Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-14
Admiral Moore Talks to the Ad
Club on Opportunity for a
Great Port Here

(The following address was deliver,
ed on Tuesday, February 10, CT ~
nnjrsI c. 9. T. Moore before the Ho
| noI Liu Ad Ciup.N
In reading the history Of the world
lgince the 18th century it is plain that
no mere military occupation OF any
country has been productive of per
lmanent benefit to the country occupied
or to the country in control.
There must he besides military o.
lcupation an effective occupation either
| by actual settlers or by commercial
interests of paramount importance.
The history of Spain during the set
Element OF America was that Of a
marvellous growth of colonial empire
Ompanied by a weakening Of moral
fiber at home which finally resulted
in the loss of practically all Of her
possessions and her relegation to in
ferior positions in the councils OF Eu!
rope
The failure Of the French colonial
system in North America was plain
ly traceable to the fact that only mill
tary posts and fur-trading stations
were established in the valleys Of the
st. Lawrence and of the Mississippi.
The success Of Great Britain as "a
colonizer has been due to the fact
that she has sent out people to oc-
cupy the land and TO create commu-
mites. II was the very fact that the
British colonies were real communi-
ties that enabled Great Britain to ex-
pei France from the North American
continent about the middle Of the 18th
century.
Great Britain's dominion of India
rests, in my opinion, more upon the
feeling of the Indian people that their
interests are best served by the steady
and reliable commercial laws of Great
Britain than upon any military con-
troll. -"
The only value of strong armament
lies in their power to preserve peace
and secure the people Of a country
or a region OF sea from molestation
in the peaceful pursuit Of their lawful
enterprises
Though have spent more years in
the military naval service Of the Uni
ted States than many of this Ad Club
have lived. II has grown upon me as
the years have rolled on that no coun.
try can permanently live upon mill.
tary strength alone.
While military power is essential to
the safety Of a nation possessing great
wealth, to protect its interests, the ma
ton whose prestige depends solely on
military power has no place on earth.
A few years ago president Of the
United States declared that the great
events Of the Goth century were to
take place upon the Pacific ocean. He
also declared that the United States
is destined to dominate in the affairs
of the Pacific ocean. = ~
II is not belieyabIe that Mr.. Roose-
Iveit intended that such domination
should rest solely upon the number
and power Of our battleships, and the
strength Of the army we could move
into any foreign country when we
had gained control Of the sea. take
Il that such q control could not be
gained since all the other powers,
having interests on the Pacific ocean.
would be, found combining to defeat
such control
/ believe Mr.. Roosevelt had in mind
That the Panama canal, bringing. as
X will bring. our Atlantic coast so
near to the Pacific. we shall have the
advantage of position with regard to
the commerce Of the Pacific Ocean.
feel sure that We should secure the
preponderance of Pacific trade, but to
secure this preponderance we must
be able to compete for it.
In order to compete for this trade.
however. We must first get rid of our
exalted ideas of profit percentages.
and be ready for long struggle.
We shall enter into this peaceful
contest considerably handicapped.
Though We stand second in the