The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-05-22
ANNEXATION BEST.
Judge Hartwell Claims That it
VIII Not Hurt tie Planters.

| MR.. EDTroR:-It is a prevalent
opinion that il annexation NAV ulti-
mateiy be a benefit to planting inter
ests in securing a strong government,
its immediate results would be in
furious, in putting an end to penal
contract labor and precluding the in
PRODUCTION of low-priced laborers
under contract. This is the view of
many ardent annexationists, who,
nevertheless, are willing 10 sacrifice
| their present interests in sugar for
what they consider TO be the pressing
needs of the whole country. Perhaps
there are those who have, or think
| they have, no pecuniary interest in
| the raising of sugar cane, and who
| fail to see what would ensue IL the
national revenues were cut off by q
breaking up of that national industry,
to say nothing of the entire cessation
of business activity which would fol-
low, and the conditions that would
exist if some 5000 laborers, a third
or more of the entire population, were
surely have nothing to lose, either in
brains or pocket. / believe that an
nexation would not be detrimental to
planters. In the first place, the final
results of annexation cannot be
reached abruptly. A treaty of annex
alton involves Congressional legisla- |
ton for the government of the terri |
tory of Hawaii, which would take |
months to prepare and considerable |
further time to be enacted. Mean |
while, Hawaii would be quasi |
colony of the United States, not an
integral or component part of the
American union, and yet not at
liberty to negotiate foreign treaties.
Duties would not be levied during
that time by either country upon
goods imported from the other. Un
Til the necessary leg station should be |
made and go into operation. Hawaii
while under the protection of the
United States, as it il now prac-
tically, would be under its own laws.
The transition would give time to
p epare in many ways, for dong with
put penal contract labor. 1t is by no
means certain that the present labor
system would not be continued long
enough TO discharge all outstanding
and to obtain fu | sup
ply of laborers not subject to penal
snforcem ent of their contracts. No
'eason has been suggested why such
could not be made by a
reaty of union.
But even if no such arrangements
Gould be made, the position of the Ha-
yaiian sugar planter with free mar I,
1et in the United States would be far |
'etter than it is now, for he has at
present. or in prospect no market there.
The sugar trust being the only buyer,
makes its own terms, and those are (
citing to be little short of impracti-
able. Whenever the trust wishes to S
the planters, it apparent s
y has them at its mercy. But =
nth permanent free trade, the .
lanter is independent of the trust, 1
nd can sell his sugar of ali
rades, refined or raw, on the Pacific !
oast. The western coast monopoly s
the western sugar refinery would be z
npOssible, for the wholesale grocers
)uld be assured of full supply of =
very grade. a Honolulu refinery
IN manufacture the cube SUI
ar, the mills can easily make
lie equivalent of granulated re-
ned sugar. A taste for coffee grades,
hich American refneries have not r
lowed American people TO indulge,
ould in itself cause heavy demand
4 profitable sales. The business of
filming in this country would give L
to skilled mechanics, and
,ep in the country large amount
money which now goes elsewhere.
On the whole it is not strange that
e sugar trust is not an annexation
J. / have not mentioned the great
in which a permanently free mar r
It would give, when duties shall be
imposed by The United States. But y
at gain and the assurance that Ha-
allan sugar would share the fortunes
American sugar, would, in my
iniOn, more than counterbalance
Q gradual displacement of our pres
t labor system.
ALFRED s. HARTwELL.