The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-11-06
The Last Citizens. Meeting.


record a correct account of what was actually said
and done at the meeting.
Col. W. c. Jones, the Chairman of the preceding
meetings, having been called away on business to
another island, MIR. Linton L. Torbert was called to
the chair. The Secretary, Mr.. C. j. Lyons, then
read the minutes of the previous meeting, which
: were approved.
A resolution, proposed by Mr.. Lyons, was adopted,
to the effect, that no speaker occupy more than
fifteen minutes at one time.
The fifth resolution, which reads as follows, was
then read
Resolree, That We do approve of the appropriation of
governmental funds to the assistance OF Pacific Islanders who
come here free OF contract.
Mr.. j. o.. Garter observed that there should be
something said. pro or con, about this resolution, as
it involves a recommendation of the expenditure of
public moneys, raised by taxation.
Mr.. n. Il. U06emdn moved 10 add at the end of
the resolution, the words, " as permanent settlers"
Mr.. Nc CoigaR inquired whether the Pacific Isl
anders would come here without q contract?
Mr.. CGrter-We were told the other evening by
DR.. Hutchinson that the ManahiEs were but too will
ing TO come. The difficulty was TO keep them off the
vessel, they were so anxious to come. But Mr..
Harris had said at the same meeting, that they
would not come without a contract. Which of these
statements is right?
Mr.. FL. M. Uhitney advocated the passage of the
resolution. He felt greatly interested in this subject
of the repopulatlon of the islands. But planters
had, throughout these discussions, apparently
ignored the South Sea Islanders, and seemed TO pre-
fer the Chinese coolies. The reed of importing
hither immigrants 70 supply the places of our rap
idly decreasing native population is evident to all.
he went on to give figures which showed the fearful
rate at which our own people are dying out Chinese
do not I'LL the gap. 1t is useless TO look to Europe,
ut least at present and the South Sea Islanders are
the cognate race with ours, and the best available
source to which We can now look to repeople these
fair isles. We want "A government policy TO bring about a re-
the people We need Let them be brought here in families and
be given or leased the waste lands. They may not at once be-
many pur uits in which they could be employed and for which
by hal it they are fitted, as fishing, for instance. And, by TAX
mg tne place oi Hawaiian fishermen and Seamen they would
supply in some measure, the demand for more population
ext5as, from His MSjes,y,s speech at the opening Of the last
bringing South Sea Islanders here to increase our population;
aud also an extract from his address on the close of the ses-
$4,000 for that purpose. That was AN experiment on a small
scale. IL had proved successful, as far as carried out and
now was the time to follow it up. Deprecated the Introduction
Q any more Chinese coolies unless some provision were made
ditiOn OF Mauriiius, where they had large numbers of those
people idle and vicious, whose terms of service had expired.
keep &c those lisera,ed coolies in order. There was no chance
m mOnopoLze every pursuit. 80, too, Will it be here before long,
The amendment of Mr.. Wakeman was adopted,
and the resolution passed.
On motion of Mr.. Carter, the sixth and seventh
resolutions were transposed.
Mr.. j. .Nc Coigan made statements as to the
manner in which the present tariff system affected
his business-that of a tailor. There was 5000, 900
worth OF ready made clothing imported here an
nually, all of which could be made here, giving en-
to our own people, and keeping the money
In the country. Argued for protection for our home
by a discriminating tariff. (His remarks
were listened to with attention, and warmly an
plauded ut the close)
Mr.. Thomas Hughes spoke earnestly in favor of a
protective tariff. 1t had been limited at a previous
meeting that he was in favor of coolies because he
owned a plantation. In this tariff business, they
could not accuse him of interested motives, for he
was now out Of the business of machinist ; but he
spoke from experience in that business when he said
protection toos necessary for the mocha mic. Il
the way in which the tariff operates. A
imported for a mill here, paid duty, hut a whole mill
mills from abroad cheaper than the Honolulu Iron Works
so%id make a them ,n. sS SMs; Hughes oG sos spoke a. Il length and quite EN-,
tariff was the mechanics great need
MI. j. D. Carter wished to make a statement
made to him by Il person not present. Before the
of the Ceyion, with great quantities of key
shocks, Mr.. J. A. Hopper, of the barrel factory, had
paid out $50 n week in wages. Now he was. COM
PEELED to stop work. But before we protect the man
of kegs or any other interest, the question
must be well considered. We have said that we do
not want coolies brought here and the planters feel
they will feel it more. Did not think the community
was ready for this question, and certainly this meeting was
50 that parties could vote inteilgentIy on the resolution. liav, :
diligently and should consequently decline to vote. He how
inclined towards protection. c
Mr.. I'm. Johnson said, if the planters would
Hopper's establishment, he could turn out
sugar kegs as cheaply as they can be imported from
Boston. He went on and recapitulated some of the
statements made by MIR. Michigan in regard to the
arge Importation ut these islands of ready made i
and stated the great difference in the
OF money our products imported to the
in ted States were made to pay. as compared with !
What that country pays us. a discriminating duty
you'd work beneficially on the natives, for many of
he women are good seamstresses and could, under
uch a system, obtain employment and gain a re-
,ectable living. I
Which there is ut present no hope of a final So g
ution, or agreement of opinion. AS it is not q ,
question of principle, every immunity has a right to =,
ettle it for itself. For us it resolves itself into some 1
hing like this-Shall we be willing to pay more fora d
arge class of articles, for the sake of encouraging in 8
lustry and morality here instead of somewhere else ? 6
lso keep among Us "A class of working people whose presence q
oabt encourage and assist the Hawaiian naive artisan. TO 70 s
he planter, and TO the iaborers on the plantations, it would be d
the measure. The system had certainly helped to s
here were strong efforts making to do way with it there. n
hey may have passed the period of protection. Free trade g
me, but there is doubtless a period in the history Of many N
eneht to the people. was willing to see the experiment tried, a
TO exceed, however, a duty Of 20 per cent II
Mr.. j. X Kinney spoke in favor of free trade :.
principles, and illustrated his view of the pernicious =
onsequences which would result socially from a pro- p
ective tariff. During this gentleman's speech, "
'hich was short, the audience quite plainly indicated h
dissent from his views.) !,
Mr.. .7dderiey stated the way in which the present -
lrif system operated disadvantageously to the bust p
ess in which he was engaged, that of saddle and b.
arness maker. We have the materials here for q OF
enlargement of this business, whereby employ p
tent could be given to many of our people. The
nited States, a large and powerful country, have a
tariff we, with a small and poor country, need 4 \
much more. We should, by all proper means, en- NJ
'urage the industrious of our own people, instead of r
snding money out of the country to pay foreign o.
1t
Cnr. Hughes spoke again in favor of a protective ii
Sia. Water pipes can be imported here from Scot Ii,
nj as cheap as we can buy the raw material. n,
twenty-five thousand coolies wouldn't do as much -
lrm to the country, as a protective tariff on the ~
her hand would do good. W
After some further remarks on the same side from II
essrs- johnson and Lyons, the sixth resolution was ~
ssed as read.
On the next resolution, pertaining to the subject al
public lands) Mr.. j. o. Carter moved that it be dr
opped. as the originator, Col. Jones. who was the n
lily one prepared to discuss the question, was out ~
town carried. u
The following additional resolution, was then til
Fered and passed, mem. con. I'll