The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-06-16


rights under this notorious law. In
fact, 1t would appear that the incentive
to cruelty to the Chinese was, conta-.
gious and all who had to do with exc
cutting this obnoxious law were imbued
with the idea that to tramp on a
Chinaman or his rights would receive
commendation from his superiors at
Washington. We all remember the
horrid spectacle of the Chinese bride.
being carried screaming through the
streets at being separated from the
bridegroom who had a right to remain
and she had not. A number of in
stances of youths making satisfactory
proofs to the immigration officers of
being born in Hawaii and being allowed
to land and who were again arrested
and their parents put to great expense
to prove in court the fact of being
citizens of Hawaii by birth.
Naturally, where such a notorious
law exists humanity will endeavor to
evade it. What school child does not
know the story of Moses and the nat
ural endeavors of his mother to evade
be destroyed. Do we not commend her
for it?
have said that to cruelty impose on
Cinnamon is contagious and we have
seen that our late Legislature has pass
ed a law that there shall be a charge
of $3.50 for certificate of Hawaiian
birth knowing that this was aimed at
the Chinese who have already been
mulcted of thousands of dollars for
valueless papers. Under this law there
have been some of the most foolish
rulings and 1t is no wonder that the
Chinese should finally rebel. If a Ia
borer leaves the country having made
satisfactory proof Of being the owner
of $1,000 In property, he will be refused
landing on his return If the property,
by act of God, should be destroyed
during his absence.
Sometimes the finest Determinations
are made against merchant. For in
stance, If a man owns shop and sells
goods made by his workmen as we'll as
selling goods by the yard he is de-
nominated tailor and not a merchant
under the rulings Of these executive
officers whom the President directs
shall use more discretion. Probably
the worst case on record is of the de-
portation of citizen of the United
States in that the immigration officers
did not believe his witnesses, the SUI
preme Court holding that the decision
of such officers was final. And SO it
Is according to the letter of the law.
In many cases it is very difficult for a
Chinaman to obtain witnesses who are
other than Chinese" to the Hawaiian
birth of a child. Naturally it must be
so in that they live in a quarter by
themselves. This, however. Is not a
ruling of the Supreme Court, and the
evidence of Chinese must be taken for
what it is worth.
On account of the manner in which
Chinese have been treated in this coun-
try they apparently have risen to the
occasion, and although coming from the
same part of China as those in Cali
fornia they present a better appear
ance and are more cultivated.
Desiring to place in the hands
of the young men of the place an At
las and Gazetteer which was full of
information in regard to the physical
world 1 went amongst them and OBJ
tanned over three hundred subscrip-
tions. The company in the east were
surprised at the number of Chinese
names and asked how it was. l could
merely answer that our Chinese were
more cultivated than those on the
mainland and had aspirations to ac-
quire an English education, but as a
matter Of fact 1t is because we have
always treated them fairly and not
abused them.
am believer in restricting Chinese
immigration and would not wish them
to be allowed to come faster than we
could absorb them. at the same time
excluding all criminals. paupers and
diseased persons whose native COM
munities should support those classes
l trust the next Congress will wipe
off the Exclusion Act and rely on a
general immigration law which will be
as applicable to the vermin of Europe
as to those of Oriental countries.
JAS, w. GIRvIN.