The Democratic advocate., 1889-01-26
Germany VS.. The United States.

Germany VS.. 1hS OAAeS~
During the past week the daily papers have
been filed with the most sensational war news
from Samoa. The cause of grievance is Ger
,oanv wants the Samoan Islands, which are
s;tnated in the southern Pacific Ocean, and
for the past three years Bismarck has endeav- |
ored to obtain control of them, notwithstand-
inc the earnest protest of the United States
and England A treaty was made ia Janu-
arv. 1873, between this country and Samoa
which Germany is anxious should be annulied'
As also the one with England, which was
made several years later, upon the same basis
Germany assumes that it can make no posi-
HE difference to the United States whether
those islands in the Pacific remain indepen-
dent or become part of the German empire;
in short. to stand by as impartial spectators
while the German flag is hoisted In Samoa
regarding it as no more our business to thwart
German plans than to interfere with Russian
enterprise in Central Asia or with the exten-
sion of French influence along the north
coast of Africa.
On the other hand our country says that
every American Secl etary of State from Dan
;el Webster down to Mr.. Bayard has held
that the strategic and commercial value oil
these islands to us is such that the United
States cannot permit the seizure of Samoa by
any European power; that we have national
interest in the preservation of Samoan inde-
nendence similar to that which governs our
nolicy with regard to the Hawaiian group
that the rights and interests Of American cln-
zens resident in Samoa, guaranteed by our
treaty. Of Jan. IL, 1873, viii be unfavorably
affected by German supremacy there; IN short
that while we intend to keep our own hands
off the islands, the powers Of Europe, nclud-
ing Germany, must keep their hands on
too. It's not likely there viii be war, notWith-
standing this country, Germany and England
have ordered three of their largest and best
eouipoed war vessels to Samoa, as diplomacy
viii probably settle the matter amicably. Ihe
limited States can have seven more vessels
at Samoa within thirty days if necessary
The Samoan affair appears TO be growing
each day into graver proportions than at hFs'
seemed probable. The President, having
dome all that he could in the interest OF hsr-
monv and for the protection Of the rights OF
American citizens in Samoa, sent message
TO Congress on the 18th instant, in which ne
said:
ssTke subject in its present stage IS sub
mitted to the wider discretion conferred oy
the constitution upon the legislative braneh
) Of the government"
The course oF the President we deem 70 be
cminently proper The power Of levying war
i reposed in Congress, the immediate repre-
sentative Of the people. Germany, it aP-
pears. has violated her treaty obligations.
insulted our Gag and offered violence TO our
citizens. This Is casus belli, and il is fit
that the peoples representatives should take
the matter 10 hand al once, and determine
the measure Of redress
Our government cannot afford TO show less
spirit towards Germany than was recently
exhibited towards Hayti. There is no honor
in waQing hossiliiies against feeble power,
but against one that ranks among the most
powerful nations Of the earth our people would
experiences
s.That stern Joy which warriors feel
Ii foemen worthy Of their steel.
sach 4 war would be chiefly maritime.
Our cruisers would be supported BY commits
stoned privaieers that would sweep every
vestice Of German commerce from the ocean
unprotected BY The mos, powerful conroFs.
Her rich argosies would become ready prey
10 our feet.winged cruisers The incentive
Of sudden wealth would bring tender Of the
services Of every fast. going ship on the ocean
Il would be in vain for European nations 70
denonnce such warfare as ''piraey." War is
war. and eomaaiants viii avail themselves Of
every means to infiet the greatest damage
upon the enemy.
Il would be madness in Germany TO pro
woke war with this country now. The sound
Of the first gun would be the signal for France
10 recover her lost provinces, AIsaee and LOr-
aine, and 10 wreak her long pent- up Vengeance
upon her Teutonie enemy.
Germany could not land an army on these
shores that she would be able to sustain for
more than = very briei period, nor could her
heaviest armament do US much damage
Earth. are the best defences yet devils
cd BY the ingenuity Of man. The pick and
the spade would soon do their work, and
erect place Of comparative safety against the
heaviest projectiles-
When Germany shall have aroused and
encountered the terrible energies Of this ma
zion, her proud and imperions premier viii
have more respect for the rights Of others.
The lesson it would teach him you'd be salu.
sary, and one which at the present he seems
very mech to need