The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-08

HAWAIIAN SOCIETY.
Officers: Pres, Peter Cushman Jones; V.-P
Chief-Justice Albert +. Judd; Sec, John Effin.
ger: Registrar, Prof. VIM. Dewitt Alexander );
Treas, William ]. Forbes
To the Members of the Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution Residing in the
United States of America.
COMPANIONS: We, members OF this first
Chapter of the S.A.R. established in foreign
land, send fraternal greeting to our compat-
riots in the mother country.
Occupying this advanced post Of American
civilization in the Pacific Ocean, we think it
proper for US as patriotic Americans and lovers
OF liberty, in the present critical state of affairs
while avoiding all partisan considerations. to
lay before You statement of certain facts
which intimately concern the honor and the
future prosperity of our common country, and
the maintenance Of American principles and
institutions here.
These islands furnish signal example of the
peryading and Transforming power of those
principles which it is the object of our Society
to maintain and extend" Americans may
we'll be proud Of what little colony of their
countrymen has achieved for civilization in
these islands, encouraged and aided. as it has
been, by the policy of the United States for
more than half q century. And now that this
American civilization, built up under the
fostering care Of the mother country. is in i'm
minent peril, it is time that the true state OF
affairs should be understood by all loyal
Americans.
HAWAII THE MEETING PLACE OF AMERICAN
AND AsIATIc CIVILIZATIONS.
These islands are the meeting place of the
East and tho West, of the American and the
Asiatic forms of civilization, and few years
will witness the triumph Of one or tho other.
Few Of our countrymen arc aware Of tho rapid
changes taking place in the condition OF the
Pacific Ocean. Australia is becoming mighty
Common wealth; Japan is pushing her way to
the front as naval and commercial power
China is beginning to awake out Of her long
sleep, while Russia only waits the near COM
pletion OF the trans-Siberian railroad to conf
pete for the control of this ocean.
THE PROPHECY OF VIM. n. SEWARD.
The prophecy uttered 30 years ago by VIM.
II. Seward bids fair to be fulfilled; viz: "The
Pacific Ocean, its shores, its islands and the
vast regions beyond, will become the chief
theater of events in the worlds great here
after"
HAWAII WITHIN THE SPHERE OF THE MON
ROE DOCTRINE.
The position of these islands shows that their
relations are naturally with the American Con-
tinent. For that reason they properly fall
| within the sphere of the Monroe Doctrine, and
it is certainly for the interest of their people
that they should be kept aloof from thepolitics
of the Old World. 1t has been remarked that
San Francisco, Honolulu and Unalaska form
an equilateral triangle. The relation of these
islands to the Pacific Coast of America is very
| similar to that of the Bermuda Islands to the
Atlantic Coast.
HAwAIIs STRATEGIC POSITION.
| Admiral Belknap and Capt. Mahan have ably
| explained the unique strategic position OF
Hawaii, forming as it does the center of a
vast circle whose radius is approximately the
distance from Honolulu to San Francisco.
which Is substantially the same distance as
from Honolulu to the Gilbert, Marshall.
Samoan and Society Islands. all under Euro
pean control except Samoa, in which we have
part influence" SHUT out from
the Hawaiian Islands as a coaling base" con-
tinues Capt, Mahan, ian enemy is thrown
back for supplies of fuel to distances of $500
or ZOO miIes,-or between 1000 and 5000
miles going and coming,-an impeachment to
sustained maritime operations wellnigh pro-
| hibtiye." at is rarely that SO important a
factor in the attack or defense of coast line
| of a sea frontier-is concentrated in q single
| position, and this circumstance renders ii
doubly imperative upon as to secure it if we
righteousy can"
THE "cRoss- ROADS OF THE PACIFIC"
The commercial position OF the islands il
not less unique and important, standing az
| they do at the "Cross- roads of the Pacific" at
the intersection Of the steamship lines from
| Australia to San Francisco and to Vancouver
and from San Francisco to Japan and China
The opening of the Nicaragua Canal and the
completion of the Siberian railroad will add
immensely to the Importance Of these islands
as a coaling station aud distributive point fol
commerce. Nor can they be passed by in any
scheme for laying telegraph cables across the
Pacific.
Aside from their position on tho globe. the
Hawaiian Islands have a claim on your con.
sidsration, both for what they are and for what
Americans have made Of them. They com