Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-20
NCWo Uy 'OiOSioPH
 FROE ALL QUARTERS. THE SAMOAN QUESTION. Government RefusaIs To
 Form A Protectorate. DEVASTATION FROM A CYCLONE. likeness Causes Insanity
 Among Convicts. THE PARNELL COMMISSION. The Senate Makes ApprOpri- atiOns For Lighthouses.
THE PARNELL COMMISSION.
THE SAMOAN QUESTION.

A Statement Regarding Samoa Pre- pared at tho Department of State A Refusal ro Assume Protsctorate Was Four Times Made by the Gov- ernmeng.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The following statement in regard to the Samoan question was prepared at the Department of State and furnished for publication to-day:
 The advocates of the assumption of a vir- tual protectorate over the Samoan Islands by the United States appear to have lost sight of the fact that this government, in pursuance of it's traditional and established policy re- garding remote foreign possessions, has at least five times refused to assume such 8 relation. The dlsavowal by MT. Bayard or Consul Greenbaum's act in raising the American flag and declaring protec- torate in the name of the United States is fresh in the public mind and need hot be further discussed. But similar refusal to assume such protectorate was thrice, in- deed four times, previously made by this government. It will be remembered in 1875 one Steinbergsr was sent out by President Grant as a special agent, to report on the condition of the islands. Having made his report he returned in the following year ss the bearer of some presents and messages
 
 subsequently rumored, however, that Stein berger had promised the natives the protection of the United States. On May 1, 1876, the President sent to the House of Representatives report of MT. Fish, then Secretary of State, in which it was stated that Steinberger appear ed to have exceeded his instructions. Ac- companying this report was dispatch from Mr. Fish to Steinberger dated May 6, 1875, in which the former, referring to the ale gation that Steinberger had promised the Samoans the protection of the United States said: "1f this be as repre- scented it is much to be regretted, as no such promise was made, nor any hope of such protection was held out by warrant of this government, and such promise, if made, was one which this department, in the absence of a formal treaty, or of the sanction of Con- gress, has no right to authorize you to make"
 In 1887 MT. Colmnesit raised the United States flag over the Samoan flag, but his act was not sustained by his government, but more notable still was the similar raising of the American flag for the purpose of de elaring a proteotorate in February, 1878, when MT. Griffin was United States consul at Apia. At that time Mamea, the Samoan, who signed with Mir. Evarts the treaty now existing between the United States and Samoa was in this country, whither he had come, as his people we'll understood, for the negotiation of & treaty of protection. At the same time the British high commissioner was at Apia in man-of-war, endeavoring to induce the Samoans to conclude the treaty subsequently ratified with Great Britain.
 But the natives refused to enter into any engagement whatever until they had learned the result of their application to his govern- ment for treaty of protection. Germany also had then no treaty with the islands. The way was clear to the United States to assume 6 protectorate if it had thought proper to do so. On February 2, 1878, the Samoan gov ernment, in agreement with United States Consul Griffin and in furtherance of the pur- pose with which Mamea was charged and fearing also least the British commissioner might resort to force to compel the conclusion of the treaty with Great Britain had the United States flag raised over that of Samoa on the government. The United treaty concluded by Mir. Evarts and Memea only provided for the exercise of this govern ment's officers.
 Thus, at 6 time when the Islands had no treaty relations with any foreign power, the United States, under former administrations, three times refused to sustain protectorate actually promised or declared in Samoa, and rejected Memea's overtures for 8 treaty of protection.
 These area important facts to be consider ed in relation to the advocacy by some persons of the assumption now by the United States of virtual though not nominal protectorate over the Samoan group. This is the most onerous form which the obligation of protec- ton could assume, since it would render the United States practically responsible for the consequences of the acts of these semi-civi- lzed and unorganiZed tribes without the right to control them.