The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-05-15

country. 10 DTlnB IN Immigrants re-
quired funds, which the former alone
could supply, but they were unwilling to
burden themselves with the trouble and
expense of families. Hence the plans of
the King failed In 1859 a few South
Sea Islanders were landed on Kauai to
work on a plantation under contract.
They resembled Hawaiians, were educat-
ed, and had Christian names. It was
hoped that this beginning would be the
means, ultimately, of repopulating the
islands and supplying the needed labor.
but the hope was never realized. In 1863
another cry for importation of labor was
heard, but the inquiry was everywhere
made: Whom and how? The importa-
ton of white men as laborers was mad
Missile; ditto with negroes. The coolie
was an undesirable citizen and as a la
borer of no great value. Private plant
ers would import only men, rejecting
women and children. Laborers could not
be obtained from Pacific islands; there
fore resort must again be had to China.
BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION.
These abuses gave birth to the coolie
laws of the United States, and simulta-
neously in Hawaii a bureau of immigra-
ton was established taking the business
of importing laborers from the hands of
the planters and placing it under the
charge of the kingdom. The Hawaiians
claim that no such iniquity as above
mentioned ever dsgraced the efforts of
their planters in their work of import
ing laborers. The 'coolie system as
known elsewhere never existed on the
islands,. the law between employer and
employee known as the master and SER
want law was mild, equitable and COM
pulsory for the specific fulfillment of
contracts.
Efforts were made to secure immi-
grants from India, Japan and Malaysia,
and the Dutch and English East Indias.
All proved abortive, after much discus
sion. diplomacy, and large expenditure
"A si,ipload of Japanese reached the
islands IN 1863.
COOPERATION TRIED.
"A new and untried system of coop
erative labor was introduced on a small
scale in 1870 Thirty white men from the
States were carried over to labor on the
plantations to receive as compensation
one-half of the crop made. On account
of the drought, inexperienee, etc., the
cooperative experiment was far from
being decided success.
Again attention was directed to the
desirable immigrants therefrom. Italy
was also considered as source of sup
ply of future laborers. But nothing tam
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
were 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 cargo of South Sea ISL
anders, all of whom proved satisfactory
to the planters. In 1881 two vessels filled
with Norwegians arrived But few OF
them were agriculturists, and therefore
were soon dissatisfied with life on plan
tations.
1.-THE propriety of introducing negroes
from the Southern States was discussed
by the board, with the result of a de-
cided opposition to the scheme. More
cargoes of South Sea Islanders were in
troduced, followed soon after by several
vessel loads of Germans.
Since 1885 up to the time of annexa-
ton the introduction of Chinese, Japan
csc and Portuguese has been made to
meet the wants of the islands. The jap
anese and Portuguese have been brought