The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-12-06
OCEAN OF THE FUTURE.
FUTURE DESTINY OF THE GREAT
PACIFIC.
New York Tribune Descants on What
Lies Right Before Us In the Develop
ment of Commerce.

THE ocean of the future" the Pacific
has thoughtfully been called. Nor in
deed, does it require an exceptional
amount of presCienCe to discern that
the shores of that sea are empires des-
tined soon to play UNNECESSARILY great
parts i'm the commercial drama of the
race. Time was when the Great Sea-
was the Mediterranean, and all the ma
tons of the known world were grouped
about its shores. 1t was not until long
after the Christian era had begun that
the Atlantic ocean began to figure
practically in the affairs Of nations.
For the last four centuries 1t has been
pre-eminently the great sea of the
world. Not until about one hundred
years ago did the Indian ocean and the
Pacific begin seriously to be cultivated
by the ploughshares of commerce. But
today the last named, while not the
greatest in commerce, is the foremost
of all in chivalry and interest while in
commercial potency it overshadows all
the world.
1t is an suspicious and a gratifying
fact that our own country occupies up
on that ocean of the future the assur-
ed position of advantage. One other
nation, il is true, our closest kin, has,
like us frontage upon both shores
and islands in mid sea. But neither in
America nor in Asia is the British Pa
cific frontage comparable with ours,
nor do the British insular possessions
from 50 complete a transoceanic chain.
And no other non-Asiatic nation has
any important footing upon Pacific
shores. In these circumstances ii is
natural that our Pacific commerce
should be increasing. 1t would be
strange and most discreditable if 1t
were not. AS a matter of statistical
fact, our Pacific commerce is growing
more than twice as rapidly as that of
our Atlantic and gulf ports. In the last
five years it has fully doubled, and un-
less Russian spoliation of China shuts
and bars against us too many doors it
seems likely to keep on increasing at
such a rate, or even at greater rate.
We have said that only one non
Asiatic power is in position seriously
to compete with us upon the Pacific.
But there is one Asiatic power capable
OF doing so, though happily it is pow
Ell whose relations with the United
states are conspicuously friendly The
development of Japanese commerce Is
one of the wonders of the world. Prac-
ticaHy it began on civilized lines in 1872.
At that time Japan had ninety-siX
merchant steamers of an aggregate
tonnage of less than $4,000. Not one of
them was seaworthy or was able to
venture away from the coast, In 1900
Japan had SAG steamers of more than
| 52S, 900 tons, most of them modern Ves-
sells of the finest type, Since 1872 Jap
anese commerce has had a practically
constant increase, until now, in eigh-
teen years, a net increase of more than
4,617 per cent is recorded. That is not
of course, all transpacific commerce
But nation which, starting from Sc
clusion and barbarism at date still
within the memory of men not ye'
superannuated, has now developed
foreign commerce of more than $3.50
OOOOO year is certainly a facto
greatly to be reckoned with.
| The United States, Great Britain ant
Japan are the three great Commercial
powers of the Pacific. OF the three b!
far the greatest natural advantage
and opportunities lie with the United
States. But advantage and. opportunit,
are beneficent only. as they are i'm
proved The multiplication of trans
continental lines, the opening OF
transisthmian waterway, the spannin
of the Pacific with an American cabl
and the great increase of the America
mercantile marine on those waters
these, together with a wise polio
which will improve our foothold !
Asia and keep open the doors OF Chln
to our trade, are the measures d
which our opportunities are to be in
proved and our Pacific commerce mac
and kept the greatest of all