The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-07-09

is complained of by the returned japanese ano
in reply will briefly state;
That nv arrangement, as representative OF
Hawaii, with the late government, granted per-
mission for Japanese to leave under a three years
contract that the japanese contractor, Hanbe,
received his advances and evidently disbursed the
same in newly clothing the emigrants, who were
now clamorous to depart. That whenever letters
were received by me from the japanese to their
friends or the Government, such were Immediately
delivered.
That the California papers asserted the Japa-
nese in Hawaii were committing suicide by hang
ing, or were being starved to death by their en-
employers L used my utmost for better than a
year, to persuade the japanese Government to
either send a Consul, or despatch the gunboat
Fujiydnla, to Judge for themselves OF the aecusa-
tions made-to which my only answer has been
that the Government : was too poor to undertake
the expense"
Finding calumny persistent in regard to the
Japanese emigrants. l despatched at my own ex.
peilse i'm October 1868, an officer of the Prince of
Oowniima, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs,
named Kiyama Seichi, for Hawaii, to examine
and make his report of what he might discover {;
should the Government disbeleve my assertions
that the japanese were being well taken care of
but after reaching San Francisco, he Immediately
returned to Yedo, without going further, confirm
ing all the wost rumOrs.
The Embassy of the Mikado to Hawaii, was re-
ceived by the King, with that courtesy and hos
pitality SO proverbial of the Hawaiians. Every
possible facility was given to fathom alleged
abuses and i'll treatment. The Minister for For
eigh Affairs accompanied the Embassy on their
tour around the sugar and rice plantations, and
in order that a fair understanding should be ar
rived at, the American, English and French
Ministers also formed the party. The Embassy
conversed with the japanese in their own tongue,
using such language or intimidations as they
deemed proper, and after a review of all, thirty
nine, out of one hundred and fifty, desired to re-
turn to Japan and their families, the remainder
being content and happy in receiving but So per
month"; the story of the returned is to be
credited.
Those who have returned have gained some
knowledge of the English and Hawaiian languages;
are all dressed in foreign style, and taken strongly
to foreign manners, therefore it is hardly likely
they will 's shtaniro - as they were accustomed
to before they went abroad. Nearly all have
brought a parcel containing foreign clothing for
future use some with rice. and all, with the ex-
ception of six, brought back money with them.
The worthless and dissatisfied have now been
heard from. Probably the language used by the
members of the Embassy to the King and the
written declaration of the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, wherein they say, +" We have everywhere
found our countrymen well cared for and kindly
treated by their employers, - may have weight in
proving to you that the japanese were humanely
treated, and not as slaves.
My efforts to procure free immigration either
to America or Hawaii lave been opposed by others
than the Japanese Government, and if on political
grounds it should be found necessary for me to be
sacrificed, let it be so but let not my motives be
impugned, as 1 have labored with but one view
Foreigners be friends, and Japan sign the Treaty
with Hawaii as agreed upon in 1867.
/ am Sir, your obedient servant,
+. NJ. VAN REED. |