The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-04-07

THE FUTURE OF HONOLULU.

The future of Honolulu will be
prosperous or the reverse, just as its
natural advantages may be utilized.
Upon this point there will be no
diversity of opinion. The only posi-
BILE difference that can arise is in re--
gard to the measures to be adopted.
Upon this point conflict of opinion
is to be expected, aud a practicable
scheme will probably be evolved as
consequence of intelligent discussion.
In suggesting the idea of free
port as the most direct and certain
means of advancing the fortunes of
Honolulu, we lay claim 30 no origi-
nality. This idea is an old one. It
has been discussed Ia the local press
and by the Legislature but it has
not gone beyond the stage of inter-
mittent debate. In our judgment,
the time has come for determining
the point with a view to practical
results. The period is fast approach
ing when Honolulu must either be
prepared to attract the merchant
shipping frequenting the North Pa
cific, by offering special Inducements
for obtaining supplies, reitting and
repairs, or it must depend upon it's
own internal resources for its trade.
The Panama canal is now well for
ward, and its construction is being
pushed to completion despite state
naents to the contrary by the English
and some Of the American press. It
win be completed, If human skill and
the resources of France can accom-
plfsh the work, because the credit
and reputation Of the French people
are pledged to sustain De Lesseps in
his bold conception and daring en-
terprlse. Moreover, the Nicaragua
scheme is by no means dead, despite
the setback to the canal treaty be-
tween the United States and the
Nicaraguan Government in the last
session of Congress at Washington.
The Nicaraguan Senate has ratified
this treaty, aud United States officers
are proceeding with the final surveys
as if it were a foregone conclusion
that it should be built by American
capital and controlled by the Wash
ington Government.
Under these circumstances it be-
comes the duty, not merely of the
Hawaiian Government but of the
Hawaiian people - every man en-
gagged ia business, or who has dol
lar invested in the country in the
shape of property or Otherwise-to
entIeavor, if possible, to make Homo
lulu the rendezvous for shipping en-
gagged in the North Pacific trade.
This may be done to a large extent
by making Honolulu free port, and
abolishing all charges upon shipping
whether foreign or domestic. Yes
sells seeking will prefer visiting free
port for necessary overhaul and sup
plies rather than proceed on their voy-
age to San Francisco, where shipping
charges are excessive. If 1t were
known to the mercantile world that
Honolulu was free port, and pos
sessed facilities for the repair and
outfit of deep sea-gOing vessels, lying
as it does in the track of trade be-
tween Australia and San Francisco,
even at the present time it would
never be without the presence of
square-rigged ships, whose expendi-
ture In various ways would be very
considerable item IN the aggregate
business of the port. Much more
would this be the case when the inter-
oceanic canal across the American
continent has been completed.