The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1872-10-09

stand; but upon looking ABROAD ana carefully
studying the rise and progress of movements in
Europe, Great Britain, and America, having fol
their aim the reform Of abuses practiced upon
the aboring classes Of those countries, one must
believe that the action is to be general, and it is
well that we mark time in readiness for the
advance.
can not think it wise to graft new laborers
upon our labor system to do so and expect i'm
provement, seems to me folly. is noticeable
that the character Of the native laborer has de-
generated in the last fifteen years, is now degen-
Grating, and is it fair to expect that the intro
duction Of numbers, large or small, OF the labor
ing class of heathendom as co-laborers upon our
plantations is TO exert an elevating influence
" Nothing decides the character of people more
than the form and determination of labor"
If our present policy in relation to the native
laborer is to be adhered to, it may bring gain to
the individual planter but it must inevitably
work ruin to the State.
Wrote the Rev. DR.. Charming to Henry Clay,
upon the question Of the annexation Of Texas to
the United States A." Whoever studies modern
history with any care must discover in it o
steady, growing movement towards one most In
teresting result mean, towards the elevation
of the labOring class Of society This is not
recent accidental turn Of human affairs. We can
trace its beginning in the feudal times, and its
slow advances in subsequent periods, until it has
become the master movement of our age. Is it
not plain, that those who toll with their hands
and whose productive industry is the spring Of
all wealth, are rising from the condition of beasts
of burden to which they were once reduced, to
the consciousness, intelligence, selfrespect, and
proper happiness of men? Is it not the strong
tendency Of our times to diffuse among the many
the Improvements once confined to the few a? He
who overlooks this has no comprehension of the
great work Of Providence, or of the most signal
feature of his times and is this an age for efforts
to extend and perpetuate an institution, the very
object of which is to keep down the labOrer, and
to make him machine for another's gratifca-
ton ?" If this was true in 1887, how much more
is 1t SO in 1872 When We would perpetuate our
present labor system and upon it hope to erect
State, we have two ideas in direct
They will not, they can not, be
reconciled. Better far that we should attempt
to eliminate the errors that have so beset our
labor system. Reforms will cost less when we
lead and direct them, than when they come upon
US and bear us down before their irresistible
march. For reform must come. The world
moves, and Hawaii can not expect to block its
wheels.
To bring about the needed reform must be the
work of Government The individual planter
can not be relied upon. Men interested in large
are prone to selfshness, The ques-
ton of profits ecpses that of the rights of nd-
viduals Most decidedly so when the rights are
;neered at as mere matters of sentiment.
When so much power was placed in the hands
IF Masters. a counter-check should haye been in
The control of the Government. In the countries
where the leading features of our labor system
obtain, particularly in the British Colonies of the
West Indies and South America Commissioner
las been appointed, to whom almost arbitrary
,Ower is given. 1t is his duty to visit planta-
ions, personally investigate the condition of the
aborers, see that they are properly housed, fed,
lothed, and cared for when sick. The Govern
nent fixes by ordinance the dietary table, CLASH |
led as Ordinary Coolie, and Hospital diet. To |
ompare these tables with ours wonld put US to
hame. A most complete code of laws and regu-
atoms has been arranged, and any infringement |
an be most summary punished. In cases of
buse of laborers, the Commissioner may cancel /
be contract by which he is held to service Such
hecks we're considered necessary to counter
alance the power of the masters. In spite of
Il precautions, abuses have crept in until they
ave attracted the attention of the Imperial
government, and reforms are being enforced To
~ mind it is not at all surprising that abuses
xist where power is placed so completely in the
ands of individuals, with no check upon the
ill or caprice as to the care of laborers, save
hat of conscience.
If this is to become sugar-growing country,
nd the present outlook does not justify any
Their conclusion, to increase production to any
reat extent foreign labor will be introduced, but
efore importations commence we should institute
forms. Let us not be led astray by the sound
lg term population" except as it may be en-
raced in that of labor" Let US give up the
lea of an Empire of the Pacific based upon a
ondition of labor and government incident to
lie prosecution of one industrial pursuit, and
rat the cultivation and manufacture of surgar;
story does not justify such expectations.