Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-31
THE SAMOAN MATTER.
Message From the President Trans.
uniting the Latest Information.

The President sent a message to Congress
yesterday transmitting the lates. information
OF the State department with relation to the
Samoan matter. The papers transmitted are
letter of instructions from Bismarck to the Ger
man minister here and the most recent COM
nunieations from yice-Consul Blackjack. The
president. in his message. after describing the
documents sent, saws: 1T is also proper to in
form you that on Monday, the 18th instant, the
occasion of the communication of the note Of
the prince chancellor. the Secretary of State
vas given to understand by the German min
ister that a proposition from his government to
that of the United States for a conference on
che Samoan subject was on its way by mail,
having left Berlin on the Goth instant: so that
Its arrival here in due course of mail can be
looked for in a very short time.
In reply to an inquiry from the Secretary of
State whether the proposition referred to was
for a renewal of the joint conference between
She United States, Germany and Great Britain,
which was suspended in July, 1887, or for the
consideration of Samoan affairs de norO, the
German minister stated his inability to answer
until the proposition which left Berlin on the
10Th instant should have been received"
BIsMARcK's INSTRUCTIONS.
Bismarck, in his letter of instructions. dated
January ID, says: II have already notified your
excellency that, according to Geographic COM
munications from Apis on the 18th December
of last year, a detachment of German naval
forces, which had landed at the requisition of
the imperial consul for the protection of Ger
man settlements which were endangered by
the conflicts between the native parties there,
was attacked by armed Samoans belonging to
the party of Chief Mataafa. This unprOvoked
attack is said TO have taken place under the
leadership of an American named Klein. On
this occasion more than fifty German soldiers
ad nd oh
I'm consequence Of this we have been trans
planted from the territory of mediatorial nego-
tiations by which the imperial consul in Apia
was trying to reconcile the cOntending parties.
and for which he had sought the cooperation
of his English and American colleagues, into a
state of war with the assailants, to our regret.
We shall carry on the contest which has been
forced upon US by Mataafa and his followers
with the utmost consideration for English and
American interests. Our military measures
have in view only the punishment of the muir
derers Of German soldiers and the protection
OF our countrymen and their property.
As they their part are at war
with Tamasese, our interference will nee
essarily assume the character of assistance to
Tamasese. In the endeavor for the just pun
ishment of murderous crime We hope for
the cooperation of the treaty powers in Sa-
moa in friendship with us, and we ask the
government of the United States to be good
enough to furnish the consuls and the COM
manders of Its ships of war in Samoa with
suitable instructions. Our armed forces there
are instructed to avoid and prevent all injury
to neutral commerce and property, and to
adopt measures of reprisal and destruction
only against the followers of the party which
initiated the contest against our troops by
murderous attack. We shall, of course, abide
by the agreements with America and England
with respect to Samoa, and pay due regard I'M
der all circumstances to the rights Of those
powers as established by treaty / beg your
excellency to bring this communication to Mr.
Bayard's knowledge by reading it to him and to
leave copy of it with him if he requests it."
vIcE-cONsUL BLACKLocK's LETTER
Is for the most part verifcation Of news dis
patches from Samoa that have been heretofore
published. The letter includes a diary of the
proceedings and the condition of affairs each
day. The diary shows that the officers of the
Nipsic have not been inactive. 1t is recorded
on the 10th of December that Capt Mullan
sent marines on shore with gatling gun to
protect the consulate. and that more men were
held in readiness to go ashore at need. Ii is
asserted that when the American schooner was
slezed (soon afterward released) the American
flag was plainly seen flying at her masthead.
Letters from Commander Mullan to Secre-
tary Whitney state that there should be more
vessels at Samoa and that the Americans there
will find protection on the Nipsic and that
force will be landed to protect their property.
Demands of Pennsylvania knights.
At the convention of Knights of Labor at
Harrisburg, Pa, yesterday, a resolution was
adopted favoring the consolidation of the vari-
GUS bills dealing with the pluck me" stores be-
fore the Legislature. The Australian system of
voting was Endorsed. A resolution was also
adopted requesting the state department to
include in its annual report list of all corpor-
atoms. their capital stock and location. IL this
is net done by the state the work will be car
ried out by the Knights of Labor. An appeal
will be issued urging a revision of the state
constitution in the interest of labor. 1t is
claimed that the constitution is inimical to leg
islation looking the betterment of the relations
between individual employers and their en-
ployes; that restraining acts possible so
far as the corporations are concerned, but in
dlvidual employers are not to be reached. 1t was
decided to place Legislative committee in
Harrisburg. A resolution was also adopted
urging reforms in taxation.
A Connecticut Farmers Success.
Prom the Hartford COurant.
Speaking of little things" have in mind
now man who fifteen years ago bought farm
here in Connecticut for 5000, paying down
what cash he could, and giving a mortgage of
$500 for the balance The general line of
his farm operations has been the same as his
neighbors'. in addition to which he has been
looking about the farm for brush to cut and
stone 10 pick up, touching up the pastures with
little top dressing here and there. gathering
leaves in fall and muck in winter to add to his
manure pile. With good dairy. pigs and
poultry, and a large fruit and vegetable gar
den, and with other little things" that can be
picked up about the farm from time to time
he Is marketing something in the village two
or three DAYS in the week all through the year.
and thus always has cash to meet the daily ex-
penses. A family of five have been well edu-
Gated the mortgage paid off, many improve
ments made on the place. and he il several
thousand dollars ahead in money safely in
vested. His neighbOrs, who have only been
able to just make living. will tell YOU he
spends too much time .'fussing with little
things" yet after all has been mighty lucky"
The Streets of Brussels.
FrUm the Providence Journal
Clean, gay, and brilliant they are in the up-
per town on a fine day. with their Ieisurely
well-dressed crowds Of promenaders. the eaui-
pages Of royalty, and the beau monde. the gal
loping officers and companies of soldiers always
marching somewhere or other to the strains of
most excellent bands or the spirited fanfare of
trumpet and roll of drums. And very pictur-
esque TO strangers eyes are the groups of
Uhlte-bloused commissionaires and blue-
bl0used ouvries. and flower vendors with hinge
baskets of yiolets and roses. and Carmelite
monks in russell gowns. with naked sandaled
feet and the rope of self-haggelation dangling
from sts..sw Al =