The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-26
America in the East.

One of the interesting vistas of specu-
lation recently opened to students of
current events by reason of the war be-
tween China and Japan concerns
Americas future influence in the east.
The Tribune recently printed a resume
of trade statistics showing how. al
| though we buy more of Japan than any
other nation, we also sell to Japan less
| than to any other. New light is shed on
this phase of the question by Crosby 5.
Noyes, the observant editor of the
Washington Star who has just re-
turned from a third visit to the land of
the mikado. In the course of some
published reflections and deductions
apropos of this visit Mr. Noyes says:
America ought to take very impor-
tant part II our people and government
would only wake up to the Importance OF
extending our trade and influence in the
east on the borders OF the Pacific, which
is our r.ghtful field OF commerce. But so
| long as we pursue our present abject hu-
initiating policy of cripplns American in
terests in the Pacific, instead of helping
them, as we have done notably in Ha-
wai and Samoa there n not much to be
hoped for. About all the part we are
likely to take in the Pacific Is to play sec
ond fiddle TO England as we have done at
Hawaii.
1t IS to be hoped, however, that we shall
make u stand somewhere, and that the de-
mand of England that she shall have a
dominating voice in the Nicaragua canal,
even if we build it, Will not be allowed to
stop the construction of that work. A
visit to Japan shows the immense impor-
tance of that canal to American COM
merce. For instance, Japan uses Il large
nf nn--N
worth or more annually-but it is all or
nearly all bought from English brokers
and goes all the way round by the Suc2
canal to Yokohama; whereby America
loses the profits of brokerage, transporia-
ton, insurance. etc. This Is because of
the cheapness of the water haul as COM
pared with mixed land and water trans.
portation. and also because there IS no
trans-shipment required between New
York and Yokohama va SueZ. When the
Nicaragua canal is built all this Will be
changed. and cotton Will 20 through by
that route from New York to Yokohama.
without trans-shipment and in one-third of
the distance required by the Suez route.
This is only one Illustration out of many
of the benefits to this country that may be
expected from the construction of the
canal.
1t is humil:at,ng that we have to cross
the Pacific whether from San Francisco
or Vancouver under the British flag. We
ought to have a fleet of iirst-c!ass Ameri-
can steamers. dIueu 1Ilit!l Si'Nsiu.ts. io
the British steamers are, to make the trip
from San Francisco or Puget SOUND TO
Yokohama IN ten days, and thus bring
back to us the freight and passenger traf-
lc that IS now being diverted to the can
adam Pacific line We ought to push on
the construction Of the N!caraguan canal.
We ought TO promptly avail ourselves Of
our treaty privilege before it lapses OF es-
tabl,shing naval station at Pearl llar-
Dor IN Hawaii, and we ought to hold on to
Our footing In Samoa and at every other
po,nt in the Pacific that will soon be
needed to protect and extend the vast
commerce that will spring up between
America and the As'at!c Pacific II we i'm
prove our opportunities.
These are the views of an American
Of large culture and long familiarity
with the ways and means of politics.
national and international. They are
corroborated by nearly every other
American traveller to the orient, and
by most. IL not all, the men who have
represented our government in China
and japan. That we are neglecting our
opportunities through sheer lack of
prescience and fxity of purpose in the
Washington state department Is the
weil-nigh unanimous verdict-a fact
the more singular inasmuch as among
the japanese Americans are especial
favorltes, and the American flag is held
in exceptional esteem. Such a condition
Is already anomalous: In the years to
come, with their vastly multiplied IA
cilities of trade and travel it will, If per-
sisted in, be actually disgracefuL