The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-05-08
FRESH CHANCE FOR LABOR.

In the search for labor, which is now
occupying the minds of all those who
are thinking and planning for the flu
ture welfare of the territory, no stone
should be left unturned, no possible
chance be neglected for getting what
is desirable. Labor we must have, de-
sirable labor is what we want to have.
We are building the foundations of a
prosperity greater than we dream of.
To make it an enduring prosperity is
what we must aim at. Unless we sup
ply our labor needs in part from a
class of people that will grow up with
the country and form part of it, we
are not building well. We may have
prosperity, but we will not have en-
during prosperity. 1t is all very well
to say latter us the deluge," but it is
neither very noble nor very safe to take
the cynical saying of Pompadour for
motto.
At the present moment there is a
large colony of Portuguese in Demar-
ara, which is petitioning the home gov
eminent of Portugal to take them
from that spot, any where, where they
may be a chance of earning better
wages than can be obtained in that
colony. Their complaint is not the
work, but the terribly depressed con-
| ditions in Demarara.
This place in common with the West
Indian colonies of Great Britain, is
suffering from a terrible depression.
There is almost the same condition in
Jamaica, and every one, who keeps
| posted upon current events, knows
what a state Jamaica is in. From be-
! ing one of the most wealthy of British
colonies, it has dwndled to one with a
/ constantly decreasing output of it's
! staple, and in consequence a discon-
| tented population, portion of which is
clamoring for annexation to the United
! States.
In Demarara, or British Guiana
within the space of eight years from
| 1889 to 1897, the exports of the staple
product, sugar dwindled from about
$4,000 900 in value to $6,OOOO 900. 1t can
very plainly be seen that under such
conditions, Demarara can not be a
very desirable field for the laboring
Portuguese, now there resident. 1t
need be no matter of surprise that they
want to get away.
Now one mans misfortune is fire.
quently another mans opportunity,
and one cOuntrys misfortunes is, as
we well know, the chance for another
to go ahead. Would it not be an ex-
cellent thing for us to turn our eyes to
Demarara and make offers to the Por-
tuguese colony there. The people are
acquainted with work on sugar plant
atoms, and would be therefore more
valuable a great deal than green
! hands. We all know that Portuguese
are Industrious; we have nothing to
learn either as to their qualifications
/ or their desirabilty. They are the
most thrifty class in our population.
! They are prolific, and they raise fam
/ lilies the members of which are in turn
! industrious and ready to work.
1t would not take a very large
amount of money to send a competent
man to Demarara to personally see the
Portuguese there, and make arrange
ments for their transportation hither.
We want a better class of labor than
the Asiatic. 1t is vitality necessary that
we should have a different class under
the conditions which will shortly occur.
The Portuguese in Demarara are anX-
ious to leave that colony. We, in our
prosperity, can offer them good terms,
far better than they have had in Dem
| arara. Why should we not secure their
services instead of some one else doing
so. 1t is an opportunity that should
not be neglected.