The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-05-31

this nation, where they suppose this thing is to
end. The evils present and prospective which
are the necessary and inevitable consequence Of q
continuance of the present policy, or rather lack
of policy, on this subject are patent to all observ-
ing and thinking men. These evils we have felt it
our duty to point out again and again in the past,
and however little impression we may seem to have
made thus far, we shall consider it our duty to
continue to point them out and emphasize them
in the future until either our rulers are brought
to the point Of taking some action commensurate
with the magnitude and seriousness of the ques-
ton, or until failing in such efforts we shall have
reached that point Of national ruin and social
and business disrntegration where further efforts
will be useless. If the latter alternative shall be
our fate, there will remain to US at least the
satisfaction, melancholy though it be, of feeling
that we have done our duty in the premises.
Within the last three or four years the number
Of Chinese in this country has increased about
three-fold. They are still coming and all indica-
tions point to their continuing to come in still
larger numbers in the future, and what is more
the quality Of this immigration is likely to grow
worse as its volume increases. Formerly we had
our laborers direct from China, now we get them
from San Francisco, and the concurrent testi-
moDy Of those familiar with the subject is to the
effect that they are less reliable as a class, more
tricky and dishonest, and decidedly inferior
in the qualities required to make a desirable
population. Under the operation of the new
State Constitution just adopted In California, the
exodus of MoDgolians from the land of gold to
the land Of sugar and rice is likely to receive a
great impetus. This Constitution, in some res
poets a masterpiece of demagogueism and igno-
rance, so commended itself TO the more ignorant
and needy Of the population as to secure Its
adoption by a large popular majority. Denounced
by most Of the newspapers OF the State, opposed
by q majority of the representatives Of capital,
enterprise and intelligence, its defeat to the
superficial observer seemed all but certain, but
one thing and one alone in our opinion saved it
and that VAS the anti-Chinese clause. The con-
viction deeply instilled into the minds OF the
lower classes, that under the new Constitution
"the Chinese must CO." secured its adoption in
spite of its glaring defects and the opposition of
most of what are generally considered to be the
representatives of public opinion.
Virtually driven out of California by being for
hidden to earn their living by the only means of
livelihood open to O large class of them, where
shall the Chinaman GO? Back to China; DO in
deed, not if he can help it or at any rate not
until he shall If possible accumulate cash enough
to make him comparatively independent in that
land of cheapness. He will come 10 these islands
and lie will come in increasing numbers 30 long
as the sugar planter is willing to hire him.
Let this only 60 on a few years longer and
among the certain results will be the destruction
of the native race. the loss of our national indie
p~endence, and the utter ruin of every class of for
| oionara aroapt nOSEihlv n foyy of fha vaalthv nlan-
tation owners, with their agents and immediate
dependents. This appears to be the entertain
ment to which the dominant interest OF these ISL
ands is inviting US.
Now how do our shopkeepers and trades
men, who are being rapidly crowded out of the
retail trade in Honolulu and in every other town
on the islands, like the prospect? How does it
strike the mechanics of various kinds -
tiers, cabinet-makers, s~hoe-makers, tailors, &C.,
who have families to provide for and who find
themselves daily squeezed tighter and tighter by
the competition Of the Chinaman who in most
instances has no one to support but himself?
And finally how docs the prospect please the ma
tive Hawaiian, who in some respects has more at
stake than any one else. The white man is in
most instances but q stranger and a sojourner /;
he came here from another land, and if hard
pushed can return thither again and be among
his own race and kind. There he is fitted to live,
and there he can in some fashion hold his own.
But the poor Hawaiian has no such resource.
This is his country, his native land. There is no
other land to which he can go, no other IN which
he is fitted to live. His only refuge is the grave
and into that, it appears to be the desire OF many
among Us who boast themselves as civilized, and
who would like to be considered as Christians,
that he should 90 as soon as possible.
The situation is becoming, nay has already be-
come critical, and it behooVes all classes OF our
people who have anything at stake, to give the
matter their serious consideration and bestir
themselves to devise and apply q remedy before
it is too late. If not they will have themselves
chiefly to thank for the ruin which is now i'm
pending. We make this appeal to their self
interest as being the only appeal likely to be
heard or needed.
We are in duty bound to object to the contin-
ued influx Of Chinese males and no females, that
is now going on. 1t is nothing to the merits of
the case that, as we are told, the Chinese females
are difficult to be got, or that our agricultural
enterprises need labor, and that the Chinese is
the most available. The questions come up-and
we cannot dodge them-shall we coolly sacrifice
the Hawaiian race beyond the possibility Of re-
demption and devote these fair isles to the pos
session Of the " heather Chinee,' - for the sake of
immediate pecuniary gain? Are we not penny
wise and pound-Goolish in our present policy-or
rather want Of policy?
We once more s~olemnly urge upon His Males
ty's government the paramount Importance of the
question of the disparity of the sexes in connec-
ton with the subject Of the male Chinese immi-
grafton that is coming in upon us like q flood.
And We ask, in the name Of the Hawaiian people
and for the future interests of the country, that
some prohibitive measures be taken, as soon as
possible, to ward off the threatened destruction
that it requires no prophetic vision to see is even
now at our very doors. Let us have no further
addition IN our male Chinese ponnIo.;o. 49,