Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-02-14
ASIATICS In ARMS.
They Follow the eau
casian Lead.

One Of the gravest issues of the
day is now staring the provision
al government in the face. To-
night a mass meeting Of all
Chinese residents will be held at
the Chinese Theatre, where a pro-
test will be entered against the
proposed new restriction law
against the Asiastics. The Ian
guage used viii be so emphatical
that the government will have
good reason to pause and think
before leaping into situation so
full of complications that the
result may be Of dire disaster to
the country. We are not pro.
Chinese by any means, but we
are endeavoring to be just, and
we do not consider that the act
which it IS proposed to pass has
even the slightest flavor of justice.
We are strongly opposed to the
introduction of any more Chinese
into the country, but we believe
that those who are here as law
abiding citizens and contribute
nefourth of the taxes to the COVE
rnment should be treated with
justice and fairness. 1t is I'M
necessary to enumerate the
reasons why Chinese should not
be encouraged to come to these
Islands. The main and most
potent reason is that it is con
trary to the rules OF good govern
ment In any state to exceed the
number of males over females in
any marked degree. The Chinese
increase the male population OF
the country only and thereby
cause a serious disproportion be-
tween the sexes which are con-
trary to all social and moral
ethics. From politico-econo-
mical view they only contribute
their taxes to the state, while they
send all their surplus cash out of
country, proceeding which the
natural by is detrimental to the
national capital. They are fur
ther on a distinct migratory popu-
lation and they never become
permanently domesticated or
affiliate themselves with the
customs and people of the coun-
try. For these reasons we de-
cidedly object to a further
importation of Chinese; but in
regard to those now in the coun-
try. we object to any laws or
measures which place them be-
yond the rights and privileges OF
other nationalities. They pay,
as we have said avobe a large
proportion of the.taxes and they
are large importers and dealers.
They are therefore certainly
entitled to be treated with at least
decency and some show
of fairness. 1t may have
been a mistake ever to have
introduced Chinese into the coun-
try, but it is no use crying over
split milk. They are here and
must be treated like human
beings and with that equality and
fairness which is the boast of all
true Americans. The special OBJ
lection which the Chinese raise
against the proposed law is in
regard to the license demanded
for all who desire to enter into
mechanical occupation. Also the
clause which makes it optional
with the Minister of Interior to
grant licenses to storekeepers and
which prevents re-issuing of a
license to a man who once had be-
come a bankrupt. The registration
act is also a cause of great opposi-
ton. But mark we'll that the Chi
nese do not oppose these laws on
the merits alone. but especially
because they are made exclusively
for them and all other ,nationali-
ties are exempted. Why should
4 white man be permitted to get
1 new license after his bankruptcy
when a chinese storekeeper is
itl Why should a sneyd-
be allowed to pursue
his business to the injury of
skilled mechanic without a license
simply because he halls from
Finland OF America or Greenland.