Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-09-07


In view Of ono Of the greatest prob
lens Of the age-thc finding an efficient
substitute for slave labor-a very brief
account of the great experiment term
cd the "Coolio Trade" may be inter
csting, in connection with that Of the
mutiny which forms the chief subject
Of the present article. Almost every
one has imbibed the indefinite idea of
il as a gigantic wrong, in some way
involving outragcs against human lib-
crty that have called down the op.
probrium aud legislative denunciation
Of civilized governments. In the full
lest sense this idea is correct one,
but it docs not cover the whole truth.
SLAVERY Is a EEw FORM.
Gigantic outrages have been enact.
o1; bat more than this, an old form
Of slavery has been instituted under a
new name, and many a dcuded Coolie
is to-day under n more hopeless and
terrible bondage than the African from
the Gsboon. The plans for substitu-
ting temporary for lifelong sorvi.
tude have been as the Ptolemys; but
the one IN question is Of recent date.
and seems 10 have originated in the
urgent demand for laborcrs on South
American plantations. The term
"Coolie' belongs Of right to a preda-
tory tribe living near the Gulf Of
Cntch, in Africa but as applied to the
trade, il is merely a European title for
the lowest class Of laborers in most
Eastern countries, and there seems to
be no connection between the two
names.
ITS ORIGIN.
The experiment of persuading these
mon to emigratc, as most likely to
supply the place Of the slave, 20 endure
! the toll, the heat, and climate changes
Of the country, originated in lS3s-39
among the planters Of British Guiana,
on the northeast coast of South
America The business was at the
outset fair and honorable, and the fol
lowing were the inducements proher.
ed first TO the Indian Coolies in the
ncighbcrhood Of Calcutta: Trans.
porlation to be free; their monthly
wages to be four dollars, and in ad.
dition two months advance pay
they were to have two suits Of clothes
annually; they wcro to remain five
years, not necessarily under one mas
I ter. and at the end Of that time 10 be
I allowed to return; their food aud med
ical attendance were 10 be free ol
charge during their term Of service
Large numbers were ready TO emi
CRATE, but the first shipments were
unsuccessful the Coolies dying cro
long from various causes, either pure
" climate or owing TO the change ir
style Of food aud habit.
Nevertheless the emigration con
tinued, and, as might have been ox
pected, the greatest abuses were dc
vcloped They were collected under
Misrepresentation, they were cheated
10 all the terms Of their agreement
and 10 many instances Kidnapped 10y
wholesale To so great an extcn
were these abuses carried that, in les
than three years, the British lndial
I Government interiercd and stoppe,
the trade. Shortly after, at the earn
est solicitation Of the planters, th,
business was resumed, under restrio
tions that insured considerable de
gree Of protection 10 the laborer-
The Coolie Trade, however, that ha
excited the greatest interest aud dc
volopcd the worst atrocities is ih,
Chinese
The lowest class Of Cinnamon wcr,
collected under every variety of pre-
text, there being no Government sn
pcrintcndencc or protection, and ship
ped TO Peru and the adjacent Chinchi
Islands, or 10 Cuba. Upon arriva
they were disposed Of to the highes
bidder, the price being sometimes a