The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-03-29
THE RACIAL FRICTION.

The collision of the Japanese and
the Chinese on Sunday last, at Kahu-
ku, DIS a surface indication of the seri-
GUS troubles that are concealed in our
labor system. Whether or not from
an international standpoint the United
States have protected the Chinese resi-
dent in one of it's territories is yet an
open question. The Chinese govern
memt may demand compensation for
these violent deaths, and for the as
saultS upon it's citizens. 1t is fortunate
for these Islands that this collision of
races occurred after, and not before
annexation. For if it had occurred be-
fore that event, we would have been
involved in trouble with China.
This collision of the two races at
Kahuku suggests the fact that we are,
i'm a very reckless way, apparently,
laying the foundation for trouble in
the future. OF course, SO long as there
is inscribed on SO many of the COM
mercial banners the words, after us,
the Deluge," no warming will be heed
ed with any patience.
What we are rapidly drifting into
may be realized by comparison If
on the Mainland the proportion of
ASiatic males to adult white citizens
was the same as lit is i'm these Islands
between the Asiatics and Anglo-Saxon
adults, there would be at least two
hundred millions of Asiatic adults liv-
ing on American soil The prospect
OF being overrun with two hundred
Thousand of them caused the Nation
to alter its political policy. break its
treaty with China, and declare AN open
door only for trade, with a very closed
door for immigration.
This reckless policy of increasing
plantations, trusting to luck for labor
in the future, works no harm just now
because Japan supplies our needs, ON
call. But this policy is gradually plac-
ing OUR labor supply i'm tho hands OF
one GLASS of aliens, who have no in
teTest in the country, beyond what
they can make out of it. The inevi-
table result must be that our planta-
tions will tie at the mercy OF these
people, just as the mining interests
i'm many States are in the hands OF
the laborers. And the larger the num-
Der of Japanese employed on the plan
tations, the easier it will he for them
to organize labor unions and dictate
terms.
We are now simply laying the found
atiOns for Japanese Tabor supremacy
here. Everyone who has paid amy at
tention to the subject knows that the
combination of labor has been made
careful study by Japanese agitators
here, and they only wait for the op.
perfume moment when they can ac
without much danger of failure.
This wholesale importation of Jap
amese laborers will not i'm the end
ease the labor market, but tighten it
after the Federal immigration law.
are extended to this Territory. Th
tendency now is to import freely al
the labor needed but If new planta
siOns are established the demand will
AU0TSdSS ldSlcI UudH ullO supply,
the extension OF the immigration law
will cause a stringency at once.
On the other hand, it will be urge
that if the sugar industry becomes les
prosperous hereafter, THE price {
wages will naturally decline, and labo
will be abundant The experience c
the Mainland will hardly Justify thi
conclusion.
Any thoughtful person will see thf
we are now importing Immigrant
who must serve under our penal col
tract laws. Within twelve or fourtee
months from this time, these contra
laws will be void, under the organ
act which Will be in force by tn;
time.
To-day the Jail stands before abo1
fourteen Thousand contract laborer
What will happen next year, when Il
Jail suddenly disappears?
Every community is optimistic
ia the law of its life that it should
so until it has had bitter eXperienc
No prophet or wise men ever live
who checked this optimism.
Is all preaching then in vain?, II
cynic says yes, in vain