Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1898-05-12
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
THURSDAY, MAY 70, 1898.
the BLIND BEGIN TO SEE.

been retarding our progress as Iif'F"i 'ii''
commercial nation for many years. They
have persistently adhered to the policy OF
the founders of the republic, that the Uni
ted States should not acquire any territory,
disconnected with the North American
continent, by purchase, gift or conquest
Such position has been as unwise as that
of sticking uncompromisingly to the imam
cial and economic policies suggested by
men who were even profound statesmen
hundred years ago.
The world is constantly progressing and
governmental policies have necessarily
changed as civilization has been making
its marvellous strides. The United States
a hundred years ago, even fifty years back,
were confronted by no such conditions as
have been presented in the last two de-
cades. For some time it has been mani
fest that if we we're to become one of the
great naval powers of the world and
country with frst-class commercial ana
carrying-trade qualities we would have to
get away from the antiquated policy which
demagogues, partisans and fogies have
been sticking to. Great Britain long ago
saw that to be "mistress of the seas" she
must adopt colonial policy, and for nearly
hundred years past she has never lost an
opportunity to acquire territory in the two
hemispheres. If the United States hao
adopted such policy twenty-five years
ago we would not be suffering the humllla-
ton of having 80 per cent. Of our carrying
trade in the control of other nations, and
we would not sixty days ago Lave occupied
the position of fourth rate naval power.
About eight or ten years ago the Ha-
waiian Islands were offered us as gift.
President Harrison made treaty for the
annexation of these islands to the United
States; but his successor, President Cleve-
land, failed to ratify and confirm the work
of President Harrison, the treaty was dis
carded and partisans and fossils applauded
the action of MIR. Cleveland. Soon after
his induction to office President Mckinley
made another treaty for the annexation OF
Hawaii, and that treaty has been before
the Senate since the present session ofCon-
gress began and It's ratification has been
prevented by partisan obstructionists,
Thinking men now begin to see the folly OF
not accepting the Hawaiian Islands. They
are absolutely essential to the success OF
our commercial and naval operations in the
Pacific Ocean. In a direct line between
our ports in that ocean and the Orient,
their value cannot be measured. What a
great thing it would be if Honolulu was
now in the possession of the United States,
with a. garrison of 5000 soldiers, abundant
naval supplies and munitions of war. We
would then haveample reinforcements and
supplies already collected, and two thous-
and miles nearer Duey than San Fran
cisco, from where relief will have to be
sent.
In the Atlantic ocean we are in as untor-
tunate position as in the Pacific. When
our navy or our merchant ships leave our
home ports they can find nowhere in the
broad waters of the ocean homing or
resting station, where supplies can be laid
in and protection secured. Our fleets are
now placed at great disadvantage by
having no points reasonably distant from
the coast to be used as scouting stations.
1.-THE Bermuda Islands were in our pos
session they could be used as station
from which to send out fast scouting YES
sells. They could locate the Spanish feet,
return to their station and report by cable
gram instead of having to run two hundred
miles more to give the news. When our
naval vessels 90 out on the ocean they have
to carry with them their supplies OF coal
and ammunition. When those supplies
are exhausted they will have to run back
to our home ports to replenish their stores.
1t is evident we need stations in the At
Iantic and Pacific Oceans for purposes both
of defense and attack. If we are to be
q great naval and commercial power the
old time notion of not acquiring new ter
ritory will have to be abandoned. Even
those who have been blinded by partisanry
and resting in fosslism have begun to rec
ognize the truth. Democratic papers that
have heretofore been adhering to the old
doctrines are getting away from them, We
see them not only advocating the acquisi-
ton of Hawaii by treaty but actually sug-
costing that We shall hold the Philippine
Islands and Porto Rico by conquest. The
manner in which papers and men have
changed their views on this question would
be amusing if the situation was not SO
serious. 1t is well, however, that at last
the blind begin to see.
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