Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-07-26
AMERICAN POWER IN THE pa.
cIElc

ideas are changing regarding the
Japanese" is an expression not at all
uncommon in American mainland off,
ial and private circles.
This does not include the high Off
cials because they do not talk, but II
may include some Of the army and navy
and certainly takes in a good number
who had haloed the Japanese and for.
gotten the friendly acts Of Russia.
There is the selfish side that every
nation has to consider. II is the most
natural thing in the world for the Jap
anese, having gained strength, to be-
gin to look about them. AS fate would
have It, the most attractive plumbs for
them are in the hands Of the United
States. We have always to remember
that national friendships don't last
forever when selfish national interest
or national power point gain through
lack Of friendship.
The vast Importance to our country
Of the recent naval operations in the
Pacific is very well put in a recent
issue of the Scientific American. As.
sociate Justice Brewer said not long
ago in a public address that he did
not agree with Roosevelt's program for
a greater navy. He thinks larger
navy will lead us to NEEDLE in other
than our own business. He would sell
the Philippines to Japan or even give
them away TO get rid Of them.
| 1t Is not likely that Justice Brewers
policy will prevail. Such has not been
the trend Of our national affairs at any
stage OF its career. We shall have to
build the navy II we are to hold the
I Philippines and we can only hold the
Philippines by having the navy. The
remarks of the Scientific American.
very much to the point, follow:
! There are two sea fights of modern
history that have served to thrust tn,
United States, in spite of its tradi-
tlonal and constitutional desire TO stay
within its own borders and on its own
seaboard, right into the very cent r
81 that struggle for commercial and
political control of the far East which
promises to furnish the greatest drama
of the kind In the history of the world.
OF these decisive battles, the first oc-
CURED on the first of May. 1888, when
Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish
fleet at Manila; the second, on August
10. 1904. when Admiral Togo drove the
Russian feet back into Port Arthur
and. as the event has shown. destroyed
Russias last hope Of maintaining hel
naval supremacy in the far East.
'As the ultimate result Of the battle
Of Manila. the United States finds It,
outposts advanced some five thousan,
miles to the westward. and establish
ed in a scattered group Of islands
which in the event OF hostilities woult
become the inevitable point OF attacl
by any hostile naval power.
From the year 1898 to the begin
ming Of 1904 the problem OF the de-
tense Of its far Eastern possessions
was no greater for the United Statei
than for any Of the European powers
that possessed interests In the Pacifi,
Ocean; In fact, the distance Of thu
Philippines from the United States II
considerably less than the distance o.
Indo-China, Kiao-Chow. or Hong Kont
from France. Germany or England; ant
during that period the Japanese navy
was not looked upon as sufficiently
formidable competitor to exercise Q
controlling effect upon our naval policJ
In the Pacific.