The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-12-05 00:00:00

Etc tourbribge Obstrber.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER, sth, 1874.

LABOUR OR SLAVERY.

An enterprising correspondent of one of the
Loudon daily newspapers, and whore name has
been associated wilts the discovery of the long
lost Dr. Livingstone, has lately been sending
home graphic descriptions of hie travels upon
the Africal continent, and has at the same time
pointed out the surest and most rapid method of
extinguishing the slave traffic which still
flourishes upon the land. Off the same coast
the British cruisers are stationed for the pur-
pose of capturing the Arabian slave ships, whose
owners tiud the profits of their traffic stiflcient
to compensate them for the danger which they
run in carrying it on. Meanwhile the public are
not aware, or at ieast only a small proportion of
! it, has any idea of the fact that a labour trade
flourishes aii,ongst the South Sea islands which
,! presents features of an even more repulsive
I type than Aflicau slavery in its most obuosaous
tom. it will be new to marl of our peoplj that
while Exeter Hall rings with indignation at the
continuance of slavery in Africa, while depu-
-11410'15.1.0 the Colonial office are assured that •
every possible precaution is being taken to !
suppiuss a system the very name of which is so
repulsive to our ears, and while there is no lack
of subscriptions to support the num who take an
interest in this movement, the practice of kid-
napping the natives of the South Sea Island is
carried out under the very eyes of the authorities,
to whom the evasions are perfectly plain. But
it must not Le supposed for a moment that the
British authorities connive at these practices,
for they are powerless to prevent them. How
his this? Situ ply because British Slops manned
by British crews adopt the flag of another nation,
and under the tricolour of France, or indeed
under the dag of any other European nation,
they engage without fear of punishment in a
disgraceful system of kidnapping which Ur its
results can be regarded as nothing but slavery
of the most pronounced type. The vessels en-
gaged in this repulsive business are numerous
enough iu the neighbourhood of the New
Hebrides, but the English Commodore has no
power to interfere with them. so long as the
French or any other flag Hats over their human
I merchandise. .

The question naturally arises, what is to be
done to it a stop to such a traffic? It is a
lucrative occupation, and even were our own
subjects interdicted from following it, the em•
ployment is so profitable that it would b.: at once
transferred to foreigners. Recently the matter
has been takei tip with some warmth in Australia,
and documents illustrating the present position
of the traffic have been laid before the Legislative
Council at Melbourne. At the same time the
lies. Dr. Steele has contributed to the SO tie):
journals some particulate which must have
startled those -s-ho imagined this "labour traffic"
had seen the best of its 45) 5. Within a single
week there ha: landed at Neomea, in New
Caledonia la h notch settlement lately rendered
famous as the place of exile of the most notoriatia
, French Colinineis`s), no fewer thou 300 South
! Sea Islanders. This created a glut in the mar-
ket for human lives, so much so that atoll of VI
per head took place in the passage money,
namely, the price which is paid to the captain of
the importi: g ship for each of there unlucky
"labourers." Many may not be familiar with
the process by which these wretched people are
deluded into ceding themselves into bondage.
But to those who are unacquainted with the
plan adopted, it may be explained that the
unfortunate islanders are enticed by specious
promises and glittering presents, to leave their
canoes and to go and sos the wonders of the big
ship which lies in the offing. Once one board
the treacherous vessel, they are mode comfort-
ably intoxicated, and are either induced to enter
into an agreement to surrender their liberty to
the captain, or are taken possession of by force
of arms, and conveyed to the neighbouring
settlement, where the traders are pretty certain
to find a good uiarket for thoir human cargo.
That, of course, is supposing the voyage to he
soe',•ess.u, witicis is ;lot invariably the Case. rhe
feilows who engage in this trade, like most of
those who take to roguery as a profession, are
rassevsed of a wonderful amount of ingenuity
I whim, niaa)a a.ra4gling honest man might envy.
But clever knaves although they undoubtedly