Evening star., 1899-04-19
4 Race Riot in Hawaii,

Rec entity received copies of the Honolulu
newspapers contain detailed accounts of
the bloody race riot which occurred late in
March on a plantation at Kahuku, several
miles from Honolulu, between Chinese and
Japanese laborers. According to these ac-
counts. the trouble arose from trifiing
row between some of the men, the two
races Immediately taking sides. The next
day body of Japanes7 laborers marched
quietly in organized array to the quarters
of the Cinnamon, after arming themselves
with all kinds of ready-made weapons, and
began an assault upon the unsuspecting
celestials. The latter were hemmed in their
building and beaten, stabbed and clubbed
for many minutes. Then the plantation
police interviewed to end the riot, but not
until three Cinnamon had BEEN killed out
right, one fatally wounded, sixteen seriously
wounded, and upward of fifty others more
or less battered. Not one of the Japanese
had suffered harm. The next day forces ar
rived from Honolulu and arrested as many
of the offending japanese as could be iden-
titled. The affair appears to have caused
the most intense race feeling on the island,
and fears were expressed afterward that it
would result in Widespread trouble between
the Japanese and the Chinese on other
pl&ntatiOns, those races being most numer-
Gus among the contract laborars in service
The comments on thu tragedy were all to
the point that the case demands immediate
action by this government in the regulation
OF the labor conditions in Hawaii The
plantations require large numbers of men,
If possible those accustomed to handle
oriental products. The cane and coffee
Plantations particularly demand Just such
labor as China and Japan are able to fur
nlSh in abund9 nee AS a result Of the con-
trect system, which is in vogue as a relic
of the old island regime, large bodies of
coolies are imported for a short period and
Kept under severe restrictions They do not
become interested in the country, nor have
th-y opportunities to grow beyond the
limits OF their contract obligations At the
END OF Their terms of service they are re-
turned 10 China and Japan. The new order
OF things IN Hawaii makes a readjustnent
inevitable unless very had conditions are
to be permitted to develop. The riot at
kahuku is danger signal Unfortunately.
Congress. at the last session. neglected the
duty Of providing perman mt organizat ton
icr the new territory, although all the nec-
essary preliminary steps had been taken.
Meanwhile matters have drifted along in a
make-shitt fashion, well enough, perhaps.
Tor present purposes, but assuredly proyid-
ing inadequate government for colony
which Is certain to become one of the most
important outposts of the United States.
hcth commercially and politically 1t is. of
course impossible to reotify at present the
H'Etake which Congress made in adjourn
ing without action on this important mat
leE' Dut the episode should operate to carry
eciNlcton to the houses early next session
th@t there must be no further delay in es-
ta0iiShihs Hawaii on a definite territorial
D"Si', with such laws as may be necessary
10 reduce the contract labor evil to a mini
mum and to prevent international comnIi-
cations through these race riots.