The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1899-10-04
Rawaiian Labor.

Contract labor is being landed
in Hawaii by hundreds, in addi-
ton to the thousands that have
been received since the islands
came under the jurisdiction of the
United States.
The British tramp steamer Vic
toria was taking on a load of con.
tract laborers at Madeira when
the American Consul, Mr.. Jones,
served notice on the men that Ha-
waii had been annexed to the
United States and, under the laws
of this country, their contracts are
void. This deferred about half of
them from embarking. The
charter party of the steamer filed
Il protest against the .ConsuPs
action, and presented it at Wash
ington through the British lega-
ton. The result was an investi-
cation by our Government which
resulted in reversing the Consul,
and now there is a claim for dam
ages against the United States by
the agents of the ship.
The laws of the United States
forbid contract labor. 1t is form
of involuntary servitude, and that
is forbidden by the constitution
lin the United States or any place
under their jurisdiction" The
Consul seems to have labored
under the impression that the con-
stitution and laws are to be
respected and enforced by the
public officers chosen and sworn
for that purpose. Surely it is
time to take an observation and
find our exact political latitude
and longitude. With polygamy
and slavery under our flag and
jurisdiction in the Sulus and in
voluntary servitude by contract
labor flourishing in Hawaii, and
eight hundred thousand dollars a
day being spent in a war not de.
clared by Congress, there seems
to be some support for General
Merritt's declaration that the
country has outgrown the consti-
tuition.
Recently the lightship, anch-
ored off the heads to guide vessels
into the harbor of San Francisco,
was brought inside the bay with.
out notice to mariners. 1t is the
season of fog off shore, and ships
arriving tried to find the lightship.
Some of them nearly struck above
Point Bonita and some narrowly
escaped wreck below Point Lobos.
They missed the familiar light
ship and sailed ahead with a feel
ing of safety in the belief that
they were still far off shore. The
constitution is the lightship which
guides our ship of state. If it is
withdrawn, by what is the state
to be guided? There are shoals
and rocks and bars to be avoided.
What shall mark them and by
what shall the ship be steered?
The Republican party does not
wish to be made responsible for
the present plan of navigation by
"dead reckoning" 1t will GER
tainly protest against RESPONSE
bility for what may follow. 1t
will refuse to be put in the atti-
tude of indorsing polygamy and
slavery and contract labor. 1t is
this aspect which generally dis
quiets the party, while it Loyalty
supports the administration in
doing all that lies within it's con-
stitutional power to end the pain
ful situation in the Philippines,
but the party has it's own future
and usefulness and it's duty to the
republic to consider.
When Consuls are turned down
for deciding that the laws of the
United States must be respected,
and our Government incurs
claim for damages by voiding it's
own laws, there arise responsible
tiles which the party will refuse
to Bears. r. Call.