The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-05-03

COOte, Of Tasmania, appeared on the
scene. and stated that if this Gov
eminent would make a contract with
him and guarantee q certain sub
sidy, a company was about to be
formed which wOuld put a cable
through from America 70 Australia
whereupon the Legislature passed a
law authorizing the Cabinet to make
a contract and pay subsidy. Mr..
COote did not materiaiize, and again
we sat down on our heels and waited
for somebody else to do it, This
position of sweet resignation was
occupied for several years more,
when in the spring Of 1887 Mr..
Coote again appeared on the scene,
and wanted another law passed.
/ The Legislature accordingly passed
/ it, and authorized the Cabinet to
contract with him for the laying of
a caole. The main feature of the
cor .ract was that he should have an
exclusive right to lay cables between
/ this country and any British posses
/ sion for three years from January l,
| 1883 and that he should receive d
/ subsidy Of $4,000 per annum for
! fifteen years provided that if on
the first day Of August, 1889, he did
not give satisfactory evidences that
/ he could complete the cable by
| AUGUST l, 1890, the Hawaiian Gov
eminent could cancel the contract.
/ \ contract was made IN accordance
| herewith, and again we assumed
/ the attitude Of the wa chful ex-
pectant The first Of August draw
eth nigh, and again Mr.. CoOte flick
ereth like the will O-the- wisp and
cOmeth not, and we fear iT-as mania
dag before Mr.. Coote will advance
beyond the paper stage of his cable.
When the sun gets out of bed on
the first day Of August next, what
are we going to do L? Are we again
to mount the anxious seat, and sigh
for Mr.. Field, and pass some more
laws for Mr.. COote's amusement ?
That is the conundrum which we
PROFOUND to our beloved readers
That is the question which we ask of
the Government. What are you
. going to DO about it ~
What we propose, is, that on the
first Of August Mr.. Coote be given
prompt notice that unless he comes
to time, the Hawaiian Government
. proposes to act for itself. The
United States Government and PEG
pie have never been so keenly alive
TO their interests IN the Pacific as al
present. and cable communication
with Honolulu Is one of the prime
factors in the protection of sucl
! interests the situation needs but tx
be clearly impressed upon the
United States Government, and the
coming forward of some one ready
and willing to take a lead in the
matter, to bring it about The
United States Administration is be
lieved to be favorable to the cable
proposition, and Mr.. Blaine i
known to have expressed himself II
favor Of It, A cable and plant from
Honolulu to San Francisco would
cost, it is estimated, in the neighbor
hood of Sl,5OO,OOO. The value accru
ing to this country from a cabl,
woeId fully justify it in paying sd!
from 100000 to 100000, toward
one.
The money can be borrowed from
our own people at five per cent.
through the Postal Savings Bank
in whicR~the surplus deposits ar,
now from $4,000 to $4,000 pc
month. Let the Hawaiian Govern
ment take the initiative then, anC
make a definite proposition to tn,
United States Government, that W,
viii pay. say from 100000 to $500,
600 towards the cost of the cable, i
they VIII pay the rest. A million
dollars would be a bagatelle to tn,
United States in comparison will
the advantage which the cable woulC
be to her, while the sum proposed t,
be offered by this country is so larg,
in comparison with its size and re
sources that it is an exceedingly lib
eral offer, bound to attract attention
and ultimately produce results.
This matter involves questions O.
such great political and financial
iluE 2rtance to this country that i
may well be made one Of govern
mental policy and backed by tn,
country as a whole without reference
to party affiliations. Let a bolc
front and q liberal policy be present
ed, and the desired object viii be OBJ
tanned. Let Us continue our past
half hearted, waiting policy and we
VIII continue to get promises anc
cables on paper to the end of tn,
chapter,
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Negetarianisln.