The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-06-16
THE TREATY.

The Treaty news, this mail, is
most satisfactory. The two posit-
ions taken up, give the Islands two
chances. The one, led by Senator
Frye of Maine, and which the Sen
ator seems thoroughly satisfied will
prove thoroughly successful, is to
restore the House clause into the
Dingley Bill, which distinctly does
not disturb the treaty relations be-
the United States and Hawaii.
The other alternative is to give no.
tice, as soon as the Tariff bill is
passed, of the abrogation of the
treaty in one year from date, and
the imposing of two-thirds duty
upon Hawaiian sugars after that
time.
The outlook, now, is very differ
ent from what it was when the
Committee made its report. Then,
the talk was of instant abrogation,
of the ruin Of our trade, and Mr..
Claus Spreckels kindly suggested
that the grass would grow in our
streets, 1t is to be expected, that,
having squeezed out of Hawaii, all
he wanted, he should desire to
throw aside the skin-the smile is
his own, used by him over a dozen
years ago. But there is good
fruit in the skin, and by careful
cultivation, it can be brought to
such perfection, that it will furnish
many good meal yet. The time
has not arrived when the grass
should grow in the Honolulu streets.
There is every hope that the first
of the propositions will be carried
out, since that view of the question
has very strong backing and one
that is growing from day to day.
In view OF the future, there is little
desire to change existing conditions
in Hawaii. The President and his
cabinet, if not pledged to annexa-
ton, are so thoroughly i'll favor of
it, that TO them, any change here,
would be far from satisfactory. AS
far as the House was concerned,
there never was any intention of
interfering with the present status,
as the bill itself showed. The at
tack upon the Islands came in the
Senate from the Sugar Trust, and
its animus became so plain, that
there came an entire revulsion of
feeling, and what'appeared possible
to do six weeks ago. becomes en-
tirely impossible today.
Upon various grounds, we hear
of people arguing against the abro-
CATION of the treaty. Political and
commercial interests alike, unite
upon the necessity Of its contin-
uance. Congressman Mcclure sees
in it means for the only real
competitor which the Sugar Trust
has been unable to stifle." He
moreover, does not see how the i'm
portation of Hawaiian sugar is 60
ing to affect the beet sugar indus
try, in view Of the fact that the
United States has to import from
countries outside of Hawaii, three
fourths of the sugar now used.
His views upon the beet sugar
question are worth consideration.
He is strongly in favor of the beet
industry because he believes that
the soil and climate of California
are adapted to it. But he says, IF
beet sugar will not pay, and pay
well, without taxing consumers Of
sugar through unnecessarily high
prices, then it would be an unproft-
able industry" But he points out
that this is not the case but that it
has been highly profitable, during
reciprocity with Hawaii.
Thus, viewed from a variety of
standpoints, the Reciprocity Treaty
seems to have very large lumber
of friends who will see that it is
continued undisturbed. Of course
we have always to think of the
proverb about there being many a
slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, but
the cup is very near the lip and
there seems very little danger of an
accident happening.
The news brought by the Peru,
is the most encouraging we have
had for long time, and our citizens
may proceed to enjoy themselves
on the two approaching holidays,
in full faith that black Monday will
not be menacing their fortunes
when they conclude.