The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-12-25
immigration.

To he Editor Of DE Pacific Commercial Advertiser ?
SIR In your issue Of the 18th inst, you have a
pertinent article on the subject Of immigration. IL
is undoubtedly high time that some decided steps
were taken to secure an adequate supply Of labor.
The want Of il is already telling on our product, and
in the course Of a year or two will place these islands
in a very critical position.
You very justly condemn the present system Of
importing q few Cinnamon. This kind Of labor will
never prove very beneficial, for the simple reason
that you cannot, ip the fret place, depend upon q
Chinaman caring 10 work on a plantation after bis
arrival here; and in the second, these Islands appear
to be merely n hating place between China and San
Francisco, 70 that the immigrant, after staying here
for q short time, makes for the latter place. You
truly say that the Asatic race can furnish " the best
and most available human mRterial. for the national
recuperation Of this kingdom"
Now / have lived in the midst u large numbers o.
this race and can testify, IL IL were necessary, 10 Me
great value Of this class Of labOrers for field work.
From my knowledge Of the Indian coolie 4 am Of
opinion, that IL at hrst only q few could be obtained
for these islands, they would send home such glowing
accounts Of the climate and Of the facilities which
exist for raising aud keeping catle-the coolie being
passionately fond Of this occupation-tha in a short
time great numbers would be DESTROYS Of coming
here to Join their countrymen.
You very properly point out that IL is 10 Great
Britain only that we can look 10 supply us with this
class Of labor; but I think that you are not quite
fair towards the old country, for you say that IL IL
possible she might be induced 10 help US in The
matter without an equivalent. Now did the Great
Republic give reciprocity without an equivalent
When the treaty was under consideration, what did
one Senator say about the annexation Of these islands
d. a.. gtot.a2 WIaK about A.. .t..r-o.a .f-..o A..
the treaty closing these islands against every foreign
power but the United States In the event Of war; IL
there any one bold enough to say that the reciprocity
treaty would have passed but for a quid pro quo ? IT,
therefore. an equivalent is given in one case. why
not in the othery You speak Of what Great Britain
has done for q sentiment; but surely II is the height
Of sentimeBtality to expect that he-notwithstand
ing cher high enlightenment and Christian spirit -
will DO what IL required Of her in the way Of sup
plying labor after being. as II we're, shut out Of the
kingdom.
II is a fair question whether labOrers could not
be brought direct from England. The climate here
is we'll adapted to the Anglo-saIon race, aud there
are doubtless many among the agricultural pOpula-
ton Of England who would, H. fair offer we're made
them, gladly avail themselves Of IL. Only a year or
two ago some hundreds we're induced 20 20 20 South
America on the strength Of a very poor ofer, and
they were Tniser8bly taken an mhuy were soon IN a
halfstarying condition, and were glad enough 10
return. Now il the laboring class Of England 20
eagerly seize every apparent opportunity Of improv-
ing their condition, surely an offer TO come here,
where living IL cheap, and the climate salubrious.
would be well responded to. This would, Of course,
be an expense 10 the government, and 20 would any
system Of immigration; but The benefit that would be
derived from the introduction Of a few hundred Eu-
ropean families would doubly repay any present
outlay. There would. ! presume, be no difficulty in
trying this plan, 30 far as the English Government IL
concerned.
| DO not know IL this idea has ever been mentioned
before, at all events. it is surely not out Of place In
now calling attention to any plan which may assist
10 solve the important questions Of labor and immiy
grafton.
Your article deserves serious attention, for some
thing must be done. and that speedily, In the matter.