The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1872-11-09
THE PACIFIC
Commercial A0brrtistr.
NOVEMBER Q.

UPoS reading the Resolutions t;at form the
platform or programme Of objects 70 be sought
after by the 81 Hawaiian Immigration Society,"
rs adopted at the meeting for organization on
Wednesday last, it il Immediately apparent that
the proposed field OF action is only preliminary.
The Society is merely FOR the present purpose
Of making enquiries which may be useful in the
future. Indeed, we have heard it suggested that
the title assumed by the Society is all too broad
in significance, and should be amended 10 "a
Society for the Acquisition of Useful knowledge"
To this suggestion Of the inadequacy Of the aims
Of the Association, it will be very properly au-
sweTed, that the proper course is to begin at first
principles, and that no step ought OF can be
taken in the desired direction without first ascer-
tanning, from reliable authorities. all the facts as
to the sources Of supply of labor and population,
and ell other particulars necessary to a safe, in
telligent and satisfactory accomplishment of the
final objects in view. The Society has thus at the
outset restricted itself to the task Of gathering
the facts and figures upon which a detailed plan
may hereafter be based. By giving prominence
to that branch of the subject referring to the
procuring of additional Iaborers to carry on the
industries of the country, and by RETAINING from
the elaboration Of or suggestions for any plan
looking to the permanent increase of our popula-
ton, the new Society, while it may be deemed by
some to have fallen short OF what was expected of
it, has, at all events, avoided the liability to the
endless amount Of criticism which would i~neyita-
bly, be evoked by the PRONUNCIATION of any immi-
grafton scheme, however carefully digested it
might have been. Thus far, no one can complain
that the young Society has lacked commendable
caution.
One of the objects Of the Society is set forth
in the first resolution 10 be,-tO acquire inGorma-
ton that may be useful to those who may be
willing to migrate to this country referring, of
course, TO permanent settlers as distinguished
from contract laborers. Now, it appears to us
that unfortunately, under our present circum-
stances, the fuller the correct information we
shall impart to the right sort of persons willing
TO migrate 10 this country the less willing they
would be to come, and the more likely to keep
away. As very pertinently asked by a corres-
pendent who submits "a Few Plain Thoughts"
what real inducements have we to offer to immi-
grants? We have no public lands, like the
United States, upon which a man with a family
can plant himself to build up a home that he can
hope to call all his own in a few years. That is
the kind of immigration we need, whether it be
from Japan or Malaysia, or from whatever direc-
tion,-to bring about the 9 population that will
be permanent" and, however we may evade
or postpone the consideration of this point. it
must ever recur with increasing force and i'm
Portance.
In our isolated and peculiar position we can
by no means expect that population from abroad
will drift here Of itself. 1t must be invited and
attracted And before we extend the invitations
we must provide the attractions, of which we
are manifestly barren at present. And herein
lies the magnitude of the task, the planning of
which the immigration Society has as yet fore
borne to undertake.. But, as was urged by one
of the speakers at the preliminary meeting, the
time has arrived for ACTION, and the Society, by
its powerful influence exerted through public
opinion upon the Government, (Which stands
ready to consider any reasonable proposition) can
bring about such a radical change in our policy
Of public improvements and the utilization Of
our waste lands, that within a comparatively
short time we shall be able to hold out good in
ducements to the right sort of immigrants for
the increase of our permanent population.
Prompt but careful legislation will accomplish
this involving however, the outlay of no little
capital in the beginning, but which will be avail
able from the ~plethOric money markets of the
world, whenever we manifes. the will and the
energy to make use of our natural advantages.
That Heaven helps those who strive to help them
selves, is no less true of nations than of in
dividuals.
The present is a critical period in the history
of Hawaii mel. With us of to-day rests the re-
spOnsibility of deciding whether this little King
dom, with its great natural resources and unri-
vailed position on the map of the Pacific, shall
from hencelorth take the upward path of enllght-
ened prosperity as an independent state, or con-
tinue, as it has already begun, to decline into
material and political nothingness and poverty.
Are we equal to the emergency?