Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-14

The United States hal male . treaty with
Samoa In 1875 and Great Britain and Ger
many had made treaties with Samoa in the
following year, In which treaties it vas I'M
derstood and agreed that The Independence
and ueutrafy Of Samoa would be forever
preserved. King Axlstoa vas . warm friend
Of he United States, % warm . friend that
/ the fact provoked the jeaionsy Of the Ger
man business me n on the islands Msletoa
had been . warm friend, because he looked
upon the United States as q bound to main
tain the Independence Of his country In
lssG Iamsssi rebeilsd AGAINST the King
but the rebellion could have been put down
without difficulty, because Mzietoa ~as King
Of ore Of the brzvest peoples in that part Of
the worsi- X he American and English REP
resentatiyes In Samoa, however, desiring 70
prevent bioodsked called the attention Of
MaIetos to the obligation. Of the United
States xod Great Britain, and persuaded him
10 ALLOW Tzmassi's rebellion to proceed 80
far as il couId--for it vas feeble one, IL
unaissd. Hale,oa, therefore, did nothing.
But trouble ~as brewing in Samoa; com
plants came to the State Department from
the American consul, and a commissioner
vas sent out, and an investigation made
GEKMAsTs HIsH-aASDED ACTION
Finally il vas considered an absolute ne
eessity that there should be some settle meut
and a conference was agreed upon, to be
held in Washington 10 1881 between the
United States, Great Britain and Germany.
Ia that conference Germany had demanded.
or asked, that she should absolutely control
those i.land.. Secretary Bsyard had refused
TO comply with such an unreasonable request.
I The conference had not dissolved, but hal
i simply taken a recess; and within ten days
aeet had sailed for Samoa entered the har-
Dor and had taken posse sion Of the islands
shs did this. Mr.. Frye ,aid, undoubtedly
with the consent Of Great Britain and with
full understanding in advance with Grtst
Britain. IL there had been no such under
standing Great Britain would never have al
lowed ii to be done. The English feet
would have gone TO Samoa and the German
fleet would have retired. IL was an outrage
( ard an insult to the United States. which no
great country would submit TO for single
moment
The Germans. he said, had taken practical
posse sslon of the islands I'D sspoused the
cause of Tamassi; had compelled the sGrren-
der Of King Maletos and had deported him
10 remote island, where he was today.
They bad put Tsmassi in power, and had ap-
pointed as his Premier a German consular
clerk. They had boycotted American bust
ness men; picketed the American Consulate
with German guards; hauled down, or com.
PEELED to be hauled down, the American flag
and had committed every conceivable out
rage on those poor people who had been
friends of Maletoa. They had broken uE
the business of American business men there
and had treated the American Consul with
insult. Finally the German fleet had sailed
aWaV leaving Iamasai in mower
Mr. Frye said that he understood very
we'll that Secretary Bayari had defined dis
tinotly TO the German authorities the position
I assumed by the United States but, having
defined that position, the matter had re sted
there from that time TO this, and nothing
had been done to restore the rights of Ameri-
can citizens in Samoa. A short time ago, Mr.
Frye continued Mataafa, a legitimate sue
eessor of Maletoa. had raised troops
among Maletoa's friends, and at the last ad-
vices had given battle to Tamassi routed
him, conquered him thoroughly and was to,
day legitimate king on the throne of Samoa
But at the short time had come the new.
that the German fleet was once more sailing
to Samoa. What forl No one knew, but
there was no reason to doubt that Germany
intended TO take absolute possession of those
islands And why, he asked, should she
not! brth Britain bah lnterposed no oblec'
ton to her past actions, and the uated
States had done absolutely nothing within the
last i've or six months in regard to it. Why
then should not Germany assume that the
United States and Great Britain were ready
to permit her to take possession of thC
: islands Germany undoubtedly intended t.
do so, AND TO raise the German flag ovel
them.
It is undoubtedly well, Mr.. Frye remarked
to fit out ships of war and send them dowr
= against the poor miserable Republic Of
ilayti. 1t was well enough for the grea
American Republic, when Mexico took anC
imprisoned some American tramp to threaten
war and even to go to the very ragged edg,
of it. But would it not be more consiste n
. With the dignity and power of this great
Republic to protect the rights of her citi
zens against her equals ?-agsin't coHntrie,
like England or Germany One vesse
4 seized by Hayti, hundred vessels seireC
. by Cansda-the one backed by Great Brit
ain, the other by no one.
Mr.. Frye expressed the hope that tbs
Committee on Foreign Relations would b,
active in finding ont the condition OF thing
in those islands and what the duty of tn,
United States required.