The Washington critic., 1886-05-11
THE COOLIE TRADE.
One Point Wherein "The Critic" !
Said to be in Error.


Enron CRTTo: No one who has person
ally witnessed the practical operation OF the
slave and coolle trades side by side will for
moment hesitate to pronounce the former
as infinitely more cruel than the latter. The
principle of ownership had its natural
effect on the care aud preservation OF the
property. In reviewing the system IL IA as
well to preserve Its vocabulary, repugnaut
though the idea OF proprietorship In the
persons OF our fellow-mon has now become
to the great mass Of our people. Before the
civil war slave labor and coolie labor were
In simultaneous operation In the Island of
Csba, and the working OF each was familiar
to the Government OF the United States.
The slave trade with the African coast sup
piled the material for one to an extent
which may be inferred from the fact that
there was no increase OF the slave popula-
tion Of the island by birth, the aggregate OF
It's sum being kept up by direct importa-
ton, notwithstanding the efforts OF the
English and American squadrons on the
fatal coast. '-H FN
But while the English were violent IN and
out OF season In their denunclation of
slavery in the United States, and while their
policy to prevent the supply Of black labor
to the Spanish West India islands was Wig.
orously carried out by their naval officers,
the British Government was conveniently
blind to the more cruel substitute, the
coolie trade, which gave direct profit to
English merchantmen. The United States,
on the other hand, was quick to recognize
that the substitution OF the coolie system
for the slave system was but change in the
form Of serfdom.
In your editorial leader OF May on
"Our Relations with Chinan you review
the legislation OF the United States on the
coolle question aud the action under that
legislation, and say that .'the statute OF
1862, which defined the coolie trade never
was enforced" This is broad statement,
aud, you will no doubt admit, erroneous.
IL calnot bc denied that the statute has
been evaded, but IL was on one notable oc-
casion at least enforced in manner
which left no doubt OF its efficacy.
The Coolie trade was In full operation In
TIE year 1867, when General Legendre,
Consul Of the United States at Annoy, made
first effort to enforce the United States
Statute. An American citizen, resident at
Annoy, engaged in the Cooie trade. was ar
rested on the charge Of recruiting Coolies
for the French ship La Verge. Brought be.
fore the Consul he was tried, convicted,
fined and imprisoned. The effect of this
energetic action was to break up the trade
in Southern China. Had the agents of the
United States in Hong Kong been equally
diligent in the enforcement OF the salutary
statute tie odious trailic would have ceased
then and there. The curious may find full
account Of the manner In which the law OF
lse2 was made operative in Southern China
IN the report Of Consul Legepdre to the
State Department, Commercial Relations
Of the United States for 1871 Washington,
1872, pages 81 and So
The same government must perforce
hold, but a slack rein over their agents in
these distant countries of the Orient 1t
would not be amiss IL the State Department
should occasionally send a well-informed
commissioner to examine personally into
these and similar concerns. j. A. s.