The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-10-16
The True :. Ci,izens, M~ectins.''

The True .sCitiZens' MeetinE."
The meeting of mechanics, working men and
others, to discuss the action of the late Planters
Convention, was held on Thursday evening last, at
the hall of Mechanic Engine Co. No. =, and was
very numerously attended by all classes of our citi-
zens. The room is capable of seating something
over a hundred, but the crowd was so great that
many stood, while many more went away, unable to
find even standing room. The interest was evidently
deep. The speakers. especially those who spoke
earnestly for the interests of the laboring man and
against the Importation of coolies, were frequently
and enthusiastically applauded. We give the more
important points of the addresses made, as our limits
will not allow of \ more extended report.
The meeting was organized by the appointment of
Col. W. C. Jones as Chairman, and c. j. Lyons,
Secretary. The Chairman resd a series of resolu-
tons, which he offered for consideration. condemn
atory of the coolie system, and recommending radical
changes in government policy regarding lmmigrs-
ton.
III. NJ Whitney said the meeting was called to
consider the proceedings of the late Planters Meet
ing, miscalled by the Gazette, the Citizens Meet
ing" Read the resolutions adopted by that meeting
and commented on them. There were now about
find their way to HoneIuluMSr they don,I re-enease .'1 Do we
want any more of this class, Thought we had quite enough,
and was opposed to the importation of any more to congregate
r. Giiiiand-Every man who had an idea on
this important subject ought to make it known. His
was out, TO send him back TO the country from whence he
came.
Henry Thompson being loudly called for, made a
short but eloquent speech. He had thought much
on this coofe subject and he was opposed to the
system on principle. The palpable and direct result
penal Law q which wbieh anu NH &c labor eonsr,c,. m Ss.ae ~ =
way in which the landed property of the islands was rapidly
disastrous to the poor man while it enriched the planter, and
dwelt upon the dismal future in store for the country.
c. C.. Bennett was strongly in favor of free labor,
and spoke theoretically in the same strain with the
last speaker, against the coolie system and against
the coolies as coming here at all. 1t is useless to say
that white men cannot labor in the tropics we see
the contrary right in our midst. Was in favor of
encouraging European immigration.
Il. @. Ddcies said he came here as q matter of
duty, for the question which called them together
was one OF vital Importance. Read and discussed at
length the third resolution of the Planters Meeting,
which endorses the coolies. He was decidedly of
the opinion that it was not desirable to import any
more coOlies,-they are u pagan and an inferior
race, and We have got quite as many here as we can
take care of. The Board of Immigration have failed
to bring here the right kind of labOrers to assimilate
assist mds u 20 pI Seen the soai I 10 %, she; |" consr masn, amer w 3, 2 ,Se =
terms have expired what becomes of theml 1t is unconstitu-
tional to have penal enactments to enforce civil contracts be-
sides, the Chinese do not know under what laws they are con-
tracing. OF course, the wealth Of the conary must come
from the soil but is sugar of such paramount importance that
we must set aside all other considerations The Chinese are
iabor. but are turned loose o a the cenntrv. Win ali thess y;ces
Our own people are dying on, shaG We Impor, an"ther eie-
natural sympathy or feelings 10 common between The native
and the coolie, and the Planters' Meeins "ppeo q TO have no
more labor, and the coolies are the ohal nd hrst. WEI,
sopRese ' Thes se Win q 20 q on on %aaine = a. e, , he no sGf . s.. years.
and then retire with their fortunes mad. &c ta,- in sorOre,
lovely skies of Italy on the banks Of the lak. Of Como, leaving
pie to manage the discharged coolies as hest we may. We
have as many coolies here now as the courts can take care Of
In ride IN reSrScifofa fbto nofinu n hripn rosra- 20 a
let us have a new infusion Of good blood.
c. j. Lyons-Made quite a lengthy speech, in
which he repeated most of the arguments against TIE
coolie system made use Of by him at the Planters
Meeting, and printed elsewhere
81. III. Hhifney said the last Legislature voted
the sum cof $4,000 for the purpose of bringing
South Sea Islanders here. That measure was intro
duced by Mr.. S. G. Wilder, and was q good move in
the direction of a permanent increase of our popula-
as to whence we get the addition to our = population o.. 90 long as
it was of the right sort, men with their families. Ii was right
look to the future of our country, and aflhe same time that we
introduce ,ss sI labe5e srs.s seek = an increase Of population sIsa en by in.rodp !.
believed that obtaining South Sea Islanders was the most avail
S. G Wilder explained the origin and the result
so far of the project for bringing the South Sea ISL
anders here. Some had been brought, and the r.
but the supply will not be equal to the demand and they are
costly. Where shall we get the needed aLorl The natives
be expected to re-engage as soon as their times are out. Ad-
vocated the resolutions of the Planters Meeting. one and all,
and pointed out their reasonableness, including the contract
system and the assignments when made with the consent of
the Board of Immigration. The stability and permanence of
the sugar business was Of great Importance TO mechanics and
to all classes Of the community. Spoke Of the employers of
tracts, the same way that Cinnamon came here.
j. o. Carter protested against comparing an
intelligent En~glishman to an ignorant coolie. Had
heard a planter say that his coolies had told him
that they had never signed or even seen their con-
tracts in China. (Judge Widemann-" Who is the
planteri" Mr.. Carter,S"J. H. Wood, Sir.n Mr.. Wood
al have Cinnamon who have told me that they never signed
Mr.. Carter resumed That is sufficient. The women i'm
ported are not married, and many never saw their reputed
husbands until they got on board. When here, they were
worthless. He advocated the introduction Of more South Sea
Legislature appropriate money to bring hither men and their
families without cost to the planter il win soon be paid back.
We are all interested in this question, and the government
must respect public opinion. The planters say that they are
while trying to save drowning men we don't get ont Of our own
depths. Let us look to the Homogeneous race Of South Sea ISL
anders as a means of re-populating this country. Let us have
Ms many as possible. The present cooiie system is rotten and
corrupt, and should be done away with.
Judge Widemann would only say that he endorsed
every word that had fallen from Mr.. Whitney.
S. B. Dole made q few remarks, principally
repeating the arguments brought forward by him at
the Planters Meeting, against the resolutions then
adopted.
On motion it was voted that a committee of five
be appointed by the Chair, three from the laboring
class, and two from the planters, to draft resolutions
to be submitted to an adjourned meeting. Carried.
and the following were appointed: Messrs. c. E.
Williams, W. Bennett, c. J. Lyons, Judge Widemann,
and J. P. Cooke.