The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-01-08
communicated.
Free Dor.
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1t is well for US in discussing the labor subject as
it pertains to these islands, 10 fairly look at both sides
of the question, to judge concerning it not merely
from the apparent fairness of the laws which relate
to it, but also from its own tendencies and the prob
able effects of those laws upon it. 1t is well for us to
watch the question as it comes up in other parts of
the world under conditions similar to ours, and let in
upon it all the light We can at best its solution is
difficult enough.
In the last number of the Ga=eiie, Mr.. L. L. Tor
bert, the President of the Hawaiian Trades Associa-
'tion, brings up the question of the character of our
labor system in a severe criticism of a paragraph
from Punch Borl for January, and seems hurt be-
cause it casually stated that the Trades Association
endorsed the policy Of the Planters ; which is, I con-
fess, a grave charge to make against any man or body
of men, and if false, is well compared to throwing
mud on a mans coat, as he illustrates it. I accept
his explanation and apologize for giving the impress
sion that the Planters policy was fully endorsed by
the august body over which he presides. only
meant to say that their endorsement of that policy,
even within the extent as explained by Mr.. Torbert,
would have a certain influence on the prospects of the
labor question in the coming Legislature.
Now as to the point whether labor under our pres
ent system can be called - free labor or not. Pass
ing over his Dictionary logic, which seems to me less
forcible than puzzing, let US turn to the logic of
facts. In the United States, and particularly in the
southern portions of the country. where cotton and
ulgar are cultivated on large plantations, there are
the same reasons that there are here for penal laws
for the enforcement of contracts their crops being
exposed to frosts are far more liable than ours to loss,
and therefore far more dependent in such crises of
the year on the obedience and work of all of the
hands. But the best courts in the country have pos
itively ruled against the principle, have declared it
to be a form of slavery. The new President says,
with sound foresight, in his message " advise such
as will forever preclude the enslavement
of the Chinese upon our soil under the name of
coolies
Mill has written a forcible letter on the subject,
c~ondemning the principle. And as the question in
creases in interest and Importance, we may expect an
overwhelming verdict against it from the great and
able men of the day.
Nearer home, our own Commissioner sent out to
China to engage labOrers for these islands, was una
to resist the natural conclusion forced upon him
by the facts which he personally saw and knew of.
He says, in speaking of the system of obtaining labor
ers from China under contract for foreign countries,
which is popularity called the coolie trade, that it
differs from slavery only in degree, not in essence ;
and he saw it in its best phase, as it was humanely
by our Government. His evidence strongly
the view held by the courts of the United
States.
There has been enough repetition of the statement
hat the Chinese are free to do as they like when they
The idea followed out would make it proper
10 allow a man to sell himself fof life, hold him to his
by the terrors of the law, and prospecting
rom his toll. to cOmplacently thank the Lord for the
blessings of " free labor The principle is unsafe.
re laborers are ignorant of the proportion between
he price of food and wages in the country to which
hey are going, and it is wicked to let them contract
lnder the inducement of higher wages than they get
home, and not Mt the same time to let them know
hat cost of living is also very much higher. The
cannot know these things and many others
hat they ought to know before they can intelligently
contract their services. Modern law does not hold
minors, deranged persons or drunkarls to contracts
hey may have made, because they are held to be
unable to act with that full intelligence which is
necessary to the entering upon Of such obligations
safety. This being the true principle of con-
racts, can the coolie system be at all justified, when
he truth is that the coolies generally sign their con-
racts with less intelligence than minors or drunk
rds would be capable of in ordinary circumstances.
ina II WOuld seem u HlhIIef OF uOuDCIul CONSISTENCY |
or Christian men and enlightened governments to
Import and defend a system that allows contracts for
ersonal services to be made in this way, and en-
orces them with penal laws, and then to baptize the
bncrInal deformity with the name of sc free labor"
The spirit of the supporters of our present system
exposed in Mr.. Torbert's satirical description of the
landing here of a shipload Of q irresponsible
,borers, or free laborers.' That laborers should
md here as independent immigrants, with the lib
rty of making their engagements with whom they
lease, and upon the best terms which they can get,
g is the case with the tens of thousands of immi-
rants who annually land at the Battery in New
'ork, in the free country of the United States, seems
be regarded by them as something too absurd to
e worthy Of any sober consideration. And yet his
gn illustration describes q case where there is a near
pproach TO equality between employer and laborer,
nd the chance of intelEigently entering into the con-
act on the part of the labOrer. This very paragraph
MI. Torbert's article defines too clearly his ideas
D the subject for US to remain a moment in doubt
nd if that means Sc free labor what in the world is
Ondage?
| would suggest the Importance of a high and in
lligent national policy on this subject, and the great
ss in name and standing We shall incur, and the
rong we shall infiict upon our own free instincts as
people, if a system inconsistent with the rights and
Ighest good of even our weakest subjects is made a
irt of our system Of government. 1
PUNCH Bowl.
CasseHs Magazine relates that a clergyman