The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-10-24

1
build the houses that should be built
by American workingmen, they per-
form the domestic labor which should
be performed by American servants,
they man the island vessels which
should be manned by American sea-
men. and, finally. they are building a
/ civilization in an American territory
, which, II something is not done to
check It. will supersede and ultimately
take the place of the existing American
civilization.
Ten years hence the japanese will be
in full control Of the political desti-
MES of the Territory of Hawaii. How
SO? Through the voting privileges
guaranteed by the Constitution to all
American citizens. The number 81
Japanese born In Hawaii Is consider
allie. Those who were citizens of the
Republic of Hawaii became when the
organic act took effect citizens Of the
United States. And of course all those
born since annexation are in full en-
icyment of all the rights and privi-
leges pertaining to American citizen
ship.
In 1897 there were 24.407 Japanese in
the Hawaiian Islands. In three years,
that is by 1900 they had increased to
| 81 ,115, while the Chinese numbered 25,-
1852 and the Hawaiians of all shades
and colors 54,141.
Today there are. in round numbers,
In the Territory of Hawaii 10000 Japa-
nese. 2S.O 900 Chinese and 10000 Hawai-
ians. To uphold American civilization
and ideals in the presence of these 100,-
Nyh n
pie, including English, German, French
and all other Europeans.
Significant of what the future may
bring forth in Hawaii, glance at the
following statistics compiled by the
Merchants Association and based on
school enrolment will prove interest
ing: In the last four years, or to be
more exact, in 1901, 1902, 1908 and 1904,
the number of Japanese children in the
schools of the Territory has increased
| 116 per cent, the Chinese children 2S
per cent. the Portuguese children IA
per cent and the American and Brit
ish, German and other European chill
dren only ~ per cent.
In 1900, according to the official CEN
sus, there were 5000 native born Ash
at,cs in Hawaii. all of whom. within
few years, will have a voice in the cleo
tions and political power that 1t will be
impossible to ignore.
No fault could be found with this. OF
course, IL it were possible to Amer
icanize the Japanese in the same way
the Irish, German and others are
Americanized. But 1t is impossible.
/ TIL, will IN
the learning that the Occident can inn
part, but they refuse stubbornly to be
assimilated in the body polite. with
the result that it has become notorious
among we'll informed people that the
Islands are being Orientalized instead
of hmericanized. American missiona-
ries of every sect and denomination
have made earnest and expensive eff
forts to Convert" the Japanese tc
Christian and Caucasian ways of think.
ing. but in vain
YES" say the Japanese, 1--WE are
very willing to go humbly to your hon.
orable churches and even become mem
bers of your honorable congregations
because thereby we obtain free edu
cation in your schools. But accept you
religion and civilization? Never. Our:
is older and better. and there is nc
reason why you should not embrace it.
This may seem fanciful, but the
equivalent was printed in very good
English in the editorial page of a re-
cent issue of the Hawaii Shinpo.
The problem under discussion, in the
opinion of the writer, resolves itself ia
this: Are the sugar planters of Hawaii
in favor of the cause of white suprem.
acy in the Paradise of the Pacific? OF
course their plantations must be run
and run at a profit If the Territory Is
to continue progressing and prosper
GUS But are 100000 Asiatics necessary
to do this?
Under date of November 2. 1904 the
Merchants Association of Honolulu. in
the course of a bitter arraignment OF
the Indifference of the planters to the
cause of white immigration. said
There have been introduced here
twice as many Asiatic laborers as
have been necessary for the working of
the plantations" They also asserted
that this has resulted in competition
disastrous to all but immediate sugar
interests, and that, consequently, the
surplus labor, which numbers in the
neighborhood of $4,000. is engaged in
professional, mechanical and mercan-
tile pursuits"
The questions involved are thus seen
to embrace the broad one "as to who
shall populate and control these islands
in the future"
1t may be safely assumed that the
planters, who. after all, are Americans
should like, as much as any one else
to see the white race supreme in Ha-
wall. But at the same time they car
not lose sight OF the fact that they
must have Asiatic labor successfully tc
operate the plantations. Naturally
under existing laws, they can not com.
pei their laborers to remain on the
plantations one moment longer thar
they wish.
Right here lies the solution Of the
problem. how to keep the Asiatic popu.
lation, especially the Japanese, upon
the plantations and discourage them
from invading the towns and cities OF
the Territory in search OF professional
mercantile and mechanical opportuni.