New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-27
PEOPLE AND THINGS IN CHINA.
CHINESE FEELING ABOUT THE INDEMNITY
FEATURES OE CANTON.

CHINESE FEELING ABOUT THE INDEMNITY
FEATURES OF CANTON.
TFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
CANTON, April 1S.-The feeling in China in
regard to the outrages the Chinese In America Is
deem and widespread Chinese and resident foreigners
Americans and Europeans, agree that the refusal to
make just indemnity q stain on the national honor
OF America When few years the European settle
ment at Canton was partly looted the claims were
promptly paid-in many cases overpaid; the Chinese
Government did all in It's power to
make than good tho losses. Inc
Chinese method would be the speedy conviction and
execution OF all Implicated in the outrages. and
that their claims left 10 the slow and benevolent
consideration Congress Is calculated to Impress
them with the spirit OF American fairness "Why' Sir
said an American to me. man In the Chinese Depart
ment Customs, "my homo Is here and my Interests
but should be given twenty four hours TO leave the
country dating from midnight Tonight, could not say
a word in protest should only be securing fair treat
ment as an American" That the present attitude OF
our Government doing harm TO our inter
ests in China is certain Tho English ana
German Uhe latter power in China see
a chance to obtain control OF foreign
trade that they slow to improve The action OF
the United States will largely determine what Will be
our in the improvements that arc to be made In
China in the coming years Railways are To be Dnit
mines to opened up and Am rican manufacturers are
less some change is MADE in treatment OF the
Chinese The American merchants In Hong Kong AMI
Canton feel this and not slow In speaking their
minds. Unless these American merchants are
all the refusal of comparatively small sum now
VIII a national wealth OF many times the
sum in the years to Should there be downright
refusal to pay this claim American influence will bid
long farewell to China. It will be III the policy OF tho
Chinese Government WORKING against American products
that we shall suffer.
Having rainy day to spare have spent part OF 1t In
a visit 10 the Government prison. Why the inmates re-
main longer than they wish Is puzzle have yet
sovc for getting seems the easiest thing In the
world. A small fee to the man In charge took us all
about the place. I but guard. and hc was
sound asleep with an outfit for smoking opium beside
him. There only locked door. and that hard
push would have demolished The prisoners had chains
about their feet, and permitted to roam about
They playing cards and smoking. and seemed to be
getting much pleasure on. OF life rs did tho world
outside They all wanted "cunshaw," and, as one
can get thousand aud fifty "cash for Mexican dol
lar, one can feel ike a prince throwing hand
fuls OF money for little actual expense
any place earth solid pocketfui
OF coin FOR an American twenty hve.cent piece
Gagged by themselves, with a collar made OF
their necks: these the only ones who could not
have departed when they were tired OF confinement
The wonens department was in the same style - that OF
the men, and they TOO looked As II thry ad Iouna cum
Portable place and wanted TO keep It Every day or TWO
few prisoners decapitatd and thus the prison Is
kept from being Overcrowded. .
ihe court was in session far away and We walked
in how justice is administered here one man was
heng examined by the Mandarin and four or five more
were being Tortured The guide told us that they no
the truth Of whose testimony the judge
not MouG satisfied rract e Ill., s TS Sf"G torture
was simple. plank is placed on end. and at the top
and bottom two other pieces of wood are fastened at
right angles maEing frame something like carpen-
first beaten TO make them tender; then placed in
kneeng
him and kept there by string which Is tied about each
thumb and then drawn mp tan the string being sus-
cords hold his feet being fastened tightly to the great
lin and held in the ar"t6e weight of the BODY Of
coming partly the tender knee and partly on the
hind his head. and through this the cue
Ia drawn and fastened TO little windlass; this
being slowly revolved not too pleasant result of pulled
Is obtained Fearful the yci4 OF one or those
nothing would. Two OF tho softly groanlng
and others had faces like stoics and not murmer
came from them They evidently believed that lie
well stuck to good rs the truth. The sight was
not ana we cS a" China Ts ne,ho Of
law makers for It is sad to bring about the required
suit If Kept up long enough The only nw seems to be
that the Mandarin acne has To ne satisfied. ana IL Is
Just possible that he might be mistaken at times.
The collecting OF coins has a temporary fascination for
visiting foreigner No coin In China is ever called In
ana the coinage remains The same as when rst issued
about SIX centuries before Christ The Chinese word for
current money" and the Of the emperori whose
reign coined each piece The coin Is cast,
not stamped and square hole facility hand
ling number beng strung bit OF bamboo our |
consul latey took about huudred-nOt picked coins,
but which his servants Were buying articles
from day 10 day-and had them classified By a man
versed in the history Of the Chinese dynasties These
dated from 300 b. &. to the present reign. have
one issued about time OF the Roman
quest hut showing little signs OF its The
characters Oh one side, but the reverse
PLAIN II II had been only few years out OF tho
mint. Al time n small business was done IN coins
by clever foreigners, 700 being exchanged for silver
dollar In part Of Empire and IL 100 III another.
BY huying district and selling I'm another fairly
good interest made but those times are gone and
coin now has approximately the same value all over
China.
lately something OF the boat life OF Canton
and very queer That such mass OF humanity can
he backed into the space the boats In hard To
understand. They get along much better with ono
another than one would suppOse-watng their turn to
get out Of jam without the Bngsgate that Jam 10
apt 10 bring forth elsewhere saw Que or two cases
where naturally sweet temper seemed to
be rGfed little but II was soon over
large family viii occupy few feet of space. living
ealing sleeping IN spot small to fairly breathe In.
They tie float TO the boy babies. and II they fall
board they safe. The girls saved II convenient
ilzation learn their power The boy is bread win
ner and Its life IL valuable. The smaller portion OF the
family they put along the keel under the floor at nights
ift board and there yOul hnd them packed IN II
sardin"s IN box. For all their crowding and what
must he life Of hardship and discomfort the babies
looked chubby and the older members of the family
healthy and In spirits II they lived with
"A few acres OF green meadow about each family.
- ---------------
THE CITY.