Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1884-05-31
CLA rs sPREcKELs.


Htynself--Hfs Contracts Hts Steamers IT'S
currencv-H ms Banh-Ht. Politics.
But yesterday and Cesar might have stood
against the world"
One year ago the writer was dis
cussing Mr. Claus Spreckels with
gentleman high in the cornmunity's con
fdence. That gentleman said cit is
Spreekels proud boast that there is no
man on these islands who can say Claus
Spreckels ever wronged him" Because
we then believed that Mr. Spreckels
purposed to deal justly and generously
with these islands and their interests,
this paper repeated the remark of the
writer's friend and put itself on record
as a believer in that justice and gen
erosity. Since that conversation, events
in which Mr. Sprcekels has been con
cerned have succeed each other in swift
succession, until Of Mr.. Spreckels, to-
day, the entire community truthfully
may say He has injured us, and he
threatens to injure us still more" Let
us examine into the reasons Of this
change OF public feeling--this almost
universal fear and distrust of a mono.
poly headed by Mr.. Spreckels and
aided by his associates. The imme-
diate reasons are easily to be seen.
The more remote reasons, though far
less obvious, are none the less tangible
when we come to reflect upon them.
Twelve years ago Claus Spreckels
was already successful sugar rehner in
San Francisco, although he had not
then anything like the power he now
possesses He had risen to his posi-
ton as head of large business by tact,
talent, energy and application. He had
not much education but he had brains
He soon become noted for two reasons
the vindictiveness with which he pun
ishcd his enemies and the generosity
with which he rewarded his friends In
1873, he turned his attention to these
islands. He was led so to do because
of the need of controlling raw-sugai
market adequate to the extension Of his
growing trade and the capacity of his
refinery. AT that time we had few
plantations and they we're all struggling.
Mr. Spreckels saw his opportunity and
helped some of them. The treaty was
then merely projected. Mr.. Spreckels
at first was antagonistic to and then did
something to secure the treaty. Shortly
after the treaty was passed Mr.. Spreck.
els obtained his first foot-hold on the
islands. He assisted numerous planters,
tided them over serious difficulties and
did much to place sugar production on
an assured footing. So long as Mr..
Spreckels exerted an influence upon
sugar production merely as helpful
friend to numerous enterprises, that
influence was nearly unmixed good.
But circumstances enabled Mr. Spreck'
els to become in turn planter. After
awhile his investments became exten.
sive. In time, favorable loan enlisted
the friendship of the present king. Then
sprang into life that monster white ele
phant Spreckelsville. The Mainland
grant transaction followed Last year the
new Spreokels steamers were built, the
new line was established and freight:
were advanced on sailing vessels. Their
the Spreckels silver was forced into
circulation. Now the new Spreckels
bank asks for charter and the steam
ers ask for subsidy.
But why should there be anything il
this trite list OF happenings to creat'
distrust, alarm Because, in one word
it seems to mean-morop0iy. And VIII
this universal distrust of even the sem
blance of monopoly ? Because tn
worlds recent history has craven thi
dread into the very solhs of the race
with the white hot iron of injustice !"
We do not go quite SO far But we ar
as one with the statesmen and publiclst
who maintain that monopoly, in eve
its least rigorous guise, is a dangerou
concession from the people to corpor:
tons and if ever made should hav
for its reason of being some great pull
lie necessity and should be surrounde
by every possible safeguard Of popula
rights. Is Mr. Spreckels man to b
trusted with powers so vast that the
exercise may make him autocrat {
every vested interest on these islands
Is any man, are any men, to be S
trusted ? That is the great questio
here to-day so great question that
dwaris every other.