The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-06-29
CORRESPONDENTS
The Chinese Are Not Protected
ED. The INDEPENDENT

open TO the complaints OF the peo-
pie, no matter to what nation or
race they belong, may | on behalf
of my people write to you a letter.
l do not attack anyone person
ally, but ! do want to know why my
people, tho Chinese, are not as we'll
looked after and protected in the
courts by their Government repre-
sentative as are the people of other
nations, like Japan, America, Eng
land, Portugal, and Germany. II
any wrong is done TO men of these
nations their governments immedi-
ately engage good lawyers to go
into court to prosecute the wrong
doer and to defend the innocent,
but it is not so with us poor Chinese.
We are kicked, and beaten, and kill
ed, we are fined and imprisoned and
trea cd brutally on the plantations
and upjustly in the cities. Ii money
is wanted by the Government we
are arrested for using opium or
gambling at che ia, or doing other
things, and the white men are left
alone aud so are we by our Govern
meut official. He doas not help US
out at all and | cannot understand
the reason why he does not. Some
say it is because China has no treaty
with Hawaii, and others say it is
because he has no power, and others
that he has no money. | do not
think these are true or satisfactory
reasons, for money can do every
thing, and | think the Chinese So
cieties have plenty OF money and
we ought to be protected like other
men. Now, look at this, | think l
am right in saying that from May
1895, to June, 1897 there have been
over eight thousand Chinese labor
borers brought to this country, and
each of these men pay to the U oited
Chinese Societies two dollars (S2)
each. Surely out OF this money
a lawyer could be engaged to protect
us in our rights,
Now, again, look at this record
of sufferings we have endured espe-
cialIy on the plantations. One
Chinaman killed on Moloka, one at
Kohals, one al Lihue, three at Hska.
lau, two at Kau, and it is believed
there was another one Ii these
men were not killed outright, it is
said their desths resulted from i'll
treatment. The Lihue trouble is
fresh in the minds OF the people,
for you published all the facts, but
who has been punished. Only the
Chinese, for there are fifteen men in
jail, and the cruel luna has escaped
from the country, and Wolters, who
killed man goes unpublished. 1t
is the same at Hakalau. 1t is the
same everywhere, Do our Chinese
Commercial Agents go to the other
islands to look after their country
men as Mr.. Canavarro does for the
Portuguese No; they leave them
and their grievances alone. The
Chinese write to them about their
contracts but they do not get an
swers. Men work for $3.50 month
exclusive of ST. so paid to the Gov
eminent for return passage money,
but no one looks after their inter-
ests, and how can they find food
and clothes for that amount. Take
the Japanese. There have been two
cases recently where they got into
trouble, and the Japanese Legation
employed great lawyer, Judge
Paul Neumann, to look after them
aud "the Japanese Legation was
represented" in court. Mr.. Mills,
too, assists when Americans get into
trouble, and Mr.. HAYES or Mr..
Walker when Britishers are arrested
or injured, but the Chinese must
Lay their own lawyers. do not
think this is fair or right and my
countrymeu want to know why this
is so. Can you tell me2 My people
are afraid Of their Government and