The new Territory of Hawaii seems never to have been the haven of those "who left their country for their countrys good." The foundation of this portion of the citizenship was the families of the first missionaries. from which has sprung and to which has been added traders. planters. professional men. and latterly a liberal sprinkling of stalwart young Americans. rich only in honest character and ambition. who have sought these shores to establish homes and build up communities. Such is the character of the men whom we all will admit are the first line of defense. the strongest bulwark of the Territory. While all this is true. those who fail to appreciate the sterling qualities of the 18.000 representatives of the Latin race who came to these shores first as contract laborers but a few years ago from the Azores mistake greatly the character of the people upon whom they pass judgment. I know no people who in the same length of time have so much improved their conditions as have these Portuguese. and I give more credit for this to their good qualities than to any advantageous conditions which have surrounded them. They are the best gardeners and small farmers in the islands. and their little farms are scattered over every island from Hawaii to Niihau.
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contract laborers