Hawaii Holomua, Volume III, Number 125, 29 Mei 1894 — Swedes Not Wanted. [ARTICLE]

Swedes Not Wanted.

■— The statemem in this inorn- j ing’s Adtt'rtiiser tbat Mr. Allen '• Herbert is to be ei'trusted wilh . the trtsk of iuvestigatiug tbe p<>gsibilitv of obtaiuiug a sopply ; of l«borers from Sweden, is wortby of iuore thaa a passing noticb. Tbe Swedes, and iu fact all the nationalities of Scaudinavia, are of the sort that go to make good citizeus in any state in whieh tbe industrions agricub • turist ean becoroe a freeholder. Tbe government of Queensland for years bronght ont to that co!ony Scandinaviuns free, at a cost to the public treasnry of a huudred do!lars a bead. But wh* n the immigr>nt Ianded be wws free to start in business for htmse f, or engago to work for whom Lo pleased. The agents of ihe Quaensland goverumunt seiected ouly agricaltarists, or those who were skilled ia ihe

«rorking of iron or timber. If Ihe ima)igrant «li«i «:ot reli*h tbe j*ro»pect before hin». he wa> fr»*e to return home; at fai» ovd ex- i peose. Here tLe con r i tions cocfronting the new arrival are rery differeot —an<3 in sbnrt. without gtTĪng nnnjerou« reasons. whv. ? tbey are sncb tfaat if bonestlv , made known to the Swede at hoioe, wonU ooi tempt him to eome. Years of contract with tbe plianl and obsequioos oriental • eoolie. ii is ntterly nnfitted the Hawaiiao p!anter for deaiiug witb snch an in*le}*end«-iit nnd )iberty luving race :»s tlie Swe*ies. whiie the snrronndinps of our svstem of contr«ct labor w*.uld make tbe i Swede rebellion' fr«*u» the start and tlte usu.il methods nsed for euf**rcement of the 1abur lnws with a gang of S»e«les, w«>nld }>rgve a new ai>d slriking ex|>eiienee t<> the «vernge Lnna. The statement that they ♦ (t:>e Swetles) “ar«- of very differeut h:tb*ts to tbe Nui >v«-pians, mav be intemleii t«> coovey tbe idea of snperioritv of some sort onthep.rtof t!*e Swede. Perhaps the writer uieant that the ; Swede would reqoire a elean napkin at the j lantation table, aiid uiatting on tf«e rof the sbed whieli the plauter would give him to live m. ]jut if he stited that the Sweede woui.i expect beer with his meaie, and a nip of ‘br intwrtiu »s oft«ii »s he felt like it, aud tbat tb*-se things are j.art »*f h>s food at huiue and snpph»'d free to ev« rv l«borer; he woi>Id b- correct. Tbe Advertiser raight have theu added that the whole p*y of tbe Swedish laborer wouhl not pay for these liqnids, whieh not eveu the tracts nf the \\ . (k T L . would indnce him t> f«>rego. Mr. Allen Hcrbet left lii> native mnratirae village in the “snnd” some fifty years ag >, and c»n hardiy be regarded as an a\ithoritv in the matter of wliat aie the prosent conditions. If he kuows any*hing about the purchiisiiig power *>f iuouey he e and in I Sweden, he will coufess that a kroner t!iere, -will bay uiure than a dollar, four times its value as a eoiu, will do !ier«*. More- ; over tho experiiuent t>f bnnging i men frora the snow-clad regions to labor in a tropical Min, is n«>t ; a success uuywliere. 0:i the whole, if tlie | binters I want tu reopen tlie d«n»r whieh | the report of SweeJ.sh Counnissioaer Grip cl«*sed s»>n » y«*»rs ago. they liave a perfect, right to try to do so and pay ail «*xj>euse of the attempt. But w’hlle iv»dv to yiel«l our support t<> t .e mtroduction of the people who bid f.*ir to boild np Ang.o-Sax*>n ; institut ous. we einj>h»tica!lv pro- . test ugMiust squan*leriiig puliile . raoney on mi>ro than douhtful expenuients