Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23

european race, anu sppf another nesting
place for Asiatics. Hawaii Is eminently fit
ted by location and by. climate to become a
white mans country Of the first class Its
propinquity to the American continent, its
close trade connections with your Pacific
coast, its centrally influential position in
the crossing routes Of Pacific commerce,
make it the natural ppssession of the great
commercial Anglo-SaNoN race. The early
occupancy of this group by Americans and
the successful and prosperous establish
ment here of American Institutions social,
political and educational-in short It's ex-
tensive AUGMENTATION and the dominance
of American ideas-indicate its manifest
destiny to become the permanent home of
an overlooking white population and not of
the inferior Asatic.
Repelling White Immigration.
Hawaii cannot well belong to both races
One or the other will predominant. The two
diverse and antagonistic races cannot dwell
here together in harmony. Which race
shall possess the country? Already the
Japanese and Chinese together number over
10000 or two-thirds more than all persons
of white blood, and more males than in the
population of all other races. And still they
continue to pour into the country without
check, repelling further white immigration,
The great body of the white people are
strongly opposed to this, but the interests
of capital are favored by it. The sugar
planters naturally manage to run the is
lands by virtue of their immense capital
and 1t is in the interest of their business to
procure their labor in the cheapest mar
kets, which are Japan and China 1t will
obviously be very uphill work to overcome
this tendency.
1t is by no means essential to the prosper
ity OF the plantations to continue this sys-
tenn of importing Asiatic contract labor
There is now already in these islands an
amply sufficient number of laborers to do
all the work required, II sufficient induce
ments were offered them. Large numbers
OF these laborerS are unemployed and ac-
curing vagrant habits. The planters can
Well anord to pay much higher wages than
they do. If importation from Asia was cut
off, they would, of necessity, pay enough to
get hold of the local labor, and would still
make money. For one thing, they would
then all be compelled to provide decent
homes forstheir laborers They would also
allot port ons Of their fields to be cultivated
by white men on shares at rates profitable
to both parties
Whether our government and legislators
have sufficient unity and resolution to over
come the tendency of the planters to con-
tlnue running in the Asiatics is hard to say
The most obvious solution of the problem
would be that made by annexation, which
would at once exclude all further importa-
ton of such laborers. 1t would at the same
time powerfully stimulate an active Amer-
can immigration into what would then have
become American territory.
The Registration Act.
An important law is now in progress of
ticulariy intended to facilitate any dealing
that may be necessary with vagrant and
unsettled elements in our population which
now evade control. A large proportion of
such elements belong to the Asiatics among
us, who leave the plaata tons and live more
or less in ideness. The law in question Is
known as the regstra ton act 1t requires
all males in the islandsNover fifteen years
of age to be registered and preserve GER
tihcateS Of such registry containing a thor
ough description Of themselves, Including
a thumb mark. Such provisions are in
GUIDED in The act as VIII secure the prompt
identifca ton of any person at any time.
A similar act was passed by the iegisia-
ture OF 1882, and was Sent to the queen for
her signature near the close of the ses-
sion. In some way it became lost. After
the queens overthrow no trace of il could
be found. AS 1t was Unpopular with the
Chinese, 1t is surmiSed that they managed
to corrupt some intermediary official who
n ade way with the bin in the confusion
and excitement of those revolutionary
days
The present act is very popular with most
OF the white population, on account of its
rendering efficient any subsequent meas
ures to be enacted for the control of the
Asiatic population. Some object to it
imposing oppressive restriction on the
white population. Most, however, feel that
the hardship of registering and carrying 4
certificate when changing their location
Will be but slight Among those opposing
the act are Finance Minister Damon, who
is thought to take a needessly sen timental
view of the subject. Mr.. Damon in this
finds himself in opposition to the members
of the Legislature, both houses being nearly
unanimous in support of the bill.
An immediate and important effect of this
registration act will be to pat an end to
the evasion of personal taxes by a multi
tude of Asiatics whom the tax collectors
have been unable TO identify. 1t is esti-
mated that about $4,000 will be annually
recovered for the treasury by this means,
personal taxes being 81 per head of males
between eighteen and sixty years. A much
more important result will be to promote
the enforcement of laws against warrants,
and thus to impound considerable num-
bers of the labcring class who are living
in idleness, and compel them to enter the
agricultural or other empoyments which
are open TO them 1t is believed that large
numbers of labor recr tits can be secured
by this means.
Temporary Immigrants.
Considerable numbers Of laborers have
been introduced under a provision that
they shall either leave the country at the
expiration Of their contracts, or if they re-
main, shall engage only in agricultural
labor, or in domestic service. This rule ia
vors the mechanics and traders of all class
es, by exemptinS them from the COMPETE
ton now experienced from laborers leav
ing the plantations. But 1t is impossible to
enforce such provisions Of law, the Off
Gals are totally unable to distinguish
Asiatics from each other among the masses
of that population. Under the registration
act this difficulty will be surmounted. AL
together this measure appears TO be indis-
pensable to the proper and successful ham
ding of our mongreI and heterogeneous
population, for whom stricter police and
disciplinary provisions are necessary than
in superior communities like those of Amer
lea. TIE whites will generally submit with
cheerfulness to the very slight inconven-
fence of being registered
Our very brainy and economical finance
minister, Damon also encounters legisla-
tive and public opposition in another direc-
ton. An important financial measure
which he is trying to push Is received by
the legislature with grave doubt and by
the business community with strong oppo-
sition. Mr.. Damon may be quite in the
right In the policy proposed, but the pub
lie are new to it, and have yet to be con-
verted to sense of its wisdom. He has
brought in a series Of four acts, two pro-
viding for q consolidation of the bonded
debt Of the republic and two for opening a
new loan of 100000 for the purpose of
public improvements and education, the
bonds not to be issued at the rate of more
than $25O,OO0 a year. THE opposition to
these schemes is directed less against the
bond issues themselves than against Mr..
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