The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-11-30
WORDS OF WEIGHT.

toast our diplomacy" he had an OPP
portunity for outlining the future policy
of the United States and of sketching
the reasons why American diplomacy
had been successful in the past. I'll
is the clearest cut exposition of both the
political and commercial foreign policy
of a country which has probably ever
come from the mouth of a member of a
cabinet.
The straight forwardness of Ameri-
can diplomacy was Mr.. Hays first
theme. In dealing with other nations
the United States government has hold
ly stated what it wanted, and left the
other side to accept and reject as it
wanted and this frankncss is unGer-
stood and is met by equal frankness.
The policy with regard to the South
American Republics was given In no IN
certain manner, and just at this time it
is most important that it should be
clearly laid down. AS for possessions
in South America the United States
needs them as little as she needs the
mountains of the moon. AS for inter-
fering when the Republics quarrel that
will never be done unless both sides
ask for mediation. But, as far as Anne
rican interests are concerned, they will
always be protected. Acting on this
theory or rather policy American sailors
and marines We're landed the other day
on the isthmus of Panama, to keep the
railroad I'D the telegraph in running
order. If the Columbians chose to fight
among themselves it was their business,
and they might fight like the Kilkenny
cats, but American traffic and Ameri-
can commerce upon a line of railway
which forms one of the worlds high
ways must not be interfered with. AS
the incident occurred two or three day
after the speech, both precept and APP
pIication were quickly shown. Indeed
the precept was most probably given in
order that its application, which had
been decided upon, might be under
stood.
The position of the United States with
regard to the other powers was laid
down. 1t is a position of complete in
dependence, but at the same time in
Yolving concurrent action" with any
group in important emergencies" and
to this may be added what was said in
later part of the speech that no fear
of ignoble criticism will ever tempt us
to insult or defy a great power because
it is strong or even because it is
friendly In the present crisis of Euro
pean affairs these are extremely preg-
nant words, and will be viewed as such
by all the Great Western powers.
The policy with regard to the Pacific
is one in which we of Hawaii are much
interested and may be given in Mr..
Hays own words. He said:
1--WE consider our interests in the Pa
cifc ocean as great now as those of
any other power and destined to in
definite development. We have opened
our doors to the people of Hawaii; we
have accepted the responsibility of the
Philippines, which Providence imposes
on us; we have put an end to the en-
barra ssing condition in which we were
involved in Samoa, and while aban-
doning none of our commercial rights
in the entire group, we have estab-
Iished our flag and our authority in
Tutuila which gives us the finest har-
Dor in the South seas. Next in order
will come a Pacific cable, and an 18TH
milan canal for the use of all we'll
disposed peoples, but under exclusive
American ownership and American
control-of both of which great enter
prises President Mckinley and Presi-
dent Roosevelt have been the energetic
and consistent champions"
The indefinite development" phrase is
another of those lightning flashes with
which Secretary Hays speech is con-
tinually illumined. 1t means that the
Northern Pacific will be dominated by
American influence. The allusion to
Page Pago shows that American in
fuence in the South Pacific will have to
be reckoned with. Another piece of
policy is also clearly shown, and that is
that what the United States owns now
in the Pacific, she will never give up.
Yet this is all said without the slightest
buster it is said out of the thorough
knowledge of the power and yet of the
responsibilities of the Great Republic.
AS Mr.. Hay puts it 1.-The nation has a
giants strength in the works of war
as in the works of peace" The realiza-
ton Of gigantic strength lends kindH-
ness rather than haughtiness to ma
tional conduct, and Secretary Hay
speaks from that standpoint. His con-
cluding words are worth remembering
Quoting a text which Benjamin Frank
lin had in his mind when he was pre-
scented to the King of France, "Sacst
thou a man diligent in his business he
shall stand before kings" the Secretary
concluded as follows
Let us be diligent in our business
and we shall stand-stand, you see, not
crawl nor swagger-stand, as a friend
and equal, asking nothing, putting up
with nothing but what is right and just,
among our people in the great democ-
racy of nations"
These are ringing words, worthy of
the man who delivered them, and the