The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-04-05
The Hawaiian Treaty.
[San Francisco Merchant. March 2stb !

lSan Francisco Merchant, March 26thl
The Hawaiian Treaty has made its recu-
lar appearance before Congress, and, so
far, with the usual result-a certain amount
of opposition and the usual misstatements
on the subject that are published bv the
Chronicle. The animus of our contem
porary, and Its motives, are only too we'll
known; so much so that it has lost in this
connection, any strength or power of arpu-
ment. The Merchant has, time and time
again, urged the continuance of the Treaty
in the interests of the American merchants
of San Francisco and the American capitaI
invested in the Islands. II is needless to
refer to the facts and figures that we have
formerly published. They are well-known
and recognized as a true presentation of
the case. The opposition to the Treaty
has not been based on any principle, it has
merely been fight on the part of the East
ern refners against the California refineries
If we look into the matter closely. anv
unbiased person will acknowledge that
California, which is to a certain extent
separated from other States in the Union
| should have some show for its business
| enterprise and manufactures Our trade
outlook is to be found mainly with countries
on the Pacific Ocean. WHY should anv
portion of this large export business be
| stopped for the sake of a feS safners in
! the East, who, not content 4Sf16 their LARGO
market desire to monopolize the business
| of the Pacific Coast. Unfortunately there
has hitherto been but little knowledge of.
or little attention paid to, the requirements
of California. Business generally is not
particularly brisk and we can see no reason
why the little we have should be taken
away from us, which would surely be the
case were the Treaty abrogated. Not only
would the SanFrancisco merchants be the
losers, but thousands of men EMPLOYED in
the large shipping interests, the refineries.
the iron works, shipbuilding, manufactures
generally and the handling of the mer-
chandise would be thrown ont of EMPLOY
ment
This would certainly be the case because
Hawaiians would, as they did before the
Treaty came into effect, most assuredIv
order their goods from English, German.
Australian and Canadian markets. The
completion of the Canadian line of railway
wonld materially assist the English market
and a line of steamers would at once run
between Victoria and Honolulu. Canada
would form n market for Hawaiian sugars.
The producers in the country districts of
California would feel severely the abrooa-
ton of the Treaty through the loss
OF the export trade in -four, cereals.
canned goods, live stock and general pro-
duce. Such commodities would be OBJ
tanned mainly from Australian producers
who have frequently endeavored to intro
duce their goods into the Hawaiian market.
but are practically prohibited by the dis
elimination in duties in favor of the United
States. Our trade with the Islands directly
and indirectly represents per capita con-
sumption OF $50 for every man, woman and
child living there. There is no other
country trading with the United States that
can make such an exhibit as a consumer of
American products or manufactures
1t has been falsely stated that American
interests are not represented on the Ha-
waiian Islands. Let US look into the real
facts of the case as obtained from the last
census returns. No less than seven-eighths
of the whole capital invested there is Ameri-
can. Of the "a sugar plantations, three
fourths are owned entirely by Americans.
The two banks are American. The large
dry dock, or marine railway, was built
with American capital at a cost of 800, 900.
Most OF the retail business is in the hands
of Americans. The Kings responsible adj
visers are, with one exception, Americana.
His representatives in the United States
are all Americans. The majority of Gov
eminent officials are Americans. Four
ifths of the entire ocean trade with the
Islands is carried in American bottoms
All the steamers and schooners plyinp be-
tween the different islands were built in
this country, and almost the whole of this
showing can be traced directly to the Reel
procity Treaty with Hawaii. 1t is this
large American interest that the opponents
OF the Treaty wish to destroy The Islands
are practically Colony of the United
States, and American citizens. the world
over, are entitled to consideration at the
hands of Congress. The wishes of the
many on this Coast should be considered
before the selfshness of the few-the New
York refners.