Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-09-03


European emigration of any place
under the flag.
1t is easier for the people of the
Philippines TO secure immigrants
from Europe, the avenues of trans
portation are more direct and less
difficult, than for this Territory to
gain the people who are so much
wanted for industrial development
and national considerations.
No one need seek a better lesson
of the effect of the immigrant on the
population of country than may be
found in the history of the last fifty
years of Hawaii.
The first immigration from the
Orient was of Chinese, and COM
paratively few years ago the labor
commissions of Hawaii were writing
reports against the Chinese on ac.
count of their entry into the field of
skilled labor and ruinously compet-
ing with the white man and Hawa-
iian. For this reason and on account
of American influence, the Chinese
immigration was checked by the for
mer Independent government of the
islands.
The japanese were secured with
the idea of offsetting the Chinese.
This theory worked until the exclu-
sion of the Chinese, followed by &C.
tive promotion of japanese immigra-
ton, put the Japanese laborer prac-
Tally in command of the situation.
..Canwhile smattering of Portu-
Suese immigrants were brought to
The islands; just enough to prove
hat they could do the work of the
country well and were good citizens
In every respect, but. being SO far
distant, were very expensive.
The result Is that Hawaii Is to-
day stamped almost indelibly with
the mark of Orientalism. The fact
is that the citizen population is a
comparative handful and this Is
the military and naval outpost of the
United States of America.
Wailing over the past will not ac-
complish anything. The record Is
valuable for what 1t has proved for
future guidance.
What we want now is recognition
of our needs so that they may be cor
rected in the American, not Asiatic,
way.
Hawaii has enough Chinese, and
1t has enough japanese for n Terri
tory of the United States. To say
enough is to put 1t mildly.
Hawaii must have citizens or a
population Of home builders eligible
to become citizens.
Under the laws of the country
against contract labor we are barred
from guaranteeing immigrants spe-
cific employment. Only the Terri
tory can assist the immigrant, and
the immigrant from Europe will not,
cannot in fact, pay his own fare to
Hawaii. Efforts to bring in the Euro
pean gamilies arriving at New
York or other mainland ports OF en-.
try have met with Indifferent sue.
cess. One historical enterprise OF
this character. costing $4,000, re
suited In a number of Italians be-
ing distributed all along the route
between New Orleans and San Fran.
cisco, but not man, woman or child
of the list arrived in Hawaii. They
left the train wherever the country
looked good to them, and the plant
ers of Hawaii paid the bill.
At the present time the Territor!
is endeavoring to obtain immigrants
in Portugal. A great amount o.
money is being expended. With
what result the future must deter
mine.
The upshot of the whole situation
is that II Hawaii is the stronghold,
of the American Nation in the Pa
cific, 1t is deserving the special con
sideration in the matter of immi
grafton. We must have Immigrant
to do the work of the Territory
And we must have them from Eu
rope.
Whether the young men and wo
men of Chinese and japanese par
entage will grow up in the island
as patriotic American citizens Is no
matter Of immediate moment. Tn,
b ulletin believes the majorit.
will make good Americans, but 70
the size of the islands and the siz
of the American air, .y3opean popu
lation, there is enoughtof Oriental
and to spare. We must have time t,
assimilate those now here and suppl,
the demand for workers from othe
sources.
Members of the immigration Com
mission will find conditions her