The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-02-28
BETTER LET 1T ALONE.

The discussion over the Hawaiian
cable project deVel0pes a wide differ
ence Of opinion. There are reasons of
course why Geographic communication
with the Islands would be beneficial
to this country as well as Hawaii But
it does not appear to US that these
are sufficient to warrant the laying of
a cable by the Government OF the
United States.
1t is claimed. that more United
States ships touch at Honolulu every
year than at any other port on the
globe. And that besides the commerce
with the Hawaiian islands. there is a
much vaster region beyond. in Asia,
and that it is to the interest Of the
United States to establish just as
quick communication with that region
as England now holds, so that the
English will not be given that much
advantage over Americans in the mat
ter of trade with the Asiatic peoples.
Just at the present time, it Is argued,
there IS a great opportunity to make
a. beneficial movement, The east, 50
long bound up within itself by the
trammels of tradition, Is about TO be
freed, II has been for years the inten-
ton of the japanese to awaken China
to the benefits of civilization, just as
they were awakened by the United
States. Admiral Erwin, who Was in
command of the Asiatic station before
his retirement, says that this idea had
taken the frmest hold on the minds Of
the japanese people-not the ministry,
but the common people. Now that
the time has come when Japan is to
be placed in position to dictate, part
of the terms that are mentioned are
those that China shall be opened up 10
commerce
If business energy once talscs hold
on the Celestial empire a vast region
rich as we'll in mineral as agricultural
wealth, will be thrown open f,r the
commercial nations of the world With
the awakening of that people, y raa.-
Set Will be provided for ynanufeetnred
articles in such an immense quantity
that all the machinery Of the world
Will scarce be able to supply the de-
rnand.
China IS not alone in beeo.nnS more
susceptible to the influences of ciYili-
cation. The Russian government has
been pushing out Ehe S'rans-Siberian
road and 1t is now about ID reach
yladiyostock, the Pacific end Of the
line. This, of course. has been built
70 great extent as a War lneasure.
Nevertheless she Russian government
has not been backward in recognizing
the benefits to Re derived from the
opening of the rich agricultural and
mineral country through Witch it VIII
pass and the construction has been
conducted largely with that emu in
view.
These things, taken in connection
with the eyer increasing traffic be-
tween the United States and Japan
and Australasia. show how important
is the commerce Of the east.
If the people Of this country will
build the cable to Hawaii. it is the in
tention Of the cable company, com
posed mainly of wealthy shipping men
on the PacifiS coast which is now ap-
plying for charter from Congress
to continue the line on to Japan Ii
the government refuses to do anything
it is the intention Of the company tc
build the whole line.
In carrying out their scheme they
Will rely to great extent on indem.
mites from foreign governments. They
are in a particularly favorable condi-
ton to expect these, on account of the
present policy Of the British govern
ment, England needs only a Gable
from Vancouver, 3. c., to New Yea