The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-02-09

Inspired by the hope of permanent
prosperity under the new conditions,
and believing that stability i'm bust
ness as well as IN political conditions
had been attained, practically the
whole community invested its savings
in new sugar plantations. In the capi-
tai much new building was under
taken and many small enterprises
started. An era of apparent great
prosperity followed. While the de-
velupment was in progress, employ
ment in all lines was readily OBJ
tanned. Wages were high and me-
chanics hocked into the Territory.
When the new works undertaken were
completed many workmen were
thrown out of employment and large
numbers returned to the main land.
The wave of prosperity receded; con
ditions assumed a normal basis. The
difficulty at that time was to deter
milne what was nomal basis. These
sharp fluctuations were successfully
met by the business community.
Though hard pressed for a time, no
financial crash followed. The excess
Of energy displayed in developing new
enterprises was followed by steady,
persistent application and great con-
StanCN OF purpose in the determine
ton to carry through the new under
tallings and to bring them to a sue
cessful issue. The danger of depend
ing, however, solely ON one crop was
emphasized. At very early period
following annexation it was recOg-
niZed that the need of a variety of
crops was great. Constant efforts
have been made to find new crops
suitable to the support of the small
farmer. Coffee, sisal, pine-appes, to-
bacco, and rubber have all been tried
with varying degrees of success. The
community is on the alert to discov-
err and foster any species of agricul-
ture which will help to afford the
diversity of crops d, sired. 1t is OBJ
vious. however, that the established
industry cannot be abandoned. For
years to come the chief reliance must
be placed on the sugar crop. That
is the crop which pays the taxes and
furnishes the revenue required to
maintain our institutions. Hawaii
cannot afford to lose the capital she
has invested in sugar. Her first great
problem is therefore, how to shape an
advance on new industrial lines while
preserving the old. The great me-
mace to Hawaii's sugar industry OBJ
viously lies in the abrogation of tariff
on Philippine or Cuban sugars or in
the annexation of these islands. Cuba
is capable of producing enough sugar
to supply the total consumption of
the United States and, if annexed,
would drive the American growers
to the wall. In the Philippines the
industry is capable of indefinite eN-
pansion. The cost of production is
there so small, owing to excessive
ly cheap labor and the escape
from the necessity of expensive
irrigation, Hawaii could not hope to
compete with it, nor could the beet
growers on the main land. At pres
ent sugar is not a crop of the first
importance to the Philippines. They
have four other good crops-rice,
copra, tobacco and their unrivalled
hemp. Hawaii at present is depend
ent on sugar alone as its chief sta
pie.
IN Hawaii il seems unreasonable to
excessively stimulate the sugar indus
try in the philippines at the expense
OF impairing or destroying it in the
United States. Again, the Philippines
not being u part OF the fiscal system
Of the United States, do not bear
their share o. the burdens OF that
5, stem. They, therefore, are not just
~ entitled 10 the Dement'S OF ii. Inere
does not seem to be equity in permit
ting them to purchase their machin-
cry and supplies in foreign market,
escaping the payment OF American
duties, and to sell their produce in
the United States with the full benefit
of the duty ON that product. 1t is
easy to be carried away by our en-
thusiasm and to approve OF altruistic
ideas without duly weighing results.
business prudence would lead us to
hesitate before taking course which
would probably destroy Il great home
industry in which some $20O,OOO,OUO
have been invested. The total abro-
CATION of the duty on Philippine SUI
CARS threatens harm to the thousands
of American farmers and investors
who have put their money and time
into sugar Deets and cane on the main
land and in Hawaii out of all proper
ton to the benefit which would re-
suit to the Filipino people. The great
mass Of the Filipinos, the laboring
people, the class you wish to help
and favor, would be the class who
would derive the least benefit from
the sugar business even if it should
be developed on a large scale in theiy
islands. 1t would seem that sufii
cient tariff concessions could be
granted to the Philippines to induce
prosperity there on lines which would
not create destructive competition
with home industries.
Closely allied to the problems oil
diversified industries is that of secur
ing a larger farming population. II