The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-07-01
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THUPSDAY. JULY /.

1T nardly seems TWO years since we Nentureu u
issue the first number of the Commercial Adrer
tiser. Yet it is SO and to-day we enter on the
third year of its existence and issue the first nun
Der of Volume Ill. The work which we under
took in establishing this paper, though selfim-
posed, was urgently demanded by every interest
in the community, and it has afforded us no little
qualification that our efforts have been so cordi-
ally seconded by the intelligent foreign commu-
nifty of these islands, which, though limited in
numbers and resources, has always shown itself
possessed of those refnements and that liberality
which place it on a level, if not above, any COM
munity of similar extent in the world, and
which are necessary fundamental elements in
sustaining any literary enterprise.
Yet, notwithstanding our efforts have been SO
warmly seconded that We have been enabled to
establish and conduct this paper without loss, we
have thus far been able only to make the receipts
balance the expenses, without allowing any COM
p~ensation to the publisher, whose time is mostly
devoted to it. Most of our subscribers who are
not familiar with the cost of printing, are not
aware of the heavy outlay required to keep up a
daily or weekly paper, nor dream, when solicited
for the annual subscription or for the small fee
for an advertisement, that it requires as much to
sustdlH IL IiptT as u carry Oh IL mdHuldCGOTy VI
a sugar plantation. Much less did they imagine
when applauding the idea of starting an indie
pendent paper, that the publisher would be re-
quired to pay out during the first two years of its
existence. the sum of 81 sos a, to commence
and maintain it. Yet a correct account kept
shows that this sum has been expended during
that period in the purchase of necessary materi-
ais, presses, paper, &C., and in the payment
of necessary labor connected with its main
tenance, although conducted with rigid econ
omy, and with a full knowledge Of the bust
ness on the part of the publisher. A portion
of the above outlay, it is true, will not re-
quire to be repeated at present. rs it con-
sists of permanent stock materials. We re-
fer to the expense incurred to show the public
that We have not been behind hand in our en-
deayors to establish Il press devoted to free thought
and free discussions. Should our hamble efforts
continue to meet in future the same support from
4 generous public that they have during the past,
and we doubt not they will, we shall be fully salts
fed for whatever sacrifices we may have made.
We must however remind our patrons that the
relation between the press and the public is mu-
tuaL. While it is the duty of. the former to up
hold every valuable interest of the State and soci-
ETY., it is equally the duty of the latter to stand
by and sustain the press. All classes and pur-
suits have more or less to do with it and are iu-
terested in It's success excepting only rogues and
demagogues). Scattered us our population is
over these islands, they feel the need of a news
paper more than perhaps other communities do,
and a greater obligation rests on them to aid in
sustaining it.
We are sometimes, met with the remark that
our charges, especially for advertising, are high.
The truth however is, that they are lower in COM
parison with the prices of merchandise, than
those of any other paper of a like character in
the United States or England. Our advertisers
are demanded but a trife compared with what
merchants pay in California and Oregon. There
are merchants in San Francisco who pay regu-
larry from 800 to 5000 per month for adver-
tising and newspapers, and who, as a general
thing, get their money back in alargely increased
business. 1t is this that sustains so many papers
in San Francisco and California. There the i'm
preston is general that the newspaper is the great
advertising agent-and that the business man
who expects to succeed and does not use it, is a
logical fool-or a natural one. The idea that
the good natured and punctual advertiser sells
much, and sells cheap, takes hold of the public
feeling wherever the paper goes, and gives him a
kind of magical superiority; while the penurious,
shop-keeping ~Shylock, who wears his elbows to
the bone all day on his l~istless counters, and
wonders why customers don't come, will rust
and sink iii obscurity. No shrewd man attempts
a business at this day, requiring public patronage
without plentiful advertising.
a good newspaper is a complete index of what
is going on in the world. 1t is a living history
faithfully recording all the incidents that may
t%ranspire here or elsewhere. 1t gives the latest
remarkable eyents-every fresh thought-all new
deas-the newest discovery, whether geograph-
ical, scientific or historical affords all possible
insight into the profoundest mysteries of human
life; presents detachable questions in every con-
ceivable shape. 1t matters not in what foreign
language news worth knowing is announced, the
newspaper furnishes it To you in your mother
tongue.
We shall study to make each new volume sup
ply more fully than the last the wants of CUP
island and foreign readers. Yet where material
for news is often SO wanting, they can readily i'm
agine the quandary W. are sometimes placed in,
in seeking for matter which will be instructive as
well as interesting to all. In this, however, we
can receive material aid from our subscribers re-
siding in other districts of the group, who some
times witness occurrences i'm their vicinity, the
publication of which will be of general interest.
Such communications are always gladly received,
and give variety to the paper.
Report Of the Interior Department.
On the outside pages of to-day's paper We print