The Hawaiian gazette., 1890-05-13

suppllcant, and MS late Is genef'
allv determined, not by the merits
of the case, or by considerations OF
public policy and eNpedieney, but
by the presence or absence of some
rival in the field to dispute his
claims. For. instance, the Ways
and Means Committee in fixing the
tariff schedule are guided praeti-
eally entirely by the claims of the
delegations of various manufactur-
ing interests all of whom are anXi-
Gus to get the benefit of govern
ment patronage and assistance in
carrying on their business. The
manufacturers therefore personally
or through their agents at Wash
ington determine the tariff leglsla-
ton of Congress. The conserva-
ton of the public depends entirely
on the amount of conflict and op-
position which rival jobs arouse
among rival manufacturers. These
conflicts generally inure to the
benefit of the public. " When
thieves fall ont honest men come
by their own"
There is no excuse for paternal-
ism in the United States, where
capital is abundant and business
enterprise and energy at. MAXI
mum. The same thing applies
with even greater force to this
country, where capital is also aban
dant and where the means of the
Government, in striking contrast to
our great neighbor, are relatively
very limited. The great obstacle
which has hindered the flow of
capital into new industries in the
past has been the lack of confidence
felt by the community in the purity
and efficiency of the Government.
That obstacle has now happily
been removed, and we believe there
Is no serious reason for apprehend-
ing its recurrence. The fact sull
remains, however, that capitalists
are unreasonably conservative and
timid, and unwilling to divert even
a small portion of their great divi-
dends into new channels of invest
ment and production. No one can
forget what circumstances of un-
paralleled encouragement and |
difficulty Mr.. Dillingham; had to
face when trying to get his rail
road started. With few honor
able exceptions, our local capital
lists held aloof. What is true of
the railroad is true of every other
new enterprise and industry. No.
one is willing to undertake any
thing without running to the Gov
arnment and getting it to furnish
good share of the capital and as
a considerable proportion
IF the risk. 1t is ridiculous that a
coffee plantation could not be
started here for want of a few
thousands of dollars from the Gov
The coming Legislature has a
great task before it in further de-
-eloping the resources of the coun-
ry by costly works of a purely
public nature, such as deepening
he harbOr. We want new roads.
public parks, attractions for tour
sts, cable connections and q hun
ired other things which in spite of
he need of them, we can not hope
o obtain for some time to come.
The capitalists of the country should
10 their share by forwarding with ,
he utmost energy private enter
rise, and not look to the Govern
nent TO start industries which they
re amply able to undertake alone.
1 Is not too much to ask of men i
Tho have grown rich here to re-
ard some part at least of their .
wealth as public trust and to re- I
urn it to the country which has d
them, by spending it in a q
7ay which will benefit that coun- i
ry, create new industries. widen
S industrial opportunities, and ;
ford a better and more varied !,
larket for labor. The capitalists .
the nation will not do their duty q
Y it, until they realize more fully :