Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-28
THE FRICTION AT SAMOA.

From the Philadelphia Times.

anu itS OpSnOt.
From the Philadelphia Times.
careful study Of the dispatches and inter-
views touching the Samoan troubles indicates
that Prince Bismarck, as interpreted by the
North German Gazette, and Secretary Bayard,
as interpreted by himself, have both, so far,
acted fairly within the lines Of all existing trea-
ties. While apparently quite correct in stat
ing that no treaty exists between Germany and
the United States which gives our government
any right to complain Of German action toward
Samoa up to this date, the Norn German
Gazette, as interpreted by Mr.. Bayard, in the
light of the agreement of 1886, between Eng
land and Germany, touching their mutual ac-
ton in the western Pacific, seems to be en-
tirely wrong when it ''denies the existence Of
any treaty precluding any European power
from acquiring or seeking to acquire ascend
ancy in Samoa"
THE ANGLo-GERMAN AGREEMENT
of 1886, as stated by Mr. Bayard, distinctly for
bids the contracting powers to acquire any as
cendncy in Samoa or In certain other islands
named. But while there is this discrepancy
OF statement regarding the general attitude of
the nations toward the Samoan and other indie
pendent islands of the western Pacific, there
appears to be two sufficient reasons why Ger
many should be surprised at the strong Ian
guage in President Cleveland's last message,
and also at the warlike attitude assumed by
the recent naval orders of our government:
First, because the real violation of the treaty
or agreement-if indeed, there has been any
violation-was between Germany and England,
not between Germany and the United States;
second that as up to this time, England has
not characterized the German action in Samoa
as a violation of the Anglo-German agreement,
a xo1.l for Init TOT
to play voluntary interpreter between two
nations perfectly competent of understanding
and taking care of themselves. On the other
hand is is perfectly true, asserted by Mr.
Edmunds and other Senators, and as under
stood by every American, that we have great
interest in maintaining the independence Of
Samoa; that we had treaty with the islanders
BEFORE BISMARCK WOKE UP
to the southwest Pacific and the colonizing
business at all, and that we had in fact our own
eye and ambition on this very spot for a coal
ing station and the like 1t is further true that
in the brush between the Germans and the
1uarreling SamOans our flag has been badly
treated, our voluntary protests ignored and the
American government, in some sense, defed
But if these latter events have sprung inciden-
tally, not purposely or avowedly, out of what
seems to have been perfectly justifable act
on the part of Germany in protecting her own
interests during a quarrel on the island, it
seems that sound national and international
policy should work to an amicable understand
ing. This, indeed, appears to have been Mr.
Bayard's policy throughout, only. while inter-
preting existing treaties between Germany and
England and between the Samoan Islands and
Germany, England and our own country re-
spectively. Mr.. Bayard may have claimed fur
Their rights of interference than these treaties,
clearly interpreted will warrant us in MAIN
tanning. On the other hand it is perfectly
clear that if Bismarck has not already gone
further than he ought to have gone in Samoa,
he means to do 80, asserting in advance that
no existing treaty, properly interpreted. can
prevent him from doing so, and above all, that
no treaty with the United States has
ANY RIGHT TO STAND IN HIS WAY.
Eventually we shall probably feel obliged to
own, at least to ourselves, that if England had
no mind or right to quarrel over Bismarck's
conduct and his Interpretation of it, we had
little or no right to take the initiative in such
quarrel. But self-interest has always been
stronger than treaty obligations in modern and
ancient nations, and if Bismarck really wants
something very badly in the western Pacific
that we want still more, he will not get it by
brOwbeating Americans, as he has always been
in the habit of getting things by browbeating
his own countrymen. We are not built that
way.
Should Bismarck attempt to acquire ascend
ancy in Samoa it would be in plain violation of
existing treaties or agreements between En-
gland and Germany, and it would be just as
truly violation of the spirit of existing trea-
ties between the Samoans and the United
States, and should the present troubles lead to
such action on the part of Germany our govern
ments, whether republican or democratic, will
probably do its utmost to prevent the consumma-
ton of such ambition. As matters stand at
this hour, should Germany be content with
protecting her own lawful interests in the Sa-
moas, exacting only such damages for loss of
life as any other civilized nation would exact
under the circumstances, there ought, and
there probably will be, apeaceful way out of our
bitter misunderstanding, but should Germany
make her quarrel with the islanders an excuse
for destroying their independence and setting
up Prussian absolution in the place of it there
will probably be more dynamite around Bis
marck's dying hours than the old man would
care to see or hear Of