The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-03
HAWAIIAN NECESSITIES.

Mr. William @. Irwin In his proposition
that the interests OF the Territory de-
mand specialized legislation by Con-
gress and specialized consideration by
the Executive Department. There is
nothing of a constitutional or statutory
complexion in American institutions
that prevents the proper distinction
from being drawn between these Is
lands and the mainland, without any
disturbance Of the symmetry OF the
Union. When. in California, Henry E.
Highton, now well known resident of
Honolulu, in a public debate, argued
against annexation, one of his main
points being the labor question that
would inevitably arise. He was promi-
nent among the original exclusionists
in California, but. after realization
of existing conditions in Hawaii. he
openly took the position, which he has
since held, that the introduction of 3d.
600 Chinese la borers to the plantations,
under such restrictions as would pre-
vent their competition in higher branches
of Industry and insure their retention
here for a period of years and their
ultimate return to their native land,
was imperatively demanded for the
permanent interests of the people,
would not conflict with the general ex-
clusion policy, was clearly within the
constitutional powers of Congress, and
would benefit labor organizations
throughout the Union.
These views are shared by distingu-
ished and influential men, among whom
Mr. William G. Irwin is conspicuous.
They do not rest, however, upon any
possible assimilation of Federal legis-
lation to the successful colonial policy
of Great Britain. but upon the right of
Congress, without invading the Amer
lean conception of citizenship, to legis-
late directly for territories according
to their varying needs. When annexa-
ton was consummated, and the Or
ganic Act passed, which gave to Ha-
waiians rights, express and implied,
constitutionally appertaining to citi-
zenship it meant that, while the ter
ritory was in the transitional condition
that precedes statehood, it was within
full congressional jurisdiction. 1t is
obvious, after long experience, that
white or native labor cannot be used
in the cane-fields of the plantations.
The Japanese are Iocum tenens, but
they belong to a progressive nation, to
which they are loyal in the extreme,
are pertinacious competitors with skill
ed workrnen, constitute practically an
imperium in imperio, and are insub-
ordinate and obstreperous in their i'm
itations of American labor unions. The
Porto Ricans are partial failure and
principally swell the ranks of the
criminal class. The Samoans are in
sufficient numbers. The Chinese are
docile and 1aw-abiding, and the class
ready for plantation work keep agree
ments and are perfectly contented.
The more sugar is produced the
greater the demand for skilled labor
both here and on the continent. This
fact is well understood by observers
and thinkers, and the practical diff
Guilty in the way of such legislation as
We need is the fear of weakening the
general policy of exclusion, aggravated
by sentimental dreams of unrestricted
Chinese immigration. But, with
properly constructed law, limited in it's
operation to the Hawaiian Islands, the
apprehension is ina ginary. Such a law
need not add one Chinaman to the
Asiatic population of the mainland.
but would be of great advantage to
white labor which, as has been well
said, in the United States now forms
part of the middle class as recognized
under forms of government that toler-
ate class distinctions.
1t is undeniable that local conditions.
at least for the present. require special
treatment, as Mr.. Irwin forcibly states.
and, to overcome prejudice and ignor-
ance. which are the formidable, obsta-
cles in our way, demands the intelli-
gent concentration of public opinion in
our citizen population, and the collec-
ton and dissemination of irrefutable
facts, by which even labor organiza-
lions can be brought TO the compre- |
hension of their own interests, which |
are coincident with the interests of the
people at large.
pENEEyrS E00m cErrroe