The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-01-25
San Francisco Chamber Of
Commerce.

interested IN some sugar Plantations IN tiat
country:
The undersigned member of the Committee ap-
pointed to make inquiry and report upon the
present proposed Reciprocity Treaty with the
Hawaiian Islands and it, probable effect upon the
interest of the Pacific States, and more particular
Nv the Commerce Of San Francisco, respectfully
submits That the extent of territory ut the Haw-
allan Islands susceptible of the cultivation of sugar
cane j. very large. On tie windward side of the
Island Of Hawaii alone, rs will readily be seen by
reference 10 maps and descriptions, not less than
500, 900 acres OF excellent clear land skirts the sen,
with every facility for profitable sugar growing,
and manufacturing, water-powerand woodland in
abundance; and there il probably ON the whole
group Of islands not less than Loco, 200 acres of
land well adapted for profitable sugar-raising.
For tie production of the grade of sugar speci-
fed ~ this treaty, eighteen months 20 two years
would DC required To mature and take of n crop,
and the machinery used would be OF the most
simple nature and construction. Ii would be safe
o. remark that on the ratification OF the treaty
hundreds Of plantations would lie projected, and.
in the time specified, sugar enough taken OF TO
supply a large proportion Of the consumption Of
tine whole United States. The impetus given to
this interest BY the effect of the treaty would nc
such ~ has never been known in the history of
Commerce As, Tor instance. n plar ter at present
produces sugar prOftably ut &c. per ?ound, the re-
finer, in looking for the raw product, 1t appears,
cannot do better than ray that price, together
with the present tariff of Sc. per pound. That il,
in competition with other countries. take OF the Ia
Tiii, and a profit increases to the planter Of Sc. per
pound, o., ON the cultivation Ut 1 900 acres ofcane,
Mt least 500, 900 in gold per annum.
In regard TO the enhanced condition Of our
trade and the creation of an extensive market by
operation Of this treaty, il il presumed that the
export % builiing materials would be increased TO
n certain cxtent-nOt very probably, however, rs
We have the mills of British Columbia To compete
with, ut an advantage of only 10 per cent. duties
rcmitted, which would be equal, say, to 81 per VI
feet, which l. not much protection Oh n bulky ar
ticlc TO be transported 300 miles.
Machinery would probably. as heretofore, be
derived from English ports, as we'll ~ cotton and
mot other manufactures in use. 80 every mer-
chant familiar with our prices is aware that they
could very successfully compete with us, even with
the abatement of 10 per cent. in our favor, for
our brcadstuff. y larger demand would ensuc, but
IL appears that where we would be increasing our
outlet for some articles in this trade. we would en-
tircly discontinue an exchange of commodities with
other sugar producing countries, by reason of
being dcbarTed the extraordinary subsidy granted
To- Hawaiian production.
The population Of the Islands is estimated at
GO. 900 souls, 1000 being foreigners of different
nationalitics, and the majority natives, who seem
to be, or should be, perfectly satisfied with the
present government, whichis conducted upon very
liberal principles, whatever may be the idea of
others. In regard to the prejudice of the King or
people for other nat;onalitie-, his present Majesty
never lO-e- tl1nt OF the uDctrlns, hawaii Tor
Ilawaiiins and whatever bright illusions may be
set forth by his enissaries Of prospects in the fu-
ture Of annexation by the method of this treaty
and its working. ut the expiration Of seven years,
with a country enriched and powerful, he will be
quite as likely To wish his subjects TO take up
profits, n tn desire to curtail his territory. And
any disturbance ON the part ofthe worthy portion of
tie community. formerly Americans, would give
him cause 10 call in the assistance of England and
France, with whom we are bound in honorable
compact To keep inyiolatc this domain.
The military and political position of these is
lands can be better defined by parties moro able,
and n ! understand this important item, it is not
in our province as merchants to discuss.
The people Of this coast hold the life OF these
Islands in their OWN hands at present, and will
continue 10 do so, n our ports are naturally the
only possible outlet for their productions; while
on the other hand we are quite independent, hay-
ing n variety Of countries all competing for our
supplies, and for our market in return for their
exports, as long a. they arc all on an equal footing.
They cannot look tIyorably upon tine idea of
this treaty cyentuating either in the annexation or
acquisition OF this country. y few years of such
profitable business would place il III a very differ
ent position from that il enjoys ut present. The
would have realized enough To guarantee
them IN cnteayDring to sustain their government,
n peculiar institution 80 favorable To their inter
este, and much more dcsirable To- tire landholdcrs
than our own, the entire tax being but / Of Ter
cent. ON valuation Per anuum import duties 10
Ter cent. ad ~raL0ruIH on all articles excepting
spirits COOlic labor, with cocrcivc laws Mt 81 per
wages ard forsoOth, We are called upon To
give this highly-iavOred country the monopoly OF
supplying US with sugar NJ 4 profit of nearly 100
Per cent. Ter annum, when, as il appears that the
landed estate u not OF any considerable value and
our Government could possibly, with favorable di-
purchase the i've islands of Hawaii with
is splendid haTbOr and extensive range Of terrific
" for what would prove one year loss OF revenue,
increasing the value Of an article for another, does
seem 20 be the most reliable manner Of facili-
iating the economical purchase Of il.
II 10 not remarkable the extraordinary care used
IN the drawing of the treaty. not to infringe upon
,ur Sugar Refinery interest ut home, which, al
though proper to n certain extent, might eycntu-
lily, or sooner tlananticiIaied, become exceedingly
,urdcnsOme to the consumers ON this coast, having
io alternative but To purchase all table sugars ut
prices regulated by n few mOnopolists with no
outside competition, asour young State has already
uttered severely from different classes ormOnOpo-
lists, which have been allowed to grow up in our
midst and prosper Mt expense Of our vitality.
The very Objectionable feature presents itself in
he grossly immoral results of the ratification of the
there not being sufficient laboring
even now on the islands, to meet the
resent requirements, which has given rise to the
by the Government, of n Bureau of
Emigration, which has. under the worthy title for
t. occupation. the business of importing Chinese
IOolics for the use of those who wish them.
several cargOes have arrived, and been divided
lmong the different plantations. The coolie trade,
o abhOrrent TO our intelligent community, and
Igainst which, with our own country oyer-stocked.
nen have wisely, have duly enacted laws, is to be
for the purpose of enriching an exceedingly
United monarchy nj our expense. An injustice il
cling done our own citizens and their children by
ampering to an interest supported by this ac-
.nOwleiged wrong. and especially where our own
ense dictates that honest, free and enlightened
lbor could not compete on our own ground in ,
his very class of production with = country bur
cned with nominal taxation and using an element
nd system oflabor which we cannot but dcprecate.
On three clauses the objections to the ~ratifca- ,
ion of this treaty are most apparent: !