The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-07-01
pERS FROM
PUNAHOU READ
Continued from Page Five.)

China can teach this country much
concerning the sacredness of marriage.
The breaking up of homes through d.
vorce is a thing of common occurrence
in the United States. If the marriage
| tie were held in greater respect. if the
solemn promises made at the altar were
faithfully kept, humiliation and dis
grace would not be written in the char
acter and life of SO many otherwise
model Americans today. When Chi
nese enter into the matrimonial alli-
ance, it is for better or for worse. No
! cause such as incompatibility of tenn
per, cruelty, or absence for q definite
number of years, is ground for separa-
tion. Their faithfulness to their mar
riage vows is borne out by the scar
| city of divorce among them. The Chi
nese women take pride in saying that
"a virtuous woman does not marry a
second husband The faithfulness of
the Chinese woman is, indeed, remark
able. Even in the long absence of the
Observation-Disclosures for twenty or even
thirty years-the wife remains faithful,
attending to the household duties, day
by day, and paying due respect to the
| parents of her husband. The patience
and long suffering of the Chinese wo-
man is worthy the emulation. of her
| American cousins.
| In the matter of economy, the Chi
nese can teach Americans much. Chi
/ nese live within their means, and al
ways store up something for the rainy
day. The well-to-do Chinese in Hawaii
are living examples of the potency of
economy. They came to Hawaii pen
niless, and by the effort of their hands,
saving few dollars every month, have
risen from the ranks of field laborers
to the positions of captains of indus
| try. Economy leads to contentment,
and does away with the dissatisfaction
that is forerunner of strikes.
The Celestial Empire-can also teach
the American Republic a lesson in tenn
perance. The Chinese are the most
temperate people on earth. You need
not go far to find proof of this state.
ment. Look through the local Police
Court record. and you will find that
the names of Chinese arrested for
drunkenness are conspicuous for their
absence. That Americans need to learn
TO abstain from the tempting wine-cup
is a fact well known to you, and is
the cause. of the organization through
out the length and breadth Of the Uni
ted States of so-called temperance as
sociations and anti-saloon leagues to
fight the spreading evils of intemper-
ance; and here in Hawaii, the evils of
intemperance are so great that the SER
vices of John G. Woolley, the we'll
known temperance orator, have been
secured to champion the temperance
cause. Chinese example can help
Americans much towards attaining
self-restraint and moderation.
Perhaps the most prominent char
acteristic of the Chinese as a people
is their industry. This quality is dis
played in their work in the field, in
the shop, in the Office, in the school
room-in fact, everywhere is this ma
tional quality manifest. 1t is as true
today as it was half a century ago,
when the Chinese undertook the great
task OF building for the Americans the
transcontinental railroad. which was
to open up large tracts of land in the
great west. The Chinese give no
trouble to their employers, but are al
ways eager to do their best to advance
their masters interest.
This lesson of Chinese industry is of
paramount Importance to the United
States-for from present indications, a
great Industrial struggle may take
place in the not distant future-labor
will be pitted against capital, and vice |
versa. The labor unions have been and |
are stumbling blocks to the CONNER |
cial prosperity of the United States !
Time and again, the wheels OF indus |
trial progress have been stopped by |
so-called grievances of organized Ia
Dor; and today the labor unions are |
doing much to injure San Francisco |
and her trade by interfering with the |
operation of the street cars. The in |
dustrial prosperity of any nation de-
ponds much upon the stability OF her |
laborers. Think of the thousands, nay, |
millions of dollars lost to employers by /
reason of strikes, and you will realize |
the great harm done to American in |
dustry through unstable labor. These |
periodic strikes cannot keep up for |
ever, for some day American labor and |
American capital must meet face to |
face and settle the question for all /
time; and a bitter settling it will be. |
To avoid this industrial war, let the |
American laborers be taught the tenn |
perance, economy, and industry of the |
Chinese; and if these lessons are we'll |
learned, the industrial prosperity of |
the United States is assured.
1t might be wise for this newest Of |
nations to heed some of the character
istics of this oldest of nations-some |
of the qualities which have held her |
an integral whole longer than any
country on the globe, and for this rea-
son utmost cordiaIty should exist be-
tween them. The position of the Uni
ted States in the Far East demands
amicable relationship with China, now
that the United states is her neighbor.
BY working in harmony, the benefits
of peace and prosperity will be enjoy
ed by both.
There is still another reason why the
United States should cultivate friendly
relationship with China. The young
republic is at present struggling with
the European nations for the CONNER
cial supremacy in the east. She is
daily producing more than her people
can consume. She therefore, needs q
foreign market to utilize her surplus
products. Where in all the world can
she find a better market for her goods
than in the Chinese Empire? The Chi
nese are just beginning to taste for
eign luxuries, and because of the de-
lights, they are demanding more 1t |