The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-05-14
FOREIGN RELATIONS.

Tue ecqutslIOn-ot the Tulnpplnee DN
conquest has brought to the front most
Of our unsolved foreign affairs. II places
this country in new relations with the
rest OF the world. Our traditional policy
has been opposed to the annexation OF
outside territory, yet the fortunes Of war
have placed rs in possession Of thous-
and islands lying of the Asiatic coast
and demonstrated the absolute necessity
OF ownership Of the Sandwich islands.
The situation forces these questions to
point where they must be settled, where
we must choose between The Old policy
of non-intervention in foreign affairs
and strict adherence to the Monroe
doctrine. or hold the Philippines and
join with the powers of Eurape in a set
Element Of the Eastern question Ind take
hand in all Of the;. future political and
diplomatic disputes We might acquire
Hawaii without these foreign entangle-
Inents, hut We cannot hold the Philip
pines and maintain the Monroe doctrine
which, we believe, is one of the well
founded principles Of our government.
Under these conditions it seems better
for this government, better for its peo-
pie, to dispose OF the islands. Japan, or
other nations, would pay millions for
them and this money could be very
proftably used in building the proposed
ship canal across the isthmus. The Eu-
ropean nations generally favor perma-
nent occupation Of the islands by this
country, knowing that such . policy
throws down the bars for active partici-
patton by them in affairs belonging to
the American continent. They would
claim the right TO acquire territory on
this continent, to own and control the
ship canal, and to possess as many rights
rs are claimed by the United States, and
the fact that We held the Philippines
would justify their claims. Sell the is
lands, maintain the Monroe doctrine.
In adheFing to the American policy
the unsolved questions are, first, the con-
troll OF the interoceaDic canal, and there
by Of those countries within the scope
at our natural sphere OF influence, m
foreshadOwed by the Monroe doctrine
second, the command Of the Caribbean
sea and Gulf Of Mexico, through Ameri-
can control OF Cuba and Porto Rico;
third, the annexation OF Hawaii. With
NIL ihsse ends accomplished a new era
will be inaugurated in new world affairs.
The Caribbean sea and the Gulf OF Mex
leo together form an integral part Of the
isthmus problem. No international con-
siderA.ion oil the isthmus can ignore these
waters, no matter whether the Nicaragua
or the Panama route be finally adopted.
The ship canal would charge the from
tiers OF civilization, both for Europe and
America. Nothing else could do 80 much
TO realize the pan American dream OF
Blaine and make it fact. Mahan calls
the Caribbean archipelago 1.-The very do
main Of sea power" and he adds that
Hawaii, too, is an outpost OF the canal,
as surely 40 Alden or Malta is OF Suez, or
rs Malta was Of India in the days before
the canal, when Nelson proclaimed that
in that point OF view chiefly was it i'm
pOrtant to Great Britain"
1t is not simply American, but no lees
truly European, civilization which has
Gne OF its great nerve centers in the L.
lands which constitute the natural fort
Icss Of the Caribbean sea and gateway OF
the gulf. Mahan must have had Spain
in mind when he observed that lit is to
lie regretted that so serious a portion Of
iEem now il in hands which: not only
never has given, but to all appearances
never can give, the development which
is required by the general interest" .iThe
opportunity to remove that cause Of re-
greet must be set down as one of the most
notable events in the affairs OF modern
nation. 1t is now imperative that we
take advantage Of it and end for all time
the question Of American supremacy on
this continent. These things should be
settled by the war.