Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1880-12-11
The Chinese In Hawaii.

Editor Of he Saturday Press:
The want of labor has been severely felt
throughout this Kingdom for some time past,
and the present vast influx Of Chinese has in
10 way lcssencd the demand as far as the
haole is concerned. The privileges and free
dom which Chinaman enjoys on his landing
here are such as he never experienced in the
land of his birth. They are of class that
never worked for foreigner before, and there
foro they prefer to engage in the service of
their countryman to that Of the hated (dnqui
(foreign dcviD. This country not having any
treaty with China, the question may reason
ably be asked, Are the Chinese TO be allowed
to ego as they please? If so, the sooner .
treaty is made the better. No doubt were .
treaty contemplated, and an Ambassador dis
patched to the Flowery Kingdom, the Chinese
would receive his propositions courteously,
and give him to understand that no difficulty
lies in the way Of their acceptance, but in
their turn they would assuredly present con-
diplomat would find difficulty in meeting.
But very few have clear idea of how serious
a problem this Wholesale immigration of Chi
nese males without females 10 ikoly, to become,
and that at no very distant date. Tho so
called Chinese "cheap labor" is solely
ades-union feeling founded on trades union
grounds, better known in China under the cog
nomen Of guild Proposals have been made
in the Press to meet both the scarcity Of do
nestle servants and other labor difficulties,'
but the importation Of Chinese does not appear
to assist in the solution of the problem Tho
State Of California has found this out to it's
cost. 1t ought to be matter Of great interest
to the rulers Of this country to learn tho nature
Of the treaty on the subject Of immigration that
has lately been concluded between the United
States Commissioners and the Government of
China. Ought not Hawaiian landing in
China to be allowed the Same privileges A. .
Chinanan in Hawaii? Certainly he ought.
But such is far from being the case. II the
sojourner in China 10 possessed Of wealth. no
is permitted to invest II in Chinese produce,
principally tea and silk, at treaty port only.
He is not allowed to buy from the grower,
neither will he DO permitted to venture beyond
the confined limits Of treaty port without
endangering his life. He cannot buy land and
till the soil as Chinese does here, and also in
Australia, the United States, and elsewhera.
The Chinese in this country send monsy home
from time to time, and finally when they have
acquired little fortune, they return homo
with the entire balance. t
A brief consideration will show how grave
q state Of things this 10. Let us glance for
moment at the proportion Of imports and ex-
ports between the two countries. The former
consists principally Of victuals ard wearing
apparel for The Chinese. paid for by the pro-
duce Of Hawaiian soil, while the exports are
MI with the exception Of treasure. Tho drain
Of money to China is steady and certain, and
it ought not to be surprising II It DO regarded
with some alarm.
We will now advert To still moro serions
aspect Of the question, viz: the moral aspect.
The laborers that are exported from China be..
long chiefly to the lowest class Of the populs-
ton. They are nominally engaged" TO emf
crate, but in reality il 10 not so. To an OBJ
|. servant eye they appear to DO generally devoid
Of moral sense. They have but little notion
Of common humanity or the value Of human
lie, and possess few virtues beyond industry
aud an apparent kind Of quiet ordsrliaess.
: They live In vice and depravity before they
come here, and morality" does not sxisl
. amongst them. Their chief sratiAcstion ID
abandonment to the fascinating intoxisssion Of
/, the opium pipe OF this class are they thai
J. come from Canton. An Official report made Ia
4 California recently, states, that "during thsil
J. residence here they have never adopted ou
habits, drsss, or educational syssem ksv
never learnt the sancIsy Of aassaih ssss
desired 70 become citizens or perform the du
! ties OF such never ceased tAe worshlp II shsi
IN idol gods. or advance one step bsyoad The ira
ditions Of their nativs hive" With thss
J; facts before Us how can We expect then % b
Of any lasting benefit 70 this country