Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-01
REVIEW OF THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY.


1t is possible that the Haytian Minister
can, as he boldly claims, justify the seizure
of the American vessel his Government
declared lawful prize. The preferment
of his claim at least warrants suspension
of judgment in that matter until our Gov
ernment has announced the result of its
inquiries
1t would appear to be different in the
case of Samoa and German aggression in
the South Seas In that matter it would
seem that our quiesence is not possible of
satisfactory explanation. The treaty with
Samoa clearly gives all privileges to Great
Britain and the United States that are en-
ioyed by Germany. Yet the latter nation
has manifested disposition to ignore and
crowd American interests from Samoa, and
to make the life Of Americans and Eng
Iishmen there so unpleasant as to. dis
courage any further pushing of their COM
merce in that direction. The treaty of
1878 explicitly provides that in case the
Samoan Government should Join issue
with any Of the contracting powers, and
feel its integrity assailed, and outside of
that power amity should prevail between
the nations treating with Samoa, then the
latter should have the right to appeal to
and receive from the Government of the
United States its safe protectorate
Under this agreement matters ran along
very smoothly until the change of admin
istration in the United States in 1884
Germany, which does not relax its ambi-
ton to extend its colonization schemes,
cast a longing eye upon the Samoan group
Her commercial interests there were and
are the largest, though ours are very great
and are extending. Bismarck evidently
resolved to bring the islands
under German subsection. He began
series of petty assaults upon Malietoa, the
King, and finally, in May, 1886, sent to
Apia three ships of war. The Admiral in
charge did not pay his respects to the
King, bat with band and retinue of of
ficers made his way to Tamesese's camp
where he recognized and addressed him as
King, to the CONSERVATION of the loyal
people of Apia. Thereupon King Mali
etoa formally appealed to the American
ConsulGeneral for protection. The Con-
sui thereupon extended it, and raised the
Samoan flag with the stars and stripes
above 1t, to the intense satisfaction of the
people of Apia, who manifested their
delight in a joyful manner. Germany
needed the act, though protesting that the
Consul was acting without direction of his
Government but she withdrew her ships
of war, a peace was patched up and Tame
sese surrendered In a few days the
United States gunboat Mohican arrived,
and her commander, after investigation,
approved the action of the Consul General,
and the British Consul also concurred,
and even the German Consul-General con-
sented to recognize Malietoa. In his
message to Congress in December, 1886,
the President of the United States said:
The weakness OF the native administration
and the conflict of opposing interests have led
King Malietoa to seek alliance or protection in
some one quarter, regardless of the distinct en-
gagements whereby no one of the three treaty
powers may acquire any paramount or ex-
elusive interest. In May last Malietoa offered
TO place Samoa under the protection of the
United states, and the late Consul, without au-
thority, assumed 10 grant it. This proceeding
was promptly disavowed and the oyerzealous
official recalled. Special agents of the three
Governments have been deputed to examine
into the situation in the Islands
In June, 1887, Germany again entered
upon Vaccinations of the old order She
again sent war-ship, the Adler, to Apia /;
the rebel, Tamesese, was received on board
with honors, and his flag floated from the
mizzen under the very noses Of the pro-
testing French, American and British Con-
suls and within pistol-shot Of the Kings
house. To make long story short, Malie-
toa was deposed by German arms, fled, was
induced to surrender, and was taken on a
German gunboat to New Guiena Mean
while England instructed her Consul to re-
sist nothing the Germans might do, which
together with her passiyenesss has given
ground for the belief that England may
be hand in glove with Germany in the
whole disgraceful business or else is under
gross fear of rupture of amicable relations.
When the examination referred to by
President Cleveland was made, Germany
x,o- rabul-aJ by tba -aoan &c NIaI,o4oo
but it does not appear to have been sensi-
lively received, for within less than a year
the Germans again set about to put its rebel
tool in the seat of authority. They sup
piled Tamesese with arms and ammuni
ton, and he at once entered upon a new
rebellion, which has just come to disas-
trous end, fortunately for American inter-
ests.
Now it may be admitted that the Con-
sd who gave the King protection in 1886,
had not express power to extend the tenn
porary protectorate asked for but it viii
be seen that he was the nearest authority
to which the King could apply. Had the
King waited two months-the necessary
time for transmission OF communications
in order to apply to the Washington
authorities, his head, by rebel assault
backed by German powder and steel, would
have rolled in Tamesese's basket The
Consuls act, it would appear, was not such
fragrant one under the circumstances a:
deserved the rebuke administered. Had
his temporary protectorate been sustained
all difficulties would have ended and the
subsequent turmoil have been prevented
When Germany seized Malietoa, Prince
Bismarck openly advised that his Emperor
be given Upolu and ApIa, and that Eng
land and the United States take Savaii and
Tubereti, proposition that simply meant