the arm of offensive power, which alone enables a country to extend its influence outward.  Thirdly, it should be an inviolable resolution of our national policy, that no foreign state should henceforth acquire a coaling position within three thousand miles of San Francisco,—­a distance which includes the Hawaiian and Galapagos islands and the coast of Central America.  For fuel is the life of modern naval war; it is the food of the ship; without it the modern monsters of the deep die of inanition.  Around it, therefore, cluster some of the most important considerations of naval strategy.  In the Caribbean and in the Atlantic we are confronted with many a foreign coal depot, bidding us stand to our arms, even as Carthage bade Rome; but let us not acquiesce in an addition to our dangers, a further diversion of our strength, by being forestalled in the North Pacific.

In conclusion, while Great Britain is undoubtedly the most formidable of our possible enemies, both by her great navy and by the strong positions she holds near our coasts, it must be added that a cordial understanding with that country is one of the first of our external interests.  Both nations doubtless, and properly, seek their own advantage; but both, also, are controlled by a sense of law and justice, drawn from the same sources, and deep-rooted in their instincts.  Whatever temporary aberration may occur, a return to mutual standards of right will certainly follow.  Formal alliance between the two is out of the question, but a cordial recognition of the similarity of character and ideas will give birth to sympathy, which in turn will facilitate a co-operation beneficial to both; for if sentimentality is weak, sentiment is strong.

[Illustration:  THE PACIFIC OCEAN]

HAWAII AND OUR FUTURE SEA POWER.

[The origin of the ensuing article was as follows:  At the time of the Revolution in Hawaii, at the beginning of 1893, the author addressed to the “New York Times” a letter, which appeared in the issue of January 31.  This, falling under the eye of the Editor of the “Forum,” suggested to him to ask an article upon the general military—­or naval—­value of the Hawaiian group.  The letter alluded to ran thus:—­

    To the Editor of the “New York Times":—­

There is one aspect of the recent revolution in Hawaii which seems to have been kept out of sight, and that is the relation of the islands, not merely to our own and to European countries, but to China.  How vitally important that may become in the future is evident from the great number of Chinese, relatively to the whole population, now settled in the islands.

It is a question for the whole civilized world and not for the United States only, whether the Sandwich Islands, with their geographical and military importance, unrivalled by that of any other position in the North Pacific, shall in the