Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1907-12-03
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President ROusevelts message con-
tains about all that Hawaii could
well ask. and, with the active sup
port of the executive departments of
the Government, this Territory, hav-
ing just cause, ought TO make good
Roadway during this session Of Con-
gress.
In dealing with the Improvement
of Pearl IIarbOr and the passenger
accommodations between Hawaii and
the mainland, the President has taxi
On in hand the immediate necessities
of the country. II would have been
very gratifying had he found space
for Il word favorable to the immlgra-
ton of European home-makers on
terms possible for this Territory, but
1t is highly prJoable that this work
will have t.re support OF the Execu-
tive even though 1t has not come in
Tor prominent mention.
transportation is the leading prob
lem for this Territory in its relations
with the mainland. And the Presi-
dents comment Is so closely lined
with the position taken by this paper
that we naturally view II as most
happy utterance.
The net result Of Congressional uc-
tion thus far has been to reduce the
number of steamships available for
the people of this Territory.
Regardless of the intent the fact
is thai our shipping policy is wipins
the American flag from the face of
the waters Government assistance
~ the right thing from every stand
point. Our ships should be placed in
position to compete with the ships
of other nations. A strong merchant
marine is national necessity.
.-. However. If Congress persists in
its refusal to aid American ships-if
IT forces the American ship-owner to
place his money in foreign shlps-ir
II demands impossible conditions of
the men DESTROYS of operating pas
senger steamers-then the legislators
of the nation have no moral right to
retard the progress OF this or any
other Territory under the flag, by
barring our citizens from the use OF
steamships other than those flying
the American flag
1t is to be hoped that the Presi-
dents presentation of the subject
will bring forth some progressive
Congressional result.
Pearl Harbor improvement is so
intimately associated with the devel-
Opment of the worlds commerce in
the Pacific that it would seem impos-
sible for Congress to remain longer
Indifferent. The needed appropria-
tions are no longer in the class OF
purely military and naval items.
Though Pearl HarDor, properly
equipped, must be of inestimable val
ne in time of war, 1t is an everyday
necessity of Americas and the worlds
commerce. AS the people or the coun-
try are becoming better acquainted
with the Pacific, there ought to be
an effective national sentiment urg-
ing the national leaders on In this
matter.
On the financial situation the Pres
ident appears to have repeated what
he has intimated before. The only
difference is that he has officially eX-
pressed his confidence in the sound
business conditions of the country
and personally called to the people to
cease boarding their coin.
There is no indication of hedging
in the matter of prosecuting the crim-
inally rich. Quite the reverse. He
takes care to renew the assertion that
under his administration the success.
fully dishonest will be brought to nc,
count. Even those complaining
against the flood of indictments can
hardly raise objection to this. They
are not likely to admit that the sue,
cessfully dishonest should not be
prosecuted.
The declaration regarding the tar.
In should be very satisfactory to the
people of these Islands. Protection, Is
very essential to the development and
continued prosperity OF these Islands
and II Is clear that the radical tariff
revision advocates have not won over
the Administration to departure
from traditional Republican policies