The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-04-16
SLAVERY IN CHINA.
MS an rsrzILrerxcrn Correspondent

To the people of the Pacific coast.
who have bad special opportunity to
get an insight into the peculiar GUS
toms of the Chinese, and to examine
the secret springs tia. control their
government ard society, II will be no
surprise to learn that direct proof OF
the most positive kind has come 10 the
surface showing that slavery, in its
most barbarous forms. exists in China
under the sanction and protection of
her laws. That the cursed system
has been planted on our shores in de-
fisnce OF our laws, by this heather
horde, aud is being nursed and nourisb.
ed by o hoodwinked Government whose
wa.chword is Free iom.' are painful
truths only too familiar to every iWel-
ligent citizen Of the Pacific coast, and
facts, to the recital of which. those in
power have ever turned deaf ear. in
Difference to silly sentimantalism that
pictures the heart Of Q heather too in
nocent for guilt But at last the man.
tie is lifted, and the fostering Carcass
exposed in q way that must strike con-
y;ction to the mind of the most incred.
ulous. Mr. Bailey, Consul General ut
Shanghai. has been investigating the
subject. and has recently transmitted
the result of his researches to the Sec
rotary OF State, which has been laid
before Congress in compliance with the
request of that boiy.
Mr. Bailey says it is now settled that
slavery exists aud ever has existed as
m essential feature of the Chinese poll
itical aud social systems. The report
sets forth that slavery existed in the
earliest period, either arising from war
and conquest or springing entirely
from the organization Of the Chinese
family system. The patriarchal family
system gives the head Of family alb
solute power over every member, Z and
makes him the arbiter ct the liberty
and lives OF ell tho members He may
chastize. mortgage. sell. and even kill
any or all Of them. The maxim 10 that
'as the Emperor should have the care
OF father for his people the father
should have the power OF . sovereign
over his family 1t has become the
custom for the poor to mortgage or sell
their children to the rich in great mum.
bers. E 81 Parker. OF the British Con-
sulsr Service. estimates that fifty per
cent. of all the families Of China have
children that have been acquired from
other families by adoption or purchase.
A man sometimes sells his son, and
even himself and his wife, at very
moderate price, but If he can he chooses
to pawn his family only.
There are four distinct classes Of
slaves in China. First, the slaves OF
the imperial household; second, concu-
hines; third, slaves held Tor labor;
fourth. slaves held for tho purpose of
prostitution. The first class are the
euLuchs and used exclusively in the
imperial families. The Emperor has
3eU0. The secnnd class is q numerous
one. every man who is able to buy or
maintain them having one. or more
concubinos. Il is estimated that OF the
entire number of female children born
in certain provinces 10 per cent. are
thus disposed Of. The third class =
general slaves = is also numerous. fc-
males prspcnderating. A section of
thSlr Code provides that slave guilty
OF addressing abusive language to his
master shall suffer death by strangiins,
aud slave soliciting aud obtaining the
daughter Of free man shall be pun
ished in the same manner. The fourth
disappointment large one form
ing considerable per cent. OF the
whole population. Mr. Bailey also
transmits . translated copy Of section
ass of tue Penal Code Of Cnins, rela.
tive to the remuneration of allegiance,
which declares THAI ''all persons re-
nouncing their country and allegiance
. or devising the means thereof. shall be
heheAasd; and in the punishment al
this offence no distinction shall be made
between principals aud sccessories.
The property OF all such persons shall
be con6scat-d and their wives and
children distributed as slaves to the
. great officers OF the State. The parents,
grand parents. brothers and grand :
children Of such criminals. whsthrr
habituslly living with them under the
same root Or not. shalt bs perpetualiy
banished to the distance OF e.00G
leagues" This agrees with Article
of the Burlingame Treaty which says
"Tha United States and the Empsror
Of China cordially recognize the in
hsreat inaliensbis right al man q
change HE home and al.egiancer'
In alludlng to thcss various enclos.
ures. Mr. Bailey psrtinently inquiries il
It 10 not worth while to query wholher
Chinese emigration to the United
States il not thus shown 10 have in ia
every ineament the taiut Of human
slavery." The patriArchal organiza,
tioa Of society in china 10 such as &
make the enforcement OF slavery cas-,
and effective; and the ignorance and
superstition OF the subiects render
them no less subssevient TO tho will Of
their mast.rs in foreign lands. Judg-
ing from the results OF thirty sever
years' experience BY the British aushor
tiles in Hongkong. there Is vitality and
strength enough in the Chinese family
law aud in the system OF Chimes
slavery to enable them to defy foreign
laws ana courts. eyen ia foreign coun
srian