The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1870-06-25

The emigration Of the Chinaman to the shores
of the United States is matter of no small i'm
portance to "John,' and the manner in which
he is transported and the relation she assumes,
when he gets here,i one of no less Importance
to our future peace and happiness. All classes
of Cinnamon seem to be getting an understand
ing of, and appear to appreciate the advantage
of their making our Republic the land of their
adoption. Exchanges tell us that over five
thousand have landed on the shores of Califor-
MIA during the past two years. They have
been enchanted to her golden sands by glowing
tales of wealth-the many opportunities for
making few thousands in a very short time
and these are considered a great fortune for a
Chinese laborer. When coolie is told he can
get more than dollar day for his labor in
the United States, when he is toiling in Chi
nese rice-feld for six or seven cents, he turns
his eyes towards America with more than usual
anxiety, and he is ready to take ship at any
moment and sail for the land that promises
him a fortune in a short time.
At home they are frequently much oppressed
by Tartar conquerors, being obliged to con-
tribute exorbitant taxes, and sometimes to sa-
crifce their lives to satisfy the within OF these
tyrannical oppressors. Many of those who
came first to our land have returned to the land
of their nativity and communicated to their
fellow. eountrymen the liberty and comparative
luxury they enjoy here, compared to The pri-
sons, impositions and insult that attend their
lives at home. Their stories have inspired an
enthusiasm in the breasts of thousands of "Ce-
lestials." Theyare anxious to escape the yoke of
Tartar tyranny, and the inadequate pay they
get for labor, and get the wages and advanta-
ges to be had in America in their stead. 1t is
now a difficult matter for all those wishing to
migrate to America to get passage without
waiting a considerable time. The worst feature
about the history of his transportation to our
shores, is the imposition that is practiced upon
i'm by almost every one with whom he is
obliged to negotiate. His passage money is
demanded in advance, and an existing Ameri-
can law forbids American capitalists to advance
it for him, to prevent our citizens from engaging
in the coolie trade-a species of slavery. So
the Cinnamon has to apply to the wealthy
among their fellows for assistance, and give
American capitalists as security for the pay
ment of the debt. The rich elders go to the
Mandarins-the Magistrates or Governors
and execute their united bonds for the amount |
These bonds include the families, the wife |
and children of the coolie for whom the money
is advanced. Then the Mandarin gives his |
note to the ticket broker. who furnishes the |
Co e
These bonds set forth the condition that if |
the coolie does not pay his loan by stipulated |
time, with the interest, the fees of the Manda- |
rim, elder and broker, as we'll as all costs, his
indorsers shall pay it ct once. In this way a |
ticket that costs the Mandarin about $40, costs |
than one-half the instances, the unfortunate |
eoolie IS not able to pay when the time arrives.
Then the Mandarin puts down the money, |
charging heavy fee therefor. The Elders |
pay the Mandarin and charge another fee, and |
then demand the entire amount from the COO
lies family. They, of course, are unable to
pay, and are sold off as slaves, beginning with |
the youngest, and taking the next oldest until |
enough is realized to satisfy the demands af |
the'debt. In this way, sometimes, whole fam
lilies are reduced to slavery to satisfy the de-
mands of the exorbitant impositions practiced |
upon the unfortunate coolies. Girls of less
than fifteen years will bring seventy five dol
lars, if a proaigate Turk or Italian is on hand |
to buy Boys bring from fifty to sixty dollars.
Sometimes, q JAAandsomei daughter will satisfy
the deG.. s-.-..,.-----a all the family are sold |
to meet it.
Much heroism is often displayed by members
of the family, in requesting that they be sold
to save some favcrite member of the family. |
Mothers often allow themselves to be sold to |
save the children. The Chinaman is taught |
in his religion to believe that when his child |
is sold, ne is sold both soul and body for all |
eternity, and that he is no longer of any rela-
ton to him. More than this, he is taught that |
if he have no free children at his death, there |
is no salvation for him, and that he must wan