I call particular attention to the Territory of Hawaii. The importance
of those islands is apparent, and the need of improving their condition
and developing their resources is urgent. In recent years industrial
conditions upon the islands have radically changed, The importation of
coolie labor has practically ceased, and there is now developing such a
diversity in agricultural products as to make possible a change in the
land conditions of the Territory, so that an opportunity may be given
to the small land owner similar to that on the mainland. To aid these
changes, the National Government must provide the necessary harbor
improvements on each island, so that the agricultural products can be
carried to the markets of the world. The coastwise shipping laws should
be amended to meet the special needs of the islands, and the alien
contract labor law should be so modified in its application to Hawaii
as to enable American and European labor to be brought thither.
We have begun to improve Pearl Harbor for a naval base and to provide
the necessary military fortifications for the protection of the
islands, but I can not too strongly emphasize the need of
appropriations for these purposes of such an amount as will within the
shortest possible time make those islands practically impregnable. It
is useless to develop the industrial conditions of the islands and
establish there bases of supply for our naval and merchant fleets
unless we insure, as far as human ingenuity can, their safety from
foreign seizure.
One thing to be remembered with all our fortifications is that it is
almost useless to make them impregnable from the sea if they are left
open to land attack. This is true even of our own coast, but it is
doubly true of our insular possessions. In Hawaii, for instance, it is
worse than useless to establish a naval station unless we establish it
behind fortifications so strong that no landing force can take them
save by regular and long-continued siege operations.