The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-09-11
TsaE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER II.

Oh our first page We copy from n New York
paper n communication, written, rs we under.
stand, by our respected friend Mr.. DAMON, to
which we call special attention, inasmuch as il
seems to have been penned to enforce the same
ideas which we have uttered freely in this paper,
during the last few years, and for uttering which
we have been grossly and persistently misrepre-
sented by the Official organ of the Hawaiian Gov
ernment- We are glad to see our reverend
friend come out so unreservedly and express
opinions which, had they been expressed here
during the discussions, would have allaycd
much i'll feeling. Even at this late day, their
expression tends only to sustain us in one of
the important points We have been contend
ing fora modification of the coolie system.
The publication of his letter in America shows
that the air of that free republic is different
from that of Hawaii nei,, and that, either the
great question assumes n more important aspect
there, or else that there is less restraint there in
the expression of one's opinions. The writer says:
The question arises 10. shali the Chinese be viewed ,
inq oar sb,r.. or ,saT tA,g D. tr~gtSa a. = 800 go
rhon shall be wiEahsa certain rigas aaa Prisis5ss OF
y the question 20 b. answered. Now appsars 10 be the proper
throw any Hsht upon IL Is in duty bsaai o. shed thai light.
although il be no more than thar Of = small taper os a rush
Now the burthen of our public discussions
has been that all labOrcrs or cmigrants be en-
couragcd to conc hithcr rOizniGrily: that every
contract be n voluntary one. or what is bet
ter still, that no contract be made abroad that
no special laws be made, applicable only to one
class or laborcrs that the same laws be applied
to them a. to Hawaiian laborcrs, and that they
shall be held exempt from sale, as was done by
public auction, in violation OF Hawaiian laws,
when the PrincevilIe and Waihce Plantations
were sold; in short. that they be treated as
other foreigners seeking our shores.
Again We quote from the letter:
Looking At this qaestisa IN the light of rea-ou, hes., and
be admitted % an The rigst. and psiviIssss Of american eiu-
esners are admitted eauting from Ireland, Germany, seandi-
naval Any other poIiey vii work only evil; and, lf a mis-
coming time. Lea our stSissaaea aSS nsisansi IeSi.asarss
learn wisdom from tks past history q our country.
Substituting the word Hawaiian for a. Ameri-
can in this paragraph, what language could be
more expressive OF the sentiments OF this paper
in the recent discussions? All that we contend
for is that certain principles OF right be acknowl-
edged, and wrong discouutenanccd and that the
laborer, during his term of service, be he Chinese,
japanese or South Sea Islander, be placed on the
same footing a. a Hawaiian or naturalized for
eigncr, and not have \ separate code made ap-
plicablc only to him. As Mr.. Damon says, we
must look this question in the face, and deal
with our Chinese 80 on the same terms and condi-
tions " as foreigners from other parts.
The labor question here is as important to us
and to our agricultural interests, as it is in the
United States, and its solution is very simple, if
government will make the necessary changes.
One year from now the term Of many of the
Chinese laborers will expire and more must be
obtained somewhere, or our plantations must
come to a standstill. Our views have been freely
in our issue of March q, and were
embodied in these propositions:
4 THAT the eooHe trade, as nov carried on, should be ahan-
foned, as being contrary 90 the spirit Of the age and esvliza-
I THAT free immigration IL both whites and colorud labor
er-, from any foreign country, should be encouraged, especially
Of families
3-That all The rssfriesions ~Erbidiing the imperialism f
any parties % iatroduee free iaborers or Immigrants
&-That she proper position of the Governnent 10 70 act not
- principal 10 r1migrznoc enterrrise<, but - protector OF
Immigrants, nzLrs al necessary rules and seeing them en-
freed
Not only must the System OF emigration be
but 10 must be left unrestricted, SO that
zach planter or his mercantile agent can send
when and where he may choose and obtain his
while Goserpment carefully watches