The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-12-09
PLENTY OF LABOR.

Mr.. Paul Isenberg the German
planter formerly resident in this
country and at one time prominent in
its politics. has made semi-public re-
ply to an Annexation letter put forth
by Mr.. w. Il. Castle, the attorney,
planter. land dealer and writer. Mr.
Isenberg is a gentleman of education
and ability and is very heavily indeed
interested financially in Hawaii. He
very pointedly retorts to the personal
portions of Mr.. Castles paper and
then discusses at considerable length
the question of the hour.
Mr.. Isenberg reiterates the opinions
known to have been in his belief for
a number of years. His political pol
lev is unchanged. With him the whole
matter of the country's national adj
vancement or development or progress
pivots on the one consideration of
contract labor. The Star freely and
gladly grants to Mr.. Isenberg the
right to comment and reason along
any line he may choose. He is a man
with a mind and is entitled to a re-
spectful hearing. One might go be-
hind his letter suggesting inherent
faith antagonistic to both annexation
and the ruling regime, but this would
scarcely be fair.
Mr.. Castle will probably retort. He
can do so with some good effect if he
be impersonal and cool and matter-of-
fact. Cooperative or profit-sharing
cane culture appears to enter largely
into the controversy. Just why these
points should, under present clear con-
ditions be held so vital, The Star is I'M
able to understand or appreciate.
From what can be learned of planters
it must be accepted that all the sugar
estates in the group could be operated
without contract or agreement of
any particular or especial sort be-
tween employer and employe. There
are enough free laborers available and
to spare. Under annexation, if reports
from California are to be accredited,
there would still be an unlimited sup
ply. 1t would be the same even if the
treaty with Japan was reopened and
altered to the extent of restricting inn
migration from that quarter. Labor
is the cheapest and most plentiful
commodity or factor on the earth If
one half the effort devoted to talking
about it We're applied earnestly to the
task of securing it, there would never
be a thought of the ''problem.'
Japanese and Chinese are
glad to get a chance to earn higher
wages than they could in their coun-
try" and so would be Armenians, many
Europeans, more Portuguese and
Americans of the capacity and incli-
nation of cane farming or agricul-
tural business. Thousands of the lab
orers that have been brought to Ha-
wall earn more in a single month on
plantation than in their homes they
would receive in a year. They will
come without contract on the assur-
ance of continued service. 1t is al
ways peculiar, it may be remarked in
this connection, that there is so
tenacious clinging to the contention
that men who perform more arduous
and trying labor in other countries
than the cane fields afford could not
work here. 1t is about time this alb
surd notion was put aside.
OF course Annexation would not
'end all our difficulties" Prosperity
and success have their attending bur-
dens in everything. CLOSER Political
Union" would lessen the burdens of
Hawaii by strengthening the body pol
itic, by placing a bulwark for the
state, and the Hawaiians would be
treated as justly and considerably as
they have been by the Republic.