The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-29
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
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m, Oool,o Vrado in tho south.


Vbov did not intend that it should be resstab-
lished yet the Coolie labor system which it is
'.~orosed 10 introduce in the South is nothing
but slavery in one of its most dangerous forms.
SUborover IL has been tried-in British Guiana
=, Tr;ridad in the Mauritius, in Peru, in the
Co,obs Islands. and in Cuba, all the evils of
r1ovorv have resulted It may be doubted If
formal slavery is not preferable, fer the owner
.bir Of laborer, in many cases, gives the
.,.s,or an interest in his welfare. Large oapi-
tal is invested in gang OF slaves, ana neglect
- or,,altv might diminish the return. But the
ToOi;ao systeI1 is not only one of apprentice
chin Int of the apprenticeship of foreigners
SP limit of time. The workings OF
tba trade are seen on large scale In
Cnbo where it has been subjected to
M restrictions. There the Chinese Coolies,
Kidnapped or betrayed by false promises are
sold TO the highest bidders for seven years,
and paid nominal and miserable wages; az the
ond of this term they find themselves in debt
10 the planters, and are forced to renew their
oontract. In Jamaica, where the experiment
twice failed, il is now successful, especially
with the Hindoo Coolies, and though, under
fhe English law, the system is better than that
of Cuba, 1t is still a disgrace. There is no
case recorded in which the Coohe has risen
above the condition of serf; he is condemned
to labor for the benefit of others, with no hope
of becoming himself independent, and when he
is unfit to toll, he has no claim upon his
master for support. slave in all but the
name, the pretended freedom he possesses is
the Gift of Tantalus; it is a snare and
mockery. and the wretched serf had better
have been bought and sold than hired.
This is the system which is to be the substi-
tute of slavery in the Southern States. Coolies
are now employed on the plantations of Loui-
siana, and the other day ship-load arrived
at New Orleans from Cuba. The United States
Vice Consul at Havana has informed the Gov
ernment that he has reason to believe that
an extensive scheme is on foot for the intro
duotion Of coolie labor in the South" From
Washington we learn that many of the planters
would rather employ coolies than freedmen.
1t is not difficult to discover their reasons.
The freedmen are American citizens; they have
votes and rights which United States armies,
If need be- will enforce. The coolies on the
contrary, are ignorant foreigners, who cannot
even complain of oppression they are power
less to insist upon Just contracts, and must
accept the terms of their employers. The
planters prefer coolie labor because it is in
effect, slave labor The freedmen now at the
least receive tolerable wages, but it is safe to
say that the pay of the coolies will be almost
nothing; they will work for their food and a
will never be able to command fair equiva-
lent for their labor.
1t is not to Chinese immigration that we OBJ
ject, but to a system which, if carried on by
private contract, will certainly be a gigantic
swindle and national disgrace. Congress in
1904 made a law to encourage immig ration,
providing that the immigrant might mortgage
his wages for a period of twelve months for
the purpose of refunding money advanced for
the expenses of his passage hither, but on the
express condition that no part of the act should
be construed to authorize involuntary servi-
tude or slavery. The importation of Coolie
labor, unless carefully watched, will result in
slavery and we are glad to hear that the At
torney- General has already taken steps to pre-
vent any violation of the laws. If the Coolies
in America are protected by the Government
and allowed fair opportunity to settle, they
may become valuable though small class o.
laborers in the South; but if we permit then
to be treated as serfs, the traffic will become
enormous, and the United States might in
few years rival Cuba, which yearly imports
some 10000 Cinnamon and holds them il
hopeless degradation and poverty.
Opposition to the Congressional Policy
From TIE Times
Southern politicians who oppose the condi
tions of reconstruction offered by Congress
exhibit less than their usual sagacity. Amb
tious they have always been, dexterous, an