The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-02-07
American Interests in the Pacific.

The following is from q recent tele-
graphic report of proceedings in the
United States Senate, under the head
of joint resolutions:
BY Platt-For the formation and adj
mission into the Union of the State of
North Dakota.
The joint resolution makes it the
duty of the Commission to examine
the coast north of the forty-second
parallel of north latitude, in Oregon,
Washington and Alaska, and to select
a suitable site, having due regard TO
the commercial and naval necessities
of that coast for a navy yard, and to
make a full and detailed report to the
Secretary of the Navy, to be by him
reported TO Congress. Mitchell said
that while S56, 100000 had been spent
for navy yards and naval stations, of
which only 5 per cent. had been ex-
pended west of the Allegheny Noun
tains, there was only one navy yard
on the Pacific Coast, on which about
S3,000,000 had been expended. One
establishment, no matter how well
equipped, was wholly inadequate to
meet the wants of the country on the
Pacific Ocean. He centrasted the in
difference or criminal neglect of the
United States Government on the sub
ject of naval establishments with the
care given by the British, French,
Russian, Italian and German Govern
ments to the building up of great naval
establishments. 1t was not safe TO act
on the theory that this country could,
whenever occasion rose, provide for it.
The rapid environment of the Pa
cific Coast by important military and
naval establishments representing
British influence and British power,
and the military occupation by Great
Britain of the islands in the Pacific
Ocean, was of itself a subject which
ought to arrest the attention of the
American people and prompt the Gov
eminent to such a speedy and effective
action rs should be a fitting response
to this formidable extension of British
power The whole country, north and
west, was in fact environed and men,
aced by this Gordon of British military
and naval establishments, and by lines
of British railroads and steamships
which, in the event of war between
Great Britain and the United States.
would give the former immense advan-
tages. These forces would fall with
anu ACAClANlNSS lON CA NBO4
the people and industries and COM
merce of the northwestern Pacific
Coast. Oregon, Washington and
Alaska, with all their limitless re-
sources, unprotected, would become
the sport and toy of Great Britain.
Doiph said that Puget Sound pos
sessed all the advantages that could be
found for a first-class naval station.
The importance of the subject could
not be over-estimated. His colleague
had referred to British influence in the
Hawaiian Islands, but the United
States cannot permit those islands to
pass under the control of any European
power, because their possession by any
modern naval power would give to that
power control, not only over the Pa
cific commerce of the United States
but also over its coast-wiSe commerce.
We cannot afford TO allow foreign ac-
QUESTIONS to be carried to our very
doors. II we do, we shall abdicate the
position which our power, our in
fiuence, our wealth and our location
permit us to retain among the nations
of the earth.