The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-05-05

they have faithfully kept and performed
that promise. On their arrival in this coun-
try. they were of course unacquainted with
the different persons, and had no means of
making choice OF their employers, and
equally as matter Of course were willing
10 90 wheresoever, and with whomsoever
they were detailed to, having been assured
that they would not be placed with any.
who would not faithfully keep the written
contracts, which was all they cared for since
they guaranteed TO them, all that they
wanted. or could reasonably want, to wit !:
good and abundant food, good lodging,
medical care if sick, the national holidays,
and three special days of their own, their
agreed monthly wages, and the protection
of the laws, if they were injured, or any
one should attempt to injure them. But
whatsoever any of them expressed any
preference, they were Immediately assign
ed to the person whom they preferred.
This was not infrequent, being guided by
the only means possible to them, the ap-
pearance of the person wishing their servi-
ces, or the fact that they wished to 90 to-
gether Nor has any contract ever been
assigned to ''the highest bidder. at the sole
option of the Board, or to any bidder at
all. There is not an instance, in which
any mans time has been assigned for one
cent more than was actually due, for his
advance and passage. They are, as body,
happy. They look upon the venture as
fortunate one for them, passing their time
usefully to others, and proftably, in every
sense, 10 themselves. They make no COM
| plant, but imagine themselves to be as free
as any men, who are obliged to work for
living, leaving it entirely to the newborn
zeal of these recently matured philan-
thropists to find out, and point out, and if
possible, to rouse them to a sense of their
wrongs and injuries
Then the laborer is not only not slave,
but is emphatically freeman. and more
a free citizen-as free to hire himself out
to labor, as another is free to preach for a
similar hire as free to sell his labor in
the market, for bis own advantage, as the
merchant is to sell his goods-compelled.
like every other citizen, TO keep his rea-
! sonable contract made for his own advan-
tage, with all his senses about him, and
protected in all his rights. He is even
prevented from making contract for any
unreasonable time. None have exceeded
five years. except one ships company, which
were engaged under the much-lauded pri-
vate-enterprise idea. That is to say, the
Board of Immigration have not patronized
or justified any contracts for longer time.
These men have their stated time to
labor,-not to exceed ten hours per day
and so well do they understand this, that
they will not work five minutes over the
established time. without extra pay. They
work side by side with the natives of the
country, and under the same regulations
and in point of numbers, when compared
with the natives, form very small portion
Of the laboriDg class. They have free ac-
cess to the courts at all times-a privilege
of which it can not be denied, that they
freely avail themselves-and their testi-
mony is freely taken, and the same weight
given to it as to that of any other witness,
though on the 25th of Aug, 1866, one of
those who is now advanced to the dignity
of Christian Philanthropist," (haying
made such rapid strides within EIGHTEEN
MONTHS, remarked, whilst animadverting
on then recent trial Justice is not en-
lightened by their testimony, and trial
with such witnesses is mockery;" proba-
bly,, at that time, borrowing his ideas Of JUS
tice and 4" Christian Philanthropy" in this
respect, from neighboring State, where
Hawaiian boy may not learn the trade of
a carpenter without his master having his
house set on fire, lat Oakland, and people !
have their churches burned, for teaching |
the Chinese the Christian religion
If the food furnished by their employers
is not of the quality or quantity, to which |
they think they are entitled, they do not |
hesitate to make their dissatisfaction |
known, which they do with the more con-
fdenee, because they know that the au-
thorities are ever ready to listen patiently |
to their complaints, and if they are wrong
ed, will not hesitate to right them. 1t is, |
however, but justice to say of the planters
in this Kingdom, that they have no inclina-
ton to maltreat or Cypress their laborers.
1t is not necessary to state these things
for the information of people here The
facts are all well known, and, as has been
before said, no one of any consideration
for truth and fairness, who is DESTROYS of
maintaining that consideration, and is at
all acquainted with the facts. will venture
to deny them over his own name. There
are few-a very few, persons-so few
that they can be counted on the fingers of
one hand, and yet not use all of them
who circulate the grossest ISLANDERS regard
ING the stains of the lahorers in this conn-