The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-04-05

NJ ment in the islands
L. & is impossible with
J out the patient,
submissive, industrious Chinaman,
writes an American correspondent
from Manila.
The history Of these people in the
Philippines is long tale of tona-
cious struggle against opposing con-
ditions. No ono knows just when
these relations first began. Chinese
trade with the semi barbarous abor-
igines probably very greatly antedates
Spanish discovery and settlement.
Their position i'll the islands has al
ways been a peculiar one. They have
been tolerated rather than encouraged,
because Of manifest necessity for
their presence. They have never been
really welcome, never popular, always
regarded as thing apart, sort of
necessary evil. Again and again their
total expulsion has been considered,
and about the middle Of the eighteenth
century it was actually ordered, but
the order was suppressed. The COM
plant brought against the Chinaman
in the Philippines is the same as that
| too often heard in the States. He does
not form or become an integral part
of the social and political organism.
He is kind of commercial parasite,
or leech. He goes to another coun-
try than his own simply to make what
money he can out of that country, and
then return to his own land. He will
work cheaply and sell for narrow
margin. His patient industry, his
economy and thrift, are offensive
rather than otherwise to the indolent
and improvident native. The Filipino
would not do the work that John does,
but he clings to an ilea that John is
his industrial competitor, and, by
working at q cheaper rate, is taking
the bread out of his mouth. As con
sequence. John is not approved.
Throughout the islands the China
man is the general trader. His shop
is seldom much larger than n dry.
goods box, but he Grams lot of mer-
chandise into il. In many sections
he is tho middle man between the
producer and the English or Eu-
ropean trading house. He buys hemp,
copra, aud other products i'll small
lots, often takes them in trade by
barter for his wares. He stores his
hemp until he has bale or two,
which he may sell direct to the ex-
porter or turn over to compatriot
who deals on little larger scale than
himself. His general transactions are
on small scale, though here and
there one finds O Chinaman of very
extensive trade relations and large in
come. Such men, as a rule, are the
gatherers of the small lots picked up
by their ellow-countrymen. The
Chinese pack-peddler has also been n
feature in island life, and many of
them have lost both life and pack Mt
the hands of those with whom they
sought trade in outlying and isolated
sections. In certain way, John docs
not seem to have the pluck of a sheep.
But he will seek trade at the risk OF
his life among those who hate him.
and the Chinese litter-bearer Jogging
along in dangerous spots on the firing
line, seemingly Indifferent to bullets,
is well-recognized feature in mill
tary experience here. This apparent
temerity is probably less duo to cour-
age or pluck than it is to the fact that
the King of Terrors is less Of a buga-
boo to bin than to many of greater
physical and moral courage. His be-
lief in a blissful immortality seems to
be bit more firmly anchored than
that of the average Christian, and
death is An incident which does not
scare him as 1t does most of us.
John is shrewd trader, a clever
evader Of custom tariffs and an eco.
nomical merchant. Yet he is surpris
ingly honest in commercial transac-
tions. From the stocks displayed in
the Chinese shops in Manila, in Ilo'
lilo, in Jolo, in Zamboanga and in the
smaller cities of Luzon and Usaija
one might readily infer, probably with
correctness, that the Philippine trade
was chiefly in the hands of q few
: houses in Hong Kong aud Sinapore
There is a very noticeable sameness
! in the articles and patterns displayed
The Jolo store might almost as vel
be in San Fernando or Aparri and vic,
versa. This may be due in larg'
measure to certain conservativenesl
on the part OF the patrons. Certain
colors, certain wares aud certain pat
terms seem to be staple. Fashions dC
not change, as with MS.
The position OF the CLinaman il
the industrial aud agricultural life o.
the islands is probably one OF suprem,
Importance. He works patiently anC
persistently. He will work all th'
time, aud, ii necessary, endless hour
day. He eau be- counted on 70
eight hours, for ten hours por day
The Filipino cannot lie employ
his time to suit his own ideas, not T.
suit those OF his employer. Almoa
no reliance is to be placed upon him
That is one Of the things We have t.
teach him. HI has to learn that h
will be great deal happier ii he will
work himself half tD death for TIA
sake of getting n lot Of things that vii
not do him little bit Of good. IL
has 20 learn that lie is " hnt failur
unless ne has something better tina
his neighbor; that life is useless unles
spent in moiling aud toiling, carly an
late. o. course il is social heresy
but tho more see Of tropical race
the moro do ! wonder ii they reall
Inv. mt th. hnat NJ IL nftar nli