The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-08-25

tary usages and rules of debate is
simply very badly mistaken. A
brighter, more intelligent set of men
you do not meet anywhere.
HAWAIIAN DEPRESSION.
"By the way, one of the foreign
members, Mr.. J. NJ. Horner, formerly
resident of Alameda, has lately in
troduced banking bill, which has
already excited much debate. It's
| object is to authorize the issue of
paper money for the purpose of re-
| lieving the depressed condition of the
| Hawaiian finances, but at the time of
my stay in Honolulu there was much
! difference OF opinion as to the advisa-
| bility of adopting the measure.
Speaking of this financial depres-
sion, there is q good deal said about
its having been caused by the pas
sage of the Mckinley bill, which, by
| giving other sugar-producing cOun-
tries the same privileges as to the
free admission of their products into
! the United States which were form
erly enjoyed exclusively by Hawaii,
did away with the benefits of the
reciprocity treaty. There is no ques-
| ton, of course, but that the action of
the bill did cut down the profits of
the sugar trade, but these profits had
previously been something enormous,
30 and 40 per cent. per annum being
realized on the money invested. Very
naturally those engaged in the bust
ness were loath to give up these great
profits, and in consequence there was
generated, not actual i'll feeling to-
ward the United States, but q tend
ency that way. 1t was felt that q lit
tie unfairness had been shown the
islands by the adoption of the meas
ure which nullified in moment, as
it were, all the advantages derived
from the reciprocity treaty, which,
under the international agreement,
could not be abrogated without a
years notice being given. Oh course,
with all other sugar-producing coun-
tries at liberty to send their sugar
here free of duty, the treaty was of no
further value, and Hawaii was placed
in competition with the world.
at is thought, however that, things
will speedily right themselves, as,
even as things are now, there is
profit of from to S or per cent. to
be made in the business, which else
where would be considered very good
indeed. Claus Spreckels is certainly
dDOuG us IlltCl luISI05lCu III lu0 SuSdI
trade as anyone else, having the
largest sugar cane plantation in the
world at SpreckelsviIle, on the island
of Maui, and no one is more confident
in the future of Hawaii than himself.
He holds, and / agree with him, that
there is no reason for despair in any
business, as there is substantial
profit to be gained. Mr. Spreckels, by
the way, is now at his Maui planta-
ton with his wife.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
"But Notwithstanding what has
passed, q friendly feeling for the
: United States yet remains with the
: Hawaiians, and 1 want to say here, In
) all earnestness, that that feeling
| should be conrted and its growth en-
couraged in every proper way. TX
: this end we should attempt and carry
= out such legislation as will foster the
Y friendship of the islanders for us, ant
s at the same time rebound to GU
t mutual benefit.
t "PeOple do not, many of them a
i least, appreciate the Importance OF tn
r Hawaiian Islands, particularly a
V affecting our interests. When yOl
consider their geographical position
|
practically in the center of the Pacifi
= Ocean, in the direct line from Sal
O Francisco and Australia and New Zea
j. land. Yet that is not half.
e "When you begin to study tn
.e Nicaragua Canal project and the re
Le suits of the completion of that grea
l. work, which / consider already absC
y lutely assured, you may begin to hav
Y some idea of the future greatness c
Ig the Hawaiian Islands. Do you not sc
l. that line drawn from Hongkong {
in India to and through the can;
e and thence on to Europe or OF
a. own Atlantic seabOard, passt
in in the Pacific directly throug
n the Islands? This is the fac
The result is, then, that they mu
become one of the most impo
tant shipping points for victuallir
~ and the furnishing of coal and gener
n supplies on the face of the glob
at Situated 21OO miles from San Fra
-e, cisco and further yet from any 9th
Nv equally important city, they must b
hit come the halfway house, as it WEI
tn of all Pacific ocean travel. Lookil
ng into the future thus and properly a
to preciating what we see there, it
nd impossible not to realize the gre
ty, need of keeping up thorough
to friendly relations with Hawaii"