The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-10-29
OUR FLAG IN THE PACIFIC.
Ney York tribune,


The ocean ot the euture" the Pa
clfe has thoughtfully been called. Nor.
indeed. does It require an exceptional
amount OF presclence to discern ;hat
the shores Of that sea are empires des-
tined soon 70 play iumeasurably great
parts in the commercial drama ot the
race. Time was when the "Grea; Sea-
was the Mediterranean and all the ma
tons of the world were grouped on rs
shores, II was not until long after the
Christian era had begun that the At
lantlc ocean began 70 figure practically
in he affairs Of nations. For the last
four centuries II has baen pre-eminenilv
The grea; sea Of the world. No; until
about one hundred years ago ala the
Indian ocsln and the Pacific begin
seriously to be cultivated by the
ploughsharss OF commerce. But today,
the las: named. while not The greatest
in commerce IS the foremost Of all in
rivalry and interest. while IN CONNER
cial potency it oyershldows all the
world.
TITS an ausplcious and gratifying fact
that our own country occupies upon
that ocean o. the future the assured
position OF advantage. One other ma
zion. 4, IS true. our closest kin. has. Ike
us. a 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 lnsular possessions
form 50 complete a transocelnlc chain
And no other non-Asiatic nation has
any importan; footing upon Pacific
shores. In these Circumstances it Is
natural that our Pacific commerce
should be Increasing. It would be
strange and most dlscreditable Il it
were not. As a mater of statistical
fact our Pacific commerce IS growing
more ;han twice as rapidly as that Of
our Atantl, and Gulf ports. In the last
five years IT has fully doubled and un-
less Russian sp1ilat.on Of China shuts
and bars against US TOO many doors
It seems likely TO keep on increasing at
such a rate. Or even at a greater rate.
We have said that only one non-Asi-
atic power is in a position to seriously
compete with US upon the Pacific. But
there ls one Aslatic power capable Of
doing 50. though happily it Is a power
whose relations with the United States
are consplcuously friendly. The devel-
opment Of japanese commerce Is one
Of the wonders Of the world. Practi-
cally II began on civilized lines in 1872.
At hat time Japan had ninety-six mer,
chant steamers Of an aggregate ton
mage OF less han $4,000. Not one Of
them was seaworthy or was able 70
venture away from the colst. In 1900
japan had $40 steamers Of more than
$4,000 tons. most OF them modern ves-
sells Of the fines: type. Since 1872 Jau-
anese commerce has had a practical
constant increase, until now, in eighteen
years. a net increase Of more than 46l7
per cent is recorded. That Is not Of
course, all transpacifc commerce. But
a nation which, starting from seclusion
and barbarism at a date still within the
memory Of men not yet superannuated.
has now developed a foreign commerce
Of more than s25O.OOO,OOO a year Is GER
tainly a factor greatly to be reckoned
with.
The United States. Great Britain and
Japan are the three grea; commercial
powers Of the Pacific. Of the three By
far the greatest natural advantages
and opportunities lie with the United
States. But advantage and opportunity
are benefcent only a. they are i'm
proved. The multiplication Of trans
continental lines. the opening Of a trans
isthmian waterway, the spanning Of
the Pacific with an American cable
and the great increase Of the American
mercantile marine on those waters
these. together with a wise policy which
will improve our foothold in Asia and
keep open the doors Of all China to
our trade, are the measures by which
our opportunities are to be improved