The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-07-09
A GLANCE FORWARD.

EVERY man has right to his views,
and has right to express them
President David Starr Jordan has views
about the annexation of the Islands to
the State of California and he gives
his reasons for them. He distinctly
states that he is not connected with
any movement whose aim is such an
neXation, but that he merely gave his
opinion based upon the result of the
recent Supreme Court decision and the
tone of thought with regard to the ISL
ands which is held by people in the
East, with whom President Jordan
came in contact.
This is very different attitude from
that of the Humphreys Fitch conspira-
Cy which was engendered in political
combination and was being Graded in
personal greed. President Jordan thinks
he sees tariff danger ahead through the
recent Supreme Court decision. Under
that decision he argues that Congress
can put a tariff against our sugar and
thus paralyze our industry. If we
ceased to be a territory and became a
tariff question could ever arise.
But since the days of the fable people
have avoided killing the goose that lays
the golden eggs. The customs duties
of the Hawaiian Islands are yielding a
substantial revenue to the Federal Gov
eminent, over and above running ex-
penses. AS long as prosperity looks
upon our main industry the customs
duties will look up. Kill our industry
and they win go down.
Again President Jordan says we shall
be in danger of being forgotten. In
terest has centered round the Islands
because thousands upon thousands of
troops have been passing through our
ports. When the troops cease to pass
through interest will also cease in the
group and will center itself somewhere
else. But upon this point distinct issue
must be taken with the President. We
who believe in the brilliant future of
Hawaii, we who have watched its de-
velopment during the closing third of
the last century, believe that this de-
velopment and this brilliant future
have not been dependent upon thou
sands Of troops passing through or on
any ephemeral cause whatever. but is
due and will be due to permanent
causes, deep rooted, which will have
their effect not only here, but through
out the Pacific from it's Eastern to it's
Western coast line.
Tho fut11ra Tposnorit,- o,J
of the Islands lies in the development
of the commerce of the countries
bordering upon this ocean. and events
have come about which are bound to
stimulate that commerce. till it shall
grow in volume beyond the aspirations
of the most sanguine.
Unless one has followed the develop
ment of Pacific or rather trans Pacific
trade one can hardly realize the extent
of it. A third of a century ago there
was only one steamer which left the
port of San Francisco and plunged
boldly into the Pacific. That steamer
was the Idaho, she piled between the
Islands and the mainland and took
from eleven TO twelve days to make the
voyage. All other steamers went coast
wise, either north or south. Gradually
the links of commerce have spread out
since that day There are steamers
plying to China, steamers plying to the
Australian colonies, freight steamers.
passenger steamers, a regular fleet and
all find it necessary to call here. Every
one leaves its quota of money behind
1t, every one buys our products or pur-
chases goods We have imported.
If this is so now how much more will
it be when we have the cable. No
steamer, no sailing vessel could then
afford to pass by the central telegraph
station of the Pacific. Give us the
canal either Nicaragua or Panama,
and there will yet be. another impetus
given to trade, and another reason for
the Islands rising in Importance.
No, one cannot think, if one has any
faith in the development of the Pacific
that the islands will be forgotten. As
the Pacific trade increases, so will the
importance of the Territory of Hawaii
increase. When we have the cable. Ho-
nolulu will be daily date line in every
paper which publishes commercial or
shipping intelligence. Singapore is one
of the wealthiest and the busiest ports
in the world. These Islands are des-
tined to be the Singapore of the Paci- |
nc. And with such a destiny are we
going to sink our individuality in a |
county of California. California is a |
great State, and is destined to become |
a greater. Hawaii will become a |
powerful and wealthy Territory, and
may in time become State in spite of |
adverse prophecy.