The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-07-09
Objects to Abrogation Of Con-
tract Labor System.
PROTECTORATE IS SUFFICIENT
Underlying Causes of Demand for
Annexation as He Views Them.
Government Now Free From Cor
ruption-Thc citizenship Question.

MR.. EDITOR:-Judging from expires
sions of the Hawaiian press and from
| utterances of your public men, the de
mand from the people of your Islands
| for annexation is as strong as ever
That the expression of such a senti-
ment produces responsive echo in the
heart of every true American is not tC
be wondered at. Nevertheless, the writ
er is not fully satisfied that annexation
will do the greatest good to the greatest
number of your citizens. That annexa-
ton would be followed by some very
desirable results may be taken for
granted, but it seems equally certain
that in some respects it would injure
the Islands.
Would it not be we'll, then, to review
and discuss probable results?
1t would. seem as If the underlying
causes for the demand for annexation
to the United States were:
of having a permanent government,
strong enough to prevent all periodical
uprisings or revolutions, and to inspire
confidence in the safety of life and
property.
Second-A desire on the part of AM
ericans and their friends to be citizens
of ho Of ho
coming subjects of some monarchy;
and,
Third-A probable desire of members
of the present Government to be reliev-
ed of the heavy responsibilities resting
upon them while in control of affairs
Annexation would cover all three
points of this diagnosis. The first two
would meet the writer's approval, while
the third would not
You have good Government now; it
is free from taint of corruption; it is
run on business principles; has dealt
leniently with those who conspired to
overthrow it, and is exercising a foster
ing care over the native Hawaiians
While your Government may be open
to slight criticism, no one except dis
appointed office seekers and former
oenefciaries of royalty has good ground
for demanding change. 1t is best to
let well enough alone.
The most objectionably feature of an
nexation would be the abrogation of the
labor system, it being a we'll
known fact that all other sugar and
coffee producing countries have low
priced plantation 1abor-cheaper than
your Islands have today-it would seem
unwise to take any step that would |
cripple your principal industries, by
rise of 25 to SO per cent in |
the cost of labor employed in them. |
Importation and employment of con-
-ract labor is prohibited in the United |
States by an Act of Congress of Febru- |
lry 26th, 1885, which, of course. would |
apply to the Islands as soon as annex
ed That the plantation laborers now |
IN the Islands would quickly take ad-
Tantage Of the changed state of affairs. |
md demand and obtain a higher price
or their labor, may be taken for grant
ed; also that the results following |
would be disastrous to those now en-
capital and labor in aforesaid |
Industries. Further, it is we'll to re-
member that Japanese and Portuguese
n the United States meet with no OBJ
'tacles when desiring to become natur-
41zed citizens, and that under American
aW their right to acquire citizenship in
he new State of Hawaii would be pre-
;lsely the same as that of the white
nan or native Hawaiian, resulting
either in japanese control in many To-
or stringent naturalization
aW, framed with a view of comforting
ne right of suffrage only upon such as
would be considered desirable citizens.