The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-12-09
ARTICLES.
rrrom the Daily Pacific Commercial Adre,ti.
COMMUNICATED.


COMMUNICATED.
OUR relations with the Empire of China
should command our most earnest atten-
ton. The Cinnamon now resident in the
Kingdom are about equal to the whole of
the adult native male population. Such a
proponderance of foreigners in any country
would of course commend the highest con-
sideratien of State. Were this prepon-
derance OF any other race, but Chinese, we
do not think we could now discuss the ques-
ton so calmly. Nay, were one-fourth of
their numbers here, represented by some
other races, We could mention, there would
result immediate revolution and political
change. But, happily the ChiDaman is
here as every where else, a devoted business
man and not in the slightest degree a poll
tician. The Chinaman does not care for a
vote. He may be induced by certain con-
siderations affecting his settlement and
welfare in the country, to take out a paper
of naturalization, but it is not with the OBJ
ject of exercising any ranchise. AT the
late election in Honolulu, which has over
5000 Chinese residents, all male adults, and
thus physically qualified for the franchise,
and many of them having naturalization
paper; yet not one Chinaman cast a ballot.
ThGs we have their presence everywhere
and in every pursuit, but as yet without a
shadow OF political interference on their
part. This state of things should COM
mend all the more such a people to the
just consideration of the State. We have
attempted by Legislation to regulate the
immigration and settlement of the Chinese
in these islands but as this attempted re-
gulatiOn was entirely &c DdTte the Ruler of
the country interposed q stay of proceedings
until our questions with the Chinese
should be duly settled by mutual agree
ment. To decide upon the relations between
two people by the enactments of one of
them alone is like the dictation of
to conquered or of suIerior to inferior. To re-
gulate differences and questions between
nQOnla nv fraafU il tho Calufnru oAinSf-
ment of controversy that takes place be-
ween friends. Little Hawaii is esteemed
the friend of great China. The eminent
Niceroy Ii Hung Chang said to our King
who visited him in Tientsin, that nowhere
else in the world outside of the Celestial
Empire had the Chinese emigrant been so
well treated as in His Majesty's dominions.
This expression of friendly opinion of the
leading statesman of China is we are well
informed, Wild spread in the great Empire:
We should e~ndeavor, not only TO maintain,
but to improve these excellent relations
with our multitudinous friends. OF course,
political relations between n State of
thousands and any State Of millions must
be surrounded with circumstances and
affected with conditions that require
the gravest consideration on the
part of the smaller State. This has been
duly weighed in the consideration of our
relations with China. The Anti-Chinese
alarmist point not only to the overwhelm-
ing population of China, but to the jealous
consideration of her probable influence on
the part of our mighty neighbor bounding
our Pacific border. However, whatever
the views, whatever the circumstances con-
nected with Chinese intercourse, the migra-
tory flow from that great hive of humanity
may not be, and should not be, rudely
turned aside or checked. No nation can at
this day initiate the ancient Chinese in
the endeaVOr to construct an everlast-
ing wall or barrier to prevent intercourse.
Intercourse between the families of nations,
and between the races of the world must
and will be kept up with increasing har-
mony of mutual relations until race preju-
dice shall be utterly banished from the face
ofthe earth.
THE Government of this Kingdom has
not been neglectful of the Chinese question:;
which has been held in allegiance mainly be-
cause the Chinese themselves do not press
any question whatever upOn our attention.
It is a question aroused by a sense of duty
to our common humanity which presses
upon our attention. 1t is impossible it
would be criminal for rulers to be indiffer-
ent to the regulation of the incoming and
condition of so large a proportion of foreign
population as the Chinese constitute in this
country. The relations of the two
States and their people should be settled by
mutual agreement, and if Anti-Chinese
alarmists, and others affected by their
views, will bear in mind the admirable
peaceful character of our very large Chinese
population, will consider the energy with
which they pursue productive industries i'm
hitherto profitless hooks and corners of our
islands, and will recall to mind the exalted
and friendly opinion expressed by the
actual ruler of China, they will feel assured
that there is no ground for apprehension by
establishing on a proper basis the relations
between the Hawaiian Kingdom and the
Chinese Empire.