The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-08
ADMIRAL DEwEY's VIEWS.

Following are the Washington
Stars editorial comments on its
Dewey interview:
I There are various and sufficient rea-
sons why the United States should
not even contemplate the sale or other
disposal of the Philippine Islands, Just
now proposed in certain quarters as a
way out of our alleged difficulties in
that quarter. Our moral Responsible
~ may be advanced. Our political
embarrassment in sending the other
party to such traffic may be indi-
Gated. Our national pride in the ac-
complishment of a task, however diff
/ ficult, may be cited. But. to meet
| the argument chiefly offered by those
! who advocate this transfer of SOW
ereignty, it sutf1ces to point to the
immense material advantages enjoyed
| by the United States in it's possession
of the Philippines.
The whole country acknowledges the
right of Admiral Dewey to speak with.
authority on the subject of the stra--
tegic value of the archipelago. He dem
onstrated that point with sufficient
clearness on the 1st of May, 1898, when,
a portless wanderer in Asiatic waters,
he sailed into Manila bay, the enemy's
very stronghold, and secured for him
self one of the best possible harbors
in all the eastern world, In today's
issue of The Star Adrniral Dewey re-
views, in the course of an interview,
the benefits derived by the trade and
naval interests of the United States
in the possession of the Philippines.
His words go straight to the heart of
the present discussion.
Admiral Dewey declares that Spain
held the commerce of the Orient for
two centuries because of her doninat-
ing strategic position in the Far East
ern waters. That she allowed her
grasp to weaken, through misgovern-
ment at home and in her colonies, is
not the point of the present discus, |
sion. Matters are now differently adj
justed, but with the same end that |
whoever holds the Philippines holds /
the key to the situation in that quar- |
ter of the world. The United States /
is envied by all the powers because /
of this possession. Germany, England
France or Japan would be eager to
Offer rich compensations for our with
drawal in the favor of any of them.
Japan especially. as the admiral
points out. would. by the acquisition
of the Philippines, secure an impreg-
rtable line of trade and military de-
tense stretching from the Boring Sea
to the equator, covering fifty degrees
Of latitude Such a cession, with
Japan as beneficiary, would place that
power in full control of the naval sit
nation in the western Pacific.
questions in terms of foreign trade,
which in turn must be measured in
erms OF possible warfare. It does not
signify that the United States is like
v to become involved in conflict. to 1
discuss the strategic strength with
which it is endowed by virtue of its
overeignty over the Philippines. Its
'ery strength in that respect is an in
urance against war. With Hawaii
nd the Philippines under the Ameri
an flag the United States is Infinitely !
more immune from the menace of at
ack upon it's trade or prestige thanlH
heugh it lacked a base in Asiatieetz
yaters. There can be no doubt of that :
act It is recognized today as an
xiom by all strategists.
The proposition to sell the islands
unthinkable, as a practical matter.
t may be advanced in a spirit of bum
ombe and argued as an academic di-
ersion But it will never appeal to
ne good sense, the patriotism, the en-
ghtened selfishness of the people.