Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-01
rALrrLrss roN1lhnl. -

The stntiStics Of our trade with the
Hawaiian islands coufGtc the claim that
we should derive any commercial nd.
vantage from their annexation. The
bureau Of statistics has compiled figures
showing the economic condition OF
the islands. From these IL appears that
the United States has had since the rcci-
pr0city treaty OF 1876 IA large share Of
the commerce uf the islands. According
to the statistics. Of the 5000, 100000
worth Of exports from the Hawaiian is
lands since the reciprocity treaty Of
1876, n period of twcnty-,wo years, more
than SiSO.OOO,OoO have come to the
United States, while of the S1OO,OOO.OOO
worth Of imports into the Hawaiian Is
lands during that time less than SO
100000 were from the United States.
In other words this country has taken
of Hawaiian products more than 30 per
cent and has sent to the islands less than
40 per cent of their imports, which have
amounted in the aggregate to only half
of the exports.
In his speech against annexation Sen
ator Morrill, presented some interesting
facts in regard to his trade. He pointed
out that the total duties RENTED by the
United States while the reciprocity
treaty has been in force amount to over
$500 900. our total imports from the
islands in 1897 were S~l3.6ST.ISI, of
which all but a little over 100000 was
sugar. our exports TO Hawaii are only
remarkable for their slender character,
being lC.s than $ 5000 600 in 1897. This
adverse balance of the sugar trade
against us, amounting to nearly $4,000
600, was paid in specie to sugar stock
owners residing in Honolulu OF else
where. IF any of our people are cX-
pccting to profit by finding or by Great
ing a market in Hawaii for mnnufac-
%turcs,' said Senator Morrill,, "they should
ut once be sent to school where logging
has not become an obsolete method for
the correction of the pupils. The trade
of the uncultured inhabitants of trop-
ical countries, like that of Hawaii,
makes no figure in Iii and rarely
pays more anywhere than the cost of
us UT;lcllCil prOIeCllOH.
The fact is that no possible develop
ment of the Hawaiian islands would
materially increase the demand there for
American products. The population of
the islands will never be very much
larger thai mt present, nor will the char
acter Of the population be much changed,
whether the islands be annexed or not,
for there will be no incentive to Amer
lean or European labor to go there. The
work of the islands will continue to be
dom by natives and ]OricntalS and the
want of these people would not be in
creased by making Hawaii American
territory. ON the other hand the devel-
opment of the islands would Send Il
larger amount of their products here to
compete in our markets with products of
American agriculture, the former having
the advantage of cheap cOolie labor.
But the anneXationiStS are not giving
so much prominence to the commercial
consideration as formerly. Military ne
c~esSity" is now their chief prCteXt and
they are not able to make any better
defense of their position ON this ground
than III the other. The truth is that the
islands, if annexed, would prove as bar
rem of military Importance as of com
mercial. SO far as n naval station IL
concerned, Hawaii is as available fol
that purpose now rs it would be il
American territory and it will continue
to be so long rs it can rely upon III,
protection of the United States agains
foreign aggression.