The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-02-04
WHY THE JAPANESE?

Since this paper began the wor
of making public the condition c
i, affairs that exist in the loves
, strata of Honolulu society, tn
question has been asked, "Why d
you attack the japanese alone?
This query is implied when tn
japanese Consul states that b.
would object. to any discrimina
ton against the people of his coun
try. 1t is a question easily an
swered by reference to the stats
tics of the Board of Health and the
more disgusting evidence of the in
creasing number of japanese dive:
that are being established here
there and everywhere about the
city. We do not pretend to assert
that prostitutes have been previous
ly unknown in this city and we are
ready to admit that modern civiliz-
alton has not reached the stage
when this social evil can be wiped
out of existence.
But statistics show and a tour
of investigation about the city
give still greater proof that the evil
has increased at an alarming
rate since the advent of the Jap
anese. The immigrants from the
Orient have brought their vices
with them, and as the strict laws
passed by the japanese Govern
ment from time to time will show,
this vice is one of the most serious
with which that country has had
to contend. 1t is an evil which is
SO thoroughly inbred among the
lower class japanese that they ap-
pear to have no idea that they are
committing sin. AS far back as
1922 the officials of Toxic found
the evil increasing at such rate
and making such inroads on the
sanitary conditions, that laws were
promulgated, and, in measure,
the evil was checked.
The author Of pamphlet, |
"How the Social EeiP is Regu-
lated in Japan" says of the condi-
tons at that period, "These women
in their dirty, greasy cotton gar
ments, haunted the public streets,
and might be seen by the sickIy
light of the waning moon, fitting
about like the spirits of the damn
ed, hunting for victims" These
same words are applicable to GER
tain sections of Honolulu today.
/
Japan did not come to its senses
until the evil had become thor
oughly inculcated in the social
life of the nation as it is in
40 other country that comes within
he category of the most favored
nations" Again our author says
The efforts of the japanese Gov {
rnment to abolish the evils of this ]
ervitude have been vigorous, but
law of fools-has l
'een too powerful, and the regula- t
ions are infringed indirectly in G
many ways, chiefly, however, owing
o the frantic opposition to reform {
aised by the numerous parasitic
who attach themselves
0 these sections. and while leading
lazy and mischievous life, manage l
..o.oo s., a. 60 Ii
0 suck SuStenance from the earn
ngs of defenseless women" "
This is the condition in Japan, n
nd those who doubt that the same fl
ondition exists on small scale in
honolulu have only to look about y
hem little. The ADVERTISER has {,
OF told all the story, and we trust e
will not be obliged to do SO in Il
RIDER to wake the people to action. u
We say the evil exists on a small =
ale when we compare our condi- f.
ons with those Of Japan. Ii taken "
/ hand today it can be kept within +
ounds, otherwise we have the hor-
BILE example of the Orient to look
'rward to. We single out the y
apanese because we consider the :,
apanese responsible, and we still p
lck proof to the contrary. When p,
le Government takes the matter al