The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-12-29

Japan has just welcomed another Of the Eu
ropean powers to her shores and, before these
lines are in our readers hands, it is probable
that his Majesty the Mikado will have re-
ceived the Embassy from the Emperor Of Aus
tria and King Of Hungary. 1t is with no wish
to disparage the value to Japan of European
alliances. that we take this opportunity Of
urging on the native government the claims oil
possibly kindred nation, nearer to her, likely
to be of more practical use to her, who anxious
ly solicits her friendship, and alliance with
whom could only result in benefit to both. Fol-
no sufficient reason with which we are acquain-
ted, obstacles have always been thrown by the
Ministers Of greater Powers in the way Of those
who have long been labouring to bring into
friendly relations the only two communities Of
importance in the Pacific, Hawaii and Japan.
A letter has been placed in our hands this week
for publication. to which we have gladly given
place in our columns, in the hope that the
revival of a question never yet fairly considered
may lead to settlement satisfactory to both
parties concerned, and may lead, too, to the
establishment Of more intimate connection be-
tween two peoples who may be Of real ase to
each other More than year ago, we wrote
on this subject, and with respect to one par
tieular point, the emigration Of free Japanese
labour 10 Hawaii, had occasion to condemn the
action Of the American Minister, in throwing
obstacles in the way of its promoters. We
thought then, and we have found no reason to
change our opinion. that his action was un-
called for and positively illegal, opposed to the
general principles protested by his government
and enuncisted in the constitution Of the Unit
ed States, and in CONFIRMATION ofthe rights Of
man. That we were right in the legal view we
took ofhis opposition has been most abundant
l. H., ufaa dw "A Mt
ing flow Of Chinese labour into California, by
far the greater proportion Of which, as is well
known, is contracted and arranged form China.
Now, the recent Labou- Convention at Mem
phis and Mr. Koopmanschap's proposition, to
take Chinese iabour wholesale into tbs South
ern States, have brought the question to an
issue, and the true meaning Of the Act Of 1852
To .urohibit the coolie trade will be more ac-
curafeiy defined That this definition win ex-
clude Chinese laboar from the States, imported
under the conditions suggested by Mr. Koop-
manschsp and his supporters, We do not for
one moment believe Sections l. IL and III.
of the Act forbid citizens Of the United States
Transporting 20 any country Chinese coolies
ssto be disposed OF, or sold or transported, for
any term Of years, or for any time whatever,
as servants or apprentices, OF to be held TO
service or labour: or aiding OF abetting, build
ing, hiring. preparing or sailing, ships for such
transport But Section ~. exempts from the
operation Of the Act, "a any free and voluntary
emigration Of any Chinese subject" while pro-
periy requiring for the purpose permit from
. Consul or Consular Agent Of the United
States, who must first be satisfied By personal
evidence Of the fact
As we have said. We do not anticipate the
failure Of this most praisevorthy and useful
design Of restoring the Southern cotton, sugar,