Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-05
FACING ABOUT.


gress emanating from influential commerce
ial men in San Francisco, praying for
thorough inquiry to be made into the Sa-
moan affair; for resistance by the United
States to the offensive acts of Germany in
Samoa; for governmental action to prevent
our trade with Samoa from being elbowed
off the island, and the independency of the
Samoan Government being absorbed by
the Germans
This facing about is right. We are al
ways glad to have San Francisco wheel
into line with the right, though she usu-
ally hangs back until the rear guard comes
up. We recall that two and half years
ago, when Consul Greenbaum took firm
stand against German aggression in Sa-
moa; when, removed II, 900 miles from the
seat of his own Government, he was so
situated that he could not communicate
with Washington to save the situation,
he raised the American flag above the Sa-
moan on the great umbrella tree in the
plaza at Apia by request of Malietoa, the
rightful King, and in accordance with
treaty stipulation; the San Francisco COM
mercial men who dabbled little in Sa-
moan trade through German houses,
roundly abused the fiery little Consul, and
clapped their hands when President Cleve-
land removed him. Now we find these
same commercial influences whipping
about and demanding that to be done for
which they SO soundly rated Greenbaum.
The main facts may be simply and con-
cisely stated as they are to-day known.
By treaty with the Samoan Government,
we agreed to respect Its independence. By
it We stipulated to recognize the right Of
the King to appeal to the United States
for its protectorate if at any time the King
should have difficulty with the other
treaty powers with whom the United
States Government was at peace.
That event happened. About two pigs
stolen from German plantation by one of
Malietoa's subjects, the King and Germany
fell out The latter manifested activity in
a direction that led the King to believe
he was to be deposed and the rebel Tam
esese recognized; men-of-war's men from a
German gunboat came ashore at Apia and
hoisted the Imperial standard. The King,
with the treaty in his hand and his finger
upon Article v, came to the American
Consulate, and asked that the United
States Government extend its protectorate.
In the meantime German marines pulled
down the Samoan flag from the umbrella
tree in the plaza. Thereupon the Ameri-
can Consul, after consulting with dis
tinguished lawyer as to the proper inter
probation of the treaty, raised his Consular
flag, with the Samoan colors under it. He
stationed solitary rifiemdn beneath the
flagstaff, and the German naval officers not
only hesitated to pull down the flag, but
bundled up and left the fort. In few
days feet of German war-ships, with be-
tween 1000 and 5000 men arrived, and
the Admiral, frankly confessing to the
American Consul that he was too late,
weighed anchor and departed.
For this action Mr.. Cleveland removed
the Consul, and San Francisco mercantile
interests applauded the disgrace. To-day
they are petitioning for the undoing of
what followed. The German war feet re-
turned the King was made captIve-nom-
inally for the ''insult" related to the two
pigs-sent to New Guinea and thence to
Zanzibar, and is still in exile. The Ger
mans aided the rebel Tennessee to ascend
the throne, recognized him and furnished
him arms and ammunition Driven sub
sequently to abandon that position Ma
taafa, the brother of the exiled
king, succeeded in securing control
of the Government, but Tennessee, the
rebel, aided and abetted by German inhu-
ences, is still in the field, and may, by aid
of German rifles and gunpowder, once
more succeed, to do the bidding and be-
come the subservient tool of the Germans,
whose hatred Of the Americans in Samoa
is unconcealed.
The whole scheme is one to monopolize
valuable trade, secure possession of as
many of the cline Islands" as possible in
order to flank France In Polynesia and
her interests commercially related to the
Panama canal, and eventually to control
Samoa, that the beautiful harbor of Pango
Pango on the chief isle, now the property
of the United States, and safe haven for
her ships in the south seas, may become
valueless to us. German colonization
schemes also have much to do with the
affair, but commerce in nut oil, tropical
fruits, material for cordage, sugar, cotton and
many other products, and the monopoliza-
tion of an expanding and enormous trade
at the chief halfway station between San
Francisco and Australia are the main rea-
sons for German hatred of Americans in
Samoa, and German outrages upon an in
offensive people, who are extremely
friendly to Americans, solicitous to form
closer relations with us, and whose indie
pendency we are pledged to recognize and
maintain. Letus hope that the investiga-
ton suggested by the Senate Committee
on Foreign Affairs viii be thorough and
searching, and as result the interests of
Americans in Samoa be protected, any
pledges by us faithfully kept and Ameri-
can trade and commerce with the Samoan
group be encouraged.
THE Players GIFT.
Edwin Booths New Years gift to the
pIavers' Climb of New Yorl, nf the heaut;f,l