The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-08-26
LANDS AND SETTLERS.

The Republican Territorial platform
ought TO contain strong plank IN
favor of opening UP the public lands to
settlement. There are enormous
reaches of territory on these Islands,
particularly on Hawaii, which ought TO
be producing something besides lantana
and guavas. No more susceptible SOIL
exists than that of volcanic origin; and
we have a climate which is friendly to
specialized agriculture. Sisal, tobacco,
pineapies, bananas, vanilla, lines, ALI
gator pears. chutney mangoes, peanuts
castor beans, wine and table grapes,
possibly cocoa, are crops that promise
well: and as side issues are eggs, fowls
and dairy products, honey, okra, aspa-
ragus, watermelons and many staple
vegetables. There are thousands of
we'll to-do farmers in the States, tired
of cold weather and low prices and hav-
ing a common longing for land of
perpetual June, who could be Interested
in Hawaii by the chance I, get farms.
Such men as web as farmers who have
their completeness to make have been
writing here for months asking for data,
but the Government with all its land
has not put them on the track of any.
We believe that a liberal land policy
coupled with such an effort at coloni-
cation as our laws provide for would
sooner or later put Wahiawas all over
the Territory.
The offer of land is the surest way
to get people-and people, not neces-
sarily transient people either are what
Hawaii wants. Moreover this policy
would keep many of the people we now
have, for If our Portuguese could colo
nize on the soil, we should hear of no
more schemes to take them to Mexico.
In the matter of quick results, the
colonization idea beats the tourist pro-
paganda out of sight, for 1t is so much
easier to work and it is sure that the
settlers would meet the community half
way.
We may as well face the exact truth
in respect of tourists. California is an
intercepting market. 1t has the first
chance at the people we are after and 1t
intends to keep all of them that can be
induced to stay. So far 1t has sue
ceeded, as the tourists we got last win
ter cost more than they came to and
we hear of no others in sight. With
low ocean fares the situation might i'm
prove, but this concession has been re-
The question therefore comes up wheth-
er Hawaii had not better try for the
settlers who want to come and stay
rather than for the tourists whom we
must fight California to get for few
weeks at time. The Advertiser is not
prepared to urge the abandonment of |
the tourist propaganda yet, but 1t would |
like to see the efforts divided for Il |
while between tourists and settlers with |
a view of finding which venture prom |
Uses best. 1t Is an issue between a per- |
manent, taXpaying population and a |
few uncertain guests; and it certainly |
behooves us to test the matter fully.
The Republican party of the nation is |
wont to boast, as it has in many of its |
platforms, that it opened the public |
domain and made homes for the people. |
The homestead law was one of the most |
beneficial acts of Republican states |
manship. The great West was settled |
and the railroads built by ii. 1t is |
but lengthening the work which the |
founders of the party began to rescue
ness and make it blossom with the
fruits of thrift and industry Here, in
a territory as large as Massachusetts,
is ampA room for IA great and thrifty
white population. Could the Republic
cans of Hawaii do more for these is
lands and for themselves than to fill |
the vacancy?