New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29

fore best calculated defend the country against
| an advance from Tonquin and Cambodia Inc
English. on the other hnnd, tried TO persuade
His Majesty that TO let the Germans in would
merely aggravate French hostility and invite an
attack, and they showed him the great advantages
to he gained hy british alliance on account OF the
proximity Of the British Empire in Burmah and
India I'm the end His Majesty disregarded all
these arguments and announced that a concession
for the initial trunk line Of railway would he
given to the lowest responsible bidder. As a
result Of the competition an English company
won and it is now at work building the line from
this city - Korat
The next step in the industrial development Of
Siam will probably be "A sweeping reform i'll the
system If mining concessions. Hitherto the
system has been a very slipSho1 and in some re-
rccts scanGalous one. Foreigners have been al
lowed TO 90 at will through the country prospect
ing. Often they have carried on elaborate en-
riortons and experiments at great expense. They
have found valuable mineral deposits market out
their mircS and male maps Of the district. Then
they Evc returned TO the capital and asked for
specific grant OF rights 20 operate the mines. The
Government has taken the maps and papers locke
over them and fled them away, and positively
refused 10 grant any concession whatever, or
neglected 10 do so, which amounts to the sane
thing Such a policy has tended 10 discourage
prospecting in Siam, except in cases. which are not
nfrequent, where concessions have been gained
in advance by corrupt means. Sometimes, too.
the Government has granted concessions recklessly
to irresponsible spectators or to persons that had
some claim against il which could thus he dis
charged. The King is now convinced that all this
must be reformed. an that concessions for mining
other operations must henceforth he granted
with discretion and with Justice.
A few of the foreign residents have again started
agitation for the abolition OF slavery, which
is not likely to effect much. There is no doubt
that slavery is a greet evil in Siam rs elsewhere.
Put the INDECENT and easy going disposition Of the
people makes it difficult matter 10 deal with.
slavcry exists htrc not DIS slavery, pure AMI
simple, but result of the laws in relation 10
debt creditor can al any time seize his debtor
and, il the latter cannot discharge his obligations
In full and at once, make him a slave and keep
him in chains for the rest OF his life, or until his
relatives or friends pay his debts for him. The
cnsaved debtor himself cannot pay the debts. In
no case docs his labor more than pay the interest
on them. No matter how long or how faithfully
he works for his master, he cannot discharge a
fraction of the principal. In case debtor alb
seconds his nearest relatives may be seized and en-
shaved in his steal The slaves are Invariably
treated with Kindness and no objection can be made
to the system on the score Of cruelty No ono ever
hears of slave being overwoIke1, and it often
happens that mastcr finding some OF his debtor
slaves TO he so lazy that they are not worth keep
ing, instead of fogging them and forcing them to
work harder, simply gives them their freedom
again. The slaves are also free from TAXATION So
ii cones to pass that very large proportion of |
the population are perfectly willing to be cnsaved
Mon debit rock sly nd mn Ec off
to pay oil their Indebtedness, but are entirely |
willing to he seized ami cnsavcd The greatest |
evil of this system is, therefore, in the fact that
IL encourages shiftcssness and mprovilence an So /
the Industrial life Of the nation. The /
remedy for il will be found in the growth Of |
foreign enterprises. Europeans settling here hire /
lhincsc and Malay laborcrs, who are better |
" oriierS than the INDECENT Sianc-e. II will |
presently, therefore. lie found that free labor is
actually cheaper and more effective than slave
labor and the latter will give place TO the former
The present King. as already stated. is d WISE
LIBERAL and progressive ruler although his govern
nent is an absolute dcspotism His father used 10
ride himself on being a constitutional monarch, |
ubiect in all affairs Of State to the decisions Of |
lis Council Of Ministers. But this King claims the !
light Of absolute authority. and he exercises it |
Without dispute. There is no thought Of agitat-
NJ for constitutional forms for limiting the
Royal prerogative Nor docs any think OF con-
piring against the stability Of the throne or the
PERSONAL safety Of lis occupant Tie King may 90
where lie will. about Bangkok in the rcmotcst
'illages of his realm. absolutely alone and I'M
guarded. with perfect safety There is not n hand
Il all the kingdom that would be turned against
lim. Nor does any one think Of asking him 70
'hange thc form Of government in any respect
or thing the Sianlesa troll cd
With affairs az they are: that is they are too
'asy minded 10 cherish such an energetic feeling as
liscOntent And then il would br very bad |
Torm' to suggest 10 their monarch that everything
s not Just az right as right can bc. Undoubtedly ,
he King would he very glad 70 make various re-
Orms If lie were asked 10 do So or il the need "
hem were brought to his attention. But no one
sill reform this service for him and he can only
make changes when he finds out bv personal in
that they are needed. He makes such
Investigations whenever he can But il is impos-
ble for one man 10 acquaint himself with every
hing that is going on and find out everything that
$ needed by the people His Majesty has on many
occasions Of late followed the timc-honorcd cx-
mple of the Caliph OF Baglad. and has wandered
bout the streets Of the city. by night and by day,
disguised now and then as an ordinary citizen and
low and then as a workingman. making ohscrva-
ions and taxing notes. III this work he has met
With many curious experiences and has learned
much Of the life and the actual needs of his people,
md as n result some really important reforms have
>ccn instituted. There those who charge him
With insinccrity. or who say that he is merely
,laying at civilization a child would play with
IN amusing toy. But to those who best in
ormcd il seems certain that he is thoroughly in
arrest in his efforts to improve the condition OF
is kingdom, and it seems reasonable 10 expect that
fore long Siam will take rank by the side Of
Japan as an Oriental nation that has suddenly
isen to newness Of life and begun 10 keep step
With the march Of the Western civilization
THE HOUSE WELL PROTECTED.
A West Fify-secondst. man retired from business