The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1879-04-05

OH THAT niue enemy hOut4 "iAeS oSSA
was the exclamation OF the wise man-prObably
in some moment of annoyance at having been
mIsrepresented by somebody who envied his
prosperity and greatness. Without asserting
that DR.. Scott, late L. S. Consul at this port,
1--WE understand be has resigned) was exactly our
enemy, vet it had become quite evident that he
was far from entertaining a lively friendship for
the Hawaiian people and Government. And he
has written a book small one, il is true, of 4
dozen pages-the aim of which is to show thai
bis country, in granting the treaty Of reciprocity,
had greatly enriched Hawaii, receiving no equi-
valent therefor but being largely out of pocket
by the operation. Having been favored with a
copy of DR.. ScOtt's report, which although dated
in August last has only recently appeared, We
reprint it in full on the fourth page of to-day's
paper, FOX the Information of Island readers.
1t may be said, and with justice, that the
Coneul in making his report on the working Of
the treaty was simply acting 10 the scope of his
official duties, and was answering a letter Of in
quiry from the head of a department of his
government. While we find no fault as to the
correctness of his figures, so far as they 60, yet
there is o marked bias Of unfriendliness to this
country which was not n necessary result Of
proper zeal for the interests of his own, and
which so frequently crops out that it inevitably
leaves the impression that the late Consul was
very much opposed to the treaty, on general
grounds.
No one could have known better than DIR.
Scott the utter absurdity of supposing that our
merchants could import foreign sugars and re-
export them to the United States under the
treaty,-and everybody not become immediat ely
aware of the fact. Instead, however, of frankly
stating the case in its true light, he disingenu-
ously says that " knowing the strong temptation
there would be to commit frauds, - he had been
q watchful in that direction" But he is con-
strained to admit that . SO far " he had been
unable to detect anything of the kind yet he
insists that the foreign sugar and rice imported
here (Of which, by the way, there never has
been any appreciable quantity " certainly ere
ates great facilities for fraud on our revenue,
under the treaty, if the fraud could not be de-
tected at our ports of entry, as it would be i'm
possible to watch their movements in every part
of these Islands," These words, which we have
quoted verbatim from the report, are certainly
calculated to give a false impression abroad, and
are not at all warranted by the facts.
The Consul lays great stress upon the fact that
financially the United States are the losers by
the treaty. This it was well understood would
be the case, to some extent, when the measure
was under discussion in Congress. His figures
of exports and imports are for 1877, the first year
of the operation of the treaty, and be intimates
that the disparity of benefits there shown in
favor OF these Islands will go on increasing in
succeeding Let US briefly examipf. she
facts for the second year of the treaty.
During the year ending December 81, 1873,
exported to the United States in round num-
bers say three millions of dollars worth OF do
nestle products and we imported thence,
according to the exhibit of the Collector General
Of Demonstrating one-half of the " free
list American products to the value of
g, 2l0, oil. This would show an excess of
exports to the United States over imports from
thence of $7S9 ,989. But there are several inn
portant items which do not appear in the statis-
teal reports, but with which we are unquestiOn-
lbly entitled to be credited in making up this
account.
Since the treaty went into operation we have
or purchased in the United States for the
inter-island trade, eleven vessels, including three
steamers,
The aggregate cost Of which is, say ........-... $780, 900
Vessels per annum 400. 600
on American gnods CONSIGNED. ann. 400, 900
commissions in u. 5. on Hawaiian products.... l5O,OO
Total 81 $40. 900
We have omitted any mention of fire and life
premiums, as we have no data at hand,
but the amount annually sent out Of the country
and paid to United States companies from this
source must be quite large. The above figures,
however, which are quite legitimate, show that
since the treotv wont into onerotion the neonle Of