The Six Chinese Companies [pp. 221-227]

THE SIX CHINESE COMfPANIES.
THE SIX CHINESE COMPANIES.
ANY incorrect notions are en tertained respecting the six
Chinese companies of California, and a
variety of groundless assertions have
been made in regard to them. In the
minds of some people there is a kind of
mystery hanging over these organizations, as though the heads of different
Chinese clans in this city and on this
coast were accustomed to meet in conclave, and by the use of that strange
language which they speak, and the
symbols employed by them in writing,
which to most of our people are as unintelligible as the signs of the Ku Klux
Klan, engage in plots which, for ought
we know, may result some day in the
undermining of the "great and glorious
temple of American liberty," and in the
establishment of a new Chinese empire
on this continent which was discovered
by Columbus, redeemed from the savages, and consecrated to freedom.
It has been stated, and by many it is
believed, that these organizations are
seats of authority and power; that the
officers wield despotic sway over the
people connected respectively with the
several companies; that they have established their codes of laws with penalties affixed, and which Chinamen dread
more than they dread our own laws and
officers of justice.
In the early days of Chinese immigration to California, it was currently reported that these companies were the
great coolie agencies, and that the officers of the companies were the factors
of Chinese lords and that the mass of
the Chinese who came to this country
were serfs or slaves; that the companies
imported them, set them to work or sold
their time, received their earnings or their
wages, being themselves obligated only
to send the coolie home within a stipu
lated time, or in case of his death to see
that his bones or his ashes should at
last find sepulture along with the graves
of his kindred in the home of his ancestors. The echo of those reports may
still be heard almost anywhere throughout this country, although the reports
have been steadily refuted, and the real
nature of these societies has been carefully stated by those who have enjoyed
the best means of knowing the truth in
regard to them.
Such are a few of the popular fallacies
regarding the Chinese companies of California. The facts are as follows.
Natives of other countries who have
chosen this as the land of their adoption
generally show a desire to keep alive the
memory of the home they have left; and
we have associations of Scandinavians,
of Scotchmen, of Hibernians, of Germans, and of Italians. These societies
have their head-quarters or club-rooms,
their constitutions, by-laws and officers.
Some of these are benevolent or mutual
aid societies. A foreigner landing as a
stranger in this city, and who may be
directed to the rooms of his country
people, will find himself at once amongst
brothers: he will find their house the
place where he may hear news from
home. National days are celebrated by
the society; and the practice of national
games keeps fresh in each heart the associations of youth. When a member
is sick or unfortunate, he is cared for;
and when death calls away his victims,
the deceased is borne to the grave by
brothers, and the widow and orphans are
not forgotten. Similar to these, in many
respects, are the Chinese companies. In
the cities of China we find precisely
what we have here in California, and
Chinamen have a greater need for such
associations than have the people of
I868.]
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