The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-06
T III Kin 1 D 81, siam i'm
.AbOliShesSlaVery


The 1Sly,g of Siam, who Is ono OF tho
most enlightened and progressive Of
.Aslntlo mOnnrcl,s and whose decree abol-
fishing legulizcd gambling IN Slam aroused
Wide Interest IN this country and Europe
Il few months ago, has taken another
forward step, md By u decree hns abnl.t
lslcd slavery within his donlnons.
| " The Prcsby terian Board of Foreign Mls-
sions, which conducts most OF tho mis-
sionhry work done In Siam, lins received
l3ntits offices In New York d copy OF
tho King decree. In substance 1t Is us
follows:
"Althongll slavery III our realm Is very
different from slavery us 1t has existed
In many other countries most slaves be-
a,n.E persons who haze become so voluh-
tarlly and not by force, nnd the powers
or the master over the slaye being strictly
llllnltcd-yet we have always considered
that tho Institution III this modified form
Is IN impeachment to the progress OF our
country. We have, therefore, from the
4 commencement Of our reign, taken steps,
/ by the enactment or laws una others for
1.-THE abolition OF slavery, notably by the
\ laws OF PEG Chnu Corresponding to tho
|, year 1874 OF the Christian ern)
Eve now deem II time to take moro
4 sweeping measures, which Will gradually
result III the entire disappearance OF
slavery from Slam and to that end wo
are pleased to dccree#as follows; 81 E a
/ -. This law shall be known MS the law
for tho abolition of slavery.
..2. This law shall come into force on
the list Of April throughout tho Kingdom
except III the Monthotis OF 13nynp and
Burupha. where we have already enacted
1 special laws on tho subject, and also
| except In the Monthon OF Saiburl and III
Iielaitan and rrlngganu, where the laws
of religion OF the people arc stu In
force lt8
20. All children born of parents who are
J slaves shall be free Without the eXecu-5
i ton OF the condition stated In the law
l2of Pee Chau.5i
"A No person now free can be made q
slave. If any person now q slave shall
4 hereafter become free. he cannot there
4 after again become 4 slave.
4 .5, Wherever Il person lis now held n
debt slave, tho master shall credit upon
4 thetprincIpal Of the debt for which he Is
| held n slave the sum OF "a ticals (about
| $3.50 United States currency for each
| month after the 1st OF April, provided
| that no credit shall be allowed for any
tine during which The slave may desert
his master. 58
TO If II slave changes his master, no
4 increase shall be made In the debt Tor
(, which he Is actually held; that Is TO say,
when tho slave Is transferred from ono
4 master to another, he can be held by inc
4 new master only for the amount OF tho
4 dcbt actually due the old master at the
4 time OF the transfer.
4 While slavery In Siam IL SAID ~ tho!so
who have visited that country TO nave nave
j nothing like the bad effects associated
with the practice In other countries, yet
/ this decree Of tho SIamcso King IS taken
~ another evidence OF his desire TO make
OF siam the model Aslatic country, not
i carnf,IIly studies conditions in other lands,
i ma is uuick to adopt new customs mat
i seem likely to Improve the condition OF me
i people OF. his own country, and IS , nfso
4 ready to abolish long standing customs
when he is convinced that they are de1rt-
4 ments to Slams progress