The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-03-08
The Labor Question.

of the Industrial situation in which we hsd oar
selves placed as it presents itself from my point OF
view. II you viii indulge me with further space
in your columns. | will now endeavor 20 OIL up
some OF the outlines which l vsntdred TO present
for public consideration. and point out more fully
than in my former letter the method and means
whereby, l conceive. we may escape from the
perilous position we have occupied ever since the
time agricultural operations were arst undertaken
in Hawaii nei-a position now known TO be so I'M
safe, that its retention, il persisted in. will at no
very distant date most surely overwheim ne with
social and financial Inin. .s
do not pretend 10 be more far-sighted than my
neighbors. but when l reflect that the native popu-
lation of these Islands has decreased tom 1913
souls in 1853 10 AZ sos. as shown by the crnsus
taken in Decembe last that the decrease. oil
though 1t has diminished In intensity. 10 still going
on that during the last six years II amounted 10
1905 that all our industrial occupations are
languisbing for want OF laborers that inefficient
laborers are brought to work here from, in many
cases, spaTsely inhabited countries. at q rate Of
wages threefold and more than they can be oh
tanned for. and than is actually paid for them in
other lands that the Chinese, as n race. are unde-
sirable as immigrants; that TO whatever lands they
have been introduced in large numbers, they have.
through secret societies, turbulent dispositions,
their habits and manners SO different from our own,
invariably caused trouble and confusion ; that by
IA combined effort OF our Government aud promi-
nent men laborers may be obtained al A rafe of
wages that will enable ms TO compese with any
community in the world In The production Of
tropical commodities, and that by a systemstized
organization a full supply Of peaceable. frugal and
efficient workmen can be permanently and iecono-
mically obiained-l say, In view Of these consider
atoms, | should confess myself egregiousiy mis-
taken, as well in the character of the gentlemen
composing the existing Government as of our
merchants and planters. should they suffer the
present favorable Opportunity for action 10 pass
without making an effort to secure that supply Of
labor necessary to enable us 10 carry on our por-
ton of the business of the worid-ia short. TO i've.
Everything is in our favor. The Ministry has
already proved itself hard working and anxious to
promote the public welfare. It's success In dealing
with the present question would entitle Il 20 the
unceasing gratitude Of all classes, for all are suffer
ing. There is money in the Treasury to defray the
expense attending the effort. There IL even an
appropriation awaiting the action of the Ministry.
What is now wanting is that that action should at
once commence.
But it is time to impart some Of that information
with which / have been favored. To begin
Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, near
Madagascar, about the same size as Oahu, supports
a population estimated at $40, 900 souls, compoeed
of 240, 900 East India coolies and 100, 600 others Of
different nationalities. principally negroes, with
but few of the governing race. Coolies are the
principal laboring class-sober, Industrious and
peaceful, no liquor law being required TO enforce
abstinence, for the greater portion will not touch
stimulating drinks. They are the workers In the
hive. Tor the negroes, as In other COMMITTEES, will do
nothing more than is necessary 20 keen soul and
body together. The wages Of these men Ii at the
rate of rs cents per day. out OF which sum they
support themselves, and with which they are con-
tent. 1t must not be supposed they are weak or
inefficient on the contrary, they perform labor Of
such n degree of severity us would hardly be
credited here. They can be engaged 20 remain
ten years in the country. the srst i've with theiH
first employers, the second with any other perton
with whom they may make agreement. IL Is not
necessary to enter into further details here. On
the island OF CeyIon the rate OF wages Is from six
teen to twenty cents.
These men are not the immigrants Of "A year or
two. The movement has been going on for the
last forty years. The people Themselves have so
thriven that many are large property holders, own
ships, and carry their own people backwards and
forwards. 1t behoves MS not 10 forget that the
same race Of men is ~peopling Queensland, Feejee,
Bourbon and New Caledonia. and then to ask oar.
selves what chance we shall have a few yeafA
hence in competing in the worlds markets with
the products of their labor IL existing conditions
are suffered TO continue.
What are we to do to secure for ourselves ad-
vantages promised by the addition Of SO valuable a
supply to our laboring classcsf The undertaking
is too vast for a limited number OF individuals;
nor would the British Government suffer Its people
to be taken to q foreign land without the strongest
guarantee that they should be well treated while
in transit and properly cared for during the whole
term OF their service. On the other hand. the Ha-
waiian Government could not bring tbess people
unless their services wonld be engaged by indI-
viduals requiring them Tor n specified time. There
must then be concerted action between the Ha-
waiian Government and private persons. The
next step would be TO enquire whether the British
Government would enter into n convention with
us, and il so, on what conditions. On this point is
would be necessary for our Government 70 ever
else the greatest discretion in the selection OF hs.
agent. Great nations are Jealous OF each other
and sensitive to the courtesies and Sights they en-
perience at the hands of other Goyernmsnts ,
therefore, in q matter of such vital moment TO ms,
l conceive that the proper course to conciliate the
British Government would be to employ as envoy
a native OF Great Britain or Ireland, provided q
suitable person could be found. and / really think
there are materials for choice within the sconpaass
of the four seas. This fact of international jeaf6usy
is 60 c0tenipunue at the prpsqrt fifrp-n0tabfv In
the East OF Europe and Egypt-thatt there can be
nothing wrong, and I trust j shall not be miscon-
strued for mentioning 1t in the course of my aren-
ment. It has been so we'll understood here that
in all attempts that have been made for recipfccity
with the United States. no others than Americans
have been selected to conduct or assist at the ne
gOtiations. simply because Ii was well understood
that the fact Of the negOtialors being, or having
been, citizens OF the United States. rendered them
more acceptable than aliens to that Government.
But preliminary to all overtures 10 the British
Government there should be a public meeting of
merchants and planters called by the Ministry to
take these matters into consideration, at which
meeting Mr. Horne the gentleman rom Mauritius
already alluded to. should DO requested TO attend
and afford all the Information in his power, n small
portion of which / have embodied in this letter.
Mr.. Carter has very kindly furnished me with a
small work entitled . Russell Prize Essays" pub
lished in 1S77-7s by the Agriculturalan Com
mercial Society Of British Guiana. This volume
teaches us what difficulties we should have. TO over
come in bringing and managing laborers from
India. and abundantly confirms the fact that q
large supply of laborers can be pro6tably taken
from that country.
At the risk, Mr.. Editor, of ~wearying both your
self and year readers. there is one point touching
this subject of immigration and our own prosperity
or adversely thereon dependent which i eannot
refrain from noticing. and on which an explanation
from Mr.. Carter, OF the gentlemen who Instructed
him on his late mission 10 London, would be most
interesting. 1t is this One OF the purposes OF
the mission was 10 secure laboTers from India for
our planters. Mr.. Carter received a most courteous
welcome from the BfitiEh Government every iny
formation was accorded and facility promised to
enable him to accomplish the end for which he was
sent. But after months OF ntercommunication the
subject was dropped. No application was made
by MI. Carter for letters to the Indian Govern
ment. The object was abandoned. l ask, For
what reason? Was that the way TO seek help from
the British Government Wonid IL facilitate fut-
IRE attempts in the same direction , Could that
friendly Power feel otherwise than that Il had been
trihed with? Will the course then pursued beneht
our planters who are starving for want OF iabog
: ,uLicL n1inhi he had In ahunlance 10 1 ahiain