The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-03-24

but must be drawn from
source related to us, il possible, in
all these particulars. We must look
to Europe for our laborers, il we are
to build up a homogeneous society.
Then too, not all races in Europe are
equally desirable. For obvious rea-
sons we should seek immigrants OF
our own tongue. II such cannot be OBJ |
tanned then we should procure those
of our own religion, and only in
the last instance, should those who
are alien both in language and relIg-
ion, be resorted TO-.
There is no occasion here to enter
at large into the merits Of the Ash
attic question. Everyone admits at
least that the importation of labor
from China, and in less degree from
japan, is an evil, il q necessary one,
and ought to be avoided, if possible.
This admission sufices for our pres
emit purposes.
Why then, if European labor is in
of itself 80 much more desirable than
that which we have, why do we not
obtain it! Planters generally as
sumo that the thing is out of the
question perhaps on some or all OF
the following grounds
l. It is an experiment and an un-
certain one.
2. The experiment has been tried
| repeatedly and has failed. Euro
pean laborers either do not give sat
| isfaction to employers, or are not
satisfied themselves, 30 that, in any
case, the attempt to obtain stable
body of workmen is failure.
3. Sugar can only be raised by
cheap labor here because we have to
compete with cheap labor every
where else in the world.
OF these three objections, it may be
observed that only the last goes to
the root of the matter. We shall
however, consider them all briefly in
their order.
First then comes the statement
that the importation of European
labor is an uncertain experiment
True. But the emergency demands
experiment, and the time, wher
prosperity is general, the tariff apd
treaty still untouched, is exception
ably favorable.
2. The failure of previous expert
ments.
Our answer is simple. Expert
ments have been numerous, it ii
true, but by no means conclusive
Neither have all proved failures.
I 3. That laborers have freqnentl,
been dissatisfied.
We concede, and it may as vel
be frankly admitted, that unless tn
planters feel that they can offer bet
ter terms and more liberal induce
ments than they have ever dom
hitherto, all talk about getting
better class OF labor here would bet
ter cease at once. Laborers VIII,
come here from Europe do so to i'm
prove their condition, and unless W
can offer them q substantial pros
pect Of success in the undertaking
it is hopeless to lure them here
They will never stay to do coolies
work for coolies pay when tha
land of the freeman's opportunity
America-opens its doors wide an
invites them across the water. Thi
: brings rs to the third objection, o
which the whole question hinges
the assumption, namely, that suga
cannot be raised in this country j
competition with cheap labor, Q,
cept by cheap labor.
}. This belief is the root of the Who'll
: question, and if it is we'll grounded
it makes any talk of getting on
plantation work done by English, {
i Scotch, or Americans, or German
9 entirely idle. But is it not an III
q verified assumption! Has it eve
4 been proved! If there any case {
) failure in cultivatiDg sugar whic
J, can be traced to the employment {
r high-priced Caucasian labor of
g superior grade, as its chief or so
/. cause 7!
r As matter of fact, high wage
l. are in competition with low all ov,
: the world. The Dakota whea
t growers are successfully competin
q with the coolie labor of India. Lo
r waged English farmers ha,
|. clamored for protection again
American wheat.
al Wages are higher in England ths
} anywhere on the continent of Europ
10 yet this does not prevent Englis
VI manufacturers from finding the
"A way wherever there are roads
, carry them.
nho onror;or off;c;oncv If hin