The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1895-11-06
Continued from LIST PAGE

over Egypt, Capt. Maban would
evidently and logically be ready to
say to American domination over
any inferior power--that it has no
more to do with morality than an
earthquake.
OF course this really means the
glori6cation Of brute force. The
earthquake view of international
relations does away at once with
all questions OF law aud justice
aud humanity, and puts everything
frankly on the basis OF armor and
guns, Finerty could ask no more.
M one could accuse Capt. Mahan
OF intending this, yet he must
follow the argument" He speaks
approvingly Of international inter
ference with Turkey on account Of
the Armenian atrocities. But has
not the Sultan 5 complete defence,
according to Capt. Mahan's
doctrin,l Is he not an earthquake,
tool Are not the Turks going
blindly ahead in Armenia as a
natural force," and is anybody
likely to be foolish enough to dis
cuss the morality of law OF
naturei or course, the powers tell
the Sultan that he is no earth
quake at all, or, If he is, that they
will bring to bear upon him big
ger one which will shake him into
the Bosphorus. But If there is no
question of morality involved, the
argument and the action are
simply so much brute force; and
that, we say, is what Capt. Mahan's
doctrine logically comes to.
Another inadvertent revelation Of
the real implications of his views
is given where he is dwelling on
the fact that "the UDited States
will never SEEK war except for the
defence of her rights, her obliga-
tions, or her necessary interests"
There is 6ne ambiguity about the
fiual phrase, but let the pass. No
one can suspect that Capt. Mahan
means to do anythil g in public or
private relations that he does not
consider absolutely just. But note
the way the necessity of arguing
for a big navy clouds his mind
when he writes of some supposed
international difficulty: "But the
moral force of our contention
might conceivably be weakened, in
he view OF an opponent, by at
tendant circumstances. in which case
our physical power to support it should
be open to no doubt" That is to
to say, we must always have moral
ity and sweet reasonableness on our
side, must have all our quarrels
just, must have all the prece dents
and international law in our favor,
but must be prepared to lick the
other fellow anyhow, il he is SO
thick-headed aud obstinate as to in,
sist that morals and justice and law
ara on his side.
This earthquake and physical
powder doctrine lie most dangerous
one for any time or people, but is
peculiarly dangerous in thi. country
at this time. The politicians and
he mob will BIZ only too thankful to
be furnished high sounding theory
as a justification for their ignorant
and brutal proposals OF foreign ag
gressIon and conquest. They will
not be slow, either, In extending and
improving the theory. They will
take less roundabout course than
Capt. Mahan does to the final argu-
ment of physical power. If it comes
to that 10 the end, what is the use
OF Offering about all these prelimi-
naries of right and lawl They will
be willing to call themselves an
ear hquake or cyclone, il only theil
devastating propensities can be f'ee,
ly gratified without any question Of
M rails coming in. With 80 many
signs OF relaxed moral fibre abou,