Hawaii Holomua, Volume II, Number 20, 24 January 1894 — The Chinese Qtiestion. [ARTICLE]

The Chinese Question

The Plantersʻ Labor and Supply Company have been in session this week and done less than the usual amount of talking. The most interesting portion of the subjects, before the meeting, was, as usual, the report of the committee on Labor. It was the more interesting because of there being at present a movement on foot to flood tbe couutry with Chiuese coolies. Me have, in furmer issues of the HOLOMUA tried to show how extremely onpopular soch a policy will be to all classes, and we have advocated a continued iiuportation of Jupanese if really any iuore Ubor is needed. The Attorney-General, who also seeras to be a planter, referred, in his address to the meeting. to the risk iu getting more Japanese here on account of the Japanese Government s demand, that Hawaii shall fulfill her treaty obligations to Japan. The Attorney (Jeneral knows as well as we do, and we notice that the<S7ar backsouropiuion that the demand of the Japauese Government is of small practical moment as all what is asked is that those Japauese who have the necessary (lualificutions uuder our Constitution, if wo have one, shall have the same rights as the citizens of the most f«vored nations, and uone of the Japanese plautation laborers possess those qualifications, (we thought more-ovor that a frunchise iu Hawaii was athing of the past never to be resurrected.) The committee on Labor did not follow. the Attorney-(īeueral altogether becauso, throngh Mr. Bolte, it was suid that the Japanese were '‘iiidustrious, cheerful, and a i'aluahle eulāilion to the popnla * /ion.’’ But tho Chinese found, strange to say a strong ehampiou in that valiant Scotchman Mr. Morrison, the manager of Makaweli. That gontleman evideutly Joes not believe in encouraging the white mechanics, and workingmen in Hawaii, because he suggested that restriction upon the importation of Chinese should be removed. There were too many Japanese iu the country. The Chiuese wero the best aud steadiest plantation workers. They did not organizo and threaton such eou cort«d action as “strikiug.” They were sober. Mr. Morrisou evidently doosu't care a rap for the fact that “ unrestricted” Cbinameu very soon wouhi drop plantations — except he should mako them lunas, sugar boilers, clerks or euginoers aud eome to Honolulu to compete with Mr. Morrison's brother Scotchmeu in the line of mechauics and workingmen. That the Chinese only organize on plantations, now and then, to kill a luua or beat au iuformer or nre “sober” ou opium, whenever they got a elianee, is noue of Mr. Morrison’s ati'air. They dou’t strike for higher wages aud they cousequently are men to Mr. Morrison’s liking. Only, of course, according to The same authoriiy the working dogs in this coa«try pet too mneh wages anyhow, wherefore, he with envy, tells the meeting that “lu Java, plautation laborers were paid but $4 to $5 a month, aud 1000 hands eouKL be had in twenty-foui houre.” TVe hope after this that there will be no objections to the further immigration of the virtuous «nd high-prioed Chiuese Iaborers—if there is we will risk that tbe plantere will bless the eoun try with $4—a month Javanese and tben were would Tim and the rest of the crowd be then.

W.,H. (?) Arm>trong is quoted «s desirtug to iudu)go in oyster p)antiog and ;ds > as an exix>ueut on “Practic*l Politic8. n Mr. Armstroug is supposed to be a sLntBger, vi.sitiug hore tox a sbort period.