A CHINESE PUZZLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3827, 22 October 1883, Page 4

A CHINESE PUZZLE.

Ah Cluing is the name of an obstinate Celestial who was brought to Boston on a barque arriving from Manilla. He had shipped on the vessel as carpenter, but having a quarrel with the mate, he deserted as soon as ho reached Boston. Being a carpenter, he is a laborer within the meaning of the law forbidding the importation of laborers, skilled or unskilled, from_ the Chinese Empire. He was accordingly arrested and lodged in gaol. Proceedings were then begun against the captain for bringing tho" Chinaman here. Threats, entreaties, and bribes were applied to Ah Chung to induce him to return to tho ship, and thus relieve the sacred soil of Massachusetts of his presence. He refused to budge. Brought before the United States Commissioner, that functionary declared that tho offence alleged against the captain of tho vessel would consist, not in bringing the Chinaman, but in leaving him here. As long as tho Chinaman was in gaol, and the vessel was in port, the criminality of tho .skipper could not be considered as established. If the Court could be satisfied that Ah Chung would bo taken out of the jurisdiction of the United States no further action would be taken against the vessel or against, the captain. But this illicit and contraband Chinaman refuses to rejoin the.ship. Interviewed in gaol by the captain and counsel, All Chung flatly declared that he would not go on board the ship, that he knew ho would lie killed if he went, aud that he preferred staying in gaol. The Commissioner was asked to " take measures " to havo Ah Chung conveyed from the gaol to tho ship. Ho refused to authorise force. If Ah Chung would not go of his own freewill and accord, the United States Government Avould not force him, even for the purpose of clearing the captain from the charge of having brought into the United States a case of Chinese labor skilled or unskilled. All Chung, standing on his inalienable rights as a human being, defies the sovereign power of the Republic to send him out of the country against his will. He is hero, and here he means to stay, whatever happens to the unhappy shipmaster who brought him hither. It is unfortunate for the captain that there is a law forbidding the bringing hither of Chinese ; and there is also another law forbidding the kidnapping even of so friendless a person us a Chinaman. Ah Chung, accordingly stays to defy the Government of the United States. Being hero, he cannot be put out, even though he is clearly contraband and illegal. The shipmaster cannot sail without the Chinaman. The whole power of the United States Government cannot compel Ah Chung to jro.—Now York Times.