The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-10
SEARCHING FOR LABORERS..

Mr.. Damon should be commended
for his desire, and the efforts he has
made, to obtain laborers for our plan
tations. If he had made these efforts
a few years ago, and had continued
them, he would, by this time, have
succeeded in securing many, if not all
the labOrers that are needed. The CON
ditions of European immigration how
ever have rapidly changed from year to
year. What was feasible ten years ago
is not practicable now The opening
up of new countries, the establish
ment OF many steamship lines, the ex-
istence of SO many favorable places in
Africa, Australia and North and South
America, TO which large numbers of
European laborers have emigtated, has
created general system Of emigration,
which runs in grooves and is not easy
to disturb. Any laboEer proposing to
leave any part of Europe can readily
find places in foreign countries where
his own countrymen have settled ana
where land is abundant and cheap
A project which solicits him to settle
in an unknown land, is naturally not
favored. Prejudices are not easily re-
moved. The parties who ask for i'm
migration are unknown. Only a per-
son who is master in the business
of starting a new scheme of immigra-
ton can succeed.
The great opportunity of the plant
ers did lie in securing Portuguese i'm
migration. That opportunity may
have been lost, through neglect and it
may yet be before the planters 1t laid
in making every Portuguese here an
immigration agent for the planters,
soliciting. urging, and aiding his
friends TO join him here. 1t is conced-
ed that these people make excellent Ia
-borers. and are as easily satisfied as
any European laborers. 1t is simply
idle to expect that any European labor
ers will be more easily satisfied. The
policy of the planters should be, not to
send agents to Portugal for men, but
to make the resident Portuguese here
their agents to secure them. Every
Irishman, every Englishman, every
German, or Scandinavian or Italian in
the States, whenever he is satisfied
with his situation, becomes a Jealous
immigration agent. Instead of send
ing Mr.. Damon to Portugal for labor
ers. there should be five thousand spe-
cial agents living here, actively solicit
ing their friends to settle here
Besides, there is no assisted" immi-
grafton, or violation Of American laws
in promoting this scheme of immigra-
tion. 1t is the lawful and legitimate
operation of natural and economic
laws.
Such is the history of nearly all i'm
migrations. 1t was not until the Ital-
ians who settled on the Mainland were
satisfied with their new homes, that
their friends were urged to join them.
1t raises a suspicion that some thing
is radically wrong in the relation of
the planters to the Portuguese in these
Islands, if the latter decline to encour-
age their cOuntrymen to join them
There is something decidedly unbusi-
ness IKE III any ScHelue WHICH ignores
the use Of an army Of resident immi.
grafton agents, who will work withou
pay, and then Launches out into new
experiments. ~
Aside from the Asiatic immigration
the planters must accept the genera
proposition that the immigrants them
selves are the best promoters of immi
grafton; that the first step is in secur
ing and settling pioneers. who WILL i
satisfied, call their friends after them
The indifference of the business com
munity to the whole subject of labo
supply which would meet the approya
of American sentiments, finds us nov
without definite information on tn
subject, profoundly ignorant Of eve
the A. B. c. of the best means an
methods of immigration. 1t is quit
too sentimental and unbusiness like t
announce ourselves to be the childre
of Elijah, and expect Heaven to sen
us doves with immigration bread
their bills.