The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-03-10
A TALK WITH THE CONSUL.
sIGNOR CAN AvARRO SPEAKS OF
PORTUGUESE UNREST.
Interested In the scheme of
African settlement.

Interested In the scheme of
African settlement.
Signor Cannavaro, Portuguese
Charge d. Affaires, was seen Mon
day evening and asked regarding
the plans of the Portuguese who are
dissatisfied and talking Of emigrat-
ing to Mozambique. The diplomat
hesitated at first to express himself,
but finally said: II AM not myself
fully acquainted with the intentions
of my people. In fact I do not be-
lieve any plans have be completed
so far bv them. That they are dis
satisfied has been manifest for some
time. They feel that something
must be done to improve their con-
dition, but know not just how to
get about it,
81 attended the meeting held
Sunday night. My invitation was
to meet twenty-five gentlemen, but
l found more than 900 there. Upon
entering the hall, 1 was invited to
speak on the subject of Portuguese
colonization in Africa. This was
right in my line and l talked to
them for fully half an hour. Other
speakers followed me. The sub.
ject quickly drifted to labor mat
tiers, and finally to an emigration
scheme. Intense interest was
manifested by all in the remarks
and applause was frequent. l with
drew shortly after these speeches
began, and know little of remarks
made later.
1.-The trouble OF the Portuguese is
their utter inability to compete with
the Japanese. All of my people are
laborers. They do not seek Gov
eminent Offices, and very little else
outside Of the routine of day labor.
In this they are brought in direct
competition with the japanese.
The latter are in all the trades.
They have crowded the Portuguese
out Of the cane fields, and are now
pressing upon them in all branches
of labor. even to housework former
ly given to our women. The Por
tuguese are actually suffering, not
alone in Honolulu but throughout
the group.
The Chinese do not harm us.
In fact they are a benefit. The
Japanese compete with everybody
and even with themselves. They
have no families to look after, live
on very, very little and will accept
anything for their work. When
the competition was solely with
Chinese, the Portuguese got along
well and made money. Their trou-
bles began with the introduction Of
the other class of labor.
81 think there will certainly be
organization of some kind among
the Portuguese and at once. SEN
tinient is united on that point. All
factional feeling has been laid aside
for the more important questions
that now confront the colony.
Whatever the organization be,
however, there will be no politics
in it. This, | believe, is agreed.
The Government is friendly dis.
posed toward the colony and the
colony to it. In fact the Govern
ment is doing all in its power per-
haps in the interests of European
labor.
"At the same time planters and
employers generally should remem
Der one thing: The Portuguese were
brought to the Islands and in such
numbers that there are now IA, DOC
in the colony. They came with
their families, made homes and
staked their all here. AS citizens
they have proved industrious, law.
abiding and faithful to the interests
of the commonwealth. 1t would
therefore seem reasonable that they
are entitled to consideration in ad
vance of less homogeneous people
in the struggle for livelihood.
AS to the Africa scheme l know
little There has been a great deal
of talk about it. Some Of the more
radical have gone so far as to advo-
cate an exodus Of the whole colony
from the Islands to Africa. | sin.
cerely hope it will not come to a
part Of that. Considerable CORES.
pondence has passed between Portu
guese here and their friends in
Africa. Newspapers and othel
agencies of imparting information
have also been received. That's
about the extent of my knowledge
of the whole matter"
M. A. Gonzalves, the Queen
street merchant, says; The Por'
tuguese are in dead earnest about
this African emigration scheme
The colony is united to man or
it, and If one leaves all are bount
to 60. All plans are not yet made
The meeting Sunday night was for
preliminary discussion, though the
matter has been a live issue fol
some time. Other meetings will bt
held in the near future. At p esent
little can be given out for publica
ton. The project has not gone fai
enough yet for that"
Several other prominent Portu
guese citizens were interviewed or
the exodus matter. Some wanted
to talk, and others had very vagu,
ideas of the subject. All pointed t.
the continued importation of Japan
csc coolies as the root of the trouble
], M. Vivas is prominent in the
movement. 1t is stated that the
PaeJfeo newspaper will oppose tn,
u,L 1In