The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-08-11
mr.. SCAMlDT'S VIEWS ON the
CHINESE QUESTION.
From the "P. c. Advertiser of May
81, 1856.

of II. Hackfetd & Co., Iwho recently
left Honolulu for the Coast, en- route
for Europe, was interviewed at San
Francisco by "CalP' reporter.
The interview appeared in that paper
on April 18th, and is n just and
comprehensive statement of the
labor problem here, as affected by
Chinese immigration and COMPETE
ton. Mr.. Schmidt presents the
salient points of the industrial situa-
tion on these Islands with as much
candor and fairness as possible.
Chinese labor immigration was first
encouraged by the Government and
large proportion of the population,
he said, but comparatively short
experience changed this idea. The
Chinese kept pouring into the ISL
ands 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. "Inter-
ested parties, "he continued, "read-
lily contrived to evade ii by various
means. Many of the large planters
and others who had need of numer-
GUS employees were bitterly opposed
to any restrictive measures, and did
their best to defeat them, though the
masses of the people were earnestly
i'll favor of such. The planters pro-
tested, and with much truth, that
foreign labor was a necessity, as the
natives were not equal to the per-
formauCe of the work TO he done.
This argument has more recently
been rendered untcnabc by The i'm
portation Of large numbers of Por-
tugUcse, who not only have proven
emineniiy satisfactory as laborers,
hut readily assimiIate with the ma
tive population, and become good
and worthy Cit;aans."
Mr.. Schmidt ,hen adverted to the
intense anui-Chincse feeling created
by the persistence OF Cinnamon
coming TO the country despite re-
strictiye regulations. This led to
their total exclusion, after April lst,
except as to Chinese having return
passports. The strength of public
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, however, that the regulation
of April 1st would be enforced.
That Mr.. Schmidt properly estimated
the position of the Government up
on this point is evident from what
transpired in the Legislature rs re-
ported by the advertiser" OF the
9th instant. The assurance was then
given by His Excellency Mr.. Gibson
that the regulations against Chinese
immigration would be enforced, and
there is no reason for doubling the
statement. That the Legislature did
not doubt it was evident from its
allowing the motion for a written re-
ply to the question asked by Mr..
Kalua to drop after the Ministerial
explanation, although Mr.. Dole in.
sisted upon having it "black ant
white" Furthermore Mr.. Gibson
set the matter at rest by subse.
= quent explanation in the Assembly,
The following extract from the
interview in question presents 6
, faithful picture Of the actual condi
' ton of affairs on these Islands:
r "While it is felt that n continue
, ton of the Chinese influx would in
evitably, in the end, change Hawai-
[ to Mongolian colony, it is, never
c thelcss, generally acknowledged tina
C no measure tending to expel those
already there could be justified, n
large majority of them, at leas
in coming acted only upon the Gov
ernment's express invitation. 1t il
> therefore generally conceded tina
n they have n right to remain, ant
It this, Notwithstanding the fact tina
. the natives as rule regard ther
= with intense dislike and even hatred
=" Nor is this without reason, since
according to Mr.. Schmidps state
d nents, the Chinese have been
n grieyous injury to the native Ha
= waiians in many ways. Not on!
have they taken their places a
t laborers, but they have constantly
G by one and another means, bee
r gaining possession Of their lande
! property, until now vast tracts o
, the richest lands, particularly sue
as are fitted fer rice culture, arc !
e the hands of Chinese syndicates o
! individual owners, while the entir
= group of Islands is dotted with Chi
! nese homesteads. The native is b,
nature improyident and easy-goine
=, and the Mongoian immigrants earl
learned the advantage OF becomin!
a money-lenders where there was sucl
IS profitable iieeld for the pursuit 0
ar the profession, Land and stock 500
pissed into the hands Of the China
men, and worse than this, in som
Sc instances where a more than usua
I'd spirit Of degradation prevails, III
lie family relations Of the natives ar
10 also disrupted"
=" Referring to Our social condition