The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-04-12
9aruaiialr 6azette.
Rsr MoDUs IN REBUs.
WEDNESDAY APRIL II. 1882.

CERTAINLY much OF the hue and cry
about the Spreckels' Sugar Monopoly is
based on no sensible ground. As long as
the supply of Hawaiian sugar is insufic-
tent for the Pacific Coast demand, the
cost Of sugar to the consumer and retailer
there, must largely be controlled by the
cost OF duty paying sugars imported from
Manila and elsewhere. Manila sugar
costs no less than it would cost if there
were no treaty of reciprocity.
Again, if California capitalists decline to
compete for the purchase OF our sugars, it
must be presumed that they think it is
improbable to buy. 1t is absurd then for
the consumer to complain that the treaty
does not give him. sugar at lower price.
while the producer complains that it gives
him no higher price. II New York buyers
viii buy our sugar, they are most welcome
to do so. But the question here has been
whether to take tolerably definite, al
though perhaps lower. price for our sugars
from Spreckels, or TO ship them to New
York, for possibly larger returns in the
open markets. Either operation is mat
ter of pure business calculation and not
an argument for or against the treaty.
NH
IT was the opinion. of the missionaries
who undertook to handle paganism here,
that their duties lay not so much in the
line of civilization as of Christianity; that
the former was an incident of the latter
that the pagan who radically changed
his heart as radically changed his life,
and therefore, they. believed, that it was
useless TO fritter away time and labor in
establishing these incidents of life, such
as industrial schools and savings banks
A good Christian did become industrious,
and did live decently and in order, and
did save his money, and they believed
that they could make good Christians
out of the pagans. At the present
moment it is not very difficult to see that
If they were to reconstruct their work.
they would give more prominence to tnat
which teaches and drills men in the habit
of right living In the most civilized
societies the Savings Bank is modern
affair. 1t is the one grand help in raising
the average civilization OF any country.
Few industrious people know how to
invest money, especially IN towns. Aggre-
eating the money of such, and placing it
where it will bring profit, and encourage
further investment. has been the office os
the Savings Bank, and it has done a grand
work. The native Hawaiian has no
greater need, than that of thrifty habit
Climate, food, temperament have always
worked against him, and demoralized him
as an economic being. At one of our
Island stations man who scored nothing
as a moralist, taught the natives to save
their money, and they, in the end. and
until he died, showed perhaps greater
thrift than any native community of the
group. If his system of practical instruc-
ton had been extended throughout the
Islands, there would be some millions to
the credit of the native race, where there
is nothing now. We understand that
the Government propose to introduce a
measure towards creating a Savings Bank
which will encourage native deposit
There IS such bank III existence now.
but it is not adapted to the needs of the
Hawaiian. Two measures must be adopt
ed. First. the native must be personally
solicited to make deposits, and secondly,
he must be encouraged to deposit fire. |
quentIy. "quarter when he has got it, |
without waiting for one or five dollars. |
On the pay day the managers of planta- |
lions should act as agents of the bank. |
On Sundays there should be every facility
given to make the deposit before or after
church service. The postmen should be
made collectors The Hawaiian will not
become thrifty race by SO doing, but
here will be certain percentage of
hose who will develop thrift. The
iatives now have wants which they did not
nave forty years ago, and there is some
nducement to save Whether in the race
the Savings Bank could have
,een an effectual factor, or whether it can
,e SO now, it is not worth while discuss
ng. 1t is an experiment which is worth
rying