New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-10

been begun by the European Powers, the ques-
ton is often asked on both sides OF the Atlantic
what the attitude Of the United States Will he
toward II. There is n general feeling that ths
country cannot afford to he an apathetic spec
tatOr Its interests in Asia are largely far
too large TO be neglected or ignored. Some
action must be taken to conserve them. Ihat
the United States will make any seizure OF Chi
nese territory. as Germany has DONE or even
naval demonstration" Is not for moment
to be supposed. Neither is II that 1t Will enter
into any "entangling alliances with Great Brit
ain and Japan. no matter how closely its inter
ests may-as they do-colncide with theirs.
Such courses would be contrary to the prin-
ciples and policy Of this Government. What can
properly he done Is TO insist, by those peaceful
methods which are no less effective than the
stroke Of the mailed hand" upon the full main
tenance Of American treaty rights and, which
Is perhaps most important OF all, 10 make the
utmost possible extension Of American CONNER
clal interests In that quarter OF the world so as
TO increase the moral and material influence or
this country and It's equitable right to voice
in the disposition Of affairs. Great Britain
bases her rights upon her enormous commercial
interests: Japan hers upon her great trade ana
| her geographical proximity 10 China; Russia
| hers upon similar grounds: France hers upon
the legitimacy OF extending her lndo-Chinese
colony and Germany has seized Kao-Chau in
order to create for herself n similar title. IL
rests with the United States to confirm its an-
| thority in like fashion. hut 1t Is happily possible
! for 1t to do so without any of the violence,
aggression. menace or intrigues which nave
! marked the advance OF the other Powers
That possibility is to be realized in the simple
and lawful net Of annexing the Hawaiian Isl
| ands That will practically put this country
| 1000 miles nearer to China than ii now Is. 1t
will lessen by more than One-third the distance
| between the United States and the Chinese
coast II will bring this country geographically
as near 10 the scene Of interest as are the Brit
| sh colonies in South Australia. That In itself
will be great gain. But much more than that
will he accomplished. American commerce in
the Pacific Will be enormously promoted. Ameri-
| can commercial interests in China will be IN
| creased. And in that way American Influence
and American rights there will be strengthened.
1t Is true that trade follows tie flag. 1t is
equally true that influence follows trade. Let
! American commerce with China be increased,
| and American capital and enterprise be en-
gagged in developing the resources Of China. and
there will be no question Of American interests
| being properly regarded in whatever disposition
NAV be made Of that empire. And If placing
the nearest United States port 1000 miles nearer
| China than 1t Is at present would not power
| fully conduce to those ends. 1t would be exceed
| ingy interesting 10 know what would do so.
! II Is really impossible TO overcstlmate the i'm
! portance OF Hawaii in the commerce of the Pa
| ciic Ocean. If a straight line be drawn from
| San Francisco. the greatest port of Western
| America, to Hong Kong, the greatest port OF
| Eastern Asia. IL passes through the Hawaiian
| group II one be drawn from Victoria, the chief
| Pacific port Of British America. 10 Sydney. the
! chief port Of Australasia 1t passes through the
same group. SO does one drawn from Mica
| ragua to Shanghai. There IS. indeed. scarce
| " an important trade route across the Pa
| ciic which does not traverse that archipelago
or which could not probably and would not
preferably be made to do so. For all trade and
| travel between Siberia Corea. Japan, China,
| the East Indies and Australasia on the one
hand. and British America, the United States
! Mexico, Central America and South America,
and to considerable extent Europe, too, on the
other Honolulu is the natural and only avail
able port of call in mdseas. This Incompatible
! situation, the genial climate, the superb harbor
facilities and the abundant natural produce Of
key 10 the commerce of the Pacific, and the
owner Of it as easily the dominant commercial
| Power in that ocean. Is that key TO be in the
hands Of America or Of some rival and possibly
| hostile Power?
The trade Of Hong Kong, not counting the
enormous transit trade effected without break
| ing bulk amounts to more than S100.OO.0O0 n
| year That Of China is fully S2SJ,000,O00. That
OF japan is $3.50 100000 That Of Australasia
! ia upward Of SGiJ.000,000. The total shipping
OF their ports Is 65,OO0000 tons a year Much
| of this trade, an increasing portion, Is with
! America Much OF it, also an Increasing por
ton. is with Europe by the way Of America
and this latter will be enormously increased
when the ishmlan canal IL opened. Practically
every bit Of it that comes TO or goes from Amer
| ca, or 10 or from Europe by way of America,
traverses Hawaiian waters and touches at
Honolulu. Already six or seven great steam
! ship lines make that regular port OF call, and
| it is to be presumed every steamship traversng
the central Pacific will do so as soon as the
| telegraphic cable from San Francisco to Homo
! lulu Is completed No wonder the British are
| reminding themselves that the geographical i'm
| portance Of that "Gibraltar Of the Pacific" TO
quote a London Times writer. can hardly be
overcstimated and that its political destiny is
| of transcendent interest. For this country TO be
| blind to so obvious facts, and TO refuse or neg
lect to act upon them according TO its unrivalled
! and undsputable opportunities. would he a
piece Of faulty the possibility OF which is not
| to be conceived