The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-09-11

that it covered all the grounds contem-
plated by my amendments offered when
the matter was before the House the other
day, but after a closer study OF the amend
ment and hearing the construction OF the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, / am satisfied that the
amendment as proposed IS unjust, as 1t
will authorize the enactment OF laws deear-
ring the Chinese now here from entering
into any other business than that in which
they were engaged at the time this amend
ment (if passed. would become law, and |
do not believe it proper or polite to give
such power to any Legislature especially
when we cannot know OF whom it may be
composed. whether the members will be
conservative or radical. The amendment
not having, in my opinion, been sufficient
" amended TO cover the amendments
necessary to make it just thing as be-
tween man and man, | shall be compelled
to vote against its adoption.
Noble Widemann said that between 1873
and 1885, this country enjoyed an excep-
tional period of prosperity. Everything
was inflated. Then the price of sugar fell,
initiation collapsed and times became dull.
He believed that the causes OF depres-
sion were to be sought elsewhere than in
Chinese competition. With regard to the
previous amendment to the Constitution
submitted. he would have died rather than
vote for 1t. This is comparatively very
mild measure.
Rep. Nakaleka said the terms of the
amendment are antagonistlc TO other arti-
Giles of the Constitution.
Rep. Kauhane said the amendment had
been very carefully prepared. 1t was
wrong idea entertained by some, that it
was got up out of spite or ill-feeling. That
it was not so devised is proven by the fact
of its having been 50 many times referred
back TO committees.
Rep. Kauhi favored the indefinite post
pOnement. He moved the previous ques-
tion which was put and lost,
Minister Green said this is virtually the
same amendment as had narrowly escaped
being laid on the table on previous day.
The committee could not for very shame
have done otherwise than to insert amend
ments TO the measure referred to them.
He would ask the House not to blot the
Constitution with such an amendment as
this If it is inserted, We shall have one
clause OF the Constitution laughing at
another. Members have spoken of great
care having been exercised in drawing up
this amendment The fact that whole
sentence had to be transposed to make 1t
read right did not bespeak much care. With
out any. disrespect to the members OF
committee he could not but consider this
amendment to be nonsense. The Chinese
have largely increased the value Of prop
erty, belonging to both haoles and natives
in the Kingdom, by taking their lands and
working them under high rentals.
Rep Paehaole said the amendment was
contrary TO Articles l and - of the Con-
stitutiou The Chinese in the country now
are not prevented by it from carrying on
any business. Restrictions, as regards
further immigration, have been provided
for by the Act passed the other day. An
Act has also been passed that will prevent
their evasion of taxes. as heretofore.
Minister Thurston said-My sentiments
on this subject are known aud have but
little more to say. First, wish to call the
attention of those who are in favor of in
definitely postponing this amendment to
what their action means. The passage OF
this amendment to-day will not make 1t
law. 1t is simply proposal to the Legis-
lature OF 1890 Of certain legislation, which
the people will have an opportunity to vote
on III 1890. 1t is therefore nothing more or
less than q submission TO the people OF the
question whether they wish regulation OF
the Chinese now IN the country or not.
Every candidate for election in 1880 will
have to state whether he is for or against
the amendment, and the votes will be cast
for or against such candidates TO indicate
the desire of the voter. You who are
elected by the people TO represent them
and guard their interests, have you right
to refuse to let your constituents speak for
themselves in this natter l say you have
no such right. and yet that is what you do
if you kill this bill. Second, | would call
your attention to the remarkable incon-
sistency of some OF the members OF this
House When this bill was up the other
day, a number of amendments were offered;
they were resisted, but the majority de-
clined to pass the bill without them; they
were accordingly referred to a committee
which unanimously reported back the
present bill with every single one of those
amendments. And yet we see here to-day
one after another of the very men who
said they will vote for the bill with those
amendments, getting up and arguing most
strenuously for indefinite pOstponement
without explanation of their reasons.
What does this mean? / do not know.
Perhaps some member can explain It. In
the third place | would call your attention
to the argument which is being harped
upon in regard to vested rights" Mem
bers claim that this bill interfered with
vested rights. The men who talk in that
strain know no more what vested right
consists of than they know what the King
dom OF Heaven is like; they have heard Of
both, and their ideas are equally clear as
TO what each consists of. They say that
once Chinaman lands on these shores
he has a vested right to engage in any
employment he chooses. / say he has no
such right. Every country mas the right
to reserve to its citizens certain employ
ments. If it makes treaty with foreign
country guaranteeing to the citizens Of
such country equal rights with its own eiti-
zens, then that is a contract which is bind
ing, but no alien, not citizen Of a country
who has such treaty has any right to object
to a law reserving such employments. Now
what do we propose TO do by this bill We
simply propose to place in the hands of the
Legislature of 1890, the power which We
have not, to reserve certain trades and
enplOyments 10 citizens of this country
and of countries who have made contracts
with US that their citizens shall have equal
rights here This bill does not propose 10
take away any property which any alien
owns or may lawfully acquire, nor does It
propose TO prevent him from continuing in
any employment he may now be engaged
in. What il will allow the Legislature TO
do is to prevent the hOrdes OF Chinese who
are now working on the plantations or
filing the slums of Honolulu, from becom
ing tTadesmen and mechanics, and swamp
ing out the native Hawaiians and other for
eigners. This is no interference With vested
rights it is simply self-pTeseryation in 3
perfectly Just and legitimate manner.
Another most remarkable fact IS that
members of this House are declaring
against the injustice, the indignity. the
unfairness Of this bill. Yesterday the paid
attorney of the Chinese in this matter, told
me that he was perfectly satisfied with this
bill as now amended-that he had no OBJ
iectiOns tn IL What are We 10 think OF