The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-12-27

BY Virgo Jacobson.

duStry of this. territory implied by IN
ference in President Roosevelt's Ha-
waiian policy, rs foreshadowed in his
message to Congress, has become. of a
necessity, the all-absorbing topic of the
hour. say of a necessity, because
take the stand of the overwhelming
majority of Intelligent Islanders in
maintaining that this is sugar coun-
try. that nature has obviously so or
dained it, and that the material well
fare of every man, woman or child III
Hawaii, of high or low degree and in
whatsoever walk of life. is more or less
involved in the prosperity of that in
dustry. Any one who does not concede
this much. will find nothing to interest
him In this article and need proceed
no further.
1t is not my purpose to inflict upon
the patient reader a diffusive expose OF
my personal views in the present crisis.
IT'S true that | do not own dollars
worth of sugar stock. 'Tis also true
that while | have been a close observer
of local events uninterruptedly for
thirteen years, j have always consist
entity refrained from any participation
in politics. Logically therefore, l am
probably as able to form an unbiased
opinion as my neighbor. I may, Q. g.
think it no treason to suppose that
President Roosevelt is not infallible;
that it is no reflection upon man of
his brilliant attachments and record to
say that he may be insufiiciently in
formed as to the unique local condi-
tions. so that had he fully known them
that portion of his message dealing
with Hawaiian affairs would possibly
have read somewhat differently. ! may
agree with Mr.. Thomas Fitch in saying
that American Imperialism is only in
it's experimental stage anyway, ana
that the United States may yet recoS-
niZe as did Great Britain century
ago. that the policies suited to an
ocean-bound country. inhabited by
homogeneous people, may be altogether
unsuited to country of mixed races
beyond the seas" Au contraire, | may
equally agree with the Advertiser cor
respondent who over the nom de-plume
of civil Engineer" scores strong
point when lie asserts that we have
failed hitherto in realizing what
very small factor these islands cut IN
the general political economy of the
United States" even though j might
not bring myself to believe that the
President would deliberately sacrifice a
great and thriving industry by making
the Chinese exclusion act and the gem
eral land laws operative here in Ha-
wall, without at least some exemption
or modification to meet our special re-
quirements. 1t is of no consequence
what ! think. There are to be found
here competent men a-plenty, with
ADLER pen than mine, whose opinions
deservedly command respect at home
or abroad. by virtue of vested interests,
high personal character. special intel
lectual gifts, or all three combined.
These. together with the reputable
members of the mighty press" be the
proper champions to enter the lists or
the political arena, to take the lead in
public opinion and to devise
the best means of staving off impend-
ing calamity, if there be real cause for
AS for the "argumentum ad
invidiam," employed in some quarters,
it is beneath notice. Thinking men are
not influenced by such idle vaporinss.
But while | disclam any desire TO
foist my individual opinion upon 9TH
ers. | hold it to be the duty of every
resident happily possessed of indubita-
BILE facts. not generally known, and
which may tend to facilitate dispas-
sionate reasoning and prudent action
in matter of public import to over
come his Discrimination to NEEDLE with
what may seem, at first sight, to be
outside of his legitimate province. SO
much by way of introducing the motive
of the writer.
There is one issue of this controversy
about which more nonsense has been
spoken and written in Honolulu than
of any other, and the discussion of
which has been carried on with good
deal of acrimony. / refer to the ques-
ton of whether the employment of
white labor in the cane fields is prac-
ticabe or not, and hope in the follow
ing to furnish my quota towards the
settlement of this question once and
forever.
Assuming, then, that in the manage
ment of our domestic affairs it be "A
sound principle, instead of wrapping
ourselves in a mantle of eSotistical
opinionativeness, to look abroad and
seek instruction and guidance from the
experience of other countries, whose
conditions resemble our own, let us
turn to the colony of Queensland. AS
an eX-Australian of many years stand
ing, it is my habit occasionally to dip
into the newspapers from the Land
under the Southern Cross. The latest
file to hand aIscloses a state-of affairs
in the aforementioned colony so re-
markedly analogous to the present out
look in Hawaii. that | may well be par
doned for quoting from the comments
of the local press at some considerable
length But before doing so, Il must
crave indulgence while, for the benefit
of those unfamiliar with the subject
matter, l preface such extracts with
some remarks by way of elucidation.
Australia is the Utopia of Democ-
racy. The horny handed son of toll
rules supreme. And he is no very gem
tie ruler, either. To give him his due,
unlike his American brother he rarely
resorts to violence; not that he is more
virtuous, but for the good and sufficient
reason that he invariably has his way.