The San Francisco call., 1898-01-25
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INDIVIDUAL THOUGHTS.
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Ring the merry bells of heaven. let the earth with joy be laden" is the song of California to-day. It is good to be happy and unwise to mourn. The bells have pealed, guns have joined the general acclaim and for the time being we are proud as we'll as a con- tented people. The greatest good the discovery of gold did was to bring to light the other magnificent natural re- sources of California, which, thanks to men of enterprise-as we'll as of capi- tal-are being developed more rapidly yearly.
 Gold has been discovered in Austra- lfa, but with the discovery has come no exceptional blossom, no unusual bloom Gold has been found in Southern Af- rlca, but with it no specially magnifi- cent scenery and no territory that of fers the cool of the Sierras and the heat of the San Joaquin Valley on the same day in such very small expanse Of region. Do we all appreciate what blessed part of the earth it is in which we exist? think not.
 It is possibly regrettable that to-day l am compelled to show that "The Ha- Waiian Islands, instead of being strate- gically of value to us will be constant source of weakness" The promise has been made, and being made it must be kept, even though on this day of re- joicing, in the keeping of the compact, the toes of such distinguished men as General Schofield, Captain Mahan and the senior Senator from Alabama will have to be trod on.
 The era of universal peace not hav- ing arrived, we are fairly assured of a quarrel with some nation in the future The statesman who says it is certain to be Japan, Italy, Russia, France, England or Germany displays his un- fitness for assisting in controlling des- tinies. He vows that he knows what tomorrow will bring forth-and he is, by the grace of heaven, ignorant on that point. To jingoes of the Morgan type 1t is clear that it will be either Spain, Japan or Great Britain. But thoughtful people see that 1t may hap pen to be Mexico. And seeing that, they are in a better position to judge of Hawaiian matters than the coterie of which Senator Morgan is the most conspicuous example of folly.
 The source of weakness that these islands would be to us in the event of war is possibly best shown by example, Let us suppose that we have annexed Cuba. War breaks out. With whom :? Say the French. Qt is as likely to be France as England or Japan). We have all manner of munition in Cuba, for the rule at this day is to be provided l for. nia { h ,i mitted we show carelessness in this matter that is more than injudicious If the power with whom we quarre! is able to defeat us on the ocean he will forthwith proceed to annex for his own use our Cuban territory and the sup plies that Cuba holds. Then he has a base of operations 'gainst us, but had We not annexed Cuba the territory would have been neutral, and the enemy would have been unable to gain his vantage point. The one great principle underlying all strategy-military as well as naval-is this: Take no posi- tion that you cannot reasonably expect to be able to hold. If it is not evident owing to our naval weakness, that we shall not for at least half a century to come be able to hold the Hawaiian Islands in case of war, I should like to know what Is evident Have we even naval plan-to say nothing of the ex- ecution-that will enable us to face | f1rst-rate maritime power within twenty years? We have not. So far as France, Italy. Russia or Germany is concerned we are decidedly weak, and the rebuilding of the navy is going on so slowly that we are growing com paratively weaker each year.
 AS pointed out above, we are un- aware of the nation which will choose to disturb our peace, and it is plain enough that if it is one superior in naval power to us the possession of the Sandwich group is a menace to this coast, and not valuable outpost"
 Captain Mahan is as we'll aware as am I of the strategic principle quoted, and I should like to ask him how he manages to avoid the consideration of it when writing of the question now being discussed.