The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-03-30
Honolulu, Dee. 81, A. D. 1904.

tIOu, clCs
Honolulu, Dee. 81, A. D. 1904.
Dear Sir: The Chinese community
| of the Territory of Hawaii takes TINS
means of appealing to your sense OF
| Justice and fairness to enlist your
sympathy and assistance in redresslng
wrongs under which they are Suffering.
In 1898. when the Queen was de-
throned, the Chinese took no active
part in the revolution, having much
confidence in the wisdom of the leaders
of the organic change. Although an
nexation was the prime motive wlth
those leaders, some for patriotic rea-
sons and others for the pecuniary ben
efits they might obtain by the annexa-
ton of this country to the United
States, we do not think they saw far
enough ahead to realize that the an
nexation of Hawaii would mOrtally
injure so large part of the commu-
nifty as we form.
The cause of our being injured, of
course, was the concomitant extern
sion of the exclusion laws of the United
States to this Territory.
You are aware that we have travelled
back and forth from China to the Ha-
waiian Islands for more than a GEN.
tury without restriction other than
such restriction under the Hawaiian
laws as was as much for our benefit as
for Hawanans While so coming and
going but small proportion of those
who visited the Islands made perma-
nent homes in the land, some inter.
marrying with the Hawaiians and iden-
tifying themselves with the aboriginal
stock Of the hundreds of thousands
who have visited Hawaii but few
(752 during the past century, became
naturalized. and of these probably one
half have died or abandoned their c1t1-
zenship. The United States Census of
1900 showed a Chinese population of
25,742, and owing TO the inhospitable
treatment received by them under the
iniquitous and unnatural exclusion law
this number has been reduced to less
than 10000.
During this long residence of our peo-
pie on the Islands it is admitted that
more was done by us toward develop
ing the resources of the country than
by any other class. Not only have we
reclaimed the land from the sea, re-
stored abandoned lands to utility and
productiveness, rendering them tax and
rent producing properties, but we were
the introducers of the rice industry,
which is second only to sugar. Much
as YOU have heard of the marvellous
development of the sugar industry or
the Islands, you were not informed that
such unparalleled development was
largely due to the labor of the Chinese.
1t is frequently stated that the COM
pletion of the overland railroad con-
Meeting the East with the West coasts
of America, was due to the Chinese.
To a greater extent should the Chi
nese be credited with the development
Of tho 10
said that we introduced rice cultivation
on the Islanas. Our people, as a rule,
do. not acquire real estate and 90 per
cent of that under cultivation is lease
holds, 20 per cent of it being owned
by natives and 20 per cent By foreign
ers. Tt is closely estimated that there
are $500 persons directly engaged in
the industry, to say nothing of their
families, the teamsters, and sailors who
bring the product to market. The an
neXatiOn of Hawaii to the Union not
only brought upon us the burden of the
odious and unnatural exclusion law, but
has crippled the rice industry by re-
ducing the protective tariff afforded by
| the Hawaiian laws under which it
throve. It also prohibited the renewal
| of the necessary labor in the fields and
threatens the rice industry with ex-
tinctlon.
Our merchants. whose customers are
| principally Chinese. find their business
steadily diminishing according as that
people decreases in numbers by the
returning of their countrymen to Chi
ma, the effect of which is already felt
in the mercantile community.
1t is frequently remarked by tourists
that the Chinese on the Islands are
a superior class to those found on the
| mainland. If this is so it is merely be-
cause the liberal government maintain.
ing under the Hawaiian monarchs pro-
tected them, whereas on the mainland
they are abused and are compelled to
! herd together for self-protection.
In Hawaii they maintain Christian
churches, newspapers, a Chinese Y. M.
c. A, fine hospital, have many elee
| mosynary societies, caring for their own
poor and aged, and support many pri-
vate schools.
They are good denizens in the coun-
| try, pay their taxes willingly. are rare
| " charged with crime, never interfere
| in politics. are large consumers of
American products and manufactures,
pay high rentals for land, are great
lovers of learning, and return to their
own land with an exalted respect for
good government, thus becoming apos-
| ties to teach their fellowmen of the
| desirabilitv of reform of the ancient
| methods maintaining in China and
opening the way for the exploitation Of
that land to Americans.
Occupying this outpost of the Ameri-
| can Union, we look forward to an i'm
| mense increase of commerce between
China and the United States: but how
can Americans expect to exploit the
market. mines and resources of that
great country while they carry on their
statute books n law against the Chi
nese people which Is so ilIiberal and
nm American? To us. who have lived
so long under the liberal laws of Ha-
wall and who had so exalted an idea
If the greatness and IberalIty of
America. the blanketiug of this Ter
itorv with such an unnatural law was
I surprise.
There being no prohibition to other
'si4tic Immigration, they are Pradu-
Nv s,,nolantinp rs in all walks of life,
-, ,a+ xr<a first N