The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-12-21

pursuits OF tne natlOn. IDero can
be no reasonable exception taken to
this. It certainly would be objec-
tionable for the Planters Monthly
to become regular political organ,
but it would he next TO impossible
for it to fulfil its legitimate mission,
without at times discussing questions
of political nature.
The planting interest is the great
interest of the country, and the
planters are the men on whom the
country depends. To attempt TO
shut them out from q part in public
affairs, or from discussing public
questions in the columns of their
own organ, would be manifcslly
unfair. Attempts have been made
to helittle them, and ignore their
Importance to the country. But
the fact remains, that they are our
mainstay, and we should do badly
without them. Our commerce de-
pends upon them, and thrives or
languishes in proportion to their
prosperity or adversely. The public
revenue, which supports the govern
ment, comes mainly from them,
directly or indirectly. Let them
cease operations, and what would
become of three-fourths of the popu-
lation? What would become of the
government? Those who ignore the
planters do not realize how much we
lean upon them.
The planters of this country
occupy position analogous to the
sheep farmers of Australia, in the
early days of those colonies. Long
before the discovery of minerals and
the development of agriculture, the
waste lands were occupied by per.
sons who covered them with sheep
built stations, and improved the
place generally for their own specia
advantage, and the general good Of
the people. They absorbed a grea
deal of labor, monopolizcd the ship
ping for their wool, and obliged tn,
harbor authorities to deepen til,
harbors and extend the wharves
The over-worked tradesmen coulC
get no peace for their troublesome
customers. Hardly had they sa
| down to dinner, or to smoke
cigar, when some proud, over-bcar
ing squatter drove furiously up t.
the door, and over score of oil,
women and children, and gave hi
pretentious orders, accompanie,
with so much money, that the til
ran over and the sovereigns wer
rolling all about the shop, or hun
dred pound notes blowing out int
the streets.
All this went on for years, AM
the squatter continued to inundat
the land with wealth, prosperity
employment, and happiness. Fror
the days of Noah that valuable an
lovely country had been occupie
by wild dogs and wallaby, until tn
sheep farmer went out into TIL
deserts and wildernesses, and frol
small beginnings and great hare
ships at the start, covered the Ian
with mutton and wool. The cite
towns, and villages were built an
supported by the squatters, mt
the people became fat and flourish
ing, and looked upon the men VIII
had made them with an enviol
eye. In the largest of the pr'
vinces South Australia = the
raised an outcry against the shee
farmer, and secured legislation th
ruined and forced him into the il
solvency court. The result w,
that the entire population becan
impoverished, and the previous
prosperous centres put on the aspe
of Goldsmith's Deserted Villag
and long period of stagnation al
depression ensued. until other /
dustries grew up.
The sugar planters of the ii
waiian Islands bear the same rel
tion to the people of this kingdol
and have just as much to do WI
the general prosperity of the cou
try, as did the squatters
Australia. Should their indust
collapse, what is to take its plac
Our resources are not varied, Ill
those of Australia. We have
gold fields, nor copper mines, n
deposits of coal and other mineral
to fly to. Our resources are {
agricultural, and should other i
dustries follow n cessation of sug
raising, long interval of depre