Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 116, 18 May 1894 — The Chinese Demand. [ARTICLE]

The Chinese Demand.

Q ii 'o ■' n‘.tter in the p. g. carap. Uaeas:nes- and pntv> r meetings tlie <»r.ier « f the day. And why ; Bec u«e the Cliinese mercliants of Honololo haTe shown their hands and have proved that they are follv aware of their rights aml c:tnni>t be beaten into submisaion by the small orgHU* tters who pour forlh the anthem of the p. g. The foilow:ng petition or demiod was sent iuto the OouneiU by the leading Chi. ese merchents: Tothf.Pbksidf.vt \.\d the Exf.CITIVE AXI> ADVI«OBT C0U\CIL8 OF THF FkOVISIONAI. GoVEKXmi:\t of the Hawaiian Ihi.a.\Ds; Wo. the undersigned, mo?t res-; j>ectfully r<*<juest your permission to present to Yonr £xcellencies and the HonorabIe Counciliors the following statement and peti-i tion, and ask uf you to give it m< st careful consideration. While the right of petition is • denied by you to no one, we are. j in this iustance, oonstrained to address you directlv instead ofi tbrough the customary diplomatic channels, inasmuch as our eom-i mercial agents possess, in the j ab.senceof a treuty between China and Hawaii, insufficient diplomatic authorit\- loeAll your attention to the matters we most respect fully desiro to present to you. We wish to be fair and frank, aml prefer in the first plaee to invite your assistance in the interests o( the adopted country of many of us, ratber than to eommunieaie with His Excellency His Imperial M <jesty’s Represeutative at Washiugton, before so doing. Wo are also induced to t;ike this informal mannerof appioaehmg you. as a result of tiie recent eleeiion conclusively show that a Constitutional Convention will shortlv be held to remodol the Constitution aud the furm of the Hawaiian Government. Wo also fully appreciate the | fact that until a definito form ofj government is ©stablished for the Hawaiian lslands, it will be impracticable for the l’resident of the Provisional Governmeul to enter into direct diplomatic correspondence with the Impenal Chmese (TOveiruuent. We feel assared that yonrj honorable Councils will not eontrovert*tho statement that the Ohiueae j>osscss very l;irge and important vested interests m this countrv. and that they may justly elaim to be considcred among the heaviesfc payers of taxes, duties and other coutributions in edmparison witb the people of all other nations. lt is u«>tdeemed advisablo to encumber this p<*titn>n with statistics to j>ruve tbis asst rtion. it is knowu to yon that thc Oh.neae nserchants and j>lanters h; vo always been firm sujiporters of the constitutional governments of Hawaii. Our societies have endeavored. aud are endeavonng. to support our sick aud j*oor, and t > send ont of the country tbe oriminals and v.grants without c«et to the government. lf tue gnverument wiil only strengthen our hands so that we ean appeal to our M.uister at Washington. and through Lim to the lmj>erial i>nthorities, »e eau and will do r. ueh more. While we are thoronghly oonv<*rsaut with the faot that no tieaty exists betweeu Hawaii aud ehiua, we are also fully aware tbat, m the past, uegotiatioos for | a treaty have been under consid- j eratiou by the represeutative [ Ministers uf both cocmtrīes aud have faiie<l. It is our opinion that if. when the Coustitutiunal CoDvemion meets, it will not regani the Cbiuese residing in the Hawaiiau islauds as a prosoribe\l race. but wili accord tbtm the privileges due to them by their induence. sUnding and wealth, that a treaty of reciprocal benefit to Hawaii and Cbiua might result. We, who have made these islands our home for many years. have incnased tbe valno of your )audg fron nominai j*ricos to bigb j onea, say ’rom lo an acre. tbus iucnasiag the reveuue of the counlry; have inter mairied witb Hawiiiaus, who have given us ehilun-u born in this land: educated in your owu schoo)saud jnter-marriod with your own race. Many of us have heeome nafcnrah*ed cit>zens of thi«country.

and fc;ive. by our efTort.-«, brougbt to you e nsiderable trade and commerce. lt bas been alike beneficiaItoyoa asto us. T.ietefore we think tbat we are entitLd to some greater resj>ect from the Government than has Litbeito been politicalIy acconled to us. We do nnt think that we siioaid. be regarded in the sime !ight sa oor fe!low-conntry:aeu m Ihe Un;ted States cf Amenea. V*‘e ibave been associated with ycu I long. coromercially, fin:incially , i and socially; have Iearned yourj • language. ra'i«ners and customs. bave ei: le .vored to yuu in : <-verv lei;:tiin'<te » anrfer. Mr.ny .of ns m tne early days received i tbe encuuragement of the Hawa-! iihu Govern«>ent to s»-isist in building uj) the commerce <>f the; islands. In the matter of tnide{ alone we are n< t seifi-h, for we pnrcbase many of our goods! from tbe imj>orters of your owu rsice. Your experience and yonr iu-’ |terests te!l you tbat the j>lantu-! tions —sugir, nee and fruit —are; almost "tbe life of the lan I j Laborers are required tocultiv..te: i the-e plantatious, and foracer*i tain class of woik. esj)eci >ily onj rice and hannna plantations, loe, Chinese labor is tho only one' perfectly adapted to that work,| wliile in raany other kinds of labor tbey are unequa!led. It seemsto us doubtful if. under the e\istiog circomstances. aud to the, what we regard as. unji;st i restrictions j4aced uj)on our countrymen by the Governmeut. whether. if Cbinese laborers are required here by T the planters, 'directly cr indirectly tlirougb tlie i Government or otherwi.se, tliey 1 oan be obtained unless sohr j privileges are accorded to ns and to them. lt stands to reason that we cannot bc expected to ass:st otbers if injustice is done to us. Before presenting the fol!owiug petition to you we hereby guur antee that if our prayer meets with your resj)ectful and favorable cousideration, to take snch aeliou, by j)etition or otherwise. as raiy infiuence the Impena! Chine.se Government ofiicia!s to endeavor to obtain a more ber.eficia! understanding between Iiawaii and Chiua, bv treaty or otherwi.se. thau at preseut exists. We therefore hnmbly pray that your Excellencies and tiie, HonorabIe Councillors will j)lace before llie Coustitution Couvention. when it meets, the folIow‘.ng suggestions on our behalf. First. A negotintion either of a treaty of friendship, commerce i und navigation or a lnbor COnven tiou between tho Hawaiian and l the Impeiial Chinesa Government. Second. The granting of a francbise to all Chiuese who hnve heeomo natnrabzed subjects or oitizeus of the Huwaiian lslan ls j or wiio have been born of Hawaiiau wives. Third. A rej>r<*sentation in tbe Advisory Conncils or aueh body as may succeed it. Focbth. That the r ; ght r*f j fruuchise be granted to ull such Chinvse as mav he competent to qualify under the elect riai j.rovisions of the new constitution. Fifth. Reciprocity of treatm<*ut as under ‘ - ti)e most f ivored nation’ clanse of treaties w;tii other j>owers pending ti.e eousummation of a treaty between Hawaii and the Impenal Chiii'*s Government. or iu other \vords e<jual riglitr \vith tii»se of ;■.!! otiier alien resuleuts, subjects or citizens. And yonr j)etitioners, <kc. Hono uiu, Ma\' 17. 1S. 4. Mr. Cecil Brown who is one ofj the most intelligent and most fair-rainded membtrs of the eouu eils got on his ear and felt insul ted becno.se the Chiuese petitiou-i ores insinuated that the p.g. ean not negotiate for a treaty with any established government. Mr. Cecil Brown is a mau for ; whom the communitv has the most prononnced ndmiration. j He is a gentleman he is a scho-| lar, he is a pretty clever politieian, bnt althougb we hate to say it, he is a demned crank—He kuows as well as we do that the p g. has not been recognize\l b\ the foreign jx»wers. The United < States recoguized Mr. Dole r.nd bis adminstration because Mr Stevens did so and f >rced tbe Harrison adminstr <tion intu the s;ime boat. Cleveland coa!d uct refuse his recognizanee cf I this government wituout dej cluring war and for that ren ; m 1 the de fado governmeut bas 1 .»1 in the ej-es o£ America a p jsii >nl as a dejure gOTernment whieh isj both uuJescr\ed aad iuappropri-| ate. Of course we are aware tiiat ■ tbe p g. aud its orgaus have de-| light«d in tbe fact that the

Ros.si* fcC f»aized thc K iwaiian , llc}»u't>Uc (sic.‘). At tbe time tbe j Holomua stateJ that such a >tep | could ou!y bave V>eeo takea bv 5 :he government tbrough 'ū:srepreseatation. The Rassian Consul, Mr. IlaeUeM. ivas , anfortuuately abveut from Hawaii and the acting eonaul Mr. i GlaJe \ras. to -iy tne ver\' lea»t. | erratic and biase<l enougb to i furoisb tbe Bussian goverument aitL a totaīly wrongauddccidedly n- ii!.g in>;>ression. Bv t!;i.s t..i< t*.e lm»>eriitl v. ru ment bas been informed as to; tbe facts existing here, and ! aItbor.gb the white Czar docs not . . ' ; cousider it worta his wuile tu ! repudiate tbe actioa ofhisgov!erument, be fn ly reeognizes tbe blnnder comrailted and knows | exactly where to Iay tbe blame : f«<r tbe direct insult to Queen Liliuokaiaui and tbe indirect [ insnlt t » all tbe crowned beads :n Europe. I’rivy Councillor Count S. Probanotf bas fully expluined the mutters, to whom it iflay eoneem, in this countrv. Neverlbeless Mr. Cecil Brown is at>grv, and tlie Ailvertiser O •/ claims tbat a rovalist lawyer wrote tbo petition for the Chi-t ne.se. If tbe moruing sbeet is: very anxiuus to know, we conld tell it that tbe petition was frumed by a mau who issolid wiih tbe annexutionists in tbe p. g. employ, famiiiar witb all transictious* connectcd w:th tbe Cbinese question and at tbesame time just, I;onest and liberal in Lis icleas, as far as the legitimate claims of tbe Cbinese are eoncerned. Let us now look at tbe prac|ticd prospects of t!ie Cbinese |demands. China bas no treaty with Hawaii. We are uader no obligatīons to tbe CIiinese as we : are to tbe Japanese. Tbe on!y j practical qutstion is, if the| Chine.se Lere are inclined and ready to nse tbeir unmerical : force to secure ngbts tbat we, j althongb unwillingly, raust say I are duo to them. Thero bas been i 1 |attempts maele to obtainaChi-j j nese —Unwaiian treaty. Tbe attempt was an uttor failure aitbougb promotcd by Mr. II. A. P. Carter. the only diplomat ever r< this country. Mr. Cartcr who was a j>ersona j graia in Wasbington among ali the legutions was a most astute aml clevcr statesman He not alone endcavored to se care the interests of Hawaii it i large, but being heavily iut«r|osted in sugitr. he worked for bis lown interest and for tbat of Iiis ( brotlu;r-i>lanters. Let us see wbat be reports to the govcri;ment of Hawaii-oei | after his negotiations witb Cbina i I Lail Lillen t!irough. Uuderdute j | of November 24th, 18S0, Mr. H ( A. P. C <rter writes to i’on. J. A j Cuiamins, Hawaiian Mini.>ter oi i Foreign Affairs:

“ Agreeable to Yonr Excellencv s n ishes. I eaileil oa th* Chinese Mimster to plaee befor* hini, yor.r views regardiug i Treaty between Chiua and Hawaii. ilis Excellency iulonnel me, that shortlv after our iuterview oa the subject last winter, he fnliy wrote on the matter to the Viceroy of Ohina, aud proposed a treatv on tbe basis, I bad snggested s and that tbe Viceroy had answered that he eoukl not advise the Emfierorto make a treaty, Uiat China did tt>t tind that treaties secured go»d treatuieut lo Chinese subjects, S that thtir experiences regardiug! Iiigbts guaranteed by trentiesj ' was ni'-st unfortuuate, and tLa.t! J he was opposed to so-calitdj labor c>. nveutures.

His tscellencv also said, tlnt later, he reoeived another lettr from the Viceroy s.iyiDg, tlat complniuts hnd reuched binvto tbe etiēct that the other foreijaers res.ding at Hooolaln, wire oppoaed to the Chinese, and tl,«t they were threatened with homU legi*!ation whieh le<l Ihe Vicepy to reiunrk thnt it would be use|ss to make a treatv nnder snch lir canisUcces. I }.>oir ted out to His Excelle(cy! that the Viccroy's remaxks uot jus' io Hawaii as Ha%iii respected hor treaty 1 ments. and that legislative 4.*tsi : la our ionntxr did uot set aide| I treaty cblig ttion.s as in Amenea. j 1 lold huu that the *ay| to ;secare his ieilow coontn nied iu jtheir rights was to have rigbtscarefally defioed in a x.te*y,

and thst we wordd be viUiug to • guarantee sacb ngh;> to ihe C>;i-' nese *!readv there if China wou d . join us in regalating the termson whieh *nv future immigration should be condacted. His Exceilency said that he woaU again write upon the snbject. but tfaat be thongbt * >t ij | ihe ChĪHe*e no>r liring iii Honol m- I lu «m to unile in rreoutmending *uch a eeheme and petiticn him a* | weil m ihe Vteeroy, there HX>\ild be ’>iore ei anee oj - ■■«•< He said, however. th ,t he knew. personalIy. that tbe Viceroy was very mueh i opposed t> anv «rrsngement> wii’.eu eompelieil tiie Chine-*e to\ ret»ra to Chin i aft-r a term of serr*ce iu a f*>re go lanJ. ;igim>t their own wisbes. Mr. (. arter tinishes his letter by saying; ‘ This certainlv i> verv- Jiscouraging reg trding any immeJiate prospect of succes>. We believe that the above Ietter ean be reaJ both bv the Chincse anJ bv the p. g. with some advantage. It shows that the Chinese government is not | altogether blin>l as to its sabjocts in foreign lanJs, although it does nul exercise the paterual iutla- ! onee and surveillacce as Joes the J panese Imperial Goverument. At prescnt it will be gooJ policy 1 for tho Councillors not to get “oti ' tlieir nut,” but rathfer c<>uSne ( themselves to a carefuly staJy of how to solve the Asiatic qnestion. If they ean t find the solution, the Asiatics will.