The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-01-02
A Practical Question.

Mr.. EDITOR: The question of the
exclusion of the Chinese, or restric-
tive measures combining them to GER
tain numbers and to definite lines of
work, is question that must be de-
cided, not by sentimental considera
tions, nor by theoretical propositions,
but by the stern necessities and the
actual experiences of our social life.
The world is open to all wayfarers
now, as never before. The Chinese
wall of exclusiveness can never be
rebuilt. The total prohibition of
any department of human activity to
any class or race of men is also
thing of the past. But it is also
evident that legislation, or the want
of it, may result in giving opportun
ity for the subversal of those institu-
tons, whose support is one great
object in all legislation. We have
allowed the traffic in intoxicating
drinks to go on unchecked till now
it's growth threatens to throttle
home life and paralyse all industry.
We have allowed corporations, them
selves the creatures of our laws, to
multiply and combine, till govern
ment itself is almost under their feet,
and huge monopohes wiring from the
necessaries of life a tribute to add
still more to the spoils they have
won in the unequal contest of capital
and labor
When one feels the prick or the
! yoke of these social monstrosities, it
is easy to be denunciatory, and there
is seeming relief in freeing ones
mind. But the practical question is,
What are you going to do about it
What is the wise thing, as we'll as
the feasible thing, that is, the best
thing to do, and to be done now? /
do not think that anyone will main
tain the proposition that the coming
of the Chinese has been an unmiti-
gated curse to these islands. We
could not have acquired great
wealth, that consummate flower of
our nineteenth century civilization,
without cheap labor. But cheap
labor, however desirable for the
planter, is not satisfactory basis
on which to build up a Christian
community. The planters have got
their Chinese and Portuguese and
Japanese, and are piling up their
dividends. But how about other
residents? Is the community, as
now forming, offering such desir-
able place Of residence as one would
wish for ones children or ones
friends? Are new and desirable
residents coming to make a home
among us; or are we losing every
month some people whom we would
like to keep as friends and neighborsi
Is there no practicable way of CO.
operation between our too widely diff
fering civilizations, the occidental
and the oriental ? One great
difficulty Is the immobility of
the Chinese. It is in strik-
ing contrast with the enthusiasm
and progressiveness of the Japanese.
The Chinese are aggressive enough;
that, indeed, is the main trouble with
them. By dint of numbers they can
crush out or drive out any opposing
element. We have found a way in
these islands to live with the Ha-
over them nor servilely yielding to
them. Can we not deal as Justly, as
manfully, as successfully with the
Chinese element of our miscellaneous
population ? The first step, it would
seem, should be political and social
recognition. They are here and
they are here to stay. Why should
they be here merely on sufferance,
with no treaty made with the
Chinese Government, no legally de-
fined right and privileges such as
we accord to the most favored nation?
The policy of excluding the Chi
nese, and letting in about as many
as will furnish the laborers needed
for our plantations, is just as incon-
sistent as prohibitory legislation
against the liquor traffic, while every
Official winks at the liquor selling
and drunkard making going on be-
fore his nose and eyes. Tell the
Chinese Government frankly that
we do not want such numbers of
Chinese to come here as would en-
danger our political and industrial
system; and ask that Government to
join us In such regulations as shall