HEGEMONY
Preface
“The mission of the United States is one of benevolent assimilation.”
William McKinley
Manifest Destiny – Hegemony is a work of fiction. In writing this book, I liberally used historical persons and created other fictional characters. Any acts of these characters, whether historical or fictional are of my imagination. Any resemblance to acts of persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1.Inauguration Day
Chapter 2.Cartagena
Chapter 3.Chimbote Bay
Chapter 4.Rio de Janerio
Chapter 5.The Admiral’s Lady
Chapter 6.Opposing Fleets
Chapter 7.Battle of Chimbote Bay
Chapter 8.Sea Battle
Chapter 9.Treaty of Berlin
Chapter 10.The New Canadian States
Chapter 11.Hawaii and Cross of Gold
Chapter 12.Philippines
Chapter 13.China in Crisis
Chapter 14.Election 1900
Chapter 15.Panama Canal
Chapter 16.Theodore Roosevelt
Chapter 17.Russo-Japanese War
Chapter 18.Dreadnought
Chapter 19.Election 1908
Chapter 20.The Big Stick
Chapter 21.Election 1912
Chapter 23.The Great War
Chapter 24.Naval Operations
Chapter 25.Battle of Dogger Bank
Chapter 26.Aftermath of Dogger Bank
Chapter 27.Nordic Union
Chapter 28.Unending War
Chapter 29.CEASEFIRE
Chapter 30.Treaty of Washington
Chapter 31.Return to Normalcy
Chapter 32.Mexican Civil War
Chapter 33.Russian Revolution
Chapter 34.Fall of Ottoman Empire
Chapter 35.Turkey and Greece
Chapter 36.Conservative Revival
Chapter 37.New World Order
Epilogue
Prologue
The Election of 1880.
James G Blaine, a representative from Maine, and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives won the Republican nomination on the first ballot. Senator John Sherman, from Ohio, won the nomination for Vice President, defeating James Garfield, also from Ohio. Sherman was considered a moderate, and not aligned with either the Stalwart or Half Breed sections of the party.
The Democrat Convention nominated Winfield Scott Hancock on the first ballot. His running mate Samuel J Randall also won the Vice Presidential nomination on the first ballot.
There was little difference between the Republicans and Democrats. Both had factions favoring high tariffs, and the Gold Standard. Republican voters usually included Northern Protestants and Blacks. The Democrats usually included Southern Protestants and Northern Catholics. Citizens in Ontario were predominately Protestant Republicans. Citizens in Quebec were predominately Catholic but were fiercely loyal to the Parti-Patriote. The Party-Patriot considered themselves to be Independents in Congress and depending on the issue sided with either the Republicans or the Democrats.
On November 2, the polls opened, and 78% of the voters cast ballots. The vote count gave the Blaine Ticket 4,956,501 votes. The Hancock Ticket received 4,560,410 votes. The Electoral College was more lopsided, providing Blaine with 233 Electoral Votes and Hancock 155. The Republicans also regained control of both Houses of Congress.
President-elect Blaine reflected on the events of the past 20 years. He was elected in 1861 to the United States House of Representatives, from the Maine third district. His skill in Congress was instrumental gathering support for Abraham Lincoln’s proposed Thirteenth Amendment, and he worked tirelessly to win a two-thirds majority for the Amendment in the House.
He was an ardent supporter of President Lincoln’s efforts to provide amnesty to Confederate leaders. These efforts assisted in the reunification of the nation following four years of Civil War. His parliamentary skills catapulted him to his election as Speaker of the House in 1868.
During the war with Great Britain in 1868 and 1869, he used his influence as Speaker to provide support for the war effort, which led to the defeat of Great Britain and the annexation of Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas.
He was present at the reviewing station seated next to Vice President Grant during the celebratory parades following the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment. He witnessed the grenade attack which assassinated President Lincoln. As Speaker of the House, he rode on the funeral train during it’s long journey to Springfield Illinois.
In 1874 Blaine was an ardent supporter of President Grant during the Spanish-American War. As Speaker of the House, Blaine guaranteed that monies were allocated to support the war effort. Following the Peace of Paris on May 1, 1874, the United States formally annexed Cuba and Puerto Rico.
He led the Half-breed faction of the Republican Party and opposed President Grant for the nomination in 1876. He won over forty percent of the delegates and extracted promises of reforms from the President before giving Grant his support.
Three days after the convention, Blaine was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy left by Senator Lott Morrell, who vacated the Post to be Secretary of the Treasury. Reconfirmed by the Maine State Senate, Blaine served as Senator until elected President in 1880.
When the new Congress convened on December 7, 1880, it faced a new decade with fresh challenges. Cuba and Puerto had elected non-voting representatives to Congress. Naval bases were under expansion at Samana Bay in Domenica and Pearl Harbor in the Kingdom of Hawaii. With strong naval forces on both coasts, a canal through Central America became a necessity. President-Elect Blaine favored future expansion. With Manifest Destiny realized on the North American Continent and the Caribbean, what would the new decade bring?
Chapter 1
On March 4, 1881, following President Blaine’s inauguration, several gala receptions were held. At one of the receptions receiving lines, Blaine met the Consul General to Liberia, John Smyth who asked for an appointment to discuss pressing Liberian issues. President Blaine agreed and requested his Chief of Staff, John Edwards to set up a meeting the following week.
At 2 pm on March 11, Consul General John Smyth arrived for his appointment with President Blaine. He met with John Edwards and Secretary of State James Garfield. Together the three of them entered the Oval Office. President Blaine’s schedule was full, so he quickly asked John Smyth what was so urgent in Liberia.
Recognizing the President’s mood, Smyth went directly to the point. “Mr. President, Liberia, over the past six years has actively extended its borders to the Niger River in the north, occupying the unclaimed territory between British-ruled Sierra Leone and French-ruled Ivory Coast. Originally, this was to accommodate increased immigration of United States blacks into Liberia. While that was the truth, another reason has surfaced. There are numerous diamond and mineral discoveries in that area. Liberia intends to exploit those resources by populating and annexing that territory. Their army has already established several forts in the area.
News like that is impossible to suppress for long, and a diamond rush is in the making. Liberian troops are patrolling their side of the borders on each side, and are turning back the French and British prospectors. Both the British and French chargé d'affaires have lodged protests at my office in Monrovia, and are threatening serious consequences if the current situation persists. I bought us some time by promising them I would meet with you.
Before leaving Liberia, I presented my diplomatic credentials to the new President Charles Taylor. If you remember, he was the overall commander of Liberian forces during the British incursion of “67.” I expressed the British and French concerns. He replied that Liberia has been populating the area for the
past six-years without protest and previously annexed much of the area before the discoveries. He indicated that Liberia could accommodate individual foreign miners, but would not tolerate foreign corporations exploiting the resources.
Secretary of State Garfield asked: “Can Liberia withstand the British and French pressure”?
Smyth replied: “Their army is undoubtedly the strongest native army on the continent. The commanding officer is Major General Obadiah Driver. He is a former Sergeant Major of the Massachusetts 54th regiment. He is also the one who led their ground forces at the Battle of Amina. He pulled off a double-envelopment of the British Army, forcing its surrender.
Their senior officers are professionals, seasoned in battle. Many of their junior officers are West Point graduates. President Grant opened the Academy enrollment to Liberians in “72.” Both of General Driver’s sons are West Point Graduates. Before entering politics, General Taylor established The East Point Military Academy in Liberia; and modeled it after West Point. Liberia has hired many former West Point instructors. General Driver has continued that policy, plus some of his veteran officers are also instructors.
However, the fortifications protecting Monrovia at Fort Monroe and Fort Clay are obsolete. The existing Parrot Rifles are ineffective against modern warships, and naval gunnery has surpassed the Parrot Rifles in range and accuracy. These fortifications would not survive a naval bombardment.”
Edwards then asked: “Do they have other military resources”?
Smyth answered: “They have a small Navy. Their naval assets are primarily for coastal defense. We sold them, five Canonicus Monitors in 1870. The upgrades to these vessels included a new turret with twin eight-inch long guns. Two of the upgraded Canonicus Monitors are protecting the entrance to Lake Piso and Bomi. The other three are protecting Monrovia. Their eight-inch guns could defend against cruisers but would have minimal effectiveness against battleships.
With our help, they converted the captured HMS, now LRS Glorious to a twin-turreted monitor similar to our Agamenticus class warships. Like the Agamenticus Class ships, LRS Glorious has two turrets, each with twin eleven-inch-long guns.” She is patrolling the East Africa coast to guard against persistent pirate raids on their commercial shipping. Her officers are former United States Navy personnel who moved to Liberia for financial gain. Coincidentally, there has been frequent cooperation with both the Royal Navy and French Navy in raiding pirate bases. LRS Glorious’s long guns reduce the pirate strongholds, while Royal Navy and French Marines force their landings.”
Garfield then spoke up. “There is a pathway open for negotiations between the Liberians, the British and the French. There are mutual advantages for all three nations. The European powers are involved in significant colonialization of Africa. Liberia will need our support to stay independent. If we offer our services to facilitate an agreement, we could prevent a war in West Africa. The British and the French are unlikely to press for a forced agreement if they know we are involved.”
Then looking at President Blaine, he continued: “Mr. President, I suggest we send cables to both the British and French governments, expressing our growing concern regarding their implied threats of serious consequences directed at Liberia. I will suggest a conference be scheduled here in Washington DC, or at a neutral capital city of their choice. Negotiations, not war should settle this issue.”
President Blaine agreed. Addressing Garfield, he stated: “Liberia is our protectorate, and we will not tolerate foreign interference in her affairs. We will re-direct the British and French aspirations into other areas of Africa. The United States only interest on that continent is to ensure Liberian independence. Make sure the British and the French are aware of our position
Then addressing John Smyth, President Blaine said: “Set up a meeting with the Liberian Plenipotentiary and explain to him our position. Liberia, the British and the French need to agree on defined borders. We will assist in determining fair and defensible borders.” Hastily writing a memo, Blaine handed it to Smyth. “Take this to the Secretary of the Army Robert Lincoln. Ask him to organize a team of engineers to modify the Liberian defenses at Forts Monroe and Clay that they be able to accommodate long guns.”
John Smyth thanked the President for the memo, and Secretary of State Garfield and Chief of Staff John Edwards for their time and attention. Smyth then excused himself from the meeting. Secretary of the Navy Porter then was introduced and entered.
The next order of business was Peru’s offer to lease Chimbote Bay to the United States. Chimbote Bay would provide the United States a naval base in a deep water Pacific port in South America.
Secretary Garfield began his explanation. Peru and Bolivia recently suffered defeat by Chile in the War of the Pacific. Both Peru and Bolivia lost substantial portions of their territory. Bolivia lost their western provinces and access to the Pacific Ocean. Peru lost its southernmost province. Fearing their new and aggressive southern neighbor, Peru sought a close alliance with the United States. Leasing Chimbote Bay to the United States would form such an alliance.
However, rumors of lease proposal leaked out to Chile, which took action. First, the Chilean Ambassador to the United States met with me, and protested, citing the presence of a United States Naval base in Peru was a direct threat to their sovereignty. I assured them that the United States has no territorial ambitions in that area. Obviously, he did not accept my explanation. Last week, Chile dispatched 750 marines, and a naval expedition to occupy the bay. Previously the Peruvian inhabitants occupied a small fishing village. The civilians are now forced to serve the Chilean military.
Informed of the occupation of Chimbote Bay, I summoned the Chilean Ambassador and warned him that Chile must evacuate or face the consequences of their aggression. Secure in their dominant position in South America, and with a peace treaty with Argentina ending their border war, the Chilean Ambassador rejected what he considered our bullying. The Chilean government is confident that the United States will be reluctant to go to war with Chile for so little, and so far from our shores.”
President Blaine, addressing Secretary of the Navy Porter, asked: “ What Naval assets do we have to impress the Chileans to end their occupation? Our naval display must be of sufficient stature to impress them of their folly.”
Porter replied: “Mr. President, Admiral Kincaid has five Puritan Class Monitors, plus USS Monadnock, and escorts at the Mare Island Naval Base in San Francisco. He could be available to expel the Chilean Naval task force and Marines from Chimbote Bay. His fleet will be ready for deployment within one week. There are transports available to carry two-thousand Marines with the fleet.”
Checking his notes, Secretary Porter continued. Admiral Lee’s fleet has previously scheduled exercises in the Carribean to test the effectiveness of the improvements on USS Indiana. Those exercises could be scheduled further south, off the Brazillian coast, possibly adjacent the Rio de la Plata to send a message to the Brazilians and the Argentines. Argentina has a long border with Chile and both dispute the sovereignty of Patagonia. Up to now, the Argentines only have a brown water navy. With the commissioning of our new battleships, the older Agamenticus Class monitors will become expendable. We could offer to sell them to the Argentine Navy.
Garfield added: “We could honor Brazil’s Emperor Pedro II Fiftieth Jubilee with a parade of warships in Rio de Janeiro. I could personally present a gift from the people of the United States of America. That would provide us with a plausible reason for our naval presence and the subsequent war games. We could also arrange a goodwill visit to Buenos Aries.”
With diplomacy at a standstill, President Blaine agreed with the plan. Blaine ordered Secretary Perry to dispatch of Admiral Lee and his fleet, now including the USS Indiana as his flagship south to attend the Jubilee for Pedro II, then hold the naval exercises in full view of Argentina. His mission was to solidify relations with the Empire of Brazil and to impress the Argentines the value of a strong relationship with the Un
ited States. If war broke out with Chile, Lee would steam through the Straits of Magellan into the Pacific.
Admiral Kincaid’s instructions were to lead his Puritan Class Monitors and escorts south from San Francisco and expel the Chilean Naval task force and Marines from Chimbote Bay. The hope was that the show of force would cause the Chileans to retreat. If the Chileans chose war, they would suffer the consequences.
The last subject of business was the Civil War in Columbia. President Blaine asked Garfield to provide an update on that situation.
Garfield responded: “Mr. President, the fighting started in 1876 over public education. The radical liberal government, led by Aquileo Para y Gomez, tried to institute public education. The conservatives, backed by the Catholic Church wanted the education done by Catholic parochial schools. Fighting developed between rival liberal and conservative generals. The Liberal Party also split when forces loyal to Gomez’s moderate rival Rafael Nunez threw their support to the Conservatives. Sporadic fighting continued for four years. In the election of 1880, the alliance of Nunez and the conservatives won, with Nunez elected President.
Protesting what they believed to be corrupt elections, the liberal backers of Aquileo Para y Gomez refused to accept the results and rioted in the streets. The instability escalated when rioters in Cartagena took over the city and took foreign nationals, including the United States Consul hostage; and imprisoned them in the Castillo San Felipe De Barajas. The crisis deepened, when the soldiers sent by the Para y Gomez government refused to suppress the rioters and joined the revolution.“