The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-07-03

out WOulu De ToSdIu0u III AAIeIICa do
a measure of self-protection, fully JUS
titled by our great and immediate
necessity for cheap labor"
The Planters Labor and Supply
Company, acting upon that report,
brought the utmost pressure to bear
upon the Government to throw
the country open to unrestricted
Chinese labor, but failed utterly.
The Government stood firm in
sustaining the regulations of March
%, 1884, with the result, as
noted in the ADVERTISER Of the
I'd instant, that the net increase
to the Chinese population during the
twelve months ended Ma 81, 1885,
was only 474.
We have thus demonstrated two
facts: First, that the present Admins
tration is opposed to unrestricted Chi
nese immigration; second, that its
policy has been successful. And a
third proposition has been made
equally apparent, namely, that the
Planters Labor and Supply Company,
whose mOuthpiece the "Gazette' I'M
questiOnably is, has committed itself
absolutely to policy of unrestricted
Chinese labor immigration.
We now come to the "Chinese in
vasiOn" of 1888 and early in 1884,
which led to the proclamation of the
Chinese immigration regulations in
March, 1884. Our resume of the facts
is made from the official correspond
ence presented to the last Legislature
and printed in due order Of business.
April 9, 1888, a circular letter was
sent by the Minister of Foreign At
fairs to the representatives of the
United States, England, France and
Portugal, calling attention to the
large immigration of male Chinese
from the British colony of HongkOng
to this Kingdom, and notifying them
that His Majesty's Government, by
resolution in Cabinet, protested
against it as "iDjuriOus to the State"
The Cabinet resolution recited the
fact that the Oceanic and Glenelg had
arrived with over 1000 male Chinese,
and that the early departure of 5000
more Cinnamon from HOngkOng for
Honolulu had been advised; and it
authorized the Minister Of Foreign
Affairs to notify the British authori-
ties at Hongkong that "His Majesty's
Government protests against this
excessive immigration of men alone,
and would take steps to prevent its
introduction Replies expressing
approval and concurrence were re-
ceived from all the Foreign represen-
tatives except the Minister Resident
of the United States; and His Excel
lency Mr.. Gibson informed the Por-
tuguese Commissioner on April II,
1888, that the Hawaiian Consul Cen
eral at Hongkong would receive a
message by cable within a few days
from that date, eliminating that the
Government refuses to receive fur
Their immigration of male Chinese,
and that q spatch had been sent to
him asking him to invoke the assist
ance of the Government of Hong
kong in this matter" Furthermore,
he was informed that the position of
affairs would be laid before the Chi
nese Minister at Washington "with
an intimation that the only immi-
grafton from China which this Gov
eminent favors, or will permit, is
81 Il e.
Urgent representations being made
to the Government that the labor in
terests Of the country would suffer
by rigid adherence to this policy,
the Cabinet, by resolution, July 10,
1888, rescinded the previous resOlu-
ton, and authorized the Minister of
Foreign Affairs to notify the Govern
ment of China and the HOngkong
authorities that limited Chinese
immigra ton would be permitted to
enter this Kingdom under regula-
tions issued from the Foreign Office.
This modification of policy was eX-
planned in a dispatch to the Consul
General at Hongkong. Employers OF
Chinese coOlie labor here represented
that the number of Chinese who
annually return to China on the eX-
piration of their contracts is very
large; that it would be probably
larger than usual that year; and that
therefore it was deemed "prudent to
permit a resumption of immigrants
to a limited extent, as in replacement
of number leaving" This was only
temporary arrangement, as ex-
planned, its duration depending upon
the result Of negotiations with the
Government of China for an immi-
grafton to consist largely of women
and children. The Consul General
was authorized to grant permission
to the Captains and owners of the
Pacific Mail and Oriental and Occi-
dental Steamship Compa MES to con-
vey Chinese passengers to this coun-
try, sit being stipulated that the total