Page:The Pacific Monthly volumes 1-3.djvu/56

 "Henceforth European commerce, European politics, European thought and European activity, although actually gaining force, and European connections, although actually becoming more intimate, will nevertheless relatively sink in importance; while the Pacific ocean, its shores, its islands and the vast region beyond will become the chief theater of events in the world's great hereafter."

When Mr. Seward made that remarkable prophecy the Pacific coast was practically an unknown land. The railroad and telegraph had not yet pushed west of the Mississippi, and this coast had no regular commerce with the Orient. China had opened only a few ports to the world, and Japan was a place surrounded by mystery. In the light of today, and especially of recent events, Seward's prophecy is most extraordinary. A writer in The Watchman shows how completely it is being fulfilled. He says: "In the ten years ending in 1894, while the ships of the Atlantic and Gulf states decreased 710 in number and 135,000 in tonnage, those of the Pacific coast increased 499 in number and 121,690 in tonnage. Australia is the commercial wonder of the nineteenth century. Japan has advanced to a first rank among nations. The resouces of China are to be opened to Western civilization. Siberia is to become a thoroughfare of the world's commerce, and the czar is to be as strong in the North Pacific as in the Baltic. The interests of America and of Europe, as well as of Asia, are today largely on the shores of the Pacific."

With Seward's remarkable insight into the affairs of the world, if he could stand here at the threshold of the twentieth century, how much more brilliant a future he might predict for us now.

The importance of a nearer waterway for the United States from ocean to ocean than around Cape Horn has been clearly demonstrated by the Oregon's long race against time from San Francisco to Cuba. It is conceded now by even the most conservative that a canal across the isth- mus would be a great convenience in time of war, but it is also plainly apparent to the ordinary observer that it would be not only a convenience in time of peace

but that it has become a necessity. Com- mercial interests demand its early, its immediate construction. Not to the Pa- cific coast alone will the benefits incident to its completion accrue. The Atlantic seaboard will gain nearly if not quite as much as the Occident, and since the cities of the East are beginning to awaken to a knowledge of this important fact there is reason to hope for speedy action in the case.

Extracts from the World's interview with Joseph Chamberlain:

"What about the Philippines, Mr. Chamberlain?" was asked.

"Your country is growing," he replied; "you can't resist its development. For a hundred years you have followed Wash- ington's advice. I do not think you can find another instance in history where one man's word has been so followed. It has been treated as an inspired utterance. But conditions have vastly changed. It is not supposable that Washington would have maintained the same attitude if conditions had essentially altered, as they must have altered in a hundred years.

"You see," he went on, smiling, "there were two assumptions, or rather the first was a fact; first your resources, tremendous resources, and secondly your tenacity, for it was believed you were as tenacious as your forefathers.

"All Europe understood the situation. The wars of independence, of the conquest of Mexico, of 1860-65, had made your national characteristics plain. Your inroads into the markets of the world had shown your energy and adaptability. Your exports of breadstuffs, etc., had shown your fertility. Slow to wrath, when once the Cuban situation reached an acute stage the end was only a question of time.

"It was for Spain to quarrel with Destiny. Anglo-Saxon blood would tell; race characteristics must be reckoned with. Determination, tenacity, boldness, brought but one result — ultimate triumph. Left alone, the duel was unequal. All saw that.

"If the inside history of this war could only be written!" said Mr. Chamberlain, then paused, threw back his head, and smiled.