The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-04-02
Reciprocity,


The following sentences conclude very calm
but concise argument in favor of the Reciprocity
Treaty. The hand that has pelincd the lines Is a
clear and bold one, and the mind that has put it
self % the work is incisive and nIreJudlced Ihe
whole argument however, should be read.
Speaking OF the consequences OF abrogatlng the
treaty the writer saws: THE magnificent sugar
plantations which have been opened at such e1-
peuse would not be turned over TO solitude and de-
cav Without doubt, however, large number
perhaps majority of them-woule hrst have to
90 through bankruptcy, and the shrinkAge Of value
would be very great IN all. Ultimately they would,
with few exceptions, adjust themselves 10 the new
conditions. Under our present tariff laws the
United States would 10 be the market for
their produce, for their sugars could be sold 10 bet
ter advantage IN Australia, or even IN British Co
lumbia aud Canada. Brought into the closest
competition with Mauritius the FiiIs and Batavia
II would be necessary 10 have equally cheap labor
and the rates Of transportation and Of interest
must be equally favorable The HindOO coole
would at once become necessity, and British
ships and capital are cheaper than American- 50,
too are British supplies. Less than one year would
be necessary 10 sweep from the ocean every yeslge
of the only commerce with a foreign country,
which is exclusively, OF even chiefly, under the
American flag. The positions Of the American
merchants, factors and bankers who now transact
the business OF the Islands al Honolulu NOuld lor
the most part become untenable. Their capital IS
largely borrowed from, or through the assistance
and credit of, their corresponding houses III TINS
would be severed and the business wound up. 1t
is easy to see that in case like that OF the isl
ands where capital Is borrowed from a greater
aud richer country, and where SO large 2 proper
ton of the commodities consumed are imported,
the whole body Of industry, trade, credit and COM
nerce is a compact system which cannot be sub
divided among different natiOnaiitles 10 any great
extent. Tue fact that our country Is made by the
treaty the exclusive arket Of the islands, has
given entire control of all their commercial and
industrial interests In precisely the same way,
and by virtue of the natural laws and forces,
the loss of the treaty would make England and
her colonies the purchaser OF the island produce,
and the farmer, banker, factor, and almoner Of
the little kingdom. The geographical situation
of the islands makes them natural dependency
of our Pacific coast. But the artlnclal barrier OF
our high tariff and high prices would shut them
out, and compel them to take refuge with the only
great, rich, and liberal nation which can give them
even a partial compensation. 1t Is the fate of
these little helpless provinces TO be pulled about
in the leading strnghof the great commercial ma
tons. They are too weak to stand alone, and
must be upheld by the stronger arm OF some great
power, or else be absorbed by one Of them. That
power which controls their commerce, capital and
industry is, from the necessities of the case, the
natural protector OF sponsor. But the protection
which England and France have thus given to the
far-off islands and priEcipalties where their com
rnerce and capital have been dominanty employed
has hitherto had uniform ending. Sooner or
later some emergency arose. Jealousy Of some
great rival, the e1lgencles Of war or some fool
chiefs, their inability 10 secure full protection
10 foreigners and their property, or the amnesty
Of the native population, or any one OF dozen
causes, furnished good pretext.
''To use the English expression employed IN the
case of the Fills, Engand's hand was forced"
OF course she trumped the trick, and the public ]
sentiment Of the world iustifes the course she
pursued. II was best so. Under precisely similar
circumstances the hand that was forced for the
ninety-ninth time in the Fits would be forced for
the hundredth time in Hawaii In few years,
through the decay of the native race, the little /
Hawaiian crown will be laid aside for want Of a ]
wearer. The old line of kings who reckoned back /
their pedgrees fifty or more generations, who |
ruled wisely and we'll who were regarded by their |
dusky subjects with loyalty, devotion and love- /
IN comparison with which the loyalty of an Eng /
lishman is feeble sentiment, is gone and has left
no issue. Sooner or later the government of the 1
islands will have to be reconstructed. What shall
be the new regime will depend wholly upon the /
character and nationality OF the white men who |
dominate the industry, commerce, and wealth of |
the islands. That control has always been by an 1
overwhelming preponderance in the haads of |
Americans and It is easy enough to keep II and /
equally easy to let it slip The islands are natu-
raj dependency of the United States. So long as |
we keep them within the barrier OF our commercial
system, making them in economic respects part |
Of us, nothing but war and conquest can wrest /
them from us. But If proceed TO thrust them once /
more outside of that barrier, nothing but war and
conquest can hold them even where they now |
are"