Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-03-04
CHARITY AND LABOR.

appropriated $4,000 for charity from
their munificent earnings. Waialua
stockholders have appropriated $4,000
for the same purpose.
This sounds well. II demonstrates
to a certain extent the thoughtful lib
eral character of these stockholders.
1t Is unusual for corporations to con
slider any other proposition than the
cold dollars and cents to be handed out
in dividends. The spirit that prompts
such an action is highly credtabie
Criticism of such acts would seem like
sacrilege.
But when one COntemplates the
source of the money.it is not surprising
the query arises. why is this thing
done? Why Is ii that the large hearted.
thoughtful, sympathizlng religious or
philanthropic people begin at the
wrong end. forgetting the charity that
begins at home. in the plantation quar-
ters.
Every dollar of this s5OOO every dol
lar of the $1,000 is the product of labor.
the most degraded labor that. with few
exceptions. trods the face Of the globe.
This labor was brought here and II is
controlled by the same hand that now
turns with liberal hand to provide
funds for charity. II has none. never
had. no one ever supposed II would
possess any of those qualities of intel
ligence found in the modern idea of
Christian manhood and womanhood. Il
Is a commodity clad in the frame and
flesh of human kind. but none the less
machine doing a masters bidding for
a pittance. and the master hand is that
which now gives to charity from the
surplus product of the almighty dollar.
Looking upon the true condition the
real source. and its influence upon
the body polite. in the home. is there
a ma nof God who will offer an UNI
conditional blessing on this contribu-
ton and lok God as taught from civiliz-
ed pulpits, In tn eface. We say uncno-
ditional because II Is admittedly bet
ter that charity funds should be in
creased rather than decreased through
failure to receive. The gift exemplilies
much that Is worthy of highest praise.
Why is 1t that people will give thus
literally to a general charity, and be-
grudge or evade that specific charity
OF far more import. the creation of d
| higher standard of labor. an intellI-
gent laborer a man: a human being
who can think as well as work. an indi-
vidual with individuality who knows
the meaning and intent of the home.
the church, the school. who studies his
acts gauging his thought and action by
civilized standards and thereby be-
comes and Is accepted as a worthy citi-
zen? The Bulletin will not attempt to
answer the question. Let the wealthy.
the religious and industrial power seek
an answer from its inner heart ana
convince itself that desire for more
wealth does not overwhelm the regard
for social and moral advancement in
the plantation quarters as well as the
aristocratic mansion.
Gentlemen of the plantation and the
church is 1t useless to expect that Ha-
wall labor can ever be or will ever be
raised above the level of African beas-
TALLY of Porto Rican starvation? Must
our soil be titled by human machines
and our gold be wrung from the sweat
ing well spring of ignorance and vice
Is 1t impossible to hope that there will
rise up in your midst men who. know
ing that the white farmer can work In
Hawaii's plantation fields. will put
your shoulders to the wheel and see
to 1t that conditions undergo such a
reformation as will make 1t possible
for the white man to live at the plauta-
ton. The action is possible. The full
hllment of the hope rests with the same
men who control the surplus for cha,
itv