The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-30

oners In the barraeoons at Macao, and
that they were even kept in solitary
confinement "Out Of every ten China
men," the report states. "eight or nine
were taken to Cuba against their will"
AS proof Of a still lower depth OF this
infamy, the Commissioners found IN
Cuba some twelve persons OF of1iclal
position and literary rank in the Chi,
nese Empire, who were condemned
against their will to hard labor in the
fields and mental service in houses IN
the rural districts.
The report and the corroborative doc
uments also prove that during the Voy-
age.from China to Cuba the colonlsts
we're treated as slaves, and subjected 20
such cruelty that many. In Despair,
cast themselves into the sea. Inc PIC
ture Of the misery and filth, In Whien
they are huddled together IKE cattle;
and of the scantiness OF the 1000 doled
out to them. makes one shudder. LIZ is
the opinion Of the commissioners tnat
one OF every ten colonists dies on the
passage.
Cuba" the report goes on to state, his
services are sold at a far higher figure
than the price OF his transportation,
the rate ruling between $4oo and
$1,000. The salary paid 70 them
is 80 insignificant that, relatively to
the prices Of the necessar1es OF lie
in Cuba and China, it is less than
what the colonist would earn by any
class of labor in his native country.
Witnesses testified that the colonists
were forced to work on Sundays and
holidays, and for longer time than the
ten hours stipulated in the rules. When
contracts expire, the Cinnamon are OBJ
liged to re-engage themselves under
pain of being put to labor like convicts
on the municipal or government works,
and this outrage Is repeated at the ex-
piration of their second contract.
| Suicides and violent deaths are pre-e
istence. or the 10000 Cinnamon who
have landed in Cuba since 1S47, not
| GO, 900 survive.
The treaty for voluntary emigration
was made In 1864, and since that date
over 30 900 colonists have died in Cuba.
When the com missioners met to study
the case. the Chinese government in
sisted, as O preliminary condition, that
Spain should, at her own expense, re-
store to their native country all the
Cinnamon of literary and official rank
before referred to; and as Spain con
sented to 1t, it was determined that this
should be done.
| Then the Emperor's government pre-
sented plan OF settlement with Spain,
by which it was stipulated that q Con-
sulate- General of China should be es-
tablished in Havana; that the emigra-
ton should be voluntary in fact; that it
should be limited to such ports OF the
Empire as were open to foreign COM
merce: that the contracts should
| be made in Havana instead OF
| in China, and in presence OF the ABOVE
mentioned Chinese consul. Inc Chl-
pese government also insisted that
higher rate Of pay than what had pre-
viously ruled should be inserted IN the
contracts: that the term OF service be
be reduced; that at the expiration OF
the term OF service the colonists should
be allowed to remain in Cuba, IL they
wished to do so, without the obligation
Of re. engaging their services or OF work
ling on public works, the Cinnamon Civ
ing proper security for their good be,
haviOr, and that the persons who hired
them should deposit at the consulate
the price of their return passage to
China; and lastly, further measures OF
protection were demanded from Spain
which should be valid and subject to the
approval Of the government OF Pekin.
After many conferences and plans
seem to have been arrived at. The Chi
ncse government exacts, as proof OF
Spain's good faith, that she restores tx
their country thousands OF ChinameI
whose first contract has expired. Which
Spain declined to do.
The appointment Of a new Spanish
!. Minister to China has tended to della.
the negotiations. The practical result
appears to be a rupture between the tW'
governments. Should such be the case
|, It is not impossible that Spain, abusin,
! her naval strength, may annoy the com
paratively defenseless inhabitants 9
,, the coasts Of China; but the Asiati
: slave trade can never be revived, an
this last Spanish atrocity will be for
ever ended.