Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-08

sources better known to us, and In
acauainting them not only with us as
n people and with our purposes to.
wards them. but with what We have
to exchange for their goods. II Is an
international Institution supported by
all the governments OF the two Amcri'
cas-.
PANAMA CANAL.
The work on the Panama Canal IL
being done with speed, efficiency
and entire devotion to duty, which
make 1t model for all work OF the
kind. No task of such magnitude
has ever before been undertaken By
any nation; and no task of the kind
has ever been better performed. The
men on the Isthmus. from Colonel
Goethals and his fellow commission
ers through the entire list of en-
ployees who are faithfully doing their
duty, have won their right to tho
ungrudging respect and gratitude OF
the American people.
OCEAN MAIL LINES.
again recommend the extension
of the ocean mail act of 1891 so that
satisfactory American ocean mail
lines to South America. Asia, the
Philippines, and Australasia may be
Established. The creation of such
steamship lines should be the natural
corollary of the voyage of the battle
fleet. II should preCede the opening
of the Panama Canal. Even under
favorable conditions several years
must elapse before such lines can be
put into operation. Accordingly I
urge that the Congress act promptly
where foresight already shows that
action sooner or later will be in
evitable.
HAWAII.
| call particular attention to the
Territory of Hawaii. The import
ance of those islands is apparent. and
the need of improving their condi-
ton and developing their resources
Is urgent. In recent years industrial
conditions upon the islands have rad
ically changed The importation OF
coolies labor has practically ceased.
and there Is now developing such q
diversity in agricultural products as
to make possible change in the
land conditions of the Territory. so
that an opportunity may be given
to the small land owner similar 20
that on the mainland. To aid these
changes, the National Government
must provide the necessary harbor
improvements on each island. so that
the agricultural products can he car
ried to the markets of the world.
The coastwise shipping laws should
be amended to meet the special needs
of the islands. and the alien con-
tract labor law should be so modi-
fed in its application to Hawaii as
to enable American and European la
Dor to be brought thither.
We have begun to improve Pearl
Harbor for a naval base and to pro-
vide the necessary military fortifica-
tions for the protection of the Is
lands. but | can not too strongly en-
phasize the need of approximations
/. for these purposes of such an amount
, as will within the shortest possible
, time make those islands practically
/ impregnable. II is useless To develop
the industrial conditions of the is
, lands and establish there bases of
supply for our naval and merchant
, fleets unless We insure. rs far rs
human ingenuity can, their safety
from foreign seizure.
INV tHinS W NC TeUleHlDeIeu Win
all our Notifications is that IL Is al
. most useless to make them impreg-
: nable from the sea II they are left
, open to land attack. This is true
, even of our own coast, but It is
doubly true of our insular possess
sions. In Hawaii, for instance, 1t is
worse than useless to establish a
naval station unless We establish It
behind Notifications SO strong that
no landing force can take them save
by regular and long-continued siege
operations.
THE PHILIPPINES.
Real progress toward self-govern-
ment is being made in the Philip.
pine Islands. The gathering of a
Philippine legislative body and Phil
ippine assembly marks n process alb
solutely new in Asia, not only as re-
CARDS Asiatic colonies of European
powers but as regards Asiatic pos
sessions Of other Asiatic powers; and,
indeed, always excepting the strik-
ing and wonderful example afforded
by the great Empire of Japan, 1t
opens an entirely new departure