The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-01-06
MINIS ihhuhl Ainif fHI
TROPICS

Ons ~ sac most salssbls and timf',
i'oois ~ che ssi ,eaf pas Donjanln
KIDD > Control ~ ths Trapis"
u pren.nis al cDtirsiy new asp~,
of the Relations NJ TIE ssiions Occupy
ina the temperate Soh.s with ihoss
oocapslne the tropics Tha aaihor u
an Engiishman and u employed In the
India service u is his opinion that
the United States must nov look TO
world vide trade. and that IL can
b0s femain Indifferent 10 the condition
OF the countries. especially the tfopl-
ca ones. with which Il must establish
close trade relations
Mr. Kidd vas recently asked by the
editor % the Atlantic Monthly. what
attitude the United States should take
towards the formation % coloniss
keeping In view the principles % 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 tropl-
cal possessions Of the United States
cannot h. colonies. because the inhab-
itants OF the United States cannot emf
crate 90 and live In the tropics. lie
insists that the white man can never
be aoclimatized In the tropics" and
consequently. the inhabitants OF the
tropical possessions must continue to
b. their natural inhabitants The pos
session. he claims. must be governed
by the United States. as a trustee for
civilization. II II Is urged that such
government will be an abandonment
of the principles Of self government,
be replies. What Of II? What nation
is consistent in its creed and prac-
tice?"
| His proposition regarding the ac-
climatizatlon Of the white race in the
tropics is one founded on fact. He
knows, as well 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 colonize in the tropics. ex-
cepting perhaps In Queensland. As a
trader or adyenturer 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
a fair living at home, and as a rule,
lived In comfort. and obtained the ad-
vantages OF civilization. Even in these
Islands during over 20 years Of close
commercial intercourse. less than
1000 American males out OF 10000 900
Of people have settled here-hardly the
population OF small village. The trO-
pics as a 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 II Il 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 20
colOnized the tropics IL 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-
pies is In the emancipation from
clothing" But the northern farmer
who buys a suit once in three years,
does not find the cost 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
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