Speech #670412737

In six years over 10.000 inmigrated ro these islauds. of whoni 1.260 returned to Japan. During 1878 aind the next six years about 2.000 Polynesians. mainly front the Gilbert Islands. were introduced late this country. These laborers. as . general rtl. did inot give satisfaction. and nelIrl all of them have sitci bee returued to thleir homes. (Alexander. p. 304.) After 1876 the Chinese ctime lit great numbers until their immlgratlon was checked ii 1886. (Alexander. p. 304.) As early is 1.850 Chinese coolies were Imported to work for at period of five years at $3 per lonth in addition to food. clothing. and passage nioney. tie latter beilg about $50 per mall. Boys were brought to work for $2 per month for five years. with passage mnoley of $50 per mani and support. " It was estilnated by those who emlloyed tlem that their wages and support wo]l amount to a trifle under $7 per mouth." (Hearings. p. 43:1.) The proponents of tils measure urge that it is necessary as1 a precaution against the Japanese menace. The very interests which now clamor for tile introduction of more Chinese coolies as it defense against the Japanese induced the Japanese to go to Hawaii as is shown by the above quotation from page 304 of Alexanilers Hlistory of the Hawaiian People. Many times have these interests resorted to Japan as the source of a cheap labor supply. (Hearings. pp. 53537.) Front 1885 to 1899 great alinbers of Japanese were being carried to ]Fawaii. their immigration being aided by appropriations front the public treasury of IHawail. (Hearings. p. 542.) As late .as 1908 the Governor of Hawaii wrote to the United States Secretary of the Interior. under date of January 24. 1908. expressing tplprehension that the measure then pending Ilightmaterially iliil. Japanese Imnmgration In which case. If the iiigration hill (loes nol pass. we shall tie cut off at both ends. a result that may prove very disastrous. * * * We do not wish to lose the Japanese until we dall got Ellropeans or Americans. (Letter Secretary Hughes. hearings. p. 929.) The people of -Hawail. like the people of California. have heretofore been alarmed by the menace of Chinese immigration. ALARMl 0 KING KA)FiaSlAMEHA .iV. King Kunehameha IV. who was probably much nearer the end of the rule of his people and much nearer the extinction of! his race than lie then realized. nevertheless foresaw. though with some vagueness. tile dire ending of his line anll is people. In his speech to the legislature of 1855 he said: It is to be regretted that the Chinese coolie immigrants to whom hts been given a trial of sutilcient length for testing their itless to silpply our wanl. of labor and population. have not realized the hopes of those who have incurred the expense of their introduction. They are not st. kind and traclable as It was anticipated they would be. and they seem to have no alinilties. attractions. or tendency to blend with this or aliy other race. In view of this failure it becomes a question of some moment whether a class of persons more nearly assimilated with the Hawiaiian race cotld not be introduced to settle on our soil.