The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-08-19
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
The Prosperity of the Country

| In a recent communication very kindly inserted
/ by the GAZETTE l passed in review some of the
Signs of the Times, which unmistakaby show the
kind Of " Prosperity " the country is enjoying at
present, as far as anything unmistakable can be
deduced from houses 10 rent or awaiting pur-
chasers on all sides, universal dizziness of trade,
failures amongst both the white and the celestial
tradesman, and general exodus, not only from
Honolulu, but from all the other Islands, of all
people,-white or mongolians,-who have enough
money TO 60 away, and are not tied down here by
untieable interests. ! added that many other
similar q gus might be brought forward II neces-
sary, showing fhe perfect indepsndeuce of the
crisis from the situation Of sugar. Il could in
fact be asked of all our business men, what they
think of the present prosperity ofthe times .
without doubt being possible as to what their
answers would be. But as their opinion might be
submitted, in the camp Of the optimists, to the
benefit Of suspicion, for this reason that trade
IN all Its branches might be supposed. accused of
being really influenced by sngar, or Of being even
here under the oo,itrecOp of depressions which ac-
cidentally exist at present in other countries it
will be best 10 inquire OF an impartial man insan-
sible g. the seduction Of commerce ard sugar but
sensible to the times. - 'h-fi-
II asked thus the proprietor Of the Pantheon
stables would certainly answer that the times aust
be singularly prosperous, in which, after being
obliged to withdraw the buses TO Nuuauu and
Paiama, which had been self-supportins in better
days, the only bus left hardly pays it expenses
and the express business itself looks as If it would
have TO be ourtailed. He would probably add
further that what prevents the bus enterprise
from paying, while making the express speculation
look blue, is not the depression in sugar for on
the contrary, in had times, money-tight, every
one who wishes 10 save, would be only too willing
10 paronize the u cent buss fare in order to save
the 90 cents express one the reason of Mr.. DOdd's
hard times is that the people who used to applaud
his meritorious and popular efforts and patronize
his buses have been Obliged to leave the country
And he might conclude IN telling manner by
saying that IN fact, one of the most startling signs
Of the times staring at full IN the face daily IS
the appearance of the streets of town, and of the
wharyes, which, at the busiest moments, appearas
# plague had been sweeping away nine-tenths of
the population Absent minded or deeply occupied
men may not remark it, but Honolulu. from the
busy crowded city l. used TO be- now already gives
rs very fair idea Of the aspect presented by those
poor cities IN Spain, 80 awfully visited by the
cholera.
Now in these Islands-for the others of the
group are affected quite as much as Honolulu-it
Is no physical cholera are suffering from We
only suffer from moral plague which causes the
busy white bees TO disappear before the Asiatic
hords. and We labor under a financial plague
which causes gold to be at premium AZ a time
when our future is jeopSrdized by the careless ex
penditure of millions, with no show for them but
folly and vanity, which will end in an increased
taxation on diminished population.
However, TO return TO my previous communica-
ton, further said that after its having been
oracularly asserted that the crisis only depended
on sugar, and that as soon prices got more sat
lsfactory. honey and money would flow down every
gulch Of the land, l considered myself able to as
sert with quite as much authority,-and more SO.
as undeniable facts support me,-that although
the fall Of sugar might have been the sigHai of the
crisis, this was not caused by sugar alone. And
TO be more sure Of getting to the whole truth,
concludtd by asking; what are then the causes
Of the crisisl"
expected that more authorized and authorita
tive pens than mine, would hive picked the matter
up and would have answered my questions as to
the true causes of our present disastrous tpros.
peTlty.' But much to my chagrin, no one seems
Wiling to tathcm the rUttGnness through which
an impartial writer would have to wAddle in order
TO present Us full and accurate answer
Yet something ought to be done to stimulate our
thinkers, because this important vital question
the present crisis ought 10 be thoroughly ventlat
ed and elucidated, in order for US all 10 know what
the matter is with the country, where we are go
ing to, and what remedies can be suggested.
Consequently consider, thatif nothing better
can be proposed, thorough discussion IN writing
ought TO be opened on this subject: HIaf are ott-
SIDE of the fnefRGfiOH, sHg1T, he real causes or
the present. crisis these islaHfS and the DgB,,.-
ffoai influence 0f sach aud NLnf frstsdt,s ca, b
suggested And perhaps some liberal man, who
has the good Of the country at heart might make
this written debate more fruitful, by Offering a
preHIiEp 10 the best ard fullest memoir prf-
sented on the subject, this IneI1Uir to be moi
longer than Que column Of the Az1ITE. and the
verdict thereon TO Be given by jury of three com
petent men. -Af-f ~
Moreover il would perhaps mot be In worthy q, ,i
Of the clever writers occupying ministerial chairs
TO submit their views on the matter to the public
and 10 run for the premium under their usual .non
ae piuinss- " A. MARQUEs.