The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1888.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5343, 6 October 1888, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1888.

I>r a paper on the " Chinese Question" laid on the table of the House of Representatives last session, there is published a letter signed by certain Chinese resident* of Melbourne, and addressed to the representatives of the Australian Governments in conference, assembled. The letter was written with a view of .showing 1 hat thero aro two sides to this important question. The writers consider the try of a great influx of Chinese is one of those poor hollow things that time and reflection will cause the generous britisb mind to foci heartily ashamed of. Ihe Chinese go on to say, "Our own land has no equal on earth for fertility and resources, which by-and-by will cause her to weigh heavy in the scale of nations ; and therefore we nssuro you, honorable Sirs, that the question whether a fow stragglers should emigrate from such a stupendous empire as (Jliina is one of perfect indifference to her Government or her people. But the evil treatment of the tow that are hero, or who have been recently turned away from these shores is a different matter altogether. We hopo it may not be, but fear it may, that a deep wound has been inflicted that will ranklo and bear evil fruit in tho near future. Our late Ambassador in London spoke wise words when he said before a British audience, ' Wo look to you and the rcpivKcntatives of your colonial possessions now m London v. « L -o that, these returning Chinese bring nothing homo with them but what will promote peace and good-will between the two countries—no memories ol Buffering, injustice, or exceptional treatment. ? And we commend these words t<i the thoughtful consideration of tho Conference." After referring to tho bad feeling that was created by t l ie strife which ended in tho separation of tho Unitod States from Great Britain, they point tho moral from tho American incident, that it is easier to plant a thorn in tho national fpolinsj than to withdraw it or heal the wound. They then go on to allirm " that the Chinese are a peaceable, industrious, and a lawabiding , people, and tlmt they are not insensible of, nor ungrateful for, the protection of wise laws justly administered. What they do complain of is—(l) That the laws have even been strained and tortured to oppress them ; (2) that the laws have even been broken to iuflict hursh treatment and injustice; and (3) Hint by the hasty and violent conduct of various colonial Governments, which should have held the scales of justice even balanced, the more ignorant portion of the population have been incited and encouraged to outrage the feelings and show contempt and hatred to our countrymen." The letter does not conclude without a hint at future reprisals as follows :— A time umy come, nay, juu.bublv will come sooner than is uuppused, when the presence and power of Ohiim us a great niUum will be folt in these seas, and jt lies with you tossy as wise men or pthonvise, if this ia to bo for good or for ovi!; that injustice, inhumanity, and violence, afford a poor foundation to build up the life of a young nation, and however popular in tho meantime it may bo with tho unthinking multitude, yet wo are most, sure such weapons mean disaster in the future to the übcj'b