The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-28
Russia, Japan, The United STATES
and Great Britain.
CURTENo FER THE SUPREMACY
Federated Australia Should uri for as
Much as Jaran. ana How About
Csns5ign Interests.

At the end of the nineteenth century
the world powers have rediscoyered
the Pacific. The Magellans. the brakes
and the Balboas OF the present are am
bilious princes and politicians eager to-
promote empire in the name OF trade
or humanity. In fifteen years the po-
sition has been revolutionized: in ten
years all the forces which make for
unrest have energetically asserted
themselves; in ten years more they
may have stamped the Pacific with the
marks OF conflict for supremacy. The
great powers threaten to initiate the
example OF America by clearing out the /
their dominion in the Far East: the /
great powers OF the West are deter
mined to exploit the resources of the
East. That the Siberian railway |
would profoundly modify the situation |
waS from the first certain. A very few |
years ago it was thought that Russia |
was delivering herself into Chinese
hands by constructing a line which
might at any time he menaced from
Manchuria. Events have. on the con-
trary, placed China at the mercy Of the
railway. and it requires n measure of
faith which the past hardly justifies to-
believe that Russia in attaining what
the Tsar calls her historic aim" has
iuEn ha de- - nt
less unexpected was the bursting OF
the bonds of Monroeism by the United
States. When the Americans toyed
with Hawaii and stood to- their guns
in Samoa. il was not foreseen that far
reaching schemes were in process of
evolution. American action in Cuba.
what ever may be said for or against
il. was not surprise. In the Philip
pines il was little short OF amazing.
Germany has always been interested
in the Pacific as in Africa. and from
the, time when Prince Bismarck de-
clared himself a No Colonies Man" Il
was certain that a German colonial en-
pire would If possible be created. ia
pan, no doubt. was moved to- action
against China by consciousness that
her heritage in the Pacific was In dan
ger, and like consciousness alone eX-
| les in Australia To the supreme neCcS-
! sity of united voice in Pacific mat
ters.
Russia. Japan. the United States
and Great Britain are the four protago-
! niSts for premiership in the Pacific
! Germany and France possess opportu-
/ mites for annoyance. but hegemony
can be theirs in only the smallest de-
/ gree. Just as France in New Caiedo-
MIA is thorn in the side OF Australia.
so Germany in the Carolines has
placed herself athwart the American
line OF communication between San
Francisco and the Philippines. II the
next great struggle is to- he between
Germany and America, as Admiral
Dewey thinks, the Americans will real
;ze their mistake in allowing Germany
to acquire the remnant OF Spanish do
minion in the Pacific. But beyond
that Germany can do little. Unless she
is able materially 10 augment her pres
ent possessions she cannot hope to be
in the running for n leading place in
the Pacific. In America the idea al
ready obtains that the United States
are the paramount power between the
Chinese and the American seaboards
, and that the destiny of the Pacific Is
to be an American lake. But the talk
in which some leading officials and
politicians in Washington are indulg-
ing is as the prattle OF a child excited
by pop-gun. America can only &c.
quire the authority she seeks in tn,
Pacific by an alliance with Japan al
Russia. But Japan leans toward:
Great Britain. The Americans there
fore turn to Russia, the powerful mag
net which seems TO attract republi
cans irresistibly, and Russo-Ameri
can combination is not an impossibii
ity. Russia will tap the natural wealth
OF Siberia and Northern China. She
will find the sinews both OF war an5
commerce in the one and the raw ma
terial OF considerable naval forces In
the teeming population Of the other II
the unlikely event of a Russo-Ameri
can alliance in the Pacific. Japan an,
Great Britain will be driven tosethe
by need OF mutual protection. Japan
with continued organization and
measure OF good fortune. cannot Who'll
y fail to secure large voice in Pacifi
destinies. The incursion OF Western
powers has robbed her OF the position
OF ascendency and independence &
which she would have attained as tn
result OF her adoption OF wester
methods. and the yellow race will onl
now be able to assert itself in the Pa
cific in league with. or under the dom
ination OF, the white race. Japan rec
ogniZes two things-that at the me
ment Great Britain is the paramount
power in the Pacific and that Grea
Britain's attitude Is defensive. no: az
o gressive.
IL Great Britain does not renal
mistress OF the Pacific. as OF other seq
the fault will be that OF her sons III
der the Southern Cross. Faderate
Australia should count for at least .
much rs Japan. Canadian Interest
will be second only To those OF N
3 United States. British interests
China are predominant and tho p,aa,