The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-10-28

Chinese Chinese on Total labor rs
Populat'n. Plant'ns. on Plant'ns.
1878 5,916 ........ ......,
lSSO-s1l, ,O65 ....-... .........
1SS2-*14 ,545 5,O37 10,24S
1884 1887
isS6-sls,6ss 5,6o5 i4,5is
1SSS-s19,737 5,727 15,57S
1889 -$19,217 ......... 16,375
(Estimated).
The number of laborerS on the
plantations increased from 1858
in January, 1888, to 1875 in Janu-
ary, 1889, total increase of 797.
But during this period Japanese
and Portuguese came into the coun-
try and went to work on the plan
tations TO the number of 4,S77; so
that during that period there were
1850 of the men at work in Janu-
AIRY, 1888, who had left the planta-
tions before January, 1889. This
decrease has been largely of Chi
nese and Portuguese. In what pro-
portions the figures are not at hand
to show, but no less than 1000 Chi
nese have left add probably more.
This would give rough estimate
of 400 Chinese now on the planta-
tions.
Phe effect of these figures is to
show that the coming of Chinese to
the country without restriction as
to the employments in which they
can engage, is of little or no benefit
to the planters, for in 1882 with
IA 800 Chinese in the country they
had 5000 Chinese ON the planta-
tions, while in 1889 with $4,000
Chinese in the country there are
less than 5000 on the plantations.
So long as other employments are
open TO them the Chinese will not
work on the plantations, or will
simply make such work a stepping
stone to some other employment.
From the mere material point of
view, therefore, if the labor neces-
sities of the plantations should re-
quire additional labor which could
be supplied from no other source
than China, it would be of no avail
to bring them here unless they were
debarred from other emplOyments.
Chinese has almost entire
ly ceased, and cannot be resorted
to without other precautions. The
difficulties of Identification and the
facility with which they can desert
service have demonstrated this to
the financial damage of numerous
planters.
In answer to those who urge the
moral argument we would submit
that no such principle as that put
forward by them, has been or is re-
cognized by any nation in existence.
For instance, Hawaii discriminates.
in favor of America against Eng
land and Germany and all other ma
tionalties by allowing American
goods to enter the ports of this coun-
try without paying duties, while |
those of all other nations are COM
PEELED to pay heavy duties.
This is not because of love
for the American or dislike of |
the Englishman, but because it is
for our advantage to do so; and the
right of any nation to secure advan-
tages 10 itself by reciprocal treaties,
even to the manifest disadvantage
1f other nations, is so well recOg-
lized and established: that we see
acquiescing in this discrim-
nation against her wOrkmen and
manufacturers. A few examples will
show that this principle is recog-
lized and acted upon by other ma
ions to a far greater degree than in
Hawaii. By law of the American
congress no foreigner can own land
n the District of Columbia, and sew
,ral of the States have similar laws.
They do this because they consider
for their advantage so to do; and
lObody claims that it is unfair or
Unjust, or that because s'a man is a
man," he should have this privilege.
Within the last few years we have
cen both Germany and Russia ex-
ceiling from their territory all the
itiZens of certain nationalities
Ehom they considered inimieal to
he interests of the country in which
hey were residing. Again, Hawaii
iscriminates in favor of her own
itizens against the world in several
mes of business. No one but a
citizen is allowed to own
Hawaiian vessel, and none but Ha-
Iaiian vessels are allowed to engage
] the inter-island trade. But the
of 1887 exhibits the
lost striking illustration Of this
rinciple. By that instrument Chi
ese are prohibited under any and
Il circumstances and conditions