The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-09-17
The CHINESE QUESTION.

4
session of the Legislature, to be
incorporated in the Constitutions
was fully discussed and voted on
and also the record of the final vote
by which it was indefinitely post
poned.-as furnished by Hon. w. o.
Smith. one of the Mobiles, and pub
hshed in last weeks Bulletin.
1t is not surprising that such a
long winded resolution should have
failed TO pass, in tolerably full
house, and after an exhaustive de-
bate. The vote on the motion to
indefinitely postpone,was twenty-five
for postponement, and seventeen
against the motion, or in favor OF
/ the resolution. Yet had the resolu-
ton briefly and clearly empowered
| the Legislature to enact such exclu-
sive laws relative to Chinese as it
might deem best for the public well
fare, such an amendment to the
Constitution would undoubtedly
have passed and been generally ap-
proved
A large majority of the foreign
voters of this kingdom favor strong
exclusion measures of some kind,
while the public voice may be said
to be practically unanimous against
free Chinese immigration as it ex-
listed in years past. The more intel
hgent Chinese themselves also must
see and acknowledge that had such
freedom of immigration continued
for twenty years more, it would
have resulted in inundating these
islands with their countrymen, and
in driving away nearly all the for
eign residents now here. Forum
stely, the gate was shut by legisla
tive enactment, which, if faithfully
carried out, will not only stop all
increase in their numbers, but will
result in a gradual decrease below
their present number, which may be
estimated at 5000, out OF a total
population of $4,000.
No Australian, American or Euro
pean city, colony or State has had to
contend against such an invasion of
Chinese, as this little kingdom,
where one in every five Of the entire
population is Chinese. Yet Aus
tralis, with a comparatively small |
Chinese population, collects poll |
tax of fifty dollars on every new
conner. The United States has gone
q step farther and passed q law for
bidding the entry or landing of any
Chinsman, unless he belongs to the
literary or mercantile classes.
the Supreme Court
Of the United States has affirmed
the validity of this law, and
thus established Its full consti-
tutionality. The Court held that
= the power Of the government
to exclude foreigners from the
country whenever in its judgment
the public interests require such e1-
has been asserted in repeat
ed instances, and never denied by
the executive or legislative depart
nent."
In conclusion the opinion says:
The power of the exclusion of for
signers being an incident of soyer-
aignty, and belonging to the govern
nent Of the United States ss q part
If whose sovereign powers delegated
1y the Constitution, and a right to
Is exercise at any time when in the
Judgment of the government and war
5 existing. the same necessity in a
ess pressing degree may arise when !
var does not exist, and the same
which adiudges the neces- l
ity in one case must determine it in i
mother" {
Hswaii's exclusion act has there |
ore strong precedent to sustain it. I
Beyond this exclusion OF Chinese.
10 country has yet taken any pro '
libitory step. The question now /
.rises,-Is it practicable to go be I
-ond this, and declare what those t
Jhinese who are now in the country t
nd possess vested rights, shall do, c
nd shall not do, and at the same :
ine be sustained by international :
eminent and usage: And If prae- l
icable, Is It wise7 Let Us consider L
he circumstances in the case
1t must be remembered that con-
idersble portion OF the Chinese now I
ere were imported as laborers with {
be consent and permission Of the
hawaiian Government. Is not the
then, in some sense :
heir protector and gusrdian-snd
: such, Is It not obligatory on It to
ither assist them In returning to