The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-11-01

Commercial bbertiser .
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER /
A Reply TO Nj. Spaulding.

lives q u tell-luLtfetL. Dut Simply with the TACT IN
view that it IL the privilege aud duty Of every man
TO combat the advocacy Of mistaken principles,
wherever met; and especially where the question
debated is one of such vital importance a. the un-
restricted immigration Of male Chinese into this
Kingdom And in assuming Mr.. Spaulding to be
mistaken take no more radical ground than does
be in declaring the arguments e fallacious " Of
those who oppose bis views. / desire to reply to
his letter in detail, and will quote from the begin
ming.
have read with regret several articles in your
valuable paper relating to the Chinese labor ques-
ton. say with regret because the articles refer
red 10 have struck me a. being Of a character to
give a bad impression abroad regarding our con-
diuon, and very likely to be used by the enemies
Of the Reciprocity Treaty to our prejudice with
the people and Congress of the United States"
Now 1 confess it to be rather difficult to conceive
by what stretch Of the imagination Mr.. Spaulding
deduces such an application to Chinese immigra-
tion here, especially as the opposition has been ex-
eeptiOnally moderate, even approaching apathy in
this respect.-not even the sembIance Of riotous or
incendiary language having appeared in the pub
lie prints (which cannot be said Of our neighbors
In the United States. Australia and British COlum-
bia. The endurance or renewal Of the Reciprocity
Treaty / think depends upon the evidence Of NUT
uaI benefit derived from its operation by the two
countries I apPrehend there is greater danger
menacing the Perpetuity OF the Treaty. and one
much more worthy Of onsideratiOn.-viz The
q One Man POrsr - in the sugar market. AL
ready has the control Of the sugar interests Of these
Islands passed into the hands of one man. to remain
at least for a considerable future. The same per-
son controls our principal market abroad, aud 1
see 4 greater danger to a renewal Of the Treaty in
an arbitrary use Of such power than from any
amount OF agitation Of the Chinese question here.
IL ~ 10 be hoped however. that the gentleman will
not abuse bis power.
No I think instead Of creating a bad impression
abroad, the people Of the United States. as well as
Of England and other countries, will give US credit
for manfuiIy resisting the increase of a scourge.
the magnitude and danger OF which those same
countries have cOnspicuOusIy recognized and COM
bated.
In the second place Mr.. Spanlding says: The
head and front Of the oaense which you so persist
emily decry, is the Encouragement afforded by
Sugar Planters to the importation Of male Chinese
labOrers."
Now for myself do not decry the oHense in SUI
gar planters more than others-the government. or
any source from which the evil policy, for such /
claim il to be, u generated but as Mr.. Spaulding
argues the question from n sugar planters stand
point, 1 will meet him on that ground not to 90
into the mysteries OF the economical production Of
cane and sugar,-for which 1 profess no know
ledge,-but with reference to the relations which
planters occupy to the general public, and their
proportionate degree to the commonwealth for
employing and encouraging this evil element.
The opinions Of the planters, on the questions of
labor, representing "a they do the principal indus
try Of the Kingdom. are entitled to the utmost con-
sideratiOn and respect but the planters have no
right, Individually or collectively, to dictate to
the people on questions Of public interest. beyond
their proportionate rights as citizens. Neither
have they a right 10 claim precedence for an indus
try that cannot be engaged in probably without
conditions that are injurious to the community as a
whole.
On the other hand. 1 would be the last one to
charge them with an undeserved responsibility or
hold them accountable to a limit exceeding simple
justice.
In quoting further from Mr.. Spaulding's letter
after citing the relative prices of labor now obtain
able. be goes on to say
'' Neither would we object to paying a dollar a
day for labor if We could nett ten cents a pound
for sugar. ] would be willing to give
the Caucasian a chance aud employ only white
men at 81 to So per day i'll could make a living
thereby. Possibly y " Main strength
and stupidity form the basis of plantation labor,
and when the cost of that labor is increased the
price OF the article produced must be raised or the
plantation driven to the wall"
All this sounds very dictatorial but the infer
ence is, that without employing Chinese or cores
pOndingly cheap labor. plantations cannot pay.
1t is not my purpose to argue whether pIanta-
tions can or cannot be made to pay without Chin
ese labor. On that question there is a difference
Of opinion among the planters themselves but
-. .sfk r.E.-.r~. - = ,n+~s.- -. - I
insofar as the employment and encouragement of
that labor affects the general public, do l take is
sue.
As far ~ Mr.. SPaulding is individually concern
ed he may be right and it may be his duty to
himself to nett ten cents a pound " for his sugar
by employing goTiIlas. or ANY other kind OF labor
but did IL never occur to him that in a conflict OF
interest between himself and the people collective
ly, the people might possibly elect to disregard
bis self interest in the matter aud pursue a policy
that would bring the q" greatest good to the great
est number p Chinese labor, when confined TO
plantations. can scarcely be considered very injur-
ious in this country. where for labor OF that kind
there is comparatively little competition and for
the employ ment Of that labor, when presenting IL
self, plantation managers should not be blamed.
But the Chinese are not an element that can be con-
dnsd to plantation work, or any Of a similar na-
ture- Their attributes are quite the reverse OF
a. main strength and stupidity aud a large ma
jority Of the Chinese residents OF this Kingdom are
now pursuing vocations requiring intelligence as
well a. industry. They are a shrewd. cunning,
aequisitive race, and. as a rule. disregarding all
the obligations Of approved morality. are confirmed
opium smokers, gamblers and pOlygamists. Every
little community in the Islands has its Chinese
store or a plurality Of them. where. in addition to
their legitimate stock. they deal out in defiance of
law, vile brandy or gin and soul enslaving opium.
IT, latter is a notorious fact. but with their innate
eAI,ug they defy detection and conviction. They
Interfere with and drmoralizs legitimate trade, and
their presence is destruction to every artisans
snce.ss. Main strength and stupidity, indeed