The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-02

chipelagos. part of the Solomon Islands
German New Guinea, the Caroline and
Pelew Islands, the great Marshall group
midway between the Australian steam
ship lines from British Columbia and
| the possible Asian lines of the future
from the isthmus. She longed for
| Samoa, but was obliged to be content
| with a part. She coveted the Philip
pines and suffered keenest chagrin that
they passed from her presumptive con-
troll. To these must be added the large
and rich Pacific possessions of Holland
! in Borneo, Sumatra, and Java; but of
greater significance is the rapid ad-
vance of Russia to the seaboard, now
checked by Japan, which power, in turn.
becomes an important factor with its
home island empire and it's possession
of Formosa. Nor should an estimate of
the situation and the alignment of the
nations fail to take into account the
completion of the great military high
ways from Halifax to Vancouver,
across the American continent, and
from st. Petersburg to vIadivostok, the
rapid peopling of British Columbia and
our north Pacific states and of Amur
and Manchuria districts, all of which,
to quote Honorable John r. Proctor,
''tend to change the front of the world
and to transfer to the Pacific the ma
tional activities which for centuries
past have rendered the Atlantic the
theater of stirring events"
While Russia has been coming over
land to this center of future activity.
created by the requirement of island
footholds by the other nations, the
United States has come over seas. In
two great strides, the first step rest
ing on Hawaii, the second on the
Philippines, we are in the very heart
of the situation and in a position to
take the dominion that manifest des-
tiny has evidently had in mind. Our
Pacific Coast development demands an
outlet. The annexation of Hawaii and
the extension of our coastwise restric-
tons thither: the requirement of the
Philippines after the Spanish war, the
results of our diplomacy in opening the
markets of the far east have created
a commerce which has stimulated our
carrying trade enormously, and. while
on the Atlantic our merchant marine
has become nonentity, on the Pacific
we have four regularly established lines
carrying our flag, our merchandise, and
our influence into the very center Of
the new markets. What may be call
ed the express trade, the trans-Pacjfic
transportation of passengers and fast
freight, is now largely in American
hands, as the tonnage of that charac-
ter under our flag exceeds that of Eng
land about three times, though British
tramp ships carry the bulk of the low
grade freights.
The effect upon our commerce of
these imperial westward steps has been
commensurate. During the year pre-
ceding the outbreak of the Spanish war,
our exports to the Philippines were less
than 100000, and our imports a little
the close of that war our exports had
increased to nearly s300O0000 and our
imports to nearly S35 zoo, 900, not in
Guiding the carrying of government
supplies. Similarly with the Hawaiian
Islands, in 1897 our exports were a
little more than 81 500,0 900 and our i'm
ports a little over $13 500. 900. Six years
saw our trade doubled, our exports hav-
ing reached nearly 81, 100000 and our
imports more than $4,000 900. On the
Pacific slope our commercial increase
owing to the extension of our influence
to the far east has been almost phe-
quite so in certain instances,
such as Tacoma, where the exports
have multiplied six times in seven
years, and during that period the activ-
tiles of the Puget Sound district have
increased from SIS 500. COO to over $50 500
600 annually. In the past decade our
exports to Europe have increased 81 per
cent; to South America, 80 per cent;
to North American countries, 100 per
cent: but to the orient 200 per cent.
NAVAL STRENGTH THE BASIS OF
COMMERCIAL SUPREMACY.
This country can not afford, there
fore.-even if so inclined-to neglect
the care of these great and growing
interests: nor is it expected that any
other of the nations that are aligned
in this race for commercial SUPP emacy /
will abate in the least their efforts to
capture and control the rich markets !
If the east. In the situation are all the
Elements of jealous rivalry that have
ed and probably always will lead, to
he final issue of a trial of strength. |
Captain A T. Mahan. in his widely .
cad Influence of Sea Power has
made it too clear to require further
argument that upon nations naval
power rests its commercial supremacy.
With at least six great powers con-
ronting each other on the Pacific. each
eaching out for the richest commercial
,rize vet offered to the world, it is
ather more than altruistic. to believe
hat the day will never come when
he dominance of this ocean and its
rade will not be settled by the force
f naval and military power. In such
N event the advantage lies with the
Inited States through the holding of
Hawaii, which may properly be called
~, Do oil