The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-10-16
clan Roston versus ZINC Truth.

Clan Boston Versus The Truth.
Mr.. EprroR: Most OF the literature
of disgruntlement which has disfgured
the columns of the Bulletin for the past
twelve or fifteen months has been either
so inexpressibly silly, or SO transpar'
emily malignant, or both, as to hardly be
worth either reply or notice. A COM
munication, however, signed Clan
Boston, in yesterdays issue OF that
journal contains such large amount OF
gross Misrepresentation, not to say
downright lying, presented in decent
literary form and concentrated in mod
crate space, that feel disposed to make
a few comments thereon.
Starting out with brief reference to
what he calls the attempt to boom
these Islands as desirable residence for
white immigrants" the "Clan" afore-
said proceeds to announce that Hawa-
iian trade is decreasing, and that most
of cur enterprising foreigners have left
and others are leaving" and so on. How
is that for a starter? II man can make
such statements in his first paragraph,
what NAV we not expect OF him by the
time he gets through half column.
Before he finishes his task, the observing
reader will discern that the "Clan" is
fully equal to any expectations, however
extravagant, which his opening senten-
ces may have excited. We are not told
exactly what is meant by Hawaiian
trade whether it is the amount OF eX-
ports and imports, or the volume OF bust
ness done in the islands. In either case
il NAV be freely admitted that Hawaiian
trade is not as large as ii was few years
ago, and for two perfectly obvious rea-
sons which the Clan" omits to men
ton, viz: the diminished price of our
one great staple, and the natural and
necessary reaction from the over-trading
and general expansion which attended
the high price OF sugar few years ago.
For these reasons Hawaiian trade, both
foreign and domestic, has decreased, but
that it is now decreasing" is a state
ment open to very serious doubt. If the
Clam is in possession Of any facts or
figures to justify such a conclusion, elther
the Bulletin or the ADVERTISER will no
doubt be ready to afford him all the
space required to put the same before the
public.
But the statement that most of our
enterprising foreigners have LETT is so
utterly wild and reckless, so absolutely
destitute of even the semblance of truth,
that the EXTREMIST charity can only re-
gard it as the result of either one OF two
things, viz. dense Ignorance of the
facts, or a determination to make out
case by deliberate Justification if neces-
sary. 1t seems almost a work of super
erogation to notice so monstrous an as
sertion. Let me ask, however, who are
our enterprising foreigners? Are they
not our merchants and capitalists, the
owners and managers of our plantations
and ranches, our intelligent and capable
professional men, and the proprietors of
our various mechanical and manufacture
ing establishments? Ii those are not
our enterprising foreigners, pray who
are? And which and how many of these
have left, or have any intention of
leaving, so far as their intentions are
known? Let me ask which of our lead
ing mercantile firms have failed or given
up business? How many plantations
and ranches have been abandoned, and
where are they situated? Has the
Foundry closed its doors or Lucas shut
up his shop, or the Hotel gone into
bankruptcy, or any of our dozen or more
of island steamers failed to receive re-
munerative patronage? BY no means.
Certainly trade is not as brisk, nor
money as plenty, nor the evidences of
general prosperity as conspicuous as
when our sugar was bringing from thirty
10 fifty per cent. more than it has aver
aged for the last year or two. But let
US not therefore disregard notorious
facts or seek to pile up the agony in this
extravagant fashion.
A little later on we are told, among
other things, that "the public works are
comparatively at a standstill, and arti
sans and laborers have consequently in
sufficiency OF work. Also that s'the
common necessaries Of life are too ex-
psnsive," and that one reason of this is
1.-The heavy duties and taxation neces-
sary to maintain a host of Government
employees" etc. Now if the "Clan"
really halls from Boston, where people
are supposed to know all about some
things and a little about everything, he
ought to be familiar with the following
facts, and If he is familiar with them he
ought not TO misrepresent them. First |
The public works are not at compare
tive standstill, but, on the contrary, are !
comparatively active, and are being |
pushed as rapidly as plans can be ma.
tured, the necessary material obtained |
and the money be made available. Sec |
ond-The taxes in this country instead |
OF being high are uncommonly low. In |
most cities and large towns in the United |
States the rate is from two to three times |
as high as here. Third-Our duties on |
imports instead OF being heavy are very
light. Outside OF liquors and some |
other useless or harmful luxuries, most |
goods that are dutiable at all pay only |
ten per cent. Articles from the United |
States, whence We receive most of the |
common necessaries of life," outside |
of what we produce on our own soil, |
come in free. Fourth-The appropria-
tons made by the present Legislature
for useful public works, especially for
roads and other means of communica- /
ton, are unusually large, and under the
present officials the money so appropri-
ated is morally certain to be expended |
for the purpose intended and not for 1
fol-de-rol. In fact the liberal expendi- |
ture Of money for opening means Of |
communication and developing the re-
sources of the country may be fairly |
called a speciality of the present admin
isfratiOn In view of thaSa and otbar