The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-12-16

/ lions. Out an advantage III WHICH tue
nation also is largely interested, Is
that it would greatly assist IN the fur
| Their characterization of those islands.
It would be an impressive object les
son of the power and benefcence of
the United States to the peculiarly
| cosmopolitan population of those is
| lands-promotive of respect and order
among those who retain their alien
| citizenship. and confidence and pride
among those who become American
| citizens by birth or naturalization. It
would mean an increase of perhaps ff-
| ty per cent to the American-born popu-
| lation-not merely by reason of the
military and naval officers and men and
| their families who would be stationed
| there, but also by reason of the large
/ numbers of mechanics and other civ
| ilians who would be required in the
| shops connected with the drydocks and
| in other ways. not to mention the bring
| ing of tourists and, incidentally, set
| tiers. The Importance of increasing
| the American population and preserv-
| ing its predominating influence in that
| outpost where there are so many ORR
entails can scarcely be overestimated.
| The commercial needs of Hawaii alane
would Justify the opening of PEARL
Harbor, although that is only a small
part of the justification for that work.
The main consideration, whether from
a naval or a commercial standpoint, is
that of the nations welfare, not that
| of Hawaii's.
VIEWS ARE NATIONAL.
Nor are these views my own alone.
| That have been the views of the civil,
military and naval officers of the ma
tional government, officially expressed,
and of Congress itself, regardless of
party for sixty-fve years. Let me
quote brief extracts from only a few
of them.
First. from a civil officer at the be-
ginning of that period. In 1843, when
in possession for five months, the Sec
rotary of State, Mr.. H. S. Legare,
wrote:
cit is well known that we
have no wish to plant or to acquire
colonies abroad. Yet there is some
thing so entirely peculiar in the rela-
tions between this little commonwealth
Hawaii and ourselves that we might
even feel justified, consistently with
our own principles, in interfering by
force to prevent its falling into the
hands of one of the great powers of
Europe. These relations spring out of
the local situation, the history, and
the character and institutions of the
Hawaiian Islands as well as out of the
declaration formally made by the gov
eminent during the course of the last
session of Congress, to which IL beg
leave to call your particular attention.
elf the attempts now making by
ourselves, as well as other Christian
powers, to open the markets of China
to more general commerce be success
full, there can be no doubt but that a
great part of that commerce will find
its way over the isthmus. In that
event it will be impossible to over
rate the Importance tof the Hawaiian
group as a stage in the long journey
between Asia and America. But with |
out anticipating events which, however,
seem inevitable, and even approaching,
the actual demands of an immense
navigation make The free use of these |
roadsteads and ports Indispensable to
us. 1t seems doubtful wbeth- !
er even the undisputed possession of
the Oregon territory and the use of
the Columbia river, or indeed anything
short of the acquisition of California
(if that were possible) would be suffi-
cient indemnity to us for the loss of
these harbors. -
Next, from a military officer about
the middle of that period. In 1872,
General Schofield, under orders from
the Secretary of War to investigate
the defensive capabilities of Honolulu,
reported:
eve ascertained from the officers
of the United States Navy, from maps
and from seafaring men that Honolulu
is the only good commercial harbor
in the whole group of the Sandwich
Islands
can enemy could take up his posi-
tion outside of the entrance to the har-
Dor and command the entire anchorage,
as well as the town of Honolulu it
self. This harbor would, therefore,
be of no use to US as a harbor of
refuge in war with powerful mari
time nation
"With one exception there is no
harbor on the islands that can be made
to satisfy all the conditions necessary
for a harbor of refuge in time of war.
This is the harbor of Eva, or Pearl
River
''If the coral barrier were removed,
Pearl River Harbor would seem to
have all, or nearly all, the necessary
properties to enable it to be convert
ed into good harbor of refuge 1t
could be completely defended by in
expensive batteries on either or both
shores, firing across a narrow channel
of entrance. It's waters are deep enough
for the largest vessel of war, and its
lochs, particularly around Rabbit Is
land. are spacious enough for a large
number of vessels to ride at anchor in
perfect security against all storms. It's
shores are suitable for building proper
establishments for sheltering the neces-
sary supplies for a naval establishment,
such as magazines of ammunition, pro-
visions, coal, spars, rigging, ETC., while
| the Island of Oahu, upon which it is
| situated could furnish fresh provisions,
meats. fruits and vegetables in large
quantities.
1 - - H. 10 h