The times., 1898-03-04


--7e-e minister TO The :, lie Department,
and the subsequent official announcement
of the fact thar seven Japanese subjects
serving on board the Iaitl"-hip Maine
had been lost While this official notice
may not amount - aus.thiua more than
mere piece Of information. il is con
strued in some quarters us an indication
that Japan is willing ro 5oin hands with
the United States I'm ne cent of trouble
with Spain. This Is the more likely be
cause Of the jealous eye which Japan
has cast upon the Spaai.h possessions IN
the Pacific Ocean ia her immediate Vi
cinity.
Jauan since her eman cipation from the
bar-barous stage has made wonderful
progress. aud her ambition is houndless.
She hopes IN time 20 become the dumi-
uant power of the Orient, and nothing
would suit her purposes better than TO
drive Spain from the Philippine Islands.
and secure those posse essions for herself.
The United States on the one hand and
Japan on the other form the TWO great
powers now controlling the Pacific Ocean,
and there seems TO be Il community Of in
terest that makes these Two powers nat
that would lead TO uayal conflicts un the
Pacific Ocean.
Fortunately the friction between the
United States and Japan. growing cut of
the proposition TO annex the aw;aiian
Islands. has been amicahiy settled aud
there is no reason why these TWO powers
should net Join hsuds ia the event Of
hosrilities with Spain. From the very ma
ture or things. the Japanese government
must remain an insalaf power. The re-
cent conflict between Japan and China. so
one-sided in it's results, was not sufficient
TO enable the Japanese. aggressive as
they were. To secure fOothold upon the
mainland. although they were able 10
wTest from China as part OF the i'rize of
war The island Of FOrmosa. If there Is TO
be "a further enlargement Of this island
dominion, il looks very much as II II nuss
extend TO the islands south Of Japan, and
nowhere j. there better field for con-
guest than IN a struggle for the acquisi-
tiGn of the Philippines
The action of The japanese representa-
tive in officially notifying the United
States that several Of her subjects were
on the battleship Maine is construed by
some public men as an intimatioh that
Japan Is willing To become the ally of the
United States III a war with Spain. which
must Ia any event. involve the possession
OF the Philippine Islands.
Hawaiian Annexation Certain.
A prominent member Of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations, one
who perhaps has the confidence Of the
President TO greater extent than any man
in the Senate. in discussing the general
situation yesterday afternoon, said that
II there was to be trouble with Spain the
Hawaiian question would speedily solve
itself @If q" said this senator. war with
Spain should begin, The annexation OF
Hawaii would Immediately become fixed
ana permanent fact, for the first thing
this Administration would Ice forced TO do
would be TO take military possession Of
those islands and maintain them against
the Spanish fleet. So far as any other
power Is concerned there would be no
protest. and the Hawaiian government il
self would gladly acquiesce in this mill
tarv mode OF annexation
.'One Of the most important moves,
continued this senator. in connection
with the war with Spain would be an at
tack upon the Philippine Islands, and,
particularly, against the city of Manila
which is the metropolis Of that Spanish
province. II may lock like cruelty "a
lombard a city occupied by people who
have taken no part IN the troubles In
Cuba which have brought about the
present existing strained relations be-
tween Spain and the United States, but
cruelty is part and portion Of the acts
OF war. and the attempt to seize this city
would. OF course, be justified ia the eyes
Of the world i Is well known despite
the fact that the recent insurrecti0n ia
the Philippine Islands was suppressed by
Spain. the seeds 0f insurreCtiOn still live.
and IN would take only such an event as
war between the United States and
Spain 10 cause those seeds 10 again sprout
into fun and active rebellion. With the
~ ia e1as
United States could alone seize those isl
ands. and with the possible assistance Of
Japan their release from the dominion
OF the Spanish yoke would be absolutely
assured.
What effect the possession Of the Phil
ippine Islands would have on the future
history Of the United States IS q question
that cannot now be answered The terri
tory is so far removed from our own
shores and SO totally Gissimilar 10 the ter
ritory comprised by The islands forming
she Hawaiian group that they cannot be-
considered together Al all. The one If
Necessary 10 The protection and preserva-
ion Of TINS country p military and
laval outpost. TO possess and 10 main
tain the other would be 10 establish a
doctrine of territorial acquisition which is
repuguant To the whole history Of tire
United States and the precepts laid down
by the revolutionary fathers Il opens up
a question that is fTauEhi with the most
nlsmemtgus CONSEQUENCES 10 the future
of this republic. Whether we should hold
the Philippines ~ q province or simply
as hostage until Spain. through the col
lection of her revenues. could pay the In
IDENTITIES We demanded is matter which
the future alone miIst determine. If ia
pan became our ally The solution would
be- easy for we could turn over 10 that
power the islands which would form a
very agreeable addition 10 their limited
territory.
II cannot however, lay too much stress
upon the necessity Of Jht Hawaiian ISL
auds in the event of trouble with Spain
OF any other power. f0T these islands. ly-
ing as they do. midway between our coast
and tine Orient. form base Of 0pe=at tious
in any naval conflict in which this coun-
Try may be- called upon 1O engage with
another power Especially am J impress
ed with the necessity of possessing them
81 the inevitable conflict with Spain"
The Presidents Position.
Continuing. this senator said that while
~ was not ar liberty 70 make public ans
Information he had received from the
President and denying that he had beer
the recipient of any positive statement.
from the Executive. De should declare his
belief IN the fact that ihc President was
exercising that prudence and painstaking
care which ought o. control President
who sees the possibility ~ a conflict aaedt
of him THE President. said this seua.
sslra- frsr1l fHfs outset lgpf rargetatr.