The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-09-23
SEPTEMBER %
NEGRO LABOR.

Star, which is reprinted in another
column
Those who are interested in the edu-
cation of the negro, have for many
years, noticed the remarkable differ
ence in the physical appearance and
mental traits of different negroes. The
writer of this article, about twenty years
ago, while visiting in Newbern, North
Carolina, was told about a negro who
was the most successful cotton planter
in the country. The writer drove out
To his plantation and spent some hours
with him. He was coal black, had thin
lips and a Grecian profile. Although
he had been slave, and was without
education, he had developed a strong
organizing mind, had purchased one
thousand acres of land, and paid for
it out of the profits of his cotton crops,
although the white men said cotton did
not pay. In the border States and in
the upper Gulf States many negroes of
this character are found, though few
in comparison with the entire black
population.
AS the American negro speaks the
English language, and is used to the
American ways, and can handle a hoe,
and moreover can move without the
interference of immigration laws to
any part of the national territory, he
may, if selected carefully, be a desir-
able laborer. But these conditions in
some respects make him a dangerous
Iaborer. He has an imperfect idea of
his rights, and therefore exaggerates
them. His mind is constantly inflamed
with the foolish talk Of the ignorant
negro demagogue. He will not listen
to Or follow the educated and intelli-
gent men of his own race The policy
of the Republican party, adopted for
the purpose of aiding him to protect
his manhood, he misinterpreted into
declaration Of his fitness and capacley
TO enjoy the same political rights
which his white neighbor possessed.
This policy, coming from the heart, mot
the head of the Republican party,
and even a sound policy, within GER
and made the common, the ignorant,
the thriftless negro, restless, dissatis-
fed and unreliable. He is far too
ignorant to realize his own situation.
He has been, and is, as a rule, too
ignorant to understand that in the
bcundless domain of cheap and waste
land in the South, he has superb OPP
portunities to become a land owner.
For many years the wages Of the ne
gro in the South have been at least
double the wages paid in Japan to the
farm laborerS, but the negro has lived
from hand to mouth, and the ease with
which he can live ON "hoe cake has
worked against his progress.
On the other hand, as it was said in
this journal recently, the white man of
the South has, as rule, utterly failed
to take advantage of his opportunities,
and educate the negro into being, an
Intelligent laborer. There is abundant
excuse for mis- failure, which need not
be now co4isidered.
Any attempt to bring negro laborers
! into this territory would be an ex-
ceedingly dangerous movement, unless
it was done, SO as to exclude the
thriftless, and the grossly ignorant
who would soon become a veritable
curse to the community.
A movement, however, to bring in
to the Territory the better class of
negroes, by the most careful selection
of them, in those parts of the country
they have showris themselves to
good laborers, could supply, per-
haps, considerable part ofSthe labor
neaded in thes4zrritory An immigra-
ton of this kind requires time, pa
thence, and the best executive ability.
Only the undesirable negroes would
offer to immigrate at once. Those
who have acquired homes and land,
even though of little value, would hes
itate to move, unless they We're con-
WINGED by men in whom they have
confidence, that they could really bet
ter their condition by such immigra-
ton.
On the other hand, if there were
such immigration, the planters would
have to modify their methods of using
such labor. Negro laborers, who are
well cared for, and well treated will
do excellent work. But when they are
abused, they are quite like the white
men, for they sulk and shirk their
work They are good natured and are
easily ied but at the same time are
human and are now citizens of the
United States and the most ignorant OF
them feel that citizenship entities them
to some consideration.
If, as many believe, the die is cast
and Hawaii is, and will be, substantial