The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-10-14
Japanese for Hawaii.
prom the San Francisco TINS. sept. ID. 1858.


Prom the San Francisco TDrEs, Sept. Sd, 1851
EDS. Es:-Some five or six months
since the Government of Hawaii effected,
through the Consul General of that Kingdom,
with the official authorities of Japan, a con-
tract for the services OF a company Of Japan
ese coolies, with view to securing more
efficient and reliable class of laborers on the
sugar plantations Of those islands. After
these laborers had embarked and were about
sailing from the port of Yokohama, furnish
ed with passports from their government, a
new party having succeeded TO power, objec-
ted to their leaving; refusing 10 issue new
passports or acknowledge the validity Of the
old ones, as well as declining to grant the
vessel on which these people had embarked,
clearance so long as they remained on board.
The cause of these proceedings did not rest
in the alleged violation Of any existing law,
nor in any complaint on the part OF the Ia
borers themselves, who, satisfied with the
arrangement entered into on their behalf,
were anxious to depart, but in an unwilling
ness on the part Of the new faction TO have
them leave the country.
At this juncture, Mr.. Van Valkenburg,
United States Minister TO Japan, having this
particular case in view, published an official
notice, declaring that the law relative to the
coolie trade OF China was applicable also to
Japan; advising Mr.. Seward, Secretary of
State, at the same, that an attempt was thus
being made to introduce this odious traffic in
that country, and counseling the enactment
of more stringent laws for It's suppression.
The business OF engaging these laborers
has in this instance, says Mr.. Van Valken-
burg, been conducted by a Mr.. Van Reed,
who appeared to be acting as Consul General
of Hawaii with the consent Of the local au-
thorities at Yokohama. The gentleman al
luded to is Mr.. Eugene Van Reed, formerly
of this city, where he was well and favorably
known, and who, for the past seven years,
has been residing in japan, having thorough
ly mastered the language and become well
acquainted with the laws, literature aud
usages of that people long before Mr. Van
Valkenburg arrived in the country. The an
linus of our Minister is made manifest by his
use of the expression appeared TO be acting
as Consul General of Hawaii" when, in fact,
Mr. Van Reed had long been known and re-
cognized as such official, the consular flag of
that nation having for several years been fly
ing over his residence. As well might il be
said of Mr.. Van Valkenburg that he appeared
TO be acting as Minister of the United States,
at time when there can be no question as to
the fact.
But without dwelling on this discourteous
expression, it may be well to inquire whether
or not this particular act of immigration from
Japan was attended with such circumstances
as would warrant its being denominated an
Ut OpCihbB thO NOOAAO tiodN AZ
that country, inasmuch as this event has
been gravely commented upon by the New
York Tribune and other Eastern journals, and
been made the subject of communication
from the Secretary of State to the Senate,
wherein 1t is recommended that the law pro-
hibiting the coolie trade with China be made
applicable also to Japan.
The transportation of this class Of laborers
from India aud China to Cuba, Peru and 9th
er foreign countries, commenced about thir-
ty years ago. and having been attended with
great cruelty, led to the enactment of laws
by China forbdding it altogether. Crowded
in the lily ventilated holds of vessels, many
of these unfortunate beings persisted during
the passage, while others resorted to suicide
as ready means of freeing themselves from
suffering.
In China the business was conducted by
the agents of ship-owners, who, having slip
ulated to furnish certain number of coolies,
visited the opium and gambling houses,
where, finding those overcome with stupor,
or who, having become involved in debt
which they were unable to discharge, readily
consented, for a small sum of money, to en-
gage in a service and to emigrate to distant
countries concerning which they knew little
or nothing, the very terms of the contracts
under which they were engaged being con-
cealed from them. Having once consented
to CO. they were hurried away to the port of
embarkation, and there kept in close contine-
ment until sent away. On their arrival at
their place of destination, they were sold1or
a term of wears to the highest bidder, who
thenceforth treated them as slaves At the
end of this period they usually found them
selves so deeply in debt that they were COM
PEELED to re-engage to their masters, who
thus reduced them to perpetual bondage.
These hardsbips and cruelties finally caused
the English and Americans also to legislate
for the better protection and comfort of these
coolies. The provisions of these laws were
mainly directed to regulating the number of
persons. that ships engaged in this traffic
should be permitted to carry, requiring them
to be properly ventilated and provisioned,
and guarding these unfortunate beings against
fraud and oppression, not only during the
passage, but also after they were landed.
That these were wise and humane enactments,
in view of the early horrors of this trade, ad-
mits of no question. But it does not appear
that the case, of which our Minister felt call
ed upon to take cognizance, was marked by
any feature calling for such interference.
These people well understood the conditions
of the contract into which they had entered,
as well as the nature of the service which
they were expected to perform; and, having
first obtained the consent of their Govern
ment, went voluntarily away. The ship was
large sized British merchantmen, carrying
but little freight, and afforded the best of ac-
commodations for the small company sent
out, numbering one hundred and fifty per-
sons. 1t does not appear but that she was
seawortby, well watered and provisioned-
leaving no ground whatever for being char
acterized as an attempt at introducing
the coolie trade in the odious sense usually
attached to it, in that Empire. 1t cannot be
expected that this class of emigrants will be
carried as cabin passengers; and since the
conditions under which they embarked were
as favorable in this case as can generally be
hoped for, to object to their going abroad
under such circumstances, would be equiva-
lent to preventing their emigration altogeth
err; an end that our Government does not
seem to have contemplated in sending out
TO promote this very object,
whatever may be thought of the expedieney |
of admitting them in large numbers to this |
country The action of our Minister evident |
ly tends TO defeat this policy, whether 1t be a |
wise or an unwise one.
UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE.-The New York |
Nation, discussing the record and prospects |
IF o ha Rsnnl,lican ri cd