The times., 1899-10-29
AFFAIRS IN HAWAII.
Views of ministers on Visit to the
United STATES

Views of Ministers on a Visit TO the
United states
Six ministers Of the gospel whose homes
are in Hawaii are visitors iu Washing
ton They arrived from Bost1a vestsr-
day, where they attended the recent
I Congregational convention To a Times
reporter Rev. o. p Emerson. who acted
| as spokesman Tor the deicgatioa. said
that their visit to the Capitn had no
| special significance whatever. as the party
we're merely on a sightseeing tour. and
/ viii leave for San Francisco in a few DAYS.
Mr.. Emerson said that the best OF feel
ing prevailed toward to the United States
on the part OF the native HawaHans. and he
believed he union would ultimately result
In making Hawaii a great state.
The people OF the Islands. said Mr.
I emerson, are anxious 70 have a voice in
| the administration Of their own affairs
I ana as Tar as my observation goes ft leads
me TO believe that large majority Of them
! desire a territorial form OF government
/ similar TO that now 10 operation IA some
parts OF the United States For the future
! me people look toward Statehood. when
lney may nave representation in the Ma
/ tioual Congress
When annexation was first considered
the natives were somewhat anxious. and
they did not know what was in store Tor
them They are uow. however. entirely
satisfied. and recognize the necessity. or al
least the desirability Of the change
In speaking Of contract labor Mr.. Emer-
son said
Contract labor is not so bad thing as
It mas been represented. As a general
thing the laborers are wen treated. but oc-
easioually. instances are found where some
OF them have been brutally treated such
instances, however, are comparatively rare
The contract labor system Is. perhaps. q
natural outgrowth OF general conditions in
the Islands Chinese and japanese labor
ers, seeking employmeut. 90 to the islands
where they are unknown to the planters
and owing TO the scarcity OF workmen. aud
~ order 70 make sure Of their services il
mas been found necessary to bind them BY
an agreement. Many OF them removed
from their wives and families. fall into evn
ways After their days work they have no
nome to go to, except the camp provided
Ior them on the plantation. which insvita.
bly, results in evil
The Hawaiian Evangelical Society
with which l am connected. is doing an
mat II can to ameiiOrate the condition of
The laboreFs. and has adopted the plan q
sending agents or missionaries to each
plantation to teach the Christian religion
IN the English language This form OF
campaign has been productive OF much
good, and I think it viii continue TO gxer-
else beneficial influence The % an Drr-
sued has been 70 make application to the
plantation owner To allow an agent OF the
society 70 establish himself az the labor
ers' camps. where in the evenings he can
10 rrTan ~.r-e-
willing 70 readily grant such an apr, lea
ton and pay such agents from SIS TO $40
per month, recognizing that the inhuence
exerted by them is money in their pock-
cts"
Owing to the constantly increasing
number of Asiatics in the islands. con
1nued Mr.. Emerson. there is but small
opportunity for American mechanics. un-
less they are prepared to submit to the
competition Of cheap labor. Thsre is.
however, a broad field for capital in the
sugar and coffee industry
Mr. Emerson said he believes that there
VIII be a development Of the proft or crop
sharing system. now in vogue to a great
extent in this country. He thought the
proposed Pacific cable a necessity which
VIII not only place the local government
OF Hawaii in close touch with the Govern
ment in Washington, but which viii be OF
great commercial DeueuL 70 the ISLANDS,
He expressed the belief that there is a
field for new steamship lines. in the island
trade, and said that several have already
been projected.
Rev. S. L. Desha, who is one OF the
party, and who is native pastor OF the
church at HilO. said that the sentiment Of
his people was that they should have a
government in which the natives have a
voice. Among the Hawaians. he said,
there are intelligent and capable men.
who could, with credit I'll positions Of
trust We want 70 have a governor who
feels a deep interest in the Hawaiian peo-
1le. A man who does not understand the
state OF mind Of those people, who can
not enter into their feelings and sympa-
thize with them, cannot make success as
governor Of the Islands. The present gOv-
ernmsnt is the cleanest We have ever had.
But We believe We have native Hawaiians
who know all the needs OF the people and
love them better than any foreigner could
The paTty's visit to Washington is not
attended with any political significance.
the object in coming here being simply
to pay respect to the President The mem
bers of the delegation prefer to be looked
upon in the light Of a religious body
rather than political one. They viii Ieays
next week for san Francisco.