The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-11
THE DESPOT OF SLIM.
One of Grants Con-ui- Tvrnnnizing over
Americans aud swindling the siamese.

Ffom ne Sam Uset.v Advertiser.
Here is another illustration of the char
acter of +. W. Partridge, the late United st tes
Consul. An American had In his employ some
thinese blacksmiths. These men were arrested
ana terribly whipped by the opium farmers, ON
the ground that struggled opium was found in
their house. his American prosecuted the
opium farmers for damages done his employees.
lie had written contract with these Chinese,
but II had not been filed At the Consulate. Inc
Sanese objected to paying damages on the
ground Il, this contract was not valid A day
was appointed 10y the Consul to examine into he
validity Of the contract. In the mean time a
ru'nor came to the Consul OF tn, petition, and
that THIS American had signed II. The Consul
determined upon his course at once. A
rant WIS issued for the arrest OF the American.
ana abetting the Slamcse to overthrow him, the
Uni,ed states Consul" On the day when the
contracts Were examined, just before the
trhl the Nice-Consul said TO tnis man that he
would pay for signing that petition the
contracts were uronounced worthless by the
Consul' the American was hned 500 aud $50
costs. and iuug into ifison His wife and child
were driven out OF their house, and everything
taken possession Of by the Consul. Aud. as IL
this were not enough To appease their revenge,
the Nice.Cousul, followed b, his worthy hench-
IN Dded Of hin the book containing hi con-
tracts with the { inese. The prisoner, knowing
that they would destroy the book, refused to
give Il up. the Nice-C 1nsul abused him IN the
fouest language, und finally stuck hiln, then
put handouts Oh hin, and with pistol marched
him about Bangkok. But our worthy Consul
essayed to shine In another role, that Of POnti;
fer N1rimus. Not only did he claim control
the property, liberty, anu lie OF Ameflc ms
In secular al .irs. but lac claimed the authority
to arbitrate In spiritual things.
An American physician OF siam, wishing to
marry, went to the Consul ana asked him II he
would come To the residence OF tue brides
mother on tho eve Of the wedding, and In this
III inner give civil sanction to the marriage. Such
has been the custom OF former United States
Consuls, aud also tue custom of the Consuls Of
some other nation .litles. The Consul refused,
saying the parties must he married ia his ONCE
and by HIM. To this tho parties consented. in
nocently supposing that they could have re-
I ha do
large party Of guests were Invited but they
had ckoned without their host. Bride and
groom went down to the Consulate. The Consul
asked them II they had ring. They replied no.
Consul answered, " You cannot be married with
out ring Inc parties we're compelled
to the Consulate. hoping that the ceremony
would now be performed without any more
trouble. But they had reckonsd without their
host again. When the ceremony was about to
begin, the Consul asked them II they intended
the evening. They replied yes. The Consul re-
Piled lie would not permit II. IL they under
took anything OF the kind, he would arrest them
and the clergyman performing the CEREMONY"
And before he would proceed With the ceTe-
mony he made the groom promise he would
Amerioans, incensed at such usurpations, ad-
dressed a note to the Consul, asking him way
he had forbade a religious ceremony" His re-
ply was In harmony with the deed. lie said that
| Americans had no right to ask him any ques-
lions nor .rltcise his actions. 1t was AN In
SUIT 10 ms Consular dignity to do so.
Concerning the whisksy business the facts are
| briefly these The Consul sells TO Sianese,
| Chinese, or whomsoeyer Will buy, licenses giy.
ing them the right to sell liquors, and while In
| TN, nefarlous business they are under the pro-
| lection OF the American Government. The
| United states thus becomes the guardian of
| liquor sellers in siam. The American, however
| degraded be might be, could not but feel some
| sense OF shame to see tho hIg OF his country
| hOatlng over many whiskey boats and rum shops
| In siam. his money was pocketed by the Con-
sui lie took advantage Of a haw In tho treaty
| to enrich himself rob the siamess Of their reve-
nue. and the King OF his subjects.