The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-09-02
DARK PESSIMISM.

nest, and that seems to be the bust
ness of a morning contemporary just
now. Not satisfied with seeing
bayonets glittering in the wheat
blades" and other unpleasant things,
it now finds that no one has done
anything to better conditions here.
No one has any honesty of purpose,
no one wants to stem the yellow
tide. The planters, the Annexation
Club, the Government, the Legis-
lature and everybody else has done
nothing, it is all left to do and the
prophet of pessimism proposes to
do it by droning jirimiads and
lamentations.
But has nothing been done? The
whole Japanese question, over which
the world in some measure busted
itself, hinges upon something that
has been done. The Government
found that the country was in danger
of being overwhelmed by an un-
authorized japanese immigration,
and put down its foot so firmly
that, for a time at least, the tide
has been stayed. The excess of
Japanese arrivals over departures
during the last six months, or rather
from January Ist to July Ist, has
been but 3o6, as the official figures
of the Custom House show. Fol-
its action in this matter the Gov
eminent has met with severe criti-
cism, but it did what was right,
and it took its coat off for the work.
No one was more earnest in the
matter than Minister Cooper and
great credit is due him for his firm
ness and backbone in the matter.
This is rather good dam to have
raised.
The planters connot change their
labor in day, but there is not a
planter on the Islands who is moi
willing to assist in bringing about
different labor conditions. Great
attention is being given to the sub
ject. The pessinlist would have
the change wrought in the twinkl-
ing of an eye. and if it is not sc
done, then everybody is to blame,
and the coats have been taken of
in vain. That the last Legislature
did not lift a finger towards i'm
proving labor conditions is utterly
untrue, as anyone who will run
over the statute book may see. Nc
credit is given to those planters who
have been willing to experiment
with German laborers, and yet those
planters deserve we'll for an honest
effort in a right direction.
1t is not by denying every effort
that is made to better matters that
will assist in lettering them.
Honestly and honorably are set of
men working for good object, the
preservation Of these Islands to the
civilization of the West. 1t has
been with many the steady work of
years, and they hope that their
efforts may be crowned with success.
The pessimistic critic of Hawaii
had ample opportunity at one
time of putting things in shape
here. He occupied the positions of
Attorney General and Minister of
the Interior ad interim, but one
fails to see what mark he left upon
the annals of the State, save the
memory OF a junketing trip round
the world in attendance upon King
Kalakaua. He took of his coat
then, but. it was to put on a gold
embroidered garment to dance at
tendance upon Royalty, and he
certainly did not dof it for the
benefit Of the Anglo Saxon or any
other cause. No doubt a good deal
of the " Irish engineering" that the
pessimistic critic talks of belonged
to his day, but, thank goodness, we
have some able workmen now, and
the Irish engineer" can only sit
on the bank where others are try
ing to improve some of his botched
work and moan: what a dreadful
mess it all is" Having had one
experience of his work, it is not
likely that any one will try him
again.
The anti-annexationists must
thank the morning paper for brilliant
work on their side,