Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-10-09

LbAcsb-iud bWUob GefOi Va bub"N " 49,
Gen. Shields Has 10 Say on the Present Sit
nation.
EDITOR HERALD: In late num-
Der of your paper New York tele-
gram announces a movement to re-
peal the reciprocity treaty with
the Sandwich or Hawaiian Islands
The telegram concludes with an in
timation that the reports have been
put in circulation for selfish pur-
poses.
L was just wondering in whom
reside the selfish purposes that set
servant lightning on the strike at
that shining target, the Hawaiian
reciprocity treaty.
SimmeFing down and crystaliz-
ing, as they would say in Ha-
waiian sugar camp, I conclude that
the telegram does not necessarily
imply the slightest degree of sin
cere championship of the existing
or prospective \
CANE AND BEET SUGAR INDUSTRIES
OF the United States. II the tele-
gram was inspired at Washington,
1t might possibly be traced to all
informal spasm, occasionally vic
timizing a certain dignified and
distinguished recipient OF a nation
al portfolio. IL this case it is mere.
ly an emanation from counting
room electrics A stray spark, for
sooth, flying through an Office key
hole, metamorphosing into CONVEX
sational lightning the fiery dam of
thunder still-born at the telgraphic
wire.
Thus, again, may small facts en-
phasize the suspicion already af1oat
that so eminent a parsonage as the
personal attribute of the United
States Treasurer gives way to cha.
grin at the sight of small customs
statistics bred of u treaty solem-
nized in opposition to his advice.
The mentors ready remedy is SIM
ply to present to the Secretary a
resume OF the Hawaiian customs
revenue for say two years next be-
fore the 18th day of June, the date
of the treaty ratification. He will
there easily evolve the rate at
which were diminishing Hawaiian
imports into the United States.
During those two years imports
from the Hawaiian Kingdom were
steadily and rapidly diminishing.
Hawaiian commerce was rapidly
deserving San Francisco and other
American ports and was seeking
Australian and European ports.
At the rate of desertion going on
before the date of the treaty, the
customs revenue on Hawaiian i'm
ports into the United States would
be less than it now is; we still de.
rive some revenue from Hawaiian
imports which the treaty leaves
undisturbed on the American tariff.
The mentors ready remedy, the
given doleful decline, stops at the
date of ratification and right there
imm ediately begins ready rem
edy of increase of imports from and
exports to the Hawaiian Islands.
Some very we'll informed statis-
ticians profess to speak from the
record when they say that what
the public treasury has lost the peo-
pie have gained, with a margin
steadily widening.
When King Saul grew moodish
he had the wonderful presence of
mind to call in the harpist David.
Horace Greeley was given to SIM
liar inspiration, with the import
ant difference that he invoked ec
poste facto, remedy for future rep
ititions of moodishness. Our Treas
urer can surpass and rival Saul by
ringing in his mentor and saying:
This torment is more than 1 can
bear. Beguile to lofty eminence
of reason, that L may have a birds
eye view of the Hawaiian situa-
ton.
AS 1 said before, the treaty was
ratified on the 18th day of June,
1S76-the Centennial year--a sign
of our end of the century; no pun.
The treaty contains an article to
the effect that no notice of inten-
ton to abrogate the treaty shall be
given by either party before the
lapse of seven years from the date
at which it became national com
pact. 1 have an indistinct impress
sion that the notice must be two
years. one.
Nearly half the seven years have
elapsed. Then, in the name.of the
majesty of national sovereignty,
let the great politicians sedately
and patiently abide the hour-glass
aud let the small politicians take a
game of marbles. The happiness of
the small politicians at marbles
will simply beggar description and
the remaining half of the seven
years will fly by the marble play
ers in jiffy, as it were. Then for
fanfare ad li6ituna. Then for the
logic Of experience without illog-
ioal, not to say indecent, precipi-
fancy.
Let us not in premature tumult
lose our rare opportunity Of trying
Just how fast we can walk forward
or backward in free trade boots.
The signs of the times suggest that
we may soon be on the inquiry
about that species of pedestrianism.
Better practice 1t than inquire
for it, especially as we are already
booted.
England fined, imprisoned, cut
off the right hands and hung her
citizens for stealthy free trading;
then made free trade lawful; then
became the commercial autocrat of
the world. Free trade hurried on
complete commercial supremacy.
Commercial supremacy confirmed
free trade.
King finance took his residence
in London. His bunting has fioated
there long while. 1t drops a triae
now. 1t is surmised that its next