The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-09-01

WE add the following clipping to our
Museum of Literature, regarding the Chi
nese in this country:
HAWAIIAN EXPERIENCE WITH Coolies
A correspondent of the New York ESening
Post writes as follows:
If the Southern people don't wish to bring
themselves into all sorts of trouble, they will
have nothing to do with Chinese labor. The
Chinese do very well in California, where
they are by steam within easy reach of their
homes, and where they are governed by va
rious Societies, who protect them in case of
want or sickness; but, taken to the interior
OF this country, and bound down to work for
mere pittance of few dollars q month,
they become lazy and shiftless. When their
time is out they are entirely without means
to return home, and then become an intol-
cradle nuisance
About 1852, Mr. Pierce Graves brought
two ship-loads Of Chinese coolies to the
Sandwich Islands. They were, if my memory
serves me, picked up at Swallow, and were
to receive $3.50 per month and regular
stipulated quantity of rice. In five years,
they were to be free. Mr.. Graves having pre-
viously entered into an arrangement with a
number of planters on the Islands, brought
out about 400 coolies, and for their passages,
including his own commissions, he received
500 per head. From the first, these men
stated that they had been deceived; that they
had engaged but for one year; AID that they
were to have IS per month, and free passage
home if they elected to return at the expira-
willingly; they gambled all night, and con-
sequently were incapable Of working well
the next day. They were great thieves and
scamps, generally. They never learned to
speak English, but picked up few words of
the native language, and consequently made
poor house servants. They took great offense
if scolded; and if assaulted would tie knives
to long poles, and attack their overseers.
They seemed to have no fear of death. They
filled the prisons and chain-gangs, and anum-
Der of them were hanged for murder. Mr..
Dudoit, an old resident at the Sandwich Isl
ands, and formerly French Consul at Homo
lulu, was brutally murdered by coolie who
had taken offense upon being scolded. This
fiend came at the dead. of night, no doubt
with the intention of killing the whole fam
lily. Mrs. Dudoit was severely wounded, but
finally recovered.
The words, Mr.. Graves brought two
ship-loads," and further down, Mr.. Graves
brought out about 400" are significant
as if the writer is not here now, or at
least was not here in 1852, he naturally
would have used the word carried, instead
of brought"
In connection with this subject, we de-
sire to quote the following from the p C.
Advertiser, of Aug. 28th, ult.:
"How different here Contracts made, or
said to have been made, in China are binding
here, even in cases where the laborer never
saw the contract he is said to have signed,
and even where his name is not even men,
toned in the document; and in case of his
refusal TO comply with the Terms of the con-
tract ii is considered a penal ofenSe and by
the following section of the Civil Code, he is
deprived of liberty, incareerated in the prison
and compelled to work beside the thief and
murderer: Section 1920"
"If, as in some cases, the laborer prefers
to work in the chain-gang, the master may
again circumvent him by refusing to take ac-
ton according to the terms of this section,
and quietly transfer him to another party,
not mentioned in the contract, for a sum Of
money, thus making the contract, or the man,
a marketable commodity"
We put these two extracts in juxtaposi-
ton, for perhaps some people may think,
on perusing them, that if they do not
emanate from the same source, as they
undoubtedly do not, the one evidently
borrows its inspiration from the other.
Besides, as excellence in any pursuit is
held worthy of admiration by some, it is
well that our fellow citizens may be en-
abled to observe the enterprise, boldness,
and perseverance in good, honest, per-
sistent Misrepresentation, to which some
may be disposed to apply more concise
and significant term. The writer of the
last extract I've mean that from the p. C.
A. can not show one instance in this
country, in which a contract with China
man has been held to be binding in cases
where the laborer never saw the contract
he is said to have signed, and even where
his name is not mentioned 10 the docu-