The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-03-09
ATTACK UPON THE RECIPROCITY
TREATY.

The San Francisco Chronicle is still
active in its opposition to the Reciprocity
Treaty, basing its fight upon personal
antipathy to Colonel Spreckels. This is
made very evident by an editorial article
in recent issue of that paper, in which
the ISLANDERS appearing in the Opposition
press of Honolulu are used to discredit
the Hawaiian Government, in support of
an attack upon the founder of the Cali
fornia Refinery, who cannot he in
Inundated or brow-beaten either in Hon
olulu or on the Coast. These ISLANDERS
are even pushed the length of belittling
the Hawaiian Minister at Washington,
who is spoken of in the most contemptu-
GUS terms. This is the logical outcome
of the local attacks upon the independ-
ence and representative character OF our
Administration, but of course the inten-
ton was only to insult successful politi-
cal rivals and not to insult and belittle
His Excellency Mr.. Carter But they
put an argument into the hands of the
'sChronicle'' by which this might be
done, and it has used it vigorously.
If the 'fChronicle" is to be credited,
both parties in the House oppose the
treaty. It says:
If ever a treaty was doomed, it is this
Reciprocity Treaty with Hawaii 1t is de-
nOunced with equal vehemence by Colonel
Morrison, leader of the free-traders, and by
Mr.. Kelley, leader of the protectionists. 1t
is opposed by the consumers of sugar on
this Coast. It is condemned by economists
as adeparture from sound principle. 1t Is
scensured by the public for having, under
pretease of making sugar cheaper, made 1t
dearer in San Francisco than anywhere
else in the world. 1t has no defenders, no
apologists except the individuals who make
money out of it. Surely there ought to be
no hesitation in giving 1t the coup de
grace.
If the argument against the continu-
ance of the treaty be based upon eco
nomic principles, of course diversity Of
opinion must exist regarding it. Presi-
dent Cleveland, in his inaugural mes
sage, condemned all attempts to stimu-
late commerce by treaty stipulation on
the broad ground that it was unconstitu-
-sional, being limitation of the legisla
tive power, and further that it was in its
very essence impartial and unfair,
Should Congress assent to this doctrine
there is no more to be said The United
States would be compelled to terminate
all commercial treaties so far as these
stipulated for reciprocal trading rights
and of course the Hawaiian Treaty woulc
90 by the board, but the world of pro
duetive industry and demand is broac
and wide, and Hawaiian planters neeC
not be unduly discouraged upon thai
account. The Pacific Coast will still
buy our sugar (which will command The
highest prices in the open market. We
have alsr direct steamer trade with the
Colonies and there are large sugar rein
cries at Auckland and Sydney and {
growing market to be supplied there
But our nearest and best market always
must be the Pacific Coast, and should
Eastern influence succeed in abrogatint
the tresdv of commerce with this coun
try, the effect will be to add to the cos
to consumers, because railroad freight
from eastern points must necessarily b.
added 10 the cost of sugar in San Fran
cisco.
But we do not think that Congress
viii sustain President Cleyeland's ex
treme view Practical men will not b.
governed in the application of economic
theories to the active affairs of life b!
the dicta of doctrinaires. Neither Mr.
Kelley nor Mr.. Morrison have been log
zeal in their tariff schemes, although
both have been eminently practical. w
do not, therefore, attach any grea
weight to this branch of the subject
There is another point, however, t.
which we attach very great deal of i'm
portance, and that is the proposed re
duction OF the duty on sugar by 20 pc
cent, which is made in MorrisOn's tariff
bill. If this bill becomes law it is {
virtual abrogation of the Hawaiian Re
ciprocity Treaty, because it abolishes, by
a stroke of the pen, one-fifth of the adj
vantages We are supposed to derive from
its operation, while the United States
would continue to enjoy the full adyant-