The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-07-04


our Philippine possessions with longing
The slight ripple of excitement re.
Gently caused by an expression OF
opinion that Japan was looking upon
eyes thereby threatening to involve
us in war in the near future with
the new power of the east--has hap
PLY passed away. 1t has left behind
II surface of sufficient smoothness
for reflection, and in that we may see
n new argument for the necessity of
so strengthening our hold upon the
Pacific Ocean that We shall not be
found unprepared, when the increasing
A1enness of the rivalry for the trade
of the orient precipitates conflict for
the mastery of n situation to which
we hold the key.
AS world-events go, the steps in the
development of the Pacific Ocean, and
of trade with the far east, have fol-
lowed each other with marvellous ra-
pidity. The markets of the orient mean
a trade with 500,000,000 people, and
no commercial nation intends to be a
laggard in the race to secure this rich
prize. The chapter in our commercial
history that tells of our disastrous de-
feat in the effort to secure an influence
on the Atlantic is one from which we
turn in the belief that the new one
that is to be written regarding the
Pacific will reach n conclusion more
satisfactory to every patriotic feeling.
On the Atlantic our influence has al
most reached the vanishing point.
England and Germany have pushed
their advantages until today that ocean
is gridironed by the wakes of the
steamships of our rivals, carrying
ninetytwo per cent of our commerce,
while there is not single regular
line of American owned ships engaged
in. that traffic.
But the present situation on the Pa
cifc is full of portent. The trading
nations may be said to be deploying
for position. Already in the arena
may be seen England, with her Cana
dian and Asiatic possessions, Australia
New. Zealand, the Eiji Islands, and her
protectorate over tie Gilbert Islands,
and her interest in Hongkong and
Singapore; France appears with the
extension of her dominion in 1ndo-
China, Siam, and Madagascar, MS well
as in New Caledonia aud the Society
Islands by the taking of the Marque-
Germany, by her requirement of a
controlling interest in Kiaochau and
its 20,000,000 people, has footing
here as well as at Shantung, and, her
appetite whetted for more power, has
added the Bismarck and Marshall Ar
chipelagos, part of the Solomon Islands
German New Guinea, the Caroline and
Pelew Islands, the great Marshall group
lAAt
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 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 its 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 ant
from st. Petersburg to Vladivostok, the
rapid peopling of British Columbia and
our north Pacific states and of Amui
and Manchuria districts, all OF which
to quote Honorable John r. Proctor
tend to change the front of the worlC
and to transfer to the Pacific the ma
tional activities which for centure
past have rendered the Atlantic tn
theater of stirring events"
While Russia has been coming over.
land to this center of future activity
created by the requirement of islanC
footholds by the other nations, tn,
two great strides, the first step rest
ing on Hawaii, the second on tn,
Philippines, we are in the very hear
of the situation and in a position Il
take the dominion that manifest des
tiny has evidently had in mind, Ou
Pacific Coast development demands al
outlet. The annexation of Hawaii an,
the extension of our coastwise restric
tions thither: the requirement of tn
Philippines after the Spanish war, tn
results OF our diplomacy in opening tn
markets of the far east have creates
a commerce which has stimulated ou
carrying trade enormously, and Will
on the Atlantic our merchant marin
has become nonentity, on the Pacifi
we have four regularly established line
carrying our flag. our merchandise, an
our influence into the very center c
the new markets. What NAV he oaIl
ed the express trade. the trans-Pacifl
transportation of passengers and fas
freight, is now largely in America
hands. as the tonnage of that charac
tor under our flag exceeds that Of E,ne
y iand about three times. though Births