The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-12-28
The Reciprocity Treaty.

The discussion Of the Reciprocity Treaty with
the Sandwich Islands before tie San Francisco
Chamber Of INNER brought out n variety of
views in relation tn the expectancy of the measure
and its probable influence upon this coast. There
are many interests here anu ut the East that may
be affected by it, and these viii no doubt exert an
influence upon It's fate. The treaty with Canada,
Notwithstanding the great development of business
that was at least Simultaneous with Its operation,
was defeated by class interests which became
strong during the war. The policy ofthe Govern
ment ut this moment seems To be, however, one of
territorial expansion. The acquisition of terri
tory all over the world i a very active principle
with il. and one To which present commercial in
terest- will probably be considered secondary.
That il is very desirable 10 annex the Sandwich
Islands TO this country there can he no doubt.
But the feasibility of il at this moment Is not so
APPARENT. for reasons which we have heretofore
stated. The next best thing to annexation, ap-
parcntlv. is the removal of such Instructions to
trade a. will effect commercial annexation, or so
increase the mutual dependence as will make closer
political connection Indispensable. The Islands
have an area OF 800 square miles. The popula-
ton in 1853 was given at 12,lS4. of which $3.50
were whites. liz II now estimated ut I'd, 900, of
which 5000 are whites. showing a rapid decline
in native population, with a slow accession of the
foreign element. In the last fifteen years there has
been little increase in the productions. of which the
principal article il sugar. The quantity exported
IN 1857 was 63i .955 pounds. and IL is now about
- TFNN@ftN l'Aht~" 1"S NNI
for the production of sugar il represented as very
great. As far AZ land goes it is supposed TO be ca
Iable Of supplying the Union with sugar, but
labor and capital are required to prosecute it.
The former may be supplied from China to any
extent at four dollars per month, and the latter
will flow in from America, - long rs it's employ
ment may be found profitable. This, however, is
a work of time, rs seen in the example of the
Mauritius. InasInuch Us the treaty is for seven
years, with the right of either party to abrogate it
Ut twelve months notice. il is questionable wheth-
er capital will be disposed 10 embark in it.
Should it do 80, however, the natives will disap-
pear, and a new population consisting of CoOlie
workers and American employers succeed. The
natural outlet for the sugar is in this market,
which from its proximity and regular intercourse,
with the increasing demand tor consumption,
affords q field for all that can be Produced in the
Islands. These advantages have thus far enabled
the Hawaiian planters TO dispose of nearly their
whole crop here as it has been progressively de-
veloped, in competition with those OF Central and
South America, as well rs that of the China Seas.
But the whole production of the Islands has barely
reached 50 per cent. of the consumption. The
proportion of sugar which comes to this market
iron, the Sandwich Islands is about 80 per cent,
ne seen In the following table: