The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-08
Case OF the Tung-fonE-to tong Chinese Dramatic
Association.
APuILIPPIc FROM A CELESTIAL AGAINST THE UNITED
Stairs.


A PuILIPPIC FROM CELESTIAL AGAINST THE UNITED
Prom the China Mail May 81
We hear good deal from our own countrymen
and the Americans especially, about their national
rights In China, and their personal claims upon its
government for protection. But the newspapers
both Of England and America, from time TO time
bear evidence that the Chinese resorting to these
enlightened countries are treated outcasts, and
have no means Of redressing their wrongs. An in
stance given in the snboined letter signed Z,ungie
foreign education without having forgotten either
his own language or lost love for his own country
Some years ago certain residents in China. who
took an interest in the cause Of education sent him
and two other boys from the Morrison School, under
the charge Of its teacher R. Brown his return
to the United States with view to their being educa
ted in America and in Great Britain One OF them re-
turned to China some years ago, and, though imper
fectly educated has acquitted himself with much
a course Of medical study at the University OF Edin
burgh and the third, the writer Of the letter in to-
days paper, was educated at Yale College, Connec-
ticut.
In saying that the letter Is his production, we
mean that It has not been dressed up but appears as
he wrote it, with the exception OF two or three
words, which he would probably have altered had he
seen proof for revisal.
His Acquaintance with the facts narrated is derived
partly from Agew, the interpreter, formerly fellow
pupil in the Morrison School, ard partly from his
own observation when sent for to assist the beneyo-
happy condition.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHINA MAIL.
HoSG KoyG, April 10, 1855.
sn-I requested by Leong Agew to communicate
tong Chinese Dramatic Association had received from the
hands Of certain parties in the city of New York about
to s by s s Agew himself who e
for the company would leave the propriety of publish
ing this to your discretion The
The Tung tong Dramatic Association consisting OF
than hundred and twenty actors left Canton in
the month Of June 1862 and arrived at San Francisco in
August of the year. During the five six months
which they spent there their performances met with
great an,ong the Chinese 1t happened however,
that George W. Beach proposed to 1koon the proprie
Tor OF the said company to go over to New York to es
ablish their headquarters near the Crystal Palace Be.
ing pleased with the dea and the atering prospect of
siil greater success, Ikoon and part Of the company
yielded the persuasions Of Beach Co. After in the
words Of Ieong Agew, "a long perseverance, the parties
came to the following agreement, which was signed
the 10Th Of March, 1866
The length Of time for which the company engaged
themselves was months For the first six months,
they to receive six thousand dollars per month";
be paid in advance monthly for the other four months
thousand dollars per month also to be paid In ad
Moreover It was also agreed that s12 900 twelve thou
sand dolars) two months wages to be advanced
to The Dramatic Company before they started for New
York. Finally that Beach Co. to defray all the
necessary expenses of the company during the whole time
for which they were engagedsnch as the passage from
San Francisco to New York. board BILL and travelling
penses.
No sooner had these arrangements been made, than
Beach Co. found that they unable to raise the
whole of the said s12 000 and begged Lkoon the pro-
pretor to take $40 600 with promise to make up the
balance Of the 900 at the close of the first performance
of the first month in New York.
Accordingly, the wardrobe of the Dramatic Company
having been taken both as security for the $40 900
that had been paid, and as pledge for their faith
full performance in New York, Likoon and his troop
embarked with Beach & Co. for their place of des-
1853 Three weeks after their arrival, they found,
to their establishments that their wardrobe was mort
Davis Brooks Steamship Company, by G. W. Beach
Co.. who, most probably, were neither able to pay
their passage that OF the Chinese Dramatic As
ISOLATION, amounting to nearly 900
In order to obtain for the Dramatic Company The
OF their theatrical trappngs Beach Co. got Nblo who
believe the proprietor OF Nbios Garden, place OF
public amusement to give security to Messrs Davis
Brooks which ikoon and his troop were persuaded to
sign but in great measure ignorant Of the contents Of
the bond, until they informed by lawyer OF its full
significance. Having thus obtained their wardrobe, they
began 10 play at Nblos Garden. Their performances,
after weeks experiment. failed beyond rcsuscitation
On the evening oil the 26t of May 1863 they made their
last appearance before the public the proceeds of which
we're announced intended for the special benefit Of
koon who had only the satisfaction Of seeing G. W.
Beach pocket the money, after which he absconded from
The city and LETT the Chinese in state of utter helpless
ness and dcstitution in the Shakespeare Hotel.
Being deceived and deserted it happened that man,
Bayy offered to take them over 10 Cuba TO serve his
plantation FOR the term Of eight years. Mt the rate of 81
month but (aid Leong Agew) none Of willing
co. rather die in one place than to go there" What
10 take advantage Of mems ignorance, creduy destitu
ton and despair and endeavor to make slaves Of them
when they had just suffered from the ruthless hands Of
others |
No sooner had Bayiy left them without accomplishing
his humane intentions, than plausible, and to all
appearance a very autabc plan was concoctcd 60 give
them material aidthst is to discharge their board bill
due TO theshakspeare Hotel and to send them TO China
but in reality to use them AS tools, 10y which persons
might prey upon the benevolent sober minded and indus
trous citizens Of. the community. Accordingly, William
Setback. bookhecper Of the hotel accompanied by
principal cities and obtained sufficient subscription
the amount Of which supposed 10 be several
thousand dollars to accomplish the alleged purposes
The poor Chinese then assured that a Boston
ship, owned by g. G.. Dennis, Esq, 20 be ex.
prcssy at New York the 9th Of October to convey
them home to China gratis provided the Commissioner
Of Foreign Emigration would supply them with provi-
sons enough for the whole passage The appointed day
but neither the ship nor g. g. Dennis, Esq,
10 be heard oil, except far that g. g. Dennis
ESQ, person not 10 be- trusted; that the Com
missioner Of Foreign Emigration had not the sha-
dow OF chance 10 act upon their proposed condition.
The appointed day passed away and the Chinese
turned out OF DOORS without seeing mite Of the
money that had been raised for their relief They
then sent by the Commissioner Of Foreign Emigration to
Wards Island to pass the winter and in the spring Of
1854 seeing that they could longer be kept the
public expense he sent them away from the island to
shift for themselves. Friendess, homeless and penny
less they struggled through the streets Of New York
several months and objects Of rideue and pity
alternately according they viewed by persons Of
different dispositions and Glasses, TILL through the nau
ence OF lady. committee was appointed 20 relieve
them, and assisted most Of them home.
Fifteen hundred dollars raised FOR that purpose
and ON the I'D Of July, 1854, twenty Of the whole
pany al their own request, sent by the committee
back to California; four Of them sailed direct for China
in the Houqua and the rest, at their option
placed under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. r. W. sye
such is brief history of series Of decepons pracs
upon company Of strangers in strange land, by mon,
who in moral point OF view, could not have been any
thing less than totally deprived The treatment which
these unoru innate Chinese had experienced from o. w.
Beach Co., William Lubooh, and g. G. Dennis, Esq,
LETT upon their minds an impression by no means ayora
bic TO American laws and institutions whose efficiency
and expansion are much Wanted both at home and
abroad. As proof that they Cherished and carried
away with them such impression need only quote
the words Of Ieong-Agew, through whom the company
spoke their mcaning:-" Although (said he) the United
States Is great country yet Il is useless for the govern
ment Of this country seems not TO for strangers
from another land who have been excessively deceived
by It's citizens"
Now, whatever may be the logic Of such rea soning
still II Is their reasoning and conviction founded upon
their saa cxnctieDre and like other