The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-11


for the conception.
Late in November of 1892 Mr. Stevens
had sent home from Honolulu to Angus "a,
to his newspaper, the Kennebec Journal,
an article on the subject of Hawaii in
relation to national interests in the Pa
ciiic, which was so striking in its state
ment of facts, so acute in its provision.
so manifestly prophetic in its conclusions,
and so thoroughly impregnated with in
telligent patriotism that The Sun then
called the attention of the country to il
as an impressive warning that the time
was near at hand when the question OF
the ultimate possession of Hawaii must
be decided by the action or the apathy OF
our government and people:
THE States ana Territories which out
let on the vast Western ocean will some
day have a population of 10000, 900 , I
souls. The Pacific side of the American
republic, stretching from north Alaska to
south California, coast line of 4.00(
miles without including the LOO miles
of shore of Puget Sound is to have a
development OF agricultural, lumber, fish.
cries and mineral riches, out of which
will flow streams of commerce which
neither the imagination nor cold figures
can we'll cover at the present time.
In the front of these vast Pacific
States extends the immerse ocean of the
Pacific. Across this vast Pacific plain
must be for all time the water roads
along which will move the commerce OF
many hundreds of millions of people. An
chored firmly between the two great
oceans, America divides with Europe the
commerce of the Atlantic Europe hav-
ing the advantage in numbers, position
and prestige. But on the great Western
rfs
and hold ii securely against all CompCti-
tors. TO DO this she must improve her
opportunities. Sloth and cowardice new
er win anything worth having. Time
waits neither for individuals nor nations
Success is for those who dare.
In this immense area of water be-
tween America and Asia are innumerabIe
Islands. so needful to the future COM
merco between the two great continents.
The most of these islands are now
possessed by England. France, and
spain, Germany but recently forcing her
grasping hand into the arena Owing 10
the patriotic fidelity of the American Mis-
sonary board and it's faithful agents, and
TO the Watchfulness of American states
men from Daniel Webster TO those of the
present time, the Hawaiian Islands have
not passed under European flag.
greedy, grasping, and sometimes insult
Ing as have been our rivals as 10 Amer
lean interests in these Islands, they are
not yet lost to us, and the business neces-
stiles and the sympathies of their citi-
zens are still with their American neigh
bors. 1t needs not the naval and mill
tary expert to tell the Importance of
these islands to the United States. They
front our coasts. They are sufficiently
near the gateways of our rapidly rising
Pacific cities TO feel the pulses of Amer,
American prosperity and power. 1t is 10
repeat the opinion of the most intelli-
gent commercial, naval, and military
men to say that the Hawaiian Islands
are the key to the North Pacific. Coal
ing stations, feeding places, are indls-
pensable TO American commerce on great
oceans, 1t is the Veriest folly to think
or TO talk otherwise.
THE time is now when we must decide
who shall hold these islands as a part
of their national territory. 1t is not pos
sible for them to remain much longer
alone. Their people and the United States
Will soon be compelled by circumstances
and events to decide whether the Ha-
waiian Islands shall have unity liberty,
and autonomy with the United States,
or become colonial possession of a
European power. What Webster. Clay
ton and Marcy saw forty years ago, and
Seward, Fish. and Blaine and the ad-
ministrations they represented clearly
perceived, may now we'll be considered
by the American people.
Their ultimate possession by the Unit
ed States is of the utmost Importance to
American commerce in the Pacific which
promises vast development, If wisely
cared for and withour too much delay.
Shall Americans sleep while others are
awake to take from them these natural
advantages? Time and tide wait neither
Tor men nor for nations"
Read now John l.. Stevens words OF
five years ago, and consider them in
connection with subsequent events. With
in four months after this was written Il
was the privilege and joy of this wise,
honorable, and disinterested patriot and
public servant, acting for American in
terests in cooperation with the presi-
dent OF the United States and his sec
retary OF state, to see the American flag
flying against the blue sky above Homo
lulu, to declare officially an American
protectorate, and TO know that a treaty
of annexation was before our senate for
ratification. Within three months after
that, it was his terrible disappointment
and humiliation TO see that flag hauled
down by the order of AN American pres
ident, that protectorate abolished, and
that treaty Withdrawn in order that an
ignorant and brutal woman might be re-
established upon the throne of Hawaii.