The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-10-28
NAVAL VIEW OF ANNEXATION.
A Significant Interview in a Leading
Democratic Paper.

Democratic Paper.
Several important conferences have
been held during the past week be.
tween the President, Secretary of State
Gresham and ex- Minister Blount upon
the situation in Hawaii The result Of
the conferences is unknown and the
action Of our Government is awaited
with great anxiety in official circles
here. Among naval men, especially,
the future policy of the Government in
regard to the Sandwich Islands and
Samoa is considered of the gravest
moment A distinguished officer of
the service who has but recently re-
turned from a cruise in the Pacific, in
speaking to me on the subject, said !;
"Now that the Hawaiian question is
likely to again come before the United
States Government, and this time in
such shape that definite policy for
the future must be outlined, il would
seem more than passing interest
should be cultivated in the Samoan
question.
"The underlying principle in both
these questions is quite alike, and the
policy laid down for our control in the
one case must be held to apply with
equal force to the other If Hawaii is
regarded as an outlying and necessary
part of the United States territory,
necessary for our national safety in
case of war with a foreign power,
necessary for the natural extension Of
our borders even in times Of peace,
just that much of the argument applies
to Samoa as looks to the future extern
sion of our national influence into the
waters of the Pacific ocean. So far in
the history of the United States we
have insisted upon the observance Of
national insularity and have been con-
tent to be regarded as nation only by
reason of the immense population
which is steadily rising into the mil
lions and will ere many decades over
reach the present boundaries of the
continent and show a disposition to
spread out in all directions, but es-
pe cially toward the setting sun. 1t
will not do for this great and growing
nation to content itself with the fact
that by reason of our enormous devel-
opment of wealth and strength we are
to be exempt from the inevitable in.
huence which all great nations must
possess in the world, whether they desire
it or not the fact remains that by reason
of our very prosperity we are bound to
assume one of the most commanding
p sitions Of any civilized nation, and it
will behDuvg our statesmen to recognize
that fact in time and prepare for its
operation by wise fOrelook into the
future and take such precautions as
must Of necessity be taken some time,
and never with more safety than at the
pre- sent moment. America can no
more remain quiescent in the politics
OF the world than wealthy man in a
neighborhood can remain indifferent
and unreccgnized in the affairs of the
neighbOrhood into which he may
chance to move. A nod from America
to day, whether in finance, ,itcs or
commerce, sets the whole world wag-
ging, and when we see fit, as we shall
some day, to exert our national in
huence In the direction of leading the
rest of creation in territorial extension,
we must be prepared to secure all the
advantages belonging to us by wise
and farseeing policy of present acqn,
sition, for further use. The United
States then must of necessity see to 1t
that Hawaii and Samoa do not pass
under any flag to the detriment of our
growth, and the times are ripe for a
fixed and firm line of policy such as
will impress the world with the idea
that we are preparing for the future.
Protect or annex Hawaii, protect Samoa,
say to Germany that all such intrigues
as have been operating in the past for
the possession OF Samoa must come to
an end, and it is certain that peace and
good government will speedily obtain,
and Samoa feel that its future is identi-
fed with that Of her great brother, as
her people are fond of calling the
United States. Brooklyn Eagle.