The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-12-10

lllI NlbpSs
4th.-On the mainland the public
lands are in large tracts and are so
that communities are soon
built up, with all advantages that COM
munities afford, such as schools,
churches, stores and other factors of
development and civilization; in Ha-
wall the lands are generally in parcels
too small for the growth of commune
ties, schools are lacking, and settlers
are deprived of the civilizing and hu-
manizing influences that communities
exert.
We have heard the astounding state
ment made that Hawaii does not want
settlers; that we are not ready for inn
migration, and that it would be suici-
dal and unjust to bring settlers here.
We concede that under present condi-
tons the country can offer no induce
ment to white settlers, but we believe
that conditions may be so changed that
within a few years Hawaii will offer a
very inviting field for immigration. If
Congress for instance, should enact =
law placing a bounty of four or five
cents per pound upon coffee grown
within its possession, it would be suffi-
cient to offset the low wages paid in
other coffee-producing countries with
which Hawaii has to compete, and, UNI
der such a stimulus, Hawaii might yet
become an important producer of the
higher grades of coffee. 1t must not be
forgotten that every child of an Asiatic
born within the United States will be-
come a citizen of the United States up,
on reaching his majority, and within
a generation there will be a large num-
Der of American-born Asiatics here en-
titled to all the rights and privileges of
American citizenship, among which is
the right to acquire land, and unless
the public lands in this Territory are
disposed of to white settlers before
these Asiatics become eligible the lands
will pass into their hands, for they will
be able to comply with a residence con-
dition which it is impossible for white
man to fulfill. Large tracts of public
lands on all the islands, much of it
suitable for growing coffee, will be
available for settlement within few
years by the expiration of the leases
under which it is now held, and with a
liberal land law and improved social
conditions large numbers of desirable
immigrants would then come to our
shores. These leases should not be re-
newed. and the policy should be inau-
gurated now on throwing open these
tracts to Settlers as fast as they revert
to the government, and at the same
time efforts should be made to so
change the economic condition of the
Territory that American settlers will
be induced to acquire the lands.
Beside coffee and sugar cane, bana-
mas also offer a hope for the future
prosperity of the country, and every
mducement should be offered settlers to
take lands and plant bananas, where
conditions are favorable. PineappleS
also offer a field for the energy of flu
ture settlers. We do not believe that
the future should be judged by the
present or the past, but we should
strive to produce such conditions in the
future as will cure the ills we have
heretofore suffered, and make the coun-
try attractive to settlers. We are striv-
ing now, by means of a Promotion
Committee and other bodies of enter
prising men, to bring tourists to the
Islands, but very few who come to our
shores remain with us, because of the
scarcity of business opportunities,
while every white man who leaves the
Islands on account of existing condi-
tons and the obstacles put in the way
of his making a living, constitutes an
active anti-promotiOn committee for
the dissemination in his neighborhood
of information harmful to the Terri
tory.
We believe there are very many de-
fects in the present land law beside
the residence clause, but we do not
think it wise, at this time, to discuss
that subject further, for the reason
that we are opposed to the extension
of the federal land law to the public
lands of this Territory, mainly because
the revenue derived from the land
would then go into the treasury of the
United States instead Of into our own,
thus materially cutting down our ter
ritorial income. already too small for
our needs. Nor do we favor the pass
age by Congress at this time of a new
land law for this Territory, because we
fear that, the great majority of the
Congress being unfamiliar with condi-
tions here, they might impose upon us
a land law still more unsuited to our
conditions than the present one. The
Organic Act, in Section 49, prohibits
the Legislature of Hawaii from chang
ing the present land law, so that our
only remedy seems to lie with the Ter
ritorial administration. We, therefore
recommend and request the Executive
to change the blank form of Prove
up" and Testimony of Witness" sub
stantially in the manner indicated or
the annexed forms. emitting the pres
ent searching questions regarding act
ual and continuous residence, while in
sisting upon full compliance with the
cultivation clause" and to permit
those who have been denied patents or
the present form of "Prove-up," or whC
will be denied patents under the exist
ing ruling, to make new "Prove-up,'
on the amended form.
F.. N. HOLMES, President.
II. Wears. Secretary.
Hilo, Hawaii, Nov. 25. 1904