Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-27

can protect that trade against any hostile
disturbance, they have resolved to intercept
1t on the coast of Asia, and to prevent it's
leaving the channels in which they have
for so many years reaped an enormous
harvest of wealth.
Effect of Discarding Hawaii.
This is my solution of the situation. If
we discard Hawaii and turn our backs upon
their overtures which Eave been repeated
now for more than fifty years these Euro
pean powers will find themselves at liberty
to move their influence, both commercial
and military, to within 1000 miles of our
&C asst. and at Hawaii they will occupy
central point from which We cannot drive
them without an enormous expenditure of
money and lives. and from that point they
would have an easy command of our coast
from the Island OF Attu to the border of
Mexico. From that strategic center they
can attack our coast from any point they
ray choose within less than six days time
ana would compel us to keep around the
ports of our Pacific coast a navy at least
three times more powerful than any that
they would have to assemble at Honolulu.
II the situation is reversed and We oc-
cupy the Hawaiian group we are able to
defend all of our ports from that point
with one-third of the naval power that is
even now necessary to make our coast Sc
cure against attack. After these great
commercial and maritime states have es-
tablished themselves on the coast of China
and have partitioned out that frontier
notnlnS can be more reasonably expected
than that they, with common consent, will
designate European country or Asiatic
country to take and hold possession of the
Hawaiian Islands. Then it will be impos-
s1b!e Tor us to control a cable communicat-
ing with the Hawaiian Islands, from any
fort OF our coast, or to have any cable
communication across the Pacific ocean
Now ali OF our cable communications with
mercanuie and naval ships in the Indian
ocean OF IN the western part of the Pacifi,
ocean are conducted by lires that are in
the control of these TirC pean powers.
we cannot nov send dispatch to any
minister We have in Asia or 10 any shin of
war we may have upon TIE coast of Asia
without the consent.of some European or
Aslatlc power: whereas, if We had the Ha-
Wallan Islands in our posseSsica none of
those powers could send q dispatch to any
heet Or ship they may have in the Pacific
ocean without our consent. This fact alone
dc moltstrates the unavo:la bic. national ne
cesSlty for the occupation OF the Hawaiian
ls!anGS by the government of the United
States. No European government has ever
objected to our occupation of the Hawaiian
Islands. and several CT them have express
ed themselves as believing that we had a
right to do So
Mr.. Morgan further said that the policy
OF the United States being not to interfere
with the arransemen : CT European and
Asiatic governments. this country hal
nothing 10 90 in r. gard to the pending
changes in China further than TO see that
treaty rights were rot interfered with. He
said he lid not apprehend thai any sucl
direct Interference would be made by thi.;
government He said he thought this gov
eminent had nothing TO do but to stand 10y
and protect itself if occasion should arise.