The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1895-10-22
WHENCE THEIR INSPIRATION 4?

which the labored attempt of tn,
speakers to arouse among theii
hearers distrust of the Govern.
ment has been quite marked, that
make these meetings worthy Of
study from numerous points o,
view. We remark their labored
attempts because the principal
grievance was the effort to hold
the government responsible for the
failure OF the China to bring mail
from Japan. None know better
than the leaders among these
japanese clubs that the Hawaiian
Minister at Japan had no sort OF
control over the mail or over the
movements of the steamships of the
great trans-Pacific lines. 1t was
announced in advance from San
Francisco that the Pacific Mail
Company intended to take special
precaution to avoid a quarantine
OF the China. 1t was not expected
here, however, that the precautions
would 60 to the extent of declining
to bring the mail to Honolulu.
Having made inquiry We can say
positively that neither the Hawai-
ian Government nor any of its
agents were in any way responsible
for the omission to bring this mail.
This statements superhuous doubt
less to all save the presumably in
dignant japanese friends. But at
the same time We give the Japanese
residents too much credit to believe
that this little matter of mails is
the foundation, the alpha and
omega of all their woes.
The significant feature of the
whole business is that, having col
lected the audiences on the above
pretext, general denunciation of
the Hawaiian Government became
the principal feature of the even
ing. Charges were freely made OF
discrimination against the Japan
ese, and that the Hawaiian Gov
is constantly violating its
treaty obligations with Japan by
allowing Chinese immigration to
the islands. The latter charge de-
serves a moments investigation. |
The labor convention between
Japan and Hawaii contains not
one word concerning Chinese. The
was made in 1886; its
term was for five years and it is
now subject to termination by
either party on six months notice. (
While the convention was under
consideration, a'period of twelve to
eighteen months, Mr.. Gibson as
'ured the japanese Government
hat if the convention were signed,
chinese immigration should be
limited, not stopped. The limit
vas to keep the Chinese, as near as
night be, at the number then in
he country, and the estimate was
,iven that $50 each quarter would
accomplish this. The ink was
hardly dry on Mr.. Gibson's paper
Fhen a steamer load OF Chinese
rrived at this port. The Japanese
called attention to
he fact that the number per quar-
er had been exceeded. To this it
vas replied that the aggregate i
lumber for the year was not ex-
eeded and it could make no differ /
nee to the japanese Government
hat the quota for several quarters {
Tas brought at one time.
I
The explanation was apparently I
satisfactory and there the matter 9
ested, until it was recently dug up {
V Mr.. Fuiii. 1t will be time t
nough for to talk about bad a
nth when the Chinese population I
ere is brought back to what it was t
l 1884. There is leeway of some 7
300 yet before the japanese have t
lie least shadow OF a reason to c
ONT to treaties and attempt to v
old up the Hawaiian Government. !
But mark you, why is this labor A
uestion so interesting to the Jap .
nese merchants and shopkeepers of Il
honolulu? Why should they IN .
srtake to dictate to planters what c
Dor should be employed? And
by should they claim that bring
z ii