New-York tribune., 1869-03-27
S.lyDu1cH ISLANDs-IMMIGRAnoM

Po tie Editor of The TribNRe
SIR | observe in The TRIBUNE of the 18th inst
that you notice some msstatements in a telegram
from san Francisco respecting COolie labor. and the
importation Of Coolies into the Sandwich Islands, which
permit me to correct.
You arendueed to speak Of "natives the small Poly
nesan Islands, who are imported often entirely against
their wish-and compelled to work" This is not true
The Government Of the Sandwich Islands has i'm
ported native from any POlynesian island bonded
emgrant or Cooie labor in the Group. IL is true
however that. during the last of the Legislature
Of the Islands sum OF money was appropriated and
migration TO aid POlynesians, and other Oceani-
of both sexes 10 einIgrate to the Hawaiian King
dOD and independent cOonsts; and, by the last
mail from Honolulu. lm Informed that a small sailing
vessel been dispatched 70 the Harvey Group assist
small number Of is poor and unfortunate inhabitants
happier condition in the Sandwich Islands
They not TO be bound or forced TO labor and may
tion. Bot is hoped in making this experiment add
the indigenous of the Islands few Of a
Of superior comforts and condition to their own will
ciac, Ike the Hawaiian the value OF labor and the ad
Tine statement tha the United States Minister at Homo
lulu protested against dsapprOyed Of this action Of
tho Hawaiian Government, is Invention; inasmuch as
that gentleman Gen MeCoOk1 has been absent from the
islands for the last four months and Is this city
That certain parties prohibited from sending letters
and papers by the steamer, seems ncOmprehensibie
because the mail steancr-the only one sailing from the
isauds-carres United States mail which Is In charge
of United states officer. who would not dare TO deny
mail facilities To anybody bat the ground for this state
ment understand. aud can explain.
Ceri"'a parties, resident ln Honolulu, who expected
aud sog!it agency carry ont the objects OF the
Board OF Immigration, being disappointed have sought
revenge by attacks and mlsepresentaOns In the San
Francisco papers They endeayored to place letters aud
papers on board the small vessel going ont for the immi
grants which papers were iui or hostile and preudiced
remarks and being addressed 10 traders aud other resi-
objects of the expedition The vessel WAS not proceeding
10 any regular port and carried no public mailbag, and,
being special enterprise 1t perfectly proper and by
mcs an infringement on any ones rights except the
right TO 90 mischief to prevent hostile men and missiyes
The ausion to "missionary authorities" do not nm
derstand There are no such authorities in the Sandwich
airy clergymcn Sandwich Islands OF the Congreg
tonal. Episcopal and Catholic denominations who have
his Christianity and civilization a wonder 10 the
world and who are anxious that All Poynesans shall ex.
these gentlemen copiah Of fba ae
tOn Of the enlightened Hawaiian Government, which
would bring poor baIbarians 10 their doors and place
them within the immediate Influence or their sanctuaries
NOu know. Sir that IN years past the Hawaiian Govern
neut caused the importation OF small number OF Chi
Coolies and quite recently OF cargo OF japanese
laborers. There are now wealthy Chinese planters and
merchants at Honolulu and Lahaina, who came out II
the Cooe ships Their short term OF service having
PRED they readily engaged IN VaTOus pursuits 10 make
living in free constitutional country where they
were equal before the law with the proudest plantation
nab0Dsi ana Delug secure w inc rewards OF their labor
have become rich and influential men. In other
country has Asatc egla labor been treated so Justly
and benehcently as In the Sandwich Islands.
But the present movement 10 obtain POlynesians not
that are sought In the Harvey Group The population OF
these Islands have been harassed by hostile and kdnap
Ing and peshng for want Of their male protectors and
the Hawaiian Government, feeling sense Of duty to-
ward weak and unfortunate branches OF Polynesia sends
relief 70 these sufferer removing them 10 land Of abun
dance. and adding thereby grateful numbers TO its
population. This Is wise aud humane movement, and
IL Is wrong TO Vut the little Kingdom OF the Pacific with
charges Of sympathy with any plan or pur-
pose akin TO Slavery. A eOlOred Legislature,
with only three white representatives sitting I'm IL, at
Honolulu, appropriated the money for this expedition
which appropriation recommended and urged by the
enlightened sovereign King Kamehameha. IL is not the
work Of acqusve aud unscrupuOus planters seeking to
nal IA M Ifa
phianthrOphy 10 bring suffering people, especially
women and children 10 land Of plenty, where they
increase and multiply and ENJOY the blessings conferred
by free institutions aud just laws have the honor to be
your most obedient servant. WALTER NJ GIBSON
Washington, d. O.. March Is, 1869.
with due respect for Capt. Gibson, King
Kamehameha, and the other eminent philan-
thrOpists of Hawaii, we beg leave to state that
we do not quite like the looks of this beneyo-
lent enterprise. 1t may be all meal; but it
looks as though there might be a cat inside
of it. Ed