The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-16
WHAT SHALL BE UONE2

The statements, under the head Of
"Ruffianism Here" which appear in an
other column are evidences of'the fact
that beneath the rather quiet and pleas
ing exterior of American civilization
on these Islands, there exists an irres-
ponsible and cruel domestic despotism
which defies our laws. It is the rule
of the Chinese High-binder of Califor
mia. These despotic Asiatic clubs are
a rule unto themselves. They exist on
all of the plantations, and in all Of the
towns. The rioters and murderers at
the Kahuku riot escaped, with several
exceptions, because the Japanese
Club" ordered that there be no evil
dence produced before the jury that
tried the prisoners. The Japanese fear
the leaders of these Clubs more than
they fear the police or the executive
power of the Government.
So far, these Clubs have generally
respected the law of the land in their
relations with the white races. They
are not sufficiently well organized and
rich to openly attack the white race.
Nor, have they the sympathy or aid of
many respectable and responsible Asia
tic business men residing here. They
will not make an open fight against law
and order until Asiatic immigration is
checked by the Federal laws, and re-
stricted immigration becomes the hot
bed of strikes.
But, today, in these Islands, the
Asiatics are being governed in many of
their important social relations by
Asiatic, and not Anglo-Saxon law.
They know nothing about our glorious
institutions" and we have neither the
mood or the opportunity to inform
them about the difference between our
and their forms of government. Being
left to themselves they naturally fol-
low out their own ideas of social pro-
lection and become an imperium in i'm
periO. Fortunately for the State of
California, "Chinatowns" are small af-
fairs in comparison with the popula-
ton and wealth of the State. Here, the
existence of plantations in different
parts of the Islands, creates numerous
"Chinatowns," which are advancing in
numbers and strength.
This is not a theory, but a condition
What shall be done about it? Must
we. after all, accept it, suffer from it,
and charge it up as a moral but expen-
sive element in the cost of sugar?
Regarding the social evil" the ex-
IRENE offensiveness of the conditions
call for some immediate action. The
brOthels, the churches and the schools
are close together. Shall they be separ-
ated? The higher class of Japanese,
speaking from their own successful
treatment of the evil in Japan, declare
for segregation. But at once a moral
question arises, like that which an En-
glish traveller said arose in Cairo. The
dog is sacred in the eyes of the Mus
sulmans. One died in the street, and
sanitary reasons called for his removal
But the followers Of the Koran would
not consent that any one should touch
even his dead body. So he decayed and
even if he did make a terrible stencil
the faithful followers of the Prophet
felt that they had violated no prin-
ciples of religion in permitting the dead
dog to be Segregated
The social evil is a moral offense
1t exists here, as it exists everywhere
else. What shall be done with it.
Every community that has tried tt
destroy !. has failed to do so. The
churches do not tackle the matter be
cause preaching and eXhortation ar
anly pop guns against granite walls il
assaulting it. Like the devout Mussul
mans, who cannot touch the dead dog
they dare not favor the segregation O
it, lest they violate some principle.
But something must be done abou
removing this offense from the heart c
"a