The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-07
BREAKERS AHEAD.

BREAKERS AHEAD.
A paragraph in yesterdays Adver-
tiser proposing that, in view of the Sc
rious Asiatic problem Honolulu is soon
to confront, an increase of United
States forces should be solicited, calls
out a remonstrance from our contem-
porary the Star That journal de-
clares the Asiatic element is not turbu-
lent in the mass; that if it were it
would have broken forth during the
Chinatown fire; and finally if it should
ever rise the National Guard of $50
men, the Federal troops of about the
same number" and the Citizens Guard
of 900 men could put it down.
We should be glad to agree with
these conclusions, but some study of
Chinese and Japanese in the fighting
mass convinces us that they are quite
capable of breaking out in unexpected
places. 1t is true these people have
never made disturbances in Honolulu,
but that may be because they have
had no reason so to do. Up to the time
of the fire on January 10th the Asiatics
were well fed, we'll housed (for them)
and they were prosperous. During the
fire they we're too busy trying to save
families and chattels to cause great
public apprehensions, though their at
titude was sufficiently alarming to
draw out the police, the ax-helve bri-
gade and the United States forces. But
when they fully realize their homeless
ness, their poverty and their unhappi-
ness, and when they are turned out on
the community some 1000 strong to
shift for themselves, Honolulu may
find them a very different kind of peo-
pie than they were when comfortably
ensconced in Chinatown. They may
say: you took away our homes and
livelihoods-now support us!" They
may refuse to work even where there
is work provided for them, and that
will not be for many of those who
lived and did business in Chinatown.
The labor market in Honolulu would
be glutted by half of them; the treas
ury bankrupted by all. Those who
feel a sense of outrage may try to get
even by means of criminal depreda-
tons. 1t would not be strange if such
were to be the case, and who knows
but such depredations would end in in
cendiarism?
What the Advertiser wants is to
make sure of the ounce of prevention
which is better than the pound of cure
That ounce OF prevention would be a
display-a visible daily embodiment
of military and naval strength. Hun
CRY, desperate and shelterless Asiatics
are not much impressed by anything
else. It would cost a great deal tC
keep the National Guard under arms;
the Citizens Guard, as we said awhile
ago, and as many of its officers have
Joined us in saying, is utterly disor
gained; the United States military
strength in these Islands Is only 210
the naval strength Is represented by 6
converted Spreckels' tug. On the 9th
er side are thousands Of half-civilizeC
coolies, capable Of indefinite reinforce
ment from the plantations, who might
If they chose, set the city on fire. II
] such event we imagine that our min
ute men would individually finC
enough to do at home without rally
ing at any point of concentration.
Because people are plant and good
natured under ordinary conditions i
no sign that they would be so whel
: hard pressed. Honolulu has even seel
its amiable, fiower-garlanded native
up In arms; and on a memorable blacl
week Of a few years ago deacon
passed the plate in Central Uniol
Church while their hip pockets bulge
with pistols. Those were days wheI
the excitement was political; Their
may be days before US when 1t vii
spring from profounder depths and al
q feet populace which hanks back t
recent savagery and is capable G
dreadful deeds.
s 1t is easy to say Put the Aslatics /