The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-03-16

Mr.. EDITOR In discussions o
the labor problem, now OF vital IN
terest to this country, | have heard
the Southern negro suggested as q
desirable substitute for Asiatics
whose terms of contract will expire
in the near future. The expert
ence of the past will convince any
thoughtful person that the labor
question is a most momentous one
to handle. Were the Chinese de-
sirable citizens there would posi-
bly, be little argument against
them as laborers. They are indus
trious and easily managed. We
know the arguments for and
against Portuguese. They have
been and are !aboring in the cane
field, have their families and
homes among US. They are, from
all accounts, industrious, sober,
moral, patriotic and acceptable
citizens. For the negro, have no
special words of praise or con-
domination, but merely wish to
present his case as matter of in
formation.
The negro field laborer is
peculiar individual. There is pos
sibly no more hardy people-a
people capable of bearing all man
ner of inconvenience, hard work,
the heat of sun, inclement weather,
with scanty clothing and few COM
forts-in all the world than the
black of the Southern States. He
has earned a reputation for indus
try and frugality, though both
have come more of necessity
than of nature. He works
because he has to, and will
not when bis larder guarantees
dinner for the next day. He be-
gins the week Sunday at Church,
where are services morning, after
noon and night, the day closing at
late hour, not infrequently in the
early morning Monday morning
(from 6 to 81, he goes forth to pillow,
hoe or cut wood Virginia to Ala
bama, SOC. to Zoe. per day.; to
work in the phosphate mines South
Carolina and Florida, Csc. to 90c } f;
in the cane fields Louisiana, SOC.
to $10O); in lumber mills (Louisi-
ana, Tennessee and Texas, 90c. to
$3.50; cutting shingles, rails, ties
and timber of various kinds (At-
lantic and Gulf coasts; contracts,
but average 75c. to $1.25 per day.,
or around the towns at odds and
ends where he picks up fifty or
sixty cents in day. This be keeps
up with increasing irregularity I'M
til Saturday morning when he fails
without notice., to appear unless
absolutely required to do so, and
under no circumstances will he
serve in the afternoon, for Saturday
is a legal holiday in the negro's
calendar. On Saturday, he, with
his hosts of kin and friends assem-
be at the nearest village, each with
from one to four or five dollars in
his pocket which must be spent be-
fore the night is over. The purse
is, accordingly, laid out in whisky,
gaming, immoral practices, tobacco,
food and clothing, in their order,
with a possible dime for the collec-
ton basket at "preachin'" Sunday
morning-thus ending the week
with scarcely enough food to sus-
tain him through the Sabbath day,
the net returns for his hire. This
routine of week is applicable to
the month, the year, or the life
time of a negro laborer. He lives
in the present; he is happy and
content in his poverty and drudg-
cry, and goes through the
day of toll in the blistering rays of
the June sun, clad in tatters sus-
pended by a string over each shout
der; not a cent in his pocket, but
a piece of. brown bread, slice of
bacon and molasses in his tin
bucket under the persimmon
bushes for his dinner, singing, as
care-free and happy as the lark on
the neighboring boughs. Withal,
he is a good laborer; can't be de-
pended upon in an emergency, as a
rule, but no man can excel him in
the amount and quality of his days
work. Brought up to labor, he is
proficient in all branches of what
seems to be his Calling" and is
quick to learn. The objection to
him is his debauchery, lack of fore
sight and am bition, and consequent
indulgence, inclination to Incidence,