The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1893-04-26

peculiarly isolated position from the
centres of population, a suilicicncy
of labor cannot be obtained within
our own borders, SO that it must he
procured from without, and with
pure and simple annexation this is
not assured.
We all realize that the first and
most important essential to the
prosperity Of country, or province,
is good and stable government, but
that government must supply the
other essentials, which are necessary
to make that country financially
successful, and in our case this can
only be accomplished by the assured
future success of our main industry
and the development of new ones.
American capitalists are shrewd
business mon, aud it is not very like
ly that they are going to invest their
money in this or any other country,
unless that capital is going to be
remunerative. OF what benefit will
the admission of our products into
the United States be to us, if we are
handicapped for labor7 We are told
that with annexation our invested
rights will most unquestionably be
protected, and that the same bene-
fits will be extended to our indus
tries which similar industries enjoy
in the great land of freedom. But |
think recent events have conclusively
shown what majority of the Amer
lean people now think of the bene-
fits alluded to, viz, protection and
the pernicious bounty system. BY
popular vote this recent legislation
in favor of high tariffs and bounties
has received at any rate, if not its
death blow, at least the election of
a party committed to a policy of re-
form and modification of these al
Turing benefits which are held out to
us. In the event of the bounty now
paid sugar producers in the United
States being removed, it is antici-
pated that duty almost equivalent
thereto will be reimposed as former
ly on sugars imported from foreign
countries, and that we shall enjoy
the same advantages. Granted. But
is it not fact that reciprocal
treaties have been entered into by
the United States with all the most
important sugar-producing coun-
tries, whereby their sugars are adj
mitted free2 And it is hardly likely
that those treaties can be abrogated
forthwith. However, granted that
the bounty or benefits of exemption
from duty be assured to us, we have
| -tt ~ frin IS
of the Sugar Trust to reckon with
for, according to our contract with
them. will they not at once call up
on us to divide with them either OF
the above mentioned benefits, there
by reducing our share to one-half of
whatever they may be?
Some people arguc that in the
Southern States labor is paid at ;
much higher rate than ii is here, and
that if they can afford to pay SC
much more, and make their business
profitable, with Il patornal govern
meut assistance, with the same all
vantages we could surely do the
same. Parties who SO argue are not
in my opinion thoroughly conversant
or posted ON the great difference;
which exist between the two thea
tres of sugar production.
In the South full supply of fre'
labor is obtainable at all times, wage
varying with the seasons of the year
, From personal knowledge consde
the Southern planter in every respec
better off than his brother plante
Of these Islands, for the following
reasons: He has practically speaking
an unlimited supply of free labor
he gets two crops from time of plant
ing to our one, thereby making hi
average yield almost if not equal t,
ours; he has an advantage over us t.
the extent of about $40 per ton il
his favor, in the placing of his suga
: on the market alone, and he certain
ly can purchase his supplies for a
j Tleast thirty percent less than we can
In my opinion the key of thi
whole annexation question is whethe
we are going to be allowed to COVER
: ourselves or not, and, if not, wher
: our labor supply is to come fror
when the present avenues are closeC
} as they most undoubtedly will b
! by pure and simple annexation.
| am not Royalist or a believe
| in the divine right of kings or thei
defendants. Nor am | an anti-ar
nexationist, but a believer in secul
O ing the greatest good to the creates
number. And when | am convince
o that annexation will secure for Il
o full civil and political rights, SO tina
prosperity may again smile on thes
% fair islands, and that by the ne'
order of things new and progre.
10 sive development of our industrie
= may be the result, not only to tn
10 native "to the manor born," but ais
NJ to that large and important class {
~ workers who have staked their all i
10 the future of this country, the
NJ shall l hail annexation as boon an
70 and blessing to US all