Thomas Magee, a well-known San Franciscan in the late 19th century, was founder and publisher of the "San Francisco Real Estate Circular," which had a strong anti-Chinese editorial position as far back as the 1870s. He was still active in San Francisco politics as late as 1906 when he served on the committee to stabilize the real estate market following the Earthquake and Fire. Magee was involved in the attempt to move Chinatown to Hunters Point following the disaster.

Though the Library of Congress' dates"China's Menace to the World" to 1878, it actually was published in the October 1890 The Forum magazine.