HENRY C. TAYLOR. 179 
water constantly tending to cleanse the ships’ bottoms, 
its lofty islands offering such sanitary opportunities 
that no tropical sickness need ever prevail, this great 
lake, with anchorage for the world’s fleets, seems to 
thrust itself upon the attention of intelligent engineers 
as the only solution of the transit problem; while to the 
naval officer, who sees in the near future the necessity 
for the United States to control with its fleets the coasts 
and the great archipelago to the south of us, this capac- 
ious interior basin offers itself as harbor, depot, strategic 
base, making such control possible and simple. 
It seems idle to argue as to whether it be wise or ex- 
pedient to obtain this domination. Whether right or 
not, great nations always do control affairs of the feeble 
and unprotected in their vicinity. Whether we seek it 
or not, this domination will be forced upon us in the 
south throughout those regions and seas which lie 
near us. 
Nature has defined the limits of such areas as should, 
from duty and policy, be of special interest to us. The 
Caribbean sea, gulf of Mexico, West India islands, the 
shores, east and west, of Mexico and Central America, 
and the Spanish main,—these must be cared for by fleets 
in peace, and fought for by fleets in war. Beyond this 
our influence and interest, physically and geographically 
speaking, need not extend. Except its north shore’ 
South America is quite removed from us and our inter- 
est. Pernambuco and Rio de Janeiro are nearer to 
Spain and Portugal than to New York and Pennsyl- 
vania in actual distance, as well as in language and sen- 
timent. We need not dwell upon this question. A 
careful inspection of the map of the western hemisphere 
forces the conclusion upon us that a nation occupying 
the present position of the United States must, if it lay 
claims to greatness, be dominant in the Caribbean, the 
gulf of Mexico, and the neighboring islands and shores. 
63 
