The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-22
The Dream Of Navigators.

Let any interested person take an atlas
open the covers at the page entitled
North and South America and, as q
reminder OF his school days. trace with
his finger the route which a ship must
follow TO pass from any one of our At
lantic or Gulf seaports to reach any one
OF the harbors Of the Pacific within the
boundary Of the United States As he
follows her lonely course let him try TO
realize the enormous distance which this
shin must travel. the wild waste of wa
ters over which she must pass Let him
note the inhospitable point OF land de-
signated upon the maps az Cape Horn.
apparently 50 near, In reality 20 many
thousand miles distant; so familiar by
name and in locality to every school boy
and girl so utterly unknown. except 20
those unfOrtunates who have weathered
its icy promonotory. and have safely
withstood the bitter herceness Of its ant
arctic gales. Now let our inquirer re-
trace his imaginary course and turn his
attention 10 another easily possible route
between our Atlantic and Gulf ports and
those upon the western shore OF OUT
continent-the route by Central America
and he will perceive at a glance the enor-
nous saving I'm distance of the proposed
Isthmian waterway over the old. time
worn. Ife-destrOying. and wealth-devOuT-
ing track.
TO those who have been waiting for
the arousing OF public interest in this
great project. it seems as II the time had
at last arrived when thinking men. as
well as many who are not of a serious
turn of mind. admit the imperative
necessity OF a highway Of rapid transit
between the two great oceans which all
but encircle our continent
The developments of the past few
months have caused our thinkers TO
think yet more profoundly. and they be-
gin to realize that until there IS a way
easy of access. from each Of these oceans
to the other, should certain contingencies
arise. as a nation we are helpless. su-
pine is a strong word, but IL seems the
one best fitted TO characterize the state
OF inaction and apathy which has been
our condition as a nation during the
unprogressive years that are past.
We Americans pride ourselves upon the
rapid development Of our country, upon
sts great trade and commerce, which
have arisen from its wonderful resources
through the activity and business quail
ties of our people. But there IS a coun-
try whose development has been much
more rapid than ours-a country which
remained for untold centuries isolated
from the rest Of the world, but which,
within the past few years-mainly
through our aid and example It is true
has burst the web OF ignorance and IN
activity which bound 81. and emerges to-
day before the eyes OF the world as a
civilized nation. making quick progress
in all that proves people strong. Sud
denly. therefore, we are brought 10 face
the fact that q. new power has arisen IN
the Pacific. that Japan is already claim
ing imaginary rights within the Hawaiian
Islands. islands civilized and peopled by
those Of our own blood, whose intelligent
citizens speak our mother tongue, and
we realize on the instant that here Is n
power with which we must reckon In the
settlement Of serious questions.
japan was formerly looked upon rs n
far-distant country: composed Of a group
of islands inhabited by an interesting
people. having no political relations with
the western world. Prestol and all is
liberal government desire to expand,
followed by the adoption Of western
methods. railroads, steamships. with a
foreign commerce an army, and, what
particularly concerns us. a modern navy,
she appears at our doors as a power de-
manding recognition.
II IS true that Japan Is several thou
sand miles from our western coast: that
the whole width OF the Pacific ocean lies
between us but the Pacific ocean IS a
highway open 20 everyone. and out into
the Pacific Japan must go If she Is 10
expand at ALL To her west and north
she is barred. for Russia and England
will not permit her a Judgment upon the
Asiatic Continent. In taking the island
OF Formosa she has already gone south.
ard her action regarding Hawaii has
brought her east. Hawaii is 34Oo miles
from Japan. but there are now 10000 OF
the Mikado's subjects settled In Hawaii.
and the interest OF Japan in the status
Of these people Is so great that II has
ossssd bar To nrotaSt viaanously azainat