The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-07-18
MITat HalStGad on the Future
Of America.
HER EMPIRE HAS TWO COURSES
Cuba and Porto Rico-The Philip
pines-The Achievement
of Dewey.

This was the last letter Of Murat
Halstead, now i'll in Honolulu, written
from Washington to his Brooklyn
paper;
After a few days there viii be an in
PERMISSION of my writings for the
Standard Union from Washington
City. With the authorization of the
Military Authorities, 1 shall go to the
Philippine Islands with Gen. Merritt,
the Military Governor, and propose to
make the American people better ac-
quainted with that remarkable aad
most important and interesting coun-
try. The presence of an American
army in the Philippines. is an event
that Will change broad and mighty
currents in the world 5 history. 1t
has far more significance than any
thing transpiring in the process of the
conquest of the West India posses
sions of Spain, for the only question
there, ever since the Continental col
Onies of the Spanish crown won their
independence, has been the extent of
the sacrifices the Spaniards, in their
naughty and vindictive pride, would
make in fighting for a lost Empire and
an impossible cause with an irresist-
ible adversary. That the tine was ap-
preaching when, with the irretrievable
steps of the growth CT a living Nation
of free people, we would reach the
gofnt where it should be our duty to
accept the responsibility of the domi-
n
Manifest Destiny by adding Cuba and
Porto Rico to our dominion, has for
half a century been the familiar under
standing of American citizens. Spain,
by her abhOrrent system, persOnified in
Weyler, and illustrated in the murder
rus blowing UP of the Maine with a,
mine has forced this duty upon us;
and though we made war unprepared,
the good work is going on, and the fin
ish of the fight will be the RELOCATION
of Spain, whose colonial governments
have been without exception disgrace
full and disastrous to herself, and
curses to the cOlonists, to her own
peninsula This will be for her own
good, as we'll as the redemption of
mankind from her unwhOlesOme for
eign influences, typified as they are
in the beautiful city of Havana, which
has become the center of political
plaques and presidential fevers, whose
contagiOn has at frequent intervals
reached our own shores.
In the Philippine Islands tbe situa-
tion is for us absolutely novel 1t can
not be said TO be out of the scope Of
reasonable American expansion, and
is in the right line of charging the
area Of enlightenment and stimulating
the progress of civilization. The I'M
expected has happened, but it is not
illogical 1t must have been written
long ago ON the scroll Of the bOundless
blue and the stars. The incident OF
war was the rush" order of the Pres
fdent of the United States to Admiral
Dewey to destroy the Spanish fleet at
Manila. for the protection of our COM
merce. The deed was done with a
flash of lightning, and 10! we hold the
golden key of splendid Asiatic arch
ipelagO of a thousand beautiful and
richly endowed islands in our grip.
This is the most brilliant and startling
achievement in the annals of navIes.
Never before had the swesp of sea
power. ordered through the wires that
make the worlds continents, oceans
and islands one huge whispering gall
fery. such striking eXemplificat1On.
unreasonable material for the making
of history We may paraphrase DR..
.TohnsOn's celebrated advertisement of
the widows brewery by saying: Ad-
mfral Dewey's victory was not merely
the capture of a harbOr commanding
A great city, one of the superb places
of the earth, and the security of base
of operations to wait for reinforce
ments commensurate with the re-
sources. of the United States of Ameri-
ca-the victorious hero fixed his iron !
hand upon a wonderful opportunity it
was the privilege of our Government
TO secure at large, according to the
rights of victorious Nation for the peo-
ME thereOf-a chance for the youth OF
America like that of the youth of Great
RI.itain to realize upon the magnlh-
.onca of India; and this is as DR.. john
son said of the watts and barrels or The
ThraIe estate-"the pOtentia1ty or
wealth beyond the dreams OF aYarlce. |
# is q new departure, but not matter
for the panic or apprehension OF con-
servatism. that the Stars and STRIPES
foat as the symbol of sovereignty over
Il group of islands in the waters OF
Asia. that are equal TO all the west
indies IF we are strangers there now
we shall not be 50 lOhS' w 10
front on the Pacific Ocean, OF three
great Observation-Disclosures equal 20
England: Oregon. whose grandeur
,1f7s in the sound of her famous name,
and Incompatible California, whose
rifle will be the synonym Of golden |
good times forever The Philippines
are southwest from our western front
doors. They have been the islands
az our sunsets in winter. Now they |
Took to us for the rosy dawn out Of |
Itch will come The clear brightness