Evening star., 1900-05-26

of which "a, 600 are infantry and G,OO0 are
artillery and cavalry. OF this army two
thirds are natives. and only sone-third is
European The commisstsned ofticers, num-
bering 1,42s. are all Dutch The non-com-
missioned officers are natives. Pensions
are given after twelve years of service. or
If the soldier is wounded. The native troops
are almost all from Java and the neighbor-
ing island of Amboyna. They are consid-
cred faithful, and seldom. II ever, has there
been any trouble with them. Certain pre-
cautions are taken. however, as. for in
stance, the stationing of natives from East
Java in West Java, and of those from West
Java in East Java and the Moluccas. AS
the natives from the different parts of Java
are not on very friendly terms there is
thought to be little danger of the native
troops joining in any insurrection.
The rule which forbade the natives to
learn the Dutch language no longer exists
and Dutch Is taught to those who can
afford to learn it. The natives are SO poor
that the majority cannot spare the time to
learn Dutch. A very small percentage Of
them can read or write.
IThe American policy in the Philippines
In respect to instruction in English is clear
ly to follow the example set by the British
in their colonies Of encouraging III every
way the learning by the natives OF the Ian
guage Of the governing nation, and to avoid
the policy of the Spanish In the Philippines
and formerly of the Dutch in Java. which
kept the natives as far as possible I'm ig-
norance of the language Of their white
Iulers]
Javn's Labor for the Javanese.
Coolie labor is performed almost entirely
by the Javanese at a very low rate, 500
per day in the interior and 5000 per day in
the cities. Chinese coolies are unknown in
Java.
There is no law protecting Javanese
against Chinese competition, but the condi-
tions Of labor and the restrictions upon the
Chinese are such as to furnish practical
protection.
Javanese labor is so cheap that 1t has
nothing to fear from the Chinese or any
body, especially when It is considered that
the government strains through sieve
proposed immigrants into Java and heavily
taxes those Chinese who are permitted to
come.
There are about quarter million Of Chi
nese in Java. as against 25.00O, 600 Javanese.
They are engaged almost universally in
commercial pursuits, though some in East
Java run sugar plantations under seventy
fve-year leases. They control very largely
the retail trade.
The Chinese are treated as natives, so far
as the courts and penalties are concerned
that is, they have no consul in Java-but
even when they born here they are not
treated natives In the enjoyment of the
communal right to cultivate land No east
ern nation people has consul here
cept Japan and European Turkey, and the
Turkish consul has no jurisdiction over the
Arabian population. The status of the half
caste Is determined by that Of the father.
The Chinese are compelled to live in spe-
cal quarters assigned them, like other east
ern strangers, which further restricts them.
But the great safeguard lie in the rigid
inspection of every newcomer into Java,
and the requirement of permission even
to breathe the air of the island and of a
probationary period. followed by second
permission to live in and do business here.
The government thus has at hand fiex-
ihle exclusion law. 1t excludes any one
who may possibly become a charge upon
the government. and there is no review Of
Its assigned reason for exclusion or appeal
from its decision.
I asked what would happen If the Chi
nese In large numbers should come into
Java. and Mr.. Valetti replied that they
would be shipped back to Singapore as
lacking means of support.
In all minor matters the Chinese here are
governed by their own laws, administered by
their own chiefs, who are appointed by the
government. The head Chinese official Is
called the major of the Chinese, who has
under him captains and lieute2ants. The
Chinese are burdened with taxation to the
limit OF their endurance.
THEODORE w. MOVES.
CTo be continued)