``Resolved that we regard with pleasure the presence of greater
numbers of these people (Chinese) among us as affording the
best opportunity of doing them good and through them of
exerting our influence in their native land.'' And this resolution
was unanimously adopted. Moreover in a new country,
where there was much manual labour to be done in developing
resources and constructing railways, and where there were
comparatively few white labourers, the Chinese speedily proved
to be a valuable factor. They were frugal, patient, willing,
industrious and cheap, and so the corporations in particular
encouraged them to come.

But as the number of immigrants increased, first dislike,
then irritation and finally alarm developed, particularly among
the working classes who found their means of livelihood
threatened by the competition of cheaper labour. The newspapers
began to give sensational accounts of the ``yellow
deluge'' that might ``swamp our institutions'' and to enlarge
upon the danger that white labourers would not come to California
on account of the presence of Chinese. The ``sand
lot orator'' appeared with his frenized harangues and the
political demagogue sought favour with the multitudes by
pandering to their passions. Race prejudice, moreover, must
always be taken into account, especially when two races
attempt to live together. The terms Jew and Gentile, Greek
and barbarian, Roman and enemy are suggestive of the distrust
with which one race usually regards another. Christianity
has done much to moderate it, but it still exists, and let the
resident of the North and East who remembers the recent race
riots in Illinois and Ohio and New York think charitably of