The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-19
THE BARS DOWN


II the annexation Of Hawaii be mani
TEST destiny" 1t were better, inasmuch
a. 1t could not be successfully resisted,
that 1t should have taken place number
Of years ago, to the end that the lesson
which we have vet to learn might profit
us in the present dilemma Of what to do
with the Philippines. As It Is, the far
eastern problem will doubtless be solved
before the results Of long-distance gov
eminent shall have been realized.
The. most regrettable circumstance
connected with our threatened precipi-
fancy, however, Is the influence which the
departure from traditional policy will
have in stimulating the RATIONAL appetite
for more territory. The bogus plea Of
"war necessity" was potent factor, but
the promoters Of the new policy Of i'm
perialism doubtless shrewdly calculated
that the absorption Of Hawaii would go
Z long way toward reconclling the people
to still further exploitation Of the doc
trine, that 1t would accentuate the inn
portance Of taking on the Philippines
also. To hold the far eastern archipela-
go we must have Hawaii, and the value
to US Of that possession consists chiefly In
the fact that 1t will serve as halfway
station between the mainland and its
remotest insular holding. And there you
ure-the one hand washing the other
That the country will be better of with
out either will not for moment be con-
ceded by the promoters of America s
new destiny.
Far more natural, feasible and logical
would have been the annexation Of San
Domingo, when it was offered to us upon
our own terms. Infinitely more sensible
would have been the annexation of any
one or all Of the West Indian islands. for
they are at our very doors, guarding the
entrance to our coasts, and holding the
key to the proposed Nicaraguan canal.
Greater by far is the necessity for coal
ing stations and fortified harbors In the
Caribbean sea, the natural battle-ground
Of the future, than in distant Hawaii,
Samoa or Luzon. And If we are to con-
sider, as a basis Of peace, the cession OF
territory by Spain, 1t will be much wiser
for US to accept Porto Rico IN lieu OF
the Philippines. assuming that decker
Of that nature can be effected. -
When we attribute shrewdness and sd
gacity to the promoters Of Hawaiian an
nexation at this time, we do so advisedly,
for there are not wanting strong and
numerous indications that many people
who bitterly opposed territorial expansion
are now in favor Of the widest possible
application Of the doctrine. upon the
theory that the fatal first step having
been taken, we shall hazard but little
more ir taking another; that the bridges
behind US having been burned, there is
nothing to do but press forward; that we
may as we'll be condemned for stealing
an empire as an acre; that the difference
In morality between grand and petty lar
ceny is only relative; that it will not re-
quire much larger navy to defend the
Philippines than to protect Hawaii, and
that II, we .are to- go into the colonization
business, we may as we'll enter upon II
on a grand scale.
The traditional policy once broker
down and beyond repair. naught remains
to obstruct progress along the new road
chosen. At all events, there is little dis.
position manifested in any quarter to con.
A. vi oaf mil
the Sandwich islands. There isn't room
enough there for the vast army Of politi
cal pensioners hanging to the frock of tn,
Republican party. and for whom the pre-.
ident has not been able to provide
place at the public crib. There ar.
not enough valuable franchises In Cubs
and Hawaii to satisfy the Unsuitable an
petites Of the Hannas and the Elkinses o
the Republican party, and repay them TO
the. wear and tear Of their purses oc
casioned by this cruel war. The publi
debt Of Cuba, large as It is. and tn
Hawaiian debt. smaller still, do not ofre
ssuffioiently enticing field for the Gage
and the Pierpont Morgans of the treas
ury contingent.
Great and boundlessly resourceful a
y the United States, there is no longe
~ tnducement for labor and capital i
/ continue working out destiny betwee
ne two oceans. Capital ALREADY own
~ - per cent Of It, has little to clear
nboF tolls hopelessly on. expecting ever
treilx to have to yield its small holding,
q ~ evils We sufzer at home are in
~ pe1t ensss then may - bsoom