The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-02-07
THE KEY NOTE.

Why the Oriental population should
become turbulent does not seem clear
AS far as one can see the argument it
is based on is the fact that there never
has been turbulence in the past, there
fore there must be in the future 1t is
not sound premise but as a support
to it, is the statement that the Asiatic
can get his fighting blood up. For that
matter so can the European or the
American. But because he can get his
fighting blood up, there is no earthly
reason why he chould do so just now.
If we look at the matter carefully
we shall see that in our present crisis
the orientals have been working with
us not against us. The Japanese Con-
sul-General and the leading Japanese
have been interchangeable in explaining
to their countrymen the necessity
which has brought about the loss of
their occupations for the time being.
They have themselves very freely given
towards the support of the destitute
and have appreciated the efforts of
other nationalities towards alternating
the general distress.
Looking away from Honolulu, we
see like gentleness of spirit and unity
of purpose. Japanese, Chinese Hawa-
>iian and Foreign ladies have united
together on Kauai, on Maui, in the I'M
infected districts of Oahu, to prepare
garments for the destitute. The mer-
chants, the planters, and the Iaborers
in the same districts, have alike uni
ted in raising funds. This has all been
cheerfully done, there has been no
forcing, it has been a spontaneous
burst of good will and charitable feel
ing.
Now with all this good feeling show
ing up in so many different directions.
why should we ascribe a desire of riot
among those who have been the rect
pients of it. If we look at the people
themselves at their various detention
camps we do not find them sullen and
brooding. We find them happy light
hearted and contented. Moreover we
find them willing to work Superinten-
dent Atkinson found no difficulty in
getting men from his own camp to
work upon the new ditch. And other
superintendent report no trouble where
work is required to be done.
In fact work is the key note of the
situation. The authorities have rea.
iized that these people being homeless,
must be looked after and have pro
vided Accommodations for them. So long
as they accept the hospitality of the
authorities, they should be required to
give an equivalent in work. If they are
fed and left idle they may become dis
contented, but If they are fed and
have to give work as an equivalent,
they will not be disconnected.
The Advertiser says: they may not
care to pound stone on country roads"
Hunger is a very good sauce. And
when it comes to a question of pound
ing stone or going without a meal the
roads will be pounded until the orien-
tai can find something better to do.
There is another phase of the ques-
ton to be considered. The Asiatics whom
we have here came with the sole OBJ
Ject of making money and lettering
their condition. Because of the plague
and the wiping out of Chinatown these
people are not going to lose sight of
their object. They are not going to
settle down and recruit an army of I'M
employed. AS soon as we can get rid
of the plague and raise the quarantine
so that business begins to flow in it's
regular channels, these people will
either get work mere or will seek it on
the other islands. There is plenty of
work for bone and muscle to do on
these islands and they are perfectly
eady to do it. But if we teach them
that they can live on charity without
work We have only ourselves to blame.