The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-08-14

An interesting controversy has arisen
recently through the publication in the
press Of the city of letter by judge
of the Territorial Court in which severe
characterizations of the Koreans were
made, in common with three other ma
tionalities residing in the islands. 1
hesitate to offer anything in reply to
the criticism, because, being but a re-
cent conner, may appear to be pushing
in where / am not wanted. on the
other hand am sure the fair-ninded
people of the islands will permit me
to offer a few words in defense of those
among whom / have resided FOR IL
wears. WhoSe language 1 speak, with
whose customs and conditions am in
a degree acquainted and among whom
have many esteemed friends both In
the Korean homeland and in these is
lands. May / further say that 1 have
not mad the honor of meeting Judge
Robinson. SO that anything l say Is
based solely on the merits of the People
involved and devoid of the personal eie-
ment. First, let me que te the accusa-
ton in the language in which 1t IS pub
iished:
"The efforts in this direction that
have been made and that are now be-
ing made, for the most part, have been
to induce the immigration OF allen
paupers as permanent residents ana
prospective citizens of the United
States, and that in a comm unity IN
which the leaven of Americanism IS
REPRESENTED by not more than twenty
five per cent of the entire population.
Portuguese Porto Ricans, Koreans, and
last, but not least, Molokans, have been
introduced to US as a fair type of the
permanent residents upon whom. ana
upon whose descendants, their planta-
ton masters lead us to hope that the
principles of American citizenship may
be safely founded. These alien pauper
laborers, in many instances Social
pariahs, moral lepers and religious IA
natics in the country fIom which they
hail, reared and fostered in lands and
under governments to which the Amer
lean form of government Is an anon
ally, possessing no intellectually and
but little intelligence, furnish poor
for an intelligent American
during the present genera
ton and offer but little hope forsa
foundation for many gen. I
erations to come"
The sting of the accusation lies In the
statement that in their own country: {
"rhese alien pauper laborers 1.-THE Por-
tuguese, Koreans, Porto Ricans and I
Mookans who have come to the is !
Iandsl were in many instances social l
pariahs, moral lepers and religious ia
natics." Coming from a judge before 5
whose court these people may at times
IN, nf
whose persons and welfare he possesses d
penal power, this statement derives
,ery unusual Significance. Is 1t true? a
Our Portuguese fellow-citizens here II
n most emphatic manner indicated -
themselves from this charge and re-
.eived from Judge Robinson the I'M :.
lualified retraction that she did not in u
end or desire. and did not have in mind =, II
II. in heart to cast any aspersions or ~
election on the morality or moral ~
tanding OF the Portuguese people nor y
0 charge them with being allen pauper -
social pariahs. moral lepers or ~
eligious fanatics. ~
Thus In the case of the Portuguese ~
Judge Robinson admits he made mis- ~
AXE. Now, submit that in any court -
I evidence this declaration of error III
itiates his whole testimony. He is by ~ =,
is own confession an unreliable wit IN
ess in the matter whereto he has -
,oken. -.
will speak of the Koreans, for OF
IN not speak of the others. Judge 10
obinson says that many of the Ha- IN
allan Koreans were In their own ir'
,untry social pariahs" This state In
emit leads me to question whether he Yea
TIT tod NIT ha n
orea at all, or has an extended ac- ~
with the Koreans now In ~
e islands, AS to the classes who are ia
e social pariahs, in Korea they con- we
1t chiefly of the slaves, actors, butch gu
s, Buddhist priests and common ex- .h'
utioners. I have personally seen TN
,out 1900 of the 5000 Koreans on the POI
anes and have never seen one Of the or