Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-21
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE 6OVERNMENT CENSURED FOR
ITS SAMOAN POLICY.
Corporal Tanner Wants an Office
Huntington's Railroad Argument
Work Before Congress
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE RpooRp-us,o,.1
TIME FOR A CHANGE.
Our v ak Administration the Cap.a

the Samoan Situation.
:. WASHINGTON, January 20th.-The pub
ncatlon THIS morning of the latest news
from Samoa, which contained an account
OF fresh insults to the American flag and
additional indignities put upon American
cluzens by the representatives of the Ger
man government on the island, has caused
excitement and Indignation here. This
ieeling IS aggravated by the belief that
nothlng IN the shape OF reprisal for the
outrages committed can be expected of
the outgoing Administration. President
C!eveianu, 10 his message to Congress,
business, and Secretary Bayard admits that
It Is the intention Of Germany to SEIZE
Samoa, and establish protectorate there.
and he sees no way to prevent it, unless
congress chooses to declare war against
Germsny.
Inc news received. via San Francisco.
from Samoa yesterday is mainly corrobora.
i've OF the Information previously received
oy the State Department by cable. yia
Auckland. from Commander Mullen ofthe
Nlpsic and Vice-C Consul Blackjack of Apia
which was sent TO the Senate last week.
BAYARD AND THE FLAG.
In conversation with the RECORD.
UNIONS press correspondent to-day Secre-
tary Bayard said the news had the flavor of
an old piece of mutton warmed I'D. with
some seasoning ADDED. He said that the
department had been in possession
OF the news contained therein
Tor some time, and that it had been
sent to the Senate and published in the
newspapers. Respecting the BON bardment
by Germans Of the village of Mataafaga-
Ieie, the destruction OF property of E. l..
Hamilton, ali American citizen, and the
tearing down and burning of the American
nag over bis house, the Secretary had
heard nothing. He did not attribute any
especial significance to the matter. The
native village, be said, was nothing but
collection of bamboo huts. ANY American
anywhere had the right to hoist the Amer
lean nag upon his property, but unless he
was representative of the United States
the flag had no official significance.
Mr. Bayard said that his action in the
Samoan controversy had been consistent
throughout. Germany, Great Britain and
the United States had united in an agree
ment for the preservation of native auton-
omy in the island. Representing this
Government, he had insisted upon the
maintenance of the treaty stipulations, and
had protested against every act of German
aggression. He could do no more.
GERMAEY's PROBABLE ACTION.
From reliable sources in the State De-
partment it is learned that the news of the
formal seizure of the islands by Germany
wouid at no time cause q surprise. Great
Britain, being satisfied with her present
possessions in the South Pacific, is willing
that Germany should take Samoa. France
has the New Hebrides, Spain the Caroline
Islands, England has Australia, New Zea-
land and the Cook Islands. and GERMANY
having the Marshall Islands will be content
with Samoa, leaving the Hawaiian Islands
for the present as sop to the United States
until more favorable time arrives for
operation there. The State Department
officials say the United States cannot op-
pose Germany, because we have not the
ships and guns.
OUR WEAK ADMINISTRATION.
Senator Frye, who is Chairman of the
subcommittee of the Foreign Relations
Eom nlttee On the investigation of the Sa-
moan difficulty, regards the deplorable oc-
currepces that have happened upon the
lslanos as due to the wretched lack of
craftsmanship and want of administrative
capacity and frmness on the part of the
President and Mr.. Bayard. He is of the
opinlon-which is shared by the great ma
Jority OF his colleagnes-that plain de-
mand made upon Germany to keep her
hands off Samoa would have been beeded.
The idea of Germany going to war with
the United States, losing her commerce
with this country, putting her merchant
marine at the mercy of our cruisers, and
inviting France to take up the cudgel
against her, her old-time enemy, and all for
the sake OF gaining possession of few
islands in the Pacific, he regards as su-
premely ridiculous.
In q conversation With your cores
pondent to-day Mr.. Frye said the sub
committee has finished taking tie testi-
mony Of Consul Semall. and it has been
printed for the use of the committee A
copy OF this testimony has been mailed to
every member of the committee, with the
request that he give it his careful atten-
ton and be ready to express an opinion
upon II at the meeting of the full COM
mittee to be held this week. 81 do not
think, he said, that Mr. Sewals testi-
mony will be given to the public.
1t contains - beside very lucid
statement of the events that have
transpired in Samoa, and the
causes that led to the same-copies of the
etc., which Mr. Bayard did
not send 10 the Senate. and which he de-
sired should not be published for fear Of
oiieHe.ns TIC tehuef suscepioiiiIes OF Uef-
many"
What action will be taken in the fu-
ture? p asked the correspondent
| don't know" was the Senator's frank
reply. "Of course, nothing can be reason
ably expected to come from the visit of the
Trenton to Samoa. Admiral Kimberly's
orders required him to do nothing that he
would not have done without orders. He
was simply directed to protect the property
and lives of American citizens, which he
would have done under any circumstances,
and to convince the Germans that he was
to do nothing else. His orders were pub
lished for their information before his de-
parture.r