The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-10-28
PORTO R|CAN
PETITION.
Queer Document In
From Kauai
laborers.

Governor Carter Is in receipt OF the
following petition from Porto Ricans on
Kekaha (Kauai) plantation:
Honorable Governor:
In making investigations for a final
decision Gin this case) we respectfully
refer YOU to anv of the subscribers TO
this missive.
Kekaha Plantation.
In the name of God. of Humanity,
of the Constitution and of the American
People.
Sir:
The signers to this petition, natives
of Puerto Rico, respectfully have re-
course to you who Represents in these
islands. that Government. which directs
the destiny of the great American Re
public. and on whose banner is inscribed
the emblem of "E Pluribus Unum"
This is the flag of the Porto Ricans
also.
In this country. the subjects of Por-
tugal, of Japan, and China have their
own official interpreter, paid by the
Territory; they also have one to rep.
resent them as Consul who sees to
and investigates their complaints, and
fights for their rights
We Porto Ricans only (although we
call this American country Our home')
form or constitute an exceptionally rare
and very painful exception. We are
denied almost everything. even Gf II
were possibe) the air we breathe.
This is the question, we submit to
you. as sole and legal arbiter Gin this
country of our destiny, which destiny
some naughty Adventures back of the
Government, were and still are endeav-
oring to make subservient to then
private conveniences and caprice, as was
done in the late war-epoch, but that
we will let rest in oblivion.
The veal and woe of fortune has
deprived us of our inheritance, far from
our Island home, we confess our ignor-
ance and debility, our want of know
ledge OF the immortal language OF the
immortal Washington, but for all this,
we are not ignorant of our duties and
of our rights, complying with the former
and resolved to have the latter respect
ed. for the flag which floats over our
heads is a guaranty for Our future.
The great Founder OF our Grand Re-
public. has long ago expressed the Sub
lime sentiments "A people cannot be
half free and half slave; it must be
either entirely free or entirely enslaved"
and if this solemn phrase is engraved
in the hearts of all honest Americans,
the endeavors OF some false patriots and
strangers who have forgotten our I'M
maculate history and who are striving
to establish, right here, a state OF things
,,-h, rl, dot American
constitution proclaimed in Philadelphia
in Izz6 will prove an utter failure.
We, though poor, led very tranquil
lives in our far off island homes Gin
Porto Rico). 1t was then that the
Hawaiian Sugar Planters Assn. came
between us and our homes. That con-
Germ overwhelmed us with thousand
promises, offering us a betterment in
our condition from what it was previous
". but, alas sir, 10 and behold what is
our lot here in Hawaii? We are suf-
fering numberless vicissitudes; we are
orphans and unprotected; all our legit-
innate expectations and hopes are blasted,
all has quick been transformed into
gloom verging on desperation.
Sir, while it is beyond doubt true
that not a few of our fellow countrymen,
who have come to this country, have by
their vicious habits and bad conduct
prejudiced others against them and
made themselves useless to the planta-
tons, and that our jails are filled with
Porto Ricans is also true We honestly
admit all this, with a loyal protest for,
while we cannot and will not screen
these defections, neither are we willing
to screen the gross negligence and broken
faith of the Commissioners Gin Porto
Rico) OF the Hawaiian Sugar Planters
Assn who brought us emigrants to
Hawaii
Is it fitting and just, Honorable Sir,
that, as the Bible says the Just be paid
like sinners? Is it possible that we
Porto Ricans are treated all alike and
that no distinction is made?
Such, we are sorry to say, has been
the custom among the managers OF
plantations. That manager or overseer
is indeed 'rara avis" who makes some
show OF magnanmity to the one among
us who contributes his regular quota
of rude labor in the luna's time-book.
Our information is honest and correct.
Let there be an honest, impartial IN
yestigation; let an unbiased, impartial
commission be named, one that will re-
ceiye suggestions from neither side, and
we assure you, sir, that our complaints
will be found 10 be well founded.
In this plantation (Kekaha) there is
a movement in course Of progress which
is unqualifedy inhuman, to which move
ment we energetically protest, denounc-
ing il, within the limits Of our perfect
right TO the prime gubernatorlal author
ity Of this Territory whose presuges
in re the laws and Constitution are
above those Of deiamers who make no
secret Of il that the Hawaiian Sugar
Planters Assn. has more power N
Hawaii than Plus X has IN the Catholic
world
Honorable Sir, the case in question Is,
thai we the subscribers have been noil'
fed that We viii have % look for work
and shelter elsewhere, this being the
determination If ihe man Who frpfev
senis this plantation This - III well
and good, bui, Sir We arc here ON
llaNail and Nefe made % Leave our
homes lof ihe end N Hofking Ia aRris
culture and a. Nork Iu > natural sud
iui Nay and never hy brute force heIns
nsed 40 work ~ an fsi.ienfe ~ moeuff