Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-02-06

OUR CONTROVERSY WITH GERMANY.-That we
should have serious complications win
Germany in far off Oceanica has awakened an
unusual degree of public interest, and VICE.
spread desire to understand their origin ana
purpose. There is. perhaps, no one In thls
country better informed touching these ques-
| lions than Mr. George II. Bates, of Delaware
who was sent out to Samoa by MIR. Bayard In
| 1886 as a commissioner to study ana report
| upon the questions atissue. He had puplisneo
at length his views as to the merits OF thls
controversy and the proper course 10 DC
pursued. Briefly reviewing the historical feat
| ures ofthe case, he points out that we have
had a representive at the island since 1850
and that prior to 1884 the three treaty powers
England. Germany and ourselves, were In
substantial accord. But the greed of English
| and German traders, which had been becom-
| ing more aggressive from year to year, began
more than ever to interfeie in the domestic
| affairs of the people. Especially was this the
case with the "German Comm ercial ana
Plantation Company" which monopolize the
| German trade, having its headquarters at
Apia and holding intimate relations with hlSh
Officials at Berlin, They have succeeded III
acquiring land on the island by practices lar
from creditable. fomenting discord among the
| people and resistance to the government IN
order to secure their object. Mr. Bates asserts
that this country by It's treaty e Msn 'H ne
his behalf against foreign agglessors ana
| renewed his pledge later on condition that ne
| would maintain ptaca The King Kept falth
with us, but The Germans succeeded 10 driving
him out, and would have occupied the island
/ but our consul raised our nag over tntc o
! S0rnoa and halted the invaders for the moment.
/ THIS act was Gisayowed at Washington, ana
the German government also disavowed respon-
sihiUty tor the conduct OF ITS troope. But the
Hs,11 HQ ~ 1r N
time that the agreksiv policy OF his agents ana
conntrymen has never zen stayed. ana ne
tnters that the controlling influences at Berlin
| have been sufticient TO make the government
| profess policy at variance with the known
and permitted conduct OF its people ana lts
forces on the spot. Now IL seems the oSrnah
chancellor no longer recognizes any treaty
obligations as resting upon him. and denies
that any understanding exists between the
| three powers Immediately interested. We
| have therefore, seen the lawlesS and violent
conduct OF The German forces at Apla. ano
the evident purpose is now manifested 81
Berlin to allow the avowed policy of the gov
eminent to go hand in hand with the acts OF
the consular and military agents at samoa Cd
It is often asked what have we To 90 with al
this, and why should we become emofoIeu
with a forign power because of an island IN
the Pacific ocean? MIR, Bates points out that
the inhabi.apts are intelligent, industrious
and brave, ald tat commercial relations VIII
them are important to ibis country. Zen
wears ago the Samoan government csded 10 us,
| n coalipg station on their coost-a lanolocKeo
harbor in which our ships can safely rae al
anchor.
down here some years a o. and have since
then done nothing to improve the place. NOW
the Senate has made an appropriahon 10
make il available, and 1t is TO ne hopea I'VE Ws
will proceed to occupy it with sDch energy
that our purpose giil not be queStioneu
The canal across the ist bnGs had oeen coinpiel
ed we would long ago have seen lne nee cessl,y
of cca1irg station on the coast OF ms IL anu
| IL lies directly IN the track Of cur commerce
across The Pacific ocean, and Will ne OF lhe
greatest importance TO our ships sent on long
voyages, The present administration will
donbtiess feel somewhat EN- barraSsed In peal
Ling with the delicate questions now presented;
| It will not do to adopt line 81 policy now a q
| change il after the new administrators comes
/ in There ought to be no party lines, however.
in a l.iaEtar of this kind. There Is no american
| of any party Who will feel inclined TO see our
| eeyernment b4 eal lis faith or sit idly by ana
| see other powers violate fneiP treaty oel-
/ cations with u.s. Least OF all Will tnay 2llow
| an indiguity to our Tag or an outrage upon
| our citiZ=ns. Nor can we af1off 10 see eitheI
| England or Germany take possession OF this
| island or destroy either j s independence OF
| antonony England seems to be playing a
| sIhseryiPnt part to the German purpose, ana
! doubtless receives quid pro quo IN some otner
| mart Of the world. we have not the si1ghtest
idea that Bism& ek N ems to persist in his pu I.
! pose at the expense OF rupture with IS
eountrv The German navy is iOr2ll liable
| enough 10 give us "a vast deal OF trouble, bnt
| the German commercial marine SO carefully
"uilt up of lat yesFs w0na De wiped ouh oy
| Again, let Germany lock horns with Us npon
! hits or any other question and her - - eich on
the Rhine W G'd stand but poor ehshce
surely events can scarcely lead TO such re
suits but whether they do or not let our course
be prudent. firm and dignified. II Will nos az
| to Iusf reiI.m mel on Hayti and retreat before
German aggression. We must keep cur ialtn.
compel others to abide by their pledges with
u defend cur fl g and our citizens ON Il :
suit and injury. and If In so dong we eEcl'e
! the wrath of any pOentate or power the young
republic will know how to meet the eTnergen-
| cy.-Edlti1a6rc Sun