The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-02-16

peaceful citizens. If this law passes,
no man can do any business except
the one allowed him by law. The
Chinese pay the most of the taxes,
and were it not for us, the white mer-
chants of Honolulu would be ruined.
am clerk, but one of these days l
may be a rich man. But not if this
law passes and our race is treated worse
than dogs. We do not break the laws,
we are peaceful. We do not steal.
Why do they want to make such
laws against US? All we must do is
TO stick together and we will come
out all right.
Chang Kim, clerk in c. w. Ash
ford's Office spoke as follows:
FELLOW CoUNTRYMEN: - We are
here tonight because it is proposed by
the Provisional Government of this
country to place US under the ban, for
the sole reason that we are Chinese,
instead of being Portuguese. The Chi
nese in Hawaii, as well as in other
countries, have been a very patient
people, and have borne with much OPP
preston that would have provoked
opposition and even revolution, from
almost any other race, and now, see
ing how patient we have been under
injustice, it seems as though the Gov
eminent have formed the opinion that
no injustice they can heap upon US
will be opposed or resented. But that
is a mistake; seven a worm will turn
when trodden upon" and so it may be
with even the dispised Chinese, should
the oppression be carried too far. Is
there any reason why one of Gods
creatures should he trampled upon by
his brothers? Are we not all members
of one great family? By what right
do our white-skinned brothers assume
to lord it over US, and to say that we
shall do business, and trade, and live,
and breathe, only by their consent?
Is it only because our skins are brown
while theirs are white? hold that
the Chinese of Hawaii should be
judged by their behavior, and if they
behave themselves no worse than their
neighbors, they should be treated as
well as their neighbors. The Govern
ment is glad enough to collect taxes
from the Chinese, but when it comes
to finding a class upon whom the spite
of all the cranks shall be expended,
they at once light upon the patient
and long suffering Chinaman. We
ask for only justice, and should accept
nothing less. The Hawaiian Consti-
tuition declares that the Government is
established for the equal benefit of all
men and all classes, but if the Chinese
License Act shall pass, it will show
that the Government intends to deny
to US the equal benefit of the laws.
The Geary Act, in the United States,
ic had annnuh thiS A Of
to be imposed upon us, is even more
unjust than that.
w. C. Achi was then called upon.
He spoke in native:
/ am a Chinaman without queue,
and came here to express my views
on this subject. We are permitted by
the Constitution of this country to
gather here to talk of our grievances.
From my reading of this law, tell
you, Oh, countrymen of my father,
that there has never such hard law
as this one been passed or even thought
of. Oh, cOuntrymen of my father,
you have no representation in the
Councils to speak for you, but you
have the right to make your wishes
known to the Councils by resolutions.
If this law passes, this is what will
happen. If q man is a labOrer, and
after a few years he saves a little
money, he will not be able to 90 into
any other business. If he wants to
start a store he can't do it. For that
reason / tell you that if this law passes
it will put a rope around your necks.
1t will injure all the Chinese, rich and
poor, high and low, strong and weak.
Tho pnlu tlino Won 70 do iS IN 10 lya
some Intelligent action that will turn
in our favor, the tide that is setting
against us. (Cries of, Very good y
If this question should be submitted
to the Supreme Court, oh country
men of my father, they would decide
that it was wholly unconstitutional.
If could only speak in your tongue l
would like it, but learned my moth
er's language and not my fathers, so
you must excuse me. loud APP
plause.)
n. Monwar, of Paul Neumann's law
office, was next introduced. He said:
MY FRIENDS AND CoUNTRYMEN:-
The Chinese population of these isl
ands has always been obedient to law.
1t is great in number, but never at
tempts to right wrong attempted
against them in any other way except
by peaceful means. When the Legis-
lature of 1883 passed a most unjust
measure directed Immediately against
US, we appealed to the Supreme Court
and they protected us with one voice,
although many of the people wanted
to have that unjust law, the book
keeping law, enforced. We are now
threatened again. / do not believe
that men of as good character as are
at the head of the present Govern
ment will allow so unjust a law to
pass as this threatened law which is
intended to prevent US from earning
our bread by lawful means. If they
do so, against our just expectations,
we still have the courts, which will,
without fear or favor, protect the peo-
pie, whether Chinese or Hawaiian,
whether rich or poor, treaty or no
treaty. We do not wish to interfere
with the Government at all. They
will not pass law Of oppression.
Lee Chu spoke as follows:
am a carpenter by trade, and have
been reporter on the Chinese Times.