Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-25
sohE QUESTIONS FOB EASTERN JOUR.
MAILS.

Our Eastern friends who think the Chi
nese viii make good citizens and consti-
tute 4 useful element in the order of our
civilization, should read our local accounts
of the past few days of the rescue from the
most herrible of all states of human
slavery Of two Chinese women. 1t was
shown before competent Courts that these
two wretched beings have been repeatedly
bought and sold, for sums varying from
$500 10 $500 each That they were
owned more absolutely than the slave of
the old South, since he at least had the
liberty of entering into the state of matri-
mony, and at least was protected by the
law, in some respect, from the inhumanity
Of the master. He al. least could entertain
the nope of freedom in the ultimate of life
or of rest from labor
Bat in the cases of the two women who
were seized by the United States Commits
sioner to protect them from their masters,
bhere existed no glimmer of hope, and not
solitary mitigating circumstance to
soften the rigors of their bondage. They
were used solely for the purposes of prosti-
tuition. They were compelled in this re-
spect to do the bidding of their owners
They had not even the poor privilege of
receiving the wages of their shame, or any
part thereof. They were liable to be
logged, were kept constantly under guard,
were fought over like any chattels. and
were the merest helpless instruments of
greed and lust. They sought the protection
OF Commissioner of the United States of
America, whereupon their masters appealed
to all possible processes Of the State law
to regain possession of them, but thus far
have failed. On habeas corpus the women
testified that they were not restrained of
their liberty; that they had willingly ac-
cepted the protection of the officer; that
they were slaves, unwilling prostitutes and
desired 10 abandon their degraded habits.
Ia spite OF this declaration, the contest for
their possession continues. and if their
masters regain control of them, it will be
10y The AID of laws enacted for free men
and free women, and by the people of this
state Tor the protection of human rights
At the trial, the Courthouse was denselv
packed with Chinese, who fairly fought to
force the women from the possession of the
0.iieers. This crowd of Mongolians openly
and within the walls Of the halls of Justice
threatened to asSassinate those who have
beiriended these miserable slaves.
We invite the attention Of our Eastern
contemporaries and brethren to the facts
in the cases. We have fairly stated them.
There are no Others known to the officers
o. the law than these two, to wit: two wo-
men ask to be left to go their way I'M
m0lested; a gang of Chinese slave dealers
appea! to the law OF the land for orders
that will place these women within their
power. Now let us suppose these cases at
tae East, and that instead of Chinese hui
man beings, the victims are two American
women. Let us suppose them TO seek
Liberty iTom the restraint of men who
hire them out for prostitution and
keep them IN actual bondage and help
les tn free themselves. Let us suppose
that John Jones, of New York, had paid
She round sum of 81 500 to VIM. Brown. of
Boston, for a white woman, Mary Smith
That he placed Mary in house of i'll
fame, hung sign at the door that his
slave was at command of the lecherous for
a given sum; that he collected the fee.
like any other door-keeper, and by threat
and intimidation and personal violence,
forced Mary to accede, she being, by train
ing and tradition so cowed as to be incap-
able OF resistance, ignorant of her rights
and believing that John had the right to
buy her and William the right to sell
her. Suppose now that Mary learns after
some time residence in New York, that
John has no property right in her person
Sh IS she is free TO so and come as she
wis. That thereupon she escapes and
fees to a United States Commissioner in
New York for protection, and the United
S.ltes Marshal for New York, by order of
the Commissioner, affords her shelter.
oppose now that Jones pursues Mary,
swsars out writ of habeas corpus, alleg-
ing that the officers restrain her of her
liberty. That Mary, in open Court, on the
hearing, declares she is not so restrained.
tdat the writ being dismissed. John Jones.
backed by three or four hundred of his
X nd, threaten to murder the men and
" men who advise Mary of her rights
John then files complaint and brochures
warrant for the arrest of Mary. for
laresny, charging her with having unlaw-
fu " taken away the clothing or iewelry
Oh her person, it being his property. That
Mary is thereupon arrested and placed in
prison, and that John and his friends at
this juncture file a bail bond for Mary, and