The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-04-27
Il PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY, APRIL -.
American Commerc in tho Pa
CHIC.


The loss Of the American whaleship Daniel
Wood. which i chroniclcl in another column.
and the prompt departure on Thursday Of Capt.
Reynolds in the United States Steamer Lackq-
ioanna to succor the crew who are now on French
Frigate Shoal, will attract general attention to
the necessity of having war ships in this ocean
and the wisdom of the American Government in
providing q vessel 10 look after the interests of
American commerce in this remote section will be
applaudcd- The Lackd,CanHa is no doubt here
TO protect American commerce and render such
assistance to 1t a. may be called for.
1t is well known that while English, French
and Russian war ships have been kept cruising
almost constantly throughout this ocean. an
American war vessel did not visit one of the
groups south and west Of us during the war ::
while here, where millions of American capital
are afloat in vessels arriving and departing every
week, an American war ship was scarcely seen
during the four years of the war, the few which
touched remaining but a few days. To say the
least, this was n discredit to that Nation. whose
commerce and the interests of whose citizens suf-
fered thereby, as the rapid decline of the whaling
business during those years will Illustrate. In
some instances, it led 70 disturbances, which an
occasional visit of Il war ship might have pre-
vented as, for instance, quite recently ut the
Fijiis, where the steam slOop Tuscarora has been
ordered to investigate outragcs alleged to have
been committed by the natives on Americans.
The experience of the past few years has
taught the American people that their commerce
needs protection an erery sea and evcry land to
,rhich IL mag ertend. Acting on this principle,
is has now powerful fleets stationed in the Medi-
terranean, the North Europe Seas, on the Brazil
Ian, Chilean and Peruvian Coasts, while at
Aspinwall, Panama, Hongkong and Yokohama,
it has for years had war vessels stationed perzna-
nentIy, and more latterly the same has been done
at Rio, Valparaiso and Callao, solely to protect
and assist American whenever cases
may occur calling for assistance.
The loss of the Daniel Wood clearly demon
strates the prudence of the American Government.
Here is a whalcship cast away on n small
barren islet, it's twenty-eight scamen left with
only 300 pounds of bread and n few gallons of
water, deprived of the necessaries of life, having
saved no clothing but what they had on, and
food and water sufficient to keep them only a few
days. 1t is true that a vessel might have been
chartered to go and bring them up, but as
freights are now, one might not have been
procurablc at once, and these scamen would thus
have been compelled to remain there some time.
As events have proved, the Lacka,oanna has
been most OppOrtuncly stationed here to render
much nccied assistance, and we only express the
wish of the business men OF Honolulu and the
commercial interests of the group when we hope
that she may continue TO be stationed here to
render assistance in any cases which may require
aid.