The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-03-21
LET US KEEP
THE RUSSIANS

EDITOR STAR:-If space will per-
NIT should like to say another word
or two about the planters and Rus
SLAMS. In the first place, would
Notwithstanding their grievances,
fancied and real, say that if these,
+ Russians do return to their homes
without giving this country a more
thorough trial than they have so far
done, they are no better than a lot
of idiots. For where, l would like to
ask them, can they find a better coun-
try than this, or land with more op-
portunities than they can find here?
Do they know that one of the rich
est, if not the very richest planters
on these islands once worked on
plantation for less wages than they
demand? Do they know that nine
tenths of the rich white men of Ha-
wall made all of their money here?
Do they know that thousands of plan
tation laborers have made their for
tune here? Do they know that all
the rich Japanese and Chinese mer.
chants and store keepers were once
plantation laborers or are the sons
or grandsons of plantation Iaborers?
Do they know that the Portuguese,
men not unlike themselves, have De.
come a power here and that from
plantation laborers many of them be.
came rich men, and their descendants
are now filling important positions,
many of them being doctors, lawyers,
priests and rich merchants?
And 1 would like to ask if they
have less courage, less stamina, less
sense than men of other nationalities.
And do they care less for their Off
spring than men of other countries,
that they would take them back to a
land like theirs where there are no
opportunities for men like them III
for their children?
If they care nothing for these
things, or for the future welfare OF
their children, then they deserve all
that is coming to them when they get
back there. Do they not know that
all of us have had difficulties to con-
tend with in the start, and that no
man was ever much account that did
not?
Now word or two about the plan
tiers. l am glad to see that they are
making some concessions to the de.
mands of the Russians, but what l
would like them to do above all else
is to give to all of the plantation
laborers provisions, clothes, shoes,
etc, at cost price. This at first sight
may seem to be asking too much. But
l feel sure it would pay in the end,
for this is one of the main grievances.
the high prices they have to pay for
everything they need. And, besides,
the money that is made by the store
cannot begin to repay the loss that
would result from losing these men.
For If these men do go away it will
give this country such a black eye
that it will never get over it. And
besides this it will make it appear in
Washington that our efforts to make
this white population are nothing
but a farce.
So if the planters are in earnest
about this matter, they must not let
any greed of gain stand in the way
of filling this country with a white
population.
There are other things that could
be done of course, but it's my opinion
that this would go further in solv-
ing the difficulties than anything else,
and at no great loss to the planters.
These remarks do not apply to the
agitators. They should be deported
without delay.
GEORGE OSBORNE.