The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-14
a HAwAYIxN CABLE.

The position oT Representative HIT
OF Illinois In respect 20 cable COM
sHunaaation between this country and
the Hawaiian islands win, we think. be
geseraliy accepted as sensible and
prudent. Mr.. HHt Offers no specific OBJ
lection to the proposition OF the Ha-
wasian government 20 lease one OF the
unfnsabsted Islands OF the group for
the purpose w way station, % 70
speak. for the projected cable from
vancouver to Australia: nor TO the
Sg4ositson that connection be made
herewith 10 Honolulu. But ne also
urges WIKI force and facts thHk the
Hawaiian government should not be
dependent upon catee OWNED by Brit
ish subjects. subsidized and Therefore
controlled by Great Britain. for COM
municaflon with the United States nor
should This government be compelled
to use foreign cable for like purposes.
He therefore fayors a subsidy for
Hawaiian cable, 10 be owned by do
nestIs company By which. 10 event OF
war or interruption OF peaceful reia-
tons between this government and
Great Britain, telegraphic communist
ton between the United States and
Honolulu could be maintained. In sup
sort of this view Mr.. Hit pestinently
said that while doubtless in time ~
peace a British cable could be freely
used for commercial purposes. or open
messages between citizens. 1t is Doubt
full IL ciriser messages would be per-
united. and no treaty arrangements
could be made whereby the government
would be permitted to use the cable for
communication with its navy In event
Of war. Illustrating this he cited the
British cable between Bermuda and
Nova Scotia over which Americans can
order orions. but Secretary Herbert
could not instruct by that cable one of
our ships 10 blow up British vessel
with dynamite.
In the interest OF safety and economy
as well. the government should In. some
way provide for am independent cable
to the Islands. Exigencies. similar to
those occurring during the recent.
change of government at Honolulu, are
liable TO be repeated at any time. 1t is
patent that had a cable been stretched
from San FraTeisco to Honolulu dur
ing the excitement attending the over
throw OF the monarchy and institution
OF the provisional government. both
the administration and the new repub-
lie would have been saved a vast
amount of worry and possibly our gos-
erranent would not have been 30 greatly
disgrassed by an attemgt--haaspi.y abor-
tive--to restore the depoeed queen.
With the completion OF the Nicara-
qua canal. which il an almost assured
event within the next decade--for N
tlss congress does not pass a bEl to
that end the fffty-fourtf congress surely
wiii--sthe need OF cable conrrnanicsition
with the Hawaiian islands will be we'll
nigh imperative. They will be the
naaIn, In f1ot. the only hating place
for vessels. naval and others, between
the canal and the Orient, and the Inn
rertance of contros by this government
over telegTsphic intercourse between
the Unased States and the islands is
manifest. The remark OF Mr.. HIT that
II IL a doubtful form OF economy to ex-
pend s2a.ooo,o se annually for the main
tenanee OF Il navy and neglect ccsnrslr-
atiyeiy tr!fiing expenditures for It's
pnosnpt handling and effective control.
viii be stsll more justified when a war
vessel can he dispatched frswn New
York 10 China via the eag,ai. not touch
Ing a port In the United States during
the voyage. or needing to do So m or.
de:'s for recall. or change OF route. or
destination could be cablesi 10 the isl
ands where the ship would coal. Aside
from AL these reasons. we ought In our
communication with the people and
government of the Hawaiian islands n
be independent OF the world because
the ruling forces there ars. American
both IN. origin ana impulse. and ARE en-.
tilted 10 close relations with what may
not inap,,y be termed "the n,o,he.
s.,,,yxs SO,