Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-07-29
WHAT AMERICA NEEDS In
THE PACIFIC.

Richmond Pearson Hobson is eth
er prophet or fool in the esteem
of a great number Of people. His
tory will probably record that he is
no fool, and while his predictions are
not likely to come true, one reason
for it will be that he drew such a
dark picture of American future in
the Pacific as to create an ample sup
port for preventive measures.
At the Democratic National Con-
called lingo speeches and was all but
hooted from the stage. The conven-
tion refused to give him single
cheer. The assembled representa-
tives Of the Democracy were in no
mood to sanction u scsre-talk or give
offense to friendly nations by APP
pearing to believe what he said.
The newspapers throughout the
country, however, reported his words.
Some praised him. Others praised
the men who hooted him. He never
theless accomplished the end of stir
ring up the people to sense of their
duty to prepare for the maintenance
Of peace.
Hobson's average speech or maya
zine article Is usually shaped to make
the average Americans hair stand on
end. The reader feels like the
youngster deep in ghost story, and
begins to look over his shoulder be-
fore he is half way through.
Perhaps Hobson does draw exag-
gerated romances, but they are no
more far-fetched than the indiffer-
ence and supreme confidence of the
American people for the last ten
years.
One Of Hobson's latest articles is
In 1.-THE World Today" for July,
wherein he deals with the Defense
of Our Outlying Possessions" Here,
as in all his other articles, Hobson
shows that the weak point of Amer
lea is in the Pacific. He believes In
proceeding on the theory that our
country should be prepared to cope
with the strongest combination of
naval power possible to be thrown
into this ocean. In this he is right,
be the strong naval powers of the
present or future what they may. He
says:
I'VE control about seventeen bill.
lions Of the worlds banking capital,
nearly three times that Of Great Brit
ain and Japan combined. We could
maintain supremacy upon both
oceans and our people would not be
conscious of the burden. The cost
OF the Navy that would thus insure
our peace would not be the hun
dredth part of the cost of the war
that Is inevitable without 1t.
I'm moving out to this, our natur.
al and invincible position OF naval
supremacy, We should adopt a consec.
utive and conservative. but relent-
less program of naval expansion, car.
rying forward simultaneously all the
departments Of efficiency, ships, men
shipyards, naval bases, and coaline
stations. At the present juncturt
such a program would require the au
thorization at each session of Con
gress Of four new battleships ant
two new armored cruisers Of the larg
est size, auxiliary vessels, and al
other departments in proportion. w,
should not hesitate at the expense o.
these vessels, but should set the pact
with vessels four or Ave thousant
tons larger than any other in thu
world. The more expensive the pac,
becomes, the sooner the other Poweri
must drop to the rear and accede Il
us our rightful position of Leadership
In the race.
I'm laying the foundation for ma
val supremacy We must remember
that a merchant marine is necessar!
for supplying needed auxiliary yes
sells and the seafaring habit to mel
required for naval expansion in tim,
of war. The question of becoming
Independent of our competition an,
our probable enemies for the trans
portation of our great over-oceal
commerce is Of urgent Importance
and to this end We must revise GU
navigation laws. encourage oceal
shipping and, II necessary. hav
our Government own and operate
few over-ocean steamship lines fror
Atlantic. Gulf. and Pacific ports.
with view to aiding In the de
tense Of our insular possessions, W