How the Chinese have Boycotted American Goods.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7923, 12 September 1905, Page 3

How the Chinese have Boycotted American Goods.

Thi> Itoilv Chronicle's Singfipon | corn-spomlnit write* ; >'u nation in the world known tictter than thn ("hiiifsi 1 how to apply the "boycott," witness the entire failure o( the Itand magnates' oflV cials tp recruit labour fur South Afl rica from the southern ports of CM- , na, where not a sins'" coolia can be oUtajflexli Lit* moil, Oficntalßjfliclii *

power lies in passive resistance. Let the word once go forth among themselves, rU* next' Ua|y- ih(i. a man can be found to work, to sell, or buy, or in any way deal with those who come under the ban of their boycott.

A movement of more,than ordiimry extent has commenced in China itself, and in all' countries cf Asia where Chinese go. It is directed against the Americans, ami aims at an entire boycott of everything that is American, from canned goods and kerosene to mission schools and ministers.

Arising in Shanghai, where there is an American settlement and a large body of merchants and others claiming citizenship of the Tinted States, the movement has spread to.the other ports of China—Amoy, Swatow, and Canton—and has now l>cen taken up by the Chineso of Hongkong and Singapore. The, two latter ports are the gatowayg to Southern China, 'and to the Straits Settlements, where 80 per cent of the merchants are Chinese who supply not only the wants of their own countrymen, but also of the millions of natives of other nationalities who havo come to depend on the. businessliko Chineso merchant for rico and ovory other articlo needed for existence. Hence the importance of the present boycott. The Chinese merchants in Singapore met 200 strong in one of their own hospitals,, and unanimously resolved to boycott American traders and American goods until such time as satisfactory amendment be made in fehe laws dealing with the admis. sion of Chineso into the United States. Local action- has been at once taken. Existing contracts will bo carried out, but from to-day no trade will be done with any American, nor will any single item 'of merchandise niado inl the United States or imported therefrom be touched by the Chinese. The merchants control the trade as regards American goods among a hundred million of natives. It is a struggle between Titans—the great and wealthy American trusts and millions of passive resistcrs, The ,-odda are on the- resisted.