The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-22
SLAVERY OF CHINESE GIRLS.
Rev. Charles E. Locke Discourses Flo
quently on the Subject.

Rev. Charles Edward Locke addressed
a large audience at Metropolitan Temple
last evening. His subject was Back to
Jesus" The sermon contained an earnest
protest against the slavery of Chinese
girls in San Francisco. In part he said:
There is a slave dealers association in China
town engaged in the atrocious business OF i'm
porting Chinese girls. These girls are 10 to IL
years of age, and are either KIDNAPPED ana
brought forcibly to this country, or they are
pawned by their parents, who have been driven
by dire poverty to dispose of their children to
secure food to eat. They are landed in this
country Illegally and instead of finding good
husbands awaiting them, as they are often
promised by the demons who deceive them,
they are plunged into life of infamy and
shame compared with which death Is infinitely
more preferable.
belong 10 this slave dealers association.
These girls are bought and sold like chattels,
that the sale of children is continually taking
place There is a little child now in one OF
the missions of this city who was sold for $loo
when she ten months old to pay her fath,
err doctor bill Many of these children and
girls who are thus sold born in this city.
and hence we have the disgraceful anomaly of
allowing prospective citizens of the United
States to be sold into slavery-contrary TO the
law and sentiment OF the entire nation It Is
outrage which loyal people cannot permit 10
continue without shame ana crime. 1ney ar. are
sold at from $1,000 to $1,000. They are often
most cruelty treated have been known to have
been kicked to death by their bestial owners.
and though they known to die, yet l have
been told by Christian workers in Chinatown
that there never any funerals among them
and never any death certificates.
II costs about $500 TO land girl in San Fran
cisco. 1t is positively asserted that the Chinese
cannot carry the business in all of its de-
tails without the aid of American lawyers.
watchmen and others. Some of debased
fellow citizens are thus engaged in this loath-
some business and because of the large sums
of money expended 1t is declared that political
parties have been criminally involved in this
evil, and one time certain Custom-house
officers were known to be in league with the
highbinders' society.
We ought to be actively opposed to this crime
against these Oriental women out of sheer
sefshness for it is reported that large num-
bers of American boys and young men
frequent visitors of these places of vice We
may be ii do not denounce and de
stroy this evil 1t will react upon our homes and
upon government.
There are more than a hundred disreputabe
houses in Chinatown. 1t is almost Impossible
have interested themselves in divulging the
methods of the slave dealers and the importa-
ton of these poor girls has been much reduced.
but these young men have much incensed
those whose business has been injured that
offers as high as $1,000 II IS said have been
made for the heads of these brave young men,
and they may be aSsassinated at any moment.
Fellow citizens, not criminally
lethargic in permitting these frightful and
abomnabe attractions of the law The courts
and Police Department, backed by pillows of
public sentiment, greatly reduce and by
and by eradicate these infamous wrongs. In
the name of God let US call upon those In au-
thority TO do their whole duty.