The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-28
WHITE IMMIGRATION.

are always interesting, and are general
ly valuable, says in the paper which he
sent to the joint meeting of the Elk
ecutive and the planting interest las1
week that: The necessity Of depending
upon cheap Asiatic labor is removed.
But the employers will not seek the
higher priced labor so long as the
cheaper class is available"
The Advertiser has persistently ad-
vocated the introduction of American
laborers here for social and political
reasons, and it has, in the past spoken
with some indignation Of the trifiing
Indifferent conduct of the sugar in
terests in the matter. While S150,000
or more is readily paid for a sugar
mill, any proposition to spend the sum
of $50. 900 for one vigorous, persistent
and intelligent effort to introduce a
good class of white laborers, by all of
the plantations combined, would be met
with derision. The motto has been, as
a rule, Millions for dividends, not a
cent for civilization
MT. OIlECn believes LudL itUol
other than Asiatic can now be obtain
ed. They can be obtained, but not
without the use of money, brains and
sacrifice. The whole community, de-
voted to getting sugar profits, must
realize that a day OF reckoning may
be at hand, unless the labor system is
changed.
With the increase of Asiatic immi-
grafton, the difficulties of introducing
the American laborers for instance have
no doubt increased, until the conditions
are such that only heroic treatment will
now introduce white labor.
Five years ago, owing to the de-
pressed condition of the grain industry,
thousands of good Americans were
ready and willing to immigrate to.tnese
Islands. 1t was the opportunity of Ha-
wall. Nothing was done. Conditions
have changed, and the American farmer
is now prosperous. Wages are high.
and every honest laborer can get work
at fair prices. The delay, almost cri-
minal in itssneglect of opportunities,
increases the expense and trouble of
securing suitable Immigrants.
Any scheme of immigration that pro-
poses to bring to these Islands white
labor from the Mainland or Europe
will find that the immigrant, unless in
great distress or a ''bummer" avoids
countries where cheap labor fixes the
rate of wages. During the last thirty
five years State immigration bureaus in
the Southern States, have made earnest
efforts to secure white immigration
from Europe, but those disposed to
emigrate from the Northern States, or
from Northern Europe, refused to go
to the South where the wages OF the
negro indirectly fixes the standard OF
wages for the white man. The purpose
of a laborer in emigrating to America
is to better his condition. The purpose
of an American farmer or laborer in
emigrating to Hawaii is also to better
his condition. And unless he is
thoroughly convinced that he can better
it, he will stay at home. The business
difficulty lies in making him believe
that he will be better off by emigra-
ton.
The movements of the American and
European emigrating farmers during
the last fifty years, have been governed
by the price Of land. The farmers are
sturdy spectators in their way, and
Uncle Sam, for century, has allowed
them to take up public land at Sl.25
per acre, and sell it at larger profits
than the sugar stocks ever have pro-
duced.
The great majority of steady labor
ing farmers are married, and have
children. With an offer of increased
wages these married laborers will hest
tate to move unless the social con-
dit;ons are pleasant for their wives
and children.
While the difficulties of securing
desirable class of immigrants for these
islands are great, they can be over
come money and brains can do any
thing tn great capitalists say
Among the 100000 of Americans,
there are quite enough farm laborers to
be had. who put climate before all
things. These are not to be found in
one place, but are scattered in many
places. They may be found. Money
and brains will find them. The bum
ners are ready to come at a moments
notice. The desira BILE men have some
thing at stake where they live, and will
not madly rush into any new schemes.