The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-07-29

eminent, in other words, the direction
of human affairs.
Applying these thoughts to the in
dustrial and social conditions of the
Hawaiian Islands, we think an in
justice is being done to the planters
by some of our contemporaries.
Contract labor is utterly condemned;
and because sugar can be produced at
profit, demand is made that con-
tract labor be discarded, and that
free, high-priced labor be employed
instead. This is taking a partial
view of the situation, and by no
means clear one. The cost of pro-
duction-which includes labor and
the COST of transport and distribution,
may be taken roughly as regulating
the profit of sugar making. But in
truth and fact the ultimate question
of profit is determined by conditions
in other parts of the world over which
our planters have not the least
shadow of control. The cost of pro-
duction, transportation and distri-
button elsewhere, added to the
abundance of the worlds supply
in relation to the worlds con-
sumption, fix the value of sugar, and
by consequence regulate the measure
of our planters profit. Now, mas
much as cheap contract labor is the
rule in all sugar-producing countries,
it follows that Hawaiian planters
cannot afford to adopt a much more
costly and less reliable industrial sys-
tenn for themselves. There is nothing
in their surroundings to justify such
a departure from established usage in
the production of sugar
We make this point on practical
grounds, knowing full we'll that SEN
timent does not cut any figure at all
in the cane fields of the world. But
on the broader lines of social evolu-
ton laid down by us, we maintain
that our planters, under their con-
tract system, has been, unintention-
ally perhaps, but none the less GER
tainly, aiding most materially in the
elevation of labor and the gradual
ameliOration of the human race. And
we say furthermore, that this process
cannot be arrested unless male adult
labor alone be continuously intro
duced. That is a blemish upon our
labor system which must be removed;
and we go the length of saying that
the contract system should be abol-
ished coupled with male immigration
only, and that adult male immigra-
ton should be prohibited absolutely,
unless accompanied by wives and
children in due proportion. This,
however, is a practical issue, and does
not affect the general argument.
We hold that the condition of Portu-
guese, Chinese, japanese, German
and Scandinavian laborers was i'm
proved by coming to this country
under contract. IF this had not been
the case the laborers would not have
emigrated. Before their contracts
expire they become expert laborers,
and are worth more on plantations
than fresh hands; and they command
better pay. Those who have families |
ire able to bring them up under bet
,er conditions than were possible at |
nome, and they have an improved !
social future before them. Further |
more, the removal of these people
rom active competition with their
elbows improved the condition of the
aborers in their own countries. This |
8 notably true of the Portuguese
rom the Canary Islands. Ia this
way we see how our contract system
benefits labor, renders production in
hese islands profitable, and paves
he way, under practical direction, to
/ state of things when all the labor
needed on these islands should be free,
md Obtainable on terms that yet
would justify the expenditure of capt.
al in varied industries.