The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-05-06
THE NEED OF THE HOUR.

Wncn tlmcS were In nummlng
condition in this country, there was
not very much thought taken for the
morrow. With states as with indi-
viduals the mood for reflection and
forethought sometimes only comes
with adversely. These dull times
have brought in their train hosts of
ideas, and platoons of suggestions,
both to get the nation out of the ruts
of business depression, and to make
smooth paths of prosperity for our
people in the days to come. Cynical
observers may cavil at the very
general discussion of the diversity
ing of productions which for some
time has been carried on in the
papers. Still, sneers will be lightly
regarded in view of the practical
efforts being made every here and
there to act upon whatever informa-
ton has been elected by the press
upon this matter. Although the
present period of depression is not
the first occasion that the people Of
this Kingdom have been warned not
to continue stalking almost everything
upon sugar-raising, yet at no pre-
vious time does it appear that such
general interest has been awakened
upon the subject, or that such
widespread disposition has been
manifested toward giving effect to
plausible suggestions for extending
the scope of domestic industry. SO
hopeful is the prospect of large and
lasting benefits resulting from the
present agitation, that it might hard
ly be wicked TO wish that the spectre
of Hard Times might stare the nation
for a little while longer in the face,
so that the lesson it teaches might
have time to be thoroughly learned.
Indeed, a rise in sugar, hitherto and
now our mainstay, at this juncture,
so material as to overwhelm public
interest in other possible and promis-
ing products of our soil, might al
most be feared as national calamity.
Even the sugar growing industry it.
self, it may be said i'll passing, is
likely to benefit for all time to come
from the severe depression IN prices
which is compelling an eager search
after improved methods of culture
and manufacture.
What would now seem to be one
of the most urgent necessities Of the
hour, is systematic collation. and dis
semination of all valuable informa-
tion available upon this subject, SO
enthusiastically canvassed for some
time past in all the local newspapers.
Along with this desideratum there
should be an effort made to divert
some of the surplus capital of the
country into the proposed new chan
nels of enterprise. Money is the
sinews of war against barbarian
Nature, without which her subjuga-
tion to the service of civilized
humanity must be a long and very
much bootless process. There
are undoubtedly large resources of
accrued wealth in the Kingdom,
which, failing to find remunerativc
investment, as much of it must
under present circumstances, will
have TO lie idle unless new fields are
opened for its employment BY
intelligent direction, money for the
purpose in question should at least
be safe for its owners, if it returned
no great interest for n while. OF
course, at the start, it should be
mainly devoted to promoting indus
tries regarding which there was the
least doubt of success. AT the same
time quota should be placed at the