The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-03-18
PENAL CONTRACT LAWS.

Considered as an abstract PROPOSE
ton, the penal contract labor system is
not tolerated by the civilized races. |
The special and pressing reasons for
abolishing the system here, aside from
the reasons in the abstract, are the in
tense opposition of the<powerful labor
ing classes and indeed of all classes in
the United States to it, and our depend
ence on the States for prosperity. The
existence of the penal system is club
in the hands of the enemies of reci-
procity, with which to crush our pros
perity.
On the other hand a change in our
labor system may involve the serious
injury of the entire white and native
population. Should the abolition of the
penal system result in the crippling OF
the plantations, the very first to feel it
will be the mechanics, storekeepers,
clerks, lawyers, doctors, school teach
ers and general laborers.
Necessary as the change is, it in
wolves risks, Notwithstanding the sue
cess of the share system. But it is a
serious business to try sudden expert
ments with the one single industry on
which the community lives.
We are between the Devil and the
deep sea. So far, we have been con-
tented to stand still, and see whether
the Devil would clutch us, or the sea
swallow u.s. They move up slowly, and
we shall be forced to jump before long.
A solution of the labor question has
been thought of in vague, general
way, through the introduction of Ann
erican laborers. But the planters as
body, do not believe in it. They have
not made any serious trials of it. The
Government has not paid any attention
to it. The dominant political party, il
there is one, has made several pro-
carnations on the subject. Five years
have passed since we, the Anglo
Saxons took possession, and there Is
not in existence body of American
laborers on the sugar plantations, nor
has any serious attempt been made to
secure one.
There are some German laborers,
however, forced in by our, compulsory
immigration laws.
However much men have been
thinking on the subject, nothing has
been done, since we, the Anglo-Saxons,
have had it our own way. We may
therefore expect thatanothing will be
seriously done on that line.
There seems to be an opposition to
any further immigration of Portuguese
on account of its expense and for other
reasons.
Having failed to ''hedgegjon the lab
or question, by falling To- make even
one single experiment with an Ameri>
can colony of laborers, we must face
the fact that we are dependent on the
Asiatics entirely. 1t is the deep sea-
on one side. If the penal system is alb
OIlSlGu,
the price of wages, it will force further
Asiatic immigration. That puts in
peril the livelihood of the whites, who
do not live ON dividends. If the aboli-
ton of the penal system does not raise
the price of labor the livelihood and
prosperity of the whites may be con-
tinued so long as reciprocity holds.
Inconsiderate people seem to think
that the penal system involves only the
prosperity of the planters. On the con-
trary, nearly every man, woman and
child in the Islands lives on sugar, d.
rectly or indirectly.
The question, therefore, of the inn
mediate abolition of the penal system
is most serious We feel the moral
necessity of abolishing it, but feel also,
that if it is done without extreme cau>
ton it might involve serious conse>
quences.
The Government has strangely neg
lected its political duties in this re-
specf. &if it has any such duties to per-
fornf As for the planters, they do not
feel called upon to think out and decide
racial and other troublesome questions.
Theyldo not like to mix up political,
social. or general economic questions
with business affairs. They keep no
books for such purposes. If called upon
to act, they do so, when driven to the
wall. That has been the case in all
countries. When driven to the wall,
many get badly hurt, and are ruined.
A few escape. Others take their places.
But there is a considerable number