The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-12

seemed quite amused at the American idea Of an
interview, and freely answered all questions
Why did you leave AMMAN, Mr.. WongP
Because of French offcialism and tyranny.
One trouble was in relation to the Tonquin Gus
toms. For years the AnnameSe government has
leased sold the right to levy and collect duties
on exports and imports to the highest bidder
something similar, if have read Alright, to the
general farmers of France. English Hindu
stani Annamese and French have successfully
been awarded the customs contracts, but all
made failure. OF late years these contracts
have passed into the hands of a company of my
own countrymen, twelve in number, who nave
made large amounts therefrom. At the cut
break of the war we foresaw trouble and en-
deavored to make arrangements with the French
to preserve the status quo. This they diplo-
matically promised to do, but | have always
found that Christian diplomacy is but another
name for lying. The moment the French sue
ceeded they took sole charge of the customs.
There were eleven other Chinese merchants in
the company with me, and our aggregate losses
exceeded $1,000 O00
"A second outrage was even more high handed
than the first. 1t had been our policy for years
TO pass rice duty free, both as an export and i'm
port. It is a short-sighted public policy which
taxes food in any wise and especially in a coun-
try which, like AMMAN depends upon the crops
ana not upon manufactures. Suddenly, and with
out warning, the French levied war tax upon
all exports and imports of rice of Is per cent.
This may seem trifiing, but when you recall that
rice is the great staple in AMMAN, costing about
81 % per hundred weight; that hundreds of thou
sands, may say millions, live upon it, and that
the duty plus the cost of collection will increase
the price of rice at least thirty cents and that to
people whose daily income is four or five cents,
you viii see what an iniquitous measure the af-
fair was"
Will you return to Annamq'
think not; that is, not for some years.
There is vast field in the East for American
products, and a Chinese merchant can do far bet
ter than any one else. American sheetings are
In great demand in those lands. Petroleum and
Its products, many food products, axes and other
specimens of American inyentiveness will like
wise find ready markets Then, on the other
hand find that Americans are crawling out of
their barbarism into dim appreciation of our
household art. l think that can establish
successful business here in the importation of
artistic household goods"
BY the way, Mr. Wong what are the Black
Flags we read so much about during your late
WARP
Quite romance is involved. Some twenty
1ve years ago young man named Lew-Ye had
trouble with the tax gatherer in his province,
the mountains of Yuen Non and Si-Chuen,
and was obliged to fly. He became a
robber. When his army numbered 300
he marched south, invested and captured
the city Leong- Keong. Here he adopted small
black flag, and from that time on his forces have
been known as Black Flags At this place he
encountered famous robber prince, Wong Yen,
at the head of 10, 900 men. The 800 Black Flags
resisted the 10 900 for several years Then, after
fierce midnight battle, m which Lew-Ye routed
ms foes, he concluded a treaty of peace with
the Yiceroy of KwongL Lii in Southern China"
hat is the future of AnnamW
so long as French influence prevails there
viii be no progress. This will not be long, how
ever. The land is poor, the expense of main
tanning their power very great and the climate
fatal to Europeans. Only the Chinese under
stand the land and people and are able to stand
the climate. Before many years the French
will reiinquish their conquest and let it fall
back under the protection if not the government
of the Flowery Kingdom.