Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1854-07-01

but their immediate effect upon the labor market
would be very small.
! What could be done or might be done is after
all, not very much to the purpose. What has been
done and is being done is more to the point. Chi
nese Coolies have been introduced here, and more
are on their way hither. With all their faults and
considerable disposition to hang themselves they
have been found very useful. Suffice it to say
that some of our largest sugar and coffee planta-
tions chiefly dependent upon them for the prin-
cipal amount of labor done. That they might be
better than they are ought not to be used as an
gument against them. That they are procurable-
that they have been procured-that their wages
tanning them for certain term-that the climate
suits them, and that they are handy in the house
and in the field are great facts. Excepting what
relates to these Coolies, all that bears upon the
subject of importing labor is just theory and spec
ulation.
! One member of your Committee is unfavorable to
these people. He says they are undesirable as an
element of our population-that they are ignorant
and heathenish. But in spite of all that, they are
the best immigrants we can get At all events
they are the best we have hitherto are likely to
| get. 1t is true, they lean towards the doc
trnes of Confucius, but by coming here
they may be on the road to conversion to
the Christian faith, and our native women
have got the authority of Scripture for not refus-
ing 10 enter WIN them into the marriage state, on
account of their being unbelievers Be that as it
may, people, while cultivating the graces that fit
men for Heaven, should not overlook the means
necessary to make the earth give forth its increase
or the saying may apply to them, "These things
I ye should have done and not have left the other
undone."
/ Whilst the subject of population occupies us,
Mr. President, must confne our attent;on'to
figures. Sentiment is out of the question. The
decrease in the population which the last few years
have brought about instead of filing us with re-
gret, ought TO stimulate us TO exertIon. There is
a vOid-there is a decrease of so many men, wo-
men and children; shall we, therefore, like Turks
and fatalists, crouch in the DUST and with our
hands crossed on our breast, rend the air with
supine cry of .nshaLiah Mashallah ought we
not rather to look The difficulty in the face, and
cast about for the means of filling up this aching
void.
If our voice have anything portentia IN it let us
raise it in favor of the introduction of labor from
abroad. Nor ought we to sympathiz9 with those
who would rather have NO labor at oil, than labor
of any but the highest quality. Surely it is good
policy in any case TO do the best we can under the
circumstances in which we find ourselves. Opti-
pnists are never practical men, Ofthis be sure that
from whatever quarter the labor may arrive, shall
see more or less marriages result between the COM
ers and the daughters of the soil and man. the
highest of all animals, being, nevertheless subject
TO certain laws IN common with pigs, monkles and
what not the result of the intermixture of the two
races or of long separate families of the same
race, cannot but increase the ratio of fecundty.
Isolated as these Islands from the rest of the
world till zoe had the honor of ealing Captain
Cook II is not difficult to account for the gradual
decrease in the number of births as compared to
the number of the adult population Whether
there has been, more latterly, or is HOW any pro-
vision in our statute book that has put more arti
fetal check upon childbirth a serious question.
At all events, will make this assertion, that, in
the manners of the people in connection with
matter which some persons would hardly imagine
to bear upon the case is TO be found cause of
the scarcity of births. The inOTdinste love of
horse riding is opposed to the prOlifcness Of our
working classes; were there fewer horses there
would be more children.
In conclusion | Will merely add, that whatever
machinery can do to save manual labor, we ought,
under existing circumstances to avail ourselves Of
most greedily; and for my part, Mr.. President
would as think of putting an Gd uaIorem duty
on the hands Of every man who arrived here as
upon machinery Of whatever purpose that was des-
tined 10 do the trork of a mans hands
Respectfully submitted,
LIHOLlHO,