The Daily bulletin., 1889-12-02
The LABOR QUESTION.
Practical Views OF the Situation :
Costly and Cheap Labor Deluea.
ny JOIN NJ. HoRNER.

ny JOHN NJ. HoRNER.
EDlroR BULLETIN: - There are
serious, il not criminal charges,
urged against the planters about
which wish to say few words.
Honest criticism is rather commend
able as tending to correct and in-
struct, but false insinuations and
uhfounded criminal charges are both
wrong and revolutionary in their
tendencies.
We are accused of being the
authors directly or indirectly Of all
idleness, unthrift, suffering and dis
satisfaction, political and otherwise,
now to be found on these islands,
aud "that the planters have robbed
the natives of their wealth and of
their political rights" l pronounce
these charges slanderous, false and
criminal, and none of them can be
proven.
If the planters possess wealth as
charged, we have the conscious feel
ing that we have robbed no one of
it; hut we have created it out Of
the elements, have taken it ont of
natures storehouse. We have
rented OF bought the lands we cult
vate Of natives and Others ut prices
that would have appeared fabulous
few years ago. We have over.
come the natural obstacles 10 our
progress found upoE the land by
clearing it Of jungle and rock, in
some cases at an expense of 500
per acre; brought water from long
distances at great expense, and thus
made barren soils fruitful. We
have robbed no one, but we have
opened avenues of prosperity to thon-
sands. So instead Of our injuring
our country or our fellow citizens
by our works or dealings, / would
unheBitatingly affirm that the pre-
cent material prosperity Of these
islands should be credited to the
planters.
was in Honolulu in July, 1916.
Then there were there only n few
structures that would bear the dig
ni6ed name of "house'---all other
habitations were native huts, My
impressions are, that two mechanics
could have done all the mechanical
work then yearly required in Homo
lulu plenty of people, but little
agriculture and less commerce little
business and no material prosperity
were then visible. But the planters
got to work more vigorously, opened
the storehouse Of nature, and COM
PEELED her TO yield her wealth for
the happiness of man. The well
come news, that "Hawaii could buy
and pay was sent abroad; and
keen-sighted, enterprising men load.
ed ships with their surplus merchan-
disc and crude machinery, and
started for Hawaii. Scores of
steamers have followed laden with
the costly products OF both factory
and farm, and fleets of steam and
sailing craft are now profltably en-
ployed transporting the planters
output of wealth and supplies, TO
and from domestic ports, and to
ports Of other countries. Scores OF
mechanics have found profitable en-
p!oyment, and thousands of other
laborers have been constantly en-
ployed at wages double and treble
of what they ever received in their
own county. Natives wages have
increased from S. per month TO $50
and $26 per month.
Honolulu has grown from scatter.
ed native huts, toa creditable city
with noted mansions and public
buildings, numerous churches and
still more numerous achools. Its
exports and imports amount to many
millions yearly. Wooden house.
have almost exclusively taken the
place Of the grass hot throughout
The group. Towns have grown in
size and Importance aud scores OF
| villages have sprung into existence
Costly dwellings, factories, rail
roads, electric lights, paved streets
telephones, telegraphs, and Other
signs of civilization and enllghten.
ment announce the prosperity OF
Hawaii. America, Europe and Asis
have contributed men and means Il
this prosperity, which now with only
$4,000 people (snd many of then
drones) export over gil, ,00O,0 900 O,
wealth yearly. About the whole O.
the above ereditable showing is du,
TO the planters. 1t makes yer,
pretty picture to look back upon.
But what our accusers fail TO see
have forgot, or don't want to see, il
the struggle and labor, both menta
and physical. the planter has under
gone to produce such prosperou.
looking picture. The headache. ant
the heartaohe, caused by tho monta
strain exerted in his great anxiet,
10 "pnsh through" financial pulls,
low and getting lower, heartsick ant
almost discouraged, unceasing ant
oppressive labor. sleep fitful ant
unsound, and many, after years o
snch trials, laboring and helping
TO produce the above picture, finall,