New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-13
THE JAPANESE IN HAWAI-.
OBSERVATIONS OF AN AMERICAN
TRAVELLER-THE IMMIGRA-
TON PROBLEM.

The following private letter from an American
traveller in Hawaii. dated In Honolulu. August 20
has been received here:
The japanese question Ia still the topic or IN
tense interest in Honolulu only In official circles
OF the Government but with all the people, ana
there is much quiet thinking going on III IL were
not for the serious phase OF the question, one might
regard It as something OF a Comedy OF Errors
The official papers OF correspondence between Ha-
wall and Japan have crossed on the sea. and propo-
sltions from one Government and replies from the
other are mixed In way not entirey clear to ether'
The immigration dispute IL so far from settlement
that It IL complicated than ever The Govern
ment of Hawaii makes the claim for indemnity the
basis It's proposition 10 arbtrate the immigration
question growing out the refusal TO allow Japan
immigrants TO land In violation OF Hawaiian law
The Government OF Japan accepts the proposition
for arbitration on certain conditions which IN
clude the principle Of indemnify but not the ac-
tual claim for indemnity. BY one Of the c.everest
turns known in diplomacy, Japan makes the indem-
nifty OF secondary valIe-in1eed. OF comparatively
little accoun-and stands on her treaty right TO per-
petua immigration above any and all laws OF the
Hawaiian Republic After this treaty right is con-
coded by Hawaii then Japan Will arbitraie the IN
demny claim. But until the treaty RICH; is con-
coded Japan will not entertain the proposition to
arbIiratc anything This is Japans ultmatum
The Government OF IIawaii has not yet formu-
lated a rcpy-it Will go slow. But IL need hardly b"
siil tina: the certain conditions cannot ana will
| "a a demand that would involve the sovereignty u
| the Hawaiian Isands-the subservience OF Hawaiian
law 20 treaty right claimed by Japan-perpetual I'M
migration with all that the favored naton principle
implies. and In the long run AsIatc domination OF
the Hawaiian Islands This Is the status OF the Jap
anesc question In Hawaii to-day The japanese
population on the islands has exactly doubled since
lSgo and is now about twenty-five thousand. The
| largest percentage OF immigration has been within
tho last TWO years. undoubtedly Influenced by
the outlook for anncxatIon-a measure fatal 10 con-
tract labor That Japan's designs on the Hawaiian
Islands havo not been premelitated Is no doubt true
! bu, have come about through conditions and events
| chiefly conditions OF her people AT home The
policy OF japan has been that OF ISOLATION and might
have continued had her resources enabled her 20
maintain that policy. But the rapid Increase OF the
japanese population during the last quarter OF a
century with no chance FOR increased resources. has
forced the Island Empire 10 seek an outlet for the
! people
Tho agen, OF tho japanese immigration Company
takes practical view OF the japanese question. He
+ not dplomatlst. but - "A bright young fellow.
who IN tho United states would be regarded rs hav-
| INK good common-scnsc. There are TOO many pco-
plo In Japan he sad. and the Government must
| md plac" ror the su plus population. While there
| would bee room FOR them In the northern par; OF
Japan. tho climate there Is too severe and not
aI,pt.I - agriculture. So japanese going to
South Amcrica-two thousand already in Brazll-and
many arc going TO the FIJI Islands. but more COM
! Ing 20 Hawaii
when asked why tho grcn, rush was TO Hawaii
| no replied: on because Hawai-! IL much the best
| place for them. They work the coffee and
sugar plantations md get better wages than any
| wncre else and FOR everything they do here they
are better pal and better on than in the other
| countries. And they have tho right under treaty
10 come. II they comply with the law. The contract
! Is very carefully drawn FOR those coming under
contract. and the term Is FOR three years. They
| may then 90 back or stay here. Probably two
| thirds 10 back 20 Japan. Tho Chinese are now
| Obliged {, go back TO China at the expiration OF
| their contract. but with the Japanese It Is OPP
tioull. Then no other cass OF japanese. who come
under tho 81 supulation-that i, to be possessed
! Of 80 a. guaranty OF good faith that they are
not paupers-are FREQ to remain In Hawaii. Many
! OF them do
THE agent admitted the possibility OF fraud bu.
declared that tho Hawaiian Government thought
! It's Board OF immigration knew the reliable COM
| panlrs and ne added that the Government OF Japan
would promptly punish rs own people for any
fraud AMI had already abolished two or three COM
! panics for wrongiong. He declined to talk the
annexation question. keeping strictly within the
bounds OF his business. going no furthr than
TO admit tho fact that annexation would end tho
| conract-ahor system and therefore stop a source
Of considerable profit to Japan Pending the settle
m"nt OF me immigration dispute between Japan
and Hawaii. japanese under contract would con,
tnuc come. but none OF the 81 class. the real
trouble originated
matter OF fact. immigration from japan is nj
standstill, and has been since last March. when
There is something be said on both sides OF
the immigration question. The Hawaiian Govern
migration. The reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Hawaii. ratified in 1875, under the
tho sugar plantations 1t was only after much ef
fort the part OF Hawaii that the Government
jccts. and then. on carefully stipulated terms OF
treaty in 1884 For some time the immigration was
al. for nlu nj Of unii
who quickly began 10 reap the benefit Of cheap
labor under the contract system; To the Japanese
II was big pay compared with their pitifully
wages In Japan. and 1t Is not surprising that when
fairly realizing this they poured Into the Hawaiian
OF cofce lands gave another impetus 10 Japanese
40 cIsss came in large number and came to stay
The Japanese especially adapted to the cultiva
uon OF coffee as In some respects the IS slml-
lar to the tea plantations OF Japan. and 1t gives
employment 10 women and children The rice fields
the japanese who are developing the coffee lands
and preferred laborers on the coffee planta-
The japanese laborer works ten hours a day
his + family. The Anglo saxon. with his All men
are born free and equal spirit and naturally lux
urious tastes. would think ii a slim chance to make
morey. But TO the Japanese It Is the high road To
fortune. His wants are extremely simple. and at
the end of three years he has saved snug
with which TO start life In Hawaii or carry back
to Japan. where he is regarded by his friends
millionaire. and srs mp klondike craze for fresh
emigration.
And no wonder. when the pauper labor OF Japan
prcscnts this picture. II IL from The japanese
Times a Government organ OF Toxic and OF re-
cent datc-July 81. Referring TO the small indus
tri.S-dmbrcla frames, lamp chimheys, soapmak-
Ing etc carried on In their homes. The Times
says: Many minor domestic Industries formerly
dore by the thrifty housewife for pin money have
become hard labor. verging on slavery. In some
special branches wages have risen greatly but the
general rate is low TO become byword
among nations. The best paid ere masons who
| make 70 sen II day carpenters, plastcrers and
! paper-hangers. who make 80 a and 30 sen day.
| The hawk-coolie. or odd-job man.. gets 25 a
day' TO appreciate these munificent wages. II
must be sa1 that the Japanese sen IL nehalf cent
two gives the wages per day-in cents. The de-
mand for umbrellas In China has caused boom
I'm that line and many Japanese mechanics have
given up their trades to make umbrella ribs.
The Times continues: Some parts OF this