The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-09-07

From the Pnlluuelpnld North American.
Uncle Sam is awaking to a recogui-
ton Of the fact that in the Hawaiian
Islands he holds the key to the Paci-
fic.
As "a key is useless without lock
so is a naval or military base value
less without adequate Notifications.
The islands do not possess these, but
the United States government is set
ting about to provide them.
Even the casual observer of the trend
of events can foresee that the Pacific
ocean is destined to be the theater OF
the worlds coming struggle for COM
mercial and military supremacy. Eng
land. Germany France, Russia, Jap
an and the United States are accumu-
lating interest there that the resources
of an empire may be called upon to
defend
America has made gigantic strides of
late in assuming a commanding posi-
ton upon the Western ocean. She can
maintain that position only by pre-
! senting a stronger front than any of
her competitors.
Within few weeks two items of
significant interest have appeared in
| the newspapers.
One was a dispatch from Honolulu
telling of preliminary legal steps taken
! by United States authorities for the
acquisition of land on Waikiki beach
| for fertilization purposes.
The papers in the case state that
"the rapid development of commerce
on the Pacific ocean, and need for the
protection of commerce, as well as of
Honolulu" is the cause for the con-
J demnation proceedings,
In the not distant future, he declared,
| questions would arise in the Pacific
affecting the policy of the United
States, Japan and England
The real question raised by the out
come of the Russo-Japanese war, he
| declared, was not one of indemnity or
territoriay occupation, but "Who is to
rule the Pacific?"
He quoted President Roosevelt as
having asserted that the United States
intended to rule there, and pointed to
the large naval expenditures planned
by the United States, planned" he
declared, Ito make the American navy
equal to the task set for it by the
president"
There may come a time, and pro-
badly will" the British statesman con-
tinued, when England's interests will
cease to be identical with those of the
two powers-Japan and the United
States-whose naval bases are in the
Pacific.
mo enc believes that the Anglo
japanese alliance will last forever, and
Great Britain must prepare for the day
when she will be called upon to de-
fend her interests in the Pacific.
Why is the Pacific destined to be the
theater of the coming world struggle
for supremacy? one may ask.
Simply because the Atlantic and its
environments have practically been pre-
empted
Upon the Atlantic, America has been
defeated in the commercial race. The
carrying trade of this ocean is almost
completely in the hands of Europe
With this advantage upon which to
start, England, Germany and other
powers accss the sea are establishing
commercial supremacy in every cline
Trade is the life-b blood of any nation
Without it, national existence becomes
moribund Coming wars will be fol-
the preservation and extension OF
commercial opportunities.
Possibilities of the future lie in the
Pacific and the Orient.
Far Western Canada is becoming pop
ulous and important. England's Asia.
tic interests in Hongkong and Singa-
pore are expanding; Australia, New
Zealand and the Fiji Islands are ex'
tending their trade relations with the
remainder of the world.
France has an increasing interest II
the far East-ln Madagascar, siam
Indo-China and New Caledonia-anC
yet France is not satisfied. Her man
ufacturing interests at home are con
stantly demanding new fields for out
let.
Germany, perhaps, will become one o.
the most aggressive aspirants fol
Oriental trade and for a commanding
= position upon the Pacific.
She has already acquired the Bis
marck and Marshall archipelagos, Ger
man New Guinea, the Caroline islands
and other territory 1t was a grea
disappointment, to her that the Phi
lippines slipped from her itching grasp
Hollands rich possessions in SJHna
ira, Java and Borneo may not always
be hers, but may be wrested from he
y. by a stronger power.
No one imagines that Russia's tenn
: porary setback will diminish her appe
title for Oriental control, nor that ia
an will long be content in the mastery
Of her comparatively limited territory
: All this new alignment of nations