The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-01-05

One of the most valuable and timely
books OF the last year was Benjamin
Kidd 's-''Control of the Tropics
1t presents an entirely new aspect
OF the relations of the nations occupy
ing the temperate zones with those
occupying the tropics. The author is
an Englishman and is employed in the
India service. 1t is his opinion that
the United States must now look to
a world wide trade, and that it can
not remain Indifferent to the condition
OF the countries, especially the tropi-
cal ones, with which it must establish
close trade relations
MIR. Kidd was recently asked by the
editor of the Atlantic Monthly, what
attitude the United States should take
towards the formation of colonies,
keeping in view the principles of self
government that underlie American
institutions. Mr.. Kidd says the Amer
leans must answer that question them
selves. But he reiterates what he has
clearly said in his book that the tropi
cal possessions of the United States
cannot be colonies, because the inhab-
itants of the United States cannot emil
CRATE to and live in the tropics. He
insists that 1.-The white man can never
be acclimatiZed in the tropics, and,
consequently, the inhabitants OF the
tropical possessions must continue to
he their natural inhabitants. The pos
sessions, he claims, must be governed
by the United States, as trustee for
civilization If it is urged that such
a government will be an abandonment
OF the principles of self government,
he replies, What of it? What nation
is consistent in it's creed and prac-
9ice?"
His proposition regarding the &C
climatization of the white race in the
tropics is one founded on fact. He
knows, as we'll as every man knows,
who has considered the matter that the
possibilities of the white man in the
tropics are entirely unknown. He
knows of no case where any colony
OF white men have made any rational
attempt to COLOMBO in the tropics, ex-
cepting perhaps in Queensland. AS
trader or adventurer the white man
has settled in the tropics, but he has
invariably attempted to surround him
self with the customs and usages, es-
pecially the bad ones, of the northern
races. There has been no reason why
the farmers of the temperate zone
should settle in the tropics. The in
telligent farmer has invariably made
q fair living at home, and as a rule,
lived in comfort, and obtained the ad-
yantages of civilization. Even in these
Islands during over 20 years of close
commercial intercourse, less than
1000 American males out of 70,0O0, 900
OF people have settled here-hardly the
population of small village. The tro-
pics as source of wealth for the agri-
cultural immigrant cannot be compar-
ed with the temperate zones until
there has been an opening up of lands,
and the establishment of good govern
ment Even then we doubt if it can
be shown that there is more profit in
the banana, coffee, pineapple and other
industries than there is in the raising
OF wheat, corn, vegetables, fruit, hay
and cotton.
The great danger in attempting to
cOlonized the tropics is that the idea
prevails in the temperate regions that
men can live without work where
there is no frost. The only advantage
which the lazy man finds in the tro-
pics is in the emancipation from
clothing" But the northern farmer
who buys a suit once in three years,
does not find the cost a heavy bur-
den.
Accurate knowledge of the condi-
tons of the several parts of the world
will show, in the long run, that, under
proper economic laws, the struggle for
existence is about the same every
where.
The problem of acclimatiZing the
white man in the tropics may, after
all, be only a speculative one. There
will be room enough for him in the
temperate zones for centuries to come.
In the United States the white man
stands in mortal fear of the yellow |
man. unless he can make tool of |
him, so he may conclude finally to let |
the yellow man dominate socially in |
the tropics of the Pacific, and decline |
any general experiment of national ac- |
climatiZation.