The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-04-08
Italian LabOrers.

MIR. EDITOR: LIE pfOpOslt1Ou W
still further complicate the.socialo-
gical condition of the Islands by the
introduction of Italian laborers, gives
special interest to any facts concern
ing this class. We have already one
branch of the Latin speaking races
in our midst, and while there is no
near relationship between these peo-
pies they are antecedently connected.
So far as agreement and harmony
are concerned there is no apriori
principle upon which we can call to
determine in advance how these two
nationalities will affiliate, but it is
often the case that related races are
less harmonious than those not re-
lated; in this case there exists no
national feuds, however, and no an
cestral differences. Those who have
met only the Italian emigrant as he
appears in the great cities of Amer
lea will not be predisposed towards
this new immigration, and for this
reason the observations and conclu-
sions of a great traveller and diplo-
matist of the standing of Eugene
Schuyler will be gladly welcomed by
all thinking men. He has been liv-
ing the past three years on the out
skirts of Alasslo, town of 5000 in
habitants in Liguria, and about half
way between Nice and Genoa. Col.
Spalding proposed to bring hither
Piedmontese peasants, and a little
study of the map of Italy may be
helpful to those not familiar with its
subdivisions. Piedmont is the ex-
treme northeastern part of Italy,
lying Immediately south of Switzer-
land and east of Southern France.
It is entirely inland, having no sea-
coast, being separated from the
Mediterranean Sea by Liguria. It
occupies the upper basin of the Pc,
and is surrounded by the loftiest
ranges of the Swiss Alps on the
north, the Graian and Cottiau Alps
on the east, while the Maritime Al ps
bound it on the south east, and the
Apemimes on the south. It is thus
surrounded with the grandest of
natural boundaries on all sides ex-
cept the east whittier it opens out
upon the plains of Lombardy. The
kingdom of Italy is subdivided into
provinces for administrative pur-
| poses, doing away with the old time
compartment, of which Piedmont
was one, whose territory now COM
prises four provinces, Alessandria,
Cuneo, Navarro and Lorino: of these
the latter, in which is situated the
city of Turin, is the largest and most
populous. Although in portions it
is mountainous, still Piedmont sus-
tains a population of 283 to the
square mile, and produces a sur
plus of corn over home consump-
ton. OF the climate I can find
no statistics, but that it is a
contrast to Hawaii would be in
ferred from its latitude and inland
situation, while the crops grown are
those of the temperate zone entirely.
Whether peasants from such condi-
tions will be happy and successful
plantation help might be an open
question of which others can Judge
better than I. But that the popula-
ton is becoming imbued with the
spirit of emigration, is shown by
the statistics of Mr.. Schuyler, and
that a stream might be diverted
hlther seems reasonable. The ex-
tracts below are from an article pub
lished in the Political Science Quar-
terly of September, 1889, published
in New York City, and edited by the
Faculty of Political Science of Col
umbia College," and would seem to
be OF the highest authority. MIR.
Schuyler discusses the question from
the standpoint of an American citi-
zen studying into the character of
the immigrants and their capacity to
become useful citizens of the great
Republic. As a basis for popula-
ton, his conclusions would have an
equal value here, while, as have
said, as a basis for a labor supply
for the canefelds, trial only can
settle the question.
w. G. MERRITT.
Italian emigration must be d.
vided into two kinds, temporary and
permanent. The former consists of
the masons, smiths, navvies and day
laborers of all kinds, who leave ITALY
every spring to seek work on the
railways, canals and public works in
other countries. They gen
orally return in the autumn with
what they have earned in the sum-
mer. Their number has
varied in the neighborhood of 1OO,-
600 yearly for some years past.
Permanent emigration consists of
those who leave Italy without any
immediate intention to return; it is
doubtful if more than a very few
have ever given up the hope of re-
turning at some period, after they
have amassed abroad q sum sufici-
ent to make the remainder of their
life easier. This class of emigrants
and all who cross the sea are con-