The Empire of the Pacific
Senator Watson C. Squire argues that Puget Sound is a defenseless frontier, vulnerable to the British naval presence at Esquimalt.
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Senator Watson C. Squire argues that our Pacific coast is an empire in itself, yet it remains naked and defenseless to our enemies. He notes that England is creating a 'Gibraltar' at Esquimalt, near Victoria, B.C., at the very gateway of Puget Sound. Maj. Gen. Nelson A. Miles testified that the British fleet could take possession of the Sound and destroy its commerce in twenty-four hours, as their daily signal guns can be heard from our own shores. Despite the rapid growth of Seattle and Tacoma, Washington’s thousands of miles of coastline remain without modern fortifications. The Senator warns that relying on the hope of peace is poor policy, and that the only way to avoid war is to demonstrate an unmistakable ability to defend ourselves against modern battleships.
“England is creating another Gibraltar at Esquimalt... in the very gateway of Puget sound.”
This 1892 geopolitical anxiety mirrors modern debates about national security priorities and the economic importance of maritime trade routes. The fear of being 'defenseless' resonates with contemporary concerns over regional infrastructure vulnerabilities.
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