The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-07
THE CLOUD ON THE HORIZON.

Mia. receives much attention from pro-
f~essionaI military and naval papers
Among others the Army and Navy
Journal does not conceal it's anxiety
A recent issue of that publication point
ed out thai the ELUSIVE cordially which
and the return call of the American
Generals. was as hollow as interna-
tional p~oliteness generally is, and did
not serve to interrupt 'the bloodless
and desperate contest over policies and
enterprises which, to many observers,
seems bound to eliminate in a conflict
Of a more serious nature" 1t might
be recalled, in this connection. that the
King of Prussia and Bismarck hobnob-
Exposition of 1867, but three years be-
fore the declaration of war and that,
in 1893, the American people welcomed
the Infanta Of Spain with an enthusi-
asm which casual observers said meant
a long step toward friendlier relations
| between the United States and Spain.
But history shows that all the bowling
and Sinking was a mere by-play dur
| ing which the parties to it were lis
| tening intently for the long roll of the
drums.
One of the specific acts which ex-
| cites the suspicion of the Army and
Navy Journal is the decision of the
Kaiser to form an American squadron
for service in West Indian waters.
There is reason to believe" it says,
that the Government of the United
States views the formation of this new
German squadron with inward resent
ment and apprehension. International
courtesy. in which the United States
is never lacking, requires that Germany
shal be permitted to dock and repair
her ships in American yards, but if
Germany is to maintain a permanent
squadron in American waters it re-
quires no prophetic insight to foresee
Tie time wien she VIII lHSISI upOIl HAY
ing a naval base on American territory.
When the time comes and it may not
be as remote as careful observers would
desire the integrity and binding force
of the Monroe Doctrine will be subject
ed to the final test. For the present and
the immediate future, therefore, the
watchword of the United States should
be: Preparedness! If there is peril to
the southwark the way to avert it
is to be ready to face it. If we are to
have peace it must not be the nerve
less peace of helplessness.
w have confidential information
showing that in various ways the Ger
man Emperor is seeking to make him
self independent, so far as he can. of
our workshops and sources of supply,
that the mo exa inquiries are being
made into our military and naval
strength and that no detail of investi- |
cation is omitted that may help him to
deal intelligently with us. This may
be nothing more than an expression of
laval information, but is it for our in-I
terest to permit German officers to
make as thorough an investigation of
all the details of the construction and
equipment of our men-of-war, as one
Of them was allowed to do in an in
stance occurring in a foreign port
which we Ia in mind, and which may
or may not be an isolated one? We
hope at least that the ~effusive friend
any sense of false security or mislead
these sanguine Americans who are so
eager for peace that they are constant
" subjecting us to the danger of mad
equate preparation for war or the the
DRY nat soft words are proof of ami
able purposes. The military and naval
men accompanying Prince Henry on
his recent visit were very charming
gentlemen II most agreeable visitors, |
but they kept their eyes wide open
while they were here
AS the readers of the Advertiser
know, this paper deems the Monroe
doctrine, however useful to us it may
Rave been originally, a present danger
to the peace of the country and one
that has 10 compensating advantages.
IT the United States is to be the Lord
Protector of the western hemisphere
t must go to the vast expense of pre-
pairing to defend it against the preda-
tory inroads of Europe. This mission
would require of us an immense stand
Ing army and a navy larger than that
of Great Britain. Perhaps we could
carry the bill of expenses if, in the
meantime, we controlled the trade and
had the political sympathies of the
Latin American States; but unfortu-
nately for us they prefer close COM
mercial relations with the old world
and look askance at what they call
Yankee aggression This puts us in
the attitude of an obnoxious policeman.