New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-09
CHINESE IMMIGRATION And THE COOLiE
TRADE


will ot this time be of value to our readers |
and the public. In the first place, 1t must be
understood that Chinese immigration ana tue
CooIe trade are entirely distinct in their char
acter, conditions, and consequences Inc lttter
differs in no material respects from tne ATT
can Slave Trade, and the horrors OIL the mid-
die passage have been repeated over ana over
again upon the COolie ships bound 10 CuOa
and Peru. Nearly all civilized nations have
denounced this trade and established penalties
against il. It's seat is Macao, port which has
been for over two hundred years in the pos
session of the Portuguese, and when az one
time was highly prosperous. The occupation
of Hong Kong by the English, and the advan-
tages of its position and harbOr, gave death
blow TO Macao and it has degenerated into
slave mart and depot for opium to be SNUG
gled into China. From this Coolie trade a
large Government income is derived, while
those engaged in it have accumulated
fortunes. The money paid to those who are
entrapped into slavery is very frequently lost
in the Chinese gambling-houses of Macao, and
these are licensed by the Government
The Coolies secured and shipped from this
port are among the most degraded of the Chi
nese population, and are mainly drawn from
the Southern provinces of China by fraud ana
treachery. Under the influence OF opium, or
through the slavery of gambling debts, or by
deceitful, yet alluriDg promises, they sign GER
tain papers nominally required by the Portu-
guese authorities and then are removed to
the Coolie ship, lying from three to SIX miles
from shore, where they are retained until
crowded cargo is secured. A Portuguese gun
boat lies near to prevent revolt which Is
always threatened, and often occurs For
brief time some degree of consideration is OBJ
served toward them but from the day of sail
ing they are treated as slaves and brutes. The
tragical reyolts which have occurred upon
these COolie ships at sea tell q tale of cruelty
and wrong which can scarcely be surpassed.
Chinese emigration, on the contrary, takes
place mainly from Hong Kong, and it Is sur
rounded by guards and checks on the part OF
the colonial authorities, for which they are en-
titled to great credit. The number of passen-
gers is limited by the capacity of the vessel;
the ships must be supplied with abundance OF
water; Chinese cooks sufficient TO answer the
requirements of passengers are regularly
Shipped fuel for cooking is furnished; and a
Chinese physician accompanies each vessel a
full list of the names of the emigrants Is fur
nished to the HarbOr Master; and before
departure the ship is regularly inspected 10y
colonial officers, the list is compared and the
supplies of food and water are examined. The
greater number of these free emigrants sail for
California and Australia; but they also pour
out from Hong Kong to Saigon, Singapore,
Manila, and Batavia, and numerous Chinese
colonies are found at all the tradng-ports in
Eastern Asia.
The United States law Of 1862 was un-
doubleday aimed at suppressng the Coohe
trade American vessels. 10 their disgrace, hav-
ing largely participated in its profits and hor-
rors. But that law, 10y its provisions, placed
an effectual guard upon Chinese emigration. IL
provided that no Chinese emgrant should be
received on board an American vessel unless
bearing certificate from the American Con-
sui at that port that he was a free person,
and not bound to service and involuntary
labor. Upon intelligence of the passing and
approval of the law referred TO, the American
Consul at Hong Kong informed the masters
and cOnsignees of vessels of its provisions.
From that period, after due examination,
through an interpreter, the permits required
by the law were duly given to all Chinese en-
igTants. The name of the emigrant was in
serted in the permit and, under the seal of
the Consulate, it was certified that each was q
free person, and not bound to service within
the meaning of the act of Congress. These
names were afterward compared with the list
of the Harbor Master, and the permits were
then given TO the master of the vessel, with
his ships papers, when clearing from port.
1t may be asked, Are these emigrants free
persOns2 There is no doubt Of it, They are
often persons of learning, enterprise, and capt.
tai There are in California in Australia, and
throughout the East, large numbers of Chinese
merchants, the equals of Europeans and Amer
leans in all that makes business honorable
and profitable. 1t is true, as to large num-
bers of these emgrants, that their passage
money and expenses are frequently paid by
Chinese companies, largely engaged in business
and trade in California. There are, in many
cases, engagements entered into for the return
of these disbursements, and for certain shares
in the profits of their labor. These contracts
are often Endorsed by the father and family
of the departing emigrant, who expect to
reap, and often do reap, great advantages
from his enterprise. They are simply contracts
for his removal to q Temuneratiye field for
ldDOI1 anu Ilcy ucIlNc Ill JHclT vitality anu
force from the desire of the Chinese to fulfill
their obligations, obtain a moderate compe-
tency, and return TO their native land. Under
our laws, these contracts are not binding when
made for a longer period than one year, and
even when they are held by the person as
sacred, they can in no sense be said to form
q condition of servitude.
The advantages of this emigration, notwth- |
standing the prejudice against it, have been |
great and manifold; but the opposition to re-