Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-21
HdriH.iN STGlR

The opposition to the annexation of
the Hawaiian islands on the part of
those who desire the development of
the sugar industry of the United States
is natural and iuStifnblC They see in
annexation Il distinct menace to thai
industry here. because it would be fol
lowed by an enormous increase in the
production of Hawaiian sugar. This is
assured by the rapid growth of the in
dustry in those islands since the reel.
procity treaty with this country went
into effect, admitting Hawaiian sugar
to the United States free. What that
treaty has done for the islands is shown
by the fact that while in 1879, when
the treaty was ratified. the total value
OF Hawaiian exports was only S1,SOO,-
900 last year il amounted to S15.5OO.OOO
nearly all sugar.
Hawaii is capable Of trebling and per
hapS Quadrupling its present sugar pro
duct. of which there was imported into
the United States last year 43SOOO,0OO
pounds. With annexation accomplished
the Hawaiian sugar planters could com
mand plenty of capital and they would
have every incentive to increase their
production in the assurance of Il perma-
nent and lucrative market. In refer
cnce to this the New York Commercial
Advertiser says: Hawaiian sugar is
now admitted free into the ports of the
United States under the provisions of
the existing reciprocity treaty, which
we have the power to modify or abrC-
gate entirely. After annexation the
right to restrict the growing importa-
tiOn of Il product coming into direct
competition with American beet sugar
producers would no longer exist. We
should have deprived ourselves of the
ability to defend an important home
industry from stlangulation by Asiatic
coOlie labor" That paper quotes Il
sugar broker thoroughly familiar with
the subject as saying that the domestic
beet sugar industry, under the senate
tariff act, would be able to meet one
half of the requirements of our market
in few years, but the continuous free
admission of Hawaiian raw sugar must
cOunteract the effect of the protection
given to the growers of sugar beets by
this measure. This broker said that
from san Francisco, at Il moderate rate
of freight, the Hawaiian sugar will
easily reach our markets as far east
as the Missouri river covering the very
tract of territory in this country which
is best adapted for the production of
beet sugar and thus taking away from
that section the possibility of market
ing its product. In view of this few
capitalists would risk their money in
the domestic industry. The Commercial
Advertiser further says: The develop
ment of the beet sugar industry prom
iSes TO give the farmers of the western
states invaluable aid in regaining pros
perity. The scheme for Hawaiian an
neXation is directly opposed to their in
tereStS. Last year Hawaii produced
100000 tons of sugar, practically al of
which found n sale in the United States.
With this production trehled under an
npXatiOn she would send us GOO 600 tons
per year, raised by cheap cOolie labor.
The beet sugar industry of the west
would have small chance of growth
in face of this tremendous competi-
ton"
Thousands of American farmers not
only in the west but in other sections
OF the country, are profoundly concerned
in this question. Shall their Interests
be sacrificed for the benefit of n few
Hawaiian sugar DlonfprS and thn Snpru-
latorS ana jObbers who are urging an
neXation? There can be no doubt as
to the popular answer and senators,
particularly those from the west, will
do well to ascertain the sentiment OF
their constituents before committing
themselves on the annexation treaty.