The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-04-09
BEET VS.. ANNEXATION.

The beet sugar lobby will make
strong effort against either annexation
or renewal of the treaty but Hawaii
has ample arguments at hand and able
men to put them forward before the
Senate There is doubt but that
the cause of annexation has strong
backing in the Senate and when the
matter comes under discussion their
powerful advocacy will turn many
waverer. Moreover, the fact that we
have strong advocates for annexation
in the Cabinet is a very strong pull in
our favor.
Now with regard t. beet sugar. 1t
is claimed that the beet cultivation of
California and neighboring States will
supply the needs of the whole Pacific
sphere of sugar distribution. From
January to December, 1896, this sphere
consumed 10000 tons of Hawaiian
sugar and 10000 tons of beet sugar
The yearly increase is now estimated
at 10000 tons, so says financial paper
on the Coast, hut with even an in
crease of 10000 tons, due to the in
crease in new machinery and larger
paintings, it will take at least ten
years to come up with the present
needs of the Pacific sphere of distri-
button. But the Pacific Coast and the
West have populations which are rap
idly increasing and it would require
very much larger ratio of increase
than that claimed by the sugar beet
manufacturers to supply the sugar
needed for the excess of population.
Besides, the use, per capita, of sugar
is also yearly increasing. 1t is evident
therefore that any deficit in the beet
sugar production will have to be made
from sugars from abroad.
At the present time the sugar pro-
duced on the Hawaiian Islands is
chiefly produced with American cap
ital and its profits go to citizens of the
United States. either resident there,
or resident in the Hawaiian islands.
But should the tariff or political
course be such as to ruin the Hawaiian
sugar planters what would be the con-
dition of the Pacific sphere of sugar
distribution in the event of the beet
sugar crop being unable to meet the
demand? OF course the prices OF
sugar would go up, and the deficit
would have to be supplemented with
duty paying sugars. The consumer
would find that he was paying more
for his sugar than formerly and that
he had been taught to use more during
the years of cheapness. His former
luxury having become a necessity.
Moreover, if land is put into beets
it means that other crops must be cur
tailed in proportion and that means
that the prices of those crops will be
increased, which is anything but g
pleasant thing for the consumer, ano
it is to the consumer that we must III
timately come in considering matter
of this sort.
As far as the merchants of San Fran
cisco are concerned, the ruin of the
Hawaiian trade would mean the ruiz
and the serious gripping of others
Upon their efforts to support anneNa
ton we ought to be able to depend
Wipe out an aggregate of over $4,000,
600 of trade passings annually through
the hands of the San Francisco com
mercial houses and you wipe out /
great deal along with it. In face o
this fact the support of the CONNER
cial element in San Francisco and thu
Pacific ports may be counted on as
strong factor in the matter. Indeed
The Star has information upon tn
point and knows that a gentleman
now specially retained in Washingto
by the commercial men of San Fran
cisco, to keep their side of the cas-
carefully before the Senate.
The Press of the United States
waking up to the necessity of anneXf
ton. OF course the Democratic pa
pers are, as rule, sore over the dc
feat of Mr.. Cleveland's pet policy c
restoration, though Mr. Cleveland hi
terly repented that he ever initiate
that policy. But the Republican an
Independent papers are getting int
line and advocating the cause of al
neXation. Our friends, the Royalist
have, for a long time, been whistln
to keep their courage up, and hay
asseverated that annexation was dea;
1t certainly is a very lively corpse il
deed, in fact, it is not corpse, it
a full grown, full blooded body.