The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-16

The good white citizen of Hawaii,
who cannot always be thinking of all
the worlds business, now says, "What
of Japan; what am I to get out of it?''
The reply is, a good deal for you, il
you choose to reach for it, and if you
don't good deal for someone else who
shows energy and enterprise, and will
be very willing to take your place.
The good average citizen, merchant
and planter has treated the business
affairs of this country as if there was
no tomorrow. This is natural enough
and quite in the line of other COM
munitieS. No spot in the world will
be more seriously affected by the ris-
ing of the vast Asiatic power than
Hawaii. But the people are as indif-
ferent to it as they are to the trade of
Asbantee. The Chamber of Com
merce of Lyons, France, has apprO-
priated $4,000 for the purpose of send.
ing experts to study the rising COM
merce of Japan. Mr.. Griffiths, NJ. p.
of New South Wales, urges the Brit
ish colonies to send men to study the
same question. He tells his people
that they cannot afford to remain ig-
nOrant of the nature and strength of
Japan's power to compete. Hawaii
does nothing, although she should
clearly understand the conditions of
life, and trade in country which lies
so near to her, and either with or
without annexation, will seriously eff
feet the commercial interests.
So far as the political relations of
Japan and Hawaii are concerned, there
is not the slightest evidence that the
Japanese have either hope or desire
fN1. hn ic1on Tn tho die
cussion of the expansion of Japan,
since the close of the Chinese war, the
newspapers of that country are unan-
imous in the desire that the move
ment of emigration should be South
wardly, and so much so, that Spain is
serious disturbed about the PHILIPPINE
islands. Hawaii is not mentioned,
either by the government or the Op-
position press as an objective point in
the national policy.
The people of Hawaii have an inter
est in the island of Formosa, as q
sugar producing country. 1t is gen.
orally believed that there is a very
large territory which is we'll adapted
soil. But it will be some time before
it can be utilized. The present sugar
interest is entirely controlled by the
sugar refining companies of Hong
kong, and the Japanese must open up
a new section of the island. This will
be done. The Japanese interested in
the matter will bring from Hawaii
the most intelligent of their country
men now on Hawaiian plantations.
There is an expectation that the large
emigration to FOrmosa will raise the
price of laborers' wages. 1t may do so,
but probably not enough to restrict
emigration to Hawaii, who can now
bank on her good character with the
Japanese. Several of the japanese
papers believe that FOrmOsa sugar
will soon enter the market of the
Pacific Coast. The amount of sugar
consumed by the japanese at present
is insignificant, a value of about
$1,000, 900 consumed by 100000 of
people. The people are too poor to
buy it. But the coming change in
commerce will soon create new
great sugar eaters. The Chinese
will, later on, follow the example of
the Japanese in increasing their
wants." the island of Formosa will
not supply the demand, and the sugar
of Hawaii will go to the Asiatic
countries. The development of manu-
featuring in Japan has created a de-
mand for wool. 1t is imported from
Australia, and the demand for it is
rapidly increasing. why Is not the
Hawaiian wool in the Japanese mar
ket? The japanese are becoming eX-
pert manufacturers of shoes, and i'm
port leather from England and the
United States. Why are not the Ha-
waiian hides tanned and sent to
Japan and manufactured shoes taken
in return? There is some demand for
bananas in Japan. The supply at
present is of an inferior quality and
expensive. AS the wants of the Jap
anese increase they will call for this
fruit. The product of Southern Japan
is poor. The demand for coffee is
generally growing. Hawaii can sup.
ply this article. Pineapples are con-
sumed in considerable quantities and
the demand is growing. Hawaii can
supply it.
But there is another article which
can be produced without the invest
ment of large capital. Itis sea island
cotton. Japan will soon demand II
for the finer yarns. Instead Of import
ing it from the United States she can
obtain q part of the supply from
Hawaii. Here Is an opportunity
for the small planter to put in a
crop and get immediate returns
for il. It solves the question
OF large capital. The settlement
OF the islands by American farmers,
with small means, can be assured, II
they will each raise a smali acreage Of
sea island cotton. Mr.. H. NJ. Whitney