St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-30

| status to-day: for no other arrangement
-Or agreement had ever been made in a
formal degree that affected, in any de-
gree, the rights of the several parties.
He did not intend TO go into a detailed
history of events in Samoa. 1t was
enough to say there was always sort
of quasi war existing there between
several branches of the people. 1t was
a strange government, controlled largely
by family ties, somewhat aristOcratic,
with contentious always existing be-
tween the various chiefs. He would
not dwell upon the painful features of
that civil war; but 1t seemed to be the
general opinion Of all tile American
consular agents who had been sent
there to examine into the nature of
their government that the people were
totally unfit TO conduct a regular for
NAL government. But civil war had
continued until finally. in 1883. by the
aid OF the cOnSulS, it was settled by an
agreement that
MALIETOA SHOULD BE KING
and Tamasese vice king. Soon after
that settlement other difficulties had
arisen, and a movement had been made
to annex the Samoan islands to New
Observation-Disclosures sending humble
appeal to Queen Victoria asking for
such annexation. The German govern
ment, however, had demonstrated in
the most vigorous manner against it,
insisting that it would he a violation of
the treaty. Mr.. Hale alluded to dec
laration made by the king of Samoa
mot the one set up by the Germans) re-
pudiating the idea that anything had
been granted to the United States.
Mr.. Sherman said that there was not
the slightest doubt in regard to the
right of the United States to the harbor
OF Pago-PagO. He spoke of the treaty
made with Malietoa by the German con-
sui on the 18th of November. 1884
Shortly after the kings piteous pro-
pOsal to Queen Victoria), and said that
this treaty was at first approved by the
German government. but afterwards re-
pudiated on the refusal of the Ameri-
can and English governments to
acquiesce in it, as it practically
made Germany supreme over
the islands. = and established a
German council or board of con-
troll to rule and govern them. Finally,
Nh. Sherman brought the history of
events to the conference in Washington
between Mr.. Bayard and the British
and German ministers and to the send
ing by each of them of an agent to the
He said that it was manifest that
THE REBELLION OF TAMASEsE
had been organized by the German con-
sui and by German named Weber,
who was at the head of large CONNER
cial house. He mentioned the arrival
of German fleet at the islands some
time in May, 1886, and anzinSulting
letter from the vice admiral to MalietOa.
In which he addressed him not as king,
but as head chief. 1t was after these
insults to the king that United States
Consul Greenbaum raised the United
States flag at the request of MalietOa
over the public buildings in Apia.
For time, he said, the practical
effect of that action unauthorized
as it was) had been to check the
action of the German local authorities.
After the German feet had sailed away
the German and American cOnSulS had
again joined in declaration that Tam
either Of them as king and that Malie-
toa was king. This act had been wholly
without authority, and MI. Greenbaum's
part in it had been very properly dis
avoWed by the American government.
He had no more right to assert pro-
tectorate there than the German or
English consul had. 1t was whilst the
agents of the three conferreeS (Mr. Bay
ard and the Englis and German minis
ters) were engaged in obtaining infor-
nation that the German government
depOsed Malietoa and set up Tamasese.
This was the
WORST FEATURE OF THE CASE,
because, at this very time, the negotia-
Sions were going on on sound. just
and honest basis for the restoration of
the status quo. There were indications,
he thought, that the German govern
ment was coinciding with the German
policy. He was not stating the facts
for the purpose of saying who was
wrong or who was right, OF whether
which she pursued. He could not say,
however, that he found in the papers
any justification for Germany. Prince
Bismarck, whose strong and imperial
will was shown in all of his com
municatiOnS, asserted the equal rights
of each of these governments, but in.
sisted, as a matter of policy, that it
would he better to place the custody of
the islands under the control of one of
the powers, and as Germany has the
largest property interests there, that it
would be best to place it under German
control and power. That was now the
point in controversy. Mr.. Morgan
spoke of the action of the German gov
eminent as being in the nature of dis
courtesy. Mr. Sherman said he thought
so, but he did not care to discuss
the conduct Of the German government.
Mr.. George asked Mr.. Sherman whether
any notice had been given by the Ger
Malletoa that it desired the conference
ended. Mr.. Sherman said that there
had not been, but there had been notice
of the intended action of the German
government in Samoa some six days in
advance. The diplomatic forms, he
added, had been observed, but the sub
stance had not been exactly there. AS
to the newspaper correspondent,
Klein, who had been playing knight
Grant there, the government of
the United States was in no way
responsible for him. The statement of
the man himself, although somewhat
vaingloFiouS in style, showed that he
had nothing to do with the attack on
the German sailors. He sympathiZed
with those who were in rebellion against
Tamasese, went along with them as
newspaper man, and
POSSIBLY TOOK A HAND IN IT,
but the United States government was
III no SenSe TeSpODSiDle iOT HIN. he,
(Mr. Sherman), did not know whether
he was native-born or naturaliZed
citizen. Summing up his long speech
MIR. Sherman said that ithe first thing
to be done was for the United States
to assert its power in the occupancy
and possession of the Bay of Pago-
Pago. That ought to be done immedi-
ately. 1t did not need war to protect a
nations rights. The mere assertion of
these rights, the due regard for them,
the expenditure of money there, the
storing OF coal there. the calling OF YES
sells there-all of these things were the
assertion of power far more influential
than the protocols and diplomatic cor
respondence. Mr.. George-The amend
ments do not menace war, do