The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-03-08
Letter of TheO. H. Davies, Esq. TO the
London Times"

The following letter which we republsh from
the london Tues, will interest many OF our readers
| Mr. Davies has done what many of our friends
| abroad have shown willingness 10 do, he has
| met the ealumnies published against u.s. with a
| i1rm DENIAL The Times is power in England and
is widely read throughout Europe and this letter
will have excellent effect IN setting r,e,jple :
minds on the right track. Not only doee Dir.
Davies deny, but he gives his address. volunteers
| further information and also cites the names Of
responsible men who will support his statements.
This is one way TO fight battle; it would have
been satisfactory 20 have similar letters pub
lished IN the German papers; We ought to have a
few friends in that country.
EDrroR LONDON TuEs.-Sir.-Since NV pcept
return from Honolulu my attention has beeu
drawn 10 some statements. published both in
Berlin and Lisbon. IN which. under the heading
slavery in the Sandwich Islands," most serious
accusations are made against the Government and
residents, official and otherwise, of the Sandwich
Islands These statements are professedly copied
from certain American journals and, IN point
Of fact, they are reproduced from a San Francisco
paper which has been engaged in issuing similar
reports for some months.
The Hawaiian Minister at Washington has
recently addressed TO u Boston journal a letter
which accepted as n complete refutation of
the charges to which have referred. and was IN
hopes that II would have been unnecessary TO fol-
low them any further. / regret. however TO find
that these statements ARE being circulated in
Europe ~ the prejudice Of many who have inter
ests IN the Hawaiian Islands or who have intimate
relations with those who ARE thus attacked and 10
the dishonor II frec nation, whose enlightened
Sovereign has but now returned from receiving
the hospitality Of Europe.
SO few persons, comparatively speaking, have
any direct acquaintance with the Sandwich Is
lNnds that It is nearly impossible for the most
e1travncant statements regarding them 10
receive any inyestigpton., aud therefore venture
30 address % you letter which may serve as n
preventive 10 too ready acceptance oi such re-
ports as are being cipplaied
A.. -
on November lG 1881. runs as follows ;-"The
richest propretors of sugar plantations at the
Sandwich Islands introduce inorc cruel and
infamous slavery than any other known AT
present. And then follow the widest statemUnts,
which, ! am bound " say II true, would moro
than Justify the opening clause.
Copies Of the above were sent 10 me by Lon
don house interested In Hawaiian trade, with q
request for information regarding thcfn and ]
replied that were Il not for the injury such state
mcrIia must do among uninf0rned people, should
consider the whole matter too low and ridiculous
for contradiction. added twill say, general
II, that there Is not charge nor hardly sentence
in what you send me that u founded even on fnct.
Iaborers in the Sandwich Islands Islands are as
much slaves as the clerks in your Office
The Hawaiian labor laws have been enacted by
the Hawaiians themselves. All lnborerH are sub
iect b the same laws, aud the planters funless
Havaiiansl have no voice in making them. Can
any one believe that Havajians, who control
elections and who are usunly laborers but rarely
planters OF masters, have enacted laws 10 put |
themselves into slavery and have invited foreign
ers there 10 practice this slaveryf
viii not trespass upon your time by giving |
de alls Of the allegations OF Of their refutation,
but think shall be able to satisfy any one who |
requires information, and who will address me /
~ on the subject, Of the utter untruih Of any |
g arge Of either slavery or cruelty, in either tho
s. stem or the practice. OF either the Government
or planters Of The Sandwich Islands
am familiar, 70 some extent with the sources i
q these sianderOus reports, and am intimately Il
acluninted With nearly every plantation in the Il
Hawaiian Kingdom, as well as with the British, |
tsinan and Portuguese oiicials there and am.