The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-08-16

1Ash NAN AAaNA@NAhA - WI AAAfN@AN 49, 49,.
am not surprised that Mr.. Castle should with
draw, for the longer and more complete the discussion,
the greater would be the exposure Of the iadeicnsi-
blity Of the measure he advocates and Of the evils
that would follow its successful passage, which it
appears scarcely credible, any man of ordinary in
t~elligence could fail to perceive.
now thank you sir. most cordially, for your kind
ness in a%fforiing me. through yonr columns. an OPP
portunity Of defending the stand I took in my
address TO a native audience on the Soth Of June
last, and from which | see ne reason to retreat.
GODFREY RHopEs.
Mr.. EDIroR IL have some thoughts, suggested
by the discussion of the proposed cession of territory
to the United States, which may or may not be of
value in a consideration of the question, but which,
nevertheless. | shall venture to put before your
readers.
1t is perhaps true that the President Of the United
| States and his Cabinet favor the scheme for the ces-
sion of Pearl River; but it will be well to remember
that they also favored a somewhat similar scheme in
regard to San Domingo, and the defeat they met
with is now a matter of history. One of the ele-
ments, at least, which entered into the discussion of
that scheme. and helped largely TO defeat it, was the
unpopularity Of the proposition in San Domingo. IL
is more than folly TO claim that the cession Of Pearl
River is popular in these islands. that is with the
voters of this kingdom. Any one who runs may
read a different verdict. 1t is said, and perhaps
with some truth, that the measure of its unpopularity
with the natives is based upon unreasonable preju-
dice. Admitting this we must also admit that it is
all the more difficult to overcome. We may reason
with q man of judgment with some hope Of success;
but how shall we overcome a prejudice which has
been handed down from generation TO generation,
seemingly intensifying as it progresses. Such is the
prejudice, if you will call it SO, that exists with the
Hawaiian in relation to the alienation of territory; n
prejudice, however, which has, if history is to be
believed, existed in the minds of most races since the
time of Adam. We should remember, when the
judgments weak, the prejudice il strong"
This rash conflict with a so-called prejudice is fam
ming another prejudice as against the individual
foreigner which bodies no good. 1t was only in the
last session of the Legislative Assembly that this feel
ing against foreigners was plainly manifested, it was
evident that the native members felt that the for
eigners were making en~croachments upon what was
considered their rights, and some measures
were undoubtedly defeated from this cause. The
sneering tone which was used in allusion to hdoieS
was, to put it mildly, unpleasant. 1t seems to me,
therefore, poor policy to urge n measure upon the
natives, which with the present outlook has but poor
prospect of success at home or abroad, at the expense
of an increase of prejudice against foreigners, par
ticularly Americans.
We have perhaps been too extravagant in the use
of machinery for the production of the finest grades
of sugar. These grades come in direct competition
with the refinery grades in our principal market, and
| so at once we make the refinery interest our oppo-
nent. There are, If | am correctly informed, 1S or
10 sugar refneries in the United States, and, touch
ing their future purpose and policy, an article has
appeared in q late ST. Louis paper advising concerted
action in securing congressional aid, to the end that
there may be an abatement of duties on refining
grades of sugar, if not an abolition of duties. The
popular cry of a reduction of cost of this essential
article of food is made to the masses, and when we
consider the force and effectiveness of this cry,
together with the rapid strides which the principles
of free trade are making in the minds of the people
of the United States, particularly in the West, and
last, but by no means least, the power welded by a
lobby in the interest Of 10 wealthy manufactures
who have formed n combination for the purpose Of
mutual assistance, it is not unreasonable to suppose
that they may gain their ends. If so, what will be
the effect upon our interests? If the reasoning of
our planters and their factors be correct, the reduc-
ton of duties upon even a portion, however small, of
our products must enure to our benefit. We must
| all acknowledge that "half a loaf is better than no
bread - therefore if the duties are removed from our
refining grades Of sugar we are gamers by so much.
The result Of a reduction of duties on the refining
grades of our sugar will enable refneries to g bear"
out of their market our best grades. 1t seems to me,
and | advance the proposition with some d~ifidence,
that our best course would be to unite our influence,
whatever it may be, with that Of the refineries in
their efforts to reduce the tariff on refining grades Of
sugar, and then turn our attention to their produc-
ton in larger quantities. By joining the refneries
We may hope for partial success, while in opposing
them we cannot but expect disappointment. l am
| aware that this may be called a half measure by the
planters who have extensive plants with the latest
improvements for the manufacture of the higher
grades of sugar, and that to secure such a conces-
sion they will work with half heartedness.
The adversities which have beset our sugar inter
est, and which threaten the fortunes of individuals
connected with it, are not new in the history of the
interest. Abiding to the sugar estates in the British
West India colonies, a recent writer says "That
the West Indian houses, either by themselves or their
partners individually, hold a large portion of the
sugar estates, including the largest, finest and best
cultivated, and that the extent to which these same
houses hold mortgages upon the remaining estates
cannot be guessed; but the tendency of estates in
general is evidently to fall into their hands; that the
present proprietors have purchased not inherited
their estates" Other writers treating this industry
in other parts of the world bear much the same
testimony. The risks attending sugar growing and
manufacture in these islands are no exception to the
general experience. But with the change Of pro-
prietorship in other sugar producing countries we do
49,. how 90 IN. rarrnauaDt daaav If tho inrnrast