The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-10-22
A Planters View ofthe Chinese Que

Planters View ofthe Chinese CUES
ton.
Ms. EDrroR: The GAZETTE o.
the Sth inst. contains letter express
ing surprise at the silence maintain
ed by pro-Chinese partizisns of in
fluence with regard to the animated
anti-Chinese movement at present
agitsting the Honolulu public
Speaking as planter, though not
on behalf of other planters, would
beg leave to say few words, if ]
may do so without getting drawn
into discussion, which / have no
time for.
1 have myself felt somewhat sur
prised at the perhaps universal sill
ence of planters on topic that is of
such vital Importance and interest
to the fraternity. This silence is
perhaps due to the fact that plan
tiers, as a class, are a proverbially
busy and unduly modest set of men.
Few planters have time and patience
to read the lengthy epistles and
wordy oratoly of the leader of
the anti Chinese movement and his
followers, and fewer still care to take
up cudgels and pose as champions in
defence, at the risk of being received
as the GAZETTE suggests with Gus
tomary published abuse"
1t is gratifying to receive the GA
zETTE's assurance (see editorial Oct.
Sth) that the sntiChinese movement
so far as is publicly known does not
contemplate any injustice to plan
tiers" These sentiments are very
considerate and condescending, but
planters will do well to bear in mind
that movement whose designs and
expressions in regard to Chinese are
so msnifestly unjust, would, if al
lowed to, impose restrictions such as
would eventually drive the unfortu-
nate Celestials out of the country.
Would there then be any consola-
ton IN the fact that the movement
had not contemplated any injustice
TO planters.
1t is difficult to see why the present
outcry against Chinese should exist.
The departures of Chinese for the
year exceed the arrivals, and the
number of Chinese in the country is
rapidly diminishing. That further
deduction Of the Chinese population |
Is IN the best interests of the coun-
try at large 1 cannot think.
frequently reference has been |
made to the presidents of the United |
States and Australia, in justification |
OF exclusive measures here; but there
is no comparison between the cir
cumstances. In the United States
and in Australia, there is a growing
population, and a steady influx of |
families from Europe, settling ex-
tensiye tracts of nnoccupied land.
Where is the growing population
here? Where the spontaneous i'm
of families? To get fsmi-
lies into this country we have to i'm
port them from abroad and pay
their passages and other expenses,
and after all that they go away to
California taking their savings with
them almost as soon as they are re-
leased from the contracts under
which they are brought here.
As for the unfair Chinese competi-
ton with white mechanics com
planned of, it is not justified by
facts. ANY frst-clsss white trades
nan can hold his own against Chi Il
lese competition. and can obtain |
higher remuneration for his labor |
Ind skill IN this country, than in
my other part of the world where
White men can work and enjoy good
health The Chinese themselves
.mploy white tradesmen, when they {
want good work done. One of the !
'est houses in my neighborhood was l
,ult for Chinese rice planter by a {
White carpenter with native assist &
.nts. Ii
The number of white and native | {
mechanics employed on plantations t
nd IN the Honolulu Iron Works far c
Iceeds all others in this country: | 1
nd the Chinese by their cheap labor L
n plantations indirectly aid in sup e
lying employment to these. L
As to storekeepers, q am one my C
elf, my experience Is that where c
Thlte and Chinese storekeepers enter f
ITO conception the white storekeep- |;
r has no difficulty. if his business is
onducted IN business-ike manner, c
! underselling the Chinese store g
eepers and getting the trade, while p
ne public benefits by the competi- c
on. n
As storekeepers the Chinese are
lost useful pioneers; opening stores a
lat are q great convenience TO the o
ublic IN out-of-the-vay places G
here no white man would ever v
INK OF doing so, even If subsidized Il
7 government In regard to Chi II
sse morality, would there be less
1morslity IN the country were the Il
hinese replaced BY an equal num- L
7 Of single white menf think tt
It. ia