OUR ISLAND PoL POLICY ircy according to statements made the purposes tor for which the war on spain Is made are the following cuba must be turned over to the united states until peace and a stable government are established there porto rico must be ceded to the united states this country must retain a naval base and a port in the philippines and also in the ladrone and caroline islands peace it is asserted will not be concluded until spain is willing to accept these conditions and it is also intimated that unless spain gives in within a reasonably brief time the demands upon spain may be made to cover considerably more ground the purpose of the government then Is to establish a chain of naval stations across the pacific from california to the china sea St artine from san francisco the chain is laid over the hawaiian islands situated about one third of the distance between san francisco and manila then the la drones are reached about half way between honolulu and the capital of the philippines A little to the south of the La drones the Caroll carolines nes are reached it is a magnificent plan that contemplates the building as it were of an american bridge across the pacific a highway which will secure for this country a large share of some of the most important trade of the world it is a grave question though whether a naval base in each of the island groups would be sufficient for the purpose in the philippines there are about 2000 islands and in the Caroll carolines nes about the ladrone group comprises about 15 16 islands the united states it is feared if owning only one island in each group might be compelled to defend her possessions against jealous neighbors and thus be put to continual expense it if the gov has decided on a colonial policy icy it would seem to be necessary to take in the whole odthe of the island groups mentioned they would be of no value to spain but their occupation by the united states would prevent other powers from causing trouble in the future the question as to hawaii is to be decided first and it cannot be forgotten that the government of the little republic has already placed it in open enmity to spain by allowing our vessels to coal at honolulu while on a hostile expedition to the philippines unless annexation is effected before the close of this war spain is in a position to demand a heavy indemnity from hawaii and to destroy her commerce and ports unless the indemnity is paid hawaii needs the protection of the united states and this country would not be justified in refusing to extend that protection after having accepted the hospitality offered at a time when such acts of courtesy possibly might have had disastrous effects to the ha wa lians the question of the sandwick ct islands settled the time Is opportune for a thorough consideration of the spanish island possessions