Ka Leo o ka Lahui, Volume II, Number 196, 19 May 1891 — Page 4

KA LEO O KA LAHUI.

"E Mau ke Ea o ka Aina i ka Pono."

 

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1891,

NOTICE.

            Copies of the Ka Leo o ka Lahui can be found every morning at both the News Agencies in town. Price 5 cents a copy.

 

CONTEMPLATED REDUCTION IN WAGES.

A SERIOUS QUESTION.

            It is rumored around town, that the Planters of the Islands are endeavoring to arrive at a general understanding between themselves, about the labor question so as to put an end to any further competition between the different plantations. The object of this understanding, which some wish to make an iron-bound agreement is, not only to prevent the plantations from robbing each other's laborers by offering higher wages in the seasons of need, but also and principally to obtain a uniform rate of wages at a much  lower standard than the present one.

            The plausible excuse for this "protective" (as it is to be called) planters movement, is that the results of McKinley Tariff, forces all the plantations down to bed-rock economy; but another reason for it, not apparent or confessed, although very real, it is said: might also be the wish of forcing the laboring classes of the Hawaiian Islands into a still more dependent and subjective condition than their present one.

            Considering the matter under a purely social vein, if, on one hand, the planters are perfectly entitled to take, for the protection of their interests as endangered by the McKinley Bill, such measures as they may deem necessary, including the general lowering of wages, - on the other hand, the same right pertains to the laboring classes, and the action of the planters may be expected to bring forth similar protective measures and union among the laborers.

            The working classes, the world over, in the conflicts between capital versus labor, are always at a disadvantage; but here, the matter may at first be much more serious than elsewhere to the laboring element on account of the heterogenous composition of our laboring classes, of their general want of instruction and of the natural rivalry and keen competition between the different nationalities. Nevertheless, the necssities of self-protection my be expected to eventually force even our discordant laboring agglomerations into a defensive understanding, which might lead, - here just as well as elsewhere, - to strikes with all their concomitant symptoms of fight and crime, under a perhaps more terrible aspect still, on account of the insufficiency of all organied military forces in the kingdom.

            One thing, however, cannot fail to strike very forcibly all impartial minds, viz, that whilst a reduction of wages may be a forced conclusion on the planters, yet it is rather strange and awkward that it should turn up at the very time when a noticeable increase in prevailing on all necessities of life. Flour and rice have risen in prices of late in a most extraordinary manner, and it will soon cost the poor laborer about twice as much to feed himself and family as it did a year ago.

            Of course such a situation as this, - reduction of wages combined with increase of living, -- cannot be, and if the planters do unanimously agree to lower the wages paid by them, they must also at once look into the problem of how to lower the cost of living and to reduce the prices of all articles of food imported to these Islands. One proposition to cannot work without the other. But will the planters be able to prevail on our importers, to make the importation charges meet the necessities of the times?

            If not one sure thing can already be predicted, and that is anarchy, under perhaps its worse form. The matter of wages to be decided at present by the planters, is therefore the most threatening social question ever raised in this country and one which requires to be handled with the utmost care, prudence and foresight, to avoid results which would be fathomless and disastrous to all and every member of the community without exception. In this question, without raising any antagonism against the just rights of capital, the Leo can be depended upon to fearlessly stand for an equally just defence of the rights and interests of the labouring classes, which we wish to awaken up to an intellegent comprehension of the problem.

 

WILCOX AND SPENCER.

            Minister Spencer with the advice and consent of Cummins fairly and unequivocally promised to give Robert Wilcox the engineering work of the new pali road. This is in no sense an office, but only ordinary skilled labor at so much per day. Wilcox is undoubtedly a competent engineer. He stood high in the mathematical department of the Italian government military school where he received his education, and where the instruction is known to be most thorough and the requirements of the highest order. But because he was the leader of the political movement which placed Mr. Spencer in the position he occupies and was consequently odious to the defeated party, Mr. Spencer began to hesitate and temporize when influential parties said that they would not stand to have the revolutionist employd on public work. After months of womanish vacillation, during which all public work has been in suspense and the people dispaired of seeing anything done on the pali road, Spencer broke his promise to Wilcox and gave the job to Mr. Myers. It appears Mr. Myers though prejudiced against native workmen had sense of honor and self-respect enough to resign on account of certain remarks on the subject published in this paper.

            We have had occasion to say some very severe things of Mr. Spencer, all of which he had fully merited; but now he has an opportunity to in a measure redeem his reputation and gain the commendation of Ka Leo which will not be withheld for any honest effort to do justice. His plain duty is to give the work to a competent Hawaiian who is a favorite of the people and who has their confidence. It is true that Wilcox made an ill adviced and unfortunate move in 1889. But it was under provocation and persuasion that make the fault wholly other peoples.

            No one who has not tried it knows how hard it is to be out of employment and day after day look for a job. To carry one's self around like a piece of merchandise for sale, and to be examined, criticised, rejected like an inanimate object by ignorant, haughty, insolent upstarts, shop-keepers and agents, is an experience to make a proud, sensitive man bitter and desperate. Walking the dusty streets with worn out clothes and empty stomach, and looking over fanciful scrolled iron fences, into handsome grounds, close-cut velvet lawns, flowers, majestic trees, stately mansions, elaborately ornamented, all the adjuncts of bountiful wealth and idle luxury; these things make anarchists, socialists and revolutionists the world over.

            It is true that he was offered a position as country school teacher at $25 a month, but that rejected what was left? Every place and every position were full of someone's favorites. At last he fell into the hands of some great people in Hawaii, who thought they might use him, to wit; our lamented King, our present gracious Queen and her now Marshal of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Between them, to use recent English, he fell into the soup. The King encouraged him because he hoped to re-establish the old constitution and the ancient kingly prerogatives: The Queen urged him on and assisted in the conspiracy because she was ambitious and impatient to be Queen of Hawaii.

            At the last moment these two royal personages because suspicious of each other's cross purposes, prompted by natural cowardice, withdrew from the enterprise after it was too late of the unfortunate leader to retreat, and Wilson to save himself betrayed to whole party with whom he had conspired.

            Now Liliuokalani sits serenely on the throne and favorite Wilson is Marshal of the Kingdom and custodian of the public peace. While Wilcox is still ignored and contumeliously ignored notwithstanding the fact that his action was in a way approved by the people in the last election, who elected enough legislators to oust the old ministry.

            Now, the whole question is this and we appeal to the influential business men of the country and to any honest missionary if by accident this should reach one, if it were not better to give this young man a chance to make an honest living and become a useful member of society.

            The course of the Queen and ministry in prevaricating and deceiving with false promises and false hope the persistent boycotting by the business men are enough to drive any one to desperation. We learn with regret that another rifle association is forming with no very obvious good purpose. The devil still finds something for idle hands to do. We think it would be wiser, more christian and more profitable to give Wilcox the pali road where he would have a chance to show his ability in a useful way, and give him other employment than forming rifle associations.

            Any other course would only show a vinctive spite determined on wreck and ruin rather than due regard of what is right and just. Now, christian friends, what are you going to do about it.

 

CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.

            Last Friday night a poor unfortunate, although he is a Chinaman, called at the Police Station for protection and for redress against the murderous intentions of his countrymen, who had already attacked him, as his person showed every evidence of ill treatment. On the application being made known at the central Police Station the poor wounded Chinaman was told to go home, and come again in the morning.

            The sequel has shown that the poor fellow was in imminent danger.

            The question arises, who is to blame? It appears that the Marshal and his Deputy were both in town, but were not informed by their subordinate on duty at the time. Of course, no one is to blame, as this is only a case in which a Chinaman is concerned; but Chinese have feelings as well as other mortals, with equal right to protection of life and property from this government as other citizens, they paying their share towards the support of the government. We are not favorable to the importation of Chinese into the country, for several reasons. They are brought here to work in competition with those who are already here, of all classes, for no good cause except to help enrich those who are already wealthy and help make the poor of the land poorer. But we are sympathisers of all classes of poor people, whether Chinese or Hindoo, or any other nationality, and for this reason, will always raise our voice in defence of the rights of the poor and unfortunate whenever good cause is given. This is one of the occasions in which the police department has been criminally negligent and has laid its officers open to the just censure of the community.

           

            We published a week ago, some strictures upon the action of the Board of Education, in which we referred more particularly to the action of some one of the Board by proxy. This action, we are informed, was done in the election of the 2nd Clerk or Secretary of the Board, there being an equal division when the vote of the President was cast in favor of the present Clerk. As we have said, this transfer by proxy of authority may be very proper for a person in his own personal affairs during his absence; but we are certain it is contrary to law, in that of a public office. The appointment is a public one, and is made by the sovereign at the suggestion of the Cabinet, and no delegation of power can be consistently made by the President to any person to act for him in his public capacity, any more than can the Judges of the Supreme Conrt. As we urged, if an officer of the government is oblged to be absent, beyond a reasonable time, he should in honor resign from his office, and some one appointed protem until he can again assume his duties. A delegation of power by proxy, as in this instance, is an assumption of power not within the gift of the person so delegating it, and therefore wrong. A great deal of fault finding has been charged by the Party to which Mr. Bishop has always given his influence, and it is nothing more than just to Mr. B, and his friends, that the public should know how well virtue and piety is preached by some people, and how little they practice their own doctrines.

 

ON DIT.

            That at the serenade given to some of the tourists at the Hotel a few evenings ago one of the serenaders was prevailed upon to give a specimen of hula hui. Having become absorbed in the sensuous representation he was with difficulty induced to refrain by his friends who have grave doubts about the propriety of giving the whole of it, and that he might exhaust himself in extremis.

           

            That there is a "white" gambling den on Fort Street that is attracting considerable attention just at present. Several employees of the police station are seen in attendance. Perhaps it would be just as well for Marshal Wilson to find out how much his subordinates receive for patronising this institution. It might be well to remember that there was once a theory that it was the Marshal's business to enforce the law; perhaps it has been temporarily suspended.

 

            The the "Advertiser" yesterday contained two very timely and pertinent articles in regard to the Post Office service, confirming what we have many times said of this department. We are glad the "P. O. Advertiser" begins to feel at liberty to criticise official mismanagement and corruption. The other refers to Chas Mahope, the wooden, the impenetrable, the uncircumventable, the inspired obstructionist, the block in the wheels of the government machinery. If the "P. C. A." is going to advance we will not accuse it of plagiarism.

 

            That Dep. Marshal Mehrtens and ex-Attorney Peterson, while feeling poetic, last Saturday, took a drive along the beach, beyond the Heads southeast of the town, only to hear the wild waves say, Where, oh, where is that o-p-i-u-m buried.

 

            That "blood-letting" a fraternal freemasonary sort of blood baptism was performed by the Marshal, by proxy, and an ex-Attorney-General. This weird and interesting ceremony was performed late last week in the regions near the Smuggler's Den.

 

            That the great fisher of Chinese, Mr. Asieu, who was to have obtained three thousand more slaves for our slave owners, was glad to get back again to Hawaii nei in his natural skin. We are credibly informed that owing to telegraphic information officially received from Washington by the Chinese Government, a little street notice was placarded offering a gift of one thousand dollars for the caudal appendage and attachment thereto belonging to the proselyte of our Christian churches, and who was engaged largely on this mission on account of the brethrens' sugar interests. The system of working the devil out and wedging in Christianity between the peepers from the brawny fist of our plantation slave drivers, having been found to make the Chinese develop those rare Christian graces of meekness and docility, and himself being a first fruit, he was considered a very fit messenger to send like Peter, to fish after more heathens in the interest of the good cause. But the Christian Asieu has returned in evident haste, and like the poor fishermen of Galilee, without succeeding in envoigling any one of his poor countrymen into his manstealing toils.