The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-03-31
SUGAR AND TRADE.

Sugar occupies very prominent
place in tariff legislation. And as
sugar is our great staple we are natur
ally very much interested in all dis
cussions upon it. 1t is one of the
staples as necessary to modern man
kind as wheat or any other cereal
The new policy in the United States
is to protect the industry there, but il
is extremely satisfactory to note that
Hawaiian sugars are to be practically
put on the same basis as Louisiana
sugars. The extension of the Reel
procity Treaty will protect the indus
try here very effectually until we get
the full protection to be obtained by
annexation.
The beet sugar men of California
are the most determined against the
Hawaiian Islands, but they do not
seem able to carry their campaign to
a successful issue. Some of their pa
pers have published very erroneous
statements as to the trade between the
Hawaiian Islands anu the United
States, but the figures given by the
Custom House here knock the bottom
out of that tub most effectually.
As was pointed out in these columns
the whole of the Hawaiian sugar does
not go to the Pacific coast, because the
Pacific coast has not population
enough to handle it, but what the Pa
cific coast cannot handle goes to New
York in American built vessels. The
trade of the Islands is of the greatest
advantage to the American shipping
interest. And there is no portion of
the United States more interested in
it than San Francisco. Thus it comes
about that there is very divided feel
ing in and about that city. The beet
sugar men are against the treaty, but
a large portion of the business men
and the producers are thoroughly in
favor of it. 1t is a goose which lays
very valuable, eggs, even if they are not
golden.
The Hawaiian import trade with the
Pacific ports, which practically means
with San Francisco, amounted, during
the year 1896. to over five millions and
$5,235,72S.97 This is only the import
trade and has nothing to do with the
actual volume of trade which amounts
with the Pacific ports, to over
twelve millions Of dollars
If the trade PASSES through the port
of San Francisco it is the whole State
of California that benefits by it. The
California farmer supplies the islands
with grain, feed, hay, fruit and other
articles, which would otherwise be
drug upon his hands. There is many
a man working on his little farm in
California and getting comfortable
return for his produce, who would not
know where to sell at "A profit if It
were not for the outlet afforded him
by the market of the Hawaiian
Islands. And this not only holds good
for the farmer, but it is also true of
the Pacific Coast manufacturer. The
Hawaiian Islands are liberal buyers of
Pacific Coast manufacturers.
The trade of the islands is import
ant to California. In times of depres-
sion the houses dealing with Hawaii
haXDbeen the only ones which could
look the world smilingly in the face.
1t comes, then, i'll from that State to
do anything to hinder the prosperity
of Hawaii But the hinderance is but
a half hearted one. The State of Cal
ifornia knows a good thing when it
has got it, and it is not going "to cut
off its nose to spite its fhce," to use a
somewhat vulgar proverb. There is
pressure enough in California to pre-
vent the rabid beet men from running
the trade of the other producers of the
States. The action of the Committee
of Ways and Means is an ample argu-
ment in point. The Hawaiian trade
will be protected along with other
American trades. 1t is clear that Ha-
waii is in the American sphere. In
spite of opposition the news from the
States is very encouraging and our
representatives are working well.