The Progress., 1893-02-18


will be likely to precipitate war between
the two great English speaking nations of
the world. Wrapped up in this question of
control of Hawaii is that of mastery over
the Nicaragua canal. 1t was Mr.. Blaine's
pet plan to find a coaling station in San
Domingo for the use of our vessels in the
Atlantic en- route to and from the canal, to
obtain absolute mastery of the canal itself
and TO annex Hawaii to the United States
and use 1t as the western sentry of this
grand line of communication.
with the canal under United States
control, and by using the landlocked Wa
ters of Lake Nicaragua for a naval outfit
ting and supply station for recoaling and
drydocking, Mr.. Blaine not long ago made
the statement that the chief American ma
ton would be the absolute mistress of the
western hemisphere, as in his opinion it is
her destiny to be. 1t was an odd coinci-
dence of fate that on the very day after this
farseeing statesman was called hence by
memorable death news should be received
from faraway Hawaii of q revolution
which had precipitated the very problem
to which he had given so many years of
study, and whose salient features he had
seen before any one else in this country.
Nicaragua" continued the high official
with whom was talking. unfortunately
it is stipulated in the concessions for this
canal granted by the governments of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua, through whose terri
tory the canal as surveyed is to pass, that
the canal was forever to be kept free from
the domination of any foreign government
was to be, in other words, neutral terri
all
had not contained these stipulations, it Is
doubtful if England, France and Germany
would have sat silent while they were be
ing granted. Nor do | see but one way
now for the United States to step in and
avail itself of the advantages of the Nicara-
qua canal according to Mr.. Blaine's plan,
and that Is by annexation of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica.
"Mr. Blaine wanted to close this canal to
the ships of any country with which the
United States might be at war, and it is
evident that if this could be done while
our own naval vessels passed freely from
ocean to ocean, we should indeed be mis-
tress of this hemisphere. But the only way
in which we can secure this immense stra-
tegic and commercial advantage Is by an
nexation and England will no more per
from ocean to ocean, by annexation or
otherwise, than she would consent to our
making United States soil of the Gibraltar
of the Pacific, Hawaii.
Therefore the burning question, the
mOmentous question, which now presents
itself and will continue to harass and to
call for our greatest patriotism and wisest
craftsmanship, is, What shall we dos Shall
. of Il. 1
vantage by the opportunity which presents
itself for annexation of Hawaii? Shall we
refuse aid to the Nicaragua canal and make
no effort to make that enterprise distinc-
lively American? Shall we, in other words,
now that the time for decision has arrived,
settle back into our old policy of isolation,
of inactivity, of listlessness, in all matters
beyond our own shores? Or shall we rouse
ourselves, assert our energy, and by agrees
i've action endeavor to occupy our proper
place as the mistress of the western hemi-
sphere? Probably our national policy for
the next half century will be decided with
in the next year or two, and this is why |
say we are now at one of the crises of our
national career.
If our decision should chance to be the
latter it will be one from which retreat is
impossible Having once set our face to the
sea, having declared our intention to domi-
nate and to lead in the western world, it
will be craven for us to take the back track
no matter what dangers threaten or oppo-
sitiOn appears. To do that would be ma
tional disgrace, humiliation To maintain
our position we may be compelled to fight
Our little navy may be destroyed, but we
shall have to build another. If while we
are endeavoring to strengthen ourselves on
the seas the enemy becomes intrenched in
the strOngholds, we shall have to dislodge
him
From what / know of the American
people am satisfied that if they conclude
their national genius requires more self
assertiveness in the region of the isthmus
and the point of vantage on either side
thereof, and opposition arises, it will not
matter how formidable that opposition
may be or how great may be the cost of
maintaining our position-it will be done
at all hazards.
Il will now give you my personal opin-
ION of the future" concluded this official,
speaking deliberately and carefully weigh
ing his words. within five years this
country will be at war with England.
These two great nations, easily the leaders
of the world, are to have a struggle for the
mastery. Their manifest destiny bring
them into confict at many places, at all
places in this hemisphere. England is the
same today as she was a century ago, but
we are changing. We have passed through
the .chrysalis of isolation, of interior de- |
velopment, and are now ready to turn our
faces to the sea- We have conquered the |
vasts of our west and subjected the desert |
to civilization. Now we are ready for more
worlds to conquer The mighty forces of |
our national life are slowly but surely |
and irresistibly driving us to a policy of |
aggressiYeness. beyond our borders
In thus moving outwardly we at once |
come into contact and collision with Great |
Britain. She skirts our northern frontier |
with her possessions, where there is con-
slant menace to the peace From Halifax
to the West Indies, along the line of the
Bermudas and Bahamas, she has confront
ed US with naval stations and Notifications.
Oflate she is endeavoring to plant her feet
in Sonth and Central America, where al
ready her merchants and finaneiers have
themselves and are jealous of
American competition or interference. For
he hae hoI h., III