THE JEWS AND CHINESE IN AMERICA. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1583, 25 March 1882, Page 13

THE JEWS AND CHINESE IN AMERICA. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Your editorial of March 18th, concerning the action •of the Government of the United States in welcoming the persecuted Jews from Russia, and passing laws resti-icting Chinese immigration at the same time, would make it appear that that Government is at least very inconsistent in dealing with these important matters. The policy of the American Government is, and always has been, to encourage immigration from all countries in the Old World, providing always that these emigrants will eventually become citizens of the united States, which has had so great a tendency to improve and build up the country. In every city, town, and village throughout the whole American Union the Jews will be found among the leading citizens and solid business men. 1 Failures, bankrupts, beggars, and felony are almost entirely unknown among tho Jewish persuasion, and who ever heard of a Jew being a tramp, servant, or gaol-bird ? There may be instances, but I undertake to say they are extremely rare. In going to the United States it is characteristic of the Jew to at once set up some kind of a business establishment on his own account, after which he sends for his family— if hfe has one and did not bring it with him ; and the next thing in order is to make application to be naturalised as a citizen. Ho seeks no billet ; he will be no man's servant, but goes on from year to year increasing his business and the public revenue by paying his licenses, his poll tax, property tax, school tax, road tax, and the State and county taxes on his mortgages and real estate. He also contributes generously to the church, benevolent and charitable institutions, and takes much pride in educating his children to become useful members of society. How is it with the Chinamen ? They are consigned by the shipload to some of the six wealthy Chinese companies in San Francisco ; and as long as they are in America they must pay a percentage of their earnings to these companies, beside contributing to a sinkingfund which in case of sickness or accident goes to pay their expenses, and the expenses of those who belong to the long-finger-riailed. nobility of sending their bodies to China in case of death,

The Chinese emigrants that go to the States are nearly all fishermen in China, or what are known as fourth-grade Chinamen. Nearly all the women and many of the males are slaves, and they secretly change hands, unknown to the authorities, very often after arriving at 'Frisco. Unlike the Jews, they bring more smallpox and leprosy than they do money ; and it is estimated that only about 100 out of every 1000 of the Chinese in America do business on their own account. I nover heard of a Chinaman being a naturalised citizen of tho United States, nor paying a dollar in taxes to increase the public revenue, except only when the tax-collector, with a posse of policomen, surrounds their dens and washhouses and compels payment, which in many localities costs nearly as much to collect as the tax amounts to. They will not become citizens of tho United States or any other country. They send to China for nearly everything that they woar and consume. Their surplus cash goes home to China. They buy no land, own no stock of any kind, support no institutions, and do nothing towards improving the country or advancing civilisation. They shun society, they seldom bring their families, and their whole aim apparently is to live among themselves, work for wage.s, spend no money in the country in which it is earned, and all expect some day to return to China to enjoy it. I havo heard of there being good Chinamen servants for years, to get a good chance to murder their kind master or misfcresfi who had j boon trying to Christintiiso them, There. a,ra !

frequent murders committed in the Pacific States by the Chinamen similar to the Kyoburn murdor, and thero arc more Chinese in the California Penitentiary for murder than of any other nationality. As a general rule, I believe the Chineseia the Australasian Colonies are a much superior class to those in the United States, .and yet I have reason to believe that if a vote were taken by the ratepayers of these Colonies whether or not the Chinese should remain, the result would be that they all would have to go-

As regards tho action of America, it is characteristic of that country to favour the oppressed, and to offer every inducement to tho Kussian Jews, for they wUI all make good citizens, and holp to swell the resources and increase the trade of tho country ; while, am to the Chinese, they are fit for nothing bnt gardeners, laundrymen, and servants. They will not become citizens. Their efforts will never increaso commerce, manufactures, or agriculture. They did not go to stay. They injure the prospects of the working classes, who have their families to support and children to educate, by working for less wages than » white man can, who has a better right and claim upon the country ; and I think all reasonably unprejudiced men will agree with ma that the recent Act of Congress will confer a great blessing upon thousands of working men and women of the Western States in particular and the whole country generally.— l am, &C, H. S. Seavby. Dunedin, March lGth.