The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1869-10-27
Labor.

ED. GAZETTE Who are TO be the labor
ers? How are they to come? What is to
be done with them when they cease to labor
Who can we getg
The only available labor is from China.
We know that Cinnamon will work. They
work for low wages. They work well.
There are large numbers of the lower casts
work for 81 per month, and food. In China
they are born to toll. Their caste keeps
them down, and they can never rise above
"hewers of wood and drawers of water"
They better their condition by coming here,
and we can get few millions of them, If we
want them, by only sending for them, and
they will not be missed at home any more
than we would miss a few of the wild goats
from off the mountains of Hawaii.
1t is true they are pagans. They are not
easily evangelized. They are clanish. They
believe in Josh. They are full of supersti-
tions, they are grateful, faithful and vindic-
tive. But with all their faults, virtues and
follies, they are a muscular, frugal, working
people. Mr.. Spear who lived many years in
China, and understood their language well,
says that the better classes in China are men
exhibiting many most excellent traits of char
acter He also says that the lower castles
are very degraded, and born only TO toll.
But one quality seemed to be in common
with high and low alike. 'If Chinaman
made a bargain and understood it, he in
variably kept it,"
Such are the kind of men we can get for
cheap labor, in any numbers. How are they
TO come? 1t is not possible for them to
come without assistance. There are class
of Cinnamon who can reach our shores with
out aid. But they are not laborers. Let all
come who can come without aid, the more
They are a very good class. They make
good citizens, but they cannot be employed
at prices such as plantations can afford to
give for common laborers.
In order to close the avenues to slavery,
the contracting power should be only in the
care of the Government. The agents should
be honest and responsible men, and the
contract should be understood by the man
at the beginning What better plan can be
adopted than the one already existing ?-the
present board of Immigration. If there are
any Objectionable incumbents in the Board,
let them be replaced by true men, but the
Board, in itself is sound, and the business Of
contracting for and bringing men here should
rest with the Board. The Board should find
places for the men, and be responsible for
the honest ful6lment of the contract, by both
master and servant The strong arm of the
law should be swift and sure, to readjust the
balance of equity when disturbed by either
side. am speaking now of cheap labor.
The question Of populating the Islands is not
now under consideration, but that Of cheap
labor and the best icdy 10 get IL, and what 10
do with the laborers when they cease to be
laborers?
The last is perhaps the most important
consideration Of all for the nation to consid-
er. Shall We bring to our shores, from time
to time, large numbers of such ignorant, IL
centious, yindictiye, dishonest men, and
turn lDCul lOOec III Ut bDdll
we bring them, and haYe them only as
laborers?
We now require two thousand men to
work plantations. Shall we send for them,
and at the end of four or five years turn them
loose and send for fresh supply, or shall
they be contracted for in China to be return
ed to China when they cease to be laborers?
If we continue to bring them and turn them
loose in the community, at the expiration of
q few years, and renew the numbers; in a
ed into an Asiatic colony, and in place Of
christian churches, shall see pagan temples;
and in lieu Of constitutional monarchy,
have Chinese despotism.
The plan propose is simply this. Let the
contract be made in China and let it end in
China Let the hands be engaged for term
of five years to commence on the day they |
land here, and at the expiration of that time
let every man be returned TO the Board, to-
gether with, say fifty dollars, to pay the pas
sage home.
If the men choose to enter into longer
term, with the Board, to labor, let the Board |
extend the time, and re-hire out the men,
and so continue to re-hire them as long as /
they choose to he laborers here, the contract
10 expire in China by their return there
when they cease to be laborers.
In this way we shall have no more of this
element 10 our community than
will be sufficient to do the work
The Planters can haze all the cheap labor
they require, and the citizens have no fear
rom pagan influence predominating. Hop
ng this idea may lead to some discussion on
Is merits, submit it TO the public. T.