Year: 1879


he Mail steamers cannot perform this service for want
Of proper stations in the north Of China. The Pacific
Mail and o. and 0. steamers 60 to Hongkong in the
south, and have no branches at Shanghae."


We find the foregoing in the San Francisco
"Bulletin of the 29th ulto., to which we
desire to call the especial attention of our
people. 1t is noteworthy from the article
referred to, that the Chinese have at last
awakened to the Importance of extending their
commercial relations with the outside world.
To this end, as incidentally remarked in our
issue of last week, new impetus has been
given to the movement by the establishment
of steamship trade direct between China and
these Islands. We say establishment, because
we have had not only the rumor but the fact,
demonstrated by the presence of the pioneer
steamship of the line in our harbor last week,
the Hochung from Wampoa, with 45l Chinese
passengers for these Islands. 1t may be well
TO observe just here that the s45l passengers
mentioned above are not all common laborers.


They consist of mechanics embracing almost
all branches Of business, nor are they of the
class who come as paupers, but all paid their
passage 1t will also be observed from the
article we have quoted that the China Mer-
chants Steamship Navigation Company is an
organization composed of wealthy merchants
resident in China, who have carefully calcu-
lated all the contingencies of the new under
taking, that is the establishment of steam
ship line for direct trade between China and


these Islands, with the ultimate purpose of
extending the line to San Francisco.


From the extract of letter of G. G. Moreno,


Esq, the accredited agent of the China Mer-
chants Steamship Navigation Company, it
appears that the company he represents,


which is private corporation, composed of
wealthy Cinnamon residents of the Empire of
China, whose Board of Directors have carefully
examined all the facts connected with the en-
terprise of establishing direct trade between
China and this Kingdom in the first instance,
and as an assurance of their faith in the pro-
ject, have sent the avant courier of their new
line, in the shape of the Hochung to this port
with a passenger list of 45l Chinese. This
being the true state of the case, it is evident
that the steamship company has fully matured
its plans after due deliberation. The stock
holders are men of immense wealth, and are
shrewd, experienced business men, who see in
the establishment of direct trade between Ho-
nolulu and China fair business venture, and
have determined to test their Judgment by the
stern logic of facts. This new line of
steamers is no ad captandum affair but an
accomplished fact, the best proof of which is
found in sending the Hochung as the pioneer
ship of the new line.


Direct trade between China and these Is
lands will be direct and positive benefit to
this Kingdom in thousand and one different
ways, and therefore, we rejoice at the pros
pect of such commercial as we'll as sensible
arrangement, because we desire to see the
business prospects of these Islands enchanced
We earnestly trust therefore, that sound wis
dom may guide the councils of His Majesty in
the negotiations with Mr.. Moreno, the special
agent of the steamship company, in the
arrangement of the most feasible plan to secure
direct trade with China and this Kingdom,
and the proper regulation of Chinese emigra-
tion to these Islands This is not the time to
suffer narrow views of state policy to control
the action of Government, but rather the hour
when liberal and enlightened principles of state
craft should govern those whose duty it is to
guard the interests of this little Kingdom. 1t
should be born in mind that the establishment
of direct trade with any foreign nation will be
vast benefit to the revenues of this Kingdom,
and therefore every possible facility should be
granted by this country to induce such direct
trade. AS Mr. Moreno is the only and author
lied agent of the company proposing to estab-
lish this direct trade, we trust that His Maj
esty and advisers will act in liberal spirit
towards him, and that his mission may prove
a success, because upon such result depends
in great measure the future prosperity of
these Islands. The establishment of direct
line of steamers between China and Honolulu
and its ultimate extension to San Francisco,
will be benefit to our people in double
ratio, because it will bring down to minimum
both freight and passenger charges between
Honolulu and San Francisco, besides it will |
open up a market for all that can be produced
on these fertile Islands and thus insure pros
perity.