The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-18
Hawaii and the Continental Idea.

Hawaii and the Continental Idea.
Mr.. HENRY d. ATHERToN Of Nashua, a
member OF q distinguished family. sends
us COPY OF an address which he delivered
at Antrim. New Hampshire. on Decora-
ton Day. His theme was the destiny OF
the American republic. and some OF his
ideas are o. interesting now as upon the
occasion which called them forth. Con-
earning the sale OF Alaska to the United
States by Russia in 1867. Mr.. ArHERroS ad-
vsnces theory which. as far as we know.
has never before been stated 80 distinctly:
q IN 10 thought BY some that Russia ceded to us her
vast American possessions in Alaska and the waters
ana isiauds Of Behring'S Sea simply for the seven
millions Of dollars which Mr. SEWARD paid hers but
hazard che opinion that the osson was not made for
the pasy pros pad bus rather to serve notice on
al ne world thas in the Wow Of the White Gar all
the territory Of North America from the Gulf of
xsxieo to the Arctic Ocean, should rghtfuly DO cen.
sreIisd By the United statsa"
Mr.. ATHERToN holds that the manifest
destiny Of this country is to control this
continent He points out. as The Sun has
often pointed out. the mighty chain OF
armament with which Great Britain has
managed to surround our present territory:
."shs has military railway from Halifax on she At
Antio 10 Port Moody on the Pacific. intended to DO
used In military operations against this country and
on mat account built In great measure from the i'm
psria treasury. She has FREQ entry for her fleets to
the st. Lawrence through which now the wAter Of the
great aksa From her fortress at Halifax she could lot
On swarm OF armorsd cruisers that In forty.eghs
Aours might ruin coastng trade and lay our unpfo
tsessd ssacoast under contribution. She has similar
eoign Of vantage the Pacific at Esquimault English
dominion 10 s1srtsd the Bermudas. the Bahsmas
jamaica the Belize. British Guiana Trinidad Baroa
does, st. Lucia. and the Leeward IslandA Bermuda
three days out from Charleston and New York. 10
equipped with Notifications which described in the
Colonial Year Book as the most perfect and for.
rnidable in the world. A submarine cable connects
the fortress at Bermuda with Halifax. It was laid
only two years ago. and II cost 81. 100000 . sum
ten times greater than the exchanges between the
Bermuda. Great Britain has a shipbuildius plant q
dry dock that will lift her heaviest seagoinR battle
ships ooalinG station. and vast system Of earth
works. mounted with the heaviest guns Since 1867.
Great Britain has immensely enlightened the garrison
al Kingston and created an entirely one in the
hAfbor Of castries. st. Lucia.
% taking Halifax. Bermuda. Kingston. and Castrtss
together chain Of offensive forthcatiens is oonst
tuted within three days reach Of every Allan
tic tsaboard city Each 10 mounted with guns Of the
effective modern type Each is capable Of equip
ping vessels for at instsnts notice. A cable
connects them all with each other and with London.
In tho South Seas British empire spreads over I'M
msnse and holds almost every land that
rises above them. On ono OF tho Falkland Islands,
Just north and east of Cape Horn there Is British
coaling station. At sydney there is another There is
Q third. recently built and equipped and spienddiy
armed at the FIJI Islands; and there the de-
fences at Esquimault, from which at hours notice
Seattle aud Tacoma could be laid waste"
We take Mr.. ATHERToN's remarks as an
illustration of the ideas that are working
themselves into shape to-day in thousands
Va pabiiOIiC
For more than hundred years statesmen
and philosophers and seers and practical
men Of affairs have had gllmpses OF the
great thought which CHARLES SUMNER put
into single phrase when he declared that
upon this continent Unity Is written by
the Almighty hand"
The development Of that idea will be the
American issue Of the Twentieth century.
The one obstacle to the development Of that
idea Is the almost perfect Gordon of Iron
and gunpowder which the aggressive colo
nizing and fortifylng policy of Great Britain
has gradually drawn around us. To CON-
plete the chain O single link Is needed.
Hawaii will be either ours or Great Brit
aims. II 1t is not ours within one year,
when the opportunity Is offered. In all hu-
man probability it will be Grcat BriLains
before the century ends.