The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-02

davfrom Hong Kong, were sold at public
auction to-day In the Chinese quarters Young
girls brought as high as $3.50 each middled
aged and old women from 500 to 500 each.
Such is the intelligence which was flashed
across the Continent from the Pacific slope
to the broad waters of the Atlantic, and
from thence to the European continent.
We were living in the blissful hope that
slavery had been abolished, and that the
traffic in human beings was forever prohib-
tied in the United States. Yet, before
the rattle of the musketry, the laundering
Of the cannon, or the incessant tramp,
tramp, tramp Of the patriots, whose blood
for the third time had drenched the soil of
America, in the cause Of freedom and hu-
man liberty, has died away from our mem
ory,-we have the startling announcement
that TWENTY-FIVE WOMEN were SOLD at
public auction in San Francisco, on July
%, 1873.
Where Was the United States Mar
shall when this violation of the
Federal laws was perpetrated Was it not
his duty to be there, and prevent the per-
petrAtion Of such an outrage IL it not his
duty to PROSECUTE the parties TO such
transaction-both buyers and sellers, and
cause the laws of the United States to be
enforced and respected within his jurisdic
ton The authorities at W ashington should
hold this man responsible for such fla
grant neglect Of duty Had there been
twenty women, natives Of Africa, brought
to any port in the United States, and ia
ken out the day after their arrival, espec-
tally for the purpose Of prostitution, and
sold at public auction, there would have
been such a hue and cry raised as would
have shaken the Republic to its foun-
dation. 1t would have been claimed
to be a violation Of the late amend
ments to the Constitution. There would
not have been political aspirant from the
candidacy Of the presidential chair down
to that Of the more humble position of vii
lage constable, but whose indignant wrath
would have been aroused. The late lamen-
table civil war was waged for a prin-
ciple on the one side for the right. as it was
supposed to exist under the Constitution,
to hold in bondage, and traffic in. human
beings on the other side it was contendsd
that under the Constitution and Declare
ton of Independence, all men were free,
and that civilization condemned the system
u slavery in human flesh and blood The
principle that MAN OWNED HIMSELF was es-
tablished, though at a terrible sacrifice
the sacrifice of half million of the best
and bravest of Americas sons, amongst
gems in the American coronet. Yet all
this sacrifice Of life, of intellect, and Of
treasure, is to go for nothing, IN order that
few soulless and unprincipled monopolists
may amass fortunes by buying and sell
ing human beings We have repeatedly
pointed out, and endeavorsd to impress
upon the minds of our readers the evil
consequences that were liable to arise from
the importation of coohe, or cheap labor,
that prompted it, we were satisfied that it
was intended to take the place Of our white
citizens in light mechanical branches. and
African slavery that these people should
enter the plantation and take the place of
our domestic servants, under conditions Of
semi servltude. So far eur predictions
have been fulfilled They have displaced
the Caucasian mechanic in many Of his call
ings, our domestic servants have been
turned into the streets TO make room for the
''celestials, and the majesty Of our laws
insulted by selling human beings at public
auction.
II is not stated, however, to whom, or
for what purposes these women were sold
That part of the transaction 10 kept from
the public because it would only add to
the enormity of the crime. But from pri-
vate sdvices we are credibly informed that
they are sold as harlots, and for purposes
Of prostitution : Can their be anything
more horrible, more abominable We
need 20 back but few years and recall to
our memory the stirring speeches that were
made in the halls Of our National Legisla-
ture, the eloquent orations and sermons
that we're delivered from rostrum and pull
pit, against the slave trade and its attend
dants. But now, when it il revived
when the subject is the Chinaman and not
the negro, no voice comes from the
Senate, the forum, or the pulpit ,denounc-
ing the nefarious system.
We cannot see what difference color or
nationality can make with the principle at
issue. Even the circumstances in the case
should not be allowed to influence it in any
way. II it was wrong to traffic in the ne
gro, because he was a human being, it is
also wrong to traffic in the Chinaman, be-
cause he also is a HUMAN BEING, and there
fore it is a sin against God, and violation
of the law Of the State to BUY, SELL and
Use the Chinese as chattel property But
what care the monopolists and capitalists
50 that they secure cheap labor
Fellow-citizens-This system is but the
inevitable and Legitimate outgrowth Of the
system Of cheap labor against which the
workingmen Of this country have been pro-
testing, and which they are determined to
OVERTHROW, be the cost what it may,
Which do you prefer-a system which
guarantees CHEAP LABOR-PRosrITU-
TON AND CONSEQUENT MISERY, or a system
which gives to the laborer fair DAYS
wages for fair days work-happiness to
himself and family anctifes the marriage