New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-19
FOPTPCSS N UTD-PACIFIC.

II may strike some as an extravaganza 10
speak of the Hawaiian Islands as n fortiiica-
ton. 1t is the custom with many TO think OF
them rs needing defence, and as so far distant
from our shores that their defence may be dill
cult and costly. This would be true II no
change of population were TO follow anneXa-
ton But within very short time probably
more than hundred thousand enterprisng ana
able-bodieI American men, full Of splf-reliance
and the power of organization and skilled in
the use Of arms. will have followed the flag TO
the island. Unrvallcd business opportunities
invite them. A rare climate. and fertile soil
as yet scarcely touched by the natives or the
few planters employing Asac labor, offer
to American skill and capital extraordinary
chances. The settlement Of salwart Americans
will speedily be able 10 defend the Islands
against any force which could he secretly sent
against them by any Power on earth. The
mere bombardment Of port would give no
hold upon the soil, and very soon modern guns
torpedoes and torpedo-boats will make tie chief
ports unhealthy for any attacking feet
But the enormous strength Of the position
lies in the fact that no foreign vessels can long
remain so far from a friendly port for wan: OF
supplies of coal The settlers able to resist
any landing from n few ships OF war could
hold the territory, destroying any. supplies of
coal IL unable to prevent their seizure. so that
invading vessels would soon find themselves
forced TO retire for new supplies lest they should
he placed By want Of fuel At the mercy Of Amer
can ships If th,re were an effort TO fit ont m
expedition strong enough to land on the islands
the fact would ut once become known in this
country for it corld not be concealed. Nor could
an expedition Of such n character be fitted ont
anywhere in the world that the United States
with its advantage Of several days in distance
and its railroads conyerging at San Francisco
could not have time enough for effective re-
sisance.
Roughly. it is 2,0S0 miles from San Francisco
to Honolulu 900 from Vancouver, 344O from
Yokohama. and over $500 from the nearest
poin, i'm Australia. The difference in time is or
the utmost importance. With telegraph wires
covering the whole world as with spiders
web and secret codes placing consular agents
and American merchants everywhere within
reach of Washington in few hours. the prepa-
ration of an expedition designed 10 eiIcc, land
ing on the Hawaiian Islands could be antci-
patcd days before it could set out. TIE rapid
occupation Of the island by American settlers
is the main fact which those forget who suppose
tina. social and poltica! problems Of insuper
abe nature render annexation dangerous.
total present population Of about one hundred
thousand. nearly all Asiatic and native. would
speedlly he rendered powerleSs for harm by the
immigration which would certainly follow an
nexaton. II is not as a farm Of about four
million acres that the islands are essential 10
this country They will defend the whole Pa
cific Coast and American commerce in the Pa
cif1c Ocean as these could be defended in no
other way. In the hands Of any power pos
sibly hostile the islands would make necessary
an enormous expenditure for Notifications and
defence OF the Pacific Coast. while American
commerce in the Pacific Ocean could never be
well defended.