The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-06-16
SOME REASONS

Among many points i'm Governor
DOle's inaugural was his reference to
the Chinese population. The Governor
spoke OF our duty to that population.
The Asiatic population will not have
any vote, and it is incumbent on us to
consider that section Of the population
and to treat II in the future, as in the
past, with justice and fairness.
The attitude of the community to-
wards the Chinese population has al
ways been a good one. There has never
been the race prejudice developed here
that there has been in other places. The
Chinese have entered into our daily life,
and the Chinese merchants have ever
been ready in assisting in works of USE
fulness and charity their position in
the community being assured. In this
way that intense race prejudice which
one finds in parts of the Mainland and
of Australia, prejudice which has led
to acts of violence, has never had ex-
preston here.
There is no doubt that a good deal of
this is due to our schools. The childen
of all nationalities mingle in the
schools. The Chinese, the Japanese, the
Portuguese, the Hawaiian, the Ameri-
can and the European, sit in the same
classes, study from the same books, are
taught by the same teachers and, what
is perhaps more important still, play the
same games. This mingling together
creates mutual respect. 1t was not so
long ago that one of the leading young
men at Oahu College was q Chinese,
and most excellent progress he made
in his studies. He also took a promi-
nent part in the playing fields. This
is only one case; there are many 9TH
ers.
To this, also, is no doubt due that
broad acceptance of the reform move
ment which is so marked among the
Chinese population on these Islands.
The leading young Chinese are thor
Oughly well acquainted with the educa-
ton, the manners and the way of
thought of the western nations, and
their knowledge permeates to those of
their nationality who have not had such
advantages. Their attitude towards the
westerner is therefore different to what
it is elsewhere, and they see the reas-
Ons for accepting the reforms necessary
to bring them into line with European
and American thought and cultivation.
That the relations which have so long
continued on such a footing, should be
continued now that we are Territory,
is certainly to be desired. We can all
see the advantages of those relations.
1t was particularly noticeable when we
had the plague, and the whole popula-
ton of Chinatown was suddenly rem
dered homeless by the fire which got
beyond control In many a place this
would have brought about a riot, be-
cause that section of the population
would have no confidence in, or be an
tagonistic to the authorities and the
remainder of the population. Indeed,
though the San Francisco papers make
no mention of it, private advices from
that city stated that the population of
San Francisco's Chinatown was in
state of active antagonism against the
authorities because of the quarantine.
One letter dated June 6, reported that a
riot was under way.
Our experience here was very differ
ent. Even under such trying circum-
stances as losing home and property
there was no aggressive act. The inevi-
table was accepted, and the best made
of a bad matter. Those who had charge
of the camps spoke in high terms of the
Chinese who were under their care. On
that occasion we had our reward for the
manner in which our relations with our
Chinese fellow citizens had been carried
on for decades past. The Chinese had
confidence in the authorities and in the
people. They had always had justice,
and they knew that justice would be
done. The result of this line of policy
has also been to keep us clear of high
binder and criminal classes. The Gov
ernor then was right to call attention
TO our relations with our Asiatic pOpu
lation, and TO emphasize the duty OF
our cultivating the same relations in
the present as we have done in the
past.