The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-14
Honolulu. H. T.. Dec. "A, 1901

IeEGSIeQ IT. llGSS ASAdH0S " ONAS
citizen. but as an American citizen, and
as one who has i've among you for
several years, and understands to d
certain extent, not only the conditions
upon TO call your attention to a few
points as they appear to me. in the
great questions now a%gitating and in
deed l believe threatening the people
of these islands. BY using the word
threatening" I would indicate a posi-
Bile menace to the future of this Terri
tory, and It seems to me that the
would-be leaders and possibly your
valuable paper are doing much to has
ten the calamity.
Before stating my views permit me
to ask, Do you and the people who
are so strongly favoring the importa-
ton of Asiatic labor realize what a
very small factor these islands cut in
the general political economy of the
United States? Do o realize that no
matter how necessary the employment
of Asiatic labor may seem on these ISL
ands, its prohibition has been the re-
suit of a hard-fought battle in the
United States and that those who have
come out victorious are going to fur
Their fight any step which will indicate
the slightest infringement of the old
regime on the present conditions? Can
you not see by the Presidents message
and it's reception in Congress. that any
concession to Asiatic labor has poor
chances to be given TO these islands?
The precedent so established would be
dangerous to the laborers of the States
thousands upon thousands of the labor
ing classes from the States have visit
ed these islands during the past four
years and returned from failure to Sc
cure work? Can you say of these thou
sands that all are good for nothings?"
Do you not know that among your
own people every mail to the States
bears letters to friends and relatives
and that the existing conditions are
explained in a way that will carry con-
viction beyond all the logic that paid
representatives can use?
Do you not know that the American
government is "of h people, for the
people and by the people," and that
representatives to Congress from our
several States can be directly reached
by every citizen from his State?
Do you not know that the census re-
ports as published in the Advertiser
show over 10000 Asiatic laborers living
on these islands, while the plantation
Dot 81 I
shows but go. 513 of these people en-
ployed on plantations? Dc you not see
that the President and his associates
are going to ask the question, What
are these Al, 900 Asiatics doing on the
islands If not employed in your cane
fields? Does It need more than the
visiting representative from the Presi-
dent to see these $4,000 Asiatics en-
ploved | in your stores. shops and con-
structive work, to see that they are
not only not employed in your cane
fields, but are filing positions that
could be filled by American citizens?
As one who expects to make Hawaii
his home, and as one who has stood and
who stands ready to defend the honor
of his flag, no matter whether against an
armed foe or an enemy in citizens
clothes. 1 ask you. are you not making
a fearful mistake. one which will bring
upon you OlTe Calamity I
In the presidents message and by its
reception in Congress. coupled with the
fact that the republican party for the
past twenty years has been pledged for
the exclusion of Chinese, is it not evil
dent to anyone who is familiar with the
situation that Hawaii will receive no
favors under the exclusion act? The
question is, can she even hold what she
has? And yet we are told by men who
ought to know, and through the columns
Of your paper. that this Is absolutely
necessary to our future prosperity.
The question by the president. asked of
one of our citizens visiting Washington. |
as reported in the columns of the Adver-
tiser, as to whether or not the Japanese
laborer was being employed on these
Islands to the exclusion of the American
laborer. ought to have given the key to
the situation.
Every one must know that II the ques-
ton is in the affirmative, it |
must not only result in the absolute ex-
clusion Of the Chinese. but legislation
against the Japanese. so far as our rela-
tons with Japan will permit.
Do you suppose that the president
would base his future policy On the an
swer of the citizen in question, or even
on the answer of every plantation owner
on these Islands If they waited upon him
as 4 whole? Certainly not. If he has
manifested sufficient interest in the ques-
" W dSh IT, anu " mNolNS II AZ MS
message, he has had interest enough to
put his thousands of sources of informa-
ton in motion and to learn from the
most humble of his people.
The policy for Hawaii TO pursue. Ii
seems to me, Is as clear as the hand
writing on the WALL in days of old. and
may possibly bear like Interpretation If
read between the lines. If Hawaii wants
to keep the Japanese and Chinese labor
er to work in her cane fields, she must
keep them there alone. Just so long as
they are filling positions that can be
filled by American citizens, just so long
can you expect unfavorabIe legislation,
and II IL is persisted in. to the exclusion
Of the citizens, you may next expect leg
~tslation which will segregate your plan !
tations. cancel your water rights. and
make Hawaii Into Islands OF small
homes.
If the plantation managers, ~stockhoId-