The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-25
THE SAMOAN AFFAIR.

Samoa is of very little use to the
United States. 1t is a long way OIL
and there is really no political, social or
industrial connection between the
islands and this country which should
make it worth the while OF America to
interest itself as to the fate of Samoa.
The people of the islands are insignia
cant as to numbers, being only about
35 900 all told, and in other respects
they are insignificant, being ignorant,
not much more than half civilized, and
incapable of high intellectual deVel-
opment. The trade of the islands is
not worth striving for in national
sense, though it might Interest some
steamship line that had business on
either side of Samoa. Several years ago
the cession of a karbor on one of the is
lands as eOaling station, was made to
the United States, and that is all Amer
lea can possibly want with Samoa. 1t
is immaterial whether England, Ger
many or the Samoans shall rule; who
ever takes possession will have to pay for
the privilege drowning and governing,
for the revenue which could be ex-
tracted from the natives would be in
sufficient to bear the expense of main
tanning government.
But the question is not one of rule.
ownership or annexation. American
citizens have been dIspoiled of their
property, and the American flag has
been insulted. torn down and destroyed.
Americans were in Samoa by the same
authority nd right which permitted the
Germans 10 live there and hold pro-
perty. The firing upon the American
flag in Samoa and the burning of houses
belonging 10 Americans rightfully on
the islands, by the German marines,
was no more an unfriendly act
than would have been the same
things in San Francisco Bay or on
Coney Island. II was equivolent to a
declaration of war on tbs pant of the
Germans, and if the United States
government does not demand and en-
force an apology and monetary repara
ton, it will be because there are
towards or incompetent persons direct
ing the affairs of this nation. The
official verifcation of the press news
from Samoa should be followed at once
by demand that Germany pay in cash
for the damage done by her soldiers,
and make suitably humble apology
for the insult offered to the Stars and
Stripes. A failure to promptly comply
with this demand should call forth
proclamation of war against the offend
ing nation. Any ether course than
this will subject this country to the con-
tempt of every other government, and
Samoa will despise US most of all.
At Washington it is time for states
manship and courage. A few weeks
ago the little black republic Of Hayti,
racked and rent by civil war, and inca
pable of resisting or resenting any de-
msnd which might:come from fourth
rate power, committed the indiscretion
of seizing vessel belonging to Amsri-
can citizens; whereupon the United
States government promptly compelled
restitution and collected satisfactory
damages. 1t was the right thing to do,
but there was nothing very courageous
about it, as a county in Florida could
have fitted cat an expedition and done
the same thing, Hayti being unable to
resist. HGyti'S offense was nothing
like so grave as that committed by the
Germans in Samoa, and cur speed in
the former case should not be less in
the case of Germany, which happens to
be more powerful than the distracted
black government.