Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-06-19
NEW NAVAL STATION.

We are indebted TO Senator
Mitchell for II printed copy o
Admiral Porter's letter, Caddressed
10 the senator, relative to site foI
naval station on the Pacific coast
This distinguished naval officer ex
presses some alarm ut the activity
shown by the British government
I'm strengthening their naval depot
at Esquimault, on Vancouycr's
island, and the construction OF
heavy works commanding the
strait of Fuca. "The value of this
station" the admiral says, "has
been much enhanced by the building
Of the Canadian Pacific railroad.
Every large gun that has been gent
from England In the last three years
for the heavy Qualifications now
being built, has been transported
over this road. All the stores, inn
plemonts Of war, machinery fact,
everything wanted for a navy Is no
longer shipped around Cape Horn,
but Is transmitted via the Canadian
Pacific" The writer reminds the
senator that "England never forli-
fles II position without an intention
10 dominate over every place where
her guns can rrachW And he
draws this conclusion: "The very
fact Of their building up II great
naval station at Esquimault, in CON
nection with the Canadian Pacific
railroad, 50 heavily subsidized by
them, shows an intent TO which no
one can take exception, but which
must bo considered an offensive act,
for under present circumstances of
peaceful relations between the two
countries, such extensive prepar-
ation- do not seem 10 bc necessary
The commercial activity of that
formerly remote region Is testified to
10y all visitors, military and civil,
Admiral Porter says;
SO important has British Column
hia become, that already two great
lines of steamships have been cs-
tablishod nom the terminus of the
Canadian Pacific railroad at Van
cOuvvr-one to Hong Kong aud
Japan, the other 10 Australia.
England never does anything with
Out AN object, One motive Is To get
possession of the whole trade of
China aud Japan, and possess, Via
the Canadian Pacific, the shortest
route a. Europe. Another motive
h to keep "a large naval aud military
ior,V To- protect uumiuully what are
called "Britlsh iutersts,N hut rElly
Ia facilitate vncroaChmcuts
upon United States territory
our fellow townsmau, Mr. ], w,
Webb, gives the following ~ his ob-
scrvaton, during his recent visit
thop:
Tho Britishuu Canadian govern
uiouts arv tremendously stimulating
immigration to thv-o vast plains
~ "AiNh NNAlN lNNAlANANr AtlAl ANlN
province of Manitoba, and the terri
tories of As-iulhon aud Alberta
will iu a few years carry "a large
population, The grass, grain, coal
and mining p'suurvvS uro beyond
computation. cur train was quite
cosmopolitan, We had immigrants,
dlprt trau England, Scotland,
Wales, Norway aud Sweden, the
httor unable to spgak "a wort ot
English Many ga un tu seattle
aud lAcomai somc English capital
lists arriyd at NuucouVer while
Others will settle ia Washington
territory and some few hud thcir
way to oWgon and California,
This active preparation Is ia
marked contrast with the do-nothlug
policy pursued by our own govern
ncuL as "a rule" SAYS the
admiral, "Wv give no protection to
anything, and the SUaO,Olo square
miles of territory We have amass,,d
icIeuds alone for safety on that
Providence which has hcWtoior
lo'kvd out tor cr,oplug mblvs,
drwkw ~ilar and the United
States 90, Amyrya" Rut NOT trust
ing tno much ina Divine aid, our
authority dv,,aD, thsL "Whvu Il
nation holis valuable possessions,
shv oNv, ], hvpoploto give them
ailIhy UHHfIa-IIln utra.r--trt- uuh.-. .
liko Cotua they may consider that
lsaco un any terms is hyt,vr than /
War' "l dou hesitate to -ay," .
Ae says in another plaos "that tho .
.ale rapid movements ui thp hutl,h .
government iu strengthening th,ir|
naval dgpoi az EslunuaulL buildIus /
heavy works commanding the Sgult /