The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-01-01

Our correspondent j, in another column, re-
~iterates at some length the views put forth by him
last week. His letter needs no extended notice
from US, but we will merely observe that he ap-
pears to ignore in his arguments, the main point
which causes tho chief trouble the ignorance of
the coolie laborer concerning his part of the con-
tract. 1t was shown at the late public meetings,
that some, and it is believed many of the coolies
have never signed the contracts under which they
are serving, and consequently that it is an er parte
contract, which he may have been forced to enter,
or if voluntary, enters merely to escape from the
poverty and serfdoln of his own country. He cares
not where he goes, if he can only get away from
his home, in the hope of improving his condition.
Now it is mainly to ameliorate and better this
system, SO that it may be placed on u basis which
shall stand the searching scrutiny of the growing
antI-slayery sentiment of the present age, that
we are striving for, and seeking the cooperation
of Government and all interested in labor. We
have no objection to labor contracts as such, but
we wish the penal system 50 modified that all can
approve of it. If the present system is carried
on, under which coolies of any and every class of
70 49, N~NNNt "1N w ~
sold, and at best Unfortunately raked up from
the Hongkong and Canton wharyes, shipped here,
- assigned :" or virtually sold, and at the end of
their term turned adrift to curse the conntry-it
will not be ten years before the enlightened chris
tan sense. not of these islands alone, but of Eng
land, America ana tae sLJis World, will demand
and enforce a change. In previous papers, we nave
distinctly shown bow the system may be s'~proved.
-rZsSLGso,"
A " constant reader " takes occasion to dissent
from the views expressed BY us last week, enjoin-
ing economy and prompt payment in all obliga-
tions between man and man. He says:
81 cannot agree with you in all that you say about credit,
man who. like myself, is compelled TO look after .he pennies. L
"a ,5 running i "a accounts at With my grocer, bu'ehe,, and others,
counts of expenditures in this form, 1 know jeet what 1 spend
with each, which l could not, were l TO pay for each item as
purchased.'
1t was not our design to condemn the system of
credits in toto, for credit is a good thing, when not
abused but we sought TO show the advantages of
a cash system over that of credit. A man who
promptly pays his bills when presented, like our
correspondent, be it quarterly or monthly, does
all that IS expected of him. But the man who
does not settle his bills, when presented over and
over again, delrauds his neighbor, at the same
time that he Injuries himself. He defrauds, be-
cause he fails to pay over what justly belongs to
his neighbor when due. He Injuries himself be-
cause he is establishing habits of shiftlessness and
Indebtedness. No man can know what he earns,
what he owes, or what he should expend for the
support of his family, who rarely or never pays
his bills.
In our community, the custom of paying. bills
quarterly has long been established, though some,
as grocers and others, require bills paid monthly.
Whenever an account becomes due, according to
local usage, IL should be promptly paid. To delay
payment justly entities the creditor to collect in
terest on overdue accounts, as is done in other
places. A person who is slack in paying his
quarterly or monthly bills, win be slack in pay
ing his notes. And here is just where the evil
becomes a positive injury in any community, 4
just SO soon as the custom is adopted of allow
ing an extension on notes, as is 4 done with quar-
terly accounts, the business of the place becomes
more or less demoralized and hazardous, and
credit shaken.
But to enable the jobber and retailer to settle
their notes promptly, the customer should prompt
ly settle his accounts, as he has uirtuaAy agreed TO
sohen asking credit. In this way alone can bust
ness be carried on successfully, and all share
equal benefits. Now we say to every man, what
ever his position in society, pay all your bills
promptly when presented, and let all your trans
actions be for cash, when practicable. By 80
doing, you will always be able to know just what
your expenses are, and your neighbor can conduct
his business on a sure basis. Both you and he
will be happier, more thrifty and prosperous,
and probably live ten years longer.
~ We are requested by the Marshal to inform
the foreign jurors drawn for the January term of
the Supreme Court that their services win not be re-