The Hawaiian Gazette

In a last desperate effort to save their misguided ex-leaders from jail, former members of the defunct Japanese higher wage association are resorting to threats of violence. The Advertiser yesterday received a communication from one who tried to make it appear that he is a laborer, vowing dire vengeance upon the heads of the sugar planters should Makino and his associates be forced to serve their sentences on the reef.

The letter was written in Japanese, but the envelope was addressed in a legible hand. The letter itself, according to the Japanese who translated it, is the work of an educated man and not of a laborer. Furthermore, the paper upon which it is written is such as is used in Japanese newspaper offices. The translation of the letter follows:

Messrs. Commercial Advertiser Co.,
Editor Advertiser:-

I shall be very much obliged if you will spare a space in your paper to inform obstinate managers of the sugar plantations of Hawaii that upon hearing that the leaders of the higher wage advocates were convicted in court and the decision was sustained against all because we laborers demanded higher wages last year, I feel that we made a mistake in striking in a civilized way against barbarous planters. Upon this conviction, I feel that we have to adopt barbarous ways to deal with barbarous men. Should the advocates of higher wages in Honolulu go to jail, we will change the manner of strike this year and will attack the planters in an exceedingly barbarous manner as that of the car men of Philadelphia.

If anyone doubt what I say, first send the Honolulu advocates of higher wages to jail and watch the next couple of months. I do not know of other islands, but on Oahu and Maui there will be cane and houses on fire followed with the destruction of managers mansions and mills and machineries.

Kindly inform the wretches of the planters who are rapacious into excess.

RINKI-O'HEN SEL.
(Nom de plume, meaning a man who adapts himself to circumstances.)