Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-29
Fears Expressed That They Are Be-
coming Too Numerous in Hawaii.
SOME RECENT LABOR STATISTICS
The Effect of the Recognition of
the Republic by England.
DISCOURAGED ROYALISTS
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

HONOLULU, November 10. 1904
The Japanese are very much to the front
in these days. They are somewhat SO here
in Hawaii. They held q great celebration
in this city last week over their emperor's
birthday, which came on November 3.
There were plenty of fireworks, and pro-
cession of brightly dressed Japs. walking
noisily and in irregular step. Commission
er Fulfil held a reception, which was largely
attended by white people. He has a quite
cultivated and amiable household. In the
evening took place a grand assemblage IN
large rink, with a fine program OF music
and speeches, the latter in Japanese. 1t
was noticeable that the leader Of the oc-
casion was the Christian pastor of the
Honolulu Japanese, Jiro Okabe a man OF
great tact and activity. Okabe has been
wonderfully successful in locating preach
ers of his race at the various plantations
where those people are employed as Ia
borers. and in getting the planters to pay
their stipends. This is In part owing to his
wholesome influence over the laborers, and
his tact in comprising difficulties which
have arisen among them. Like most OF his
countrymen Okabe is short, under five feet.
Between his eyes the bridge Of the nose Is
absolutely wanting, a not uncommon pecu-
liarity of Japanese features. He Is a very
eloquent speaker, vivacious In conversation,
full of bright plans for work. He talks and
writes English quite well.
The Japanese here are, Of course, greatly
elated over the successes of their arms In
Corea and adjacent seas. They are rather
disposed to show 1t, greatly to the irrita-
ton of their more stolid Chinese neighbors.
Their shop windows frequently exhibit
rather rude cuts and colored pictures by
Japanese artists, illustre ting the war. In
these the pigtails are always giving way
to the valor and ferocity of the serried
nf a ahrxS mt hnvr 10 y1d
Naturally the Cinnamon here feel very
sour toward their elated rivals. They have
great capacity for silence under provoca-
ton, but none the less do a deal Of think
Ing, and await their opportunity. The jap
anese elation at the opening of the celebra-
ton day was, however, rather too much
for the celestials; and they notified the po-
lice that If there was the least insolence it
would be promptly resented. There was no
disturbance.
Now the Cinnamon, not to be outdone,
are about to celebrate the birthday of their
dowager empress. Undoubtedly they will
make much of the occasion, in order to
show their superiority to their rivals. No
Chnaman here will admit for moment
that the Japanese successes amount to
anything serious. 1t is only a squirt at the
commencement Of the fray. When China
has taken time to summon and rally her
forces she will walk over her little an
tagonist as an elephant tramples a tiger.
Such is not, however the opinion of some
Americans and Englishmen here con-
versant with both countries who predict
continued success to the Japanese arms.
The Lnboring Classes.
The planters have just been holding their
annual convention under the title of the
Planters Labor and Supply Company"
An estimate Of the number Of Japanese
Chinese and Portuguese males now in these
islands was presented, as obtained from
the collector general. 1t is as follows:
Chinese males, 14,114; Japanese males,
q SIG; Portuguese males, 400.
Figures were also given showing the
number and nationality of the male labor
ers on all the plantations, as follows:
1awaiians. 1,502; Portuguese, 1.7O3;
Chinese. 2,246: Japanese, HOG; others,
800. Total, 1922.
Besides these laborers there were 2SS
women and PSI children employed; 1858 of
the women We're Japanese and 166 Portu-
guese.
OF all these laborers 9,0l2 were under
contract, or bound for not over three
years.
1t thus appears that there are 0,S36
Japanese men and IL ,SGS Chinese who are
rot employed upon the plantations. Many
of the Chinese are employed in cultivating
rice. Both races are largely occupied in
nearly all the lower avocatons of life.
Large numbers of both are shopkeepers
and peddlers and some of them large re-
tailers and wholesale importers.
1t also appears that almost two-thirds
of the 1896 laborerS employed upon the
sugar plantations; or Il, 129, are Japanese
The Japanese males outnumber the Chinese
and Portuguese combined. Their females
also probably outnumber those of the other
two races, although the Portuguese women
are numerous. The large numbers Of Por-
tuguese children born in Hawaii do not
appear in the foregoing figures. The entire
Portuguese population exceeds 10000.
The report of the labor committee of the
planters. H. P. Baldwin. chairman, dwells
upon one very unfavorable feature in the
character of the Japanese laborers, which
is to strike on the smallest provocation.
No such complaint has ever been made
of the Chinese laborers who are remark
ally quiet and steady. The Chinese are
peculiarly practical and common-sensc
people. The Japanese seem to be magma
tive, mercurial and impulsive. He differs
from his pig tailed neighbor as the Gaul
does from the Dutchman. He is Of very
different racial stock from the Chinaman,
unlike him In stature, in bodily shape aid
In facial features. While among the Jap
anese a Mongoloid element is observable
III considerable proportion of their faces
there seems to be preponderance of other
elements. There is evidently q considera-
BILE proportion of the Malay which has
worked up from the Philippine Islands.
Many Japanese greatly resemble Hawaii
ans, who are pure Malayo-Polynesian The
large Malay chin is common among them
unlike the retreating Chinese chin.
The Jap laborer is inferior in strength
to the Chinaman, as well as less patient
and enduring. In field labor the planters
estimate two Cinnamon as equal to three
Japs. There is probably less difference in
the labor of the boiling house where man
ual aptitude is of more account than mus
Gle. In art work there is no question of
the Japanese superiority. In commercial
business the Chinaman is much ahead by
reason of his acute practical good sense as
well as his plodding patience.
PcriIs of the Republic.
Our government leaders regard this an
archistic or insubordinate Japanese ele-
ment in the country with very grave anx-
iety. They feel 1T to be seriously danger
Gus to introduce additional laborers from
that country. The planters fully agree
with them In this matter, although in their
urgent need for fresh supplies of labor they
take more of these people on as they are
sent over. All parties would be glad to re-
ceive Chinese instead but the way from
Hong Kong is barred at present by the
British authorities there. Indeed, no more
Asiatics ought to come in. They will seri-
ously impede the manifest destiny of these
Islands to he owned and occupied by Amer
leans. 1t is for these reasons that an ear
nest effort is now being made to secure a
fresh immigration Of Portuguese laborers
from the Azores and Canalies. We ar,
;lnxiousiy awaiting the results of the mis-
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