The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-04-10


Is The Appropriation Bill for 1880, ap-
pears the item, encouragement of immigration,
$4,000" In former years appropriations un-
der this title were expended to q large extent in
the introduction of Chinese for the planta-
tions; but in the session of 1876 much dissatis-
faction was expressed at this course, and the gov
eminent Of that day declared against its further
continuance. Since then, and during the last
biennial period, the sums granted for the
encouragement Of immigration have been exPend-
ed in the introduction of South Sea Islanders and
Portuguese from the Western Islands. 1t would
be premature to undertake to declare what will
be the view of the native members of the Legis-
lature at the coming session on the subject Of
immigration, but it is safe to say that 80 far as
their constituencies have expressed any opinion
on the subject, their bias is decidedly in favor of
continuing the work of bringing in the cognate
races with themselves from the islands of the
Pacific.
In the matter Of any further Chinese i~mmigra-
tion, however, the feeling is decidedly adverse to
it, and some sort of restrictive measures, more or
less crude, will no doubt be presented during the
coming session. The Hawaiians have slowly
but surely awakened to the fact, which has been
from the fire: apparent to every body else, that
the large influx of Chinese with their ploddiDg,
acquisitiye habits, will in the end result in sup
planting the original owners of the soil. This
view of the situation is being daily ~eIempli6ed,
even to their slow comprehensive, all over the
Islands. for in every nook and corner, from Ha-
wall to Kauai, the celestial is found industriously
pursuing his vocation as a shopkeeper, a planter,
a peddler or a mechanic, some one of which pur-
suits be at once adopts as soon as his contract ex-
pires as a plantation hand. But the chief injury
done to the native race by this Chinese immigra-
ton, is perhaps the least appreciated by the mass
of the natives themselves: they fail to fully weigh
the moral evil of the MongOlian element. Among
a people where the males already largely outnum-
bered the females, the introduction of FIVE
thousand male Chinese, as has been done during
the past few years, in addition to an equal num-
Der that were already here, must, to the dullest
apprehension, appear to be a proceeding tending
manifestly to the ruin Of the native race, and if
continued will more than any other cause help
forward their final extinction. For this reason,
if for no other, in the interests of the Hawaiian
people themselves, we hope to see some measure
adopted during the coming session which shall
measurably check the coming hither of male Chi
nese, u~naccompanied by females.
In Australia and in California legislative
action has been taken in the direction of curtail-
ing the Chinese Eruption, but the impelling
cause in those countries Is the antagonism of
cheap labor mainly, and not, as with the Hawai-
ians, a question Of national existence. In the
former country a considerable tax is levied upon
each Cinnamon upon arrival, and the result dur
ing the year or more that the law has been in
operation, has been to reduce the immigration
from China from seven thousand per annum to
two hundred. We do not need to follow the ex-
ample of California, by imposing special taxes on
the Chinese already here, or undertaking to place
restrictions on their employment; but we may
with propriety and justice impose a tax which
shall amount to a prohibition upon the landing
here of exclusively male Chinese, to farther pol
lutte and degrade the Hawaiian people. We have
a perfect right to make such a regulation in self
defense, and it is our duty to do it. The present
is a critical period in the life of the Hawaiian
race on the one hand is threatened decadence
and final extinction, and on the other is the
promise of renewed life and perpetuity of national
independence. 1t should be the chosen mission of
all true friends of the race to urge and promote
by word and work whatever measures of public
policy shall manifestly tend to the desired object
the physical salvation of the Hawaiian people.