The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-07-25
This paper Is Democratic IN principles
and is Independent IN its UtelDs on all
local questions.
Light at Last.

When Mr.. Wishy Washy Phelps
came home from Berlin with a
grand flourish of trumpets, we
were amused. When WI were told
he had pulled the wool over
old Bismark's eyes, and secured for
this country a treaty which placed
Uncle Sans foot upon Fritz's neck,
we wondered much. Still we reflected
that Germany had much to lose in
the commercial way by quarrelling
with the United States, and thus w.
w. had fallen into luck, Bismarck let
ting him have pretty much his W
way, that way being secretly. Bis
marck's way, too. Indeed, there is no
reasonable doubt that if Phelps 81 Go
had shown any backbone at all, this
might actually have been the out
come of their mission, Bismarck hay
ing no notion whatever of quarrelling
with them, but merely feeling around
in his own foxy way to see how little
they would be content with.
But now, it appears, the whole bust
ness is a huge fraud, a colossal sham.
The New York Herald has found out
the facts, and gave them to the public,
yesterday, to the great confusion of
Phelps, and of Blaine, and Harrison,
and all others concerned.
1t appears that Phelps was told that
r.. 49,.
he would be given the Mission to Ber-
lin as the reward of an adjustment of
the Samoan difficulty. Mr.. Kasson
seems to have had an intimation that
the same reward would be his in case
a convention were reached. Nothing
seems to have been said about the
terms. The honor and the interests
of the nation were never thought of.
"Just get this ugly difficulty smoothed
over some way,"-so the engagement
ran-s'and the highest rewards that
diplomacy affords are yours"
Knowing the sort of man Mr.. Phelps
is, and the sort of mar Mr.. Kasson is,
the sa~gacious reader will have no diff
ficulty in ~conceiving how the two
great ambassadors fell over each other
in endeavoring to make themselves
agreeable to the Iron Chancellor, and
in accepting his terms. 1.-The Com
mission" says the Herald, did not
stand heartily together on account of
these overweening personal ambitions,
--J Al .~.,,IA 80 xoa:ruI --:AI
thing but enthusiasm by those who
understand Samoan affairs. 1t is said
that the object which Secretary Blaine
had in sending Mr.. Sewell to Berlin
was that his presence should be a per-
petual irritant to the German officials.
They appear to have readily and cor
daily recognized MI. Blaine's pur-
pose and took every occasion to insult
Mr.. Sewell, the members of the Com
mission swallowing the affront with
out protest, it being a part of the
diplomatic policy laid down for them
to follow by the State Department"
1t appears that if the treaty is rati
ied-a highly improbable event-the
influence of this country in Samoa
win be wholly overshadowed by that
Of both Germany and England, and
the natives, who have expressed a
longing for the protection of our flag,
are utterly abandoned to the rapa-
ciousness of the European land COM
panies.
The disgrace of the whole business
could hardly be exaggerated, and yet
we think n incident described in
the Herald increases the ignominy of
the affair, as showing the spirit Of
hunkeyism which animated the Com
mission. Here is the anecdote:-
The steamer which carried out the Commission
had not proceeded far on its voyage when the