The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-10-15

AS for the unfair Chinese competl-
ion with white mechanics com
claimed of, it is not justified by
.acts. Any frst-class white trades
nan can hold his own against CHI
nese competition, and can Obtain
higher remuneration for his labor
and skill in this country, than in
any other part of the world where
white men can work and enjoy good
health. The Chinese themselves
employ white tradesmen, when they
want good work done. One of the
best houses in my neighborhood was
built for a Chinese rice planter by
white carpenter with native assist
ants.
The number Of white and native
mechanics employed on plantations
and in the Honolulu Iron Works far
exceeds all others in this country;
and the Chinese by their cheap labor
on plantations indirectly aid in sup
plying employment to these.
AS to storekeepers, Il am one my
self, my experience is that where
white and Chinese storekeepers enter
into conception the white storekeep-
er has no difficulty, if his business is
conducted in business-like manner,
in underselling the Chinese store
keepers and getting the trade, while
the public benefits by the competl-
ton.
As storekeepers the Chinese are
most useful pioneers; opening stores
that are great convenience to the
public in out-of- theway places
where no white man would ever
think of doing so, even if subsidized
by government. In regard to Chi
nese morality, would there be less
immortality in the country were the
Chinese replaced by an equal mum
Der of single white men? 1 thinl
not.
Chinese marry where they can ge
native women to marry them, anC
make good husbands, treat thei
| wives we'll, and take good care o
them.
If there are statistics on the sub
iect am sure they can show tina
there are fewer cases of desertiol
from Hawaiian wives by Chimes
than by white husbands. Are womel
Of any nationality ever in danger O
being insulted by drunken Chinese
How often do we see drunkel
Chinaman? I have never seen on
really drunk. They smoke opium
and they gamble, which is certainl
very shocking and much to be re
GREETED, but nevertheless is there nc
perhaps a little spice of humbu
about virtuous Indignation on thi
score? Do so many of them gan
BILE and smoke opium to excess
When they do so, do they annoy c
injure anyone but themselves?
At some of the anti-Chines
meetings Chinese have been con
pared to ''beasts of the field.
How obviously unjustifable sue
language. For the class of Sc
ciety to which they belong, the
are intelligent and refined. Pr
badly every Chinaman in this coul
try can read and write his own yer
difficult language. They are scrul
ulously clean as to their persons; O
plantations every Chinaman washe
his body all over as soon as he r.
turns from work every day. Fac
man has a toothbrush and uses i
Can as much be said of the whit
laborers? They are thrifty in the
habits, which though it would be r
garded as meritorious in other PEI
pie, seems to be considered GRIN
in Chinese.
Worthy Mr.. Kalua is annoyed wit
them because they have taken U
the poi business and made a success
of it where he failed. I sympathii
with Mr. Kalua, but believe that
was really to his and the country
advantage that he gave up the p
business. Who would not rather
: a good lawyer than a poi merchan
The pei factories of the Chimes
!. are, however, in my opinion a benet
to the country, though I doubt
either Hawaiians or whites coul
ever have made much out of IL
business. People blame Hawaiian
, for not making their own poi, bl
why? Is there any more reason WI
every Hawaiian should make b
own poi, than that every foreign
should grow his own wheat, grind
{ into flour, and make it into brea
himself? It is much more econor
ical to have all that done for us
people who make it their business.
! A few years ago all my Hawaiia
laborers had to stay at home one da
every week to pound poi, now the
buy their poi and work six days
week. Isn't that better?
. Much more might be said, but tt
letter is already far too long. Apol
gising for my prolixity.
[ am, yours respectfully,