Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-11-06
The Caroline Islands.

Spain is indignant because Germany
proposes to take possession Of these
islands. No one seems to imagine
that America has any interests
there; but the fact is that America
has larger interests there than any
other nation. II any nation has
right 10 protect, or to protest. it is
not Spain or Germany, but the Uni
ted States.
For thirty-three years citizens of
the United States have resided in
those islands, engaged in educational
and Christian labor. There are
twelve such Americans there now,
and their work is supported at an
annual expenditure of $4,000. The
only steamboat belonging to the isl
lands is the Morning Star, owned by
Americans, and sent out this last
year to replace the old Morning Star.
1t cost $4,000. On these 500 little
islands. the largest of which is Po-
nape, perhaps twenty miles by ff-
teen, there are 100000 people, half
of whom, living on the larger islands,
have given up their paganism, under
the teachings of Americans, and
have embraced Christianity. In Po-
nape, Kusaie, Ruk, etc., there are
now fifty Christian churches and
more than 1000 communicates.
There are four training schools for
teachers and preachers, with an at
tendance of from rs to 100 pupils,
besides primary schools, and nearly
25 native teachers and preachers.
Five languages OF the group have
been reduced to writing. and school
books have been printed in them,
while in three languages the whole
New Testament has been printed.
The work was extended to the Island
of Ruk five years ago, when the ma
tives ran away in terror from the
teachers, but where now there is q
large church, a school of 125 pupils,
q church of more than 20 members,
village of neat houses in place of
the former log huts, and long
stone wharf running out into the
sea. This year the work is extended
to Yap, an island 900 miles west of
Ruk.
1t is wholly the work of Americans
which has made the Caroline Islands
Q valuable acquisition to any coun-
try. Whatever industry brings
them in relations of trade is the re-
suit of the civilization that the Uni
ted States has given them, and Of
the impulse of United States citizens
living in their country. We may
have at least something to say, even
if we are not willing to use anything
beyond moral influence.
1t would be for the interest of
American citizens to have things re-
main as they have been, the islands
continuing independent, under the
control of their chiefs, as they are,
like the Hawaiian Islands, develop
ing rapidly constitutional form of
government. If America could not
claim or exercise any protectora ate
owe the Caroline Island, and if we
were compelled to choose between
the two claimants, we should most
decidedly prefer German control.
In the case of either Germany or
Spain, it would be the simple tyr
amy of the strong over the weak; !;
but the tyranny of Germany would
be preferred to that of Spain. 1t is
our conviction that whatever claim
Spain may once have made to the
possession of the islands must have
lapsed by long absence. During
the thirty-three years that the Amer
leans have been in the Caroline ISL
ands there has come back from them
to this country not word of intima-
ton that there was one Spaniard
there. or the slightest Spanish claim
or authority in these islands. The
subject is one which may properly
give occasion for some friendly cor
respondence by our Department of
State.
GENERAL Miles talks very plainly
of the Territory Of New Mexico.
He Says: Before the late trouble,
New Mexico was a pendemonium
the haunt of outlaws, with the H.
dians crowded into bad camps; but
the control of the military has
stopped the issuing of 1000 moro
rations than the Indians needed,
saved 100000 a year to the Govern
ment and driven off the outlaws.
The Territory is block in the path
way of civilization and perpetuates
barbarism costing hundreds of thou.
sands of dollars to maintain between
10000 and $4,000 Indians. 1t is
capable of supporting many millions
of white people and ought to be