The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1904-03-23
COOLIES IN TRRNSvAAL.
Parliament Divided on Question
Of Importation.

Premier Said That Chinese Labor Was
the Only Means of Preventing Com.
mercial Crisis = Anglican Bishop
Defended Cinnamon From Charge
of immortality.
London, March 22-In the house oil
commons the Liberal leader, Sii
Henry Campbell.Bannerman, moved
his vote of censure, presented March
16, to the effect that this house dis.
approves the conduct of his majesty's
government in advising the crown moi
to disallow the ordinance for the in
PRODUCTION of Chinese labor in the
sransvaal"
Sir Henry said nothing the govern.
ment had done since the close Of the
South African war had so sorely tried
the people of this country as its sane
tion of the introduction of Chinese la
Dor into South Africa 1t was impos
sible to conceive a greater departure
from the principles by which Great
Britain hitherto had made her way in
the world than the importation Of
aliens as the bondsmen of mining
spectators.
The Liberal leader thought nothing
but averting a positive catastrophe
could justify the Chinese labor ordi.
nance. At the time of the war the
government declared it was waged in
the interests OF white labor but the
British workman was now being
snuffed out by the Chinaman. 1t was
the biggest scheme for human dump
ing since the middle passage" was
abolished.
Sir Henry put stress on the pro
vision to the effect that any one har
boring a deserting Chinaman wouli
be treated as a receiver of stolen
goods. If this did not constitute
slavery, he said, the difference was
indistinguishable
Colonial Secretary Lyttleton, reply
ing, Indignantly repel!ed the allega
tion that the government was favor
ing slavery. The government, he as
serted, had been guided by the over
whelming sentiment in the Transvaa
in favor of Chinese labor and the
economic necessity therefor The
ministry had adopted the only alter
native, to bridge the transition period
until the blacks had increased suffi
ciently to fill the demand for uu
skilled labor The government was
well aware that the policy would be
unpopular.
Defending Cinnamon against the
charge of immortality, Mr. Lyttletor
read letter from the bishop of Brit
ish Columbia saying that the China
men were in no way debauched com
munity but lived quietly and soberly
There was no evidence that they i'm
ported new or despicable vices.
The prosperity of British Columbia
and California, Mr.. Lyttleton asserted
was based on gold mines won by
Asiatic labor.
Major John Edward Seely, who
hitherto has been a consistent support
er of the government, said he be
lieved the importation of Chinese la
Dor would render the Transvaal i'm
possible as a white mans country
He announced therefore he had ten
dered his resignation because he die
not think it fair that he should vote
against the government without Civ
ing his constituents an opportunity o.
turning him out If they did not ap
prove Of his action.
Mr. Balfour in opposing the resolu
ton, said it was a question whether
the Transvaal should be allowed tc
go through a grave commercial crisis
rather than admit Chinese labor Lib
eral governments, he said, had in the
past legalized the importation of such
labor for British colonies and the op
position was now reaping the benefit
of the evils which their own party haC
produced.
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman'E
motion was rejected, 209 to 2i2.
Urgent whips of all parties had Sc
cured big attendance and many o.
the Irish members had hurried from
Dublin.
In the division Is Unionist members
including Winston Churchill, alb
stained from voting SiXty-fve Ma
tionalist members voted against tht
government, the majority for whict
was rather larger than any in the sew
eral recent critical divisions. The re
suit was received with cheers.