The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-05-02
HAWAIPS CHOICE OF PARTIES.

1t Is not, as an evening paper as
sumes, that the Republican claim on
the vote of Hawaii is one of gratitude
alone, though gratitude has its right
to be weighed. Republicanism asks
support on grounds that are eminently
practical, namely, that its aims and
policy are better for the commercial
interests of the Islands than the aims
and policy of any other party whatso-
ever.
The welfare of Hawaii depends, as
all will admit, upon the price of sugar
in the Mainland market. Reduce that
price by the free admission OF the ex-
port sugar Of foreign lands and the in
come OF the people here will be cut
down proportionately. Soil, climate
and fertility do not alone produce our
wealth. II 1t did, Jamaica, instead of
living from hand to mouth and wailing
for reciprocity treaty with the United
States, would be as well off as Hawaii,
whose soil, climate and fertility its own
equals. Why Hawaii Is rich and ia
maica poor is simply that the Republi-
can policy protects the sugar market of
the one and excludes, by the imposi-
ton OF high duties, the sugar product
OF the other. But let the Democrats
have their way and the protection OF
sugar ceases. Hawaii then will have
no better show in the American mar
ket than Germany, Egypt or Cuba; and
as result of the thrush of sugar from
everywhere the price will be cut in
two. Even now the Democrats are
clamoring for free trade in Porto Ri
can sugar and other commodities.
Give them full control of the Govern
ment and in a years time sugar would
be a drug In the market and every man
In Hawaii, native or haole, old-timer
or newcomer, would suffer direct
loss OF income. Honolulu would then
have to settle down as Southern Cali
fornia towns do and try to live off the
tourists; and as for the natives. who
have little chance at tourists, they
would soon be as badly off as the COM
munity Sydney Smith discovered,
where the people earned a precarious
living by taking in each others wash
ing
Not only does the Democracy threat
ep Island sugar through the medium of
low tariff or free trade, but through
special legislation against corporate
sugar properties. That party wants to
make record against trusts and 1t
chooses as its targets the combines
that are supposed to control various
necessaries Of life. The sugar trust Is
one Of these and in Democratic theory
every incorporated sugar company is a
:, part OF 1t. Not only will the Demo-
Gratis try to break the back of the trust
by means of free sugar but by other
means OF oppressive special legislation.
Our Island prosperity, therefore. de-
Ponds In the future as in the past upon
the power of the Republican party to
Keep the Democracy from getting sim
ultaneous control OF the executive and
legislative branches of the Govern.
ment and thus carrying out their de-
structive plans.
For any citizen Of Hawaii to ioin
the Democratic party Is to swell the
number Of those who would do the
Islands harm. Nor Is this harm con-
fined to an assault upon our chief in
dustry. The Democracy, as we pointed
out yesterday, is averse to expansion
and would like nothing better than to
prove 1t failure. We could not ex-
pect help Of any kind from a Demo
cratic Congress or Executive and on
the other hand could count upon irri-
tating delays in giving us our rights
and eager haste In visiting upon us
commercial or political wrongs. Meth
er old-timer nor newcomer could get
any public good out of Democratic pol
acies; and as for the native. while he