be received with caution, 37.

vicious element more difficult to control than among other
peoples, 37.

difficult to capture offenders, 37.
Swan, Dr. B. R.

testimony unreliable, 27.

man convicted and hanged on the testimony of a little girl, 27.

danger in giving testimony, 27.

assassination, 27.

violent deaths, 27.

statistics of murders, sudden deaths and accidents, 28.
CRIMINALS :
See Character.

Bloomfield, C. T.

equal to the worst classes in London and other great cities, 48.
Cox, C. C.

expert as thieves, shop-lifters and burglai's, 14.

more criminal than white people, 14.

notorious perjurers, 14.

trump up charges against each other, 15.

murderous weapons, 15.

passing counterfeit coin, 15.
Crowley, P.

a nation of thieves, 23.

larger number among them, 28.

INDEX. 433

■Chinese Immigration — continued.

CRIMINALS— continued.

Crowlet p. — continued.

they all steal, 23.

photographs of criminals, 24.

record of San Francisco, 24.

their ingenuity defeats the laws, 24.

will not testify where Chinamen are concerned, 24.

murderous weapons, 25.
Ellis, H. H.

moi-e difficult to arrest Chinese than whites, 205.
Haight, H. H.

percentage of criminals larger than any other class, ids.

vicious element imported, 239.
MoCoppiN, Hon. F.

large proportion in San Francisco, 179.

ISIORESBY '^^.

thirty-one Chinese in penitentiary and twenty-nine whites ; in

gaol, twenty-one Chinese and five whites, 108.
large percentage escape justice, 108.

DEVELOPMENT OF COUNTRY:
See Immigration.
Adair, W.B.

have developed country, 113. , , . j ^ ii,

withdrawal would be injurious to mdustries and to the pros-
pects of capital coming in, 113.
Aemstron^^^^^j^ efifort would bring in white immigration and thus
develop the country, 117.
had pushed forward the iish-curmg busmess, 117.
no longer necessary, 117.

"^^t^'ir presence blights the value of real estate, 232.
Bee, Col.^ ^^-^ $io,000,000 a year sent East to buy goods, 182.
^^"^^nterf^er^irXwifh the prospects of the white population in

suppUed^k w'ant,.but were never welcomed, 72.

part played by them in development, 75

people could not get on without them, 75.

many would have to leave if Chinamen went, /6.

some necessary to British Columbia, 76.
Blakeslee, Rev. S. V^^^^^^^ farms would give way to small farms,

349.
^""Tave c^onlributed to development of province, 115.

their presence still necessary, 115.
BBIGfGS, A. R. _

iSfr'iS'deVeTopTng iister than population increasing, 8.

total exclusion woult be a serious matter, 6.

^''°°toei?iator had added $289,700,000 to the wealth of California, 182.

Brtden, J. . .,,

had developed province, 111.

th.iT.S'E™S.d . ™,y l-se pTl, ifil.

mines would be abandoned, 144. ^g

434 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

DEVELOPMENT— continued.

Dambron, J. P.

confined to the reclamation of tule-lands and the like, an advan-
tage, 352.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B.

rapid progress of railway due to their labor, 52.
DuNSMtriR, R. , M.P.P.

had contributed to develojjing the country, 129.

their presence stimulated inflow of capital, 129.

but for them coal-mining would be seriously retarded, 129.
DWYEB, Rev. P., A. M.

it has and it has not developed country, 125.

not necessary once C. P. R. shall have been completed, 126.
Evans, W.

Chinese have been a benefit to the state, 319.
Gordon, D. W., M.P.

have not developed the province to the extent white men would
have done, 137.

no longer necessary, 137.

their entire withdrawal would have a salutary effect on the pro-
vince, 137.

capitalists would come more readily if they were away, 137.
Haight, H. H.

have added to the wealth of the state, 239.
Haney, M.

have developed country, 121.

necessary while railways are being built, 121.

7,000 Chinese required for railway pui-poses alone, 122.
Hastings, S.

beneficial, but subsequently detrimental, 303.
Helmckbn, Dr.

country benefited by their presence, 5^

hard to say whether they will be beneficial in the future, 56.

would benefit themselves if no more should come, .57.

question, national and political, 57.

question as it bears on trade with China, 57.

have supplied a want, 57.

need for their services may cease, 57.
Huang Sic Chen.

had helped to develop the province, 162.
Innes, J. W.

had supplied and still supply a want, 100.

developed province, 101.

presence desirable, 101.
Jessup, W. H.

certain manufactures would never have succeeded without them.
332.
Johnston, M.

have developed country, 112.
Kennedy, J. B.

mines and fisheries developed, 105.

no longer desirable, 105.

when the demand for British Columbia staples is sufficient,
capital will come whether domestics here or not. 105.
Ladner, T. E.

supplied a want and welcomed, and wanted still, 97.

had developed province, 97.

necessary to a number of industries, 97.

exclude them and you keep capital from the country, 98.
Ladner, W. H.

were welcomed, and the welcome continued until recently, 102.
developed province, 102.

without them canning and other interests would suffer, 102.
Laity, S., and Trembath, JT

in the past thev have contributed to development, 99.
necessary until the railway is completed, 99.
country will advance better without them, 99.
Lord, D. R.

great Inconvenience if they were removed, 114.
Low,F. F.

the state (California) would not sufler in its material interest if
Chinese immigration ceased, 185.

INDEX. 435

Chinese Immigeaxion — contmued.

DEVELOPMENT— continued.

Low, F. F. — continued.

those at present (1876) in California necessary, 185.
very little manufactures but for the Chinese, 187.
McLennan. D.

large landed estates a greater evil than the Chinese, 305.
they have added largely to the wealth and vtfelfare of the coast,
305.
Metcalf, J., J UN.

had not contributed to development, 83.
no longer desirable, 83.
no Chinese wanted, 83.

capital would come in just the same, whether Chinese here or
not, 88.
Moresby, W.

at first supplied a want, but now the supply exceeds the demand,

109.
retarded development of province, 109.
Ondebdonk, a.

have contributed to development of province, 149

still necessary and for C. P. R. 2,000 more wiU be required in the

spring, 149.
white men cannot make the gravel mines pay, 149.
the province (B. C.) would support more Chinese than whites, 149.
but for Chinese, capitalists would not bring in their families, 149.

PAWSON, J. , , X 100

reasons for believing they have not developed country. Hi.
no longer necessary, 132.
Pbakse, B. M.

have contributed to development, 95.

their withdrawal would paralyze industries and would be des-
tructive to domestic comfort, 95.

general opinion that the Chinese have been beneficial ; that what
is here is well enough, 320. . .

benefiicial to have the Chinese population increase m a certain
ratio with the white, 320.

^°^?^u'stries developed in consequence of the employment of Chi-

industries of California in their infancy, 298.
employment of Chinese an advantage to the state, JUS.

PiXLEY,^_^.M.^^ had contributed to tiie more speedy development of

if Chine^se had not come to California, trades and manufactures

would have grown slower, but would have grown, 255.
money would have been more distributed, 255.

^°^^ sending'money out of the country impoverishes it, 65.

^°''' had^co^tributed to the development of country, 119.

no longer so necessary as formerly, 119. i„„„^

So indnvenience would be experienced if they were to leave
gradually, 119.

^°™ without Chinese the state (California) would have grown fast
with white labor, 348.
Chinese labor stimulated the growth of the state, 348.

^""'''how^he industries of the state could have been developed with-
out Chinese, 346.

^''"'"''h^' supplied a want and were welcomed, 107.
had contributed to development of country, 107.
presence still desirable, 107.
necessary to coal industry, IW.

®''^''u°sefuii^opening up the country, 175.

^''''^with^u?"them it would be impossible to develop many of the
material interests of the state, 293.

436 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

DEVELOPMENT—oontinued.
Sproat, G. M.

have produced wealth; but how? 168.
Swift, J. F.

but for Chinamen should have doubled population in five years,
340.
Stephenson, W.

have not contributed to development of province, 123.
Wakd, R.

do not interfere with the prospects of the white population, 85.

developed country to a certain extent, 85.

developed industries, 86.
Ward, W. C.

welcomed till within four years,' 103.

have developed the country, 104.

until a sufficient number of whites arrive their presence is neces-
sary, 104.
Wheeler, A.

looking at the question in a purely material aspect, they have
been an advantage, 288.
Young, J.

had contributed towards development, 87.

never necessary, 88.

capital would not cease to come if they were expelled, 88.

DOMESTIC SERVANTS:
See White Immigration.
Beals, H. C.

a good Chinese servantrwillj do twice the work of any white
servant- woman, 307.

wages, 307.
Bee, Col., F. A.

the Chinaman held the balance of power against Bridget and
the trades unions, 182.
BODWELL, E. v.

no others but Chinese, 115.

capital would be deterred if capitalists were not sure of having
domestic servants, 115.
Bbadlet, J. A.

failures as cooks, 160.
Bbiggs, a. R.

clean and reliable, 9.

male servants debauch children, 9.
Brooks, B. S.

an Irish-Catholic servant girl would not go beyond the sound of
the bells, 183.
Brown, T.

always found them very honest, 329.
Brtden, J.

capitalists would not come if Chinese were not here as domes-
tics, 111.
•Bull, W. K.

they do not scrub white ladies in their baths, 62.
Campbell, A.

are more quiet and more systematic, 321.
Caret. J. W.

reasons why it is objectionable to have them, 45.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

family life but for the Chinese would have been intolerable, 142.

high wages paid them prove how necessary they are, 142.

their usefulness created a good feeling towards them, 142.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

there may be some instances where they are employed as
nurses, 273.
Hanby, M.

without them no domestic servants, 121. '

Helmcken, Dr.

undeniably useful as domestic servants, 56.
Hbydenfeldt, S.

good ; heard nothing to their disadvantage, 285
HOLLISTEB, W. W.

no other class to employ except Chinese, 327.

INDEX. 437

Chinese Immigration — continued.

DOMESTIC SEBVANTS-continued.

Innes, J. W.

without them not sufldcient, 101.

without them total absence of comfort, 101.
Kennedy, J. B.

after their departure white domestics would take their plaee,105.
King, T. H.

they plod along in drudgery ; not so valuable as formerly, 190.
Ladnbb, W. H.

no others to be had, 102.
Morgenthau, M.

women could not do without them, 331.

does not care to have Chinamen in his house, 331.
Olmsted, W. N.

he found them all that could be desired, 333.
Peabsb, B. M.

apt to leave their places without giving the customary notice, 95.
Scott, R.

their absence as such would repel capital, 107.
Stevenson, B., M. D.

involuntary testimony, 92.
Stout, A. B.

as servants as much trusted as others, 312.
Ttjckfield IMb

children should be attended by their mothers or female white
servants, 67.
Ward, R.

useful, 85. J. I, 1- J

until a supply of white domestics come, Chmese must be relied
on, 85.
Wilson, C.

white women would be preferable, 60.

EDUCATION :
See Character.

Babcock, W. F. , , ^

bright, clever and Intelligent people, 14.
Bbiggs, a. R.

not a reading people, 11.

of low order of intelligence, 11.

read and write in their own language, 11.

HBLMCKEN, Dr. , ^^ ,. , , ca

a large number learn the English language, 5b.
many read and write, 56.
EMPLOYMENTS :
See Manufacturers.

Badlam, a.

number engaged, 231.
Bbgbie, Sib Mathew. B.

washermen, 71.

not many mechanics, 71.

as hop-pickers, 76.

^"^^ as' cooks', domestics, in manufactories, on railroads, in dyking,
and in fruit- raising, 316.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B. . -, t „(.,-„„ sq

chiefly gardening, canneries, railway construction, 5ii.

DtfNSMUIR, R., M.P.P.

very successful as gardeners, 1^9.

Hblmoken, Dr.

market gardens and laundries, 5b. „,-„;„„ kr

boots and shoes, tanneries, canneries, coal and gold minmg, 56.

King. T. H.

various, 190.

pay, 191.
RoBSON, Hon. J. ^ „ ^^ aA

on railway works about 6,000, 64.

^'"'^ts' Miners they take no risks, but follow in the wake of the

white miner, 120.
Ttjckfibld, Mr. , . ^ j.. an i

do the washing of nearly the whole population, 67. /

438 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

EMPLOYMENTS— continued.

YotTNG, J.

boots and shoes, cigars, and market gardening in their hands. 91.

EXCLUSION:
See Bestriction.

Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

an unreality about the cry, 145.
hotels and boarding houses would be shut up, 145.
PlXLBY, F. M.

not desired to exclude them from the rights they had under the
treaty, 183.
FEELING :

See Agitation.

Bee, Col. F. A.

feeling confined to a small portion of the people, 182.
sentiment of the Irish against them, 183.
Begbie, Sir Mathew B.

race dislike which is reciprocal, 72.
Bradley, J. A.

in Australia and the Sandwich Islands found the same dislike of

Chinese, 160.
same in the Pacific States of the United States, 160.
Campbell, A.

opposition has arisen out of an unfounded jealousy, 321.
Clarke, H. K. W.

opposition to them the child of ignorance, 318.
used by politicians, 318

join agitation merely for political purposes, 318.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

their usefulness created a good feeling towards them, 142.
this continued until the C. P. R. works were begun, 143.
Crocker, C.

class-prejudice, 316.
Davie. Hon. A. E. B.

people of British Columbia want no more to come, 54.
universally against them, 52.
DWINELLE, S. H.

class-prejudice, 323.
Evans, W.

has had no trouble between whites and Chinese except in the
case of the Catholic Irish, 319.
Gordon, D. W., M. P.

the feeling agaiustthem continues, 136.
Haight, H. H.

strong feeling against giving them the franchise, 239.
Hastings, S. C.

strong prejudice of the poorer classes, 303.
Helmckbn, Dr.

few desire to send those in the country away, 57.
Hetnbmann, H.

strangeness of manners and customs the cause of prejudice
against them, 292.
Heydbnpeldt, S.

prejudice against them confined to foreign-born citizens, 285.
Huang Sic Chen.

no such movement against Chinese in Portland as in San Fran-
cisco, 173.
Lord, D. R.

favorable to them up to two years ago, 114.
Mbtcalf, J., JUN.

ninety-eight per cent, of the people of British Columbia
against their coming, 83.
Pawson, J.

against them always strong in a majority of the people, 132.
Robins, S. M.

growing stronger against them every year, 118.
Slanson, a. B.

public opinion in Portland divided, 176.
Stout, A. B.

opposition arises from jealousy and ignorance combined 312
Wilson, C.

against Chinese immigration, 61.

INDEX. 439

Chinese Immigration — continued. ''
FRANCHISE:

See Character, &c.
Bassett, J. M.

undesirable to give them the franchise, 360.
Brier, Rev. W. W.

would not allow them to vote, 302.
Campbell, A.

would not give them the franchise but would give them schools,
321.
Crocker, C.

should not vote, 315.

presence of a large non-voting male class undesirable, 315.
Dameron, J. P.

if the dominant power found it necessary to give Chinese votes
it would be done, 353.

will have to be given the ballot to protect their rights, 353.
Hbydenfeldt, S.

if the better class got votes it would have a good eflfeot, 286.
Peckham, R. F.

should not become voters, 298.
Sneath, R. G.

not desirable to give them the franchise, 293.
Swift, J. F.

if they were naturalized they would not be allowed to vote, 339.

enfranchise 39,000 and you put 30,000 votes in the market, 339.

the presence of Chinese would ultimately change American
institutions, 339.

no idea of citizenship, 340.
Wheeler, E. D.

to enfranchise Chinese the worst of evils, 347.

GAMBLING :

See Crime, Criminals, &c.
Bainbridge, a.

the game of "tan" explained, 222.

as many as sixty can sit round a table, 222.
Bainbridge, a.

betting from 10 cents to $1 ; sometimes $5 and $10, 223.

the greatest gamblers in the world, 223.

does not thiiS; it can be stopped, 223.

prevents them from accumulating money, 223.

ten per cent, of the money lost goes to the bank, 224.
King, T. H. „ „ . , ^,

carried on in Chinatown, San Francisco, much the same as in
China, 194.
liAWLER, Hon. J.

lottery and tan, 36.
Smith, M. A.

they have a great many gambling houses, 214.

lottery and tan, 215.
Vinton, W.

lotteries forbidden by law, 241.

impossible to suppress gambling, 242.
Ward W. C.

inveterate gamblers amongst themselves, 103.

IMMIGRATION :
See Restriction.

Baboook, W. F. . ,_ .,

good policy to restrict their numbers, 13.
not a bar to white immigration, 13.
Bee, Col. F. A. ^ ^ /-,!•* ■ ia

encouraged at the early settlement of California, lb.

Blair, M.

kept out the whites, 344.
degrading to labor, 344.

Blake, M. C. -, , ^ ^ j. j ooc

ought to be discouraged, but not stopped, ^35.

Blakbslbe, Rev. S. V. ,. ,, ,. „.„

moral and religious effect destructive and degrading, 348.
degrades labor, 348. , ojo

influx of Chinese aflfects laborers adversely, 348.

Brier, Rev. W. W. , , „„

regulated by demand and supply, dOl.

440 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

IMMIGRA TION— continued.

Briggs, a. K.

a bar to white, 1.

has stimulated trade with Asia, 10.

large influx would have been a bar to white, 6.

never recedes ; when they obtain a foothold they remain, 3.

evidence of increase, 12.

large numbers would have a demoralizing effect, 4.

if influx had continued white immigration would have ceased, 1.

if Restriction Act had been modified, limiting a few to come,,
they might have been utilized, 8.

prejudice against than might be removed if they came vrith their
families, 3.

introduction disappointed early expectations, 6.

policy to restrict, 10.

would not welcome, 3.
Brooks, C. W.

natural immigration and coolie trade, 29.

no nation desires immigration that tends to lower the standard
of its own laboring classes, 30.

supplemented rather than supplanted our laborers, 30.

moderate immigration of good men, under certain conditions,
desirable, but excessive immigration of an inferior class a de-
cided curse, 31. :;C^ '

forming a nucleus of a young and progressive party in China, 33.

before allowing large influx Anglo-Saxon race to be considered,
33.
Brow^n, T.

a large influx would have a bad effect on the whites, 329.
Campbell, A.

a benefit, 320.
Carey, J. W.

people afraid of an overwhelming influx, 46.
CORTAGE, E. L.

their immigration an evil, 253.
Crowley, P.

universally undesirable, 25.

immigrants not allowed to come without a certificate, 26.

system of identification more perfect, 26.
Cameron, J. P.

to increase their numbers wiU make the country an Asiatic
colony, 351.

drives out the boys and girls, 352.

if unrestricted may overrun the Pacific coast, 353.
Ellis, H. H.

influx of Chinese bad for the whites, 208.
FOULKB, L. M.

reasons why Chinese immigration is undesirable, 359.
George, H.

Influx of Chinese degrades the dignity of labor, 237.

the wealthy favor their immigration, 237.

the Chinese Government would have no objection to excising
the immigration clause from the treaty, 237.

chief objection their standard of government lower than that
of Americans, 237.

brings elements of destruction to political and social fabric, 238.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

limited to a couple of hundred on a ship, 274.

a possibility of too large an influx an objection, 274.
Haight, H. H.

on political and moral grounds it is desirable to check Chinese
immigration, 238.

if they were allowed to become citizens the better classes would
not be attracted, 239.

the political aspect of the question, 240.
Heydenfeldt, S.

unrestricted immigration of any sort not desirable, 286.

if Chinese came in large numbers they would adopt American
civilization, 286.
Kennedy, J. B.

a male immigration, 106.

ninety-nine per cent, raise no families, 106.

TNDEX. 441

Chinese Immigeation — continued.

IMMIGBA TION— continued.

Kins, T. H. . ,■

contractors circulate in China roseate accounts of times in Cali-
fornia and elsewhere, 189.
Low, F. F.

linlimited immigration ought to be discouraged, 185. _

the state would not suffer in its material interest if Chinese
immigration ceased, 185.

must be assisted, 186.
Meabes, J. L.

if unchecked bound to increase, 200.
Onderdonk, a.

regulated by supply and demand, 149.
Pbarse, B. M.

at first welcomed and encouraged, 95.

people think there are now too many, 95.

does not want to see them settle, 97.
KOGEBS, J.

the grand question between Asiatic labor and American labor,
348.
Shearek, Rev. P. B.

supply regulated by demand, 309.

from New England would be preferable, 309.
Wheeler, A.

makes the poorer classes more comfortable, 289.

the fear regarding a too large immigration groundless, 287.
Young, J.

increase, 90.

opposed to any further influx, 91.

IMMIGRANTS :

See Character, Laborers, &c.
Adair, W. B.

laborers and in good health, 113.
Armstrong, W. J.

laborers of good health, 116.
Beals, H. C.

would prefer white people as settlers, 307.
Begbie, Sib Matthew B.

laborers, miners, gardeners, domestic servants and merchants, 70^
Bigblow, H. H.

their presence poisons the place, 841.

detrimental to the state, 341.

would make California what Peru is to-day, 341.

come here under contract, 341.

raised up an idle class, 342.
Bodwell, E. V.

laborers chiefly, with a few traders, and healthy, 115.
Bradley, J. A.

brought under contract, virtually slaves, 163.
Brieb, Kev. W. W.

comparison between European and Chinese immigrants, 302.

under constraint and enslaved to employers, 304.
Brooks, C. W.

come from Hong Kong, 34.

come to better their condition, 29, 30.

return home in five years, generally to remain, 29.
Bbyden, J.

chiefly laborers in good health, 110.
Begbie, Sir Matthew B.

arrive healthy and fit, and willing to work, 71.
Bull, W. K.

how they first came, 61.

limited number not objectionable, 61.
Campbell, A.

do not differ very much from other immigrants of the same rank
in life, 320.

does not think their presence tends to prevent immigration of
whites to the state, 321.
Coolidge, J. A.

comparison between Chinese and other immigrants, 284.

442 INDEX.

Ohinese Immigeation — confirmed.

IMMIGRANTS— continued.

COLTON, D. D.

would prefer New Bnglanders, but Chinese better than none, 305.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice. '

laborers of the lowest class with a few merchants, 140.
DWINELLE, J. W.

undesirable, 355.

their presence degrades labor, 355.
DwTEH, Rev. P., A.M.

slaves, chiefly laborers, and about as healthy as they ever will
be, 124.
ESTEE, M. M. '

injurious to the best interests of the state and nation, 344.

being industrious and economical drive out white labor, 344.

free from duties and comforts of whites, 345.

no idea of value of liberty, 345.

cannot make good citizens, 345.

number underestimated, 346.
George, H.

Italians, Germans, Irish, all make better citizens than Chinese,
238. ■

Chinese cannot be incorporated in American civilization, 238.
■ Gibson, Rev. Otis.

come to make money — to better their condition, 267.
Gordon, D. W., M. P.

gathered In the main from criminals, paupers and prostitutes,
134.

healthy but filthy, 134.
Haney. M.

chiefly laborers and healthy, 121.
Hart, H.

no Chinaman could leave Hong Kong without passing the
Consul, 335.
Helmckbn, Dr.

health as good as that of whites, 55.
Heynemann, HT

supply of Chinese immigrants might exceed the demand, 292.
Huang Sic Ch:en.

laborers and merchants from villages of Quang-Tung, 161.
Hyatt, T. H.

usually of the lower class from about Canton and Amoy, 324.

a great many from the piratical class, 324.
Innes, J. W.

laborers in good health, 100.
Jackson, T. W.

nearly all in California come from Canton, 359.
Johnston.

laborers and in good health, 112.
Kennedy, J. B.

laborers in good health, 105.

keep out white families, 105.

none necessary, 105.
King, T. H.

nearly all who come to California appear to be under contract, 188.

mostly laborers of the lowest class, 188.

dirty, lousy and have the itch, 189.

offer to embark with small-pox and venereal diseases, 189.

in order to escape punishment at home they agree to emigrate, 190.

they come to make money and intend to return, 189.

those coming here (San Francisco) not fair representatives of
quiet and order as could be had from other sections of
China, 195.
Ladner, T. E.

' laborers and traders, 97.

demand equal to the supply, 98.
Ladder, W. H.

laborers in good health, 102.
Laity, J., and Trembath, J.

laborers in good health, 98.
LpOMis, Rev. A.

how they get money to emigrate, 278.

they come under labor contracts for a term of years, 281.

INDEX. 443

Chinese Immigration — continued.

IMMIGBANTS— continued.

LooMis, JRev. a.— continued.

Chinese immigrants benefited and thus the whole of China would
be benefited, 279.

free, and go and come as they please, 280.
Lord, D. R.

laborers and mechanics— healthy, 114.
Maoondbat, F. W.

quite enough of them here (San Francisco), 334.

they are not all of the Cantonese boatmen class, 334.

better for the civilization of the state that it should be settled up
with white people, 334.
Metcalf, J., .Itjn.

arrive in good health, 82.

ninety-five per cent, are laborers, 82.
McLennan, D.

Chinese not as desirable ■as Americans or Germans, 306.
Moresby, W.

nearlyall are of the lowest class, but healthy, 108.
Olmsted. W. N.

come mainly from Qwang-Tung province, 333.

merchants, laborers, artisans, agricultural laborers, 333.

up to this time (1876) beneficial, 333.
Ondbrdonk, a.

laborers in good health, 148.
Pawson, J.

laborers and healthy, 131.

nearly aU immoral, 134.
Peabse, B. M.

chiefly laborers and arrive in good health, 94.
Phillips, S. H.

they go to the Sandwich Islands on assignable contracts, 342.

will ultimately prove detrimental, 342.

unless they can be made Americans of not a good element, 343.
Robins, S. M.

laborers, a few traders, no mechanics, 118.

arrive in good health, 118.
RoBsoN, Hon. J.

before railway works they came from California, 64.
Rogers, J.

danger of the Chinese to the state, 347.

a certain number annually might be allowed to come, 347.

danger to the United States and eastern labor 347.
Scott, R.

chiefly laborers in good health, 106.
Sherk, J. B.

would prefer white men, 308.
Spkoat, G. M.

many come enmeshed in labor contracts, 165.

not desirable immigrants, 165.

the question whether they are desirable is best resolved by a
knowledge of China itself, 166.
Stephenson, W.

laborers chiefly and come in good health and form, 122.
Stevenson, E., M.D.

less sickness among them than amongst whites, 93.
Swift, Mrs. S.

have driven white girls out of employment, 229.

they have stepped into every available avenue, 229.

taken the bread out of the mouths of little boys and girls, 229.

slave labor, 229.

have taken the work of women who have been driven into
questionable service, 229.

women's work done by Chinese, 230.

a large number of women out of employment, 230.
TUCKFIELD, Mr.

the necessities of life make them more or less healthy, 67.
TiNDAL, J.

bad results of their presence, 120.
Vreeland, E. B.

some agents had complained that too many were coming, 210.
mostly classed as laborers, their ages ranging from eight up to
forty-five, 209.

444 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

IMMIGBANTS— continued.

Vrebland, E. B.—contimied.

some students under the patronage of the government, 209.

eighty per cent, brought out by agency of the companies, 209.

more come out than return in May, June, July and August, 209.
Wabd, W. C.

laborers, in good health, 103.
Ward, K.

majority laborers very healthy, 84.

if they arrived in large numbers regulation would be neces-
sary, 86.

would fall off on completion, of raUway, 86.
Wheeler, E. D.

a larger number dangerous, 347.
Wilson, C.

generally arrive in good health, 59.
Young, J.

laborers and healthy, 87.

INBUMANITY :
See China.

Arnoup, J.

refused to give a starving man food, 354.
Bainbbidge, a.

a great many of the Companies' sick put out on the street helpless
and uncared for, 224.
Briggs, a. B.

totally indifferent to suffering, 11.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B.

a man left in a tent to die, 52.
Ddffield, G. W.

some are humane and some are not, 220.
King, T. H.

indifference to human Uf e, 194.

punishments cruel, 194.
Meares, J. L.

indifferent to the sufferings of their fellow-creatures, 198.

case of a Chinaman dying on the street, 200.
Moresby, W.

often leave their dying by the road side to die, 109.
Stein, F.

story of a shipwreck, 249.
Stock, E. C.

have no regard for their sick or dead, 246.

in Chinatown they are turned out to die, 246.

law against exposure of dead bodies forced on Legislature by
Chinese, 246.
LABOR:

See Immigration.

Baboook, W. F.

cheap labor a necessity, 13.

beneficial, 13.

Chinese labor more desirable than white, 13.
Badlam, a.

whites made idlers by Chinese labor, 232.
Bee, Col. P. A.

developed other industries, 17.

their labor displaced by the employment of whites, 17.

with Chinese cheap labor California can compete with the gran-
aries of the world, 182.

paid as high as white labor in the east, 182.
Begbie, Sir Matthew B.

competition, how put down, 73.

limiting supply would limit the incoming of capitalists, 76.

labor and capital, 77.

never in twenty-six years employed a Chinaman, 77.

employed not from preference but from necessity, 78.

railway labor rates, 79.

employing on the "boss" system explained, 80.

absorb all the labor and send the money out of the country 344
they are so easily trained there is no chance to train steady voune
whites, 344. ^

INDEX. 445

Chinese|Immigeation — continued.
LABOR — contimied.

BlGELOW, H. H.

effect on boys and agricultural population disastrous, 341.
makes labor disgraceful, 341.
BODWBLL, E. V.

do not interfere with whites except in labor market, 115.
tendency to degrade labor through employing Chinese, and does
not cheapen it to employers, 116.
Bbiggs, A. E. i- ^ y ' ,

tbej are able to manage and direct labor, 11.
desirable when swamp lands were being reclaimed, 5.
large influx of Chinese would have been a bar to white labor, 6.
always reliable, 3.
has been overdone, 8.
regarded nearly as valuable as white, 3.
if it had not been available it would have come from other

sources, 4.
outgrown advantages that were once derivedfrom Chinese labor,3.
policy to utilize it as it is here, 10.
paid about the same as white, 11.
Brooks, C. W.

cheap labor necessary, 29.
Bbtden, J.

do not interfere with white population except in labor, 110.
Campbell, A.

more labor needed, 321.

anything that tends to depreciate the standard of labor injur-
ious, 321.
Caret, J. W.

compete mainly in the commonest kinds of labor, 46.
COLTON, D. D. ■ ■

white labor not impeded, 304.
Crease, Hon. Me. JrsxicE.

Chinese labor employed.at first reluctantly, 142.
Crocker, C.

without their labor industries would be thrown back, 314.
their presence has an elevating effect on white labor, 314.
one strike among them for higher wages, 314.
their labor not servile labor, 315.

prefers white labor, but Chinese a good substitute, 315.
Crowxey, p.

effect of Chinese to drive white women into prostitution, 22.
white labor displaced by Chinese, 22.
undersell white labor, 23.

Chinese labor displaced and white boys and girls substituted, 25.
Drake, Hon. M. W. T.

before 1870 Chinese absorbed all light labor, 153.
whites will not compete with them, 153.
extravagant rates paid them, 153.
DUNSMUIR, R., M. P. P.

condition of labor market when they began to arrive, 128.
Dtvinellb, S. H.

Chinese labor does not prevent the employment of white labor,

323.
their labor has been beneficial to the state, 323.
white labor more desirable at a higher figure, 323.
DWTBR, Rev. P., A.M.

as to whether they interfere in fields other than labor, 124.
Evans, W.

some white men choose their work, 319.
labor is classified, 319.
George, H.

their employment not decreasing, 236.
Chinese labor cheap, therefore an injury, 236.
labor-saving machinery reduced wages, 236.
distinction Detween cheap labor and highly paid, 236.
influx of Chinese degrades the dignity of labor, 237.
high wages encourages provident habits, 237.
rapidly take up new employments, 237.
Glbson, Rev. Otis.

an American family can be supported on the wages which China-
men get, 272.

446 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continited.
LABOR — continued.

Gibson Rev. Otis. — continued.

difiBculty of getting employment for women and girls not general,.
272.

Chinamen only multiplied labor, 272.

their presence does not interfere with white labor on the coast at
this time (1876), 274.
Gordon, D. W., M.P.

interfere with whites in every branch of industry, 135.

keep out good white laborers, 136.
Haney, M.

interfere with whites in labor market, 121.

large works could not be carried on at present without them, 121.

if dependent on labor from Europe and the east of this continent,
wages would be high, 122.
Hastings, S. C.

as bad as slavery ; a servile caste ; peons ; a fungus, 303.
Hayes, Miss M.

girl-labor more valuable than Chinese, 248.
hinese workmen not offensive to girls, 248.

they are' slow, 24S.

girls could be substituted for them, 248.
Helmcken, Dr.

check on monopoly, 56.
HOLLISTER, W. W.

the Chinaman gives more than he gets in labor, 327.

he opens two doors to labor where ne closes one, 327.

labor twice as high as it is worth, 327.

money paid for white labor goes in whiskey, 327.

cheap labor is a necessity of social progress, 328.

labor and capital should work hand in hand, and with reciprocal
advantage, 3ffi.

disinclination of the American to work, 328.

he wants to live by his wits, 328.
Horner, J. M.

in comparison with the east Chinese labor not cheap, 329.

three-fourths of those who hold property would vote for Chinese
labor, 329.

some of those who employ it would vote for restrictive legisla-
tion, 329.
Huang Sic Chen.

most of the buildings occupied by them in Portland, Oregon, built
by themselves, 172.
Hyatt, T. H.

in rural districts Chinese labor less embarrassing than white, 324.
Innes, J. W.

why they are employed in naval yard B. C, 101.
Jessop, J.

instance where Chinese interfered with white men aettine
work, 63.

white girls will not work where Chinese are employed, 63.
Jones, R.

Chinese work for two bits a day, 68.
King, C. H.

white men cannot live on the wages for which the Chinese work,
2M.

Chinese labor and labor-saving machines, 234.

advantages of high wages, 234.

free labor, 235.

Chinese labor degrades labor, 236.
King, T. H.

competition fatal to white labor, 189.

the Chinese themselves contractors for labor, 196.
Knights of Labor.

white boys have no chance, 158.

girls are excluded from employment, 158.

competition of the Chinese renders it nearly impossible for the
white laborer to live the life of a good and useful citizen, 159.
Ladner, T. E.

indispensable to canneries, 98.
Ladner, W. H.

no more danger from them than from foreign labor-saving
machines, 102.

INDEX. *^^

Chinese Immigration — continued.

LABOR — continued.

Lawler, Hon. J. vj. i i, q't

their presence has a demoralizing effect on white labor, 6i.
Lord, D. B. -, .

do not interfere with whites, save in labor market, 114.
Low, F. F.

up to 1876 their labor an advantage, 185. j. 10-7

not cheap compared with white labor in the east, IHV.
Mellon, J.

white labor cheaper in the end, 240.

cannot be trusted unless a white man is with them, OU.

character of Chinese labor, 240.

prices of farm produce not affected by price of labor, M).

effect on the girls of the community, 240.

whites feel it a degradation to work or live with them, Oi).
Metcalf, J., JUN.

take the place of white labor, 83.

many whites out of work in consequence of them, ai.

undersell white labor because of their unclean habits, 109.

MORGENTHAU, M. , ^. . Qon

white labor went away and had to employ Chinese, ddu.

cannot compete with the east with white labor, ddU.

no factory run but 66 per cent, goes to white labor, ddO.

unreliability of white men the reason why Chmese are employed,.
330.

difficulties of competing with the east, 331.
O'Brien, R., M. D. .

civilized workmen cannot compete with Chinese, i/u.

they degrade labor, 170.

Anglo-Saxon will be driven out of the country, 170.

should be protected from Chinese competition, 17U.
Onderdonk, A.

Chinese create employment for whites, 14M.

^^'^''I^' competitors they interfere with the prospects of the whites, 95.
Peckham, R. F.

comparative value of labor, MJ.

white labor would be employed if it could be got, 297.

Chinese labor indispensable, 298.

importance of their labor, 298.

labor controlled by supply and demand, <i99.

^°^'^ublic^peace might suffer when white and Chinese are employed
on the same works, 118.

interfere with whites in labor market, in farm and garden pro-
duce more particularly, 118. 4. «„/!

where Chinese labor is easily procured young lads cannot hnd
employment, and are not trained m habits of industry, 119.

^°^^'aline°e 'labor prevents white labor coming in, 65.
wages paid over to companies, 65.
in some fields they are cheaper, 65.

ScoTT^^ iot interfere with whites except in labor, 107.

Shekk, J. B.

need cheap labor, du».

Chinese at $1 a day not extraordinarily cheap, 308.

^'""'ha^^nt^fered with female labor in San Francisco, 335.

^"'^'^ to'c?iiipete with other countries must have cheap labor, 294.

^™°1f 'g?ave evil that should be aUowed to compete with white work-

needto^employ Chinese labor not absolute, 168.

®''°''do^ot interfere with white labor, 313.

'"'I'^t^^e'effectt^tht'dilSitran^ respectabUity of labor than
slavery in the south, 339.

448 INDEX,

Chinese Immigration — continned.
LABOR — continued.

Swiff J. 'E.—contimied.

manufactures would be set back by stopping Chinese labor, 339.

some manufactures established earlier in consequence of Chinese
labor, ;340.
Swift, Mbs. S.

women will not work in a house where Chinese are employed, 230.

makes the rich richer and the poor poorer, 230.

race dislike the great obstacle to white labor, 230.
TUCKFIELD, Mb.

white men cannot compete with Chinese, 66.
Ward, W. C.

Chinese labor welcomed till within four years, 103.
Wheeler, A.

competition with white shoe-makers in the east, 289.
Wilson, C.

doubts if it is useful, 60.

white men cannot compete with them, 60.
Winn, A. M.

Chinese keep out white labor, 245.
Young, J. ■ •

in mining an injury to the white miners, 88.

crowd out white people, 87.

employment on railway an injury to the country, 91.

danger that mining will drop into incompetent hands, 91.

LABOBEBS:

See Immigrants.

Armstrong, W. J.

did not supply a want when first they came to the province, 117.

no longer necessary, 117.
Babcock, W. F.

clean and all educated, 14.

have no intention of remaining, 13.

honest, quiet and industrious, 13.

most valuable, 14.

should not be enfranchised, 14.

an advantage as laundrymen, cooks and waiters, 13.
Badlam, a.

not useful on farms, 231.
Beals, H. C.

classed as one of the labor-saving machines of the country, 307.
Bee, Col. F. A.

not paupers, 18.

without them the crops could not be gathered in, 182.

those who denounced them employ them, 182.
Bbgbie, Sir Matthew B.

rival clans, 80.
Bennett, N.

two Chinamen worth about one white man, 171.

eighty cents a day paid to Chinamen and they board and tent
themselves, 171.

they are hired in gangs, 171.

inconvenience of this, 171.
Bodwbll, E. V.

supplied a want at first, 115.

if all were to leave a calamity, 115.
Bradley, J. A.

white men cannot compete with them, 160.

their labor not cheap labor, 161.
Brier, Rev. W. W.

regards the moral and physical condition of Chinese laborers
better than any other nationality, 299.

superior to any other nationality in their own departments, 299.

a necessity to fruit growing, 300,

regards them as a useful machine, 301.
Briggs, a. K.

among business men feeling never kind toward them, 9

must play a part, 8.

band themslves together and strikes are frequent, 8

best for public works, 5.

come under contract to the Six Companies, 6.

do not come to remain, 6.

INDEX. . 449

■Chinese Immigration — continued.

LABOBEES— continued.

Briggs, a. R. — continued

employed through agencies, 6.

generally frugal — good, faithful workmen, 7.
ave little capacity for progress, 11.
if properly treated will Keep their bargains, 7.
were an important factor at one period, 7.
play a less important part now than ten years ago, 6.
send money to China, 2, 7.
disposition to dispense with their services, 8.
mission ended after building the railwajrs, 4.
no comparison between Chinese and white, 2.
property depreciates in consequence of tLeir presence, 4.
Brooks, C. W.

$300 sufficient to support a laborer in China, 35.
Brtdbn, J.

welcomed when they first came, 110.
were welcomed until a few years ago. 111.
Castle, F. L.

in agricultural pursuits Chinese a benefit, 334.
they have tended to interfere with female labor, 334.
Clarke, H. K; W.

high character of Chinese laborers, 316.
paid as high wages as whites, 316.

they come to get money with the intention of returning, 316.
their employment tends to raise white labor, 317.
can be relied on in regard to contracts, 317,
not large-boned or large muscled, but patient to toil, 317.
COLTON, D. D. , , . , , .i, i

Southern Pacific would not have been done so quickly without
Chinese, 304
Condon, J. D. j «<. ^

being foreman over Chinese makes a man arbitrary and unfit to

boss whites, 250.
Chinese competition has created an immense overplus of labor,

250.
their cheap labor does not lower the price to the consumer, 250.
COOLIDGE, J. A, , , . ,

employed because their labor is cheaper, 285.
Crease,Hon. Mr. Justice. _ ^ ,j ,„

interfere with the whites in the labor field, 141.
at first supplied a want, 141. ,, , .' ^,,„

in British Columbia they cannot be done without, 14o.
do not compete with skilled labor, 145.

exclude girl-labor in picking berries, 357.
they live too cheaply, 357.
effect on white immigration 357.
their economic effect, 358.
employed in tanneries, 358.

DUNSMUIR, R., M. P. P.. „ .^. , _ , , . T„a

in no sense slaves in British Columbia, 128.
for work for which they are capable Chinese equal to white, 128.
can take charge of gangs of their own countrymen, 128.
arrive in good health, 128.
DWYER, Rev. P., A. M.

welcomed at first, 125.

Flewin, J. , , ,^1

industrious and clean, 51.
FOTJLKE, L. M. , , , „„

as contributors to the revenue, 359.

undesirable to remove those who are here, 6W.

GORDON^^ 'suppUe'd no want which would not have been supplied by
white laborers, 136.

^*"^necessary while railways being built, 121

without them pubhc works would be stopped, 121.
Heydenfeldt, S. . , „„-
the best labormg class, ^85.

tide lands reclaimed, 285. ■ ^ r^-u- oo-

success in manufacturing owing to Chinese, 28o.

29

450 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration— cowtMiweA

LA BOUERB— continued.

Hill. J. H.

Chinese necessry for the cultivation of the grape, 329.
HOLLISTEB, W. W.

not a tithe of the laborers in California that ought to be here, 326.

Chinamen ahead of all others, 326.

not quite up in physical strength to white, but earnest, good
men, 326.

no peonage or slavery among them, 326.

all proprietors in their favor ; they are a last resort, 327

the only thing the farmer can rely upon, 327.

the Chinaman the best man in California, 327.

he opens two doors to labor where he closes one, 327.

railroads could not have been built w^ithout them, 327.
Horner, J. M.

could farm without Chinese but find them very convenient, 329.

as a general thing property holders in witness's district in favor
of Chinese, 3^.
Huang Tsun Hsien. .

majority of Chinese in^migrants laborers, 40.

of the same class as those who settled in British Columbia, 41.

soon get acclimatized, 41.

numbers going and coming, 39.
King, T. H.

do the largest part of the work of the Pacific coast, 191.

soon set up for themselves, 191.
- not only stop white immigration but drive away white labor, 191.

half who come are under contract to coolies who have returned
with a little money, 196.
Knights of Labor.

overcrowd and are filthy, 156.

low standard of comfort, 156.

tools of grinding employers, 156.

in some pursuits they do not undersell the whites, 156.

taking the place of w^hite men, 158.

bulk of the mining population, 158.
Ladnbr, W. H.

do not interfere with whites except as laborers, 102.
Lawler, Hon. J.

skilful as laborers, 37.
Lord, D. R.

supplied a want at first, 114.
Low, F. 1\

crops could not be harvested without them, 185.

four-fifths of grading on Central Pacific done by Chinese labor,
185.

possibly prevent white labor from coming, 187.
MoCoppiN, Hon. F.

they undersell the European, 179.
McLennan, D.

Chinese keep down strikes, 306.

gradually substituting whites for Chinese, 306.

if driven out the state would be bankrupt, 306.

white men preferable to Chinamen, 396.
Mellon, J.

not useful to plough ; is generally no man with a horse, 240.

MOBGENTHAU, M.

up to the present (1876) could not do without Chinese, 330.

his conviction is they would not make good citizens, 330.

the better class in favor of them, 331.

would rather give a white man $1.50 than a Chinaman $1.25, 331.
O'Brien, K, M. D.

employed by the Vancouver Island Railway Company, 170.
Onderdonk, a.

do not interfere with whites except in labor market, 148.

on first coming supplied a want, 148.
Pawson, J.

they interfere with whites in every branch of trade and industry,

supplied no want which could not have been supplied by whites.

INDEX. 451

Chinese Immigration — continued.

LABORERS— continued.
Peckham, B. F.

with no more white men than now and no Chinese a short supply
for business of the Pacific, 297.
PiXLEY, F. M.

dangerous to white population because they labor so well, 180.

without wives or families, 180.
Robert, G. D.,

40,000 acres of tule-lands reclaimed by Chinese, 276.

work generally satisfactorily performed, 276.

in higher class of work employ whites, 276.
Robert, G. D.

possibly detrimental to a certain class of white labor, 276.

generally, an advantage, 276.

their labor puts more into the hands of white men, 277.

if they had votes they would be controlled by those who employed
them, 277.
they are individually independent, 277.
Robins, S.k.

when they first came they supplied a want and were welcomed,
118.

labor population always against them, 118.

used them to head off a strike of white laborers, 118.

with little trouble might have obtained Indians, 118.

encouraged by employers at present time, 118.
Seaman, V.

good laborers, not only in railway building but on sugar and
cotton plantations, 295.
Sherk, J. B.

impossible to raise hops without Chinese and compete with
eastern markets, 308.

with white men there would be more or less thieving, 308.
Sneath. R. G,

industrious and reliable, 293.

in some situations prefer Chinese : in farming, white, 293.
Sproat, G. M.

chiefly useful in constructing the Canadian Pacific Railway, 168^
Strobridgb, J. H.

more white employed in consequence of employing Chinese, 319.
Chinese reliable, but some unreliable, 319.

the class of men who go on j)ublic works rather unsteady, 319,

not wholly satisfied with Chinese as laborers, 319.

difficult to control large bodies of whites when paid ; they go on
sprees, 320.
SUKLIVAN, E. L.

an injury, 15.

no white man can compete with them, 16.
Swift, J. F.

Chinese make life too easy for the white laborer instead of too'
hard, 339.

if turned away probably a cry for them in a few years, 340.

in their own lines none can comipete with them, 340.
TiNDAL, J.

good laborers at some work, 121.
Ward, R.

no other laborer fit for salmon canning, 85.

useful to white labor ; instances, 287.

white laborers get things cheaper because of the Chinese, 288.-
they absorb all the industries they can, 290.
Wilson, C.

clean out old mining claims, 59.

their coming was resisted at first in Cariboo, 60.

employed by companies, 61.

LEPROSY:

See Contagious Diseases.

Begbie, Sir Mathbw B. , .„ ., ^ , , „,

charge that they are mfested with it unfounded, 74.
never heard of more than one case, 80.
Bryant, A. J. ^ ,,„

eleven or twelve cases ; two women, 11^

never knew a case communicated from them to the whites, 112.-

452 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

LEPROSY— continued.

Bloomfield, C. T.

ten or twelve cases within the last ten or twelve years, 48.
Cox, C. C.

saw no cases, 15.
Cbease, Hon. Mk. Justice.

no personal knowledge of any, 148.
Flkwin, J.

knows of one case, 50.
GiBBS, F. A.

a contagious disease, 216.

lepers shipped to China, 217.

officers of Six Companies opposing their shipment, 217.

its horrible effects, 217.
Gordon, D. W., M.P.

no personal knowledge, 138.
Helmckbn, Dr.

not contagious, 54.

appertains to hot countries and marshy places, 55.

have not introduced it, 58.
Meares, J. L.

so-called leprosy result of congenital syphilis, 198.

description, 198.

not contagious, 199.
Metoalf, J., JUN.

whites do not contract leprosy from Chinese, 84.
Moresby, W.

personally knows of no cases, 110.
O'DONNELL, C. C.

one hundred and fifty cases in Chinatown, 356.
Stephenson, W.

does not know of a case, 124.
Stevenson, E., M.D.

up to 1882, no case among the whites in California although fifty-
two had occurred among the Chinese, 93.
Stout, A. B.

the cry about leprosy a farce, 310.
TUCKFIELD, Me.

knows only of one case, 67.
Vreeland, E. B.

affects the body not the face, 210.
Young, J.

only knew of one case, 90.
MORALITY:
See Character.

Adair, W. B.

no injurious effect upon whites, 114.

not more depraved than whites, 114.
Armstrong, W. J.

more vice among Chinese women than among white, but do not
flaunt their misconduct more, 117.
Bee, Col. F. A.

immorality no greater than among other foreigners, 17.
Begbie, Sir Mathew B. s >

has never seen any effects on whites morally from presence of
Chinese, 80.
BODWELL, E. V.

no bad effect on whites, 116.

not more depraved than whites, 116.
Bradley, J. A.

bring demoralization into households, 160.
Briggs, A. R.

a politico-economic question more than moral 4

have no reverence for childhood, 9. '

male servants debauch children, 9.

women have no position, 9.

suicidal to permit them to associate with children 9

ijRYDEN, J . '

no effect on whites, 111.
CREAst Hon! Mrj^sT^E^'"* ^^'^^ "'"™^ ^^"^^' "2-

""'w^t^b^tSToUcriS"""^ '^'''''' ''"* *•>-« •^"'^d be dealt

INDEX. 453

Chinese Immigration — continued.

MORALITY— continued.

Crease, Hon. Mr. Jvstic^— continued.

do not flaunt their vices, 144.

charges against them made in a spirit of exaggeration, 144.

are there no white abominations ? 144.

drunken scenes of riot among the whites, 144.

effect on white morals not beneficial, but vicious whites far more
injurious, 147.

the proportion of immoral persons not greater among Chinese,
147.

white depravity surpasses that of Chinese, 148.
DUNSMUIR, R., M.P.P.

the morals of whites not injured by their presence, 131.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

lower than Christian, but higher than any other heathen
nation, 265.
Gordon, D. W., M. P.

flaunt their vices in a degrading and revolting manner, 138.

moral effect bad, too bad for any respectable Canadian to con-
template, 138.
Hanet, M.

not so immoral as white, 122.
Hastings, S. C.

a Russian serf superior to the Chinaman from a moral point of
view, 303.

demoralizes boys and girls, 303.
Helmcken, Dr.

immorality no worse than the whites, 55.

morals Asiatic, 55.

does not beHeve they corrupt children, 55.

as to charge of corrupting, 58.
HuANe Sic Chen.

misrepresentations as to their morals, 162.
HOLLISTER, "W. W.

moral condition of 400 Chinamen in witness's county so good, only
five arrests in a year, 326.
INNES, J. W.

no effect on whites, 101.

depravity not more glaring than white, 101.
Kennedy, J. B.

flaunt their vices, 106.

their moral character good, 176.
Ladneb, Thomas E.

depravity not more glaring than white, 98.

their morals have no bad effect on whites, 98.
Lawler, Hon. J.

standard in San Francisco bad, 36.
Lord, D. R.

their morals not specially injurious to whites, 115.

not more depraved than whites, nor do they flaunt their vices
more openly, 115.
Moresby, W.

more depraved than whites, 110.
Metcalf, Jos., Jun.

lower the morals of the whites, 84.

flaunt some of their vices, 84.
Olmsted, W. N.

hot more immoral than whites, 333.
Ondebdonk, a.

their presence no influence on morals of whites, 149.

proportion of depraved small among Chinese, 149.

do not flaunt their vices, 150.
Pawson, J.

demoralizing to rising generation, 133.

nearly all Chinese immigrants immoral, 133.

depravity worse than anything in large European cities, 134.
Peaese, B. M.

their morals have had no bad effect on whites, 96.

depravity not more striking than that of others, 97.
Robins, S. M.

their presence no effect whatever on white morals, 119.

not more depraved than whites and do not flaunt their vices, 119.

454 'INDEX.

Chinese Immigeation — continued.

MORALITY— continued.
Scott, R.

vices not flaunted, 108.
Slanson, a. B.

their presence morally detrimental, 175.
Stephenson, W.

morals not more injurious than immoral whites, 123.

large percentage immoral, do not flaunt their vices, 123.
Stevenson, E., M.D.

superior to white people, 92.

do not corrupt whites, 93.
Stuart, J.

their immigration would never assume formidable proportions
so as to interfere with the morality of the state, 325.
TiNDAL, J.

monsters without morals, 120.
Ward, R.

whites not affected by Chinese morals, 86.

no more immoral than whites, 86.
Ward, W. C.

their morals no influence upon the whites, 104.

not more depraved than whites, 104.

do not flaunt their vices, 104.
Young, J.

lower the morals of whites, 89.

more depraved than whites, 89.

their women flaunt their vices more than white women, 89.

OPIUM-SMOKING :

Bainbridge, a.

if all the Chinamen who were drunk w^ith opium were on the
streets, there would be more arrested under its influence
than white people under the influence of whiskey, 222.
Begbie, Sir Matthew B.

no widespread mischief from the use of opium, 74.

opium and tobacco not as injurious to the public peace as
whiskey, 74.
Bloomfield, C. T.

vice spreading among the whites, 48.
Bradley, J. A.

hundreds of both sexes irredeemably lost, 161.
Brennan, a. B.

majority use opium to excess, 175.

white opium-smokers, 175.
Bull, W. K.

had come across no white persons depraved by its use, 62.
Cox, C. C.

they teach whites to smoke opium, 14.
Crocker, C.

had seen them under the influence of opium, 314.
Crowlet, p.

greatest curse of the world, 24.

opium joints, 24.

a criminal offence, 24.

white men and women convicted for opium-smoking, 25.

worse than drinking whiskey, 25.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B.

has seen Chinamen under its influence, also bad after-effects on
them, 53.
Duffield, G. W.

some Chinamen do not smoke at all, but a great many do, 219.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

seen some of them smoking opium and tobacco, and drLnkinE;
whiskey, 273.
Helmoken, Dr.

not true that Chinese had caused the habit to spread among the
whites, 58.
Huang Sic Chen.

who is to blame— the Chinese who use the vile drug or the
English who introduced it into China? 162.

not as injurious as drunkenness, 172.
Kennedy, J. B.

frequently off work in consequence of its use, 105.

INDEX. 455

Chinese Immigration — continued.

OP I UM-SMOKING— continued.
Meaees, J. L.

go anywhere in their quarter and you will find them indulging,
198.

not any worse than excessive drinking, but excess in opium-
smoking will degrade more, 199.

opium and whiskey compared as to crime, etc., 200.
MOEESBY, W.

half-breed and Indian women allured into opium dens and
violated, 108.

white prostitutes smoke, 108.

have seen young men smoking, 108.
Stevenson, E., M. D.

the vice exists all over much of the world, 94.
TUOKFIELD, Mr.

white men and women indulge, 67.
Ward, W. C.

often sleepy and stupid from its effects, 103.
Wharton, E.

four years an opium-smoker, 150.

misery led to indulgence, 150.

a frank criticism of T. De Quincy's Opium-Eater, 130.

could not live without the drug, 150.

feeling all right after influence has passed away, 150.

symptoms of needing it, 150.

all women who smoke opium are not fast, 151.

prostitutes more addicted to drink than opium, 151.

never experienced any rudeness from Chinamen in an opium-den,
151.

if opium-joints are not licensed whiskey-saloons should be
closed, 151.

POPULATION :

Bloomfield, C. T.

in Victoria, 2,000, 47.
Bryant, A. J.

60,000 to 70,000 during fall and winter in San Francisco, 211.

varies from 30,000 to 60,000, according to the season, 211.
Bull, W. K.

in Victoria, 3,000, 61.

on assessment roll, 750, 62.
Carey, J. W.

in Victoria, 3,000, 44.

in British Columbia, 23,000, 43.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

twenty per cent, of the population should be Chinese, 146.
Crocker, C.

in 1876, in proportion to white, less than in 1860, 316.
Davie, Hon. A. B. B.

in British Columbia, 18,000, 52, 53.

in Victoria, 3,000, 53.

on raOway construction, 6,000, 53.
Drake, Hon. M. W. T.

in the province (B.C.) about 18,000, 134.
DwYEB, Rev. P., A. M.

conditions which determine how many desirable, 126.
Ellis, H. H.

30,000 in San Francisco, from 120,000 to 160,000 in the state, 204.

60,000 in San Francisco during wet season, 207.
Estee, M. M.

population underestimated, 346.
George, H.

in San Francisco, 30,000, 237.
Gordon, D. W., M.P.

as to how many are necessary, 137.
Helmckbn, Dr.

increase within past few months, 54.

number of domestic servants overrated, 55.
Huang Sic Chen.

in Oregon, only 13,000, at one time 30,000, 173.

5,000 employed preserving fish, 172.
Knights of Labor.

rapid increase of Chinese population, lo8.

real increase far larger than returns show, 158.

466 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

POP VLA TION— continued.
Ladner W. H.

not too many, 102.
Low, F. F.

immigration into California from 1852 to 1875, 185.
MoCoppiN, Hon. P.

116,000 in California, 30,000 in San Francisco, 179.
Peabsb, B. M.

about 3,000 necessary, 95.
PiXLET, F. M.

in the state (California) from 150,000 to 175,000, 179.
EOBSON, Hon. J.

population in Victoria difficult to obtain, 64.
Rogers, J. R.

in San Francisco, 30,000, 225.
Shearer, Rev. F. E.

now (1876) in America about 100,000, 308.
Smith, M. A.

between 50,000 and 60,000 in San Francisco during winter, per-
haps more, 214.
Vinton, W.

in San Jose, 1,400, 241.

143 prostitutes, 241.
Wheeler, A.

number in the United States, 290.
Wilson, Charles

number in Cariboo, 1,200, 59.
Young, J.

number who pay Provincial Revenue Tax, 90.

in Nanaimo district, 1,200, 90.

in Victoria district, 200, one woman, 91.

PROSTITUTES :
See Woinen.

Bainbkidge, a.

found men in their tlisabille and women the same, 222.

their shamelessness, 222.
Beals, H. C.

have a bad influence on the boys, 307.
Begbie, Sir Matthew B.

has seen unmistakable prostitutes in the Chinese quater, 80.

never saw anything comparable to what used to be seen in Hol-
born and- the Strand (London), 80.
Blakeslee, Rev. S. V.

police find boys of eight years in bed with Chinese prostitutes,
349.
Bloomfield, C. T.

they sit at their doors and wickets decoying young lads, 48.

syphilis and other venereal diseases, 48.
Brennan, a. B.

number in Portland (Oregon) large, 175.

loafers who live on them, 175.
Clarke, A.

a large number among them, 201.

forbidden to exist in any part of Chinatown, 201.

held in bondage, 202.

do not as a rule know enough to escape from slavery, 202.

city officers aid them to escape from bondage, 204.
Cornelius, Capt.

nearly 300 prostitutes in Portland, 174.
Coryell, J. R.

with one or two exceptions all the Chinese women are prosti-
tutes, 343.
Crowley, P.

corrupt the youth — testimony, the hospitals, 24.
Drake, Hon. M. W. T.

women are slaves and sold by their importers, 154.
DUFFIELD, G. W.

about two-thirds of the women in Chinatovfn are prostitutes, 219..

number reduced about one-half to what they were, 220.
Ellis, H. H.

universally believed by the police and people that they are held
as slaves, 205.

hoodlums and other boys visit them, 207.

1,000 in San Francisco ; 1,500 white, 207.

INDEX. 45T

Chinese Immigration — continued.

PROSTITUTES-continued.
Flewin, J.

young men, chiefly lads, frequent their houses, 50.

venereal diseases, 50.
Gray, G. H.

provisions of the Page Lavr prohibits their landing, 260.

precautions against their immigration, 261.
vjIBbs, F. a.

little boys not old enough to understand the passions enticed for
the mere purpose of inoculating them with syphilis, 217.
Gibson, Be v. Otis iv ,

contracts binding prostitutes into slavery, 262.

ten arrivals said they had been kidnapped and wished to go
back, 263.

Chinese prostitutes and the boys, 265.

men become attached to them and marry them, 267.

sale of female child! en sometimes for purposes of prostitution,
273.
Htjang Sic Chen

about fifty prostitutes in Portland (Oregon) 172.
Lavfler, Hon. J.

females of tender years, 36.

LOUDERBACK, D.

boys fifteen and sixteen years of age sent to industrial schools
affected by diseases by contact with Chinese prostitutes, 213.
McCoppiN, Hon. P.

500 or 600 in San Francisco, 179.
Metcalp, J., JUN.

number of prostitutes in British Columbia about-lSO, 83.
O'DONNELL, C. C.

nineteen-twentieths of the Chinese women prostitutes, 356.
PlXLBY, F. M.

corrupt and infect young white boys, 180.

from 1,200 to 2,000 in the state (Calfornia) 180.
Rogers, J. R.

prostitutes, not free women ; sold as slaves for so much, 225.

exercise bad influences, 225.
Shearer, Rev. F. E.

nearly all the Chinese women on the coast are prostitutes, 309.
Smith, M. A.

at present (1876) about 400 in Chinatown, San Francisco, at one
time 1,500, 214.

difficult to convict those arrested, 215.

for S300 a woman sells herself as a prostitute for five years, 215.

sometimes fly to City Hall for protection, 216.
Stevenson, E., M.D.

large percentage of Chinese women in the country are prosti-
tutes, 92.

Chinese women not so bad as Indian and white in spreading
venereal diseases, 92 .
Short, A. B.

it is stated there are 4,000 in California, there should be more, 311.

do not demoralize white boys, 311.

white and Chinese prostitutes compared, 312.

thej; should be allowed to come with the same facility as other
immigrants, 312.

their expulsion would do no good, 312.
Vinton, W.

number in San Jos6 143, 241.
Woods, D. C.

corrupt boys and give them disease, 354.

the boys being inoculated it extends to white girls, 354.
Ward, R.

one scarcely ever sees a Chinese woman on the streets, 86,

PROSTITUTION :

See Prostitutes, Syphilis, &c-
Bee, Col. i . A.

women bought for purposes of, 20.
youth of the city not corrupted by Chinese women, 20.
syphilis, 20.
Bryant, A. J.

not as public now (1876) as it was years ago, 211.

458 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

PROSTITUTION— continued.
Caret, J. W.

at one time limited much larger now, 45.
Cox, C. C.

women corrupt young boys, 14.

kidnapping for purposes of, 14.

marrying a woman for purposes of, 13.
Ellis, H. H.

more accessible to boys and youths, 205.

$100 required as bail, fine ranging from S25 to S50; nearly aU go
to the county gaol, 206.
King, T. H.

does not know of any street-walking in San Francisco, 194.

along water front of Canton city have floating brothels, called
flower-boats, gorgeously fitted up, 194.

women bought in China and sold in California, 189.

nurseries for prostitution a business in China, 192.

common practice in China to purchase women, 192.
LooMis, Rev. A.

women decoyed, kidnapped or bought for purposes of, 278.

could be expunged, 279.
Low, F. F.

regarded with aversion and disgust in China, 183.
Meaees, J. L.

as a rule aU Chinese women are prostitutes, 201.

they are not the chief source of syphilis, 201.

$500,000 interested in the business, 203.

attempts to suppress it, 203.
PiXLEY, F. M.

prostitution prevails, 180.
TiNDAL, J.

women sold for purposes of, 121.

PUBLIC OPINION.

See Agitoiion, Feeling, &c.
Bassett, J. M.

in favor of restriction, .360.
Blakeslbe, Rev. S. V.

the average of the people of the state strongly opposed to
them, 348.
Bbiggs, Rev. M. C.

divided state of public opinion, 325.
Campbell, A.

disinterested public opinion in favor of Chinese, 321.
DWINELLB, S. H.

against Chinese immigration, 323.
ESTEE, M. M.

against further immigration, 346.
Eastekbt, a. W.

mixed character of public opinion, 322.
Lake, D.

strong and overwhelming against them, 346.
O'DONNELL, C. C.

seven-tenths of the people of California opposed to them, 356.
Russell, J.

their presence conflicts with the interests of the farmers, 356.
Swift, J. F.

prejudice against them natural, 339.

has grown, 339.

right to exclude from the country any race against which we
have a prejudice, 340.
Wheeler, B. D.

favors restricted immigration, 347.

RESTRICTION OR REGULATION :
See Exclusion, &c-
Adair, W. B.

the advent of others should be regulated, 113.
Armstrong, W. J.

if they were withdrawn there would be no change in comfort ;
there would be prosperity as an effect of European immigra-
tion, 117.
would not force them out, but would stop immigration, 117.
a law similar to United States Restriction Act should be passed.
117.

INDEX. 459

Chinese Immigration — continued.

RESTRICTION OR REGULATION— continued.
Aknoup, J.

favors restriction, 354.
Avery, F.

in favor of unrestricted immigration provided the Chinese do not
get control of country, 334.
Blakeslee, Rev. S. V.

if tliey were restricted so that no more should come, white labor
would be reputable, 349.
BODWELL, E. V.

further Immigration should be restricted, 116.
Brieb, Rev. W. W.

sees no reason for restricting their immigration, 300.

extreme of Chinese population an evil, 300.

not too many . Chinese, 301.
Bbiggs, a. R. . .

if it had been modified, limiting a few to come, their services
might have been utilized, 2.

cause of increase of white immigration, 2.
Clarke, H. K. W.

bad policy to limit immigration of Chinese, 317.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Jitstice.

practical result of excluding them would be labor monopoly and.
the blight of flourishing industries, 143.

at present restriction not expedient, 146.

deprecates any active step to restrict or exclude, 148.
Damebon, J. P. ,, _ .„

if their immigration is unrestricted they may overrun the facinc
coast, 353.
Douglas, C. D. .

the Chinaman should be prohibited commg, 33a.
DUNSMUIR, R., M.P.P.

exclusion would retard public works, 130.

no legislative measures necessary, 130. k • i.-

their exclusion impairs our chances of controlling the Asiatic
trade, and jeopardizes provincial enterprises, 131.

exclusion would kiU the Asiatic trade, 131.

DWINBLLE, S. H. _^. . . . , . 1. ij

if there was a surplus population, Chinese immigration should

be restricted, .<?23.
not necessary at present, 323.
DwYEB, Rev. P., A.M. ,. ,

if they were excluded there would be a temporary disadvantage

and great ultimate gain, 126.
suggestions for legislation, 126.

Gray, G. H. . . , , , ■ ^ j o«i

excessive Chinese immigration should be stopped, ^bl.
if properly restricted no harm in it, 261.

Gordon, D. W., M.P.

in favor of exclusion, 137.

if' same number came as come of whites it would not be

injurious, 122.
no restriction necessary, 122.

°'^'^some of those who employ Chinese labor would vote for restric-
tive legislation, 329. .
a benefit to the United States to have the Chinese by millions
scattered over the country, -^30.

^^''^tlSre should be a national law to prevent overplus of (or any
tainted) immigration, 338.
Hyatt T. H. , .

tlie Government of China opposed to their people going away,
and would not look upon restriction with disfavor, 325.

INNES, J. W. , , i , . 1, t ini

number should be regulated by poll-tax, 101.

Johnston, J.

restriction necessary, 112.

present number suflftcient, 112.

poll-tax should be imposed, 112.

one Chinese laborer to every 100 tons, 112.

460 IND]EX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

RESTRICTION OB REGULATION— continued.
Kennedy, J. B.

would not force away those here, 105.
King, C. H.

the Anti-Chinese League would be willing to accept a regulative
measure limiting the iuunigration, 235.
Knights of Labor.

further immigration must be stopped, 159.

national sentunent demands it, 159.

protection for labor as well as capital needed, 159.

question will not brook delay, 160.
Ladner, Thomas E. .

should not be restricted at present, 98.
Laity, J., and Trembath, J.

no more should be allowed to come, 99.

poll-tax, 99.
Lake, D.

immigration should be restricted, 346.
Metcalp, J., J0N.

example of United States should be followed, 84.
Moresby, W.

gradual withdrawal of the greater number here now an advan-
tage, 109.

until replaced by whites some are necessary, 109.

their coming should be stopped entirely and inmiediately, 110.

prohibition, 110.
Onderdoxk, a.

a year's notice of restrictive action should be given, and any re-
strictive policy should be only for a short time, 149.

any sudden restriction would close down many industries, 130.
Pawson, J.

by their withdrawal an incubus would be lifted from the
Province, 133.

should be excluded, 133.

reference to the Acts of the U. S. and Australian colonies, 133.

their removal would cause white immigration to flow in, 133.
Pearse, B. M.

should be restricted, 95.

should be regulated, 96.

a heavy poll-tax should be imposed on Chinamen coming in, 96.
Peck, C. S.

there should be some restriction, 321.
Peckham, R. F.

impression of the Chinese that there are too many in San
Francisco, 299.
Pixley, F. M.

immigration should be regulated or restricted, 183.

wisest to send them all away, 255.

would not, however, exclude those here (California) 255.

should be discouraged, not restricted, 256.
Reed, Rev. H. W.

a great influx of Chinese undesirable, 335.
Robins, S. M.

a poll-tax of SoO on each Chinese immigrant, 119.
Rogers, J.

would not increase Chinese immigration, but would limit it, 348.

let there be no increase and only white development, 348.
• Scott, R.

amount of work to be done should regulate their numbers, 107.
Seaman, V.

not a desirable element for California, 296.
Shearer, Rev. F. E.

a panic would result by limiting immigration, 308.

in favor of unrestricted immigration, 309.
Sherk, J. B.

not in favor of unrestricted immigration, 308.
Slanson, a. B.

amendment to the Act good, 176.
Smith, Mrs A. F.

no right to exclude one race of people to build up another, 335.
Sneath, R. G.

not more Chinese than needed, but there should be power to
restrict, 293.

INDEX. 461

Chinese Immigration — continued.

RESTRICTION OR REGULATION— continued.
' Stephenson, W.

further immigration should be prevented, 123.
only one way to keep out Chinese— close the door tight, 123.
unrestricted immigration of Chinese pernicious, 338.
an alien element a disadvantage, 338.
Swift, J. F.

right to exclude from the country any race against which we

have a prejudice, 340.
would absolutely exclude Chinese, 340.

if necessary would be willing to abrogate all treaty relations
between the U. S. and Chma, 341.
Ward, E.

it might be enough to regulate the number brought by any one
vessel, 86.
Ward, W. C.

would prevent further immigration, 104.
a combined effort to bring in whites should be made, 104.
YOTTNG, J. , .

expulsion would only cause temporary inconvenience to certam

parties, 88.
none should come, 88.

prevent more coming and the evil will cure itself, 88.
a high tariff on them would prevent their coming, 88.
reasons why it is necessary to keep them out, 88.
Government of the Dominion should pass a Prohibitory Act next
session, 91.

SANITARY :
See Character.

Adaik, W. B.

overcrowd, 113.
Bainbbidge, a.

interior of buildings generally filthy, 221.

how Chinatown is cleaned, 221.

overcrowding, 221.

horrible atmosphere in which they live, 223.
Begbib, Sir Matthew B.

they like overcrowding, 74.

BlOOMFIELD, C. T. . ^ Ao

smell of opium stifling in crowded quarters, 48.
Briggs, A. E. ,^, ,„

disregard aU the laws of health, 10.
huddle together in droves and have no homes, 3.

Bryant, A. J. ,. ^ „■,,

condition of Chinatown very dirty, 211.

some tenements in a very bad condition ; bad smells around, 62.

BtTFFIELD, Gr. W. , . -, , j j

beUeves there are officers who are required to go around and see
the condition of the streets and alleys, 221.
Ellis, H. H.

crowded and filthy, 206.

the condition of their quarter very filthy as a rule, 205.
Flewin, J. „ „ ^.,. . ..

urine kept in store for fertilizing, 49.

prisoners covered with vermin, 50.

C TRBS F A

large bills paid by San Francisco for cleaning-up, disinfecting,

etc., Chinatown, 218. ^, ,_.,,,. „,„
in their crowding together they breathe foul air, 219.
in lower class of houses a perfect stench, 219.
INNES, J. W.

condition bad, 101.

""^"^^steAch around their vegetable gardens, 68.
Kennedy, J. B.

condition bad, 105.
Ladner, Thomas E.

condition not good, 97.
Ladner, W. H.

they overcrowd, 102.

462 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

SA NIT A R Y— continued.
Meares, J. L.

crowd into small rooms and are exposed to contagious diseases^
197.

overcrowding and filth in their quarter, 198, 199.

machinery defective, 200.

with proper health laws great change for the better could be
made, 200.
Moresby, W.

houses so filthy as to be a public danger, 109.

overcrowd and sleep in gangs, 109.

urine and excrement kept in barrels, 109.
Pearse, B. M.

injurious to public health although not to public peace, 95.
PiXLET, F. M.

sanitary condition bad, 180.
Robins, S. M.

overcrowding might affect public health, 118.
Stephenson, W.

if they were in greater nnmbers in Cariboo would be injurious to-
public health, 123.
Stevenson, E., M.D.

excrement returned to the soil, 93.
Stock, E. C.

crowding and filth, 246.

how they kill their vermin, 246.
Stout, A. B.

squalor not much greater than in other parts of the city, 311.
TUCKFIELD, Mk.

condition of Chinatown filthy, 66.
Ward, W. C.

condition bad, 104.
Ward, R.

overcrowding and filth, 85.
Young, J.

bad condition of their quarter, 87.

SECRET TRIBUNALS :

Begbie, Sir Matthevf B.

trades-unions, 81.

private tribunals, 82.
Bryant, A. J.

settle their own difiBculties either by fine or imprisonment, 211.
Carey, J. W.

have secret societies amongst themselves, 44.

believes they have courts of their own, 47.
Clarke, A.

the Hip-ye-tung try to extort money from a man for marrying, 203.

a Chinaman imprisoned by his fellow countrymen for not settling
a claim, 203.
Cornelius, Capt.

governed by their own laws, 174.
Crowley, P.

secret societies among whites to get rid of the Chinese, 22.
Drake, Hon. M. W. T.

governed by laws of their own, 154.
Ellis, H. H.

an attempt made to settle a criminal cascj 205.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

the Hip-ye-tung for women traffic, and the Po-sang-tung for
protection of gambling, 267.
Moresby, W. .

have civic and criminal tribunals of their own, 108.
Rogers, J. R.

used every means to break up the Hip-ye-tung, 225.
Smith, M. A.

washermen, shoe-makers, and cigar-makers have a society, 214,
TiNDAL, J.

some system of serfdom exists, 121.

SIX COMPANIES:

Bee, Col. F. A.

address to mayor respecting rumor that the Chinese quarter
would be attacked by a mob, 182.

INDEX. 463.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

SIX COMPANIES— continued.

organized for benevolent purposes, 18.
fees paid to, 19.

immigration outside of their functions, 19.
organization of, 19.
act as arbitrators, 20.
Briggs, a. R.

laborers come under contract to, 6.
Brooks, C. W.

organized for benevolent purposes, 31.
Bryant. A. J.

asked to take care of their sick, 211.
Ellis, H. H.

when a police officer was shot the Companies found the man and
delivered him up, 208.
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

voluntary associations for mutual protection and benefit, 267.
revenue made up by voluntary contributions and permits, 272.
King, T. H.

all sailing vessels have charter conditions to take no Chinese but

those supplied by the Companies, 189.
only the companies know how many are in the country, 190.
originally were agents of Chinese firms in Hong Kong, 192.
they act as agents or go-betweens, 192.
Low, F. F.

Chinese cannot return without permission of the companies, 186.
Mather, F.

power of the Six Companies, 244.
PiXLET, F. M.

voluntary institutions, 180.

no Chinaman, until he is free on the books of the company to-
which he belongs, can leave the state, 180.

Vreeland, B. B. , , ,.^ i I. it J,

eighty per cent, of the immigrants brought out by the agency of

the Companies, 209.
they act as guardians, 209. . , , ^ , ^ ,. ^

for the Companies to hold a debtor the indebtedness must be to

some member of the Company, or to the Company itself, 210.
a benefit to Chinamen, 210.

SMALL-POX:

See Contagious Diseases.

Humphrey, P. H. . , , ^ i. ^r. rru- qqq

denies that it was introduced by the Chinese, SSS.

they offer to embark on board ship with it, 189, , ^ .^

out of every 800 some 740 show distinct marks of havmg had it,
191.

eni'demic arose in Chinatown, San Francisco, 197. ,

in fumigating their quarter found the condition inconceivably

horrible, 198.
deaths and cases reported, 199.
how it is disseminated, 200.
O'Donnell, C. C, , , „ „_„

they were the first that introduced small-pox, d5b.

the Chinese introduced it into San Francisco, 180.
'^°''^all cases to be reported to the coroner, 246.
Aot even half due to China or Chinamen, 310.
Vreeland, E. B. . ^ a mn
knew of no case imported, iW.

SODOMY:

^°'^' result of not being allowed to consummate the act, 14.

a man's penis cut off, 14.
King, T. H. , , . ,„„

practice on board ship common, 189.

common practice among them, 194.

Mahon-^^^.^ sodomites of the worst kind, 259.

464 INDEX.

Chinese Immigration — continued.

SODOMY^continued.

Stevenson, E., M.D.

not guilty of the crime, 93.
TOBIN, J. T.

never saw it committed between man and man, but has seien it
with beasts — with dogs, hogs, and ducks, 228.

SYPHILIS:

See Prostitutes.
Crowley, P.

testimony — the hospitals, 24.
Flbwin, J.

venereal diseases, 50.
GiBBS, F. A.

paralysis from Chinese syphilis, 217.

little boys innoculated, 217.
King, T. H.

they offer to embark on board ship with it, 189.

LOUDERBACK, D.

boys, 15 and 16 years of age, sent to industrial school affected by
disease by contact with Chinese prostitutes, 213.
Meares, J. L.

a large amount among them, especially among the females, 198.

worse with Chinamen because tney are not treated for it, 199.
Stout, A. B.

not worse among Chinese than among white people, 311.
TlNDAL, J.

loathsome diseases, 120.
Woods, D. C.

corrupt boys and give them disease, 354.

TREATMENT :

Bee, Col. F. A.

had seen the immigrants stoned from the time they left the ships
until they reached Chinatown, 181.
Clarke, H. K. W.

by a low class they have been treated brutally, 317.
Huang Sic Chen.

treated better in Portland than in San Francisco, 172.
Jessup, W. H.

anything but flattering to the whites, 332.
they had been abused, 332.

if they dressed differently there would be less abuse, 332.
Stout, A. B.

very badly treated ; more sinned against than sinning, 311.
WAGES :

See Employments ; also Manufactures.
COLTON, D. D.

white men paid twice as much as Chinese, 305.
Huang Sic Chen.

in Portland, Oregon, 820 to §60 a month, 172.
Lessleb, Mr.

in various industries, 336.
Pixley, F. M.

skilled labor, from 50 cents to SI per day; railroad and tule
laborers, from 60 cents to SI ; farm hands, 81 ; fruit-pickers,
81.10 ; all boarding themselves, 180.
Vrbeland, E. B.

collected by a boss Chinaman, 209.
WOMEN :

See Prostitutes.

DUFFIELD, G. W.

some are prostitutes and some are married, 219.
Hollister, W. W.

white women can get employment if they will be content with
reasonable wages, 327.
Hyatt, T. H.

girl-babies in China sold for two bits, 325.

women sold at from $25 and 830 consider themselves wives 325
King, T. H.

women bought bear children which are cared for, especiallv if

males, 192. ■'

common practice in China to purchase women, 192.

INDEX.

4&5

Chinese Immigration — continued.

WOMEN— continued.

LoOMis, Rev. A

decoyed, kidnapped or bought and brought here for the vilest
purposes, 278, """
Low, F. F.

,279.

Chinese :
Chinese Tax Bill

little hesitation in destroying female children at early birth in
China, 184.
Mather, F.

wives can be bought in China for $60 and sold for $500 in Cali-
fornia, 243.
PiXLET, F. M.

in the state and in San Francisco about 4,000, 180.
Smith, M. A.

buying and selling, 215, 216.
Vbeeland, E. B.

bought in China and brought to San Francisco and sold at from
$200 to $1,000, 209.

numbers and occupations in British Columbia (Appendix C),
363—366.

Cheistianixy :
Cigars :

Clarke, Alfred :
Clarke, Henry K. W
Clothing :

judgment of Hon. Mr. Justice Gray in the Supreme Court of
British Columbia (Appendix G), 375—383.

See Chinese Immigration.
See Manufactures.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 201—204.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 316—318.

See Manufactures.

American manufacture, 40.

Coal : •

CoLTON, David D. ;
CooLiDGE, Joseph A.
Coolies :

statement of coal exports from Victoria and Nanaimo, British
Columbia, for three years ending 30th June, 1884 (Appendix
M), 396.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A. 304.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 283-285.

Condon, John D. :

See " Coolies, " " Laborers, " " Immigrants, " &c., under Chinese Immigra-
tion.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 250.

Contagious Diseases:

See Chinese Immigration.

Contracts :
Cordage :
Cornelius, Capt.
Correspondence

See Chinese Immigration.
See Manufactures.

witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884) 173, 174.
, Appendix O, 399-404.

30

466 INDEX.

CoETAGE, Edward L. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 253.

Coryell, John R. ;

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 343.

Cox, C. C. :

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 14 — 16.

Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice :

documentary, 140—148 ; postcript. Appendix T, 414 — 415.

Crime :

calendar of Chinese cases before the Victoria Police Court from

1879 to 1884 (Appendix H) 383—388.
return of convicts sentenced to the British Columbia penitentiary
from 1880 to 1884 (Appendix I) 389—393.
See Chinese Immigration.

Crimes, Unnatural :

See Chinese Immigration.

Criminality :

See Chinese Immigration,

Criminals :

See Chinese Immigration.

Crocker, Charles :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 313 — 316.

Crowley, Patrick :

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 21—26.

Cubic Air Law :

See Ordinances ; also Legislation, discriminating.

Customs :

duty collected from Chinese during August and September, 1884,

(Appendix M) 396.

collected from Chinese firms for the fiscal year ending 1883,

(Appendix N) 397.
collected from Chinese firms for the fiscal year ending 1884,

(Appendix N) 398.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 350—353.
witness (British Columbia, 1884) 51—54.
abstract of evidence (1876), Appendix A., 357.

Customs Revenue :

Dameron, James P. :

Davie, Hon. A. E. B. :

Degroot, Henry :

Depravity :

See " MoraUty " under Chinese Immigration.

Development op Country :

See Chinese Immigration ; also White Immigration.

Discrimination :

See Legislation.

Domestic Servants :

See Chinese Immigration,

Douglas, Charles D. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 338.

Drake, Hon. M. W. T. :

statement put in to Commissioners, 153, 154.

INDEX.

467

DuFFiELD, George :
DuNSMUiE, Robert, M.P. :
DuPONT, Major L. T. :

DuRKEE, John L. :
DwiNELLE, John W. :
DwiNELLE, Samuel H. :
DwYER, Rev. Philip, A.M.

Dye, William M. :
Easterby, Anthony W. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 219—221.

witness (British Columbia, 1884) 127—131.

communication re excise duty collected from Chinese on cigars,
151—153.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 344.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix R, 355.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 323.

documentary (answers to questions), 124 — 127.
communication accompanying answers to questions. Appendix
B) 361.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 313.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 322.

Education, Chinese :

See Chinese Immigration.

T^TTTs Henry H *

' ■ ' abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 204^208.

Emigration: „. . ,.„ , ,. u- * lo^

the government of Chma indiflferent on the subject, 184.

Employments : , „ ^ ^

See Chinese Im.migraUon ; also Manufactures.

Estee, Morris M. : ,,^„„, . ,. . „,, ,<„

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 344-346.

Ethnology :

C^VlCiC'K'PTi, C

believes that the white man has got more brains than the China-
man, 316.
Damebon^.^^ is divided into four different groups, 350.

superiorty of the Caucasian race, 350.

Confucius an exception, 350.

Tndo-Germanic group stands hrst, dSl. , . . ,

aSv race whoselverage head does not exceed 85 cubic inches are
not capable of free government, 351.

Chinese have not the brain capacity to become citizens 351.

Anglo-American 90 cubic inches of bram ; the Enghsh 96 cub
inches, 351.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 318.

See CJivnese Immigration; also "Restriction" under same head.

number of Chinese families in California 1,200, 40.

Eeeling against C--- ;^^^_^^„,^,^. ,,,„ .^,,,,uon" and "Feeling" under same head.

Evans, West ;
Exclusion :
Families :

468 INDEX.

Fires :

BlGELOW, H. H.

doubles the rate of insurance, 341.

few losses, 341.

the class who insure as good as men of the same standing among

whites, 341.
where towns have been burned up the fires, as a rule, originated

in Chinese quarters, 341.
so many fires — recently had declined to insure, 342.
DURKBE, J. L.

liability to fire in consequence of their carelessness, 344.
Dye, W. M.

■ less losses from Chinese policies, 313.

less fires in their quartos than in other parts of the city, 313.
more reasonable in case of fire and partial law, 313.
establishments of laundries in, other parts of the city has had the

effect of raising insurance, 313.
premium the same as on property owned by white people, 313.
Stottt, a. B.

very few fires have originated in their quarters, 310.

Five Points in N. Y. :

worse than any Chinatown, 182.

Flour Expoetatioks :

growing trade between San Francisco and China, 307.

FouLKE, Lewis M. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 359.

Foreign Miners' License Law:

See Ordinances ; also Legislation, Discriminating.

Francis, Rev. John :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 283.

Flewin, Sergeant J. •

vritness (British Columbia, 1884) 49—51.

Franchise :

See Chinese Immigration.

Gallego, Romulus C. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 354.

Gambling :

See Chinese Immigration.

George, Henry :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 236—238.

GiBBS, Cornelius B. S. :

GiBBs, Frederick A. :

Gibson, Rev. Otis :

Gillespie, Robert H. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 252.

Gordon, David William, M.P. :

documentary (answers to questions) 134 — 140.

spirits and wines imported during last fiscal year, $16,720 worth,

135.
opium importedduring last fiscal year, §95,354 worth, 135.

Grape Picking :

nineteen-twentleths done by Chinese, 336.
overseers always whites, 336.

Gray, Giles H. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 260—262.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 290.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 216 — ^219.
witness (San Francisco 1884) 38—39 ; (1876)262—275.

INDEX.

469

Gray, Hon. Me. Justice :
Habeas Corpus :

Haight, Henry H. :
Haney, Michael :
Hart, Henry :
Hastings, S. Clinton :
Hayes, Michael :
Hayes, Miss Maggie .
Helmcken, Dr. :
Heydenpeldt, Solomon :
Heynemann, Herman :
HiCKEY, William :
Highbinders

judgment re Tai Sing vs. Maguire on Chinese Tax Bill, 375—383.

report of decision by Hon. Geo. Ogden Hoflfraan, of the United
Spates. District Court in the matter of Tung Yeong (Ap-
pendix Q) 405—409.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 238, 239.

documentary (answers to questions) 121, 122.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 335.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 303, 304.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 254.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 248.

vpitness (British Columbia, 1884) 54^59.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 285, 286.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 291—293.

witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884) 174.

in California about 1,400 irresponsible and vicious Chinamen, 21.
employed by Six Companies to hound down those who break

their contracts, 188.
blackmail Chinese merchants and prostitutes, 214.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 329.

Hill, John H. :

Hip-ye-Tung :

See Secret Tribunals.

Hoffman, Hon. George Ogden:

see Sabeas Corpus.

HoLLisTER, William W.

Homogeneity :
Hong Kong :

Hoodlums :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 326—328.

See Miscegenation.

See China.

population of, 34.

status of Chinese residents, 193.

BiGELOW, H. H. ^^, ^,. „.„

created through the presence of the Ghmese, 6ii.
raised up an idle class, 342.

Ellis, H. H.

several thousands, 207.

Chinese very badly treated by them, 207. _

white boys become bad because they cannot get work, iOH.

470

INDEX.

Hoodlums — continued.

Horner, John M.
Hospitals :
Huang Sic Chen

Huang Tsun Hsien :
Humphreys, Mrs. Henry J,
Humphrey, Patrick H.
Hyatt, Thomas H. :
Immigrants :

LOTJDERBAOK, D.

exist in London under the name of Mohawks, 213.
exclusion of boys for employment one great cause, 213.

Rogers, J. K.

Chinese assaulted by young men out of employment, 225.

the assaults exceptional, 225.

fatal assaults in Chinatown, 226.

too idle to go to school, 226.
Stotjt, a. B.

bombard their hospitals with stones, 311.

go among the prostitutes more to molest them than use them, 311.
Stock, E. C.

at times pass through Chinatown and abuse the Chinese, 246.
Swift, Mrs. S.

its existence owing to Chinese being here, 230.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 329.
See Chinatown.

statement put in to Commissioners, 161 — 163.
witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884^ 172, 173.

statement showing the numbers and occupations of Chinese in
B. C. (Appendix C) 3&3— 366.

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 39 — 41.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 249.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 338.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 324.

See Chinese Immigration ; also White Immigration.

number of settlers on the mainland since the opening of the
railway belt in 1883 (Appendix M), 396.

return showing number, occupation, sex, etc., entered at New
Westminster for eleven months ending November 30th, 1884,
and their destinations, (Appendix R) 409, 410.

Immigration :
Immorality :
Imports :
Innbs, J. W. :
Intermarriage
Irish Vote :
Jackson, Thomas W.
Japan :

See Chinese Immigration ; also White Immigration.
See "Morality" under Chinese Immigration.

direct from China into British Columbia (Appendix N) 398.

documentary (answers to questions) 100, 101.
See Miscegenation.

in the United States, 73.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 358.

Chinese have made themselves the most affluent merchants in
Japan, 197.

INDEX.

471

Jessop, John :
Jessup, William H.
John, R. F., M.P.P. :
Johnston, M. :
Jones, Charles T. :
Jones, Richard :
Jones, Simon L. :
Jones, T. R. :
Joss-houses :

Jute-factory :

Kennedy, James B.

Kennedy, Joseph B

Kidnapping :

witness (British Columbia, 1884) 63, 64.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 331.
communication, 90, 91.
documentary (answers to questions) 112.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 355.
witness (British Columbia, 1884) 68.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 331.
statement put in toXommissioners, 155—160.
description, 33.
See Manufactures.

documentary (answers to questions) 105—106.
witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884) 176.

See " Prostitutes" and " Prostitution" under Chinese Immigration.
a Chinese woman kidnapped by white men, 202.

King, Cameron H. :
King, Thomas H. :
KiEKPATBicK, John :
Knights op Labor :
Labor :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 232—235.
abstract of evidence (1876), Appendix A., 188-197.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 342.
statement put in to Commissioners, 155—160.

See Chinese Immigration ; also White Immigration.

Mather, F. , , .. ^. .

no conscientious man will take a white apprentice cigar manu-
facturing, 243.

white labor driven away, 243.

white men cannot find employment, 243.

pretence of employing whites, 244.
Gibson, Rev. Otis. .,-,,■. • oco

white labor in a satisfactory condition in Cahfornia, 263.

cheap labor makes cheap products— cheap living, 263.

instance to prove necessity of Chinese labor for manufactories, 263.

Chinese not taken employment from women, 264.
Humphreys, Mrs. H. J.

competition of Chinese with women, 249.
PiXLEY, P. M. , , I. J „==-

white people deprived of bread, ^55.

white laboring classes very forbearing, 255. .

SPROAT, G. M. , „ j. , . ■ •,• J i-v, ;. 1, •

it is because the Canadian workman is a civilized man that he is
unfairly weighted, 166.

472 INDEX.

Labor — continued.

Speoat, G. M. — continued.

yet the attitude of labor among Western nations calculated to

make statesmen look narrowly at the question, 167.
combination among white workmen has prevented a descent to-
Chinese level, 167.
the Canadian workman handicapped, 167.

Insurance :

See Fires.
Laborers :

See Chinese Immigration ; also WMte Immigration.

a white man can support himself on Chinaman's wages, 315.

Ladner, Thomas E. :
Ladner, William H. :
Laity, John ;
Lake, Delos :
Lancaster, Charles S. :
Lawler, Hon. James :
Legacy duty :
Legislation :

SOOor 600 whites getting a living because Chinese are employed,306.

documentary (answers to questions) 97, 98.

documentary (answers to questions) 102.

documentary (answers to questions) 98, 99.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 346.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 248.

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 36 — 38.

government defrauded, 52.

See " Restriction" under Chinese Immigration.
restrictive, 10.
one-sided, 181.
must be based on broad principles, 167.

Legislation, discriminating :

See Ordinances.

cubic-air law, 281.

foreign miner's tax, 281.

nets with meshes of a certain size, 281.

poll tax, 285.

some of the legislation against them unjust, 343.

See Chinese Immigration.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 336, 337.

contributions to the revenue, 282.

from $23,000 to $24,000 a quarter collected from Chinese, 335.

Leprosy :
Lessler, Morris
Licenses :

Litigants :

proportion of Chinese litigants in district courts, 322.

LooMis, Rev. Augustus W. :

abstract of evidence (1876), Appendix A., 278-282.

Lord, D. R. :

documentary (answers to questions), 114.

Low, Frederick, E. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 183 — 187.

INDEX. 473,

LOUDERBACK, DavID :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 213.
Macondeay, Frederick, W. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 334.
Mahony, Cornelius A. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 258—260.
Married Women :

three hundred in Portland, Oregon, 172.
Marshall, Levin :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 251.
Matches :

See Manufactures,

McCarthy, Dennis :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 263.
MoCoppiN, Hon. Frank

McHenry, John :

McLennan, Donald :

Manufactures :

abstract of evidence (1876), Appendix A., 179.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 336,
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 305, 306.

See " EnvDloymerUs" under Chinese Imynigration.
BAG-FACTORT :

Gallego, R. C.

can manufacture as cheaply with white labor, 354.

BOOTS AND SHOES :
Beals, H. C.

since establishment of factories importation from Massachusetts;
has diminished, 307.

MORGENTHAU, M.

the Chinamen start on their own hook, because machinery is
cheap, 330.
McCarthy, D.

can be carried on prdfltably with white labor, 253.

of certain work the Chinese have complete control, 254.

white men do about one quarter more work than Chinamen, 254.

only 500 whites employed, whereas but for Chinese 2,000, 254.

Chinese not engaged in manufacturing men's boots, 254.

BROOM-MAKING :

CORTAGB, E. L.

cannot support a wife and family on Chinese wages, 253.
Gillespie, E. H.

between Chinese and white labor very little difference, 252.

price of brooms not any less, 252.

whites kept to keep Chinese from stealing, 252. -

effect on wages, 252.
Gillespie, R. H.

white workmen make one quarter more, 252.

manufacture of brooms would have been gone into as largely if
the Chinese not here, 253.
PiXLET, P. M.

instance of lower standard of comfort of Chinese thrusting whites
out of employment, 255.

CANDLES:

MOBGENTHAU, M.

started with white labor, 330.

CARPENTERING AND CABINET-MAKING:
Condon, J. D.

they do not directly affect carpentering and cabinet-making, 250.,
best workmen could not make a living on the wages of the Chi-
nese, 250.
one white man does as much work as two Chinamen, 250.

474 INDEX.

Manufactures— con^wMec?.

CIGARS:

Beals, H. C.

two-thirds consumed on the coast made in San Francisco, 307.

MUTHEB, F.

7,000 Chinese cigar-makers, 242.

slower workmen, 242.

habits and cleanliness in manufacturing cigars, 242.

peculiar characteristics of the Chinese cigar-maker, 242.

will pay to get employment, 243.

cigars made by them advertised as manufactured by whites, 243.

how the wholesale houses work the cigar business, 243.

cigars manufactured by contract, 244.

fraudulent labels, 244.

cigars manufactured in Havana by Chinese, 244.

CORDAGE:

Beals, H. C.

could not be manufactured without Chinese, 306.
imports of cordage, 306.

GENERAL :

Bee, Col. F. A.

engaged in general munufacturing 1860, 16.

capitalists and manufacturers do not interfere with the day
laborer, 17.
Bbiggs, a. B.

cigars controlled by them, 7.
carry on other manufactures, 7.
Bryant, A. J.

little manufacturing done many years ago, 212.

six or seven per cent, considered a good return for an investment

in New England, 212.
employment of white labor a benefit to the state, 212.
it would be better never to have had a candle manufactured than
to have the Chinese turned loose, 212.
Carey. J. W.

can do only certain kinds, 46.
Crowley, P.

their starting business on their own account injure capitaUsts, 26.

JUTE-FACTORY :

MORGENTHAU, M.

manufactures 12,000 bags a day, 330.

to start the factory from $200,000 to S300,000 required for ma-
chinery, 330.
Heynemann, H.

could not get on without them, 292.
white people preferable, 293.

MATCHES:

Jessup, W. H.

failed to be able to manage white boys and girls, 331.
hired Chinamen and excluded imported matches, 331.

OVERALLS AND SLIPPERS:
Gibson, Rev. Otis.

none made for the trade until the Chinamen came, 264.

SHIRT-MAKING :

Silverberg, H.

in the manufacture of white shirts 100 Chinese are employed, 257.
at present (1876) not enough white labor to carry on the work, 258.
300 to 600 females engaged in shirt-making, 258.
Chinese industrious and learn as readily as the whites, 258.

STATISTICS :

See BadlaTTi, p. 291.

Lessler, Morris.

Pacific Jute Company employ 450 Chinese, 336.
sheep : one-eighth Chinese employed, 337.
cordage factory : thirty Chinese employed, 337.
tobacco : 700 Chinese employed, 337.
pickle preservers emploj^s 50 Chinese, 337.
pickle and cider, 400 Chinese employed, 337.

INDEX. 475

Manufactures — continued.

ST A TISTICS-continued.

Lessleb, Morris— conimued.

powder company : Chinese labor employed only for minor pur-
poses, 337.
bellows, 8 Chinese employed, 337.
boots and shoes, 1,970 Chinese, 337.
blankets and woolens, 700 Chinese, 337.
canned fruits, 80 Chinese, 337.
cordage, 30 Chinese, 337.
cigars, 3,115 Chinese, 337.
furniture 70 Chinese, 337.
glass works, 5 Chinese, 337.
glue factory 10 Chinese, 337.
gunpowder, 63 Chinese, 337.
jute, 450 Chinese, 337.
match factories, 25 Chinese, 337
pickle preservers, 29 Chinese, 337.
rice mills, 3 Chinese, 337.
shirt factories, 129 Chinese, 337.
wires spring, 8 Chinese, 337.

Inland Revenue :

for fiscal year ending 30th, June, 1884, $1,731.75 collected from
Chinese manufacturers in British Columbia, 152.

$679.53 for 3 months, endingSeptember 30th, 1884, 153.

revenues received from European manufacturers for above
period, $5,982.70, 153.

$1,552.12, 153.

SHOE-MANUFACTURING :
Lancaster, C. S.

when Chinese are discharged they start factories on the co-ope-
rative principle, 249.
prices now (1876) and in 1871, 248.
Buchanan, W. G.

white immigration kept back, 247. .

white labor turns out more than two and a half what Chmese

will, 247.
started originally with white labor, 247.
cost of making shoes about the same with white labor as with

Chinese, 247.
their labor injurious to white employes, 247.
Lancaster, C. S.

shoe-makers migrating eastward rather than westward, 248.

TAILORING :

Marshall, Levin.

in 1876 one dozen white men in custom and manufacturing;

before the Chinese came, 100, 251.
effect on white wages, 251.
the public no gainers, 251.
custom work given to whites, 251.
Westive, E.

Chinese do not give cheaper clothing to the public, ^51.

WOOLLENS :

Heynemann, H.

white girls have displaced Chinese, 291.
imported Scotch girls ran away, 291.
Peckham, R. p. . , n , j! , -i

could not carry on factory with the prices demanded for white
labor, 296.
Mbares, Dr. J. L. ,. , ,^ „„,

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 197—201.

Medical Knowledge :

Mellon, John :

their doctors claim to cure almost any disease with roots and
herbs, 224. , ,.^^, ^

little educated in anatomy and physiology ; know httle of sur-
gery, 311.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 240, 241.

476

INDEX.

Merchants :

See " Character" under Chinese Immigration,
Kathbun, G.

two white girls employed by a merchant in Portland, 173.

they pay better than white, and are more polite than American

employers, 173.
very honest, 173.

Metcalf, Joseph, Jun.
Mining :

documentary (answers to qaestions) 82 — 84.

Miscegenation :

Morality :
Mortality

Degroot, H.

their presence detrimental to the mining industry, 357.

they displace white labor, 357.

4,000 in one community engaged in mining, 358.
Dtjnsmuib, R.,M.P.P.

employs from 700 to 800 whites and Chinese, 127.

whites do the skilled labor and Chinese the laboring work, 128.

extent to which they have developed mining, 129.

gold mining, 130.
DUPONT, Major L. T.

large profits accrue to whites from Chinese mining, 152.

1,458 employed in mining for gold, 152.

in a great many things the Chinese miner under the same
expense as the white, 152.
FODLKE, L. M.

have employed Chinese, but prefer white, 359.
Hayes, M.

the Chinese working placer mines, 254.

great loss to the country, 254.
Sneath, K. G.

in hydraulic mining white labor would not pay, 294.
Bkiggs, a. R.

white labor engaged in mining when railroads were building, 5..

old claims Chinese clean out, 59.

danger to mining, 90.

See " Assimilation " under Chinese Immigration.
Hastings, S. C.

would mean destruction, 303.
impossible, or at least undesirable, 303.
Heydenfbldt, S.

might not prove a success, 286.
Rogers, J.

the intermingling of different ethnological divisions an injury,.

348.
where the white race mingles with a different color it is a deteri-
oration, 348.
Stout, A. B.

a flrst-class Chinese woman and a first-class white man would be
a much better cross than the white man on the negro or th&
white man on the Indian, 312.

See Chinese Immigration.

death-rate not greater than among the whites, 65.
death-rate less among Chinese than among whites, 310.

Money :

Moresby, William
Morgenthau, Max
Murders :

exportation of, 65.

documentary (answers to questions) 108 — 110.
abstract of evidence (1871) Appendix A, 330.
a few among them 44, 50.

INDEX.

477

Murderous Weapons :

See pp. 15, 25, 37.

arrests for carrying concealed weapons, 215.

MuTHER, Frank :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 242-244.

Nanaimo :

number of Chinese in district, 90.

well suited to become a great manufacturing centre, 157.

Nanaimo Trades Association :

statement put in to Commissioners, 169, 170.

Native Wines ;

O'Brien, Robert, M.D. ;
O'DoNNELL, Charles C.
Olmsted, William N. :
Onderdonk, Andrew :
Opium :

trade in in California, 336.

Gerkes's vineyard produces annually 150,000 gallons, 336.

California crop for 1875 : 8,000,000 gallons of wine arid 80,000

gallons of brandy, 336.
about 400 Germans employed in Kohler & Co.'s vineyard, 336.
Auger employs about naif Chinese, 336.
in Champagne manufacturing half Chinese employed, 337.

statement put in to Cornmissioners, 169, 170.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 356.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 332, 333.

documentary (answers to questions) 148 — 150.

imported into China in 1869, 21,000,000 lbs. of the value of
$68,000,000.

Opium-Smoking
Ordinances :

Oriental Trade ;
Orient :
Outrages :

See Chinese Immigration.

See Legislation, Discriminating.

the queue ordinance, 182.

the cubic-air law, 182.

cubic-air law exceedingly defective, 199.

cubic-air law, arrests under, 204.

had to enforce them, 211.

arrests under cubic-air ordinance, 213.

the queue ordinance drawn up, 217.

cubic-air law enforced, 217.

effect of queue ordinance, 218.

resentment at the queue ordinance, 280.

foreign miners' tax, 281.

poll-tax, 285.

arrests under cubic-air law, 204, 213, 214, 216, 226.

cubic-air law misconstrued, 312.

introduction of 150,000 Chinese no effect on, 256.
trade and commerce with, 181.
committed in self-defence, 34.

Overalls and Slippers :

See Manufactures.

Pamphlets :

on the migration of races, 35.

478 INDEX.

Passengers :

Patterson, James :
Pawson, J. :
Pearse, B. M. :
Peck, Charles S, :
Peckham, Robert F.
Peru :

arriving at Victoria, B.C., during July, August, September and

October, 1884 (Appendix M) 396.
whites and Cliinese entering Victoria, B.C. (Appendix N) 398.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 353.
documentary (answers to questions), 131 — 134.
documentary (answers to questions), 94—97.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 320.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 296—299.

Cadiz.

Chinese in Peru, 360.

sold for certain periods, 360.

inferior race, 360.
Mahony, C. a.

8,000 in Peru, 258.

sentiment grew up in Peru against them, 259.

congress of 1875, 259.

sodomy, 259.

ghysical condition tainted, 260.
hinamen learn Spanish easier than English, !
his idea to go back to China, 260.
enforced cleanliness, 260.
in a state of slavery, 260.

Peterson, Charles H. :
Poll-Tax :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 356.

See Ordinances; also Legislation, Discriminaeing.

not collected from them on their landing, 232.

PO-SANG-TUNG :

See Secret Tribunals.
Phillips, Stephen H. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 342.

Photographs :

See pp. 24, 195, 216, 261.
PixLEY, Frank M. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 179, 254, 257.

Population, Chinese :

See Chinese Immigration.

Prohibition Act :

See " Restriction " under CIvinese IinTnigration.
government should pass, 91.

Prostitutes :

See Chinese Immigration; also " Women " under same head.

Prostitution :

See Chinese Immigration.

Provincial Revenue Tax :

number of Chinese who pay, 90.

number of Chinese who have paid it from 1882 to 1884, (Appendix:
K!), 395.

Quicksilver :

they buy and handle more than any other class in San Fran-
cisco, 307.

INDEX. 479 '

Queue ;

See Ordinances; also Legislation, Discriminating,
significance oi the, 182.
instance in which a young Chinaman cut off his queue and adopted

American dress, 264.
a national symbol, 309.

Questions :

Railway Construction :

submitted to different individuals in British Columbia, 89, 70.

See " Laborers " under Chinese Immigration.
COLTON, D. D.

Southern Pacific would not have been done so quickly without

Chinese, 304.
effect of construction, 304.
Crocker, C.

commenced with white labor, 313.

failing to get more than 800 whites tried Chinese and found they;

worked well, 314.
they are equal to the heaviest work ; reliable, 314.
one strike among them for higher wages, 314.
Evans, W.

in building railroads Chinese better than whites, white men apt
to balk, 318.
Hetdenfeldt, S.

the Southern Pacific Railway would not have been built but for
them, 285.

HOLLISTER, W. W.

railroads could not have been built without them, 327.
Low, F. F.

four-fiths of grading on Central Pacific done by Chinese labor, 185. .
white labor would have been slower and more expensive for these

works, 186.
Union Pacific constructed by white labor, 186.
number of Chinese on, 64.
Strobridge, J. H.

could not get enough white labor on the Central Pacific, 319.

in consequence of employing Chinese more white labor employed,

319.
Chinese reliable, 319.
furnished by companies, 319.
some Chinamen unreliable, 319.

the class ofmenwhogo on public works rather unsteady men, 319.
seven-tenths of white labor got drunk and boisterous after being

paid, 319.
some difficulty in getting Chinese to go on heavy work, 319.
not wholly satisfied with Chinese as laborers, 319.
difficult to control large bodies of whites when paid, 320.
they go on sprees, 320.
Wheeler, A.

building of other roads by Southern Pacific and Central Pacific :

have caused the increased immigration from China, 290.

Railway Labor Rates :
Rathbun, Gertrude :
Reed, Rev. Hiram W. :
Religion :

Restriction Act :

in British Columbia, 79.

witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884), 173.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A. 335.

similar to that of the Catholic worship, 284.
practice pagan rites in an open and repulsive manner, 136.
teachings of Confucius, 184. , „ „ .

Buddhists, Tauists and followers of Confucms, 309.

effects of, 25. , ^

amended Act an improvement on the first, 26.
come in under forged certificates, 15.
testimony suborned, 16.

480

INDEX.

Resteiction, etc. :

See Chinese Immigration ; also " Exclusion " under same head.

Resteiction Act of 1882 (U. S.) :

text of the amendment (Appendix F) 371 — 375.

Revenue :

Robeet, Geoege D. :
Robins, Samuel M. :
RoBSON, Hon. John :
Rogers, James R. :
Rogers, John :
Royal Commission :

Russell, Joel :
Salmon Canneries :

Sandwich Islands :

San Feancisco i

inland revenue collected in British Columbia, from Chinese for
fiscal year ending 30th June 1884, $1,731.75, 152.

inland revenue collected from Chinese in British Columbia, for
three months ending 30th September, 1884, $679.53, 153.

if Chinese left. Cariboo would be short of revenue, 123.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 276, 277.
documentary (answers to questions) 118—120.
witness (British Columbia, 1884) 64, 65.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 225, 226.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 347.

gravity of the duty which the Commission has to discharge, 148.
remarks as to functions of, 169.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 356.

number of whites, Indians and Chinese employed during 1884
(Appendix L) 395.

they emigrate to the Sandwich Islandson assignable contracts, 342.

2,000 Chinese out of a population of 56,000, 342.

a few have married Hawaiian women, 342.

form of contracts, 343.

the government had encouraged them, 343.

had tried eight for murder, 343.

merchants (Chinese) of Honolulu men of highest respectability.

the planters paid $4 to $5 a month to the comprador in China, 343.

communication from minister of Foreign Affairs (Appendix S) 411.

answers to questions sent by Secretary (Appendix S) 411, 412.

Foreign Office notice ; Regulations re Immigrants (Appendix S)

413.
text of an Act to regulate the landing of passengers arriving at

the different ports in this kingdom (Appendix S) 413, 414.

taxes paid by Chinese, 39.

if 60,000 white laborers took the place of 60,000 Chinese, San

Francisco would have 300,000 white people to extend its

bounds and its business, 180.

Sanitary Condition :

See Chinese Immigration.

Schedule op Wages :
Scott, Irving M. :
Scott, Robert :
Seaman, Vernon :

in British Columbia, 79.
abstract of evidence (1871) Appendix A, 346.
documentary (answers to questions) 107.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 294—296.

INDEX. 481

Secret Societies :

among the whites, 22.

Secret Tribunals :

See Chinese Immigration.

■Settlement Act :

coal lands within railway reserve handed over to one company, 157.

Settlers' Effects :

numbers of persons represented by goods passed free of duty
(Appendix N) 399.

Shearer, Rev. Frederick E. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 308.

Sherk, Jacob B. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 308.

Shirt-making :

See Manufactures.

Shoemakers Cooperative Union :

both workmen and bosses, 247.

Shoe-Manufacturing :

See Manufactures.

Grain :

the Chinaman in, 196.

SiLVERBERG, HERMAN :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 257.

Six Companies :

See Chinese Im/migration.

Slanson, a. B. :

witness (Portland, Oregon, 1884) 175.

Slavery :

reasons why it should be inferred that it does not exist among
them, 81.

Small-Pox :

See Chinese Immigration.

Smith, Michael A. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 214—216.

Smith, Mrs. Anna F. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A 335.

Sneath, Richard Q. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 293.

Sodomy :

See Chinese Immigration.

Sonntag, Charles :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 335.

Southern States :

experiment of Chinese immigration, 196.

Sproat, Gilbert Malcolm :

statement put in to Commissioners, 163—169.

31

482

INDEX.

Steobridge, James H.
Statements :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 319.

submitted, 153.

criminal, 18,

murders, sudden daths and accidents, 28.

Statistics ;

See Manufactures.

GOKDON.

statistics to show their worthlessness as settlers, 138.

dutiable goods imported from China, 138.

imports, 139.

exports to China, 139.

16,000 Chinese in the Province earn $2,400,000 per annum,

$1,800,000 net earnings and $340,978 for China products sent

out of the Province, 139.
Seaman, V.

exports from China and Japan to the United States and England

and the continent, 294.

Stein, Fritz :
Stephenson, W. :
Stevenson, E., M.D. :
Stock, Ernest C. :
Stout, Arthur B. :
Stout, Dr. :
Straits Settlements :
Stuart, John :
Survival of the fittest
Swan, Dr. Benjamin R. :
Swift, John F. :
Swift, Mrs. Sophronia :
Syphilis :
Tailoring :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 249.
documentary (answers to questions), 122 — 124.
communication, 91 — 94.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 246.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 310—313.
quotation from Joint Report, 20.
immigration of Chinese to, 196.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 325.
explanation,. 35.

witness (San Francisco, 1884) 26—28.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 338 — 341.
abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 229—231.
See Chinese Immigration.

Taxes :

TiNDAL, John :
ToBiN, Tohn T.

See Manufactures.

taxes paid by Chinese in Victoria, 61, (

abstract statement showing amount paid by Chinese in Victoria,
from 1879 to 1883 (Appendix J) 394.

affirmation, 120, 121.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 226—229.

INDEX.

483

Teades-Unions :

Trading

Treatment :

Chinese, 81, 204.

their object among whites to prevent employers from taking in a
lot of boys, 237.

clothing of merchants and laborers mostly bought in the United
States, 172, 185.

ninety per cent, of the clothing of Chinese in California of Amer-
ican manufacture, 40.

See Chinese Immigration ; also "Agitation," and " Feeling," under same head.
Trembrath, John :

Tucker, George W. :
TuCKPiELD, Mr. :
TuLE-LAND Reclamation

Two-Kwang :

United States :
TJeine :

Yale, William ;
TiCTOEiA, B. C. :
YiNTON, William :
Yreeland, Ezekiel B.
Wages :

documentary (answers to questions) 99, 100.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 338.

witness (British Columbia, 1884) 66, 67.

swamp lands, 4, 5.

1,000,000 acres had been reclaimed by them, 182.

40,000 acres of tule-lands reclaimed by Chinese, 276.

work generally satisfactorily performed, 276.

in higher class of work employ white men, 276.

white men could not reclaim this lands, 276.

advantage of the contract system in reclaiming, 276.

population greater than the population of United States, 189.
the British do not allow men not free or diseased to leave, 210.

example of should be followed, 84.

kept for fertilizing purposes, 49, 68.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 356.

taxes paid by Chinese, 61, 68.

abstract of exidence (1876) Appendix A, 241.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 208—210.

See Chinese Immigration ; also Manufactures.

schedule of in British Columbia, 79.

Ward, Robert :

Ward, W. 0. :

Weapons :

See Murderous Weapons.

" Weekly Bulletin " :

documentary (answers to questions) 84—86.
documentary (answers to questions) 103, 104,

WestINE, ErrIC :
Wharton, Emily

extract from, on hop-picking, 76.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 251.

witness (British Columbia, 1884) 150, 151.

484 INDEX.

Wheelee, Alfred :
Wheelee, Edwaed D :

White Immigration :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 287—290.

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 347.
Whites and Indians better than Chinese, 108.

DOMESTIC SERVANTS:

Crease, Hon. Mk. Justice.

white domestic labor tried and found wanting, 142.

ships chartered to bring female servants from England round

Cape Horn, 142.
capitalists would not come into British Columbia, if they had to
depend on supply from Europe, 146.
Davie, Hon. A. E. B.

difficult to procure, 53.
Pearse, B. M.

if supply depended on the number coming from Europe or the
eastern part of the continent, incoming capital would be.
checked, 95.
Wilson, C.

white women would be preferable, 60.
IMMIGRANTS :

Adair, W. B.

whites can And employment, 114.
Armstrong, W. J.

can find plenty of employment, 117.
BODVrELL, E. V.

in time white servants and laborers might come in, 115.
can find employment, 116.

opening of railway lands had attracted a number of white immi-
grants, 116.
Bryant, A. J.

complain they cannot get work, 212.
Bryden, J.

can find employment, 111.

opening up of railway lands has attracted white immigrants, 111.
not retarded. 111.
Crease, Hon. Ma. Justice.

whites come to British Columbia expecting certain rates, and if
they do not get them skip across the line, 146.
DWYBB, Rev. P., A.M.

some can find work others cannot, 127.
Haney, M.

can now find remunerative employment, 122 .
Johnston.

can find employment, 113.
Kennedy, J. B.

white settler a family man with children and all that makes civie
life possible, 106.
Ladner, W. H.

not coming, 102.
can find employment, 102.
Lord, D. R.

those who are sober can obtain employment, 115,
Moresby, W.

can find employment in those branches of labor where Chinese
do not compete, 110.
Robins, S. M.

can obtain employment and wages high enough to attract the

best class of white laborers, 119.
opening up of railway lauds had attracted white immigrants, 119.
Scott, R.

can obtain employment, 107.
Stephenson, W.

whites cannot find remunerative employment, 123.
Ward, R.

difficulty in procuring, 86.
Ward, W. C.

can obtain work, 104.
Wheeler, A.

as the white immigrant comes to remain he is surely the most
desirable, 289.

INDEX. 485-

White Immigration — continued.

IMMIGRATION :

Adaih, W. B.

a combined effort to bring in white immigration might be success-
ful, but unless labor was cheap industries would suffer, 113.

not retarded, 114.
Armstrong, W. J.

a combined effort would bring in white immigration and thus
develop the country, 117.

had been retarded, 117.
Begbie, Sir Matthew B.

a combined effort to promote, discussed, 77.

would take 6,000 whites to do the work ol the Chinese if expeUed,
77,

opening up of public lands materially affected white immigra-
tion, 78.

not retarded by presence of Chinese, 78.
Bodwell, E. V.

a combined effort would not bring in a sufficient amount of white
labor, 116,

not retarded, 116.
Briggs, a. R.,

increase, 1.

invited after influx of Chinese was stopped, 2.

should be encouraged, 11.

evidence of increase of immigration, 12.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice. , , . , , ,

a combined effort on the part of the people and legislature to
bring in white immigration would not succeed, 146.

opening of railway lands had exercised a marked effect on white
immigration, 147. , . , .

laudable desire that money should be utibzed in brmgmg m new
settlers 143.

white immigration has been stimulated by presence of Chinese,
147.
Davie, Hon. A. B. B. , ., . . ^ „ <.n ^ *,„„,

presence of Chinese prevents white immigrants and settlers from

coming in, 53.
DUNSMUIR, R., M.P.P. J , ,„„

white immigration not retarded, 129.
DwYER, Rev. P., A. M. „,.,.- i- m-

the Chinese stand in the way of white immigration, 125.

what combined effort might and might not do, 126. _

opening up of railway lands had attracted white immigration, 127.

white immigration had been retarded, 127.

'^^^^"believes a^arge portion of the European immigration more dan-
gerous than the Asiatic, 263.

^°^°Se8s^hi?feS' immigration prohibited no combined effort would

secure white immigration, 137.

white immigration had been retarded, IdS. ^ ^ .■ . . ..

Cening up of public lands had stimulated white immigration,

but they should have been opened before, 138.
the best blood of Europe the natural immigration for Canada, 139.,

^^"'^Jo'i^ined effort would not bring sufficient white labor, 122.

^^^■^ thelrjre'^sence discourages white immigration, 303.

^''''^Venlng up of public lands stimulated it 101.

gbod white immigration not retarded, lUl.
Jbssop^ J. ^^^^^ ^^ families gone to Cowichan settlement, 63.

white immigration and market gardening, b6.
Kennedy, J. B.

retarded, 106.
Ladner, Thomas E. „„

not enough white laborers at present. 98.

whitTlaborers could not be had to supply their place, 98.

not retarded, 98.
Ladner, W. H.

not retarded, 102,

486- INDEX.

White Immigration — continued.

IMMIGBA T ION— continued.

Laity J., and Tbembath, J.

retarded, 99.

opening up of railway lands has had a good effect, 99-
Lord. u. R.

no combined effort would bring a suflScient supply of white
immigration, 114.
Mbtcalf, J., JUN.

but for Chinese there would be 24,000 more whites, 83.

they prevent white immigration and settlers, 83.

white immigration retarded, 84.
Ondbrdonk, a.

a combined effort to britg in whites would do no good, 149.

opening up of public lands had attracted white immigration, 149.

white immigration not retarded, 149.
Pearsb, B. M.

a combined effort to encourage it would develop resources of Pro-
vince more speedily than they are now being developed, 96.

laborers and others can get employment, 96.

opening up of railway lands have induce many to come in, 96.

white immigration to a small degree retarded, 96.

white community wanted, 97.
Pawson, J.

remove the Chinese and white immigration would flow in, 133.

whith immigration retarded, 133.
Robins, S. M.

a combined effort would bring in sufficient white immigration,
119.

of late retarded by presence of the Chinese, 119.
Scott, R.

opening up of railway lands had stimulated it, 107.
Stephenson, W.

white immigration not retarded, 123.
Vinton, W.

their presence prevents white immigration and degrades labor
to a fearful extent, 241.
Ward, R.

not retarded, 86.
Ward, W. C.

a combined effort to bring in whites ^should be made, 104.
Wheeler, A.

if labor east is less in price than Chinese in California then their
presence would not check white immigration overturned, 288.

on the increase, 288.
Young. J.

had been retarded, 89.

on the increase, 90.

LABOR :

Bkgbie, Sir Matthew B.

plenty in British Columbia, 78.

instance of a successful miner, 78.
Briggs, a. R.

advantages to coast greatly in favor of white, 8.

paid about the same as Chiiiese, 11 .

engaged in mining when railways were building, 5.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

white labor so dear at first as to be prohibitive, 141.

success in mining rendered labor distasteful, 142.

white labor not to be had, 143.

whites can get plenty of work, 147.
Gordon, D. W., M. P.

whites cannot find sufficient employment owing to Chinese, 137.
Helmoken, Dr.

canneries tried to get along with white labor but failed, 56.
Innes, J. W.

white people can get work, 101,
Jessop, J.

but for antipathy to Chinese the white would be ready to work
with them at the same rates, 64.
Kennedy, J. B.

cannot bring it in while Chinese are in the Province, 106.

INDEX. 48r

White Iumiora.tio's— continued.

LABOR — continued.

Laity, J., and Trembath, J.

whites cannot support their families by reason of Chinese
competition, 99.
Low, F. B*.

the Chinese in California possibly prevent white labor from
coming. 187.
Pawsok, J.

skilled white labor can find employment, but unskilled can-
not, 133.
EOBINS, S. M.

with a free immigration of white labor Chinese could be dispensed
with, 119.
RoBSON, Hon. J.

white labor prevented from coming in through presence or
Chinese, 65,
Slanson, a. B.

white labor would be on hand but for the Chinese, 176.
Ward, K.

whites, especially mechanics, can find employment, 86.
Wheeler, A.

white labor could have been obtained at a suflBcient price, 289.
the disadvantage of the displacement of white labor discus-
sed, 289.
Wilson, C.

white men cannot compete with Chinese, 60.
Winn, A. M.

Chinese keep out white labor, 245,
men of family can only get Chinese wages, 245.
Young, J. ^ , ,

a comparatively limited number of whites can find employ-
ment, 89.

LABOBEJRS:

Bbiggs, a. R.

consumers and producers, 2.
Crease, Hon. Mr. Justice.

difficulty of holding white laborers, 145.
Bennett, N.

two dollars a day and tents given to whites, 171.

where they are employed one in ten settle, 171.
Helmcken, Dr.

feel that the Chinese take their work, 57.

if protected some manufactures must cease, 57.
Kennedy, J. B. , , ,

many have to leave because too many Chinese are employed, 106.
Low, p. F.

a percentage of white laborers become settlers, 185.

PiXLEY, F. M. ^ , .i. , - ,n,»

their presence prevents the immigration of white laborers, 180.

Wilson, Charles :

witness (British Columbia, 1884) 59-61.

Winn, Albert M. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A., 245.

Women :

See Chinese Immigration ; also " Prostitutes " under same head.

Woods, David C. :

abstract of evidence (1876) Appendix A, 354.

Woollens :

See Manufactures.

Young, James : ,. v „., n,^

documentary (answers to questions) 87—90.

statement put in to commissioners, 115-120.