Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-06-11
EVIDENTLY A JOB.

The reported borrowing OF SlO,0OO,OOO
by the Hawaiian Government-which is
looked upon as equivalent TO the sale oil
the Islands to the country furnishing the
money-is but new phase OF very
ancient chestnut on the Pacific Coast. II
ten million dollars could buy outright the
title to the Sandwich Islands, there are II
score OF capitalists on Mob Hill, in San
Francisco, who would jump at the chance
TO own them, nor feel the loss OF the pur-
chase money. The native race OF the
Islands have degencrated and died out in
the past twenty years TO such degree
that in order to till the land, an influx OF
foreign laborers became necessary, and
these were furnished ad HJittm direct
from China, and by the Six Companies
from California. About twelve years
ago, Claus Spreckles, the sugar king OF
the coast, visited the Islands, and, ascer-
tanning the climate to be royal one for
the growth OF sugar cane, purchased
large tracts of land in various places and
at once put them under cultivation.
Other moneyed men in California fol-
lowed his example, and soon the Islands
provided enough cane to furnish the raw
material to run the mammoth Bay State
Refinery, at San Francisco, in which
Sprecklesis an owner. The natural weight
in public matters which body of
wealthy landowners would have in a
country so primitive in its laws and Gus
toms, was soon manifest, and the Re-
ciprocity Treaty was the outcome. Not
ing these things with jealous pangs, the
British Government took hold to gain a
footing there. The result is rivalry for
the possession OF the Islands, with both
governments anxious to obtain them,
but neither willing TO accede to the
terms offered by the present King.
The subject has been canvassed in the
State Department and in Congress, and
is now held in allegiance. 1t is to spul
the present Congress to action that this
venerable chestnut is resurrected, with
the hope that the United States will agree
to establish protectorate over, or buy
outright the title to, these islands. The
whole subject savors of gigantic scheme
to enrich few American capitalists, ant
aside from the naval requirements of the
Government, it ought not to challenge
public attention. 1t is true that major
ity OF the Council are natives and the
creatures OF the Kings will, and that
they would readily accede to any act he
might propose, but it is equally true thai
the purchase of the Islands under exist
ing circumstances, by any Government
would lead to serious international
complications, the end whereo
no man can see. In the absence
OF knowledge of the case as it now
stands in the private records of the
State Department, an expression of opin
ion as to the duty OF our Government il
the premises would be little previous
but we suggest that the United States
should hold the Islands, if for no Other
reason than to establish an outlying
naval station, with which to offset tn,
fast-growing dominance OF the Pacifi,
Ocean by England. Enough, however
is sknown to warrant us in saying that
ever the Hawaiian Islands pass into tn,
custody OF any nation, that nation will b,
the United States of America.