The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-01-30
F[FTIETH CONGRESS.
Senator Sherman on the
Samoan Question.
A SOLUTION OF THE MIDDLE.
Thirteen Thousand Citizens Of Utah
Protest Against statehOOd-Ts
Pro ect Seals and Salmon.
SENATE.

w ASbiR04ONI oAuoAy AO ROA"
ate went into secret session this after
noon on the Samoan amendment to the
diplomatic appropriation bill. After
an hour spent in secret session the
doors were opened and Sherman pro-
ceeded to address the Senate on the
pending amendments.
After a long discussion Gihson's
amendment was agreed TO. Amend
ments in relation to Samoa having
been reached, the Senate went into exc
cutive session. When the doors were
opened Sherman said he would like to
state publicly the position which he
took in the Samoan question, so that it
might appear in the records. He then
gave q comprehensive review of events
in the Samoan Islands from the time
when the attention of the United
States was first called to the various
conferences, treaties, etc. He referred
to the treaty of 1886 between Germany
and Great Britain by which
for the Jurisdiction of each government
in the Polynesisn group, with a dis
claimer that this limitation should ap-
ply to the Samoan Islands. He spoke
of the contentious which had always
existed between the various chiefs on
the island down to the time when, by
the aid of the consuls, it was settled by
agreement that Malieto should be king
and Tomasese vice-king. Soon after
that settlement other difficulties had
arisen and other movements made to
annex other islands, Malieto sending
an humble appeal to Queen Victoria,
asking for ouch annexation. The Ger
man government had demonstrated in
the most vigorous manner against it,
insisting it would be most violent vic
lstion of the treaty. Finally. Sherman
brought the subject down to the history
of eveEts in Washington between Bay
ard and the German and British min
listers and the sending by them of
agents to the islands
TO OBTAIN FURTHER INFoRMATIoE,
He said il was manifest that rebellion
had been organized by Germany and
by German named Weber, who was
at the head of a large commercial
house. 1t was after these insults to
the King that United States Consul
Greenbsum raised the United States
flag, at the request of Maliete, on the
public building In Apia. For then, he
said, the practical effect Of that action
was unauthorized, as it had been to
check the action of German local
authorities After the German feet
had sailed away, the German and
American consuls had joined again in
q declaration that TamRsese was never
recognized by either of them, and that
Maltete was no longer king. This act
had been wholly without authority,
and Greenbaum's part of it had very
properly been disaVowed by the Ameri-
can government. He had no more
right
TO ASSERT A PRoTECToRATE
than the German or English consul had.
It was whilst the agents of the three
confreres-Bayard and the English
and German ministers-were engaged
In obtaining information, that the Ger.
man government deposed Maletio and
set up Tamassse. These were the
worst features of the case, because at
this very time negotiations were going
on on a sound, just and honest basis,
for the restoration of Statu quo. There
were Indications, he thought, that the
English government was coinciding
with the German policy. He was not
stating that fact for the purpose Of
saving who was right or wrong; or
whether Germany was justified in the
course pursued. He could not say,
however, that be found in the papers
ANY JUSTIFICATION Fen GERMANY,
Prince Bismarck, whose strong imps-
rial. will, was shown in all his communi-
cations, asserted the equal rights of
each OF these governmentSTabut in
sisted, as matter of policy. thaEsit
would be better to place the Gus
tody of the islands under the control VI
one of the powers, and rs Germany
had the largest property rights there.
that it would be better to place it under
German control and power. That, as
to the newspaper correspondent, Klein,
who had been playing the knight err
rant there, the United States govern
ment is in no way responsible for the
statements of that man himself;
though somewhat vainglorious in style,
It shows that he had nothing to dc
with the attack on the German SOL
diers, Summing up his long speech,
Sherman said, the first thing to be done
is for the United States government to
assert their claim to the Bay OF Pagago.
That ought to be done Immediately. 1t
DID NOT NEED WAR
to protect nations rights. The mere
assertions of these rights. with due
regard for them; the expenditure OF
money there; the storing of coal there
for coaling vessels, all these thing were
assertions of power far more inH0en--
tisl than protocols and diplomatic
independence.
GEoRGE-The amendments do not
menace war; do they?
SHERMAN--I dc not think it necessary
to menace anyone. believe straight.
forward manly stand should be entered
into between these great powers. 1t
would be a great shame and disgrace TO
our cigiliz 4tion and Christianity, if We