The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-04
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
Arrival of Whalers-The Chinese Qnestien-
Emigration or Slavery, Which-Both systems
Contusrd--IH Trea,lnens Of Coolies--Ieeview
Of tho subject,

HONOLULU Nov 2, lsf0
Tho whalers are now coming IN, ana with very
good faros The average OF the Arctic feet VIII no
close to, II not quite, 500 barrels. About the
oehotsS 1eet there ls some doubt; so far as heard
from they 40 not average 800 barrels and tins early
In September.
The vessels from the Arctic report an unusually
cold winter, causing considerable suffering among
the crews.
The vessels lost and reported ut this Date are the
Hawaiian brig Pnel, trader. and the American whal-
ing bark Eagle, ca plain Mckenzie. The Eagle had
stored down 600 barrels OF OIL before going ashore.
No lives Lost In either case.
The arrival OF the fleet has not alayed the excite
by the discussion or the peculiar coolie
system Of this kingdom. which, II properly named,
slavery Us long as the contract lasts. The plant
ers and tue government have formed coalition for
the purpose OF perpetuatlng the institution. 1t s
not thought that all the planters win join the gov
ornment The issue viii be met at the next election
OF members to the Assembly. The natives are
strongly opposed to the SYSTEM and SO are nine
tenihs OF the foreigners The planting interests do
not represent 100 persons, and yet they propose TO
make the balance OF the population share the dis.
grace and ignominy consequent upon continuance
OF the system. 1t is u continued struggle between
capital and labor dvne and IN which is very evident
that capital, aided ana abetted Dy all oil the large
patronage which the ministry nave at their disposal.
has brought prominently before the pubic report
or the Commissioner OF immigration, IN when the
planters are shown up In q very unenvlaDle light.
IL is wen known that the contracts made win The
Chinese the ports over which the Chinese govern
nient ms control contain many clauses winch place
the coolie In The position OF q Tree man. Fof
instance:-Eyery oniigrant leaving China has pro-
family II he has one to China when his time IS up;
Or II ne elects TO remain abroad all equivalent III
money to the amount OF his passage must be PAID 10
him. The days work Is established at from seven 70
nine hours The right 10 change masters Is also
given in some instances SICK Clinese are sent
back to China at the expense OF the master, and
other privileges are granted To the emigrant
The Hawaiian commissioner IN speaAng q the
emgrant 0 savs:N;rhe schedules OF the con.
tracts contain many clauses which, although
Inserted from motives OF humanity, may 10 y,
the COOLEST The coolies who come here
have arrangement made for return TO CHINA, or
remain; no agreement Is made by winch the SICK
are cared Tor and returned. planter has publicly
stated thai had four sick otherwise disabled,
ana he turned them or his plantation to 40 where
they listed In Oruet to assume vlriue he styles u
giving them their liberty. When the coolies come
mere they arc herded together, and the planter or
his agent selects them alter careful examination
OF their physical condition, which Il done by rap
ping ON the ribs look al the teeth ana the n0dus
Opeussdt which must still be familiar to thousands
IN the South The cooie has no choice but 10 stand
out when ordered to, and Ia then marched away to
scene his labors for the next four, i've ten
years. the may be- After his purchase, II his
master tires OF hun, ne can sell or. as they say
| frequently the case where house servant proves
troublesome The master sells him TO planter. and
he Is worked upn in the field. so lar as my expert
ence goes New England men make the worst mas
ters or perhaps should say that New Englanders
are among the most KIND alra humane. Should the
cooe resist the 'w0rllng up,n there Is penal
enactment by which he can be imprisoned at hard
labor until such time he Is docle. After the ex-
pratlon OF his contract term he Is compelled to servo
two days for his master for every day he was locked
| up. On some plantations the coolies are roughly
treated, OVorSeerS generully armed IL the ueQ
One instance occurred where an oyerseer plunged a
knife into cooe, ana, In order to screen him, he
was allowed mock trial before coroner's jury and
chen helped to leave the Islands. The planter ac-
knowledged that 1t was murder. THIS al takes
place under contracts from which clauses Inserted
from motives OF humanity" are carefully eliminated,
for fear that they would be "irksome TO the employ
| AT o recent public meeting one OF the speakers
used the following language:-Tne member OF the
g. Harris. The Chinese cook OF Mr.. p. e. Jones' Jr.
/ was given his liberty as soon ~ the lactS were
| known to Mr.. Jones.
Claimed that the system which contracts give semblanc,
m.ohasy which .y..sn Identical wiii
=, ss:s ia
ong goes ts baracoon All the evil in human nature
To- Tns pep or oar.GSon s an in China
to both syssms lie would not claim that this system
system which would warrant belief TIA. other abuses had
inoa yard. and desiring Ii
1
for %
eleventh article OF declares ihss 'nvon-
fasdom anything voluntary in the service Of the
cooe the several masters ne may 10 assigned to II no
.oa ant he u
perry coos breaks his civil cosrsc. his person cam
his noesalso civil consraet-his lands
equally proof the assertion that they are upon
as properly, quoted TOD. from local paper,-
land OF which y acres are bottom land and ABOUT Sos
nsrrs WOO. and pasture land There
atea WHOSE contracts for labor expire October 1870
the Hawaiian oNS o. NV e''A'' On
A. tAe Last messing member of tho Board ,micraion
re me s o, one wsG could not read or who would
Contrary lie The e o sa Sas
a se AMI @ to take up ne challenge He
Of j. T. woodnn company with competent and
found out OF the ten write ons who
o w S T sRa mad ao e9a neither read
BY which he was held and there was not of the contracts
pick a sS' %
them had tho contracts after had gone on
board The snip which brought had sstsd
Gas not desirable 70 60 the voyage; had signed
again %ner Su which, Lad from S
yas that Of Chinese ooos cook held By contract Mr.
Aehuck merchants, through competent interpreter and
iVHshs x 9TH. nam.
In the contract Is eegahleongl.
q. Can you cad and write Chinasef A.. Yes
q. Did you read this before leaving China A.
Nuver read II, but had board
ship.
u. Did you sign this contract A. No.
q. Did you sign any conracty A. No.
o. Did you read any contract before going board
ship? A. No. gr-H
u DID you know you hired for I'VE yearsf A. Yes
would hire your A. Yes.
q. Where you born! A. In Chung Io-in Ths con.
tract rays born In shenonD
q What is yonr age at PRESENT. A. Twentyfour. tBy
the contract was aged twenty four, August 49, 1857
o. How were you secured 70 como here, what induce
ments hsd ont to youp A. Notices put up In tho
at Hong Kong that no Homo
uu made application and Informed that could ind
work At Honolulu vt much better China
ceyed advance OF eight dollars besides pair
and some coes was told that receive
per month the vessel and to much higher wages
stone (Ais trade after arrival hero.
O. What wages did you receive China? A. Some