The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-01-26

hind them all liability for their pecuniary
1t is difficult to exaggerate
the degree of distress which prevails on
all sides of as.
1t is not, therefore. matter for surprise
that SO soon as the country people became
aware of the existence of arrangements
by which they could, at the expense of
those by whom the scheme was originated,
emigrate to another country, they should
have eagerly grasped the opportunity
afforded them of lettering their condition.
For ourselves, we are disposed to believe
that the emigration project is a good one
for those of our distressed countrymen
and women, who are fitted to engage in |
the occupations for which they will |
be required in Hawaii. At any rate, !
they need not stay here to meet |
their death by cold and hunger. They
may in Hawaii earn a livelihood, the men
in cultivating the fields, and the women
by washing and in other occupations
suited to their sex. In Japan they rise
early in the morning and are constantly
engaged in the fields, allowing themselves
little or no time for diversion either in
summer or winter, and yet their diligence
and industry are so inadequately re-
warded that they are unable to gain suf-
fcient money for subsistence. The
classes who engage in agriculture, cannot
therefore be reproached for the unhappy
position in which they find themselves;
Il 4, hao Rho hInvoa Tf
any other territory can supply them with
/ sufficient food and clothing, in return for
the exercise of the same efforts that prove
so unproductive in their own country,
then we should say that it would be a
most judicious step to get there as fast as
possible, so that they may be enabled to
pass the rest of their lives in the enjoy
ment of happiness and prosperity.
We have heard, however, more than
| once, that among the farmers and labor
ers who applied for permission to emf
CRATE to Hawaii, there were many stu
dents and other people, i'll fitted to engage
IN agricultural labor. We have reason to
believe that there is truth in this. Among
i
men, the ambition to visit foreign coun-
tries prevails to on almost incredible ex-
tent, and it is not by any means surpris-
ing that the eyes of some of the more
enterprising have been turned towards
Hawaii. We do not at all wish to dis
courage them from going to Hawaii, but
we should like to say few words to them
by way of admonition. It may be as
sumed that a large proportion of these
persons have had the benefit of an edu-
cation extending over many years; they
may have engaged in various occupations
here from which they derived large
amount of experience and ability and q
certain amount of wealth. They may
possibly be able to command few humid
red gen for the purpose of defraying q
foreign journey. But, as they would be
landed in the country of their adoption
in penniless condition, if they had the
temerity to enter upon any such enter
prise, they are compelled IN the meantime
to restrain their desire to see the world.
The only course open to them is to avail
themselves of any opportunity for obtain
ing the guarantee of employment in an
other land, trusting to the prospect of
their being able not only to provide them
selves with food and clothing, but to lay
by small sums now and then for use in
future undertakings.
But if those people think Hawaii is a
place where they can attain their object,
they are very much mistaken. Let them
look at the condition as well as the phys
ical features of the Islands. They form q
very small territory situated between
: Japan and America, many thou
sand miles from any other peopled
: region. Their inhabitants may enjoy as
J mild spring as that of any other country,
but they do not know the rain or the
breeze of civilized lands. They can effect
postal communication with San Francisco
} only by means of steamer, whose pas
sages are made at such long intervals that
the number of voyages run in year could
be enumerated with ease on the fingers
And this is the only means by which theil
people can obtain information as to the
outer world, for no submarine cable as vel
connects Hawaii with other countries, ano
r its inhabitants must perforce remain ig-
norant for months of all the events tha
, | transpire outside their marrow borders
, however interesting and important these
f events may be. Even the steamers tina
q ply between this country and the United
States, though they frequently pass neal
the Islands, do not, except on very specia
I occasions, touch at them.
The population of the various islands
8 of Hawaii is said to be $1,000, of whom
= $500 are white. As both Europeans anG
t Americans thus bulk pretty largely
? in the total of the inhabitants, the
8 Islands are not wholly destitute of the
3 machinery of civilization. They pos.
sess a number of steamers, a railway
3 which extends only for few miles,
telephone system; telegraphic lines; 8
: postal system, and schools and colleges
4 There is an army of four thousand men
and monarchial Government, with {
r Parliament consisting of an upper ant