The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-06-10
Shall We Import More Chinese ?

Mr.. EDIToR-It appears to me that at the present
meeting of the Hawaiian Legislature there are
few questions that are of more Importance and re-
curing more consideration IMAM The Chinese
question.
Nations, like individuals, have three ways to ac-
Quire knowledge, to wit: From teaching, from
the experience of others. and from their own eX-
perience. Well. for us, II our Hawaiian Congress
in this instance is wise to learn from the expert
ence of others aud TO make use of it; no need for
us to go to far off countries 10 find out that a Chi
nese population is like the Upas tree. or like poison
in the leaves of civilization. We have only to go
TO Our nearest %neighbor, to California, to learn
from the experience of other most prosperous
States of the American Union, that the Chinese
population is a curse to any and every civilized
country California is a country large in extent,
with thousands of miles of the richest soil, with
a large population, amongst whom the presence of
the present number of Chinese compared with the
number mixed into the population of this country
is, in fact, less than here; and Notwithstanding this
the presence of those Chinese is felt so detrimental
and obnoxious to the best interests OF the country,
that we may look forward with every mail TO hear
of a popular outbreak and the commencement Of
war against the Chinese in the streets of San Fran
cisco. as well as in the inland towns. But if a rich
and populous country like Cali 0rnia feels the in
furious influence of the Chine {. how much more
do we feel it already, and will feel ii in the future?
The United States, by a treaty, are compelled to
endure the advent OF the Chinese. Thanks be to
Providence that we are unshackled and are indie
pendent and free to enact such laws as will pro-
tect the best interests of the country while it is
time to do so. before the food ~overwhelms us.
1t is true that but a few years ago Australia,
New Zealand, and California. etc, welcomed the
Chinese and induced them to immigrate. What
was the boon for which those countries, besides
others. so anxiously contended? 1t was the cheap
labor of the Chinese; but not as cheap at present
as il was then. and why then is it that those coun-
tries at the present are as anxious and determined
to expel the Chinese? and the answer is, because
years of experience have fully demonstrated the fact
that the benefits derired from Chinese cheap labor do
fall far belo1 the immense and deadly injury Uhich
the country at large suffers from Chinese population.
Such is the experience of all other countries that
ever handled this Chinese abominatiOn, and there
fore well for us. if we have common sense enough
left us to learn from the experience of others, to
look upon the Chinese in the same light.
As long as we have need Of cheap labor, the
introduction of Chinese must be necessary, and
even welcome; but it behOoves the Legislature to
protect the best interests of the country by pro-
hibiting the Chinese from becoming citizens and
ENJOYING the rights and privileges as such, as no
citizen must be always better than a bad and dan
gerous one. No Chinaman ever becomes a citizen
in the true sense of the word, of any country. In
whatever country a Chiuaman may be he always
feels himself to be a citizen Of his Celestial En-
pire. and nothing can ever tempt him to adopt
another country as his permanent home, or take
pride and interest in the prosperity of any cOun-
try, except so far as his individual purse is affect
ed. A Chilaman can never feel patriotism for any
country outside of China, and no country can dd-
Uance in prosperity ,ohere patriotism is dead.
1t is true that Chinese labor il: cheap that the
GlhAG az h@GD AgAAIF No aAA [CCAACAAA
cal. but unfortunately their industry, perseverance
economy. though virtues, becomes the curse Of any
country infested with a Chinese population. The
honey bee is industrious, looking for sweets far
and near. persevering in its labors from morn till
night. and bringing Its stores into the hive fer the
benefit OF her progeny and the general
community, her miniature country. besides by i'm
ORIGINATING blossoms. spreading her benefits far
and wide. Every addition of one of these indus
triOus little patriots becomes a gain to a country.
The cockroach is as industrious no doubt. as the
bee or the Clinaman, and ransacks the house wile's
pantry from morn till night. looking for sweets in
this pastry. or that cream pot, this beefsteak, or
that preserve, and he thrives upon his fare and his
labor, and Increases in generationsi but whoever
heard of a housewife introducing these industrious
but selfish lahorers, v~eritable Chinese, into her
cupboard or pantry
And here lies the difference between bee and
cockroacb. that while the former is a patriot the
latter is a misery and altogether selfish laborer.
who will work with industry al any and everything
from which he can draw the least substance. per-
severe. economic with the animus Of the most
refined miser. alone and entirely for his own indi-
vidual self. He knows no country but China. and
every feeling. every thought, every hope and am
bitioL Is centred in himself again IN China.
The drain Of specie by the Chinese from Cali
fornia is estimated at SIS, 900 daily. as o low esti-
mate. and California. rich and prosperous country.
feels the constant drain. Here, our daily complaint
is hard times. no money IN the country. How
much specie have those 1000 Chinese. that are dis
tributed about the islands. drawn from tais coun-
Try during the last ten years? 4 question perhaps
difficult to answer correctly, but well demonstrated
by the fact of the present scarcity Of gold and
other specie. Our exports during the last ten
years have increased nom year to year, while our
specie has become less every year Where has it
goneT
tation and receives an advance from $50 to $50,