New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
RECIPROCITY WITH HAWAII.

The Hawaiian Islands have been highly ia
vored since 1876 by Reciprocity arrangements
with the United States. Their chief product was
sugar, which was admitted by treaty into free
market. Their planters virtually had foreign
bounty of two or three cents pound in COMPETE
ton with sugar-producers in Cuba, the British
West Indies, Brazil, Germany and Louisiana.
Their principal industry under this powerful
stimulus was greatly developed, so that their
trade was enlarged from less than 81, 900, 600
to nearly S13, O00,O 900 The islands were thinly
populated, and it became necessary to import
japanese laborers for operating the plantations.
This has been done with marked success. The
islands have prospered Rice has been cultivated
as the main food supply of the population, coffee
has been raised in increased quantity, and sugar
production has advanced by leaps and bounds.
Reciprocity was policy which was highly adj
vantageous to Hawaii but its rulers were neither
apprecatve nor grateful. When treaty was
| negotiated with the late Minister not long ago
the native Government acting under Canadian
influence rejected it. Some measure OF whole
some discipline was required in order to con-
vince the Queen and her Ministers that the
islands were commercial dependencies OF the
United States.
This discipline was provided when the sugar
clauses OF the Mckinley Act were framed A
free market for sugar, which had been enjoyed
only by Hawaii and Louisiana was opened to
all countries willing to adapt themselves to the
conditions of equitable Reciprocity. As the
Spanish West Indies and Brazil have alieady
secured the permanent advantages of the free
market. and as the British West Indies and
~ do flac How xx-ac
practically deprived of what amounted to boun-
ty on its industry. Its own sugar was no longer
protected by revenue duties averaging two and
three cents levied upon the product of Compel
ing countries. The benefits of free market
were placed at the disposal Of all sugar-pOdGing
countries willing to adjust their own schedules
of duties on American exports to the requirements
of commercial union. The Hawaiian Govern
ment, being confronted by grave economic
crisis in the islands, was forced to send a COM
missioner to Washington in order to make the
best possible terms with the United States.
The Washington dispatches now state that
this result has been accomplished. A new treaty
has been negotiated and signed by DR.. Mott
Smith, the Hawaiian Commissioner. The de-
tails are not yet made public, but it is probable
that the convention now awaiting the Presidents
signature and ratification by the Queens Gov
eminent is based upon the Reciprocity amend
ment, and secures unrestricted trade between the
United States and the islands. The Commits
sioner went to Washington with demand that
the planters should share in the benefits of the
direct-bounty system, now applied to all sugar
producers in the United States. This was con-
cession which could only have accompanied an
nexatlon, and that was at least premature. The
United States, after developing the industries of
the islands for sixteen years through systematic
sacrifice of its own revenues, is only anxious to
have the Kingdom allied with and controlled by
it in foreign emergencies and not hotbed for
European and Canadian intrigue We entertain