The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-09-09

plying of labor wholly into their owl
hands, or placed it under special regula
tions. meant to counteract the sad conse
quences of private greed and selfish emol
ument.
The case of the EdStield is quoted a:
one Of those instances Of coolie transpor
tation. which should make the blood-boil
Now it happens that the Edstield wa;
completely case of private enterprise
Her Chinese were brought here, in
defiance of our laws, the prohibition
having been published at the instance oI
the Minister Of the Interior in the Hong
kong papers before the departure of the
vessel from that port. The firm to whom
they were consigned was insolvent, aud
the Government would not allow the
Chinese to be landed, except under the
strictest conditions and to prevent further
hardship, by the men being sent on to the
Chincha Islands, and that such of them as
were rejected here, should be returned to
China and nowhere else.
1t was the Government also, that re-
quested the British Commissioner, to in
vestigate the conduct of the Captain of the
EdStield, as rumors Of i'll treatment on the
passage were circulated through the town.
The AdrerfiSeT is not correctly informed
as 10 tho intsrpnsition of the British
Commissioner. He did not discover a
condition Of things that required the ex-
ercise of his authority. That investigation
resulted in the fact. that the stories of the
Adrertiser as rehashed again last week,
were exaggerated and they were refuted at
the time in a letter of the Captain and
others, published in this paper. The fact
that four of the coolies were in irons, will
not be credited by sea a-going men as an un-
usual hardship, where ship discipline is to
be preserved. The sensibilities of the
Adrertiser may often be excited in this
way by visiting ships that resort to this
port.
The management of these Chinese was
wholly in private hands, both on ship and
shore, and the only care of our authorities
was to see that our laws were complied
with in the business.
1t will not do to beg the whole ques-
tion by saying of all the Chinese in
troduced here, that Ito all intents and
purposes they are regarded as chattels."
They are not so regarded, and if the
Adrertiser wishes to test the question
let it. as it suggests, try the effect of
a writ of hdbeaS corpus. If, as it asserts,
this writ issued at the time of their
arrival would release them from their con-
tracts, why cannot they be released now a?
They are still working under their con-
tracts. and if they were illegal then
they are illegal now? Does it mean to
say. that every Chinese laborer on the
plantations can at any time release himself
of his contract?
But we leave the planters and other
employers of the laborers, to ponder over
the AdyertiSer's views, and to accept
without an indignant denial if so disposed,
its accusation that they are slave-drivers.
Or parties to a system, that can be called |
akin to slavery. We feel assured that
whatever steps may be taken by the Gov
TO bring hither laborers. whether
rom China. Europe or Polynesia, it will
De all wrong and iniquitous in the eyes of
hat paper. We are promised sketch
If its plan and we wait expectantly,
or the brilliant scheme which will be
light in the eyes of the whole world.