The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-02-06
WILL THEY ANNEX {
The Pacific Islands a Theme of
Talk.
Ne Reason Why We Should Not Take
Them.
WHAT OUR WASHINGTON MAN SAYS
A Piece of Government Gossip Which
Will Go to Something Very,
Very Soon.

VIII so to Something Very,
Very Soon.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-[Special. I'm
climate and fertility Hawaii deserves the
title, "The Paradise of the Pacific" There
are but few shadows to the lovely pic
lures of the country painted by travellers,
but these are overbalanced by the advan-
| tages of location. Within the vast ex-
panse of the Pacific ocean the Hawaiian
group of inhabited islands occupy com.
manding position. They are directly in
the track of vessels sailing from our west
ern ports. They are the natural rendez-
vous for coal and supplies of the trading
vessels of three continents-America
Asia Australia. Besides the harbor at
Honolulu, ten miles away is Pearl harbor,
fortified United States naval station,
which by the removal of coral reef
could be made one of the most spacious
harbors in the world. The entrance to
this habor is such that the trade winds
would facilitate the entrance and de-
parture of ships under sail. AS station
for submarine telegraphs to connect the
eastern and western hemispheres and as
relay port for Atlantic commerce upon
the completion of the Nicaraguan canal,
these islands have long claimed special
attention
The essential public interest attaching
to Hawaii grows out of its central posi-
tion in the commerce of the pacific.
Honolulu is exactly in the track of all
steamers sailing to Australia from San
Francisco or Puget sound. The trade in
this line is between kindred peoples, and
already includes one line of monthly
steamers, with other lines in early pros
poets. Even more precisely is Honolulu
in the direct route of one part of that
enormous trafic from Atlantic to Pacific
ports which awaits the cutting of the
Nicaragua ship canal, to burst in one i'm
petuous tide through the isthmus. All
the trade with China and Japan from
American ports on the Atlantic must
take the Nicaragua route. 1t is this
large movement of ocean commerce in
pending in the immediate future which
lends the most serious Importance to the
political relations of rhe Hawaiian king
dom. Every ship from the Atlantic
crossing the Pacific to Asia will natu-
rala sight the Hawaiian islands, and
every steamer will be likely to replenish
her coal bvnkers at Honolulu. This fact
will render the political condition and
international relations of Hawaii of i'm.
portance.
Although not upon the shortest OF
|
a I'd China, Honolulu is practically con
venen: port Of call for steamers upon
that line, as many of them now do call
This tendency will increase with the
coming growth of Honolulu as a genera
calling and coaling station. 1t is also q
natural por to call and supply for ships
to China from Callao and Valparaiso
Honolulu is the great cross roads Of
pacific commerce More than this. Hon
olulu is the only crossroads of the north
Pacifc-and the north Pacific will bt
the chief region of commerce. This
port is wholly alone in its commanding
position. 1t hiss absolutely no competi
tor. From the Marxuesas to the Aleu-
tians Hawaii is the only land in tha
tremendous ocean expanse west o
America weere a ship can call within {
space of 4,500 miles from San Franriscc
and $500 miles from Nicaragua.
At those distances, but far south of th'
route, lies the poor little haven of Jalus
and little beyond it that of Streng'
d island These are over 1000 miles be
yond Hawaii. Scarcely anywhere els
j on the globe does there stretch so vast al
5 expanse of ocean absolutely devoid o
land as that which rolls unbroken b.
a reef or islet between Hawaii and Amer
: ica. From any point between Panam'
l. and Sitka bird flying westward tnds M
inch of firm rest for its foot until Hawai-
is reached. Beyond Honolulu there i!
! no port available except Guam, and tha
g is only 500 miles east of Hong Kong