The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-12-17

be remembered That there i Eea4F little more
pressure on the japanese TO leave Japan, than
there Is upon HawaIians to leave these Islands
and emigrate 10 Peru. II a japanese wishes to
obtain land be can get 1t. His motive for going
abroad would not be that which comes from great
need. but rather the desire to get money rapidly
and return home 70 spend II. According to the
official report Of Consul-Geueral Van Buren, the
average rate Of wages paid TO the agricultural
laborer is $3.50 per month.
CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
Under the present circumstances l will not
consider this branch Of the subject, but will,
hereafter, make a separate report upon 1t.
MALAY IMMIGRATION.
Singapore. at the southern extremity of the
Malay Peninsula, affords the best advantages for
studying this branch of the subject. In 1919
this place was a village. but it has since become
a colony Of about 10000 inhabitants. 1t has
afforded the Malay race every chance to show is
character, both as regards labor, and fitness for
civilized society. The people OF that race meet
at this place, coming from the Peninsula country
on the north, and the great Islands on the south
and west. Up TO the present time this race has
made no mark in the colony. Every opportunity
has been given it to make q permanent settle
ment there but it has neither the thrift or
energy to establish itself as a social, financial, or
political force. In the colony the " Killings :"
from India take its place as farmers, while the
Malays do some business as petty traders, and
mdkc ROpu etENdulo III II CdlC ~ AOIcSc ds u
rule they give way to the Chinese in all occupa-
tons requiring thrifty habits and steady industry.
Throughout the Malay Peninsula, IN Java. and
Sumatra, laborers are needed, but the Malays do
not supply the demand. The Aiaharaah Of
Johore, one of the Malay States adjoining Singa-
pore, has lately undertaken to ~cultivote coffee and
gambler. He informed me that his own people
were too idle and thriftless to be depended upon,
and he was therefore looking to China and the
East Indies for laborers. 1t was in part in behalf
OF this sovereign that the Governor of Singapore
made application to the Colonial Office for Indian
coolies, and was refused. 1t is well known that
the Dutch authorities will not permit emigration
from their own vast possessions. There is a vast
amount of land lying idle in the countries in
habited by the Malays. 1t the people of this
race will not build themselves up in communities
while under the protection of the British flag, or
will not supply the labor demand in their own
States, it would be idle for US to hope that they
might become valuable labOrers or citizens of
these islands. If The planters Of The Malay States
are looking To India and China for ldbOrerS. IL IS
idle for US looking 10 the same Malay States for
our haJOrers.
PORTUGUESE IMMIGRATION.
l will not consider the character of the Portu-
guese emigrant, for the Hawaiian planters have
had full opportunities to judge of the fit
ness of this race, both as regards labor and popu-
While in Lisbon | obtained much infor-
nation regarding the emigrants from the Island
Of St. Michaels. Mr.. Seemann. Vice-Consul for
the United States, came especially from that
island to meet His Majesty, and as he acted for
some time as the agent of Mr.. Hoffnung Of Lon
don in procuring emigrants, his knowledge was
accurate and interesting. The number of people
on the island is about 100 1000. For several, l
think five years, the orange has failed owing 10 q
blight upon the trees. Besides this the increas-
ing orange crop of the Mediterranean has brought
about low prices, consequently the people are in
l,Strase ,nd aro noyp ypiIlip, fO Loo va fhairhoua 40
As a rule they prefer t. go to Brazil. They like
it's climate, and their friends are there. But
they cannot pay the passage money, and the
planters are not in need OF laborers at
present. The payment of passage by the Ha-
waiian Government is the inducement to enter on
a long voyage to these islands. While the in
hear favorable reports from their friends
here, | do not think they would be greatly dis
posed to follow them if they could labor nearer
home. Limitations upon the number of children
retards this emigration. Married men only can
leave freely. The unmarried only after a term
of service. The long contract system OF labor is
not popular. 1t looks to them like q species of
slavery. But they accept it. Probably q supe-
class to that now emigrating would leave If
there was more freedom allowed in making labor
on arrival here. The Portuguese Gov
yernment is encouraging emigration to its settle
ments on the African coast. At the present
a large immigration may be obtained
from the Island Of st. Michaels and elsewhere
but il may be terminated instantly by order of
the Portuguese Government. The emigration
laws of Portugal are very strict, and any vigorous
enforcement Of them would embarrass the immi-
1t is most desirable that arrangements
be made as quickly as possible with a view TO
placing this business on a more satisfactory fOun-
tatiOn. Ii these Portuguese are desirable, it is
Of the utmost importance that as many as possible
be obtained at once, and before unforeseen events
shall stop them from immigrating. The fact that
no treaty exists between this country and Por-
tugal-that the emigration laws Of that country,
if enforced, might abruptly terminate emigration
that this Kingdom is at present entirely de-
pendent upon this immigration for labOrers who
bring women with them that the Government
has no representative there Of high diplomatic
who is able to meet emergencies which
may arise, either from the Portuguese or from
the emIgrants themselves; that the whole bust
ness is IN the hands Of contractors who may
1t at any moment If interfered with
and that every possible precaution should be
to forestall any difficulties, urge me to
sending some competent person, without delay,
to that country for the purpose of establishing
permanent diplomatic relations, and at the same
time of putting the immigration business on a
more satisfactory basis. Other important reasons
| have communicated directly to the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs.
GENERAL EUROPEAN IMMIGRATION.
W hAO Ai @b6lohH Rud Oi N"O va L III
yestigated this subject, and came to the conclu-
sion that immigrants could be obtained from
several of the countries of Northern Europe.
Generally the Germans, the Scandinavians, and
the English labOrers prefer to emIgrate to those
which are already settled by their own
countrymen. But there is In every nation o con-
siderable class who desire change of some kind,
and will always be attracted 10 the tropical
countries. This class can be reached by our
agents. Whether these immigrants could be re-
tanned in the country, after immigration, is a
very serious question. The high wages paid on
the Pacific Coast will tempt the Northern Euro
peans away, while the Portuguese would not be
disposed to leave.
There are in Europe large numbers of artizans,
tradesmen, and manufacturers who have not been
very successful in business, or are restless in die
position or believe that in some distant country
they will be sure to prosper. Many of these
made application to His Majesty, and also to me,
requesting, in nearly every instance, that money
should be furnished them for payment of passage,
aad promises be made securing them - lucrative