The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-09-30

I
The sgesAi impuies - ~ ihnefani
snt dsffaasa t'efg0 nlfah ~ iHsi
feteiay niehi almost in minute.
tiuHest this community iHio Hghfha
lur The homicide ii~f viii ~ dealt
Ath under ihs American system ara
49, sfdinR W. iaw The event hoWsyff.
supplies "a fof.ihie lesson. which con'
rtosf eahnot AFFORD g. disregard.
when uis Territory was huuestd, u
was fofetnfn that plantation labor
would boz the one serious issue. Tor
which special LEGISLATION. Rppiicnbl 90
local conditions and dinefentiatiug Ha4
wall from the mainland. would be- -.
sphtini The chief dlfficulty with which
/ the planters have had a. contend IL
the procurement. M sufficient quaint.
/ ties and under just regulations. ~ an
adequate supply OF field labor. white
men viii not do the drudgery of the
/ plantations Native Hawaiians are
equally unavailable, These facts are
universally conceded. They must be
well known 60 the labor unions in
large cities. specially Interested in the
| increase Of the demand for skilled
wage-earners, which. In that depart
I tnfTt VI lIiuuTiIlt ufU'huE hI'H Ah'
steady development of the production
Of raw sugar. II has been and It is,
| therefore, greatly to the advantage of
labor combinations that the chief
nuurishment OF the Hawaiian Islands
should be encouraged and stimulated
| by Congressional action. The only
serious objection that has ever been
suggested to the introduction OF Chi
nese laborers, In adequate numbers,
has been the possible invasion of the
exclusion policy, which has become
virtually settled on the mainland. But
this objection has been demonstrative-
~ met by the unanswerable PROPOSE
ton that, under the constitution, 1t is
within the power of Congress to legis-
late specifically for this territory, I'M
der such limitations and regulations,
az would supply the pressing needs of
| the planters, without any sacrifice
of liberty, without any detriment to
citizenship and without the slightest
possible infraction of the Exclusion
laws. If 1t is right, as it undoubtedly
s for the United States to possess
Hawaii, the Declarat ton of Independ-
ence does not require that it should be
| treated as an Ishmaelite.
Congress, particularly in the lower
House. is very sensitive to popular in
fiuences. But, in the case of Porto
Rico and the Philippines, it has legis-
lated wisely and with reference to the
actual situation in those localities.
Why should it do less in reference to
Hawaii, which is full territory and,
from locality and from commercial ex-
pansion, as important as either, and
probably of greater business conse-
quence? The answer is that a want
of detailed investigation of facts and
unreasonable and imaginary fears
have induced an apparent Indifference
and a protracted delay, both of which
are inconsistent with practical states
manship.
The planters have been for years
compelled to struggle against unin-
telligible obstacles, and one of the re-
suits has been the tragedy of Tues
day night. 1t would be manifestly
unjust to charge the Porto Ricans, as
"A whole, with that sharp reminder of
our condition, for hundreds of that
race who were imported are temper-
ate, law-abiding and Industrious men,
now employed on the plantations,
rendering fair service and receiving
just compensation. But, when Porto
| Rico was resorted to, it seemed as
though the opportunity was used to
transfer to Hawaii the worst criminals
on that island, and, ever since, this
territory has been cursed by their
presence. This addition to our normal
criminal population, which is incon-
| Sidprn HE has faYeH the q hi1itv ha
patience of our local police and of the
courts
The Chinese are docile, industrious,
amenable to law, and peculiarly
adapted to that branch of agriculture,
in which the planters are engaged.
They also abide by their contracts,
have little or no ambition for citizen
ship, and are in every way we'll quail
fled to supply a demand that is
steadily enlarging. The national in
terests, and the just aspirations of
skilled labor, would be promoted by
their reception in sufficient numbers
and under legitimate and protective
safeguards. The japanese prefer their
own country to the United States, and
rapidly transfer themselves from the
cane fields to competition with Amer
lean citizens in every branch of skill
ed labor. They are constituent parts
of progressive nation, unique among
Mongolians, whose destiny should be
worked out under their own flag and
under their own institutions. The
strikes in which they frequently en-
gage, and which are in no sense con-
nected with the movements of Amer
| lean labor, are sufficient evidence of
this fact.
The assassination of S. Edward Da-
mon is undoubtedly an object lesson
to the House of Representatives and
to the American people