Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-29

provided that "the advantages which these
islands grant to the United States, cannot
be claimed by Portugal Article 2, of the
treaty of August, 1882.
The acquisition of California, in 1S48,
gave to the United States coast line upon
the Pacific coast but little inferior in ex-
tent to the Atlantic seaboard of the thir
teen original states. Since then, the pur
chase of Alaska from Russia, has given to
the ''Great Republic" preponderance of
interest in the North Pacific ocean which
should be guarded with as much jealous
care as our interest in the Gulf of Mex
leo.
1t seems to be admitted that the islands
of the Hawaiin archipelago, in the hands
of such a maritime power as England,
would control the commerce of the North
elm Pacific, but no power on earth can
gain the ascendency over the United
States, in those islands, so long as the
reciprocity treaty of 1876 is continued in
force.
Within the last six months, the prime
minister of the Hawaiian kingdom has
lost his place, because of his Indifference
to the continuance Of this treaty. He is an
EngliShman.
We will now for moment, consider the
effect of this treaty upon the people of
the United States, III q commercial point
of view
In the year 1875 the exports from
the United States to the Hawaii
an islaqds amounted to.........S 947, 26O -
In the year 1880 they were. 2,02S, 288 90
cf....e....................... G,O0O, 900 90
and are constantly on the increase.
Since the treaty went INTO operation
there has been paid for machinery
il the United States, to be used
in the islands, in the manufacture
of suga", more than ...........S4, C0p,O0O 20
! The people of the American Pacific
coast have been paid for ship
| building more tban........... 100000 90
For IRE and marine insurance. -. 100000 90
For brick, lime, cement, nails,
hardware, lumber, groceries and
provisions. ................. 1850, 900 90
Other articles, the produce and
manufacture of the United St,tes 1000 90
In addition to this, citizens of the United
States, and men who will never abiure
their allegiance to the American republic,
have, since this treaty was sanctioned by
congress in 1875, invested in the culture of
the sugar cane in these islands, and in the
machinery for making sugar, at least ten
millions OF dollars.
And, now, it is boldly claimed by an
honorable member of congress from Louis
lana, that the duties remitted to the sugar
planters of the Hawaiian islands, in the
year 1881, amounted to $2,919,000; the
quantity of sugar imported that year into
the United States being, as he alleges, 90
100000 lbs; and he says, further, ''that
eighteen firms, only, own all the sugar
plantations Of all the islands" -Appcndj1
to Cong. Record, Vol. IL, pages 20, 50
and 81.
Allowing his estimate Of the quantity
imported during the year 1881, to be cor
rect, it viii stand thus:
900 tons with remission OF duty,
@tOPer ton. .................. $z,25O,UOU
Bat, in the absence Of the treaty, we
have no assurance that there would have
been any such duties to remit, as the
quantity received in 1875, was only about
1900 tons. The true amount sent into
the United States, free from duty, in 1881,
was 80, 454 tons.
have looked over the names of the
firms, said by the gentleman ''to own all
the plantations,' and find the names of
the leading merchants shipping and com
mission merchants of Honolulu who make
advancements of money to the planters
and find a market for their sugar. Among
them are the firms of Brewer & Co., an old
Boston house, Castle & Cook, Hackfeld &
Co., and W. G. Irwin & Co.
Brewer q Co. are agents for ten different
plantations, situated on four different
islands.
Hackfeld & Co. are agents for twenty
plantations, situated on FIVE different
islands.
W. G. Irwin & Co. are agents for thirteen
different plantations, situated on three dir
ferent islands.
speak from personal knowledge when
I say the honorable representative from
Louisiana was grossly mistaken in his
supposition that these firms and the others
which he named, were the owners of the
plantations they appeared to represent.
They we're simply agents for the own
ere. While was at the islands, this last
spring, there was a convention called at
Honolulu, of all the sugar plantations of
the kingdom. They were a very respec-
table concourse of men, about sixty in
number, of different Dationalities, but
decided minority of them were from the
United States.
The sugar producing interest in the
United States, land this means louisiana
cannot be injured by the admission OF the
article, free of duty, from the Hawaiian 81
lands for the following reasons:
The annual consumption of sugar
in the United States is. .......1 1908, 772 tons
OF which Louisiana producc3..... 1856, 491 tons
! The Hawaiian Islands produce. SO, 45z toas
Leaving still the enormous quantity of
828,827 tons, imported every year from
Cuba, Porto Rico, the French West indies,
Brazil, the Spanish possessions, and the
| Dutch East Indies, and for which we pay
in gold no less than $78,257, 500.
| The duIlest intellect will not fail to see
| that the modicum, introduced from the
Hawaiian islands, can have no influence on
the price of sugar in the United States.
Itimay serve to displace an equal amount
that would otherwise be brought in from
the East Indies, and, to that extent, would,
doubtless, keep from the national treasury
from $1,OOOO0O to $2,OOO,OOO. But what
is that compared to the benefits accruing
to our citizens from having sure market
for, from 100000 to $5,000,000 worth of
their own manufactures, every year free
| from every kind of tariff, and the great
national benefit of quietly and peaceably
controlling the gateway of the north Pa
cifc ocean.
| From reading and personal observation,