The San Francisco call., 1898-02-14
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 Some six or eight weeks ago there appeared in this column an announce ment of what had probably occurred in the Orient. The opinion, in short, was that Germany had insisted on rights equal to those of other nations in China that seek expansion of commerce and the convenience of the navy in time of peace. The concept was quite accurate ana It IS now apparent that the Chinese lmbroglio had an existence only in the lmaglnlngs of correspondents. There mas been clearly no objection on the part of either of the great powers to the granting of Germany's request. Ihls Baron von Buelow's statement to the Reichstag and Lord Salisburys ut terances in the House of Lords bear out to degree. Amongst other things Baron von Buelow said Despite con- trary views of English newspapers it is well Known in authoritative quarters in London that in the interests of peace anu culture we desire to cultivate re- iatlons Of harmonious cooperation with Great Britain. Our modest demands nave neither menaced the integrity of Ch1na nor called for justifiable objec- tion on her part
 Ihls is a dignified and a statesman ike utterance, it almost reminds one of wooster, and if Senator Morgan and the allied Jingoes will thoughtfully di- Sesl IL we might earn more of the re- spect Of other nations for sincerity than we at present enjoy The en- deavor to cultivate at every oppor- tunlty national craving for war on the slightest pretext, the development or our commerce being neglected, sa- vors not of statesmanship, but of folly. Let us promote industry; let others do the squabbling. No nation assails us;
 let us have peace"
 So much has been written in these columns on the Hawaiian question from naval standpoint that there is a pos- slbllity of wearying, but as the annexa- ton or non-annexation of the islands IS such vital matter and as the ac- curacy of statements made here has been questioned, the evident duty is to point out error and repeat the truth. It appears from Washington dispatch that letter from Captain Mahan, in reply to the catechizing of him by Sen ator Kyle, was read in executive ses- sion of the Senate by Senator Teller captain Mahan has been made to say much of the defensive value of Hawaii in case of war, and as one of the quer- leS put to him refers to a weakness that, as writer on this subject, I be- lieve l first drew attention to, 1t is inn tn h cfr f0 gist's replies unanswered. In discuss ing this point it Is necessary to assume the frame of mind of a famous jurist. who, when interrupting an able plead CT who was reading opinion after opin- ion from other judges which were fa- vorable to his clients case, said: T do not desire to interfere with your manner of presenting this cause, but I must tell you that l care nothing for these opinions unless you can show me that they are based on reason. An un- reasonable precedent l shall decline to consider, no matter how illustrious its author" Captain Mahan has a famous name, but l cannot accept even his statements when they are clearly in error. It has already been pointed out that this gentleman reasons backward when he says that the Hawaiian Is- lands are strategically of value to us, and his letter to Senator Kyle shows He says: Hawaii is now exposed to pass under foreign domination, notably Japan, by the peaceful process of over running and assimilation" It is not Hawaii will pass under the control of no other nation if we object. To the most powerful nation of the earth, eX- cepting this (and possibly Germany we said only a couple of years ago, Hands off," and thatNimmense power that could crush Japan as easily as she could little Portugal, instantly respect ed our wishes. We can insist as cas- fly on Hawaiian independence as does Europe on Switzerland's If Captain Mahan will be good enough to explain how it is inevitable that foreign power will annex this group against our will it would prove an interesting story. One thing that would have to be ac- knowledged to commence with is that there is a nation that will be permit ted to dictate to us. Will this gentle man avow that? I think not. Our navy IS not as pOWeTIui as IL Siiouiu be by any means, but no arrogance Is displayed when it Is stated that we are the most powerful of nations on land, our defective shrapnel included.
 In answer to the second question put him, Captain Mahan says that great CT navy would not be needed for the defense of the Pacific Coast than would be required with the islands unan- nexed. That Is distinctly illogical. If, :" he says, i've have the islands, and in the Pacific fleet of proper force, the presence of the latter or an adequate detachment from 1t at the Hawaiian Islands will materially weaken if not wholly cripple any attempted invasion of the Pacific Coast (except from British Columbia) and will proportion ately strengthen us.' A fleet at the Hawaiian Islands cripple an attempt at the invasion of this coast! How could it? The day has long passed when one could reasonably expect to find an enemy in a certain degree of latitude or longitude: the frigate with her dependence for propulsion on wind has disappeared. Coded and pro- visioned at a safe distance from our coole land, hostile fleet could easily