The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19
in THE LAST DITCH.

T1EhE are indications that annexation is IN
need of another scare to help it along.
Having worked Japan out, and finding
that the country no longer girds its loins
and flies to arms at mention of the Mikado,
the literary bureau of the specuators in
tropical territory to bring out the British lion
again and are to the fore with more talk about the
key to the Pacific, strategy and the intention of
England to conquer at the long range of 1000
miles.
Now it happens that England has not alone the
United States to deal with in any such scheme Both
that country and France had their day of flag raising
and buster on the islands, and when eacl' had
struted its brief comedy they entered into treaty
agreeing that Hawaii was an independent state and
that neither shall ever take possession directly in
directly or under the title of protectorate, any
other form, OF any part of Hawaiian territory The
new scare about British designs is pure invention
and the property lion it introduces is stuffed with
straw. England has enough on hand Just now with
out violating its treaty with France, and France with
her islands in the South Pacific and her Madagascar
misery on hand and her boundary dispute with
England in Africa, is not likely to submit like a
lamb to such violation. The key and strategy ar
gument has no sound foundation.
We believe that the best American authority on
naval strategy is Captain Mahan. Four years ago,
IN an article in the Forum" he said: There is,
however, one caution to be given from that military
point OF view, beyond the need of which the world
has not yet passed. Military positions fortified posts
by land or sea, however strong or admirably stu
ated do not by themselves confer control People
often say that such an island or harbor will give
control OF such body of Nvater 1t is an utter de-
plorabe, ruinous mistake The phrase may indeed
by some be used only loosely, without forgetting
other implied conditions OF adequate protection and
hut he Of
nation in its native strength and its indifference to
the defense of its ports and the sufciency of its
fleet give to fear that the full consequences
OF forward step may not be soberly weighed. Ma
poleon, who knew better once talked this way The
islands OF San Pietro, Corfu and Malta, he wrote
Will make us masters OF the whole Mediterranean
Vain boast! Within year Corfu, in two years
Malta, rent away from the state that could not
support them by its ships. Nay, more. Had Bona
parte not taken the latter stronghold out of the hands
OF its degenerate but innocuous Government that
citadel OF the Mediterranean would perhaps-would
probably-never have passed into those of his chief
enemy. There is here also lesson for u.s.
That lesson is obvious Hawaii ours, must be
fortified and defended To do this wthdraws our
resources and drains our strength, divides our mill
tary power, and after all may be lost in the first
brush of conflict with any naval power.
Our obvious duty is to leave it, innocuous in its
cwn autonomy, make it independent and neutral ter
ritory, and preserve Our military strength for defense
OF coasts Intercontinental commerce does not at
all depend the possession of islands in the sea-
We have trade OF billions with Europe and yet we
have no key in the Atlantic Our European commerce
is not generated in strategic positions, is not pro-
tected by naves. 1t is idle talk that pretends that
commerce is the fruit of great armies and naves 1t
IS the result OF productive power brought to bear
upon the natural resources of the country Mechan-
cal power is greater factor in trade than military
strength Hydraulic and steam power to transmute
raw material for the worlds use and not great guns,
will place upon the nation the crown of commercial
supremacy. In other words, commerce depends on
the power of production and not of destruction.