The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-02-13
THEY TAKE THE R

In our issue Of January 10th, we published a
preamble and resolutions adopted by the Portland
(Oregon) Board Of Trade, in which they request
their Senators and Representatives in Congress to
advocate the passage Of such a treaty OF reel
procity with these Islands as shall admit ALL
grades Of sugars free Of duty. Under the sug-
gestive heading > The Cas- in the Meal Bag . the
Portland Commercial, Bulletin received by the
mail OF last month, contains the following letter
from a Portland merchant p7riFS
The chief product Of the Islands is sugar. Ore
CONS trade with the Islands is based on their sugar
crop. Our direct trade with Honolulu is Of very
considerable importance Two vessels. the Fdlkin-
burg and the yMafiis -HacISay. owned by citizens Of
OREGON, are employed wholly in this trade; and other
vessels are also occasionally engaged. From the Isl
ands these vessels bring eargoes Of produce 70 Oregon.
Here is the foundation Of q direct trade Of no httls
Importance to our State; bat the proposed treaty viii
transfer Il from Portland to San Francisco. The
scheme l. adroitiy devised aud drawn 50 as TO enable
California to absorb and have the sole benefit Of
Hawaiian commerce..
Observe that all sugars below grade number twelve.
Dutch standard, are 10 be allowed free entry; all
other grades 10 be subject 10 duty as now. Now,
Hawaiian sugars find their sole market in the United
States. II the low grades are allowed entry free,
and the higher grades are still subjected 70 duty, 10
will follow that the higher grades can no longer be
produced at the Islands. They cannot compete with
the low grades, adnitsd duty free with the United
States and there IA no cthsr marker. NOW comes
the point, viz: The low grades, duty free, will be
entered at San francisco. aud viii 60 the reaneries-
That port will absorb the whole sugar business Of 1.-THE
Islands The scheme % reciprocity, In the form In
which il il now presented. has been prepared by the
powerful interests represented by tbs great rehneries
Of San Francisco. IL will not be reciprocity 81 all,
40 far a. Oregon IL concerned, unless oil sugars are
permitted 70 enter free Of duty. We viii simply be
having tribute 20 California The Government viii
lose the large amount Of money 10 % collecting here
and az San francisco as duties on Island sugars, but
the people will be obliged to pay still. The money
will 70 10 the San Francisco monopoly.
II will be seen, therefore. what a huge job there is
in this proposed treaty In ease iii adopted Oregon
can have no direct trade with the Islands. but viii
be sorced 70 do her business through San Francisco
aud 70 pay ToundIy for the privilege. II no cargoes
Of suuar come hsre direct from HOnOlulu. We can shiP
no csrroes Of Oregon produce thither. The trade
will be stopped. Oar vessels will be driven on to
Francisco. Another link will be forged IN the
chain that binds Us TO California and prevents us
from having the benefit Of independent business Of
our own. California enterprise is awake TO all these
things, and it Is for her own aggrandizement that
she has prepared the treaty in this shape. and - now
entertaining At San Francisco the Hawaiian King.
IL is to be hoped that Oregon's delegation IN Con
1rrss viii look sharply aAer this treaty Of sham reel
5roclty. II there IS to be n treaty, let IL be one Of
reaI reciprocity, and not 3 scheme for the benefit ola
san Francisco monopoly.
A PORILASD MERcHAST.