The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-02-02
The Labor Question.

To the Editor Of the Hd,raiidn Gazette:
SIR-An article in the Advertiser of the 18th
inst. processes to review the history of Jamaica
in connection with the immigration of Coolies,
and its application to the state of the labor
question in these Islands The rusult arrived at
by the Editor is presume expressed in the f.
nal paragraph. where he says The Co0lie code
and penal enactment for the enforcement, only, of
contracts to labor must b. erased from our stat
utes." BY what logical process he draws this
conclusion from his own rendering of the history
of jamaica, ] am at a loss to discover for that
goes to show if it shows anything, that the Is
land was IN a chronic state of insolvency for ma
ny years before the introduction of coolies and
only showed signs of recovery some years after
they were introduced Still the impression that
the Advertiser tries to convey, if any definite
proposition is conveyed at all. is that Coolie i'm
migration has injured Jamaica.
/ have before me a work which throws some
light on this point. entitled THE West Indies
and the Spanish Main" by Anthony Trollope,
$500. IN which this subject is considered, and
important. that beg leave to present few ex-
tracts to your readers. We must remember that
Anthony frollope is not planter pleading his
own case, neither is he a professed philantaro-
pist. writing PEG lie into the idea that they are
oppressed for the sake of coming to the rescue.
but he is literary gentleman and an intelligent
traveller relating facts which he has observed and
studied on the spot
Speaking of Trinidad he says 1t is large
Island. great portions of which are but very inl-
perfectly known ; of which but a very small part
has been cultivated. During the last eight or ten
years. ten or twelve thousand immigrants, chiefly
coolies from Madras and Calcutta have been
brought into Trinidad forming now above an
eighth part of its entire populations and the
consequence has been that in two years, from
1855, to 1857, its imports were increased by
one third and its exports by two thirds In
other words it produced with its coolies three
hogsheads of sugar, where without them it
only produced one. The difference is of course
that between absolute distress and absolute pros
perity. Such having hitherto been the result of
immigration into Trinidad, such also having been
the result in British Guiana, it does appear singu-
lar that men should congregate in Exeter Hall
with the view of preventing similar immigration
into Jamaica.
Again he says:
" In these countries sugar and labor are almost
synonymous at any rate they are convertible sub
stances. In none of the colonies named, except
Barbados, is the amount Of sugar produced limi-
ted by any other law than the amount of labor to
be obtained, and IN none of them with that ex-
ceptioH, can any prosperity be hoped for excep-
ting by means of immigrating labor What |
mean to state is this; That the extent of native
work which can be obtained by the planters and
landowners at terms which would enable them
to grow their produce and being it to the mar
ket does not in any Of these colonies suffice for
success. Ii can be worth no mans while to lay
out his capital in Jamaica. in Trinidad, or in Gu
ana. unless be has reasonable hope, that laboring
men will be brought into those countries"
1t may be observed here that Barbadoes having
large native population of negro descent and
no waste lands to squat on is in that happy con-
dition, that no Coolie immigration is necessary.
and probably no penal enactment to enforce con-
tracts for labor, the penalty for not choosing to
work in Barbados being MISREPRESENTATION. 1t is
a free country and the inhabitants can please
themselves.
Comparing Guiana & Trinidad with Jamaica he
says:
They are as fertile as Jamaica is and the ne
gro can procure his food almost without trouble.
But not the less is it fact that the expectation
of sugar from Guiana and Trinidad now exceeds
the amount exported in the time of slavery, while
the expectation from Jamaica is almost as moth
ing. But in Trinidad and Guiana they have no
House of Commons. with Mr. Speaker. three
readings. motions for adjournment. and unlimited
powers of speech. In those colonies the govern
ments acting with such assistance as was neces
sary have succeeded in getting foreign labor In
Jamaica they have as We: but succeeded in talk
ing about it,"
Could more valuable practical lessons for as at
the Sandwich Islands be presented in fewer
words. than are conveyed IN the above extracts
Every line of them might be put in Italics. as of
peculiar significance in our case. and they will
bear reading three or four times over. They
teach US that those West India Colonies that
went energeticaly into the importation of Coolies
advanced rapidly in prosperity, whilst those that
did not, suffered. They gise us also some useful
hints as to what else is the matter in Jamaica.
The Advertisers attempt therefore to throw
cold water on Coolie immigration by reference
to the British West Indies, seems to be particu-
larly unhappy. X.
January 3lst, 1870.
Mr. EDTToR:-For all who have been able to lis
ten to and enjoy the pleasant strains dscoursed BY the