The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-06-08

ask If that is not specimen of the fairness with
which debate is carried on-as l cannot have the
paper, must speak from memory, and hope that
will, hereafter accuse me of inaccuracy-
but as remember Il, there were only eighty-two
days, and indeed it might be less-added by the
Magistrate. But If the lower courts do sometimes
fall into error, there is always, have said before
appeal-and that without any expense; all men
liable TO error, and that inferior tribunal
misconstrues the law, is argument against the
law. 1t would be supplementary for me to follow
the example of the member for Kohala, and say
that these statements are untrue, but may surely
say that believe my friend to be mistaken.
cannot close without adverting once again to
some of the Attorney Generals remarks. He was
understood to say, some say that If any one does
not like this law let them bring forward something
better-let those who say so, tell how 1t can be
bettered." 1t would seem to most people that 1t
is for the reformer to bring forward amendments,
and show where the law can be amended, why
should those who say the law is well enough
already show where it can be amended
Again. he has said, Z" If we wait TO refer the con-
stitutionality of this law TO the courts lawsuits
will increase and multiply" But sir, the law has
now been twenty years upon our Statute Book,
and there have not been many lawsuits, nor have
even the watch dogs on the ramparts observed the
oppression, which has been brought upon the peo-
pie through It, until within this past year. Several
petitions have come in TO amend this law, but
none TO abrogate it.
The member for Kohala has said something about
the British Colonies going down. and the Southern
United States going up, and attributes the deca-
dence of the one the presence of contract labor
and the prosperity of the other to its absence. l
do not know about the decadence of the British
Colonies, whose labor system is very similar TO
ours, although perhaps, more strict and exacting;
nor do know from what authority the member
from Kohala draws his impressions, but hold in
my hand an extract from Mr.. Antony Trollope's
"West Indies, and Spanish MAN," in which be
makes this remark, when comparing the state oil
affairs in 1860 to what they previous to 1870.
He says that their imports have increased
one-third and their exports two-thirds. In other
words it produced with its coolies three hogsheads
of sugar, where without them 1t only produced
one. The difference is Of that betceen absolute
distress aud absolute prosperity Such having hith-
erto been the result of immigration into Trinidad
such also have been the result in British Guiana, 1t
does appear singular that men should congregate in
Exeter Hall with the view of preventing similar
immigration thither."
Shall we alter our laws because that some would
be philanthropist wishes to obtain fame, by ad-
herring to the skirts of Carkson and Wilberforce,
or thinks he can write his name the roll of fame
by the side of Garrison and Wendell Phillips?
The laws customs habits circumstances Of either
Massachusetts or Great Britain, have nothing to do
with us; their crops ripen in short time, whilst
ours take eighteen months of continuous labor in
cultivation and manufacture; no snow whitens our
plains, no ice binds rivers; the rigor OF the
climate does not impel any man to labor in order
that he may preserve life itself No oyercrowded
population is continually bidding for employment,
for the liberty TO labor that it may earn its food
More than nine hundred thousand people in Eng
land and Wales were in November last recipients
of public charity. We must regulate our affairs
according to our circumstances; our position, our
climate and the scarcity of labor with us are part
of those circumstances which may not be neglected
In closing, Icannot but commend the manly express
ion of the member for Lahaina Mr. Hanake)who with
true pride the dignity of labor, stands up in hisseat
and says that he has served under contract and per-
formed his share of it, and that the contract system is
only troublesome to scOundrels This is of the
whom you choose to call slaves and whose employers
you choose to stigmatse with the name Of slave
owner He has imagined that any man owned
him but he is the free Representative of free
constituency, who takes pride nowin telling you
that he has faithfully performed his duty under con-
tract than he would in making it appear to the world
that he had been of the most oppressed of men.
And when about me intelligent and educated
English conference.-the of gentlemen-coming
out under contract which they propose to enforce
as towards their employers, and expect to have en-
forced as towards themselves and are therefore as
much slaves as our plantation hands, cannot tell
which most to admire-the great wisdom or the splen-
did efrontery of those who call these men slaves.
And it is worthy of remark, that these oppressed men,
with votes in their hands, ask-for repeal of the
law and aot only so, by their reject the assist
ance of the philanthropic patriots who feel for them
such an intense sympathy. Even in the district of
Kohala thesesame rejected by their votes, the as
sstauce of the honorable member from Kohala who had
majority of the people of his district againsthim
suppose it will be answered, that they voted accord
ing to the desire of their employers. If this were
true. it would show that their employer had their
confidence and that the system equally beneficial
to employers and employed. Consider well, then,
YOUR action upon this Bill. 1t is easy for you to
disturb the established system, and the friends of the
repeal admit that it will bring loss and some
disaster You can bring the planters to poverty, but
the employed will feel the blighting effects of that
poverty Whilst his mills stop, the employed,
Ending no other of labor, must go unfed.
When the plantations fall, the whole country will fall
with them. Nor should you abolish one system of /
abOr unless it is clearly against the right, unless you
.an devise a better system to take its place. That
nan is indeed insane who viii pull down his own
house before he has another to put his head in When
he plantations fall, the trade of these phan-
hropists will be gone, for there be oppression
where all is utter desoation and poverty And now,
Hawaiian men, let shame you by empty deela-
nation into doing that which is contrary to right and
lgainst the interests of your country. Change not
-our laws because that mock philanthropists would
persuade you that they against your Constitution,
# which you able to judge as themselves; and
yhen as against their opinion, you array the un
broken authority of the best friends of the people
Licenses Expiring in June; 1870.