Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-06-30
PHILIPPINE SUGAR.

lished an anniversary edition on Feb |
ruary 18th which contained numerous
interesting articles on the resources
of the Philippines, and one in particu.
lar which deserves the attention Of
those who are advocating a remission
of the tariff on Cuban sugar on the
ground that we are under obligations
to that country, while denying to the
people of our possessions the favor
they seek to confer upon foreigners.
The article referred to is devoted to
showing the sugar producing capacity
of the Philippine Islands. and to de-
scribing the drawbacks under which
the industry labors at present.
The writer states that from various
causes the production of Philippine SUI
gar has decreased fully so per cent
during the past four years, and that
the exports of sugar for the year 1902
were but little more than a third the
volume Of ten years ago. Here is a
state of affairs which demands the at.
tention of Congress, yet that body
turns a deaf ear to the complaints OF
the Filipinos who are living under our
flag and under laws made for them by
us, and instead of putting sugar made
on American islands on the free list,
lends all its energy to secure that ad.
vantage for the Cuban planters.
II there was no other evidence that
those who profess to be influenced by
10 ~ pIlfuatfnn rank hUnn.
critics this inconsistency would be suf-
f!cient to prove them such. How can
men who disregard the obligations
which we assumed when we took for
chile possession of the Philippine ISL
an13 pretend that they are weighed
down By debt to n people who owe
their freedom from Spanish misrule to
our efforts? When they do so they
excite derision and attract attention
to the fact that they are. whether wit
tingly or unwittingly. playing into the
liiL DIS Of the sugar trust. 1t Is because
Of the opposition of this INSCRIPTIONS
combine that the producers OF sugar
on our Philippine groups are practical.
ly excluded from the American mar.
Kct. In 1897, the last year Of Spanish
rule in the Philippines, 3S9.646 piculs
of sugar were shipped thence to the
United States; in 1902 the exports to
the American mainland amounted TO
but 40,S00 piculs. In 1897 the ship
ments OF sugar from the Philippines to
Great Britain reached 752,5SS piculs;
in 1902 they had dropped to 94,59S pi'
culs. There was much bogus sympa'
thy expressed for the Cubans because
the low prices resulting from the ex'
pansion of the beet sugar industry had
crutailed the profits Of the planters OF
Cuba, but who has heard any one lift
ing UP his voice for the people in the
Philippines who trace their decreased
exports to Great Britain to precisely
the same cause?
At one time the Filipinos carried on
o profitable refining business, but un
der the effects of American maladmln
istration all the refineries have been
closed and all the refined sugar now
used in the islands is imported from
Hongkong, where It is produced from
Philippine raw sugar. Is 1t not outra
geous that we should so arrange mat
ters as to make the pursuit of this in
dustry impossible in the Philippines
Is 1t not shameful that we should seel
TO help the sugar trust to further ex
, tend its power by procuring free entry
J for Cuban sugar while we rear tarif1
, wall against the sugar raised in the
American islands of the Pacific?
The United States should be the
, natural market for Philippine sugars
r II the people of the Philippines were
permitted to send their sugar to u'
freely production would expand rapid
ly, for the islands are well adapted Il
tie growth of the cane. But no matter
! how rapid the industry might develop
Y the people OF the mainland would hav,
! no right to complain, for the Filiplno
4 are entitled to the same treatment al
9 accord to ourselves. 1t will, however
not be mere act of justice to open GU
S ports to Philippine sugar, 1t will prov
3 good business stroke as well. Tn
4 people OF the islands are now strug
a Cling with poverty and are receiving
. assistance from the United States. Civ
them a chance to develop their re
3 sources and they will soon be indie
Q pendent OF our help and will becom
8 SO prosperous and happy that we shall
b need very few troops to keep tn
islands in order. All we need do to Gu
down our military expenditures heav
lily is to admit Philippine sugar free o
duty. We shall do so II we resolv
to put aside cant and remember tina
our first obligation is to those we rul