The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-02-26

been able to take the foremost place
in methods of manufacture Even
in the United States itself, the home
of modern inventive genius in labor
saving devices, the planters of Louisi-
ana have followed rather than led
those Of Hawaii in the manufacture
of sugar. In the matter of econo.
mical milling Hawaii easily stands in
the front rank of sugar producing
countries. The readiest answer of
planters to the question, however, is
that Hawaii has learer labor than
other sugar countries. That may be
to some extent true, but it is an old
cry. When sugar was returning
them twice as much as now, the
planters constantly declared that
cheaper labor was indispensable.
But it may be that the fault has
not been 50 much in the price of
labor as in the system of labor. This
idea is strengthened by the reported
attempts on several plantations to
adopt different system Planting
on shares is reported to have been
tried with gratifying results on one
of the Hilo plantations, notwithstand-
ing that smaller concerns had con-
demned it after some experimental
tion. Now an effort is being made
at Eva on this island TO introduce
the cooperative system. If the pre-
sent situation will lead indirectly to
an abandonment of the hitherto be-
lieved necessary evil of the contract
labor system, then the period of con-
traction in prices may be as great a
blessing as that of expansion has
been in enabling our planters to pro-
cure the best mills in the world.
There are other available elements
of hope in the situation which may be
left for later discussion. One evil
development of the present croaking
epidemic consists in the disposition
to foment discomfort with the politi-
! cal position and institutions of the
country. Some would have us be-
lieve that a republican form of gov
ernment would change depression to
development, gloom to gaiety, politi-
cal dlsquiet into profound content
ment. Such counseliors cannot see
the examples of petty republics else
where as warning, with their clever
demagoguic presidents constantly as
| piring to be dictators to the perennial
| disquiet of the state. Another set of
| political doctors are signing for an
neXation to the United States, which,
although more reasonable remedy,
cannot at the present be regarded as
a living question. The great Republic
is not prepared to acquire this group
as yet. She is passing through great
transition stage in the matter of ma
tional defense, having begunin earnest
to build up her navy and. .foItify he,
coasts. Uutii this process be CON-
pleted, the United States will not
want TO acquire any outlying posi-,
ton such as this group, the defense
of which would involve, perhaps, as
much expense as would that of al
her ocean ports on the mainland.
Another point is that the United
States will not take over these isl
ands before their own people unmis-
takably signify their desire to have
them annexed. There is no trust
worthy evidence existing that any
considerable proportion of the Ha,
waiians are imbued with a desire tC
have their national existence abolish
ed. Colonel Spreckels showed he
knew the sentiment of the islam ders
correctly, when, as is reported, be
said, "Ihere is no prospect of any
change as long as the present ruler