The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-05-25
CHINESE In HAWAII.

Mr.. II. w. Schmidt, of the firm of III.
Hackfeld & Co., who recently left Homo
lulu for the Coast, en- route for Europe,
was interviewed at San Francisco by Il
"Call'' reporter The interview APP
peared in that paper on April 18th, and
is just and comprehensive statement of
the labor problem here, as affected by
Chinese immigration and competition.
Mr.. Schmidt presents the salient points
of the industrial situation on these
Islands with rs much candOr and fair
ness as possible. Chinese labor immi-
grafton was first encouraged by the Gov
eminent and a large proportion of the
population, he said, but comparatively
short experience changed this idea. The
Chinese kept pouring into the Islands
until it became necessary, as a measure
of self-defense, to prohibit more than
twenty-five persons other than those
having passports from landing here by any
vessel This, however, was not lived up
to, Mr.. Schmidt said, although it would
have had salutatory effect. interested
trived to evade it by various means.
Many of the large planters and others
who had need of numerous employees
were bitterly opposed to any restrictive
measures, and did their best to defeat
them, though the masses of the people
were earnestly in favor of such. The
planters protested, and with much truth,
that foreign labor was a necessity, as the
natives were not equal to the perform
ance of the work to be done. This argu-
ment has more recently been rendered
untenable by the importation of large
numbers of Portuguese, who not only
have proven eminently satisfactory as
laborers, but eadily assimilate with the
native population, and become good and
worthy citizens"
Mr.. Schmidt then adverted to the in
tense anti-Chinese feeling created by the
persistence of Cinnamon coming to the
country despite restrictive regulations.
This led to their total exclusion, after
April LIST, except as to Chinese having
return passports. The strength of pub
lie opinion was such, he remarked, that
this regulation must be carried out
strictly, even if the Government were
not so inclined He had no doubt, how.
ever, that the regulation of April LIST would
be enforced. That Mr.. Schmidt prop
erly estimated the position of the Gov
eminent upon this point is evident from
what transpired in the Legislature as re
ported by the ADVERTISER of the 9th in
slant. The assurance was then given by
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson that the reg
ulations against Chinese immigration
would be enforced, and there is no rea
son for doubling the statement. Tha
the Legislature did not doubt it was evi
dent from its allowing the motion fcc
written rcnty TO the question asked b,
Mr.. Kalua to drop after the Minis
terial explanation, although Mr.. Dol
insisted upon having it Gin black an'
white" Furthermore Mr.. Gibson Sc
the matter at rest by a subsequen
explanation in the Assembly.
The following extract from the inter
view III QlcStlOIl JiCSCIto q A~iIiiA1u BiN
tnre of the actual condition of affairs Oh
these Islands:
While it is felt that a continuation OF tn
Chinese influx would inevitably. in tn
end, change Hawaii to 4 Monaghan colony
it is, nevertheless, generally acknowledge
that no measure tending to eXpel those al
ready there could be justified, as a larg
majority of them, at least, in coming actec
only upon the Governments express invi
tation. 1t is therefore generally conceded
that they have right to remain. and this
notwithstanding the fact that the native
as a rule regard them with intense dislik
and even hatred. Nor is this withou
reason, since, according to Mr.. Schmidt
statements, the Chinese have been griev
ous injury to the native Hawaiians il
many WAYS. Not only have they takeI
their places as labOrers, but they have con
stantlY, by one and another means, beer
banning possession of their landed prop
erty. until now vast tracts of the riches
lands particularly such as are fitted 70
rice culture. are in the hands of Chimes
svndicates or individual owners, while tn
entire group of Islands is dotted with Chi
nese h0mesteads. The native is by natur
improvident and easy-going, and the Mon
ooIian immigrants early learned the ad
Vantage of becoming money-lenders wher
here was such a profitable field for thu