The Hawaiian gazette., 1879-03-26
The Labor Quest,on.

srR,-When I brought this question before the
public some weeks since, had idea it would be
treated from any other than financial point of view
Being, an employer of labor, deeply interested
felt persuaded from what I had learned that India
the country of all others which promised an un
failing supply Of cheap labor for plantations, aud
domestic servants for homesteads. As my in
terest demanded. brought the matter forward, ex-
pecting my views to be openly and fully discussed.
In my opinion good reason has yet been advanced
why the trial I advocate should not be made, but
since my first letter was written two reasons are
whispered the street, although not published
in the papers, proclaimed at public meet
irgs, why the desired Influx of laborers will be
doomed to defeat.
Hoping that this question vital to employers
oflabor may be tested and settled its own merits
and that the interests of myself AMI others will
be sacrificed to possible Misunderstanding between
two individuals, or through fear of something indef
ntely vague and terrible impending US. if this
immigration plan is suffered to become fact, nov
make known these reasons they have been
pressed to me, with view of showing how possibly
unfounded may be the one, and how futile the other
The first of these whispered not hngs is this That
there will be result from this attempt, because
Lord Tenterden, abiding to the pro which the
British Government would desire to exercise
the coolies during their service here, said to Mr..
Carter wien the latter in London. "If you wish
to preserve your independence you should not SUBJ
jec; yourselves to interference from officers of for
eign Government"
Now, to it appears almost incredible that
statesman filling the chief ministerial office shonld
have expressed himself when the head of the de-
psrtmeut had already given his assent to measure,
which, if carried would increase the Influence of his
Government at foreign court. Mr. Carter may
have misunderstood Lord Tenterden, or be may him
self have been misunderstood by those to whom be
impaired his information. This point, in the interest
of all parties, but particularly of Mr. Carter and
Lord Tenterden, should be cleared up, because it
would appear from careless a remark that the
British Government either harbored the design of in
terfering in domestic concerns else wished to
discourage from the prosecution of the proposed
scheme. repeat to me the thing is surprising be-
lief But even if in full faith Lord Teuterden did
axe this speech, and intended it friendly warning
to Mr. Carter, it only the private op iniOn of
not filling the highest Office. and therefore presuma
bly, not fully informed on the subject on which he
spoke. Certainly it could not have been intended to
apply TO the case of emigration from British India
to Hawaii as it is well known that the present head
of the English Foreign Office, Lord Salisbury, who
at the time of Mr. Carter's mission to England was
Secretary of State for India. advised that Mr. Wode
house should go if possible to India, and offered to
give him credentials to the Duke of Buckingha am,
Governor of Madras enable him to get the consent
e n Ia;
come thence to these Islands.
The second of these airy nothings, evidently con-
cocted and circulated by opponent of the measure
is this"ear of offending the United States Govern
ment.' 1t has been almost trembingly asked. what
will the American Government say if we introduce
laborers from Inda?
l think 1 divine the answer that would be
given to that question; not, perhaps, the precise
terms but certainly the spirit in which it would be
given. 1t ight be something in this wise " When
the United States Government, ut your repeated and
" urg ent solicitation, granted you the boon of reci
prOcity, she was actuated by only motive, that
of benevo!ence. She conferred the favor solely with
" the view of promoting your prosperity. She had
hidden unavOwed object in view. She is not
" treacherous. She did wish to entrap and crush
you. Any word or remark of yours ascrbing her,
or even limiting at SO unworthy design is uncalled
Z" for and offensive. We shall not complain of any
/
provided they not in cOntrayeutiOn Of
rights. We deGrs to you independent and
90 shall respect your Independence We not
Jealous of influence legitimately acquired and not
'unduIy exercised by any foreign power. We do
''pot believe that Great Britain has any design
| your independence. She is bound by the treaty
'' with France to support it, The United States
:" would not unmo we'd see her destroy it."
In some such terms these, / conceive, would be
couched the response to any expressing fear of
Ufense to the Government of the United States by
our attempt to provide for our pressing necessities
by bringing laborers from India, and l cannot under
stand why, without effort, the interests of every
planter throughout these islands should be tamely
sacrificed to what if 1t be really felt, can consider
as nothing else than an insane fear.
| Mr. Carter's mission 10 England, if / understand
it Alright, arty to en- ter into convention with
| the British Government by which we should be au-
| thorized to hire Indian Coolies. He did not apply
for it, Lord saiisbury's good offices in rendering
facilities were thrown away, and are now as far
| from the object sought were before he went
He says ne informed that the enterprise would
cost much money, $500 900 at least. His nfor
matioa may have been incorrect He did not obtain
| it on the spot Provided we, through Foreign
Office, could get permission from the British Govern
ment to make trial, the cost of sending agent
to India would not be very great, and should
ceive information from the fountain head. We could
then persevere not found expedieut. No
one would be bound to take single cOoe if he did
not desire to do.
That the matter is beset with difficulties admit
but if we reflect the benefits should reap from
success ought not to be daunted but make up our
minds to march triump phantly all obstacles
| Although Mr.. Carter failed to give coolies, he
succeeded in completing DR.. Hillebrands initiatory
arrangements with Portuguese. Perhaps thousand
will be brought at much higher rate of wages than
that paid coolies, and at heavy cost for passage
and attendant expenses Had the coolies been
brought here through Government hands we should
have known exactly the sums paid to agents for re-
cruitiDg, for passage, and of every item of ex-
pense but now. the matter being in the hands of
the firm Of which Mr.. Carter is a member, all that
has been revealed to is that we shall have so
much to pay for passage and much more in a
lump sum for other expenses arrival of the imm
grants. 1 do not for instant suppose that Mr..
Carter's firm will charge dollar than they
consider fairly due for their services but the fact
cannot be concealed that that firm has direct pecu-
MARY interest," distinct from planters and others, in
defeating the of introducing cheap aborers
from India
Let US take glance at the comparative cost
of Portuguese and 0oOlie The former can be hired
say for three years at about rs per day, and
the cost Of hundred dollars more or less Il quote
from memory for his passage. The Coolie we have
learned can be engaged for five years at 2 cents per
day, but for IiberaliIy's sake say so cents as he
should be well fed, and have his 25 cents per day
clear. As the cost Of his introduction is to be so
heavy, will set that sum down at $780, double
the passage Of the Portuguese cannot but believe
that this is much overestimated bat 10 this
case the amount overpaid as compared with the
Portue would be nearly saved at the close o. the
first year after which there would result clear
saving of seventy FIVE dollars for each individual for
each year. besides the additional term of TWO years