The Western Star. (PUBLISHED BI-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1881.

Western Star, Issue 453, 15 June 1881, Page 2

The Western Star. (PUBLISHED 81-WEEKLY.) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1881.

'• - ■ =. ••••:. h''- '1 ;.J The “Oamaru Times” is not aTeliever in the agitation against the Chinese. This is not to be, wqndened, at.;. The evil of a large Chinese’ population has not yet been felt in agricultural settlements indeed during certain seasons of the year thexservices of Chinese have proved of considerable value in such districts, and dqiibtless onr contemporary reasons i rom the impression thus formed oiK 'them. The old stock arguments about the frugality, industry, and patience of the Asiatic are furbished up in strong contrast to the idleness, brutality and drunkenness of ' the Western barbarian. The virtues of Chinese are so frequently extolled by a certain class that many people have come to believe in them, and in proportion as their belief gains ground a feeling of disgust is engendered at the degeneracy and savage state of the Anglo-Saxon race as compared with the virtuous subjects of the Emperor of the Moon. Wilhout attempting to palliate the vices of our own countrymen, rtr institute a comparison between those of the two racea-rT-although, we are convinced if we did s', that the result would be greatly in favor of the drunken barbarian—there are other reasons why the encouragement of a large Chinese population is undesirable. As a class they are aliens in every sense of the word ; they have not an aspiration or ambition in sympathy with,the colonists ; develop none of the resources or add to the wealth of the country; and unlike other races, they retain their individuality, in all its bigoted purity, and consequently they are an element that cannot be absorbed in building up a nation. Their whole aim in coming to the colony is to extract as much wealth therefrom in as short a time as possible leaving but little behind them in the process —and hie themselves off to their fatherland, there to spend their days in luxurious sensuality.- These are sound reasons why Chinese shoWd not be encouraged to ouf shores, arid proper grounds upon which some restriction should be placed upon in the strain of our Oamaru contemporary have not been brought into contact with the evil as it exists in some parts of the colony, notably this] district, otherwise we venture to assert they would look upon the question in a very different light to what they do. 1 We disclaim any sympathy with some of the remarks made by speakers at the late public meeting held here to; consider the question ; the Chinese cam© to the colony under the protection of the law, and are as much entitled to that protection as any other class. Constitutional means only should be resorted to to check their increase.! As a specimen of the view taken of; this question by the “ Times,” we ex-! tract the following from a leader on the subject in its issue of 11th inst.:—

Of course, it would be perfectly useless to ask the poor, rampant, irrational creatures who raise all this hue and cry against, the Ci inese to show their more reasonable fellowmortals in what way the, example and influence of the Chinese are mostdembmjising. Perhaps, though, they would tell us that it is demoralising for Chinamen to be industrious;: to almost always* pay cash fbr wbateyerthey buy ; to abstain from intoxicating: liquors ,tb; such an extent that a drunk Chinaman is a phenomenon ; and to treat their dumb animals with more consistent kindness and consi-i deration than. : a :vory palpable'proportion of our Englishmen treat their wives and chil-, dren. It would, beyond doubt, be mest demoralising—a lasting popular disgrace and; national degradation if the Chinese; by being allowed to remain b'-re quietly, should happen to transfer any of these infamous characteristics to our highly moral and honorable people: who delight-in. being in debt, to whose glorious love lor strong drink we see on every hand so many monuments. 1 in the shape of hotels, gaols, and lunatic asylums, and whose innate passion for humane exercises is frequently expressed in the overwork and mutilation of dumb animals, and not infrequently in the performance of wild war dances on the prostrate forms of the wives of their bosoms. It would, beyond doubt, bo a grievous thing if these fine Christian characteristics were to melt away like snow in the sunlight under the influence and example of the heathenish morals of the miserable Chinamen; By all means, then, let the Government be coerced into prohibiting the immigration of the Chinese, and if Government will not act vigorously in the matter, let, the magnanimous and reasonable Christian people of this great country themsehes arise in their wrath and reenact the pious Massacre of St. Bartholomew.”

The completion of the first section of the Orepuki railway, aiid Parliament now being in session, has wisely been acemed an opportune time for urging upon the Government the advisabHitv of proceeding with the remaining and least costly portion of the work. With that object, a requisition has been pre-

sented to the May or, requ e&fog Idm to convene a public iheeting.\'Wsth a view to some pressure being; brought to bear upon the Government to recognise the claim which the lino has to completion. The meeting is announced to.take place on Saturday .evening. iU the Town Hall/.'khfl-nve i-lear’n that steps are- also being taken' to hold a public meeting at-.'Qrepnki, for.a similar purpose; An expression of opinion from such sources cannot fail in greatly strengthening, the Hands of the representatives of .tbedistyict The enormous expenditure hitherto ini curred on the line will remain totally unproductive—will, if it is the nit n,tion of the Government to open the section for itraffic, be a source of serious loss —unless the work is pushed r oW and -that!-without delay, to orepaid. The present terminus of the -line-is in a dense bush, inaccessible from any point bv roads, and cannot bo of the, slightest utility to any one.; It is merely repeating what has been said over andpover :again, sand yrngt .I 8 well known to everyone, that the Bail way. Com missioners r eported,favor ably upon the Orepuki railway, and the-enormous andvaTied;resoarces that it will open up.. In these circumstanced therefore- ; ;it'bhly R ffeinains;for ;j the., representatives of tlje district, who, 2 armed ’'with the .yoitie- -of-the; people of., the. district, the, report re- , ferred tot and* other'’ good reasoiVS,' should' with such a worthy ( cause. Wring' even ii i nWillitSg y‘'Goverhmeht the WherewithaliTp eomplpte; the line.