The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-04-13
Honolulu. Feb. s. 1870


riss Indirectly Engaged in r-Basi,sess,
Honolulu, Feb. s. 1870.
The elections have caused some excitement in our
community. The new Registry law has proved to
be perfect piece of bOtch work. and much feeling
has been engendered against the inspectors Of elec
lions for their refusal quality voters who
titled to such qualification Two persons who were
refused. carried The matter before First Associate
HartweT, of the Supreme Court who rendered deci-
siOns against The inspectors much TO the ehagrin Of
of our high officials. A decision against the Gov
eminent, couched in such decided terms these
were marks a in affairs, and leads US to
hope better things of the Supreme Court.
The main issue to be decided by this election is
our labor system; whether it be essentially free
labor or the forced or bonded system under which
our Chinese and japanese coolies are held TO labor
The independent newspapers here have taken
stand against system of coercion, while the Gov
eminent papers are for it, Under the old coastitu-
ton, with a Legislature of two distinct branches,
there is room for doubt but that the government
would be sorely defeated. As illustrative of what
the bonded - system is l quote from articles
which have lstely appeared:
''Serfdom is species of slavery brought to pass By
the contracting of debt the debter binding him
herself to service BIZ written contract until the debt
is quidated 1t differs from slavery in this particus
lar-one is kidnapped aud restrained Of liberty
through force; the other deliberately sells him or
herself for a stipulation The advance system
praetised here, has direct tendency to this eond
tion. A native is DESTROYS of sum of money to
eOmplish certain object. The shipping master
steps I'm and says, will advance what You may re-
quire If you will ship on a Plantation. The native
sees chance 10 accomplish the object in question,
and ships for term OF six months, year, the
may be- The debtor rarely thinks oi his
Stiles such as clothes and other incidental expenses
when shipping. After having spent his advance
those wants stare him in the face. He asks for fur
Their credit, which the planter is only too ready to
grant in the shape OF slop-clothing at double the
amount for which he could purchase for cash. Al
ter having worked his stipulated term he finds him
sell more deeply in debt to the plantation than he
at the time of contracting The consequences is
that be is compelled to reship-or, under your mas
ter and servant law, to go to prison. They prefer
the former general thing and reship; and thus
held in constant service to the plantation"
We are not as yet aware of any children being
held for parents debt but if this kind of transae
ton is allowed to go on, how long will it be before
the planters will claim the child for the fulfllmeBt
Of the parents contract; We most sincerely hope
that laws having a tendency 10 this effect will be
abolished; and if the planter fit to trust his Ia
borer, it shall be upon the laborer's honor There
is no law compelling the planter TO trust; he does
it of his free viii, knowing the whole facts of
the case, and if he has any fear of not getting his
pay without compulsion he has no business to trust
His Majesty's government has sent commission
er To China after another cargDf coolies some six
hundred or more, which to be obtained at Hong