The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-04-06

We believe It to be sound principle as
vel as good practice, in an insular com.
munity Ike ours, for the people to trade
with, and to employ each other. A com
rnunity thrives by the thriving of its indi-
vidual members, and these again by deal
ing with each other. Labor is the basis
Of gam, the real source of wealth, whether
Il he performed by the merchant in mis-
counting room, the mechanic in his
shop Idleness is not productive, yet, no
one viii labor unless he hopes to receive
some adequate compensation therefor, and
paving labor is impossible except there is
; demand for It. That community, there
fore, which does not employ its own citi-
sens to supply IT'S own wants, so far as
that Is practicable and reasonable, pursues
most shor1-sighted policy, and one that
tends TO the impoverishment of all its in
dividual members Yet it is difficult to
persuade individuals that their own in
terests viii be promoted more effectually
by that which promotes the general good,
where the latter must be attained through
any sacrifice of personal advantage or
benefit Let every one buy where he can
buy the cheapest, is a free-trade maxim
that seems incontrovertible as well as
mos, reasonable, and vet if every person
here, able to do so by reason of his
acquaintance, or facilities abroad, were to
follow the maxim, ii would be impossible
for merchants TO keep on hand desirable
variety Of goods, or to sell at reasonable
prices; or for mechanics to stay here and
serve the public convenience, or the pub
Ec necessities, in their work.
Cheapness of price, as well as variety of
assortment, depends upon the largeness of
trade, and 1t is quite evident that where
sales are extensive the profits may be
smaller with advantage to both seller and
consumer. SO also the mechanic, who is
assured Of plenty of work in his line, may
cheaper his productions by increasing his
facilities and conveniences for the doing
CT his work; and as each Improvement
for doing It tends to enlarge his ability to
90 more, and also other classes of work,
by the natural progression of business,
the community receives enlarged accom-
datiOn in the supply of its wants and at
cheaper prices.
This result is seen in the case of large
cities, those centres of trade which spring
up in large and prosperous countries.
Business Of ali kinds concentrates in such
places; the merchant and the manufactur-
er, the trader and the artisan, congregate
there, and through the largeness of their
business reduce profits to their minimum
point Such cities draw business from all
the surrounding towns, draining them of
their proper share of trade and dwarfng
them, so that they prevent the growth
and expansion of these smaller towns,
and destroy the industries and business
that would grow up except for the over
shadOwing influence of the greater and
richer city in their neighborhood. Ma
tons admit this tendency by framing laws
20 keep their trade within their own bor-
ders. 1t happens, either fortunately or
unfortunately, that we are at a distance,
far removed from the great marts of the
worlds distance that never can be ami
Inflated much beyond what has already
been done by the ocean steamers now run
ming TO San Francisco that both
goods and mechanical work are somewhat
dearer here than in those marts. We can