The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-11-26
The chinese in Peru.

Peru has derived great benefit from the employ
ment. of Chinese on the sugar plantations. In
looking over our exchanges from South America,
anent the late instruction and massacre, in the
valley of Pativilca, an account of which we gave
in a recent issue, we find some very sensible re-
marks as to the causes which led to the terrible
scenes of September 4th.- We, who have to
employ Chinese labor on our plantations, may
perhaps learn a lesson from the experience of the
Peruyians. The papers at hand very plainly inti-
mate hat there cannot be the least doubt, but
that the rebellion, which had recently taken place
at the haciendas of Patavilca, Supe, and Baranca,
was caused by the i'll treatment generally used
there. 1t is declared to have been notorious, that
they got little to eat, and that not of the kind OF
food to which they were used were made to
work severely, and punished cruelty for the
slightest fault. The experience OF. the world goes
to prove that good treatment by the employer is
the best way to govern the employee, safely and
economically. 8 The question of Chinese labor
(the steeming millions Of that great Empire are
now holding up their hands)-is everywhere an
interesting question, and one that must be met.
The details of the massacre in Peru are horri-
BILE, and highly characteristic of Asiatic revenge.
By policy as well as by nature, the Mongol is
more blood-thfrsty and Indifferent to human life
and suferings than any other race. In this re-
spect, his cruelty is heightened by his superior
intelligence, as compared, for instance, with the
African. But in spite of this national and indi-
vidual character, while in his own country, unless
stirred up by bad treatment by those among whom
he comes to exchange his labor for gain, there is
,nncb To hn said in his favor.
Investigations which have been made in regard
to this late rebellion in Peru develop the fact that
on the plantations, where the use of opium was
interdicted the coolies banded themselvestogether
for the protection of the families of their masters,
and stood guard night and day, with arms IN
| their hands, In one instance it is stated that the
! coolies on a plantation, the owner Of which hap
pened to. be absent, armed themselves In defence
of the family, and escorted them to a place of
safety. This looks like an argument IN favor of
good treatment, and leads to the belief that in
those establishments where those Tprisings took
place, a continued system of bad treatment had
at last awakened the latent feelings OF resentment
and revenge of human nature. u. >a "a
Taking all the foregoing into consideration, to-
gether with our own experience, 1T is evident to
our mind, that the Chinese who come among us
as laborers must be governed IN one OF two ways
either by just, firm and kind treatment, or by
a military police force on or near each plantation.
The general welfare and progress of the, country
demand that a lust relation should exist between
the master and the laborer. Ii appears that we
must depend upon China for our needed labor,
therefore let us learn ~aolesson from Peru in our
management of the Asiatics. lsi7E