The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-08-15
HOW rEt,o>EE~ ARR TREATED.


Mr. Ben Mason, who is well and
favorably known IN this country. and
who has resided on these islands for
period OF fifteen years, being EN-
ployed IL different capacities, return
"a q short time ago from an extended
trip through South and Central
America. AIr. Mason Is q machiDist
by trade During last year lie re-
sided IN Guatemala, where he was
employed by the Guatemala Railway
Company. lie remembers distinctly
the arrival Of 400 blackb;rd South
Sea islanders by the steamer Mon
serrat IN tina. country last September.
He remembers the occasion because
the arrival Of these slaves was the all
absorbing topic N Guatemala at the
time. and because he fitted ont the
engine In Guatemala that was re
CURED 10 carry the special train
which had 10 be made up 10 convey
these blsckbirds from San Jose.
where they landed. into the interior
OF the country.
Mr.. Mason has made two trips 10
Central America. and has also trav-
eled through San Salvador, Near /
aqua and Costa Rics. He remained /
IN Guatemala eight months on his 4
last visit. and left that city during
the month OF February OF this year.
returning here by the way OF Mexico
and California
As a consequence OF these t7qo
visits. Mr. Mason j fully couyersant
with the history Of Central America,
her people and their mode OF living.
Learning that this paper had been
attacked on account Of some CORE /
spondeuce which appeared IN its
columns concerning the treatment Of
IabOrers On the coffee plantations In
Guatemala. NJ Mason has kindly
volunteered 20 give the public the
benefit Of his knowledge IN regard TO
how labOrers are treated IL that
country, through the ADVERTISER.
I have read the letter OF Clogs"
said AIr Mason. (which was pub
lished IN your paper q few days ago.
.
ments made therein, he did not 20 {
far enough, nor did he tell the half
OF the heilish things carried on IN /
that country. The people Of
Guatemala are mostly thieves.
murderers, cut-throats and the
like. They are ignorant. vic
iOus and blOodthirsty. The luDas ]
on the plantations the most De
generate scoundrells OF the face Of
the earth. They 20 heavily armed (
at all times and maltreat the slaves :
under them IN the most horrible
manner. He says the people OF
Guatemala are al Catholics, and that
the priests run the government and
the government runs the people. he
yerities the statement OF Professor
Brigham that foreign contract labor
srs are not allowed 70 attend church
OF receive the benefits Of the weekly
holidays be denies II toto the state
meot that coffee viii not grow below
an altitude OF 300 feet and says there
are several plantations along the Z
government road near Cham pOnica,
which are not over so feet elevation z
The published statmerts regarding
the manner n which contract labor
ers are fed OF beans and jsrked beef. +
and housed II corrugated iron build .
ings was also verified by Sir. Mason.
de says further that there l. 10 gold {
IL circulation IL that country a. all,
ard that silver dollar i worth bat c
30 cents IN Guatemala. =
Continuing Mr. Mason says that
10 coffee l. grown on the Atlantic G
side. the entire country being
low and swaupy. heavily timbered
and abClndIug with rank vegetation.
and containing nothing bat anaconda
and adder snakes, monkeys. noun Z
,sI1 lions, parrots. and birds u pray. q
through this deadly swamp country q,
the Guatenzleau government intends =
building Z railway from Livingston
- Guatemala q distance II six days =
.raTel by mule back. equalling about :
10 miles. 3
TIE government Hz5 found it IN 7
possible 70 compel the native peous z
% work this line, and AIr. Hzson p
BELIEVES that the blackbirds which =
we've imported last year were brought .
ut for the purpose q buildI1g that !,
-ailway. He thinks i japanese are :
upgrted into Guatemala they VIII +
e e7ent1sIIy compelled u labor On :.
lie railway mentioned Once landed j
Z Guatemala. the japanese would
& q the mercy e the contractors,
I'D would either b compelled %
.bide By their wishes Or bs iuprIs-
med U shot. Il would be IupIssi- z
de Tor any one u live 10 that Z,
i|smpy country, and those Who at :,
.empt y would meet with Z horrible J.
ate Z
AE- 3Iasou would advise the Jap J
-nese o1 these Islands MT u change T
heir residence 20 any portion II =
central America, foY ~ beet their
condition would BE- one of abject
slavery.
Before bringing the interview 70 z =
- Mr.. Mason related "a incident K
~ ~" the guards treat those L. Il