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

NATIONAL PROGRESS.

The great work in which the Ha-
Waiian Government is engaged is
that of building up the Hawaiian
State. This is patriotic duty. 1t is
incumbent upon all administrations,
and the only comparison that should
be made is that furnished by the rec
ord of facts. When the present King
came to the throne the population Of
these islands did not exceed $4,000.
The last census shows that at the
close of 1884 it exceeded $4,000. Thus
the work of State building has made
substantial progress of late years.
Now, surely there is some credit
attaching to the present Government
for this marked advance. Before it
took Office Portuguese immigration
was conducted in sailing vessels.
During the long sea voyage the NOR
tally on board these ships was very
great, and it was deemed essential to
make other arrangements if this i'm
migration scheme was to be success.
Accordingly, a convention with POr-
tugal was entered into, and immi-
grants were introduced by chartered
steamships, which made the voyage
in shorter time. When the present
Administrator took Office the num-
Der of Portuguese in the country did
not exceed 800; now there are, by
the Government have added between
eight and nine thousand Portuguese
to our producing population during
their tenure of Office. This is very
creditable showing indeed. The Por-
tuguese are now very important
factor in the industrial and economic
life of the Kingdom. They are
certain to identify themselves with
it's permanent fortunes and help
to build up the State. Money should
be appropriated next session to con-
tinue Portuguese immigration, and
also to introduce population from the
rural districts of northern Italy. No
more industrious or law-respecting
people exist anywhere than the agri-
cultural laborers of north Italy, and
they would take kindly to our climate
and institutions, while assisting to
build up new industries, by cult
waiting the grape and olive, with
which they are familiar. Their social
condition would also be improved by
emigrating to Hawaii.
Again, the Government solved the
difficulty which blocked their prede-
cessors' way in the matter of japanese
immigration. King Kalakaua visited
the Mikado and established relations
of personal friendship with that SOW
ereign. But Japan had refused to
conclude conventions with France
and Spain for the emigration of
Japanese Iaborers to the colonial
possessions of those powers, and it
could not we'll enter into one with
Hawaii. The Government of Hawaii
solved this difficulty, however. 1t
was suggested that convention was
unnecessary; that permission to emil
CRATE to Hawaii was all that was
needed; and that japanese subjects
emigrating to this country would be
well treated and found in suitable
employment. Upon this suggestion
the Japanese Government acted, be-
ing solicitous TO help in building up
the Hawaiian Kingdom. The result
is known; 948 japanese immigrants
have already arrived and found en-
ployment, in every case giving salts
faction. Next May some 1,400 or
1900 additional immigrants will ar
rive from Japan, with fair proper
ton of women and children. Just
how many more may come during
the remainder of the year will depend
upon the planters themselves. We
think they will find it to their inter-
est to encourage this class of immi-
grafton, despite it's first cost, because
it will soon make them independent
of the Chinese labor companies.
When it is considered that over
10000 people have been added to the
population by immigration since the
accession of King Kalakaua, we think
the business and vested interests of
the Kingdom should feel satisfied
that the keynote of Hawaiian policy
sounded by His Majesty soon after
his accession has been closely fol-
lowed by the present Administration.
"Hooulu hui"-increase the ma
tion-he said, in his address at Ka-
waiahao Church, would be the watch
word of his reign. Since the present
Government took Office the net in
crease by immigration to the present
date is about $1,000. Of these we
are to credit the Administration with
the introduction of about nine thou