AMERICAN EXPANSION.

Auckland Star, Issue 66, 19 March 1900, Page 4

AMERICAN EXPANSION.

The expansion policy of the United States marks a fresh epoch in universal history. Hitherto, other countries have regarded the great Bepublic as an object lesson of triumphs to be emu- i lated or failures to be avoided; while j it- has considered itself to be proudly; apart from international machinations and strife, unique in that as in all other respects. But, still announcing "America lor Americans," it has now come amid the nations, to be as they are, yet to take no second place. The probable early completion of a canal across the isthmus —which is to.be under the sole jurisdiction of the United States—gives tremendous significance to the new policy. In the North Pacific the young- world-power is gaining a dominance which preludes very complex developments. For good or evil, America is in the Philippines, and cannot leave those islands if she would. In the South Pacific she is negotiating with Ecuador for the pur-: chase of Chatham Island, one of the Galapagos group. Besides many islets there are fifteen islands in this little equatorial archipelago, Chatham being the fifth in point of size. They are fertile and healthful, with a wonderfully pleasant climate, owing to the peculiarly low temperature of the surrounding waters. . They still possess a few representatives of the huge black turtles —gaiapagos —sometimes weighing- more than seven hundred pounds, which the 16th century Spaniards observed in astonishing numbers; but millions of the toothsome monsters have been taken by whalers and other visitors, and it is'believed they must soon become extinct. Chatham is being acquired by the United States as a coaling station for warships. In the near future, however, its mercantile and strategical importance will be enormously enhanced, and our cousins may be complimented on their foresight in securing- a position so necessary 1o their interests, and, let us hope, to those of civilization in general. The States of South America, which, so far, have chiefly expended themselves in chronic revolutions and intermittent conflicts with each other, will be powerfully affected by the new influence. Our own relation-, ships will be indefinitely extended; but the various members of the Eng-lish-speaking family can well afford to welcome each other in the friendly rivalry of industrial achievement. Their bonds of language and of kinship are the best augury which our strenuous times afford for the welfare of the whole world. As a town, Auckland is specially interested in American developments, its harbour and its geographical position alike indicating for it a future Bt trans-Pacific importance.