The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-10-20

method Of casting Odlum upon cause
Many, here, seek TO confouni our contract
system with that of Coolieism, as under
stood by those who have not, or choose
not TO inform themselves. Of the mOdifca-
tons and restraints that have been placed
by the commercial nations upon Asiatic
Emigration
4 Coolie is HiDdostanee porter, or
common laborer, and Europeans have come
to apply it to az EaSssrz laborers. aud 50
applied, it has nothing in i;more offensive.
degrading or suggestive Of wrong than
the use Of its counterpart, laborer, has in
Great Britain or the United States. But
IN introducing these laborers, from China
into Cuba and Peru, very great wrongs
have been done TO the Coolies or labo7ers.
Authorities say that they have been puT-
chased from the Mandarins, for two or
shree dollars apiece, and warrants and
Others picked up by the Chinese coutrac-
tors for, their principals without regard to
fitness, OF right that then their contracts
have been sold II public suction to the
highest bidder in Peru or Cubs besides
on the passage they have been crowded to
gether in the ships without any regard TO
their comfort These wrongs, the natural
result Of private enterprise, always seeking
the highest profits. became 50 hsgraut
that the British Government passed laws
appointing Agents in the ports Of depar-
ture, if in the British territory, to see
that no labOrer was taken away without his
full and free consent and full explana-
ton, as far as possible, Of what was expect
ed Of him where he vas going that he
might 60 freely and undersiandingly. Also
ageats were appointed in their colonies,
TO shield from abuse those who might be
imported there, and tosee that their con-
tracts were faithfully carried out
The abuses alluded to gave birth to the
COOfe laws Of the United Siates- The
necessities Of this country, and the knowl-
edge Of these wrongs and the liability Of
their recurrence. whilst the emigration
business was in private hands, gave rise
to the Board Of migration here, which
We hailed with satisfaction as in the IL
teresis Of humanity. snd as far as It has
acted it has. as fully as possible, promoted
those interests, and meted on: essential
justice as far Is lay in the scope Of its
power.
We have no Coolie system here. in its
present Odi0bs aoeePtation. we never hare
had. The law Of Master and Servant.
passed many years since in the reign Of
kanehameha III. in ferme, administra-
ton, is mild and equitable law, requiring
The specific ful6lment Of eontraets-be-
tween Masters and SerTants-snd had
the sanction Of Chief Justice Lee and
Others, whose names have passed into his
tory as good men and derOted to the in
terests Of justice.
Tia; law simply requires a man to do
what be has contracted to do 1t is right
that be should fulfill his promise. and if be 1
refuses, without cause, ;be law eDf0rces
his performance Of the contract. The
maritime laws Of civilized countries do the
sane IN cases Of seamen. If it be said
that at sea this Is necessary for the pre-
ssrvatiOn Of life, We grant that it may be,
but II ceases to be 50 when the ship is in
port The worst that can happen. If the /
seaman leaves when his ship is safely an
chored in the ha-bOr, is delay and loss Of
property to the owners. which Is precisely 1
what Is likely to happen to The enployer
on land whose laborer, upon whom be has
relied, leaves him, only the harvest,
whether Of grain or sugar. Is likely to /
suffer more from sueh cause than the 4
voyage BY simple detention The hw pro
tects the laborer in all his rights, and it
affords no more protection to his employer
IN his nights BE Is compelled to pay for J