The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-28
AMERICAS OPPORTUNITY IN THE Pa
CIIIC OCEAN.
Shall the Key 10 tho Pncinc Ocean Pas
Into British Hnndss
From TIA Dativ Ksnn,Lec Journal


From IN. Dativ Ksnn,Ler Journal
1t ia nm accepted truism that nations. aa well
az individuals. have their opportunities and
duties. and that tho neglect OF them through
Incidence or cowardice. surely brings retri-
button Ia one form or another.
The States and Territories which outlet on
the vast Western ocean will some day have
population OF one hundred and fifty millions
OF souls. This Pacific side Of tho American
republic. stretching from north Alaska to
south California, q const line OF four thousand
miles. without including the seventeen hun
dred miles OF shore line OF Puget Sound. Is TO
have . development OF agricultural. lumber.
fisheries. and mineral riches. out OF which
will now streams Of commerce. which neither
the Imagination nor cold figures can we'll
cover at the present time.
In tho font OF those vast Pacific States eS-
tends the immense ocean OF the Pacific.
Across this vast Pacific plain must be for all
time the water roads along which will move
the commerce Of many hundreds OF millions
OF people, Anchored firmly between the two
great oceans. America divides with Europe
the commerce Of the Atlantic. Europe having
tho advantage by numbers. position. and
prestige. but on the great Western oceun
America can easily take the lead and hold 1t
securely against all competitors. To do this
she must improve her opportunities. Soth
and cowardice never win anything worth hav-
ing. Time waits neither for individuals nor
nations. Success IS for those who dare.
In this immense area Of water between
America and Asia are innumerable islands. so
needful to the future commerce between tho
two great continents. The most Of those
islands are now possessed by England. France.
and Spain. Germany but recently forcing her
mil ho, int. H. n,vs~ IN kl,a
patriotic fidelity Of the American Missionary
Board and its faithful agents. aud to the
watchfulness Of American statesmen. from
Daniel Webster to those OF the present time.
the Hawaiian Islands have not passed under
European nag. Greedy. grssping. and
sometimes insulting as have been our rivals
as to American interests in these islands. they
are not yet lost to us. and their business
necessities aud the sympathies OF their ciu-
zens are still with their American neighhors.
1t needs not the naval and the military expert
to tell the importance OF these islands to the
United States. They front our COASTS. They
are sufficiently near the gatcways OF our rap
idly rising Pacific cities to feel the pulses Of
American enterprise and to contribute to
American prosperity and power. 1t Is to re-
peat the opinion OF the moet Intelligent COM
mercial, naval. and military men to say that
Pacific. Coaline stations. feeding places. are
indispensable to American commerce on great
oceans. 1t is the vsriest folly to think or to
talk otherwise.
Tho time Is near when We must decide who
shall hold these islands as a part OF their ma
tional territory. 1t is not possible for them
much longer to remain alone. Their pcople
and the United States will soon be compelled
by circumstances and events to decide whether
the Hawaiian Islands will have unity. liberty,
and autonomy with the United States. or bo-
come q colonial possession Of a European
power. What Webster. Clayton. and Marcy
saw forty years ago. and Seward. Fish. and
Blaine. and the Administrations they repro
sented clearly perceived. may now we'll be
considered by the American people.
Tho entire area of tho islands Is about 5000
square miles. In addition to sugar. which Is
now much the largest product. the soil and
climate are admirably adapted to raising rico.
bahamas. oranges. coffee. grapes. and other
crops. VOL governed and properly developed,
they are capable Of sustaining a population OF
100000 to 100000. There arc extensive
ranches for the raising OF sheep and CATTLE SO
as to DO capable OF supplying steamers and
other vessels both In peace and war; The two
harbors OF Honolulu and Pearl City. about six
miles apart. are entered by narrow channels.
are closely backed by mountains. 80 as to be
made imprcgnably def.nsible at not large
expense. Their ultimate possession BY tho
United States is OF tho utmost importance to
American commerce in the Pacific. which
promises vast development. II wisely cared for
and without too much delay. Shall Americans
sleep while others are awake to taSo from
them those natural advantaRes2 Time and
tide wait neither for IN en- nor nations.