The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-04-17
lCorr,~ronicncc Of The Pacific Commercial Advert
The Labor System.

Mr.. EpIroR-l wish through your columns, TO say
a few words about the Labor System, of which 80
much has recently been said in the papers. l believe
it 10 bc wise and right for the laws of any country TO
require Of parties the specific tulfllment ola contract,
and that only 10y this can all parties be guarded in
the equal exercise of their rights. To-day scamen in
New York City have agreed to demand so per
month wages and 500 advance. Now if they ship
voluntarily and no deception is ~practicei upon them,
the United States compels them 10 a specific fulfill
ment Of their obligations according 10 the contract.
Ii they come 10 Honolulu and then desert, the United
States requires this Government, according to treaty,
70 use all diligence TO arrest the delinquent scamen,
and return them to their vessels and if they can
plead no abusive or bad treatment, it appears to me
as plainly right as that the masters and owners should
be compelled to fulfill their part of the contract
otherwise the protection of the law IS unequal. 1t
comVels the owner to deal fairly by the seamen, but
leaves him without redress if the seamcn choose not
TO fulfill in fact, it encourages a fraud as real as the
obtaining money under false pretencos. Any seaman
could ship and get his advance, but refuse to fulfill
and set the owner nj defiance. The law that compels
the seaman TO fulfill, as well as the owner, is in the
interest Of justice and morality, and such compulsion
Is not oppression Of the poor it is the vindicatjon Of
justice and right upon the fraudulent and dishonest,
- $50 pc" -N'NA5 S~ N'As " ENAANAA van ~
it cheerfully under a sense of his obligations as 4
matter Of right. l can see no reason why these pria-
eLples are not as just when applied to landsmen as to
soamcn TO the honest laboror, having intelligently
entered into his contract, with full physical ability TO
perform and having no i'll treatment to plead, there
Is no coercion, no application Of the law, because he is
law-abiding, intends to fulfill he Obligations which he
has voluntarily assumed. 1t is only the dishonest,
who, under those circumstances, wish to evade their
obligations, and would refuse to fulfill and there is,
to my mind, no more wrong in compelling their fuI-
filment, than in furnishing a dishones; man for
defrauding, or attempting to do so in any other man
ner. Not TO do it, seems to me u premium upon this
kind Of dishonesty.
But, says the ~objector, do you believe in imprison-
ment FOR debt? Isay no, if the debtor is honest and
unable to pay but if he is able and refuses he should
be treated as a criminal. If his debt is due in labor,
and he has intelligently and voluntarily assumed it,
he should be compelled TO pay it, as much as lift
was due in money he has just the things in posses
sion that he ~bargained for, and is us criminal us if
he withheld the payment of what he owed when he
had the means.
1t may be deemed against public policy to allow
contracts of more than three to five years duration to
be made but if choose to make a contract to labor,
or to command a vessel, or do anything else that is
lawful and reputable, to run through one year or
two, l do it in view of my own interest. If thinkit
for my interest to agree to carry ON a farm for two
years or command a vessel, or engage in anything
that l can DO which is proper to be done-if l choose
to put my services in the market, and sell them with
the power of the purchaser to transfer them to others
for the consideration which he has made to me for
the time specified, who shall say that I have not the
right to do so, and I fail to see any element ofslavery
or wrong in the transaction. In regard to my usage
through all changes which may occur l have the same
protection of the law which my employers have, and
if they fail to fulfill I have the same remedy against
them that they have against me.
When the law establishing the Board of Immigra-
ton was passed l was in the country, and approved
it. Monopoly was not its object, to make money for
the Government was not its object. Its sole object
was to secure for the country the labor so much need
Cd without the abuse arising in other countries and
liable to arise here by leaving the work to private
enterprise, which would only be entered upon for
purposes Of money making. The agent, sent for the
purpose ofinaugurating the enterprise, was a high
minded, humane physician. who, in his turn enlisted
the services of an old Danish Missionary familiar With
the language and having the confidence of both the
Chinese and the foreigners, and the utmost pains
were taken by the agent through the Missionary to
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their engagements, what was expected of them and
what were the inducements offered. 1t is probable
that some received wrong impressions and were dis
appointed, but if so it was no fault Of the Government
or its agent, and | DO not know that to any extent it
has been so probably not more so than if they had
come from the north of Europe or Ireland under sim
liar circumstances. That some should prove them
selves bad men too, is not n matter Of surprise much
as It is 10 be regretted. But the Board OF Immirra-
ton has aimed faithfully to carry out the object for
which it was created. The Government did not aim
Mt money making, nor has it made money, and in TAX
ing the business into its own hands its only object
was TO make the trial which has been made and to
secure the e~migran,s against the impositions and
abuses liable to arise in the conduct ofsuch enterprise
by private citizens and the experiment now making
in the South Seas Is the result Of the same honorable
and humane feelings, whatever may be It's success.
I repeat that if the law compelling scamcn to fulfill
specific contracts is just, for and 10 them, it i just
for and to landsmen. If it il unjust 70 landsmon, it
t. 80 TO scamen. The law can only affect those Of
either class who dishonesty, fraudulcntly refuse to
flhU the obligations, which for their own interest
tlcy have r0iuHtarly assumed. II Is just to employ
crs and employed. 1t makes them equal before the
law. It takes cognizance Of the wrongs of either
party 10 the contract, does not affect the honesty of
either party, and only affects those who would dcfraud
others aud think the law which compels .hc
wrong4iocr is right and just, NJ much rs the one that
shuts up the thief or otherwise cxacts justice Of the
wrong. Such nre laws, and their practical operation
IL beneficial to the whole community and nation.
Yours. in the interests Of JUsrrcr.
II H. believed The Senate viii mo-, agree 10 adjourn
rufI tnu. 10Th 10 18th of AurII.