The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-02-05
WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE
PORTUGUESE?

The "llilO Record OF January
POD, has the following editorial
article on this subject:
The question of what can or shall
be done with our Portuguese, is not
easily answered, but is one in which
every Hawaiian should be interest
ed. Within the past week the ru-
NOR has been circulated that the
place for them to go and COLOMBO is
in Oregon or Washington Territory.
There is no doubt dissatisiac-
ton amongst that people and it is
being tostered by few of the lead
inc men among them. And why on
one hand should not the Portuguese
be dissatisfied? The plantations are
closing their doors against them, in
favor of the cheaper Japanese labor.
But few of them have laid up any
money. Most Of them have large
families of small children, and there
is nothing for them to do unless they
come down to fifteen dollars and
sixty cents a month, and board
themselves. There is certainly n
poor outlook for them in the future
unless those who have the land and
means shall exert themselves to set
tie the Portuguese here. To-day
there are lots of Portuguese who
would gladly 90 TO work on land
furnished by the plantations, and
raise sugar-cane on their own Zone
half" share, if the mill will take it
from the ground, after being cut
and ready for the mill. The Waia
kea plantation has been encouraging
the Portuguese in this, but as We
can not find out of any others doing
it,, we believe it is the only one in
this district. 1t seems to us to be n
short-sighted policy for those who
have land and can get it settled up
by an Industrious people at such ali
easy rate, not to throw open their
acres for this people. There
are many of the Portuguese
who would 90 into coffee raising if
they could see how they were to live
until the fruit crop 6 years at the
shortcst) is ready for the market.
Parties in this town have offered to
lease for 10 years. good coffee land,
if they (the Portuguese) would take
it. No rent is asked for the first 4
years and after that Cne-fifth of the
crop is to be paid for the interest OF
the land-holder; and other minol
things are offered. But the cry is
GLOW can | keep my family fol
those four years" But we hope
that some may be induced to go into
the coffee business, which is bounC
to be paying in the near future. But
still. we must come to the malr
question. what can we in reason dc
to keep this part of our population
from emigrating. And it is a CUES
ton which the planters themsclve:
should take a greater interest IN.
We do not believe that our fortu
guesc will ever make successful col
onists in the cold, frozen valleys o
Oregon or Washington Territory
They have been accustomed for gen
eratlons TO the warmth of tropica
climate, and to transplant them to
land where n man has to work hare
five months in the year at farming
to be able to keep soul and body to
gether the other seven months, i
not the place for the Portuguese
No, we must try and do something
to keep them here. Let Hilo PEG
pie get up Coffee Company, i
which the laborers can come in a
! shareholders. Their labor to coun
as so much stock and all the none
necessary for their living be furnish
ed them and deducted from thei
wages after the first crop Is solo
This would make them more careft
, of expanding their money in orde
t that they might have a larger intcl
, est in the profits of their labor. W
f. do not believe that it would cost
/. great deal Of money to start I'll
thing. Why not then let Hilo taxi
the lead in this and shew what ca
> be done.