The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-08-23

turb our rest. There Is no garden
wall interchange OF views.
But we are dogmatically told that
we must have the Islands for pur-
poses Of protection; that our coun-
try cannot be safe without them.
deny the accuracy of this conten-
ton. We can make better con-
test without than with Hawaii. II
we accomplish annexation for de-
fensive objects we should fortify
our new domain. We must, build a
navy capable Of sustaining it, l am
unable to give figures as to the cost
of proper Notifications. That the
expenditure must be immense, NO
one will dispute. In the event OF
war here could be no help within
call TO aid the distressed islanders.
A week would be consumed in
transporting our navy-if we poss-
ess navy. Our coasts are not now
fortified, Notwithstanding years Of
effort Even New York and San
francisco are insufficiently guarded.
As for our navy, Admiral Walker,
before the Senate Committee on
Coast Defences, described the stu
alton, when he said, that if the
English should engage us they
would probably capture or destroy
our navy, and that, by putting all
our vessels behind Sandy Hook, we
could make something of fight for
that place, but that nothing would
prevent the foe from raiding the
whole coast. While we are very
slowly increasing our naval strength,
our leading European competitors
are acting with more alacrity. Our
disparity as regards at least Eng
land and France is hourly becoming
more and more evident.
If we must go into the foreign &C
| QUESTION business We should, for
quite q period, spend not less than
one hundred million dollars per year
for naval purposes, and almost an
equal sum for coast defences. We
are not prepared to commit our
selves to such idiocy. There are
some who think that we can prepare
for war within twety-four hours,
Much time must be consumed in
building even one war vessel; and
a 12-inch gun cannot be easily turn
ed out in less than eighteen months,
1t will take General Flagler three
years from the beginning Of his
work to complete the l6-inch can
non which is being manufactured,
and which will, | trust, prove to be
the most powerful engine of destruc.
ton ever devised.
II, unhappilv, we shall engage in
foreign contention, where will the
enemy strike? Maniiestly where he
can inAict the severest injury. He
will not assail the Muir Glacier, nor
will he direct his armies or navies
against the leper settlement of Mo
lokai Boston, New York, San Fran
cisco, and other seaports will be de-
cidedly interested in the event OF a
conflict with a great naval Power
If San Francisco we're attacked after
annexation, would our batteries at
Honolulu be effective? Would oul
battle. ships stationed there aid us
But it is urged that England, in
case of trouble, may seize Honolulu
and that the japanese may do 30
England clearly will not operate
against us from Honolulu, She hal
a veritable Gibraltar at Esquimaul
on the Washington boundary. VIII,
should she divert and divide he
strength by permitting her guns anC
ships to rust two thousand mile
from her enemy, especially whel
she ia splendidly equipped at poin
within sight of the smoke OF our ci
vilzation7 For more than fort.
years England has denied any hos
, tility to Hawaii.
GLOW about Japan?" | am asked