Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-07-28


the Islands was considered q danger
Gus menace 10 their we'll being and as
long agO as the early seventies an earn
est effort was made to secure Japanese
laDOrorS. For some time the Japanese
government refused 70 listen to any
such propositions, but finally an ar
rangement was made by which Japan
csc laborers could so to Hawaii This
agreement was, however, as totally diff
TerenJ from anything like cOOlie emil
grafton as IL was possible for any sys-
TEN to be. In the first place the whole
arrangement was made the subject Of
q hrnA Testy. The interests and well
rare OF the emigrants were guarded in
every particular. They were provided
with Interpreters, doctors, and special
instructors and were granted what was
lltIa snort OF species of extraterri-
Jorlailty IN their new home. IL was
possible for them at any time to re-
lease themselves upon sufficient cause
from their voluntarily assumed Obliga-
Ji0nS' and in no case was hardship or
oppression possible. Under the plan
OF supervision and control. ably devils
e0 and carried out with the utmost
care, the experiment has had a wonder
fuI success, and has resulted in mutual
profit and satisfaction to the Hawaiian
planter and the Japanese laborer.
III seems unnecessary TO point out that
tAls state OF things is essentially uui-
que, and that il could not occur exceDt
under the peculiar conditions whicb
prevail 10 the Hawaiian Islands. The
japanese who so to Hawaii are picked
men ana q certain proportion of their
wives ana families accompany them
ne men, as rule, are small farmers.
OF Iatn laoorerS, who desire TO earn
enough 10 pay their debts. to buy moro
land. or IN other ways TO improve tbeir
condition 40 home When the time of
their service is ended they either ra-
lu'n 10 Japan or re-enSage for a further
term with the planters. They have not
Sel QUO upon rowing mission, bur as
q general rule upon a specific purDose
mere is only the slightest likelihood
az least IN the great majority of cases
OF their going 20 the United States ana
there becoming q menace to domestic
LABOR The Hawaiian planter would in
. any ease be able 10 offer them iDduca-
menJs as tempting as any 10 be found
10 the United States. Labor is an ar
ucie OF prime Importance in the Ha-
Walan Islands, especially so under the
peculiar conditions which at present
prevail there and It is only reasonable
to suppose that the planter will usa
every effort 20 prevent the diversion Of
skilled labor. It is equally fair to sur
mise that his efforts Will be seconded
by the officials Of his own government
as Wen as by the Japanese officials
whose duty iJ is 20 promote the welfare
of their c0untrymen I'm Hawaii There
( can be no such thing as coercion in
either case. for the lab0rers are free
agents in all essentials: but on the
| other hand. all the facts combine to
prove that the Islands can never be
I come q half way depot as e we're. for
the shipment of contract labor to the
United States.
II, therefore. any contractor. So
called. in Hawaii has offered to pro
I vide such labor he is evidently trading
I upon the credulity of those with whom
he deals or. and this seems much more
probable. some over-zeal0us official has
! discovered q veritable mares nest.
So far as regards the emigration of
any portion of her laboring population
20 the United States. Japan stands pre-
ciseiy upon the same footing as any
other foreign nation This country
has its laws regarding the importation
of contract and other labor, the force
and validity of which every other State
I is necessarily bound 10 recognize In
accordance with those laws the sub
I jec-s and citizens Of numerous foreign
/ countries Italians, Russians. Japanese
+ and others. have been turned away
T from the shores OF the United States.
/ This is right and proper, for it is en-
/ tirelv within the province Of every in
! dependent State to control fits domestic
/ affairs In it's own way. But it is neitheA
/ lust nor polite 20 make any discrimin-
+ ati0n in the application of such restric-
/ lions. or 90 be spurred into an exhibit
ton of superfluOus zeal through the APP
/ prehension of q purely imaginary dam
\ ger. Happily the circumstances OF the
\ present case dOnOt warrant the be-
/ lief that there win be such result as
/ this. 0~ that there Will be need of re-
/ course 70 any other or more stringent
7 measures than are provided by the
| terms of existing laws.
! So far as Japan is concerned the gov
/ eminent has coDclusively shown that
/ it has no desire 20 cOuntenance the in
/ fraction of The laws of other nations
/ I'm this regard by making regulations
| which provide. among other things,
thar no Iapanese shall emigrate to
+ country where his coming would be in
| violation of law. This stipulation OF
/ Itself might well be regarded as sat
I isfactory Quietus to those visionary
/ fears 20 which the predetermined dan
I gers of Japanese immigration nave
u " STENENS.