Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1896-03-26
FULL TEXT OF UNITED sOCIETy.s
PROTEST AND PRAYER.
They Came Here I'm Good Faith-De-
nounce Contract system and
Asiatic Immigration.

8uese society, escorted to the Ex-
ecutlve building by six or seven
hundred countrymen yesterday:
To HIS ExoELLENoY, SANFORD r.
| DOLE, PRESIDENT OF TIE RE-
PUBLIC OF HAWAII, AND TO THE
| HONORABLE, THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF HAWAII :
| The undersigned, the Central
( Committee of the Uniao Portu-
gueza, an organization represent
ing the entire Portuguese popula-
ton, not only of Honolulu, but of
all the islands, from whom we
have received assurances of their
support, respectfully represent to
your Honorable Body the follow
ing 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 per-
manent settlers.
That after years of hard labor,
mostly under the pernicious con-
tract 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 $4,000
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
reduced, while the taxes on the
poorer or middle classes have
been steadily increased out of
proportion with the taxes paid by
large landowners and corpora
tons, who not only by law are
we'll protected, but by their great
influence in the general affairs of
the country.
| That the Portuguese residing
here are finding themselves under
peculiar conditions, far away
from home and, owing to the iso-
lation of these islands, prevented
| from seeking new fields to better
their conditions and to ensure the
future prosperity of themselves
and families.
That under these circumstances
we find ourselves in a position not
only affecting the present grown
up generation, but also the large
number of our children born or
reared here, and whose future is
cast in Hawaii as their country.
That as class we do not claim
to be entitled TO any separate pri-
vileges from any other class, al
though we feel that our peculiar
circumstances impose moral
responsibility for the future of
ourselves and the children on the
shoulders of those who brought
us here.
| Therefore we, residents and tax
payers of the Hawaiian Republic,
respectfully pray your Honorable
Body to adopt measures during
this session of the Legislature
which will further restrict Chi
nese and japanese immigration
into this country; that laws be
passed resulting in a more equit-
able system of taxation, and that
means may be devised for the bet
ter protection of the interests of
the laboring classes in these ISL
ands.
And your petitioners will ever
pray.
Signed, j. M. Vivas, M. A. Con
salves, A. V. Peters,A. Fernandes,
| A. q, Correa, j. p. Rodrigues, NJ
| q. Silva, j, p, Dias, II, Il, Branco,
Joaquin Silva, Chris.oyao Faria,
NJ, II, Vieira, A, q, Silva, Jr,, j,
| q, Silva, M, II, SILVA, V, q, Tax
ezra, NJ, A, PaEoto, A, O, Pestana,
Manoel Aunsa, j. b. Ramos, NJ, "
-rsvrssr~se C~rrrwn