Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-10-15
A PHASE OF THE CHINESE QUESTION.

The San Francisco Bulieiin of the, l4th of
last month has an editorial with the cheerful
title" The Doom of the Kanakas," in which
it quotes from dispatches of the former Vice
Consul and the present Minister Resident of
the United States at Honolulu, TO the State
Department at Washington, respecting the
rapid influx of Chinese into this Kingdom.
The former gives expression to the opinion
that, from the present aspect of things, only
few years will elapse before the Hawaiian
Kingdom becomes virtually n Chinese Colony.
He adds, "unless restrictive measures are
taken by this Government, in a few years the
Chinese will outnumber the native popula-
ton" Gen. Comfy under date of April IL,
1881, writes to the Department. az think it
safo to say that there are now nearly $4,000
adult male Chinese in the Kingdom, and that
they comprise more than half of all the adult
population of all races whatsoever.
These are unpalatablc statements of dam
aging facts, to be made about us in the press
of the United States, that will be caught up
and repeated and magni6ed by tho enemies of
the treaty, and be treasured as arguments for
use in congress against its continuance. How
long, let MS ask, shall we continue to look on
with suicidal apathy, while this tide of mon
goian immigration continues unchecked
This question should command the earnest
and prompt attention of all who have their
homes on these Islands and who desire tho
perpctnity of Hawaiian autonomy; and it
should certainly address itself to all who have
vested interests here.
When, several years since, warning voice
was raised that the unlimited immigration of
Chinese n,ales would prove a serious evil,-it
was replied that the agricultural interest Of
the country needed more labor; that the Chi
nese were most available and best adapted,
and that when tho demand was supplied, tho
Immigration would cease. As to the latter
proposition, the result has proved it's incor-
rectness. We have already here thousands Of
Chinese who cannot be induced to engage as
lalorers on sugar plantations on such terms as
employers can afford to pay and still more
are expected to arrive. We repeat that, aside
from the influence of higher motives, those of
self-interest alone should urge US to take
prompt and effective measures to prevent
these fair islands from becoming mere Chi
I neso colony. The Bulletin thus concludes:
s"Out of this may grow state of facts that will
demand the most earnest attention of our Gov
ernment 1t Is generally taken for granted that
our interests in the Pacific demand that the sand
wich Islands shall not be allowed to pass from the
present sovereign into any other hands than our
own. by tho reciprocity treaty we have partly in
corporated them already. This is proposition
upon which To all appearances at this moment the
whole power and strength of tho Government
would be brought to beir, in case any adverse
claim should be set up. The Chinese Government
II its traditional policy il upheld, would not give
any countenancc to "A Chinese revolution in the
Sandwich islands, with Wow To commercial or
political annexation. But Chinese Colony is
evidently not one that 1t would be satisfactory for
US to administer"