The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-02-09
Japanese ssnisration.


residents IN Japan; and the remarks are
valuable, as indicating the view of I'M
prejudieed lookers-on, who, in a small
settlement, were fully eognizant of every
fact. We invite the attention of our
readers to it; II was in type last week,
but was unavoidably crowded out. We
presume, after the expoSitions which have
heretofore been published by us, and the
re-printing of this one, it viii not be
necessary for US to recur TO the matter
again, and he who misrepresents for the
future, will sin against much light
We have recently written more than once up
on the subject Of the emigration of japanese Ia
borers 10 the Hawaiian sugar and cotton fields
and have always been surprised at the persistent
opposition shown by the Foreign Ministers 70
any such intercourse between this country and
the Sandwich Islands. Il Is difficult to under
stand why the Representative Of the United
States should have thrown such obstacles as he
has in the way of those who were endeavoriug at
the same time to create friendly relations be
tween TWO countries likely to be so Interchange
ably useful as Japan and Hawaii and 10 enable
the dOEn-trOddeR japanese ssrf 10 better his COZ
dition by carrying his labor TO 4 better market
Such hinde rance 10 good work would have been
surprising even in the representative of q despot-
ie government displayed by the Minister Of
Republic. which is the protector of personal free
dom and the advocate of personal equality all over
the world. it was ineomprehensible. But the op-
position existed and even now. when in spite of
H. japanese commission has left for Honolulu
/ it is still in full vigor. We eanuot believe that
the following paragraph in the japan Herald
last Mail Summary not INSPIRED =
The japanese mission 70 Hawaii. and its OBJ
jeetS. form the Subject of some speculation. In
the face of the wholesale depOrtations to Sagha-
lien to bar Russian colonization il Is little ike
" that coolies would be permitted TO troop off 10
American bottoms 10 Honolulu. even on condi-
ton of return at specified time. Stories-uo
doubt exaggerated-0t the i'll treatment Of some
former emigrantS have come over to head quar-
tiers. whence it is augured that this mission will
either arrange for the return of the abSentees or
if they find themselves forced 20 Weld permission
TO emigTate. take measures for wedding out the
criminal population, and c0usgning the worst
specimens Of that class 10 the mercies OF caterers
for the labor market. Judging from the provision
OF iron barbados, armed guards loaded artillery
grated hatehways. kuOtted ropes and knuekle-dus-
teTs TO be seen II full blast on every snpoad Of
happy families starting to survey the world from
4
the old slave trade. Not long since cargo was
roasted alive. a mutiDy was Intellectually al
tempted to be queled, but a last the emigrants7
were driven below and the matches batteued down.
The coolies then fred the ship and the Captain
and crew could only save themselves in the boats
and watch the concentration Of the heeatombr
This is excessively unfair No one reading this
passage. cursorily. as it would naturally be read
but would be led to believe that iron barrieades
armed guards, loaded artillery. grated hatchways
knOtted ropes and knuckle-duslers7 were part Of
the equipment Of ships that had taken cargoes Of
Japanese cOoy-slaves to Hawaii Not long
since cargo was roasted alive. etc 1t NAV be
pleaded that the quotation from China to Peru
indicates that the writer was referring to the Ma
Gao Portuguese cody trade bat prelaced as these
instances are by the initial heading Of the Japa-
nese Mission to Hawaii and its objects" and the
subsequent remarks, quotation was not enough
TO indicate the change in direction Of the writer's
attack and il ought to have been distinctly stated
Great injustice is indirectly done to an upright
and honorable gentleman here, one OF the oldest
residents and perhaps the most disnterested for
eign friend the japanese possess. 1t would be
mere afectation to refrain from printing his name
Mr.. Eugene NJ. Van Reed.
The whole story of the japanese emigration to
Hawaii is this. Mr.. Van Reed has for over two
years held the appointment here of Consu-t3en-
eEal for the Hawaiian Islands. 4 treaty had been
signed bat the ratification was delayed hence
he had not hoisted the Hawaiian flag but was
looking after the interests of the Sandwich Islands
monarchy and waiting for fuller recognition here.
In the summer of 81. a special envoy Mr.. Water
man, sent jointly by the king and the Chamber
Of Commerce of Honolulu. paid visit to Japan
and found not only market for Hawaiian sugar.
but also supply OF labor to cultivate it. In the
autumn Of that year, a valued correspondent of
this Journal, then in Osaka on special duty under
the Japanese Government. asked, with reference
10 some mention Of Mr.. Watermans visit What
is the trade of the Canuibal Islands and in reply
we gave him. and we believe large majority of
our readers some information and statistics about
Hawai- which they did not possess before. There
the matter dropped. But in May 1868 a contrib
utOr to our columns had his attention attracted.
one afternoon, to a number of japanese coolies
singing and shouting. and evidently 10 exuberant
spirits leaving the English HatOha 10 three large
cargo boats On enquiry. he found they were 90
ing on board ship lying in the harbor as passeu-
gers and further Investigation Informed bin that
they were emigrants to Honolulu by an English
vessel called the Sci0t0. going out to labor in su-
gar and cotton fields for tern Of three years and
for remuneration Of about ten times what they
could earn at home viz food clothing attendance
when sick. and four dollars a month to boot. 1t
was no matter Of won er that thes were in high
spirits This Is the only sbip-Ioad that has gone
owing to the gnjust6able and illegal interference
Of General Van Nalkeubargh and. therefore the
Hsraids description could only refer in the case
Of japanese cody emIgrants to the Sciot0
Now the Sciof0 Was an English ship of $50
tons double decked, and formerly engaged in car
ryiug passengers from Liverpool to New York. |
She was chartered to carry these $50 japanese |
lab0rers 20 Hawaii at price close upon $1,000 /
thar -h.rr - h H.
Dor that had similarly good accommodation.
She lay here eleven days before sailing with the
japanese on board free to come and go as they
pleased. and many Of them reTisiting the shore. /
Had the apparatus of iron barbados armed
guards. loaded artillery. grated batchways etc.
imagined by the Herald. been part Of Der equip
meut Is it likely that Capt NcDouald uOydis
Surveyor. the British Consul or the japanese
Government would have sanctioned her depart
ure1 The vessel was British, and British ofici-
ais were more than satisfied that every possible
precaution for the welfare Of the emigTauts had
been taken by the Hawaiian COnsui-e5eneraL A
medical officer. with ample supply Of medicines
and medical comforts, vas on board. and an extra
supply Of 500 pcuis Of rice in case Of ans unfor-
innate accident IL is shameful that such IN
founded destinations have been made the jana
nese are quite sufficiently suspicious without for
eigners Imagination being brought into play to
render them more 80.
We have so recently detailed the present con-
dition Of these emigTants in the Sandwich Islands
that we need not 90 over that ground AGAIN