The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-05-18
NAVY LEAGUE
CONTINUED from Page nine,)


to believe that another encounter
might bring one about-and from what
is known of Japanese temperament, one
or two serious disasters would dis
courage her entire forces. On the other
hand, success by Russian forces would
inspire a desire for revenge on Eer
part and an unmerciful delight in a
complete triumph. Americas peril
from Japan, so brilliantly depicted by
Mr.. Hobson, is not so serious rs he
llain's it though the possibilities he
points out must not be ignored. If
she remains at Jetce with the world,
Japan will be the mistress of the Pa
cific, for no nation but China will be
likely to complete with her and her
ships will be soon found at every port.
American Shipping Failure.
The United States began the eigh-
teenth century with a population of
5,3OS,OOO and now has 100000, ex-
elusive of the island possessions. 1t
is not necessary to call attention to
our advance in science, art, and litera-
ture, in trade and manufactures, or in
the growth and development of great
cities and states. In merchant shipping
we have made a sad failure. If we are
again to play part on the ocean, that
industry has to be born again and re-
ceive substantial aid during the period
of its new infancy. We once had a
most important place in the carrying
trade; but we abandoned it so dis
gracefully that we could not send our
fleet around the world in time of peace
without the use of foreign ships to
carry the coal. In 1850 there was $780,
100000 of American capital invested
in the whaling industry alone.
The American wooden vessel was
the queen of the seas from 1900 until
the introduction of steam. Previous
to 1870 the only German shipbuilding
was in the yards where American
models were initiated; but in that year
the Germans resolved to build ocean
steamers. Twenty-Five years later, her
ocean liners, German designed, built,
manned, and differed, were the finest
and fastest ships afioat, and it re-
quired extraordinary effort for the
English to regain the lead.
While we have been trying to pro-
tect American labor, we have been
killing off a most important industry.
The labor which constitutes from so
to rs per cent of the cost of ship
receives nearly twice as much here as
abroad. Besides practically prohibit
ing shipbuilding here, We have pro-
tective law that forbids the purchase
of the cheaper made foreign vessel to
be operated under our own flag. The
cost of operation of an American YES
sci with an American crew is about
double that of a vessel under the Brit
ish flag.
united StateS Vulnerable.
We of the United States count much
upon our peaceful disposition and free
dom from complications with other ma
lions. We take enormous risks in the
confidence that no nation desires to
quarrel with us, and that, if war should
be forced upon us, We could ultimately
save our own. But a nation we'll pre-
pared may strike without the courtesy
of a declaration, and we are the most
vulnerable of all nations of the earth.
We expose more property within gun
shot of the sea than all the other ra-
tons combined, and we have colonial
possessions thousands of miles from
home.
Napoleon said, apropos of the ces-
sion of Louisiana to the United States,
mo colonies are possible without a
navy" And so long as other nations
possess naval ornaments, the United
needs must hold her own with the
world. Naval armament is national
Insurance, and we carry the least in
surance of any first class power. Our
naval budget seems large, but it is
only a trifle compared with the prop
erty at stake. Great Britain, with
sixty billions, invests two per cent in
naval insurance. France, with valu-
alton of fifty billions, invests one and
three-tenths per cent. We with our
greater exposure and a hundred bill
lions at stake, believe Ourselves mo g
than protected with an annual expen-
diture of one-tenth of one per cent in
naval insurance Many who now most
decry the present expenditure would
call for ships at their door upon the
! first alarm of war.
| Graaf EtrftIra oF 4La baaia.