The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-06-29

very time the additional impOSt was
specially levied on Japans popular
beverage. it was alleged that this was
done in order TO put Hawaii in a posi-
Jion 10 take off the customs duty alto
gether on American wines. Naturally,
the Japanese object to being diScrim-
mated against after this fashion, and
protest accordingly. In memorial on
this subject which the sake brewers
have addressed to the Japanese Min
lister for Foreign Affairs, it is pointed
out that by relinquishing one duty and
raising another, there yet Will be no
substantial gain to the Hawaiian eX-
chequer and that the many thousands
of Japanese immigrants, whose labor
has earned so much prosperity for Ha-
waii will be deprived by the increased
rate charged on their favorite national
liquor, of one of their most important
sources Of comfort, by being able no
longer to refresh themselves with sake
after their daily toll. The representa-
tions made by the brewers of the liQ-
uor are reasonable, and having regard
to them and the laborerS. whose allow
ance of liquor will be stinted by the
increase of cost which a higher rate of
duty will necessarily cause. the Jap
anese Government may fairly be called
upon to give attention to the subject,
but it is to be apprehended that the
Hawaiian authorities will be more
likely to turn deaf ear to the COM
plant than to promise remedy, since
the right to increase the duty comes
within the competence of the Legis-
lature and the probability is that other
considerations dictated the levying of
the extra impost, even more strongly
than it's enhanced amount.
From the known incidents on which
Japanese complaints are founded, and
by rumors which reach us, the day of
anything like a continuance Of Japan
csc immigration on the large scale
which has formerly prevailed, appears
to be approaching, if indeed, it has not
already nearly reached its end, for
that seems to be coming within meas
urable distance, but right-minded per-
sons cannot extend their approval to
what appears to be the illegal, and
certainly petty devices, which are had
recourse to in order to make approach
20 that consummation, though moth
ing would greatly surprise us as to the
conduct, which the usurping Dole Gov
ernment might not be guilty of should
occasion prompt it.
Of the conduct of the immigrated
Japanese laborers. there are several
complaints. They are too fond of TAX
ing their ease, by relaxing their labor
upon a variety of pretexts, of which
malingering is said to be one, but as
an account is kept of every abnormal
cessation of toll, the planters do not
suffer in pocket, since they in the end
get all they pay for. 1t is also alleged
that, owing to the inferior physique
of Japanese labOrers, and possibly from
other causes, they cannot or do not
get through the amount of work which
the Chinese accomplish, and the form
er, from their cabals, are more trou-
bleSOme to manage than the latter:
also. they are less contented with the
food and household accommodation
which they get on the plantations
Some of them, too, affect to be politi- |
ca!ly discontented, and clamor for
votes for members of the Legislature
though it is well known that such per-
sons are not endowed with the fran
chise in their own country, but it fol- |
lows that if the privilege they seek !
were granted, it would place nearly all |
political power in their hands, and |
the representation of other nationali- |
ties, including that of the Hawaiians |
themselves, would be swamped by this |
servile class
Paying regard to the number of jap |
anese immigrants in Hawaii, from |
these, and there may be other consid- |
erations. its Government and also the |
planters appear to be getting shy of |
encouraging the advent of more labor |
ers from Japan, but it must be admit |
ted that the eXpedients taken are pal |
try in the extreme. To choke off new
arrivals, at least if any ingenious pre-
text can be found for doing so, and to |
render life disagreeable to those al
ready there, appear to be among the |
measures conceived by those in au-
thority, and they are at once petty
Jogging and discreditable, for which
the Dole Cabinet and it's legal advisers
are solely responsible, but they will
have to accept the consequences when
the judgment of the arbitrator or ref
cree shall be pronounced, for in all
probability. it will be found to be ad-
verse to the Hawaiian Governments