The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-10-14
TELLING ARGUMENTS MADE
Objection of Americans is
Penal Contract.
If Annexation is a Burden Of Gov.
MIA and Alaska?

Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald of
California writes the following answer
to Senator Whites article on annexa-
ton, which appeared in the Call of
October 3:
I'm an article published in morning
paper, over the signature of Senator
White, certain statements are made in
relation to the Hawaiian Islands, and
if the same should go unchallenged,
they might impress the public that
they were true.
''The science of government shows,
and has always shown the greatest
achievement and the greatest advance
ment TO the most capable. 1t is then
the policy of this, the greatest of all
nations, to confess our inability in the
battle of intellect and progressiveness,
and award the palm to others, and to
be shown results and the proof of our
infirmities
"It is also claimed that we would
have a burden of government under
annexation Accepting this as good
logic, it would have been better if
California had not been admitted into
the Union; we should have abandoned
the taking of Alaska: and it might
have been we'll to have allowed the
Southern States to have seeded, as we
would then have been relieved of the
burden of government
''It is well to guide the actions of
Government by fixed traditions and
principles so long as those traditions
and principles are compatible with
the progress of the country; but as
the world becomes more enlightened
daily these principles do not change,
and the evolution, progressiveness, ad-
vancement, and expansion must needs
reform principles and policies to meet
the exigencies of changed conditions,
nationality and internationally. Some
of the wisest statesmen and diplomats
that this country has produced have
ably and convincingly shown the nee
essity of departure from the shadows
of the past. The acquisition of the ter,
ritory of Alaska would never have
taken place had such spirit and con-
victions as those of Senator White
predominated. 1t needs no explanation
to show the wisdom of that policy,
and those who so earnestly advocated
that measure are on record just as
zealously and energetically in regard
to the annexation of the Hawaiian
Islands.
'In speaking of the Hawaiian plant
ers paying wages merely because we
absorb the country, etc; this is not
the reason why the planter wishes to
change his labor from the coolie to
the Anglo-SaXon; but for the reason
that it will bring into their midst the
true bone and sinew of a nation which
is more reliable, and will become pro-
ducers and consumers, where the alien
becomes menace. / wish to reiterate
that portion of my report which made
upon my return from the Islands:
That it is my opinion that ten thou
sand good American laborers will per-
form the work now performed by the
twenty-five to thirty thousand Japan
ese
''It is further stated that the rate of
wages paid does not excite the envy
of American labor The rate of wages
paid in California does not excite the
envy of American labor, and if Senator
| White was ever the hirer of help he
would know that no man intends to
perform any more work than what he
| is paid for, and when the japanese in
Hawaii fixed their own wages from ten
to twelve dollars per month, they did
not intend to give in return any more
| than that amount of service. 1t is a
business proposition with the planters
and not sentimental one. | can fur
ther state that the laborers on the
plantations are sure of their pay when
| their work is performed, and that Is
more than can be said of the conditions
here; also, the quarters that are pro-
| vided for them are better than here
in California
when I returned from Hawaii last
May, l brought bona-fide orders from
the planters for American labor at as
good rate of wages as are being paid
in California, together with an order or
I Welch & Co. for transportation; but
have not undertaken to fill the same