The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-08-24
LANDS AND SETTLERS.

The Republican Territorial PLATFORM
ought to contain a 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 10
be producing something besides lantana
and guavas. No more susceptible soil
exists than that of volcanic origin; and
we have climate which is friendly to
specialized agriculture. Sisal. tobacco,
nineaples. 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
well-to-do- farmers in the states, tired
of cold weather and low prices and hav-
ing a common longing for a land OF
nerpetuaI June, who could be interested
in Hawaii by the chance IL 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 liberal land policy
coupled with such an effort at eoloni-
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-
sariIy 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 it is SO much
easier to work and it is sure that the
settlers would meet the community half
way.
We may as we'll 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 it
intends to keep all Of them that can be
induced to stay. So far it 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-
fused. Even excursion rates are high.
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 it would I
like to see the efforts divided for a
white between tourists and settlers with
q view of finding which venture prom
ises best. 1t is an issue between per-
rnanent, taxpaying population and
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 T
and the railroads built by it. Tt is
but lengthening the work which the
of the party began to rescue
The uplands of Hawaii from the wilder
ness and make it blossom with the
fruits of thrift and industry. Here, in
i territory as large as Massachusetts,,
S ample room for great and thrifty
white population. Could the Republi-
cans of Hawaii do more for these is
ands and for themselves than to fill
he vacancy?