The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-05-24

introduced on small scale w $50 Z hif
'ty White mrn from the States wcrt car.
ri.d over 10 labor on the plantations Ca
receive 49, compensation ono-half " the
cfop made on account ~ drought, in
Experience. etc, the cooperative expert
men, was far from being decided sue
cess. The Hawaiian Immigration Society
10 promote immigration was next FORM
ed but Tow fruits Of its labors were
apparent In the meanwhile another i'm.
purtation ~ Chinese was made. soon TO
be followed 10y others. many OF whom on
arrival went into rice culture.
Again attention was directed 70 the
Azores and the possibility Of obtaining
desirable immigrants therefrom. Italy
was also considered as a source OF sup
ply of future laborers But nothing tan
pible was accomplished. Ia July. 1870
the treaty of reciprocity between the
Hawaiian Kingdom and the United
States was ratified. II created great joy
and much inspiration In every planter In
the Islands Extensive improvements
were undertaken at once and energetic
efforts made to secure more laborers.
/ In 1879 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 1851 two vessels filed with Norwe-
gians arrived. But few of them were ag-
riculturists and therefore were soon dis
satisfied with life on plantations.
~, NJ I'M rnI M
I from the Southern States was discussed
by the board, with the result of a decd-
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
desirable population The Chinese and
Japanese We're 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 1t was found nee
essary to restrict this immigration by
suitable laws.
In 1886 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 Oh
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
vice 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 a 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
icy of the Government to assist immi-
grants from widely different countries,
not only as laborers, but also as pros
pectiye 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.
900 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 2,4o0 OF
them are employed in sugar plantations.
They have shown themselves to be an
Industrious, thrifty and law-abiding ele-
ment in the population.
b Persistent efforts have also been made
to introduce Polynesian islanders, as be-
ing of cognate race with the Hawaii
ans, but tine results have been wholly
unsatisfactory. About 1900 of these peo-
Pile, mainly from the Gilbert Islands.
were brought in at the expense of the
Government, between 1878 and 1884. but
they did not give satisfaction, either as
laborers or citizens, and most of them
have since been returned to their homes.
There has never existed any treaty or
labor convention between the Government
or 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 5.9l6. During the
next few years there was a steady in
fux 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. 1t was
suddenly renewed, and within twenty
days FIVE steamers arrived from Hong
kong, bringing 1888 Chinese passengers.
followed the next month by LOO more.
with the news that several thousand |
more were ready to embark. According