The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-03-05
HYSTERICAL.

Several extremely striking feat
ures are made very prominent in
the current discussions on revenue
and trade. One is the great glee
which some men cannot restrain
when there appears to be the slight
est prospect that Hawaii is to be
injured in some way. Whenever
this possibility looms up even in the
dimmest distance there is an element
here that seems immensely pleased.
They are short sighted individuals
whose impulses are controlled by
prejudice and with power for harm
considerable, but limited where
their characters are known. In
this class might as well be included
those who willfully misrepresent
Hawaii in writing and talking. A
letter, purported to have been sent
from here to San Francisco bust
ness man and published in the
Chronicle, is an example. Perhaps
the author believed that the end
sought justified the means adopted.
He says licenses have been issued
to Japanese and Chinese here to
conduct saloons, that they sell
the vilest stuff imaginable and
that it is supplanting California
wines. Now there is no japanese
saloon here at all and the patrons OF
the Chinese establishment are not
persons who use California wines.
However, the issuance of a permit
for the Chinese bar-room was
scarcely in consonance with the
supposed policy of the Government
and the course has been sharply
criticised. The writer of the letter
under consideration continues that
in CLOCKS and watches the Japan
csc have parlyzed the town." The
only time-pieces these merchants
have in stock as yet are from the
United States. But is in holding
forth on sake that the correspond
ent becomes most eloquent and
reckless. He gives the official
figures showing that more of this
liquor has been imported every
year since 1892, says that it has al
most entirely supplanted California
wines and that you will see that
San Francisco is losing her trade
here through japanese competi-
tion." The official figures further
show that in 1895 this country im-
ported 10, 800 more gallons of Cali
fornia wine than ia 1894. This does
not look like a retreat on force.
True, more sake has been brought
in. This is because there are
more Japanese for the plantations
The writer of the letter, perhaps,
and perhaps not, with the purpose
of arraying the California delega
ton at Washington against thu
Islands, concludes that lit wer'
time for the San Francisco mer
chants to take some action if they
wish to retain any part Of the Ha
waiian taade." The safest and bes
and most sensible step for them t.
make would be to meet the figures
of Portland, Seattle and Easter
merchants. The exports from thu
United States to Hawaii last yea
increased 2.8r per cent. OF course
the trade with Japan is growing ant
the Island population that use
wine is growing the grape and get
ting the juice. The Legislature o
the Republic is now in session AM
in meeting new problem it canno
but do its level best to favor tn
United States in trade matters. Thi
will be done Notwithstanding thu
fact that head Of a government
bureau has been witless enough t
prepare an act increasing the tarli
ON a number of classes of merchan
disc from the United States. Thi
mistake of an official is almost a
bad as the letter with prejudic
leaking from between the lines. Th'
matter of japanese competition, b.
the way, is just now a fad with tn
San Francisco Chronicle and at time
it fairly chews soap on the subject