The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-11-14
WHY WAR COMES

Mmth an nations, ana particularly the
United states, are now deeply inter-
ested. Mr. Adams alternative TO reci-
pruCity is war He lays down as a
postulate that war rs only an extreme
phase of economic competition. If this
be true, 1t is clear that international
competition, IL carried far enough,
must end i'm war The present policy
of the United States and its marvellous
success is forcing a struggle for SUBJ
sisteuce upon Europe, which is already
making Germany very uneasy, and
France and Russia are also beginning
to feel the pressure. when these pow
ers are driven to the commercial wall
they will fight, says Mr. Adams, it is
better to fight than to starve.
During the last century the iron and
coal of Europe enabled il 10 build up
a manufacturing supremacy but at the
opening of this century the iron and
coal of Europe is being undersold by
the iron and coal of the United States,
and that supremacy is gone. To illus
trate the point appeal is made to the
position of Antwerp in the time of
Charles V, which then was in the
zenith Of its power. The bankers Of
Antwerp used to finance the Spanish
Empire, and when the Spanish Empire
became insolvent such a policy was
adopted in order to squeeze money out
Df the Netherlands, that the celebrated
revolt took place, the country was laid
worlds commercial and financial center
moved to Amsterdam. But for finan-
Cial pressure the revolt of the Neither
lands would never have taken place.
The same thing occurred during the
reign of Louis XIV, the most brilliant
period of France. In the arts of peace
and Of war, in literature, in architec-
fure, in splendor of living, France was
the arbiter of Europe but the reign
closed in disaster and ruin. The COM
mercial system of France was the
cause of this collapse. a hundred and
fifty years later under Napoleon. it
was the same thing. His commercial
system, his plan for shutting out Great
Britain from all ports over which his
empire had control, led to his disaster
and ruin.
1t will be noted here that wherever
there was a reimbursement, a changing
of international values, there was war.
far reaching war. After the fall of
Napoleon there was a comparatively
peaceful period, and then came the
consolidation of Germany and new
commercial complications came on
which began to grow still more acute
when until the present era of Ameri-
can expansion came on. Now argues
MIR. Adams the commercial unrest will
30 on till either some relief is given
TO Europe by reciprocal treaties, or
Europe finding herself commercially
''up against it, will have to fight. Such
Tumors of coalition and of ultimate
war are heard from Germany now.
Indeed as far back as the Spanish war
there was a strong effort to bring
about coalition, offensive and defen-
sive, but it failed through the refusal
of Great Britain to join.
The condition of Europe now is a
deterioration in agriculture and the
complete undermining OF her manufac-
turing industries. Mr. Adams thus
sketches the situation:
prior to 1897, while Europe still held
a substantial monopoly in manufac-
lures, the deterioration of agriculture.
If not viewed with pleasure, might be
contemplated with equanimity. Not so
since 1897, when the industrial revOlu-
ton in North America has brought Eu-
ropean mines to condition of relative
exhaustion, and European workshops
10 a position of relative inferiority
Assuming that, satisfactory social re-
adjustment offers, just now, insuper-
able difficulties, Europeans see but one
method of obtaining relief should Am
erica retain her tariff! that method is
to develop regions abroad containing
mines capable of vying with those of
Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Lake Su
perior And it is precisely here that
Europe finds herself propelled toward
a collision with the United States, be-
cause the United States, for her own
protection, has devised atmechanism
which holds her rival as in wise"
The writer then goes into an elabor-
ate discussion of the military and nav
al situation, which is well worthy of
consideration. He points out the enor-
nous military force of Russia, Ger
many and France combined and fur
ther shows that their naval tonnage
is three times that of the United States
built or building.
Finally Mr.. Adams concludes:
America enjoys no immunity from
natural laws. She can pay for what
she takes, or she can fight for it, but
she cannot have the earth for nothing.
Sooner or later the memorable tribute
will be eXacted from her as it has been
eXaCted from every predominant COM
munity, from the days of the grandeur
of Babylon to those of the glory of
London; for, since time began, no race
has won for itself supremacy without
paying a price in gold or blood to other
races as ambitious and almost as
powerful as itself"
In view of the fact that the recipro-
city treaties which have been pending |
for so long, will come up for probably |