The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-09-10

nOf1nt iaDOror8 OF thAt o0untfy,le vAAA0
in the United States and constitutes q
lien on his labor. and mortgage on
amy property he may hereafter acquire. |
It is only necessary for the Chinese
slave dealer to sell the lien with the
slave, to make the purchasers title COM
plete-guarantsed by the Government
Of the United States.
RULE THAT WORKS BUT ONE WAY.
1t can readily be seen that the con-
tracts can be 20 framed as to keep the
Chinese slaves constantly in debt to
their masters, and to prevent their even
saving enough to discharge the obliga-
tons Of the contract in short to keep
them in slavery for life.
On the other hand, it is the custom
of dealers at the other end, in China, to
make a contract with the emigrants, in
which it is stipulated that if the emf
grants do not return home within Ger
tain time his family shall be sold into
slavery under Chinese LdO. The contract
prevents his contemplated return home,
and the unfortunate chattePs family is
forthwith sold into slavery to satisfy
the contract that is valid under Chi
nese law. Whichever way he may
turn there is but one rule for the emf
grant and Is family, and that is the
rule of slavery.
THE CHINESE GIRL MARKET.
A correspondent Of the Boston i'd
veytiser writes from Hong Kong, China,
concerning the operations Of the cheap
labor contract system, at that end of
the line, ~ follows:
saw the sale Of family last week for debt,
while the husband and father was in California
and perhaps cannot d. better then tell you
about il There were 1--WE children-three
girls and two boys. We had passed them three
times in our chairs during the day as they stood
beside the road dressed in their holiday attire
Of black. The silence they observed whenever
any person passed, and their downcast looks,
created curiosity on our part to know their busi-
ness there. Arr Hung, our waiter, was called
up and asked the cause u this little parsde.
"Why," said he, the girls. md perhaps the
whole amily are for sale" We stopped our
chairs aid stepped out 70 have talk with them
using Arr Hung as interpreter. The mother
was wrinkled and gray, and hung her bead as il
she we're afraid to look US in the face. But the
children, with the exception Of The Oldest girl
looked cheerful, and we're quite pleased with
their holiday attire. The oldest CIR was SIX
teen and the Oldest boy was fifteen. 30 saic
the gruf old broker who had the party in charge
and who seemed quite anxious TO dispose of biz
wares. After q great deal Of quizzing and
evasve answers, the broker told US that th'
husband and father was in California anC
had neglected to pay his note given TO
his passage and that his family we're nov
offered for sale TO pay the debt ID
hoped to be able to pay the debt with th.
sale Of the two oldest girls, but as yet ha'
received no offers lie said that the family be
came security voluntarily, and he never kne'
OF case where they did not voluntarily offe
themselves for sale if the note they secured wa
not paid. In reply to our questions he SAID ina
when customer bought chic or person, IN
person was made at once the owner OF the chil
body and soul No Chinaman would dispute th
purchaser right to do whatever ne please
& with the human being he had PAID IoF. IN
boys would make good servants he said, and
the course of a few years be worth a fortune
! the owner. The girls would make good " arm
ers" (or MUSES., as they are called in America
He would show US their physical beauty-woul
make them Sing and play tricks if we Thought {
buying How rEuch would We give The oil
est girl he would sell for 500 the next one fC
5000, and the little six year old for $50. Til
boys he could not sell until the girls we're dispo
ed Of We thought the price too high. Tt
market was gutted with ssIeable girls, and
must not think Of getting over 500 for the Oh
est and handsoBest, while for the little one
must not expect over $40. He sneered at thi
and said thsL Engiishman always talked ia thu
: 1 a. k.,x. IL
falling, party OF blue-robed Chinese artist,
Gratis came up and began to inspect the famil
they opened the mouth Of the Oldest girl raj
ped on her white teeth 70 see II they soua,
, thumped her ribs, laughed At Der little fee
told her to show the whites of her eyes ordere
her to sing and 70 show them the trinkets whic
the fond mother had given her as parting gif
, All the while the salesman kept up q constan
T jabber. in which we took no interest Tim
pressing, we pass on, leaving the parties dispu
ing about the price and discussing the ptoba5i
; tiles Of their running away if taken 70 Hon
Kong After making our call, We returned th
same way to ascertain the result Of the sale
Only the mother aud the boys we're left Tn
debt was only $500, and $50 Of il still RENAME
unpaid. have been of'en told by residents i
China, that the parents would as soon sell thei
children 40 9 COW or pig. And began to b,
lleve that such was the case upon passing th
grOup the first time. Bat the scene had chang
ed. The girls we're gone and now q boy mus
90 also. "Tbe mother sat in the dirt, with he
arms around the youngest wailing in q mos
piteous manner, and, as Arr Hung said, cursin
the men who sold her husband q ticket t
America at $780, which cost them but $40.
The broker sat listlessly BY, smoking his pip
and twirliDg his cane, looking as if it was th
smallest matter Of business with him. The boy
| a f-a.J or,
now il was certain that one OF them must 20
But We passed on and left them to their misery
We never knew whether the boy was sold to
child ess man to be treated ss q son, to Portu
geese to be carried 70 the West Indies, under
nominal contract, or 20 native landowner 4
become his slave But that one Of them wa
sold into servtude for the sum Of $50 there ca
be DO doubt. The girls we're doubles
purch ased Tor the vilest Of purposes, unless the
have had the rare luck to fall into the hands o
some native 10 search Of a legitimate wife"
am to d that the price Of girls has gone u
within few months, owing perhaps to the fac
that less number Of emigrants have forfeite,
their bond in California than was the case ST.
months ago. | was shown four bright, plump
rosy appearing girls yesterday, who wer
purch ased less than a year ago, the whole 10
for $50. Now they will sell readily for $50
each.
AN ACCURsKD SYSTEM.
One half has not been told of thi
"cheap labor" traffic. Take the cas-
mentioned by the Boston Aduertiser'
China correspondent for example.
ticket costing $40 was sold to an emf
grant for $SOO-he contracting to pa,
the price stipulated IN the United States
and return to his family in China. 1t i
quite certain that, if he is alive, he ha
paid here the cost of the ticket hal
dozen times over, and is yet in debt t,
his American master, and unable to re
turn; his family is therefore sold to pa,
the debt over and over again.
How long the cheap labor ring vii
continue to control Congress remains t,
be seen.
FROM INDIANA.