The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-08-14
PLEA FOR TIE PORTUGUESE
CORRESPONDENT THINKS THEM
BEST.
Argues to Show That the Azores and
Madeira are the Best Recruiting
Grounds for Labor.

EDITOR STAR: How in the name
of common sense can an intelligent man
add. to the numerous problems Hawaii
has to solve, one that according to the
American reviews, puzzles our states
men and thinkers a great deal? l have
named the negro question.
But where, VIII one object, can we
procure suitable labor but from among
the colored people of the southern states
of the Union and Porto RiCo!'
My answer is, from Portugal. l know
by experience that a good mary readers
will shrug their shoulders, and with
Bah, Portuguese! it is impOssiblp!"
dismiss the idea. After some time,
however another Will take the ided UP
and succeed, as where there is a viii
there is way. Let us try t. prove in
the meantime, that Madeira and thu
Azores are the best recruiting grounds.
/. The Portuguese labOrers are the
most desirable because (a) the planters
are generally agreed that they are the
best, because CD they are what we
need agIiculturists; (c) they ZONE from
semi-trOpical country and consequent
ly stand our climate better than more
northern races; (d) they are prolific,
not a small quality i'm our sparsely pop
ulated country; (e) they belong to the
Caucasian race, and the next genera
ton formed in our public schools will
be thoroughly American.
>. There is in Madeira and the Azores
large agricultural population that
will, if sufficient inducements be given,
be only too glad to come over.
3. The fare from Portugal to Hawaii,
via Panama, ought not if the business
be well conducted, be more than $50 or
$50 per immigrant.
4. AS the planters try to better them
selves, so do the laborers, and if induce
wanting, these will naturally flock to
the towns, where they will find better
opportunities. But give the Portuguese
on easy terms, his own little home, not
out of reach of the plantation, and he is
anchored.
one will object that if the land be sold
to all the laborers the cane area will
be materially reduced.
l say no, provided:
/. The homesteads sold by the Gov
eminent when possible, by the planters
when not, be above the cane belt, where
they should be, because (a) the Portu-
guese prefer that location to any other,
as it is cooler and more suitable to the
raising of corn, cabbages, beans, Irish
potatoes, carrots, turnips, etc; Oh be-
| cause the cane area will remain prac-
| tically the same; (c) finally, because the
now almost Valueless pastures will be
changed into luXuriant gardens, pro-
ducing the vegetables we now import
| from the Mainland.
9 Provided these homesteads be
small mot over five acres), as (a) the
laborers don't want broad acres, but
their own sweet little home, where their
wives and children can take care of
fruit, vegetables, poultry, etc, while
they go to earn their bread on the plan
tation besides Co If the homesteads be
small the owner will not be indepen-
dent from the plantation.
/ With the certainty of being in a few
years the owner of a five acre lot, all
the Portuguese needed will immigrate
provided the agent be honest, and
knows the language of the people. He
ought, however. not to be Portuguese,
as experience proves that nobody is
prophet in his own country. However,
if the supply is insufficient, Italian i'm
migration might be tried on the same
principles. a great deal however, IN
our opinion, depends upon the agent.
This plan, baseu on careful observa-
ton and study, would give the planters
the needed hands, and create, with our
growing population and commerce, the
much needed small farms. e. de II.