The Hawaiian gazette., 1885-12-08

EDITOR GAzETTE 1t seems strange that any one
who has the increase of the population OF these
Islands at heart, should favor the manufacture of
any kind Of liquor here. II might seem to some a
pretty picture of prosperity suggested by Mr.
Marques IN last weeks GAzEITE,-large quantities
of alcohol and excellent brandy manufactured
from fruit easily grown here, and flowers whose
delicious perfume should be caught and held to
delight US at WILL the last industry made possible
by the first Bat If there is money in it. and if We
ourselves might make from thing now going TO
waste that which we now have to import and pay
for IN hard gold COIN why have not some of the
Practical and far seeing men, long resident here
turned their capital and enere les to the manufac
ture of rum and alcohol before this? Ii Is not be-
cause there has not been the necessary legislation
Several years ago, before the reciprocity treaty
made the manufacture of sugar as successful as Il
has been during the past seven years, a law was
passed which gave planters the privilege of manu-
featuring rum from their molasses. The greater
number OF the Plantations were groaning under
burden of debt at that time, and were far enouch
from being successful. The planters would have
welcomed any industry likely to add to the revenue
OF tneir plantations, and especially one which
would so naturally run hand in hand with the
making of sugar as the making of rum. But so
far as ever heard, not single planter ever ayaied
himself OF his legal right 10 make rum. They we're
not ali restrained by moral considerations, but the
wisest and most practical Of them said it would
not pay them. The general Generalization of
their laborers which would result from the manu-.
laeture OF rum on the plantations would be an
from the sale Of the rum. The planters did not
avail themselves of the privilege given them by the
legislature because they believed il was against
their interests to manufacture iutoricants vgbicb
their laborers could not be prevented from usino
II they were within reach of them. What was bad
for the planters IN this matter other EMPLOYERS
would find bad for them.
Taking into consideration the serious ouestinn
Oh the future population of these Islands and re-
membering the grave conclusions which have been
1I afaT9 tor US from the last census reports, one
would think there were other things to be taken
into account by truly patriotic citizen besides the
mere making of money. 1t is better the bananas
should waste than that the native popuIatiop
should be hastened to extinction by the brandy
which, IN inverse economy might be distilled from,
the fruit In a country of the size of this the
medical and mechanical demand for alcohol can.
not be very great and If the distation of alcohol
from bananas was limited to these legitimate uses
the business would have to be exceptionally pro-
ntaoie 10 make so small a market pay.
As TO making brandy for the American market il
would be met there BY duty heavy enough to
swallows up all profits. The duty there is sixty per
cent 1 believe The liquor interest of the United
states lar exceeds the sugar interest and is doubt
less even more jealousy guarded from too much
OItsloe competition Little Hawaii gets yery
tel1ctAnt permission to pass Indispensable sugar
~ iles OF duty the same favor would not be shown
TO her IN regard to liquor
One need not be Nery wise To So that the ,,-e. |
trolt cultivated at cost of over three hundred
SOiIars an acre to be used in making liquor for
1ul! protected foreign market would be at best /
N'1"'AH' ISoREDUDoUs.