The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-04-06
WHITE LAB0RERS
Kohala Man Would Re.
tain the OrientalS.
Cheap Labor a Necessity Where
Over Production GIuts
the Market.

connection with this burning question
of labor, which seems to me to continu-
ally add fuel to the flame by the ar
rival in the capital of parties who [
do not think know very much about
the difficulties the agriculturist has had
to overcome in the past, and with
which he has still to contend at pres
emit If the present plans of the garden
agriculturist succeed he will be driven
from his calling in the future by diff
iculties which will overwhelm him.
The present plan of the philosophers
seems TO me rather severe upon those
who, after years of toll, worry and anX-
ieties which will always be present
with the agriculturist, that he should
be called upon, after gaining a compe
tency from his industry and labor, and
investment for years of his money, in
some instances with very small return,
and in fact threatened that if he does
not divide up his lands and help his
less fortunate brother man. even what
he has will be taken from him This is
pretty strong language, but if it has
not been so expressed its meaning is
the same, individuals are entitled TO
their opinions and demand some atten-
ton when their views on any import
ant subject are backed up by practical
knowledge and experience. But when
theorists advance views for the regula-
ton of industry, and dictate as to how
Smith and Brown should conduct their
business. | think such individuals
should be carefully looked after by
the authorities, as ] consider them dan
gerouS to the state When one reflects
upon the pluck and energy displayed
in developing Hawaii's main industry,
those actively engaged in it deserve
the greatest praise and credit for the
difficulties which they have had to
face and overcome.
| venture to say that in no other
sugar producing country in the world
have such difficulties been met with,
with regard to the landing
of machinery and the transportation
of freight to and from the plantations.
Of course every one engaged in the in
dustry hoped to make money out of it,
and in the majority of cases their
fOndest hopes have been realized. This
has made these Islands what
they are today And according to the
profitable or appropriateness of this
same industry will these Islands de-
pend for their prosperity in the flu
ture. Facts are stubborn things"
Then why this continuous outcry
against the employment of Oriental or
colored labor in connection with our
agricultural industries and replacing
the same by men of our own color and
blood?
If it is the voice of the American
philanthropists we hear, allow me to
ask them why it is that white labor is
not more extensively employed by the
Southern planters of their own cOun-
try? Is it not because they cannot
grow sugar and cotton without their
cheap colored labor and compete with
other countries where of necessity such
labor is employed? Or if the voice is
that of the British philanthropist. al
low me to point out this fact that in
none of the English colonies are white
men employed as laborers in tropical
agricultural pursuits. with the eXcep-
ion of Queensland.
In Queensland white men drive or
lid do team work; they also took con-
IT certain rate per ton. the contractor
however. the cheapest men
ne could secure.
But let the advocates against ORR
entail or colored labor take a lesson |
and warning from Queensland's ex-
lerience
When the dominant political party |
in passing laws preventing |
he further introduction of colored la |
,or to that colony the result was that |
he sugar industry was paraliZed. and |
large number of the plantation own |
rs were compelled TO shut down for |
ack of suitable labor thus Gripping |
III other industries depending on sugar |
md at the same time almost bank |
uptiug the colony.
Was this policy successful. especially |
considering that these other industries |
BESIDES sugar prevail? No. In order to
'e-establish the sugar industry. the
government had to come 10 its assist
,nce with financial aid and other
means of encouragement. The small
armers grow much of the cane and
ell it to centrally located mills. But
he farmer gets his labor supply from
he importation of colored labor. ex-
ending even 70 India and Japan.
III the p0N SlCdl anu pOllIlCdl SeO2ld-
ny of the world we find civilized ma
ions engaged in agriculture. manufac-
Ires and commerce, possessing a thor
ugh division of labor. Countries and
Iimatic conditions exist for the proper
nd equal division of the worlds labor
apply And | maintain that for trop-
al agriculture the dark-skinned races
nd their proper sphere. Their necessi- |
eS and conditions of life seem To me |
ltended land exactly suited) for that |
ranch of the worlds industry. The |
1lOTed races of the world since the |
eginning of its history have been |
lgaged in this branch of its agricul-
Ire. And I am afraid this law of fit
ess is unalterabIe. For no industry
an exist when the cost of production
greater than the price realized for
le product.
Sugar. coffee and nearly all other e
'ODical Agricultural products are AT