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US$3 a month on all non-American miners. The Chinese believed the legislature "had spoken wisely. The Chinamen love to labour, but hate to fight. We will pay the tax willingly."
American xenophobia produced the charge that the Chinese were exporting vast amounts of gold. They replied: "Why then is it that the Chinaman is so prosperous in this country? Because as we have told your Excellency before, he (the Chinaman) does not drink, gamble, or idle, or spend his money foolishly. Because he is thinking of his parents and his children, and the future, and works hard and saves what he makes." Perhaps a somewhat idealised version of Chinese life in California, but certainly it contained a degree of truth.
The letter also pointed out that mutual interchange would be beneficial to both Americans and Chinese. "Our intercourse may benefit us both very much, and that will be better than quarrelling about our respective merits. Why should East quarrel with the West? God made them both, and placed the day between them, that the nations should use it in doing good works to one another."
The letter was signed by Tong K. A-chick of the Tun Wo company and Chun A-ching of the Sam Wo Company. Though the writer is not named it was probably composed by A-chick. Some of the sentiments, particularly those last quoted, reflected his missionary education.
Several bills were introduced in the legislature in 1853 proposing that “no Asiatic or person of Asiatic descent or Chinese should be permitted to work in any mine in this state." The heads of the four Chinese associations testified at the hearings for the bills. Tong A-chick acted as their interpreter and presented the Chinese position.
The Rev. Mr. Speer remarks on the good work done by A-chick as the representative of the Chinese. "This is the individual whose efforts on behalf of his countrymen were the chief means in turning the tide of public opinion in their favour, when those unfriendly to them made the attempt to expel them from the country. And if he remains here, there is no man whose influence will be more
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US$3 a month on all non-American miners. The Chinese believed the legislature "had spoken wisely. The Chinamen love to labour, but hate to fight. We will pay the tax willingly."
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American xenophobia produced the charge that the Chinese were exporting vast amounts of gold. They replied: "Why then is it that the Chinaman is so prosperous in this country .? Because as we have told your Excellency before, he (the Chinaman) does not drink, gamble, or idle, or spend his money foolishly. Because he is thinking of his parents and his children, and the future, and works hard and saves what he makes." Perhaps a somewhat idealised version of Chinese life in California, but certainly it con- tained a degree of truth.
The letter also pointed out that mutual interchange would be beneficial to both Americans and Chinese. "Our intercourse may benefit us both very much, and that will be better than quarrelling about our respective merits. Why should East quarrel with the West? God made them both, and placed the day between them, that the nations should use it in doing good works to one another."
The letter was signed by Tong K. A-chick of the Tun Wo com- pany and Chun A-ching of the Sam Wo Company. Though the writer is not named it was probably composed by A-chick. Some of the sentiments, particularly those last quoted, reflected his mis- sionary education.
Several bills were introduced in the legislature in 1853 propos- ing that “no Asiatic or person of Asiatic descent or Chinese should be permitted to work in any mine in this state." The heads of the four Chinese associations testified at the hearings for the bills. Tong A-chick acted as their interpreter and presented the Chinese position.
The Rev. Mr. Speer remarks on the good work done by A-chick as the representative of the Chinese. "This is the individual whose efforts on behalf of his countrymen were the chief means in turn- ing the tide of public opinion in their favour, when those unfriend- ly to them made the attempt to expel them from the country. And if he remains here, there is no man whose influence will be more
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