St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-18
CANADA WANTS HAWAII.

D" AZ - III w oOhiAS VII Ol lld 10
regarded as good authority that the
Canadian government is moving III the
direction of establishing closer relations
between that country and the Sandwich
islands, with the ultimate purpose Of
securing British ascendancy there. 1t
is possible that there is something in
the rumor, and that ere long the at
tempt will be made to make the British
influence supreme.
Canada has long been extending her
trade towards the West. The Canadian
Pacific railway several years ago estab-
lished a line of ocean steamships from
the port of Vancouver to China and
Japan, and over this route a consider
able trade has been carried On in teas
and spices, England having been sup
piled with those articles at a less cost
for freight than she has been compelled
to pay for the same articles coming by
way of the East. To increase this trade
and supply all Europe with the prod
ucts of the Orient has long been the
aim of the railway company. 1t has
little other through business, and the
local traffic is small, owing to the sparse
settlements and the unproductive nat
ure of the country through which it
passes. The road has been a heavy
burden upon the Canadian government
and people, and they would hail with
delight any means that might be de-
vised whereby it might be made self
supporting. The only means to attain
that end at present seems to be by an
extension of the foreign trade. II,
therefore, the trade of the Sandwich
islands could be secured, the entire pop
ulation of the Dominion would be re-
lieved Of an onerOuS load
If the reports alluded to shall prove
to be we'll founded, our government will
be compelled to take prompt and deci-
sive action in the premises. Although it
would not benefit us to acquire these
islands, it being contrary to our estab-
lished foreign policy, it is not to our in
terest that they should be acquired by
Great Britain. Our trade interests there
are paramount, and must not be sup
planted by those of any foreign power.
We can hold our own in a fair competi-
ton with all the rest of the world, but
circumstances would be altered in the
event of the islands becoming a part of
the British empire. Discrimination
would be shown to merchants and
traders owing allegiance to the empire,
and u trade would suffer much embar-
raSsment.
If the national administration at
Washington has not already considered
this aspect of the situation it will doubt
less soon be forced upon its attention.
And any steps taken by congress in
| connection with the subject must keep
this matter III view. The establishment
of an American prOtectorate over the
islands until such time as their political
affairs become settled would serve every
purpose. 1t would be a warning to all
other nations to keep off. 1t may moi
be necessary to re-establish the mon.
archy to insure the supremacy of Amer.
lean influence. Whether the govern.
ment be monarchial or republican mat
ters little. The Issue is a trade, NOS a
political, n
Whatever the decision relative to the
existing crisis in Hawaii may be, it neeC
not place u government in a condition
of helplessness for the future. The ad.
m%inistration should leave itself in a DO.
sition where it would be free to &C
promptly and decisively whenever sucf
an emergency as threatened European
domination should arise.