The New York herald., 1873-09-30
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The Sugar Planters Policy Of Tcrritssial
CesSiOn to the United States.
Nativist Opposition-What Would Ameriee
mercial Interests-Customs Revenue and
Imports - Treasury Depression
Commerce with Australasia
HONOLULU. August II. 1878.

HONOLULU, August II. 1878
Since the date OF my last letter the question or
cedlng harbor to the United States has been
much discussed, and the advocates OF the measure,
sugar planters and their factors, feel somewhat
dismayed at the prospect of obtaining q treaty or
reciprocity, IL 1t depends upon cession or
Hawaiian territory. AS have before advised you.
tho sentiments OF the natives are most hostile TO tha
measure. memorials and petitions to tho King are
| coming In thick. and fast and very numcrousiy
signed.
HOME POLICY AND AMERICAN INTERESTS
The policy OF advocating this measure in the in
rerest OF q few sugar planters, who are much dis
appointed in the price obtained for their products
In San Francisco, Is o short-sighted one and will
tend to ALLEVIATE the regard with which the natives
have always looked upon America and her instltu-
tions. IL seems strange that Americans here can
be SO reckless OF the good name or their
native land. The natives always connect tho
acts OF foreigners in some manner with the
policy OF the country from whence they came. Am
satisfied that, from the King TO the humblese
laborer, Hawaiians dislike the proposed cession,
and should the United States consider the PROPOSE
tion 1t will only tend to weaken her influence IN
this group. The King consented to interrogate the
United States to the possibility of obtaining =
treaty, based upon such cession, simply to quiet
the opportunities OF the Chancellor OF the King
DOM who is so deeply into sugar that he has but
CUI BONOY
Those who know the proposed harbor oest doubt
sion as any n.y. equivalent qs for treaty ' The ant aatnOri
ties In Washington must be well posted at this
time as to the feasibility Of opening this harbor %
navigation. The depth and width OF the bar ut its
mouth, and the possibility OF It's becoming again
filled up, might well lead 10 careful consideration
Of the subject However, after the construction OF
the Pacific Railroad, engineers will not be checked
by such an obstacle as this bar presents.
PLANTERS PROFITS.
That the sugar planters should become dShoare>
cned at their present outlook one can well under
stand but why they should have recourse to such
an extreme measure, one that will surely fail
when presented TO the Legislative Assembly, ID
nard to explain. The sugars we manufacture since
the Introduction OF vacuum pans and other I'M
proved machinery, Is OF such quality that IL
comes into direct competition with the sugars
OF the san Francisco re1neries. In other words,
our planters beard them In their den, and the
consequence is struggle tor the market, and tho
longest purse will win. Ii our planters were 20
conine themselves more generally to- refining
grades of sugar the competition OF the four renn-
good market
Public meetings are being held throughout tho
group, ana the natives to u man, refuse assent 20
the planters demand. 1t should be understood in
washington that ''haste makes waste" in d.
plomacy as we'll as in other matters.
Shipments Of sugars to Australia ana Now
Zealand have been quite free during the past three
months, but as yet no returns have been received.
I prices are well sustained, as to adviceS last r0-
ceived there will, no doubt be extensive ship
ments OF darker grades OF sugars to those mar
keGs.
From present indications we may look for Q
large crop sugar for the OF iss3 aud s7<.
The rice crop Is becoming quite an imp0F, ut lea
ture since Cinnamon assumed Its cultivation.
COMMERCE AND CUSTOMS.
ImpOrtatiOns OF goods have fallen on very con-
siderably for the past fifteen months our custom
receipts show falling of In duties OF $4,000 for
that term. Our tables of exports show gradual
rise In most articles, and so long as importationA
can be reasonably checked and exports show
steady gain, we may hope to some day obtain D
healthy condition OF trade.
TREASURY OUTLOOK.
The public finances are not In a bad condition,
fhnF IaI,e has lid
months, being $337000 This Is owing to che
extravagances Of the late reign and adminlstra-
ton. Government bonds find ready takers, tho
rate of interest being nine per cent per year. while
other securities go begging at twelve per cent.
The Finance Minister states that he has refused
offers OF money 1t being offered in OF needs.
Not one dollars worth OF government property has
been hypothecated. With this condition OF affairs,
can the native be honestly told that the time has
come when he must seek foreign alliances