The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-10-20
The Hawaiian Question.

Hawaii since the deposition OF the
Queen should have persistently
pressed upon the United States
Government the advisability OF au-
nexing the islands at an early date,
or that the Executive at Washing
ton should have perceived the force
OF the arguments forwarded from
Honolulu. In the first place the
native population is gradually but
surely decreasing, and while the
white element gains scarcely any
thing in numbers, the Chinese and
Japanese have increased from 27,66l
in 1890 to 46,023 in 1896. When we
consider that the total population
10 only 100000 and that japan has
been pushing her commerce with
the islands in an almost feverish
manner, it is perfectly evident that
unless the United States desired to
see Hawaii Japanese possession it
had little time to waste. The exist
Jog form OF Govern ment could not
possibly stand very long, political
changes Of the most radical nature
we're inevitable, and, in short, the
case had become one for grabbing
policy and that at once. We are
not concerned to defend the United
States in its present action-on the
contrary, as we stated very plainly
on the news OF the proposed annex
alton reaching US, we consider that
this departure from the traditional
foreign policy Of the States may
entail very serious consequences to
our transatlantic cousins. Yet they
found themselves in a puzzling
dilemma on account OF the grow
ing supremacy Of japan in part
OF the world the trade of which has
hitherto been mainly in their hands.
From the report OF Fl. B. M. Consul
General HAYES which has just BET n
published we find that the total
trade OF the Hawaiian Islands for
1896 amounted to no less than
f4,677, 703 being 81, 751, 1896 in excess
OF that OF 1895 aud f616 O6l more
than that OF the best previous year.
The imports ran to fl,477,6S7, an
increase Of 100000 over 1895, and
gave an average Of fl3 per head OF
the population. The customs re-
ceipts rose by f22,l7l to f132,7O6
OF the total imports the Uuited
States are credited with S1,126,992,
or about seventy-eight per cent;
while, excluding specie the Yankees
still are responsible for sixty per
cent. as against the ten per cent,
which Great Britain can claim to
have supplied. Canadian imports
would appear to be steadily on the
increase. AS to japan, the imports
from that country are as yet prin-
cipally confined to the requirements
OF the Japanese settlers who, as we
have said, are swarming into the
islands aud will soon have complete
possession OF the labour market. or
course the predominsnce OF the
United States 10 the foreign trade is
due to the reciprocity treaty in force
by which almost all descriptions OF
American goods are duty free
whereas most products from other
lands are subjected to an ad yalorem
duty OF ten per cent. Owing to this
treaty British imports into Hawaii
consist only OF dry goods Of all
descriptions, pig-iron, corrugated
iron. cement, coal, paints and oils,
steam ploughs, sugar aud coffee
machinery, jute bags, whisky, cutlery
crockery, timed provisions, boots
and shoes, saddlery, aud similar
articles. Australia and New Zealand
supply all the coal imported but
japan is entering the field against
them and may be expected to make
good fight for share OF the trade.
Turning to the exports, these in
creased from f1,747,792 in 1895 to
f3, 0,0l6 in 1896 or more than f29
per head OF the population--an as