The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-10-30
SMITH ON CUBAN QUESTION.

SMITH ON CUBAN QUESTION.
We all know that the sugar industry
is OF vital Importance to US all. AS
unfortunate as it may be that we have
to depend so largely upon one product,
still the fact remains that the progress
made in these islands during the past
thirty years is due to the development
and prosperity of the sugar industry.
The great public improvements, the
advancement and development in edu-
cational lines, the building up of Ho-
nolulu, the greater comforts of living
and such conveniences as telephone,
electric lights, electric cars and the
many other things which indicate the
great progress which has been made
have all been due directly or indirectly
to the proceeds of sugar.
1t is to be hoped that some of the
other industries which are being tried.
such as the canning of fruit and grow
ing of tobacco, may develop into prof
liable enterprises, with the great adj
vantage of their being such that per
sons of small means can engage in
them; but for the present sugar is our
main dependence. and disaster to that
industry means disaster to the country
McCIanahan, has been charging fran
tically around the islands. as though
just awakening from Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep, or having just come into pos
session of great and startling news,
and procIaiming that there is danger
Of Cuba being annexed to the United
States; and if Cuban sugar is admitted
free, great harm will be done to Ha-
wall.
The few years during which the
Apostle has lived in these islands have
not been sufficient to justify the Wrinkle
sleep theory, and his alarming attitude
of new discovery must be the result
of ignorance of what has gone before.
The danger of Cuban sugar being ad-
mitted free of duty has been present
ever since the Spanish war. After the
close of the war and during the re-
mainder of the Mckinley administra-
ton, appeals were made for relief for
the suffering Cubans. The struggle
over this question continued, until fl
nally in 1904 reduction of 20 per cent
of the duties on sugar was given to
Cuba. /
All of the time, since Cuba was
wrested from Spanish dominion, the
sugar inteIests of these islands have
been keenly awake to the possibility
and indeed, the proba bility of the oc-
currence of events in that unsettled
country which would necessitate inter
vention on the part of the United States
and bring about again the question of
free trade relations and perhaps an
nexation.
In attempting to protect the interests
of Hawaii in regard to Cuba, as also
Il th,a
resenting the sugar interests here have
been visilant and have endeavored,
through the Republican Delegate, Re-
publican channels. and personal repre-
to prevent the entire remis-
sion of duties to those countries, and
SO far have met with a large measure
OF success
The duty on raw sugar of average
quality (96 deg) is 1855 cents per
pound, or $3.50 per ton, which is paid
on all sugar imported from foreign
countries. Hawaii being part of
the United States, does not pay this
duty The 20 per cent reduction given
to Cuba reduces her duty to $26.96 per
ton. If Cuba is annexed and if her
sugar is admitted free of duty, it does
not mean that the duty will be imposed
upon Hawaiian sugar. but that the
production of sugar in Cuba will be
greatly stimulated and eventually will
be so great to reduce the price of
sugar to a point below the cost of pro-
duction here.
The Apostle would seem to be seeking
to give the impression that this danger
was recent discovery of his, a revela
ton in fact; that the Republican party
on the mainland favors this annexation,
and that the only way of escape is for
the Republicans of these islands to send
him on to educate the American peo-
pie. rebuke the Republican party and
warn the administration.
The remarkable proposition is seri-
ously advanced that the Republican
party being in power in the United
States and in favor of the annexation
of Cuba, and the Democratic party be-
ing in the minority and opposed to an
nexation, Hawaii should disregard all
the benefits it has received from the
administration and all it
owes to the Republican party and send
a Democrat to be our Delegate as a
blow.
Even if Cuba is annexed it does not
follow that the benefit of the whole
tariff will be given her. The Philip
pines is a possession of the United
States. with a population of 100000
and great interests, but she has not
yet been accorded this great benefit.
But the point which l wish chiefly to
make is this: Whatever the danger,
whatever the necessity for great effort.
we have thus far prospered at the
hands of the Republican party and
Republican administration; We have
worked through our Republican Dele
gate, through Republican channels;
and great dangers, which at the time
have seemed imminent have been
avoided. and that it would be the height
of folly to now follow the light of the
Apostle along the remarkable course
which he outlines.
Just imagine the Apostle being ush-