The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-10-14

IUItEII-- I'M INdIIT III ElN.I TIUIUITs 70 u TtI--
cries. TO their injury. They have been quoted. by the
friends Of the treaty, all through this year, while
this law has been pending IN Congress, and their
Indifference 20 il, in some cases, aud opposition, in
others. has been disarmei, OF modified, by the
Assurance that after the treaty went into operation,
the sugars would again be for sale through the
usual channels Of trade That there are some of
these hard working friends " this treaty II this
city, 10 day, who feel ashamed 70 look these grocery
men in the face, after learning that the Hawaiian
planters have said two thirds Of their Produet foE
twelve months 70 come, TO 60 into the melting re-
eeptacles Of their old enemies, the Sugar Refneries.
And it should be observed here that this is not >
question Of " cheap sugar. on the part Of the old
friends Of Hawaiian products. The talk about
cheap sugar." in connection with the treaty, was
only q rallying cry in its behalf.
The old friends Of the Hawaiian treaty expected
10 pay full market prices when free Of duty, as well
as before. They have always favored Hawaiian
sugars, while the reineries have lost large sums Of
money in order 10 break down prices Of these and
other grocery sugars, which have come into this
market. But If this treaty can be kept in force,
all threats against Hawaiian sugars viii be as i'm
potent for harm, as actual opposition will be dis
astrous to their opponents.
Without the favor Of the people Of the Pacific
Coast this treaty will not stand. With judiciOus
management, and a wise course on the part Of the
Hawaiian people, the treaty might have continued
probably, for all time. Ii their sugar products are
to continue 10 90 into the hands Of the Sugar Re-
iineries, thousands Of grocers, wholesale and retail,
20 say nothing Of consumers, will be drawn into
opposition to il. No fact is more patent than the
great unpopularity, whether merited or not. of the
San Francisco Sugar Refiners, with the traders IN
their product.
Our requirement for sugar this side of the Rocky
Mountains will be, this year and next, at least
1900, 900 pounds a year, one third Of this quantity
Is required in grocery grades in kegs chiefly, as
usual, and In small mats, from very common dark
TO very choice light. The Hawaiian Islands are now
producing about this quantity. Under the treaty
the quantity will, doubtless, be increased, but pro-
badly not faster than the increased consumption,
annually, on the Pacific slope.
Owing to the large increase Of population, the
last two years, by immigration, mostly farmers and
laboring men, there is a greatly increased demand
for dark and medium grades of sugar, TO which
these people have been accustomed in their former
homes.
There will be 500 to 700 ships, of large capacity,
probably, annually despatched from this port with
wheat and other products. These ships generally
want low grade sugars. The call for such sugars
has been very great this year, with a very made
quate supply, and higher grades have been sub
stituted.
If the entire product of the islands should come
to this city, AMI there should be more dark sugar
than the grocers require, we should not be solely
dependent upon San Francisco Sugar Refners. st.
Louis refiners are already making enquiries here for
Hawaiian refining grades.
that the refners here have abandoned the use of low
grade sugar and melado, which made a great guam
tty OF soft yellow sugar and syrup. Now their
%out-turn is much larger, proportionably, of white,
$780, NaS" 'Ao " N"N
of yellow, and the small supply of choice island,
millions of pounds have been ordered from New
York of these grades. The interests of the planters
will, doubtless, be best promoted by marketing all
their sugars through their forwarding agents in
Honolulu, and judicious commission houses here
and in Portland. No one will buy sugars in Homo
luln,-be he reiner, grocer. or probationary
length of time, unless they can make money by the
operation, and such profits should be secured for
the producer. Expenses of marketing will be less
than formerly: Sugar will go into the free ware
houses instead Of bonded, there will be no interest
account for duties, and sales will be more rapid than
formerly. as the competition Of Central American,
China and Peruvian sugars will be shut out by the
Hawaiian product being free. The above named
sugars, sometimes in large quantities, have operated
seriously against Hawaiian.
But if the Hawaiian planters prefer a home
market, why do they not leave the way open for
competition instead of making contracts for a years
product with a solitary buyer. 1t must not be
forgotten that the law was signed by the President
August 10th, the day Congress adjourned. There
were fears that he would withhold his signature,
owing to the charge of corrupt means to secure the
passage of the law. But the Committee of Ways
and Means of the House, made a report to the
House, the same day, that there was no proof Of
bribery. The next day the City Of San Francisco
sailed from here with only one buyer of sugar under
the Treaty.
In reply it may be said that a good sale has been
made to the Sugar Refneries. An answer to this is
that one of the ablest merchants Of this city
estimates that every pound contracted for would
have Melted one and a half cents per pound more in
this market. And another party gives it as his
opinion that the New York and ST. Louis refners
would have contracted for the refining grades at one
cent higher, delivered in Honolulu, than the price
agreed upon.
Sugars have advanced recently all over the world.
There is a large deficiency in the Beet product of
Europe, and the cane product in Cuba. There is an
advance of one dollar per picul in Manila.
The enquiry may arise in the minds of some Of
the planters and their agents in Honolulu, what can
be done if there is any just ground for alarm in
regard to the permanence of the Treaty.
There is but one course, and that is to pursue a
policy which will restore the treaty to popular favor
on this coast. If this is not done, no question of
national interest in the treaty can stem the tide of
opposition which will be brought to bear against it
in Congress by the combined New York sugar
interests with southern planters.
The temper of Congress is for reform, outstanding
administration, to come into power next March,
whatever party succeeds, will not be so likely to be
friendly to the treaty as the outgoing. A large
popular majority in the House against the Treaty
would have great influence upon the Senate.
d. Tallmage s. Son Of New York, agents of q
large number OF rice plantations in South Carolina,
addressed a circular to their correspondents,-which
found its way into the "New York Shipping List
aud Prices Current lin which is found this para
graph, in connection with rice culture, and encour-
agement to southern planters, the fact, as they say,
OF 81 precarious tenure Of the Hawaiian Treaty.
The Hawaiian Government and people may be
solemnly assured Of this fact, that the popular favor
secured for the treaty on the Pacific Coast, by the
untiring efforts of its friends, was the cause of its
success, and that if this popular favor cannot be
rsgained, the treaty is doomed to be short lived.
Hundreds of signatures could be obtained to this
circular, if there vas time for the necessary labor to
be done. But it is doubtless the echo of the voice of
the people of this city, almost without exception,
and of the people Of the PACIFIC SLorE.
San Francisco, Sept. %, 1876.