The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-09-17
The Chinese Question-FrOm a Rice
Planters Standpoint.

The Chinese Question-FrOm Rice
Planters Standpoint.
Nh. EDITOR: Having very little
to occupy my time at present, I was
enabled to read Mr.. W. A. Kinney's
long letter upon the Chinese ques-
ton through Its entire length. To
combat the document in detail is too
much for a farmer; but, as Tread his
letter, the whole rigmarole involves
only one question, viz: whether it
be wise to stop Chinese immigration
to these islands? If this does not
comprise all the subordinate ques-
tons, it Is at any rate the root of
the controversy; and, by thus sim
plifying the question, the argument
can be more easily followed.
The condition of the Hawaiian
Islands is like all other lands within
the tropics. The commerce of all
the lands and islands within the tor
nd portion of the earth's surface, is
maintained by the growth of tropi-
cal products that require colored
labor to produce them at cost sufi-
GENTLY low to compete in the mar
kets to which these products are ex-
ported. This necessity for colored
labor naturally gathers, in all trop-
ical countries, a large overbalan-
cling number of colored people, and
Of necessity a surplus which must
find pursuits other than those found
on the plantations. Some of these
laborers become physically disabled
for hard labor, and these find call
ings IN towns more suitable for de-
; creased strength.
These conditions prevail in all
tropical countries, and neither
Mr.. Kinney nor any other writer has
been able to show how the Hawaiian
Islands can be successfully trans
formed into a country having the
population conditions of the tenn
perate zone. 1t may be a very nice
imaginary picture to point out wish
ed for scenes on these islands SINH
lar to those of New England or Eu-
rope. but these scenes cannot be real
lied in this climate. White men
and women cannot compete here in
unshlled labor on rice and sugar
plantations, with either Asiatics,
negroes or other colored races. One
Chinamsn or Jap, even as a dom
este, is worth two white women, on
the average, and the wages of the
former are about one half what white
domestic labor exacts.
Market gardening and laundry
work Is done by AsiaUics cheaper
than by whites; and in the bust
nesses of storekeepers, tradesmen,
etc. it is only the poorest and cheap
est trade that falls into the hands of
Asiatics.
Instead of spelling trade or de-
creasing its flow into Caucasian
channels. TO Asiatics is due almost
wholly the great increase of com
merce that has taken place in the
Hawaiian Islands during the past
twenty years, in our two leading
staples. sugar and rice.
While white men hold the reins of
power on these islands, the Asiatics
will have to work hard enough for
every dollar paid to them; and, as is
the case in all tropical countries,
the plantation labor throughout must
be performed by colored aliens.
There is scarcely a calling in which
Cinnamon are engaged, that white
men would care to follow. Nomin-
ally the Asiatics have stores and
workshops; but these institutions are
carried on in manner different
from white mems practice, and are
chiefly intended for cooie trade.
Restriction of Chinese business in
these islands might have the effect
Of enhancing the prices of merchan-
disc: but this fact would curtail the
poor mans bread and butter, and
also his wardrobe, and many of his
household comforts.
So long as ignorance prevails
among large class of voters, agita-
tors viii be found always ready to
set against constituted authority in
the WAYS that are open to make the
most money; and the political war
fare on these islands promises at the
NEXT election to be contest between
education and intelligence on the
one hand. and ignorance and de-
nraxitv on the other The victory
ofthe latter could only result in tenn
l-s-r-.1rr,, no