The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-24

ried over to labor on the plantations to
receive as compensation one-half of the
lcrop made. On account of drought, in
experience, etc, the cooperative expert
ment was far from being decided sue
cess. The Hawaiian immigration Society
to promote immigration was next form
ed but few fruits of it's labors were
apparent. In the meanwhile another i'm
portation of Chinese was made, soon to
be followed by others, many of whom on
arrival went into rice culture.
Again attention was directed to the
Azores and the possibility of obtaining
desirable immigrants therefrom. Italy
was also considered as source of sup
ply of future laborers. But nothing tan
gible was accomplished. In July. 1876,
the treaty of reciprocity between the
Hawaiian Kingdom and the United
States was ratified. 1t created great joy
and much inspiration in every planter in
the islands Extensive improvements
We're undertaken at once and energetic
efforts made to secure more laborers.
In 1878 the first batch of Portuguese
from Madeira, secured after patient eff
forts, was landed in Honolulu, followed
soon after by a cargo of South Sea ISL
anderS all of whom proved satisfactory
to the planters This arrival of Portu-
guese proving so desirable, negotiations
were made at once to introduce them on
a large scale Accordingly many vessels
soon after reached Honolulu bringing
exclusively cargoes of Portuguese from
Madeira.
In 1881 two vessels filed with Norwe-
gians arrived. But few of them were ag-
riculturists and therefore were soon dis
satisfied with life on plantations.
The propriety of introducing negroes
from the Southern States was discussed
by the board, with the result of decid-
ed opposition to the scheme.
More cargoes of South Sea Islanders
were introduced, followed soon after by
several vessel loads of Germans. The
islands were rapidly filling up with a
desirable population. The Chinese and
Japanese were for the time being neg
lected by the Government. Though neg
lected by the Government, the Chinese,
however, came of their own accord in
large numbers, until it was found nee
essary to restrict this immigration by
suitable laws.
In 1885 after a favorable treaty with
japan had been ratified, the introduction
on a large scale of Japanese laborers
under the contract system began, which
continued up to the annexation of the
islands to the United States.
Several large carSOeS OIL Portuguese
from the Madeira Islands were also land
ed in Honolulu during the year
Since 1885 up to the time of annexation
the introduction of Chinese, Japanese
and Portuguese has been made to meet
the wants of the islands. The Japanese
and Portuguese have been brought in
mainly on contract, and having COM
pleted the time of service required by
the latter they have either renewed ser
Twice or been returned to their homes. The
Chinese have always come on their own
accord.
In studying the history of immigration
to the islands it is difficult to conceive
of a country that the bureau of immi-
grafton and the planters have not con-
/ sidered as source of supply of labor.
They have repeatedly been disappointed,
, but they have persisted with zeal and
an energy worthy of the highest type of
, intelligence
The following, furnished by Prof. w.
d. Alexander, historian and surveyor
general of the islands, gives a summary
Of Immigration and population" which
is reliable and instructive:
IMMIGRATION AND POPULATION.
The pressing demand for labor, created
by the reciprocity treaty, had led to
great changes in the population of the
Hawaiian Islands. 1t has been the pol
icy of the Government to assist immi-
grants from widely different countries,
not only as laborers, but also as pros
pective citizens.
In the year 1877 arrangements were
made for the Importation of Portuguese
families from the Azores and Madeira,
and during the next ten years about T.
600 of these people were brought to the
islands. Others have since been added
to their number, and their natural in
crease has been very rapid. At the pres
ent time the total number of Portuguese
in the islands, including those born there,
is not far from 5000. About 2,40O of
them are employed in sugar plantations.
They have shown themselves to be an
industrious, thrifty and law-abiding ele-
ment in the population.
Persistent efforts have also been made
to introduce Polynesian islanders, as be-
ing of a cognate race with the Hawaii
ans, but the results have been wholly
unsatisfactory. About 1000 of these peo-
pie, mainly from the Gilbert Islands,
were brought in at the expense of the
Government, between 1873 and 1884, but
they did not give satisfaction, either as
laborers or as citizens, and most of them
have since been returned to their homes
labor convention between the Government
of Hawaii and the Empire of China In
early days a limited number of Chinese
settled in the islands, intermarried with
the natives, and by their industry and
economy were generally prosperous
About 750 of them were naturalized I'M
der the monarchy. The first importation
of Chinese laborers into the country
took place in 1852. In 1878 the number
of Chinese had risen to 5916. During the
next few years there was a steady in
flux of Chinese free immigrants, which
finally reached alarming proportions In
the spring of 1881 the Hawaiian Govern
ment was obliged to send dispatch to
the Governor of Hongkong to stop this
invasion. Again, in April, 1883, it was
suddenly renewed, and within twenty
days five steamers arrived from Hong
kong, bringing 2.253 Chinese passengers,
followed the next month by 1,1OO more,
with the news that several thousand
more were ready to embark. According
ly, the Hawaiian Government sent an
other dispatch to the Governor of Hong
kong refusing to admit any further inn
s-x~,