The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-04-26
cu.NA1owws WANING TRADE.

IL II not surprising that business
.hould be dun among the AsIatic mer-
chants. The old compact Chinatown
where trade was always brisk and the
streets lively. has been only partially
rebuilt and many OF It's chief attrac-
lions have gone forever The unpaid
fire claims lie like an incubus upon
the surviving district. many merchants
having borrowed. In anticipation OF
payment, at high rates OF interest
Notes come due oftener than profits
can be counted up.
Competition. especially among the
Japanese email retailers. has grown out
~ all reason: and there Is a steady
drain upon the Chinese purchasing ell
eaenf. due TO these people returning
h0Enc- Greed. also. has some part In
tho trouble. rs many Oriental mer-
chants raised their prices during the
hoom more than was justified by the
Increase of the tariff. and did not low
e. them when the boom went During
the holidays atrocious prices were ask
ed for obviously cheap wares and
trade. where such things attracted
We find another reason for this de-
cline In the inability OF the newer class
e Oriental importers to gauge the
American demand Speaking OF dry
Eoocs. fancy goods. art and table ware.
bat few OF the really beautiful and
otherwise desirable things which so
abound In the shops OF Tokyo. Yoko-
hama and Kobe are visible here: but
there IL n gIut OF merchandise OF kinds
that no one OF taste would think OF
Saying. II we may judge the average
newly arrived Oriental merchant by
has window display. he has the crudest |
IDEAS OF art or else assumes that Ho-
soIuiu people possess them He i'm
porfs table scarfs and handkerchief
ayed In the national colors or with
Ipreed-eagles on them-ln fact we saw
ak handkerchiefs In Chinatown win
lox. the other day. made deliberately
Washable for reason OF n ragged Amer
can eagle I'm one corner carrying a
Itreamer In his bill labeled: Liberty.
Equality and Rescue for the Harm
500" The plain handkerchief might
ave sold: but no one capable of appre-
hating silk would take the decorated
mo n n gift II Is the same way with
Unaware and objects d'art-the trail
4 the tawdry In over them all.
Finally. as a dead weight upon mer-
antIie enterprise In Chinatown. Is the
NV passed by the never-to-be-forgot-
en- legislature OF 1900. practically safe
small creditors from the en-
n !
sys Chinatown thrivet on a credit
The passport system kept !
he dishonest class from running
way: there was a deal or money In
bills were generally paid
Without pressure. but II pressure was
ecded Il could easily be applied. Now
here are no passports and the creditor
> able TO avail himself OF a wide ex-
mption clause. The Oriental mer- :
liant demands cash: but owing TO the {
hange which has been wrought IN !
asst year. cash Is scarce and the buy
r. once free with his credit. Is decid-
dly close with his money.
Hence the reorganization which Is q
ow going on. Soon there will be few Z
r Oriental stores and. perhaps. better -
nesl The desire OF smaIi-fry Japanese J
, make living by selling each other '
gold drinks" or cutting each others "
air will be checked by adversely. G
hundreds OF these people viii find their O
ny back 20 the plantations whence v
ley came. The balance betweeI sup r
y and demand VIII gradually be re- y
cred and Honolulu viii be the better C
r H. y