The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-11-26
Hawaii. Nov. 1889,
An Opposite View.

stitutiOnal amendment which appeared
IN the p. c. ADVERTISER last week,
will probably be received BY opponents
OF that amendment with satisfaction
which would be audible, ii it was not for
the fact that such an opinion no longer
attacks simply the sandlotters and hood
lums in the anti-Chinese party, but a re-
sponsible ministry OF this country.
Opinions like Joseph Cooks given
from 3 distance Of some thousands of
miles and with but scant knowledge of
the peculiar conditions which urge the
legislation in question, aIe likely to be
accepted without question by many Of
those whose financial interests and trend
Of conscientious scruples and ideas
are such rs to make views like these
from Boston peculiarly inviting. To
such, Mr.. Cook is Daniel come to judg-
ment, sure. The only way to neutralize
Joseph's opinions on the Chinese ques-
ton with such people would probably be
to write again and ask him what he
thinks OF cur labor contract system as
well. As truthful man he would have
10 say,-and this time not TO the sand
lotters and hoodlums, but alas, to the
solid, substantial and elect among u.s.
that not even mong the hoodlums of
California could he find precedent for
such q system.
Joseph Cook on the Chinese question
VII be very acceptable to the pro-Chin-
csc party Of the islands, but Joseph
Cook on labor contracts, the propriety
Of letting in any more male immigrants
without an equal number OF women, and
other New England ideas, would proba-
bly, make the pro-Chinese party very,
very tired before they get rid Of him.
The truth probably is, that If Mr.. Cook
was 10 form his opinions, both as TO the
labor contract system and the Chinese,
here on the ground and from actual OBJ
servation, he would come 10 conclusions
far different from those likely to be form
by him az distance.
The labor contract system as q perma-
nent and fixed institution OF the country
would simply be barbarous, but as
make shift during stage of our island
history when the country has praeti-
cally no Indigenous population to rely
upon, it probably does well enough. As
q system it already has commenced to
die 3 natural death, and its ultimate
total extinction without the invocation
Of law come to pass when the conditions
which gave rise to it cease to exist. So
too, II the Chinese constitutional amend
ment meant . perpetual population Of
Chinese lsborers condemned through
life TO common labor in the rice and
sugar fields OF this country, it certainly
would be . revolving measure. But
those who believe in this amendment
also believe that if Asiatic labor can
once successfully be confined to the two
industries for which alone they are now
admitted, the day will surely come when
Asiatic OF uncivilized labor will die as
natural and easy death in this country
as will the labor contract system. The
Missouri compromise while confirming
slavery in the slave States by the very
act Of combining slavery to those States
''ipso fseto" provided for its extinction.
The leaders OF the South saw this and
were themselves the ones first TO depart
from the compromise IN question, for
they saw that their only hope Of perpe-
tuating slavery, even in their own States,
was in breaking down its sectional char
aeter and in spreading slavery through
out the country, and in attempting TO do
this they provoked the war which ended
the whole affair So by making Asiatic
labor q special, exceptional and peculiar
class OF labor, IF the community viii do
IT. provision is made ''ipeo faeto'i for It's
gradual extinction. As the country con-
tinues to develop permanent laboring
population Of its own the necessity for
Chinese labor will continue to diminish.
The Portuguese and the mixed race COM
ing from the natives are both rapidly in
creasing and there is no reason why Is
Dor from these and similar sources pro-
perry stimulated, should not continue TO
increase very rapidly, If the barrier and |
menace Of Asiatic labor is practically |
fixed st q point beyond which it cannot |
90, and other classes of possible immi- |
grants come to know this The Chinese |
amendment saws IN effect /
until It can develop population OF our |
own civilization here IT the islands We
need Chinese for rice and sugar. After |
that we VIII not need him at all nor do \
We want him until the day comes when |
he accepts our civilization.
1ucIE = Ulc pLOpDclLN14 " lAtC HAO- Il
Chinese party, however, in regard to the |
proposed constitutional amendment, |
which II II carries means precisely what l
Joseph Cook suggests. perpetual Chin |
csc peousge, and this IS the proposition /
10 allow Chinese to come in as common
Izborers, not only for rice and sugar, but /
also for every other agricultural pursuit i
whatsoevr. This means that the labor |
ing population OF the islands shall be ex-
clusiTely Chinese. II commits every 1
possible industry to the Chinese collie,
Tor If men can get Chinese laborers for
any new enterprise. they certainly will 4
not seek other forms Of labor. In short,
t would turn the islands into q cOolie
ramp and leave no industry that man
Of small means could 20 into relying on
MS own labor and feel safe from COM
petition with Chinese labor. The origin
L anti-Chinese constitutional amend
neut makes the ChinAman 3 temporary /
;oiouruer, the civilized man the settler
The extentiou Of Chinese labor to
III forms Of agricultural pursuits in that
amendment, would reverse things, and
Justify the charge made by Mr. Cook
against It. Il would probably create
Dig boom and spurt for q few years,
which some would call progress, bat il
would be at the sacrifice Of the interests
y those who would have 10 face the re-