The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-08-29
AS OTHERS SEE Us
Congress Has Much to
Do in Hawaii.
The sooner u Un5,uskes the Task the
Soones the Interests q Civh fiiion
Advance.

The following article, originally
printed In the New Orleans City Item,
and afterwards reprinted in the Louisi-
ana Planter, is reproduced in this pa
per to show the feeling in the United
States on the contract labor system:
The Philadelphia Record calls at
tention to a case of slavery in Hawaii
which should appeal to the sympathy
of all humane people. 1t appears that
there are thirty-seven Austrian sub
jects languishing i'm Jail on the Island
Of Oahu because they refused to per-
form work which the most robust con-
stitution could not stand. They were
imported as coolies" says the Record.
with the most alluring promises of
the delightful life they would lead In
that tropical region; but after the cruel
experiences OF slave life of three
months on a sugar plantation they
escaped. AS they were alleged to owe
their pretended plantation lords some
money for their transportation they
were captured and put in prison in or
der to compel them to return to their
harsh toll"
Here we have the outlines of a tragic
| story. The information obtained by
| the Record seems to be authentic, for
it comes from Rabbi NJ. s. Levy, of
San Francisco, whose authority is not
| questioned in that section of Califor-
mia. The Record states:
THAT these contract laborers under
a system of white slavery were i'm
ported into Hawaii from Bremen I'M
der a contract for three years service.
Notwithstanding the laws of the
United States on this subject, the
American authorities on the Hawaiian
Islands have evidently been much more
Jealous in enforcing an iniquitOus
slave system in behalf of the sugar
| planters on the Islands than in obey
ing the humane spirit of our laws"
IL Is evident that while there has
been an extension of American au-
thority in the Hawaiian archipelago.
the guarantees OF liberty and personal
rights have not yet been extended to
the humble jewellers of that region
More than year has elapsed since the
Hawaiian Islands were annexed to
this country, and the hardness and pro-
|
in absolute failure TO establish Ameri-
can institutions in the Island group.
II was for the suppression of a system
something like that which now pre-
walls in certain parts of Hawaii that
the North and South went to war thir-
ty-eight years ago. The Record truth
fully says:
The slavc-owners in the South pro-
vided for human property after il was
too old and decrepit to work; but I'M
der the Hawaiian system men are en-
shaved for Il certain contract period,
during which their lifeblood Is sucked
out of them, and then they are flung
away to die in want and misery. 1t
appears from the policy of the Govern
ment that the Hawaiian Islands were
annexed for the sole benefit of few
sugar planters, and that the rest OF the
inhabitants are not worthy Of consid-
Grafton. This Is what explains why
the abominable system Of coolie labor
hourishes in all its pristine vigor on
the Hawaiian Islands, under the full
protection of the Government OF the
United States, and under the folds OF
the starry flag"
The Record may argue from the
standpoint of Democracy, but its posi-
ton is impregnable. 1t Is clear that
we have much to do in Hawaii and the
sooner we undertake the task the soon
er will We advance the interests OF civ
ilization.