The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-12-12
IMMIGRATION POLICY AND COLOMBIA
TION.


Mr.. Gibson, ~ already set forth by /
the ADVERTISER, has resulted in incalcu- |
liable good to the country at large. 1t |
has rendered possible industrial develop |
ment in many ways that would other
wise have been unattainable; and the
arrangements already perfected by the
Government for continuance of Por-
tuguese and japanese immigration, and
the friendly understanding with other
Governments on the same subject that
have been arrived at by the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, afford ample assurance
that the country will not lack for labor
unless, by malign influence, this policy
be changed, and the sources of supply
referred to are shut off.
OF course, we do not anticipate any
such result The Government is too
strongly entrenched in the affections of
the people as a whole to render change
In this direction probable; and the en-
ploying class perceive, with the clear in
sight of self-interest, that their require
ments have been considered far more
intelligently, and their wants supplied
far more promptly and effectively by the
Gibson Ministry, than had ever before
been attempted or deemed possible. For
this reason, and because the Govern
ment has been successful all round on
its policy, we assume that despite the
opposition of a small band OF office
seekers the country is satisfind with the
present Administration, and that it will
be permitted to develop, to the fullest
extent, its progressive and patriotic
measures of public policy.
But the country has arrived at point
when the immigration of the future
should be as diversified as its industries
must ultimately become, if it is to attain
to that commanding position in the in
dustrial aud commercial world its capa-
bilities, geographical position, as well
as its salubrious and equable climate
warrant it in aspiring to. The require
ments of the planters must not be lost
sight of, however, but other interests
should not be neglected. Let us bring
in Portuguese and Japanese laborers,
with their wives and families, and sup
ply the raw material for plantation work /;
but do not let us forget that strong and
progressive Commonwealth never yet
5ajaed 5ARQq 5fP Fdf fFediGGced
to servility by the pressure of memorable
necessity, caused by excessive competi-
ton and inability to migrate and escape
from its thraldom.
This Kingdom has not arrived at that
stage, nor is it probable that it ever will
reach it. On the contrary, labor, despite
the contract system, is quite as strong as
capital. Indeed, taken all round, it oc-
cupies the point of vantage, and to a
large extent dictates terms to capital.
The wages paid for domestic help in this
country are far in excess of payments for
similar service in the United States, al
though there is no reason why this
should be the case. In like manner expe-
rienced plantation hands are paid higher
wages than similar labor commands
in the United States, where the freedmen
furnish the bone and sinew and cultivate
cane, cotton and rice upon shares. If
the wages fund of these Islands, as a
rule, went into circulatin again, and were
not boarded for shipment abroad, the
question of high wages and dear living
would equalize themselves; but it does
count when three-fourths of all Chinese
earnings, and a very considerable per-
centage of the earnings of the Portuguese
and Japs are sent out of the country. 1t
is so much money withdrawn from cir
A. To-
the population at large, in the shape of
interest, freight and exchange, to supply
the void created by such aggregate re-
mittances.
For the Sc reasons we hold that the
time has come when different class of
immigrants should also be induced to set
tie in this country. No other place of the
same size can offer greater inducements
to the enterprising and energetic. We
have no land to give away and our total
territory, used and disable, is small But
there is so very little of it cultivated, the
soil is 50 productive, the climate so ia
vorable for agricul Iral pursuits, and the
returns so certain and large with ordinary
prudence and Skill that the drawback in
quantity of available land is offset by its
quality and superior possibilities We al
luded to this subject in general terms
yesterday, when commenting on the
practical suggestions of a correspondent
for cultivating some 1000 acres of sugar
cane land on this island, which now only
contribute to the support of few head
of horned stock and horses, but which
might yield on an average four tons of
sugar per acre, and support in comfort,
if not in affiuence, thousands of Christian
people who would maintain the institu-
tons of the country, and lay broad and
deep the foundations of Constitutional
Government.
The large landowners of this country
can help in this matter. They may offer
such inducements to the class of people
we refer to, as would insure their mi
grafton hither and permanent location
upon the land. These would not onlyla-
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