The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-05-12

THKEE GREAT powert-E0gland. Russia and the
United States, have a decided reason 10 deslre to
become possessed Of he Hawaiiaa Islands. All
three must nov look forward 10 q period, not Tar
distant, when the eanaliEation Of the Isihmus Of
Daricn shall completely alter The condition Of ihe
Pacidc. The position 81 the Hawaiian Islands
will then be Of the highest imporinnoe. OF the
three nations Ia question. that one ~ them which
would possess these islands would have the ad.
vantage over The other two, 40 A. completely 10
command the North PAciGe. Russia. In particular
wouId be likely 10 loOk upon the Hawaiian Isl-
ands with greedy eyes. At prcsent kuasia's heets
are confined to the remote hareots Of Eastern
Siberia and Kamsehaika. She has rciinQuished
her footing on North America. and she has no
other ports than those remote ones Of Eastern 81
IBERIA In the Paeine. north or south. In = war With
Great Britain Der Pacide neets would be almost at
the mercy Of that power, nv she now stands on Pa
eide waters. But the case would be far different
did she possess a strongly fortified harbor Of
refuge for Der Paciec fleets In these islands. Then
she could menace with an attack all the Paciee
possessions and colonies Of Great Britain. Ia time
Of war between the two powers.
England would not have so strong a motive
from a strategic point Of view as Russia, 10 desire
the possession Of the Hawaiian Islands. But q
might become q question Of policy with her 10
seize them, in order 10 prevent Russia from get.
ting bold OF them. Then the United States would
have well founded reasons 10 desire not 10 wee
these islands fall into the power either Of England
or Russia. and TO exclude both. the policy might
force itself upon that country 10 annex them 10
the Union. Az the present time people may smile
at the idea Of the United States wanting 20 take
the Hawaiian Islands. But let the necessity some
- ~,.ur "a v,twht ara a. al c.naea-
bend with what alaority the government Of lhe
Union wonld strive to outwit and anticipate Eng
land or Russia or both, in any attempt 10 occupy
these islands. Just now there Is question OF Can
dia and the Suez Canal being seired by Great
Britain while the CEar seems bent on the occupa-
ton Of Bulgaria. Why then should Il be strange
or absurd TO suppose that Russia may make q
swoop with her Pacific feet upon these islands, n
the war becomes generali Without wishing 20
become an alarmist. we can see that The position
Of these islands Is critical enough al the present
conjuneture. Russia IL an aggressive power. that
stops at nothing 10 accomplish her own ends.
What cunning diplomacy has not Russia exhibited
in the present conjuneture, when in order 10 at
tack Turkey with impunity, she has forced round
the other European powers 10 her views. although
Il Is notorious that England and Austria. and per-
baps France, desired 10 avoid an outbreak Of war
between Russians and Turks. II, then, The subse-
quent course Of events should lead 10 a general
war, in which England and Russia would be
brought front TO front upon the battlefield. we are
fully prepared not 10 be Rstonished AZ all events
10 see the Russian war-vessels In the Paclnc seize
upon some part Of these islands. ~ a harbor OF
refuge for their cruisers. While, with an eye 10
the future, and especially the condition OF the
North Paciae after the canallEatlon Of DarIen. II
might be very difficult to induce Russia TO with
draw. II she once gained a footing on these ISL
ands, even after the ultimate settlement OF peace.
Hence. we await the deRoueReni Of this Eastern
Question as II now stands, with something more
than ordinary curiosity. as IL IL Impossible 20 fore
see how far IL may influence the desinies Of even
these emote Paciac Isles Of Hawaii mel.