The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-03-25
SMALL SHOWING MADE.
PORTUGUESE PETITION PROCESSION
WAS NOT LARGE.
About $50 Men - Hut Half OF Them
Idle - Orderly Scene aud
Sentiment.

h'Oh iiOCO ~ itOcO PScPiS 40
sembled on Union Square and in the
Executive and Judiciary Building
grounds this forenoon to witness
the petition demonstration of the
Portuguese. Members of the new
Union came in procession headed
by their general committee of TWEEN
ty-one. The spectators put in their
time chiefly in joking. There was
very apparent ON the outside dis
position to laugh at the affair. TIC
the great majority of the men who
marched it was serious enough. 1t
was their protest against the aggres-
sion of the Japanese small merchants
and mechanics and laborers,
The column of Portuguese was
estimated to be all the way from
500 to 1900 i'll numbers. 1t was
actually about $40. Several counts
were carefully made and not one
exceeded this figure. The men in
the demonstration were exceedingly
quiet and well-behaved. The only
noise made at all was the cheering
when they had returned to their
hall on Punchbowl.
1t was nearly 1890 when the
head of the procession arrived
at the King street gates. 1t had
covered half the distance be-
tween the gates and the building
when it was met by Col. Mclean,
in uniform. John M. Vivas coru-
manded halt and stepped out to
the Colonel. The latter gave in
structions for disposition of the
column and the directions were
followed at once without confusion.
The rest formation was in close
order. Mr.. Vivas and the other
twenty members of the central
committee then moved at once into
the building, Here they met
Minister Cooper, by appointment
and delivered to him the petition.
The business took less than ten
minutes.
The procession was expected to be
much larger. A number of men
were unable to leave their work to
join. 1t is claimed that about half
the men who were in the process
sion are really idle and looking for
jobs. The other half comprised
men in the trades, and at govern
ment and outside labor.
Following is the text Of the petit
ton presented:
To HIS ExcELLENcY SANFORD B.
DOLE, President of the Republic
of Hawaii, and to THE HONOR
ABLE, THE LEGISLATURE Of the
Republic Of Hawaii
The undersigned, the central
committee of the Uniao Portugueza,
an organization representing the
entire Portuguese population, not
only Of Honolulu, but Of all the
Islands, from whom we have re.
ceived assurance of their support
especially represent to your Hon.
orable Body the following facts
That the majority of the Portu-
guese residents and taxpayers OF
these islands were invited and EN-
couraged to come here by the past
and present governments Of the
country.
That they immigrated to these
shores not only as laborers but for
the purpose of becoming permanent
settlers.
That after years of hard labor,
mostly under the pernicious contract
system, many of them have, through
their industrious habits, become
settlers in divers ways.
That they have brought with
them or taken unto themselves
here, families, which, during their
residence of sixteen years, have
largely increased so that their total
number now exceeds 1900 souls.
That the invasion during the last
few years of Chinese and japanese,
into these islands has been such
that the remuneration of labor has
been reduced to such a figure that
it has become almost impossible for
European and other working men
to subsist on the wages offered.
That at the same time the cost Of
living has not materially been re-
duced while the taxes on the poorer
classes have been steadily increased
out of proportion with the taxes
paid by large land owners and cor
porations, who not only by law are
we'll protected, but by their grea,
influence in the general affairs o
the country.
That the Portuguese residing her,
are finding themselves under pc
culiar conditions, far away from
home, and, owing TO the isolation
of these Islands, prevented from
seeking new fields to better thei
conditions and to ensure the futur,
prosperity of themselves and fam
lilies.
| That under these circumstance,
we find ourselves in position no
only affecting the present grown vi
generation but also the large mum
Der Of our children born or reare,
here, and whose fortune is cast il
Hawaii as their country.
That as class we do not CLAIM
to be entitled to any separate priv
leges from any other class although
we feel that our peculiar circum
stances impose a moral response
bility for the future of ourselve.
and our children on the shoulders
of those who brought us here.
Therefore, We, residents anc
taxpayers of the Hawaiian Repub
lie, respectfully pray your Honorable,
Body to adopt measures during thi
session of the Legislature which
will further restrict Chinese ane
japanese immigration into thi,
country that laws be passed re
sulting in more equitable system
Of taxation, and that means may b,
devised for the better protection O
the interests OF the laboring classe.
in these islands.
And your petitioners will eve,
pray.
(Signed) John M. Vivas, Angus
tus Vincent Peters, M. A. Gonsal
vez, A. G. Correa. Antonio Fer