The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-08-31
Mr., klNREYs LETTER.

However, if his declara ions are solid
facts, which he undoubtedly believes.
his arguments are well put. If, on
the other hand, they are not facts,
his arguments fail, not being firmly
founded. His declarations should
he critically enquired into and un-
disputed proof demanded before SO
serious matter should be under
taken as calling the Legislature TO.
gether for the purpose of making u
change in our Constitution.
The spirit and substance of the
letter, as | understand it, IS: "The
plantations have brought into this
country coolie class of cheap
laborers, many Of whom have spread
over the country and crowded both
kanaka and white laborers out Of
employment, taking bread out of
their mouths and in consequence
many of the kanakas are idle and
suffering and white people are
driven from the country, and il the
plantations don't consent for their
own good to have Chinese restric-
ton clause placed in our Constitu
ton, such as these white citizens
and kanakas demand, they will take
part against the planters at the next
election and GUST both them and
their friends from. any say in the
affairs of the Government, and so
change the Constitution as to entire
| " prevent any further influx of
cheap laborers from coming here
until the plantations do comply with
their Wishes" or, to simmer down
little, The plantations are respon-
sible for every bankrupt and every
unsuccessful trader, every Idle
kanaka and white man in the c0un-
try, because they have brought here
cheap coolie laborers 10 work on the
plantations, and if they don't force
them to stop on the plantations or
send them o0t of tie country there
will be another revolution -
We think no one will deny that
the above summary is the substance
of Mr.. Kinney's letter. But from
my standpoint neither white men
nor kanakas have been rooted out of
employment or had TO labor for
lower wages on account of the Chi
nese being here. | have been told
by old plantation managers-and
Mr.. Kinney must be conversant with
that tact-that before the Chinese
came to these islands they hired ka-
nskas TO work on their plantations
for six dollars per month and board.
Now, kanakas' wages are three
tines that sum. Kukaiau pays
every kanalia that labors on the
plantation twenly-six dollars per
month and board, and l verify be-
lieve that every able-bodied kanaka
can find employment if he will only
go where the labor is wanted. L
have frequently heard plantation
managers say that they preferred
kanaka laborers to any other nation
atty on their plantations. Does
this look as though the natives have
been rooted out of employment or
compelled 10 accept starvation wages
because cheap laborers have been
brought in as :'hewers of wood and
drawers of water" We know many
of the natives are not laboring, but
it is their own fault. They won't
do it.
We believe the reverse of what
MIR. Kinney claims is the real truth.
That is, instead of kanakas and
white people being rooted out by
this cheap labor, more kauakas and
more white people are required t.
perform the better paid class OF
labor - transfers, lunas, snperin-
tendents, ETC., now, than would have
yet been wanted had this low
: class of labor never been brought
in. The mere low class that can be
used, the more and higher priced
white and kanaka laborers will be
wanted, the more wealth will be
produced, the country generally be
!. made more prosperous, and less
complaint heard of "hard times"
AS earl y as the building of Wab-
ash canal in America labor was too
scarce 10 suit the fancy of its pro-
jectors and they imported some
lrishmen to work on the canal.
Then commenced bloody oppesi-
ton against the Irishmen by the ma
tlves, they using the same identical
arguments as are used here to-day
against the Cinnamon, and they en-
forced their arguments with physi-
cal weapons. The natives were
then getting eight dollars per month,
and they thought the canal work was
all the labor there was or would be
so far as they sould see, and if the
Irishmen were allowed TO do that,
the natives would have to suffer.
But the Irish and other low class
labor continued TO come from Eu-
rope in increased numbers; the ma
tives began 10 climb, and supplied
the brains and other essentials for
this low labor class. Now this
same class gets twice eight dollars
per month for their labor; food,
clothing and luXurics have cheapen-
ed and the native no longer relishes
the drudgery work he once fought