The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-02-17
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Slavery Under the
Stars and Sfripes.
BY ADA L A. MuRcuTT.

rious Republic of the United States who know that
slavery in its most diabolical and degrading form
exists in their country. which they fondIy call
the land of the free and the home of the brave"
and that the American flag. every and stripe of
which is impregnated with freedom and victory.
waves over stockade in which are imprisoned two
hundred women whose condition is infinitely
than that of the African slave of the last century
The visitor to Honolulu is Immediately captivated
by the enhancing beauty of the surrounding coun-
try The city Itself nestles the foot of extinct
volcano. Immediately in front rolls old ocean. with
its great deshing with ceaseless and fury
against the shore. or in gentler mood kissing the
golden sand of the beautiful bay.
In the background, as If to guard the city from
all ills. are natures sentnels the everlasting hills
On every side is to be the waving cane of the
great sugar plantations and at every is to be
heard the hum CT the wheels of commerce,
These Islands have been aptly named the Para
oise OF the Pacific Mark Twain said There
is no dying here it is only going to sleep in one
paradise and waking in another" But sin entered
into the first paradise and brought in its train mis-
cry and murder and death. So unfortunately. il has
entered this island Paradise, and degradation and
crime and death are the result.
About mile from the heart of Honolulu. in an
elevated position. is large barnlike ouilalng.
rounded by fence twelve feet high. which presents
the appearance of stockade.
This Is Honoiuiu's Shame.
1t is the city's moral pesthouse 1t is the legal.
lied institution for prostitution. Here hundred
women barter their bodies and coin their lust into
dollars under the protection of the police force and
under the supervision of the Board of Health. Here
every night hundreds, II not thousands OF men con-
gregate either to inspect what is considered to be
one of the sights of Honolulu, else to be them
selves particeps crimnis.
The Slavery System
The majority the inmates are Japanese women
and girls. There also few French women. On
closest investigation it has been found that large
per cent these prisoners brought direct from
the Orient for this specific purpose and that the re-
mainder decoyed from the neighboring planta-
lions.
There are about thirty Japanese procurers
ployed by the company who owns and rents this
legalized institution of vice These creatures-for
cannot call them men-are ever on the alert for
every unsuspecting, attractive young woman great
number of Japanese girls employed on the plan
tations. They have, rule. long hours and small
pay. The visits the scene of their labors
and the role of guide, philosopher and
friend" He generally begins by sympathnzing with
them in their hard lot and ends by promising to get
lem easy. lucrative employment in the city. The
poor girl, ignorant Of his WHY devices gladly &C
cepts his profered assistance the plantation hoe
is dropped the city is sought, and the first link
in chain stronger than that which bound Prone
theus is forged and late the girl awakes to the
fact that her erstwhe benefacor is her master and
she his slave.
The Procurer's Methods.
The procurer first of all takes his victim to some
hotel boarding house. and after few days de-
mands a large of money the cost of travelling
expenses and board and residence When the girl
declares her inability to pay it she is threatened
with arrest and Imprisonment.
Eagerly watching her every expression of fear,
and oyfully noting every exclamation of horror the
fendfsh monster watches for suitable opportunity
to suggest way out of the dihcuty to ls frenzied
victim. This opportune moment arrives. The girl
in very large percentage of the. protests.
fuses. and fights; but the pressure brought to
bear her is tremendous and at last realizing her
frendess, helpless. penniless condition she yields
ade for hIe-tnat IS unless the enlightened portion
of the community the people of the United States
raise their voices in protest against this burning
shame and hberate the slave.
ind
the impression that she is only to remain until she
has secured sufficient money pay of her former
Indebtedness. but alas that time comes
She is told tnat debts have been incurred. and
thus in time OF them give up all hope of free
dom, and still sadder. they become accustomed to
lie life and finally abandon themselves to it
The IiLcotten Gains
OF each woman is at least IS night and cftentimes
much more At a. the prostitutes meet in a
room specially set apart for the purpose and hand
the money for which they have sold their viz
they have share in the profits. their compensa-
ton being the scanty clothing with which they
their bodies, and the food with which they manage
to exc out bare subsistence.
Very few sleep the premises. so. before the
first streak of morning light has shot across the
opy of heaven q procession OF slaves composed of
the of dissipation indeliby stamped on every
feature. women from whose eyes the light Of hope
has died out may be seen vending its way down the
hill and through the city. where CHRISTIAN men and
women Christian statesmen and legislators still
on. unheedful. sleeping waking Of these who have
just taken part in the cfty's high csrnvai of lust
On going to and from the stockade the women
divided rio E---hes. and each batch Is an
vl1se duty K = to conduct mem in safety back
wards sad forward and to see that no one accosts
them The ere houEed in patches and never allowed
to go alone THIS the system of slavery is COM
piete and all the eEorta OF Christian workers to re-
form the girls ere frustrated by their taskmasters
Cruelty and srutsI,y Used
oftentines the girls are cruelty and brutar1y III.