The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-12

I see that the statements / made in
the course of an interview published in
the Star last Friday. have been queS-
toned by Mr. -. Stevens, the counsellor
Of the Japanese Legation, who claims
that / am in error both in my facts and
ia my conclusions The interview had
reference TO the reported refusal of the
Hawaiian Government TO allow so Jap
anese immigrants TO land IN Honolulu
The facts which / stated continued
Mr. Thurston, were, in substance:
5b T,n n5t 9y iI Irgty i ait HsWsi
Ny authority for such statement is art
icle of the Hawaiian-Japanese treaty,
dated August 10, 1871, page 115 of Ha-
waiian treaties, which gives free right OF
ingress TO Hawaii. This treaty is still
in force and is entirely distinct from the
labor convention, which Mr. Stevens
says is interminabIe on a years notice.
This convention is now dead letter, no
Immigrants coming under it's terms
a CHANGE OF POLICY.
Second. L stated that formerly the
Japanese Government only allowed Jap
&nese TO come to Hawaii under contract,
~ which they were under the control
and supervision of the Hawaiian Gov
eminent, but that recently it had changed
it's policy and allowed free immigration
to Hawaii, which was being actively pro-
NOTED by a number of Japanese immi-
grafton companies, who were pouring
Japanese into the country without any
check on the part of the Government as
to what became of them.
My authority for making this state
ssent is that from 1887 to 1890 | was presi-
dent of the Hawaiian Board of Immigra-
zion and had personal knowledge of the
conditions under which all Japanese i'm
mi grants came to Hawaii; and that L
am personally acquainted with the Ho-
nolulu agents of the companies indicated,
and know from the official records in Ho-
nolulu, which l have examined within
the last four months, that none of the
Japanese immigrants who came to Ho-
nolulu during 1896 came under the labor
convention which Mr.. Stevens refers to,
under which the Hawaiian Government
control them.
Third. L stated that the late Minister
to Washington was a member of one of
these immigration companies
Mr. Stevens says: Neither the Jap
anese Minister, as stated by Mr.. Thurs
ton, nor other Japanese officials have any
connection with these companies My
authority for this statement is an adver-
tisement in the Hawaiian Gazette of No
vember 10. 1896 by the japan Immigra-
tion Company of Osaka Japan, in which
the following statement appears, after
the objects of the company are set forth.
Following are the persons who compose
the company:
= 'Fozo latino. ex-AIinister to Wash
ington.'
Il refer also to the records of the Su-
Preme Court of Hawaii in the case of
In re application of Masumoto Michi-
nOshu for a writ of habeas corpus de-
cided November IS, 1896, in which a men,
Der of the company and also it's Homo
lulu manager, both testified under oath
that Coco latino, ex-Minister to Wash
ington, was a member of the company.
Fourth. l stated that the Hawaiian
Government had passed a law prohibit
ing any immi grant TO land who could not
produce so, and gave instances of eva
sion of the law and how it practically
failed to keep any of the Japanese out.
My authority for this statement is the
Hawaiian statute and the fact that dur
ing the year 1896 | was an attorney be-
cases arising out of this law.
a PEACEFUL INVASION.
Fifth. | stated that. under these con-
ditions, there was a peaceful invasion
of Hawaii going on. as a result of which
within five years from now, if the pres
ent rate of Japanese immigration to Ha-
wall continues. they will be majority of
the inhabitants of the entire country
nv authority for this statement is the
census statistics of Hawaii showing
that: In 1884 the Japanese numbered l16;
1896 the Japanese numbered "a 400, out of
A total population of 100000.
Il further refer to the Custom House
sta tistics of Honolulu for 1896. which
show that the number of japanese who
entered Honolulu during 1898 was only
:, 9SS, while during 1896 the number was
|, 322, of whom 2.273 came during the last
three months.
Mr.. Stevens says that the Japanese
Government has nothing to do with this
/ said that lit is the We'll nigh universal
belief In Hawaii that the present extra
ordinary movement from Japan to Ha-
wall is part of a systematic plan, with
the full approval OF the Japanese Gov
TO gain control of the Islands.
Certainly no more certain method of &C
that result can be followed
than that which is now going on.
In support of this statement L refer
to the files of the Honolulu papers, which
are continually discussing this subject.
and to the Honolulu correspondence of
the Star, dated February % last, pub
lished in the Star of the 10 inst: and TO
the address issued in Honolulu by roy
alist leaders on February 10 last, urging
as the sole salvation from
Japanese domination
This belief is based on the facts above
set forth and also upon the knowledge
that not long since pressure was brought
TO bear by the Japanese Government to
secure the right to vote for japanese
subjects in Hawaii. and that within the
year last past a further demand was
made that the Hawaiian Government
should not allow any more Chinese to
enter Hawaii, on the specific ground that
il would be injurious to Japanese inter-
MFR. stevens further states it is safe
to say that - out of every 100 Japanese
who go to Hawaii, go there in further
ance of agreements for their employment
upon the plantations
When Mr. Stevens speaks of his own |
his word is good as his |
bond, but the above statement does not |
DurpOrt to be from knowledge, while the |
Honolulu Customs records show that on |
an average during 1896 only - TO % per
cent came under plantation contract. In !
Of the immigratio companies as TO what !
became of the other 50 per cent, and was |
INFORMED tndI Iney niu no lued-Indt II |
was none of their business.
Mr. Stevens states that originally the |
Government encouraged Jap |
dneSe immigration. This is correct; but |
the correctness of such policy in 1884, |
with 116 Japanese in the country, is one |
thing and in 1897. with over 25.OOO is an |
other. As a fact. the Hawaiian Govern
ment is now struggling against the inn |
with but Indifferent success.
The foregoing are some of the au-
thoritieS supporting my facts. Every |
one can draw his own conclusions
Il have not the TemOteSt personal feel |
ing against Japanese individually. or as |
a whole having many personal friends |
among them, and in the practice of my |
profession they are among my best 4
clients 1t IS with regret that ] have felt |
IL my duty to make the statement which |
Mr.. stevens objects to- My sole object |
was and is to bring To the notice OF the |
American people that Western civiliZa-
ton in Hawaii is faced with a condition.
which words will not change. and in the |
dealing with which we, as the vanguard |
ask their assistance before it is too late"