The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-11-06
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY. 6.

commerce and CIVILIZATION tnfOuSnOut the WoFlu
The press, by its diffusion of knowledge in every
branch of science, literature and art, Yields an all
powerful influence over the intellect and mind of man
But while the press thus aids the mind, the steam
engine aids in no less degree the arm, increasing
mans power a thousand fold, and thus increasing the
amount of labor that he is able to perform. Both
these agencies, when free and working together, tend
to unite the different parts of a nation, as well as to
bring together the remote nations of the earth, and
to give them a greater influence over each other.
But it is especially when the steam engine IS applied
as a motive power to vessels that its influence is felt
perhaps the greatest. California and Oregon would
never have been what they now are, even with their
gold-producing valleys, but for the aid of steam,
which has served them in travel and trade, beyond
all former experience. Next to her gold fields, 1t is
the steam engine, in connection with the press, and
united with that indomitable energy which has &C
companied them, that has built up along the bays,
rivers, and valleys of California, the fourishing cities
and villages which there exist. 1t is the steam engine
that now ministers to the wants of her population,
adding yearly to their wealth, and contributing to
their comfort and happiness.
We stated in our last issue that the charter which
was granted in 1858 to the Hawaiian Steam Naviga-
ton Company by this Government, giving to that
OIupdhy CAO HtOHOpOy VI SISoh1llS IN luCSc
Islands for ten years, had been annulled by the
Supreme Court, as the company had not complied
with the terms of their charter. The following is the
decision of the Court IN the matter, as published in
the Polynesian
ain conclusion, we would say that. if we were able to discover
a bona fde intention on the part of the company to carry out
their contract and furnish the Islands with the requisite steam
facilities, we should long hesitate to decree their privileges for
feited but this we cannot discover, while on the contrary, it
appears plain to us, upon the most satisfactory evidence, that
there is and has been a lack of N Such intention We thiDk
that justice, equity, and a due regard for the public good, require
steam facilities for the Islands, should no longer be prevented
from so doing, by the exclusive privileges conferred upon Carrot
W. Ryckman and others. We think the Company have forfeited
the privileges of their grant, and we see no good reason why we
should not declare the same forfeited, under the powers conferred
upon this Court by the 18th Article of the same grant. We do,
accordingly, adjudge and decree all the exclusive rights and pn-
to Carrot W. Ryckman, Emery L. Pease, William A. ~Lighthall,
Perry G. Childs, and Richard H.. Bowlin, associated under the
name and style of the Hawaiian Steam Navigation Company,
and their associates and successors, to be forfeited, and we here,
by declare the same forfeit"
In making this decision, the Court has not only
decreed justice in the case, but has expressed the
unanimous will of the public. Monopolies, as a gen.
eral thing, are injurious to the prosperity of a cdun-
try. Sometimes they may be productive of more good
than evil, but not often. 1t is unfortunate for our
young Kingdom that both these agents of commerce
the steam engine and the printing press-have here
tofore been fettered by monopolies and restrained from
a full development of their power by a misjudged
policy of the government policy which at the time
of it's adoption was deemed wise, but has proved
detrimental in both cases to the commercial interests
of the nation. Free and unrestrained competition in
every business is always productive of the best results.
At the time the monopoly in steam was granted, it
was believed that the parties who asked for it were
fully able and ready to carry out the requirements of
their contract hut experience has shown that such
belief was incorrect, for up to the day of the annulling
of tho n of+or NO m, ~, TO- $500 - ~ -,
Company for inter-island navigation, nor has one ever
bee6 introduced at all adapted to the trade.
1.-THE Company to whom the charter was awarded
sent down from San Francisco the S. B. Wheeler. o
frail North river boat, totally unfit to go out of sight
OF land. And although the boat did manage to run
between the Islands for a year or two, yet on several
occasions her escape from disaster was only a miracle
Then came the Sea Bird, a staunch boat of her class.
but in size entirely out of proportion for the service
needed. Lastly came the West Point, a Door worth
less boat, with weak machinery and a patcbed-un
boiler, picked up for service here after having been
lald aside as unfit even for the inland California
service. and which ought to have been condemned on
her first arrival here. Neither of the tbroe hoo.
sent here by the Company were built for or adanted
to the inter-island navigation, which. as we ol know
L over rough channels and subject in the winter
months to strong gales.
The Sea Bird, after a few trips. returned 70 s.n
francisco; the Test Point, owning to her Door
nIacnlhery, or some other cause, was lost at Koloa
haual ana the remaining boat, the s. B. Wheeler
Ut '16omaa, has been used for the last wear az a tow
oOat Tor this harbor, but is now laid by. In the
matter OF lnter-island navigation we are about as
oaaiy on as we were ten years ago, when a week was
d snort passage from Kauai to Oahu, only l25 miles.
ana ten days from Honolulu to Hilo, (280 miles
was something worth recording, as very remarkable
Inc coast Is once more clear for the introduction If
steamers by any parties at home or abroad who NAV
choose 10 do so. There are no legal distinctions
eAsCng' and we think that none will hereafter he
fased' should any individual or company choose To
undertake the establishment of inter-island steamers
Dut who Is to undertake it? IF done at all, it must
either De by the Government, by domestic CAPITAL or
oy foreign capital. As a general rule, it is not wise
ior governments to undertake what properly BELONGS
70 Individual enterprise, so long as there is any chance
that private enterprise will supply the wants of the
Government work is usually executed with
uouoie the outlay which is required when private
capital IS employed, or if bounden contracts are made
the work is too often performed only in a superficial
When it becomes clear, however that
private enterprise cannot or viii not undertake a
Work absolutely needed, it is right and proper that
the work should be undertaken by the government.