The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-10-11

dlb hSdi "a HUN IaWaii
to Niibau because Of the assess
ments Of the Tax Assessor for the
Of what is said to be "the
best government these island ever
had" Let me say to you that ar
will revolutionize the whole
labor system Of these islands.
ut will be said, because OF the rec
ord that have made, that [ should
be one OF the first to favor such
move. / have come to view with
favor a just and humane system Of
contract labor, where the conditions
OF the contract are we'll understood.
l warn you that annexation will i'm
port the sharpest kind of conpeti-
ton along certain lines Men will
come here to undertake the mechani-
cal arts. Every clerk behind a
counter, all skilled labor, will feel
the competition keenly. The field
laborer will be the only one not to
feel competition. The scale OF
wages in San Francisco will be the
scale for Hawaii. The fortunate
men in the labor market will be the
field laborers; they are to be pro-
tected, for we are given to under
stand that after annexation no more
Asiatics will be allowed to enter
these islands. Just as surely as the
wage OF the skilled laborer is re-
duced you will find that Of the field
laborer will be increased, l have
led up to this statement because
those who desire annexation say it
will BIZ best for the sugar interest.
Now, believe in that interest, but
l am not ready to grant everything
in the world to it. After annexation,
with the cost OF labor increased and
the duty on sugar lessened, where
will be the advantage? l am won
dering whether the bearing of an
nexation upon the sugar interest
has been we'll considered,
"We should think, too, how we
can shoulder the burden of the
Dingley tariff; how it is to affect
our commerceY The cost of many
articles brought from England,
France, Germany, Japan and China
will be increased. This tariff is de-
nounced alike by protectionists, free
traders and fair traders. Have we
considered its bearings upon our
trade? When the Senate OF Hawaii
met last month it took but a short
time to ratify the Treaty Of Aunexa-
ton. Nothing was said OF its ad-
vantages or disadvantages.
"Permit me to say to you that, as
a Hawaiian, | am indignant at the
action which took place here on the
18th January, 1893. As an offspring
of American parentage am ashamed
of that action. | believe that all
that has followed that fatal day
all that has been laid upon us dur
ing the past four years, has been be-
cause of the false step taken on that
day. 1t seems to me that all that
has been undertaken by the present
Government has been because the
men in power took counsel of their
fears rather than of their good judg-
ment.
"Anti-annexationists should have
the courage Of their convictions
their silence now may cause regrets
later on.
"If there is one thing more than
another to be admired in the Ha-
waiians it is the patience shown by
them under wrongs. / want to say
now that your patience must surely
meet reward, sooner or later; that
if justice and truth have been
crushed to earth they must rise;
that a good time is coming. /
would not excite passion or temper.
| would exile in the breast of all OF
you a righteous indignation. What
| have said believe, and have said
it for the purpose of giving you all
food for thought. In closing let me
say that it is right for you to urge