The Hawaiian gazette., 1880-09-08
Gazette Supplement, Sept. 9th

nal which lets IN some needed light ON the pro
lected China Steamship line and the Opium Fran
chise' which have been fostered and promoted By
the Hawaiian Government. The stranps.st fact
OF all ~ that any project unwise and suicidal
should have had the least encouragement from. the
haWAilau Government. Minister Wilder, an
American by birth, who opposed these schemes
was dismissed from the Cabinet. II is little 70
say that both of these projects anti-Ainercan
The China Steamship line is encouraged by the
promise of 4 small subsidy from the Island Gov
ernment- Honolulu il made an important; way
port From thence the steamers are To come TO
tins CITY. They will compete, of cuurs.. with
American steamship lines, both between tins port
aho hononlu San francisco and ports III China
The encouragement, both moral and inlapcial
nov gwen to China steamships. Is an ACT of hos
illiy TO American interests. IL is like striking
bellefactor III the FACE The Chinese element il
now the largest foreign element in Hawaii CHI
iese are engaged IL planting sugar-cane ana nee
ana N a great variety Of small manufactures II
the Hawaiian Government subsidises or otherwise
encourages emma line OF steamships between tie
principal port IN the Islands and san Francisco il
VIII come 70 this that there will lie business
enough Tor many years to come 10 sustain an
american line OF steamships betwee1. the same
ports American interests will also suffer in the
matter 10y steamship line between San Francisco
and CHINA ports. In short the Hawaiian, Govern
neit JGst nov appears 10 be IL a hostile attitude
10 American commerce. Tins Is the NOR, Surpri.-
ing since such attitude Will be sur. 10 provoke
such IN opposition to what lis called the Recproci-
y Treaty as II never encountered before. 1t i said
that Cesar Moreno Is of the promoters of the
scheme for China line of steamships bv WAY of
the Hawaiian Islands. Other rufuors make hin
q promoter of the opium franchise. The wonder
Is that such an adventurer shuuid hav. influence
enough TO shape the opinions Of a!ry considerable
number of Intelligent ana well-halsnced minds
anywhere.
What Is the matter with the hagaiian King
dom Has the prosperity insured by the Reel
procty Treaty been too much for the rulers of the
country If there is another method of relief il
being precisely the logical sequence of sic extra
ordinary measures as those which have been cited
Cannot the authorities of that country understand
that the encouragement of Chinese line of steam
ships, to compete with American lines and TO Grip
pie their interests leads directly to the REPEAL Of
the reciprocity Treaty, soon 40 il can bs
done by the terms Of that Act : As for the opium
franchise that more exclusively concerns Hawaiian
interests There Is little doubt, however. that the
extensive manufacture of opium at the Islands
would result In heavy shipments TO the Pacific
Coast II would find its way clandestinely not
only TO California, but to Mexico and British Co
lumhla. According to recent advices the conces-
sion was TO run two years and the minimum price
was TO be $l25,0o0 One might ask whether thir
Paltry sum would compensate FOX the evils which
will surely follow in the wake Of such n conces-
sion The intimate association Of these tao
schemes-the China steamship franchise and the
Opium franchise naturally suggests the inquiry
whether the Chinese have really captured the
Hawaiian Kingdom?