Adelaide - Chinese Population
The Chinese in Adelaide
(Taken from Geoffrey H. Manning's A Colonial Experience)
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Mr Parsons admires him but at a distance, and the greater the distance the
greater the admiration. His chief ground of opposition... is that of antagonism
of races. The old notion that all people are made of one blood to dwell together
upon the face of the earth is ignored in his policy. The lessons of charity,
the obligations to preach and promote peace on earth and goodwill towards
men, acquire in his hands a peculiar interpretation.
(Register, 17 June 1881, page 4.)
Introduction
I take the reader now back to the 1870s when 'China-phobists' contended that the Asian race were immoral and very dirty and 'by no means the sort of people whose protracted stay would benefit the community'. At public meetings they displayed their bigotry and claimed this was an English colony and meant to be the home of the white man.
'They will work for longer hours and for less pay' was a pathetic claim and a public meeting responded at once with sympathetic indignation. Of those who spoke to this claim most were honest enough to reject the objection raised on the ground of immorality, both as being a mere make-weight thrown in, so to speak, in order to catch those class interests did not cause them so readily to respond to the protectionist argument. In short, the objection to the Chinese, which met with most favour, was that the English workman could not compete with him - The Englishman could only work for shorter hours and at higher wages.
This argument, if used in England, would have been regarded as a cry of 'stinking fish' on the part of workmen who used it and would have, at once, set those who wanted work done athinking how to get hold of a Chinaman who could work so much cheaper. In England the workman's proud boast was always, 'We can beat any workmen. If we take more wages we do a better day's pay for it.'
Here in South Australia that argument was considered as conclusive against the Chinese, because this is an English colony and was meant to be the Englishman's home. In other words, it was assumed to be worth while for everybody who wanted work done to pay dearer for it, in order to have it done by an Englishman.
Now if employers or labour felt that this sacrifice was desirable, and that they would get a quid pro quo for it, they would have, of course, made the sacrifice. But if they did so merely to keep the colony English, that would have neglected the principle of free trade which the Liberals have always told us, and the Tories recently told us, added so largely to the wealth of the mother-country.
For myself, I believe the Chinese national character to be invariably conciliatory, coupled with a retiring and unobtrusive demeanour and, as such, cannot be wholly ignored, because within their nature is a patient pertinacity which may or might, under certain circumstances, make him formidable.
It has never been alleged that Chinese immigrants are unruly, and various colonial governors have borne testimony to the orderly conduct of the Chinese population and to their value in developing colonial resources. One might be excused for concluding that the Chinaman has been grossly ill-used.
Every colonist must admit that such crimes as unprovoked violence to the person and drunkenness are hardly ever known amongst the Chinese in Adelaide; in fact, they are models of sobriety and are, invariably, considerate and polite. In respect of the restrictions, disabilities, disqualifications and exceptionable regulations imposed upon Chinese subjects in our country we have much to answer for and our proud boast of the grandeur and inherent fairness within 'British justice' has a hollow ring to it.
The Chinaman's Defence
Jing Chong, a Chinaman residing in Adelaide, responded to all the 'bluster, blow and bosh' hurled against his countrymen and said he was astonished to find that Englishmen were so afraid that they could not compete with a so-called half-civilised race:
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It is said we labour for a wage far below that which is necessary to keep Europeans
alive. Well, being honest men, we work for a wage that we think we are worth.
The low rate... is not a matter of choice with us, but a necessity. If employers
think we are worth more than they pay us we shall be pleased to receive and
advanced wage. If we work for less than our labour is worth, let it be remembered
that we are employed mostly by Europeans, who reap the benefit of our labour...
Another complaint levelled was that the Chinaman 'Did not bring their wives':
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The sensual habits of Europeans are widely known, that we hesitate to introduce
our females amongst them. If we choose to live apart for a time from our
loved ones, Europeans do the same thing when it suits them.
As to taking money out of the colony to their native land he contended that:
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Your colony has reaped a benefit from us, and it shows that our alleged immorality
has not been costly, otherwise we could not have accumulated the small amounts
to which objection is raised. Do not Europeans take money out of the country?
Where are your absentees? Do they not draw their ten of thousands of pounds
from the colony?
In respect of the use of opium the objection to which came 'with a very bad grace from Europeans' and Great Britain's exploitation of his country:
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Who thrust the opium trade upon us? - England!
When China passed an Imperial edict forbidding the importation and sale of opium within its dominions, who sent soldiers and ships of war to demolish our strongholds and to cut our heads off if we would not submit to take poison in exchange for tea? - England!
Who says, 'We will go to China and take in the Celestial - take advantage of his ignorance and amass a fortune by imposing upon him, and leaving the country, taking care to take with us all we have made?' - Englishmen!
Who says, 'We will force ourselves with all our vicious habits of drinking and gambling and cheating upon the Chinese, but we won't have the devil amongst us?' - Englishmen!
Who objects to our use of opium because it stupefies and debases us, but indulges in the use and sanctions the sale of intoxicants equally stupefying and ten times more debasing and a thousand times more costly to the community than the use of opium is? - Englishmen!
He concluded with a response to the charge of immorality among the Chinese population of Adelaide:
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Shall I expose to you a few of the immoralities practised by Europeans in China?
I dare not. They are too foul to be mentioned. But I need not take anyone
to China to witness immorality of the most revolting nature. Look at your
boasted morality of Adelaide! Your regenerating Christianity does very little
to improve the morals of your citizens.
Dignitaries of the Church, functionaries of the law, the black cloth, the long robe, the wig as well as the Chinaman's wide-brimmed sun hat are polluted.
Your missionaries teach us to 'do unto others as we would have others do to us', but we look in vain for an example although we are choked with precepts.
I venture to state that the morality of my country will bear favourable comparison with any country under heaven if the period of five hundred years is taken into account. Compare the various dynasties during that period and I should like to know what you lords of creation - you Englishmen - have to show besides blood.
General Notes
"Chinese Courtship" is in the Observer,11 July 1874, page 7g.
Sketches of Chinamen are in the Australasian Sketcher,
21 February 1874, page 193.
"Brutal Assault on Two Chinamen" is in the Register,
16 October 1878, page 5c,
Observer,
19 October 1878, page 11a.
"Murder in Hindley Street" on
18 August 1883, page 8b; also see
Observer,
6 October 1883, page 31c.
A raid on a Chinese gambling den is reported in the Register,
13 April 1880, page 5c; also see
16 April 1880, page 7e,
Advertiser,
18 and 23 January 1892, pages 5a and 6d.
A sketch of a gambling den is in the Illustrated Adelaide Post,
6 October 1871, page 8.
"Chinese Gambling" is in the Register,
5 August 1882, page 5d,
"Mr Way Lee and Gambling" on
20 January 1892, page4g-h,
"The Raid Upon a Chinese Gambling Den" on
20 and 23 January 1892, pages 6f and 4h.
"Fatal Fight Among Chinese" is in the Register,
8 and 9 February 1881, pages 5a and 5b.
"Filthy Tenements" is in the Express,
6 and 11 October 1883, pages 2c and 3c; also see
29 November 1883, page 2c.
"The Health of the City" in respect of the Chinese quarter is in the Register,
15 May 1888, page 4g.
"Chinamen's Houses" is in the Register,
21 August 1883, page 7g.
A description of houses occupied by Chinamen is in the Register,
5, 11 and 23 October 1883, pages 4e-5a, 4g-6d and 7b,
10 August 1889, page 6d,
Observer,
13 October 1883, page 33d.
"Supposed Murder of a Chinaman" is in the
Register,
15, 18, 25 and 27 August 1883, pages 7f, 6g, 6f and 5b,
Chronicle,
25 August 1883, page 6g,
1 September 1883, page 8e,
20 October 1883, page 5c.
The execution of Mah Poo is reported in the Observer,
17 November 1883, page 34d.
"The Chinese by Night" is in the Advertiser,
16 October 1883, page 5f,
"Chinese Labor" on
25 October 1884, pages 4d-5g.
"Chinese Mission in Adelaide" is in the Register,
11 December 1883, pages 5c-7b,
11 and 26 January 1884, pages 4g and 5c,
15 February 1884, page 5c,
14 March 1884, page 5c (supp.).
Information on a Chinese mission is in the Express,
9 February 1892, page 3f; it is described in the Register,
29 January 1895, page 3g; also see
Express,
27 January 1898, page 4c,
21 February 1899, page 4b and Religion
- Adelaide City Mission.
"A Day With the Chinese" is in the Register,
15 September 1884, page 6d,
Observer,
27 September 1884, page 41e,
Register,
17 December 1884, page 5g.
"The Chinese New Year" is in the Register,
3 February 1891, page 5a.
31 January 1884, page 5d.
Chinese merchants in Adelaide are discussed in the Register,
15 September 1884, page 6d.
A photograph of the Chinese Commercial Association Picnic Committee is in the Chronicle,
4 February 1911, page 29.
Messrs Way Lee & Co's banquet is reported in the Register,
31 January 1887, page 6d,
Observer,
5 February 1887, page 34d; also see
12 February 1887, page 30b.
"Poll Tax on a Naturalised Chinaman" is in the Register,
1 October 1888, page 5a.
Chinese herbal medicines are discussed in the Observer,
12 February 1887, page 26b.
"A Chinese Mystery" is in the Register,
11 and 19 February 1887, pages 4g-5b and 5b,
"A Chinese Drink" is in the Express,
11 February 1887, page 3e,
"A Chinese Social" on
8 February 1889, page 3f,
"A Chinese Tea Meeting" on
3 February 1903, page 2f.
Information on the Chinese Commissioners at the city mission hall is in the Express,
25 June 1887, page 3f.
An interview with General Wong Yung Ho is reported in the Register,
20 June 1887, page 5h; also see
25 and 28 June 1887, pages 5a and 5a.
Chinese gamblers in Adelaide are discussed in the
Register,
29 October 1887, page 5f,
Observer,
5 November 1887, page 7a.
"Chinese Social" is in the Register,
14 February 1888, page 5c,
9 February 1892, page 5c.
"Chinamen's Speech Day at City Mission" is in the Register,
18 December 1885, page 5e.
The celebration of Chinese New Year is reported in the Register,
9 February 1886, page 5d; also see
11 and 16 February 1886, pages 4g-5d and 7h,
12 February 1910, page 6i,
Advertiser,
31 January 1887, page 6g,
28 February 1888, page 6d; also see
8 February 1889, page 4f,
Express,
24 February 1888, page 3e,
16 March 1891, page 2f,
17 February 1896, page 2e,
Register,
12 February 1910, page 6i.
The death of Mr Chong Kee is reported in the Express,
1 October 1890, page 4c.
An obituary is in the Register,
2 October 1890, page 4h.
"The Chinese New Year" is in the Register,
13 February 1891, page 5a.
"A Chinese Compliment [to Mr F.J. Sanderson]" is in the Observer,
20 February 1892, page 37a,
Register,
15 February 1892, page 4h.
"A Fatal Chinese Marriage" is in the Register,
2 February 1893, pages 4g-6c.
Information on Chinese hawkers is in the Register,
28 October 1895, page 6e.
"A Chinese Funeral" is in the Observer,
16 February 1889, page 31b,
26 August 1899, page 28c,
9 September 1899, page 29d,
15 September 1900, page 30a,
Register,
24 August 1899, page 4i,
7 and 8 September 1899, pages 4h and 6e.
"A Chinese Burial" is in the Register,
8 September 1900, page 6f.
"A Chinese Joss House" is in the Express,
21 January 1891, page 5a.
"The Vices of the Chinese" is in the Register,
5 September 1891, page 4e.
"A Chinese Compliment" is in the Observer,
20 February 1892, page 37a.
"Chinese as Laundresses" is in the Advertiser,
23 June 1892, page 7b and
a tragedy in the Chinese quarter on
4 April 1893, page 4e.
"Death of a Chinaman" is in the Chronicle,
29 October 1892, page 11d,
"A Chinaman Stabbed" in the Chronicle,
4 February 1893, page 9b,
"A Curious Case - Story of a Chinese Girl" on
25 January 1896, page 19b.
"Wife Murder in Adelaide" is in the Observer,
4 February 1893, page 6c.
A comprehensive article on the Chinese population of Adelaide is in the Register,
6 February 1893, page 6e,
Observer,
11 February 1893, page 41d.
"A Chinese Litigant" is in the Observer,
29 December 1894, page 16c.
"Detention of a Chinaman" is in the Observer,
21 September 1895, page 43c,
26 October 1895, page 28d.
"Chinese for Adelaide" is in the Advertiser,
23 July 1895, page 4i; also see
13 September 1895, page 5c,
"The Chinese of Adelaide" in the Register,
18 February 1896, page 6f.
"A Chinaman Shoots Himself" is in the Register,
4 December 1895, page 5c,
Observer,
7 December 1895, page 29b.
"A Friend of the Chinese [Miss Lavis]" is in the Register,
18 December 1895, page 5b.
"A Celestial Romance" is in the Observer,
25 January 1896, page 15a,
8 February 1896, page 14b; also see
11 July 1896, page 25d,
30 October 1897, page 15c.
"Way Lee and the Girl Ah Qua" is in the Register,
5 February 1896, pages 5c-7e; also see
23 October 1897, page 5.
"Celestials and Justice" is in the Observer,
29 January 1898, page 29d.
"A Chinese Leper" is in the Register,
14 May 1898, page 6e,
2 June 1898, page 4h,
6 July 1898, page 9e,
Advertiser,
14 May 1898, page 6e,
3 June 1898, page 7b,
Observer,
14 and 21 May 1898, pages 30d and 42d,
4 June 1898, page 28a.
"Round the Slums" is in the Advertiser,
17 June 1898, page 6a and contains descriptions of their "homes"; also see
28 July 1900, page 10f.
"Chinese Gala and Continental" is in the Register,
14 and 15 November 1898, pages 3f and 6d.
"Opium Smoking in Adelaide" is in the Register,
22 September 1899, page 4i,
Observer,
30 September 1899, page 41e,
"Sleeping in an Opium Den - Chinese in Adelaide" is in the Advertiser,
4 April 1903, page 9i.
"The Opium Traffic" is in the Register,
26 July 1909, page 4e.
Also see under Miscellany and Obituaries
"Opium Smoking - Chinese Dealer Sent to Gaol" is in the Advertiser,
3 July 1912, page 12a,
"Death of an Opium Smoker" in the Observer,
11 January 1913, page 34c,
"Opium Smokers - Adelaide Raids" in the Register,
16 August 1913, page 11c,
"Chinese With Opium" on
25 April 1914, page 16c.
"In an Opium Den - Adelaide's Sole Survivor" is in the Register,
25 January 1928, page 10h.
"More Opium - A Chinese Convicted" is in the Register,
22 August 1912, page 5c; also see
27 March 1914, page 10b,
21 August 1928, page 9b.
"Chinese and the Patriotic Fund" are in the Observer,
24 February 1900, page 28a.
An article by Y.S.W. Way Lee of Adelaide on missionaries in China is in the Observer,
15 December 1900, page 30b, on
"The Chinese in Australia" on
25 May 1901, page 44b.
"Way Lee's Shop Gutted" is in the Register,
25 January 1909, page 5b.
Information on Mr Way lee is in the Register,
13 August 1909, page 5b;
an obituary is in the Express,
21 August 1909, page 1g, Observer,
28 August 1909, page 40b;
information on his will is in the Express, on 13 December 1911, page
1d,
Register, 14 December 1911, page 3f.
"Our Chinese Community" is in the Express,
10 February 1903, page 4f.
"An Alleged Celestial Assaulter" is in the Register,
12 January 1904, page 4g.
"Starving Out the Chinaman" is in the Register,
30 July 1904, page 4h.
"Robbing a Chinaman" is in the Express,
15 December 1904, page 1h.
"Chinese New Year - Curious Custom in Adelaide" is in the Register,
6 February 1905, page 4i.
"Chinese Labor - Position in the Furniture Trade" is in the Advertiser,
25 May 1906, page 9e.
"A Chinaman's Factory" is in the Register,
10 July 1907, page 6f.
"The Furniture Trade - Advance of the Chinaman" is in the Register,
21 September 1905, page 8d.
"An Alleged Lottery - Charge Against Two Chinamen" is in the Express,
19 September 1906, page 1h.
"A Chinese Banquet" is in the Register,
19, 20 and 21 November 1906, pages 5b, 6c and 4i.
A Chinese Reform Association picnic at National Park is reported in the Register,
18 February 1907, page 7c,
Advertiser,
18 February 1907, page 6e;
a photograph of members of the association is in the Chronicle,
23 February 1907, page 29,
of a picnic at Long Gully in the Observer,
23 February 1907, page 32.
"A Chinese Lottery" is in the Register,
7 and 9 March 1907, pages 4i and 5d.
"Assault on a Chinaman" is in the Register,
13 April 1907, page 6g.
"A Chinese Festival" is in the Register,
6 August 1907, page 9e.
"West End Tragedy - Ah Wong's Death" is in the Express,
23 December 1908, page 1g.
"Celestials in Court" is in the Advertiser,
1 February 1908, pages 8f-10f,
Observer,
20 March 1909, page 41d.
"A Prohibited Chinaman" is in the Register,
17 July 1908, page 4i.
"A Chinaman Killed" is in the Register,
23 December 1908, page 10a,
"Trial for Murder - Death of Ah Wong" on
4 March 1909, page 5a.
"Alleged Chinese Gamblers" is in the Express,
16 and 17 March 1909, pages 1e and 1c.
"Chinese and Pak-A-Pu" in the Register,
17 and 20 March 1909, pages 4f-8b and 9a.
"Rescued from the Slums" is in the Express,
11 May 1909, page 4h.
An address to the local Chinese population by their Consul is reported in
the Advertiser,
7 July 1909, page 12f.
A kite flying display in which the indigenous Chinese population participated
is reported in the Advertiser,
10 November 1909, page 6f.
A Chinese Commercial Association is commented upon in the Advertiser,
11 February 1910, page 6f.
"In the Courts - Chinese Squabble" is in the Register,
4 April 1911, page 3f.
"The White Peril - Mr Gee Wah Outspoken" is in the Register,
28 February 1911, page 7g.
"Rival Chinamen - Getting Rid of Competition" is in the Express,
24 May 1911, page 1i.
"Chinaman Shot" is in the Observer,
11 November 1911, page 51e.
"Chinese Picnic" is in the Register,
30 January 1912, page 5d.
"Bullet in His Chest - A Chinese Trouble" is in the Register,
21 February 1912, page 9a.
"Happy Chinese - A United Nation" is in the Register,
26 February 1912, page 7b.
"Happy Chinese - Rejoicings in Adelaide" is in the Observer,
2 March 1912, page 52b,
19 October 1912, page 46e.
"Justice for the Chinese" is in the Advertiser,
13 August 1912, page 12a,
"The Chinese in Adelaide" on
1 August 1914, page 21d.
"Fight in Hindley Street" is in the Observer,
11 January 1913, page 42a.
"Loyal Chinese" is in the Register,
16 February 1915, page 6e,
Observer,
20 February 1915, page 41b.
A photograph of Ah Sing, market gardener of Flinders Park, is in The News,
11 February 1937, page 20.
"A Chinese Drink" is in the Express,
11 February 1887, page 3e,
"A Chinese Social" on
8 February 1889, page 3f,
"A Chinese Tea Meeting" on
3 February 1903, page 2f.
Information on a Chinese mission is in the Express,
9 February 1892, page 3f;
it is described in the Register,
29 January 1895, page 3g; also see
Express,
27 January 1898, page 4c,
21 February 1899, page 4b and Adelaide
- Religion - Adelaide City Mission.
