The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-03-08
OF MATERIAL INTERESTS.
AN ABLE PAPER ON THE DEvEL.
opMENT or THE ISLANDS.
Rapid Growth Money Period Favorable
Conditions For the Future
Union of Purpose.

subjects of interest to all the people
were made by w. A. Bowen, B. +. Dill
bingham, Jos. Marsden and ]. S. Elmer
son. Mr.. Dillingham's speech was on
the development of Hawaii" and was
as follows. 1t is now first published in
full
The development of Hawaii is GER
tainly an interesting subject, but it is a
subject so comprehensive that even the
ablest statesmen might shrink from the
task of attempting to sound its depth or
compass its area of present and prospec-
tive possibilities. No man living can be
truly worthy the name of a good citizen
who is not willing to bear his share of
the burden in the development of the
commonwealth of the country in which
he lives.
Few men in the world can justly
claim the distinction of being great
Statesmen, but it is the. happy privilege
and the duty of every free man, who
would to himself be true. to use his
one or more talents for the possible adj
vancement of the common good of all.
To-day we are standing on a provis-
ional bridge which spans the gulf sep
arating us from the historic past, and a
possible glorious future. A tide of cir
cumstances over which we have had no
control has swept us to the point where
we now find ourselves. We cannot go
back il we would, for all the bridges we
have thus far crossed are burned be-
hind us. Whatever opportunities have
been given for greater advancement
in civilization, commerce, agriculture,
manufacture, education Christianity or
the developement of more perfect and
ideal political system than we have en-
joyed in the past, we cannot now recall.
The voice of the present and future is
calling loudly to every citizen i'll this
fair land to turn away from the dead
past and look with hope and confidence
to a possible happy future. 1t is worse
than useless. it is criminal
waste of time and neglect
of new opportunities for any
portion of our people to halt in our on
ward march, either to dwell upon real
or imaginary mistakes that have been
made or for those whose lives have not
been identified with the past history of
this country, to form themselves into
cliques and factions to raise the ques
ton, "Who shall be the greatest among
us, when we shall have crossed the
bridge and have entered the ideal land
of peace and plenty y He who Is
greatest among you let him be the SER
want of all, is u suggestion which comes
to us from the highest authority and
would seem to be fitting answer.
The Hawaiian people have just cause
to feel proud of their progress in the
past when compared with other nations
who have enjoyed greater advantages.
In less than three quarters of a century
they have been transformed from a
condition of barbarism to an enlightened
Christian nation. History fails to record
one or more revolutions in any other
country without the horror of bloodshed
and fearful devastation. This fact
should be remembered to the credit of
the native Hawaiian, whose claims
upon the future Government and all
true citizens of this country cannot be
emphasized too strongly.
The agricultural and commercial de-
velopment of this century from 1915 to
1891, a period of sixteen years, was
something remarkable. The total
amount invested in the sugar business
in 1875 was, in round numbers, say So
200. The export of sugar that year
was about IL, 600 tons. The total imports
from all countries in 1873 was 81 800, 900.
We had no steam communication with
the outside world, and could boast of
only one small steamer to perform inter
island service. The exports from the
United States to Hawaii in 1875 were
valued at S947, 900. In 1891 the total
capital invested in the sugar business
was 1913, 000,0 600. The value of exports
of sugar alone from 1876 to 1891 was
over 100000, 000 From 1876 to 1891
the imports from the United States
amounted to $47 100000
During these years of great prosperity
American shipbuilders constructed for
us thirty nine vessels for the inter-
island and twenty-six for foreign trade,
IL Al.
These are only a few of the principal
facts and figures, which serve, however,
to show at once the magic effect of our
treaty relations with the great Ameri
can republic. If only partial free
trade with the United States
could increase our business with
the outside world from some
thing less than $3,0O0,c00 to $780,
100000 a year in so short a period of
time what may we not expect
under the stimulating effect of COM
plete free trade, with a proper form of
prOtectorate or possible closer relation
with the great mother country. 1t is
matter of pride to the people of Ha-
wall that we have in the past bought
many dollars more per capita from the
American people than they have pur-
chased from us.
Diversified industries are now receiv-
ing attention in this country, and out
side capital is beginning to seek invest
ments in land for the cultivation of
coffee, fruits, ETC. The sinking of
afucs;an wells and the introduction of
large pumping machinery for irrigation
are indications of progress which are
pleasing to contemplate. The pre- gres-
sive plan of this Government in opening
up for homestead settlement, large
tracts of Government land is "A measure
which when carried into effective oper-
alton will have a direct bearing upon
the stability and permanent welfare of
this country that can hardly be over
estimated. The natural resources of
these Islands yet undeveloped are very
great.
1t is necessary for me to call
the attention of every intelligent man
in this country to the lament
able fact that sugar and rice
are at present our only dependence for
the support of our 10000 people. 1t is
due TO the intelligence of the men whose
capital is invested in these enterprises,
and whose financial prosperity or
failure depend upon the continued
friendly relations with the United
States, to believe that they will commit
no acts. or adopt any policy on the labor
question, or otherwise, that will result
in agricultural or commercial suicide.
The united action of the planters in
Joining the annexation movement, after
due consideration of the possible diff
culties of the labor problem, and the
firm stand taken by the executive of the
Provisional Government against the un
necessary importation of Asiatics should
be sufficient guarantee to all of III
whose interests are only indirectly IN
volved, and whose loss could not by
any possibility be greater in any even
than theirs, that we may safely trus