The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-04-30
ISLAND NOTES.
WAILUKU, Maui, April 2Sth.


On Thursday, the Goth, a meeting
took place at the Skating Rink, Waikiki,
Maui, for the purpose OF hearing the
sentiments of the people with regard to
the Chinese immigration question. A
very large number OF voters had met,
mostly Hawaiians but many foreigners,
all voters for Mobiles, were present. The
meeting was called by Mr.. J. w. Kalua,
upon whose motion Mr.. w. III. COrnwell
was requested to take the chair. After
Hon. Geo. Richardson had been APP
pointed interpreter and a gentleman
whose name your correspondent was I'M
able to catch, Mr.. Cornweu made a
short speech. AS it may be interesting
to MANY to hear what a well-known
planter has to say upon a question
which is demanding everybody's atten-
ton at present, [ shall report his speech
more fully.
Mr. Cornwell spoke about as follows:
Gentlemen 1t is after a residence of
more than quarter of a century on the
island of Maui that [ tonight appear for
the first time before you at a polit-
zeal meeting [ know that / am here to
assist in doing all the good can for my
adopted country. This meeting has
been called to discuss the great Chinese
question, and [ shall only say some few
words on the subject as l see SO many
here whose opinions we wish to hear. l
do not think that | am far wrong when l
express nay disapproval of the large in
flux of Chinese which we till late have
been witnesses to. A great competition
has commenced between the Chinese
mechanics and laborers and the same
class of white men and Hawaiians, and
it is about time to pass restrictive legis-
lation to protect the latter. l think,
moreover, that a decided stand should
be taken as to the indiscriminate is
suance of retail licenses to Cinnamon.
A large portion of this class should be at
work on plantations where they belong,
for it is we'll known that the one hun
dred and one coffee shops, restaurants,
soda water stands and small country
stores are only blind to carry on their
illicit trade in opium, liquor and prosti
tuition, and l hope, gentlemen, that the
coming Legislative session will produce
laws necessary to meet this question.
am fully aware that we must have GER
tain amount of Chinese labor, but it is
not to be considered for a moment that
they shall be allowed to overrun the
country to the extinction of every other
class of labor and to gobble up every
thing they can lay their hands on. AS |
owner | need not be told that |
a certain amount of Chinese cheap labor |
is indispensable to the success OF the |
sugar industry of this country, but l am
not prepared to sacrifice my social and |
moral considerations that is involved in
this question for the additional profit |
that may accrue from the wholesale
of coolies into this country
On the score of cheap labor. [ am not
to discuss this question thor
oughly just now, but shall repeat that
am decidedly opposed to the unlimited
of Chinese for plantations or
other purposes to the ruin of every other
lass of laborers, especially the Hawaii
ans, and believe that we are right in
our representatives in the
Legislative Assembly to pass laws en-
orcing restrictions on the Chinese
coolies"
Mr. Cornwell's speech, which fire.
Iuently was interrupted by loud bursts
If applause, was received with great en-
husiasm by the meeting.
The next speaker was Mr.. Crowley,
Who spoke at some length about the
.ctions taken by the different LegisIa-
ures on the Chinese question, and
inally brought up a motion that this
Meeting support the bill with regard to
chinese immigration presented to the
asst Legislature by the Cabinet.
Ex-Judge Kalama surprised the meet
ng. His motto must be old saying,
Temporal mutantur ct nos in ills" A
ew weeks ago the corpulent Judge was
t this meeting he appeared as the adj
ocate for the heathens, particularly
rom a Christian point of view. We
rere less astonished when we learned
nat he was engaged by certain parties
} meet and defend the Chinese, and he
perfectly welcome to his $25 fee.
j. w. Kalua was in favor of stopping
he further influx of Chinese altogether
[c wanted a new and strict vagrancy
ct passed, which would compel all the
afing Cinnamon to go to work. A law +
Ike that would be better than anything +
Sc to stop the Pake from coming here.
Hon. w. III. Daniels stated he was
t.