The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-05-16
BRIGHT PROSPECTS.


The stock market, after being very
quiet for a time, seems to be looking
up once more. The out look for sugar
at the present is remarkably hopeful.
The price that is being realized is high
er than it has been for years, and the
experts prophecy that it will go still
higher. Circumstances have been such
that the rising market has occurred at
the most opportune moment for us. Our
permanent absorption by the United
States has put us in a most enviable
position at the very time when we can
do the best for ourselves. If we failed
TO make hay while the sun of prosper
iyt is shining upon us, we would only
have ourselves to thank that the oppor-
tunity was lost. =
The Hawaiian Islands from a a bust
ness point of view, are different from
other places. The Island business has
been built up from within and not from
without. We have increased not with
capital from abroad, but with capital
which we have made from our own IN
crease. Our plantations are in a great
majority owned here, and not in san
Francisco, Boston or New York. In
point of fact we own ourselves.
The returns that the exuberant soil,
cultivated with the skill born of years
of Experience, give us. as compared with
the returns of other countries are en-
ormous. Even should they not continue
as well as they have done, they always
promise to be steady and safe. AS
outsiders become satisfied that our
prosperity is steady and assured, that
it is not ephemeral, outside capital Will
find its way here, and it will not look
for the enormous returns which we
have been accustomed to.
1t is absurd to take the pessimists
view of matters; to groan because our
bread has plenty of butter on it, to tell
everyone to beware of the evil days
which are sure to come; in short to play
the skeleton at the feast. AS things
look at present our prosperity is as
sured at high water mark for some
time to come. The future for an as
sured prosperity of moderate dimen-
sions is extremely hopeful. Why then
groan in spirit and prophecy all kinds
of evils. as some people seem to delight
in doing.
Death is the ultimate fate of all of us.
But because death is our assured fate
are we in our youth to give up laughter
and joy. Because when we are sixty or
seventy our limbs will be feeble, shall
We not eXult in the strength of our
youth, and enjoy it to the utmost. What
should we think of the healthy and ro-
bust oarsman, sitting down and groan-
ing over the future when he will be old,
thinking of that future. We should
think him fool, and very rightly.
Men are, after all, the prototypes OF
countries. Hawaii is young, we'll DOVER
ed, and with brilliant chances. Let her
rejoice while she may. Let her expand
herindustries, lether enter into the race
of prosperity and push forward with all
her strength. This is her time to do so.
There may come time when she may
not be able to do so, but that time will
be no better tided over if she fails
to make the most of her opportunities
now. One of the best of the parallels
tells of how certain wealthy man en-
trusted to each servant a talent, and
went off into a far country. On his
return the first servant reported that
his talent had grown to ten under his
management. The second servant had
an increase of five to report, and each
of them received a reward according to
his merits Then came along the third
fellow, he must have been a pessimist,
he was "unco careful o. his gear" and
he wrapped his talent in a napkin.
When his lord came to reckon with
him. he was by no means pleased, and
expressed himself forcibly in word and
in deed. We do not want to play the
part of the servant who put his talent
into a napkin.