The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-02
GUAYAQUIL NEEDS
CLEANING UP

printed in the English language in
Lima, calls upon the United States to
interfere in behalf Of international
safety, and clean up Guayaquil, wheth.
er the disorganized government of
Ecuador wishes it OF not 1t was in
connection with the recent revolution
in Ecuador that the cruiser Maryland
was sent from here.
In light of the increasing amount
Of commerce from South American
ports to Hawaii, the menace to which
the Peru Today refers has peculiar
interest here. The article follows:
A Pest Hole.
How long is an International Pub
lie and Big Business, when rules the
world at the last analysis, going to
bear the danger and annoyance of the
Guayaquil pest hole?
Have the people on this Coast, and
those travelling, no rights at all? What
does Uncle Sam think of the constant
menace to the Canal of such fever
breeding place and the sacrifice of his
good men in the Navy and Marine
Hospital Service?
These are pertinent and direct
questions caused by the recent death
OF Commander Bertolette and sailors
Of the Yorktown and which surge
in indignant protest at the regrettable
loss of a brave and capable American
officer and his loyal sailors whose nves
are sacrificed because Guayaquil is al.
lowed to be what it is.
"As in all good causes there must
be a sacrifice, let us hope that these
unnecessary deaths may arouse Wash
ington to a realization that action
must be taken for the protection OF
the Canal, if for no other reason, and
doubtless the matter is having the
serious consideration it deserves
What we want is action, such action
as President Roosevelt thought JUST.
fed when he determined to build the
Canal.
The Gordian knot must be cut
whether the niceties of mJernGtiona
law are kept or not and the whole
world will applaud any initiative that
will make Ecuador clean it's front door
This may be done without affecting
their sovereignty, which means only
borrowing it for the time being, to
their great advantage ana to that OF
the world.
"One of the reasons Of the interior.
ence by the United States in Cuba
was the recurrent ep.demics of vel
low fever in the southern States and
the urgent need of destroying the
source of that scourge, which lay in
Havana.
with this disease, as well as bu'
bonic plague and smallpox within a
few hundred miles Of American ter
ritory through which a great water
way has been built at tremendous ex
pense, is it not evident that likewise
must this danger be removed as wei
as others in the immediate vicinity
of the Canal, or at least those nv
which there is considerable snlppIns
And the most ridiculous part o
this problem is that the entire Equa
dorian nation will be benefited the
moment q sanitary officer of the por
of Guayaquil may give it a clean bill
of health Tourists and businessmen
will no longer avoid that land but viii
be delighted to visit that most inter
esting country. This will lead to in
vestment and to the introduction o
that foreign capital which its natura
resources need for proper develop
ment.
Let the really courageous and far
sighted statesmen of Ecuador face the
cheap demagogues who oppose any
action on the part of the United States
not from conviction but as politica
/ weapon and begin a campaign of edu
cation to show the masses that pros
perity will follow upon the sanitation
of Guayaquil because the foreigners
will come with money and employ
ment for all.
Morally as Well.
1T is unfortunate that recent events
in Guayaquil have caused the civilized
world to realize that If Ecuador Is
physically i'll it is also morally so
The revolution of Montero, his trial
his assassination by a blood-thirsty
mob and the consequent mutilatior
and burning of his body are indicative
of disease.
THE brutal lynching of eX-president
General Eloy Alfaro. and two of hit
relatives, and Generals Paez and Ser
rano by the mob at Quito, which fol
(Coinued on page ten.)