Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-04-01
SATURDAY PRESS.
3PRiL !. 1882
HAWAIIAN LABOR SYSTEM.

A great deal of pretended sympathy for the
laborer and his helpless condition on onr
plantations has been from time to time enunc-
ated by the press of other lands, and there are
not wanting in our own community persons who,
through ignorance or pervesity, are wont to
assert their belief in tho fact that our labor
system differs from slavery only i'll degree, but
not in essence.
Knowing the identity OF many of the authors
Of the scandalUus libes that have been pub
lished abroad upon the relative status of the
planter and the laborer, of course it would be
effort and time mis-spent to represent for their
information any phase of the question that
would make a variance with the statements
uttered by them. But for the benefit of such
are ignorant of the actual facts of the case,
both at home and abroad, who may chance to
read the Press, we venture TO suggest not only
the intrinsic difference between the labor sys-
TEN of these Islands aud slavery, but in so
far as a state of slavery is to be estimated by
the burdens borne, and the relationship of
those who bear them to those by whom they
are imposed, that the planter in many instances
is in reality the subject of his servant.
No serviiude is slavery that is voluntary;
and man is necessarily slave because
bound by penalty to abstain from fraud in
violation Of u contract made of his own voli-
| lion and for which he has accepted consider
alton. Our system Of advances in the employ
ment Of labor has become universal and
time honored that it may be considered a con-
dition nseparably belonging to bonded labor,
aud one which calls for specific protection
\ against the fraudulent obtainment of money
provision OF law known and enforced in every
civilized country Tor like frauds in other cases.
An action against a laborer for wilful deser-
tion Of contract service is analogous to pros
ecution for obtaining money under false pre-
lenses, and not TO onc for debt, as is sometimes
asserted. The promise of a contract aborer
is specific promise wherein the conditions
are named. aud the ability TO perform which
being proved, non- n-peroirmance is fraud.
A proved inability to perform the sprci-
ned labor voids the penal condition of the con-
tract. In respect Of penalty our laws differ
but litile from those ia force in the sugar
growing colonies Of Great Britain and il, free
New York (as lately quoted in letter TO the
Gazette by Mr.. Dickey). the penalty attaching
10 the violation Of contract for service is not
dissmilaf from that attaching under similar
circumstances here Abuse Of the laborer il
any form Is not permitted by our laws and
AN assault aud battery upon laborer by al
employer, however slight, is good cause I,
void a contract, and the monetary loss that M
employer may have Sustained by such void
anee 10 no bar 10 criminal proceeding, agains
: him. and 10 a civil action for damages as well
No assignment Of contracts il allowed anS
upon the death Of an employer the servant 1
: no longer bound, and even civil actions by th
administrators Of lbe deceased against the ser
. want under tho contract are barred.
In the culture Of cane and the manufac,ur
Of sugar, 1t IA imperative that tho plapie
q should not ba snblec, TO the caprice OF tho la
j, borer. aud that bis ability 10 remove his crop
ia a given time should not be contingent, upoi
!. the voluntary cooperation Of men, 10 that enc
: whose predictions are generally to uso ,
J, their own advantage the disabilities Of lhei
!. employers. There could be no contract with
out a penalty. aud to abolish Il in subservienc
). TO the tender feelings Of fsw misinforms
! pliilanihropisis you'd be 10 annihilale an en-
4, ierprise upon which the commercial prospcrii
. of the country Is eniirely dependent Al