The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-02-09
AN EXPERT ON CHINESE.
STATEMENTS by MIR. WRIGHT OF
THE FOREIGN OFFICE.
The First Immigration--The Flood
Putting up the Gates-Trickery-
Migrants Here.

One of the most interesting and valu-
able chapters of rhrum's new annual is
the treatment by II. w. Wright of
"Chinese Immigration to the Islands,
Mr.. Wright has been in the Foreign
Office number of years. During that
period and while engaged in the news
paper business he had especial facilities
for studying the Chinese question. He
remarks that the earlier Chinese, by as.
similating themselves with the natives
produced "a class which has become a
useful part of the populition. The
first Chinaman naturaliZed was in 1919.
Since that time 100 have become citizens
OF Hawaii. Mr.. Wright speaks encourage
ngly of the prospects of the young
Chinese in the schools of the country.
The first Chinese laborers were brought
to the Islands in 1852. The instalment
numbered 1870 and they were shipped
at So month. Twenty boys to he
servants at 81 month came over ut the
same time. During the influx of Chi
nese 406 were brought from san Fran
cisco. Wages have increased to from
$40 to $40 month. There had reached
the Islands altogether up to September
80, 1898, s., l50 Chinese. These have
paid fees to the Foreign Office amount
ing to S35, So %. The total number OF
Chinese now ii the country is fixed at
II 800.
The first Chinese restriction regula-
tions were established by the reform
Cabinet OF 1887. 1t was then feared
both by the country and friendly
foreign powers that the Chinese would
obtain control of the Government. The
present laws and the movement to
amend them are well known. The most
effective section in the statutes is per
hnps that imposing fee of $3.50 for
the admission of minors. Mr. Wright s
suggestion on the subject of legislation
in his article is "a general registration
act on the lines of the bill introduced in
the last session of the monarchial lcgis-
llure especially in the mat
ter of registration of marriages, births,
and deaths, the proofs of which among
Chinese are very difficult to obtain"
attempts at fraud, says Mr.. Wright.
"have been numerous, but with the
elaborate system of checks and
| counter checks existing between the
Chinese bureau, the customs and the
consulate in HongkoDg, the vigilance
of the Customs authorities and the At.
torney-Generars Department, they have
been measurahly controlled. Unfortu-
nately the ignorant and innocent have to
very great extent suffered for the acts
of the guilty. The character of the
| frauds ma be briefly summarized as
consisting mainly of false impersona-
ton. Brokers obtained permits, the APP
plications for which were apparently
! ii, tn h.A ln a
regulations. These We're dispatched to
agents in China, who vended them at a
good premium. Minors applications were
presented in coed form at the Hongkoug
office, and permits granted to apparently
the right children, but before embark
ing on the outward bound vessels these
genuine permits were transferred
TO adults for valuable consideration.
Corrupt influences are alleged to have
been used in the past in procuring the
landing of Chinese not entitled to land,
and even the smuggling of them ashore
before the arrival of. vessels at Homo
lulu. has been more than limited at
There are but few Government officials
from the highest to the lowest, con
nected with Chinese immigration, who
have not beenapproached, at one timt
or another, with very suggestive re
quests for influence, which, if obtained
would not be wholly uuremunerative
1t may safely he said that b.
the fortunate detection OF these classe
OF frauds the Government has by regis
tration or cancellation of permits save,
the country from an influx OF owe
$500 Chinese, principally males anc
!. children.
J "The evil results OF the free contrac
system are painfully apparent, more cs
pecially so as regards the Chinese
, When tired OF working on the planta
tons or in the rice fields they abando
their labors and flock into the town
and villages and enter into distressfr
competition with the whites and Hawa
iians as merchants, storekeeper'
mechanics and artisans of every trad
and occupation. Failing to find Il con
; genial occupation, many OF them bt
y come Migrants and criminals, loafers o
!, the hospitality OF their countrymel
, touts OF the worst class and police il
formers more dangerous to the author
u tiles than to the men they seek to blacl
mail. One OF the best informed an
IS leading Chinese merchants and propert
owners OF Honolulu has estimated tn;
% there are in this city ut least $50
:. this dangerous class, who in his opiniC
and that OF most OF the reputable Oh
nese should be arrested and shipped
labor in the cane or rice fields, or ell
IT be compelled to leave the countr
There is unhappily no organized socie
- here such as the Six Companies to re
" lister and exercise control over them.