The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-30
MOST SERIOUS ASPECT
OF the Samoan Affair Discussed
by Senator Sherman,
THE UNITED STATES SENATE
Discusses the Situation and the Ohio
Statesman Delivers an Exhaus-
tive spceoh-The Duties ofthis
Government In the Matter.

Government In the Matter.
WASHINGTON, D, O., Jan, 9O,-The
matters in relation to Samoa having been
reached to-day, the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session, When the doors were
reopeRed, Senator Sherman said he
would like to state publicly the position
which he took in regard to the Samoan
question so that it might appear n The
Record, o.
Alter describing the location, popula.
ton, ETC., Of the islands, Mr.. Sherman
said,
The attention Of the United States had
been early called to those islands; and a
special agent was sent there, who after
wards became minister to the King Of
Samoa and who made a treaty between
the United States and Samoa. That the
treaty was made In 1878 and was signed
by Mr., Evarts and the king. It's second
article gave to the United Stltes the
privilege OF entering and using the liar.
borof Pango Pango and establishing there
Coaling and naval supply station; and
ts nth section provided that, in case OF
differences with other nations, the gov
ernment Of the United States would
employ his good Offices in adjusting
such differences. This, Mr., Sherman
said, was the basis ot the right Of the
United States to occupy and hold..and
to establish In the harbor Of Padgo- Pango
a station for coal and other naval sup
plies. Within year or two afterwards
somewhat similar treaties had been
made with Germany aAd with Great
Britain by which those governments OBJ.
tanned like privileges in other portions Of
the islands. So that, Mr.. Sherman said,
each OF these three great commercial
nations secured by treaties, following
each other rapidly, privileges somewhat
similar In character, but in different 10.
calities, each securing u coaliug station
and harbor.
FURTHER ADVANCEMENT.
Mr., Sherman went on to speak Of a
further arrangement made shortly after
wards, and which was, he said, very i'm.
portant, 1t had been entered into be.
tween Great Britain and the government
of Samoa; but the German and Ameri.
can governments were also inCluded in
It, by which the town and district OF
Apia were constituted into 9, muni.
cipality, and were declared to be neu.
tral territory where each OF the three
nations might establish thuir store
houses, their workshops, and all
other buildings necessary. for
carrying on their traffic III these
islands. This territory OF Apia was now
known as the capital OF tho Samoan
islands aud was set aside for Commercial
purposes, the government OF Samoa
being practically excluded from 1t. The
municipal board consisted OF the Ger
man, English and American consuls. |
This treaty or agreement had not been
submitted to tile Senate, but had been
signed by the English consul and by the |
captain OF the American ship-of.war
Lackawanna. 1t had been acted upon
by all three nations as in the nature OF
agreement for the possession and oCCu-
pancy OF that neutral territory.
THE GERMAN INSULTS.
Finally Mr.. Sherman brought the his.
tory Of events to the conference at Wush-
ington between Mr.. Bayard and the
British and German ministers, and to
the sending by each OF them OF IN
agent TO the Islands TO obtain further in-
formation. lie said that It was manifest
that the rebellion OF Tamasese had been
organized by the German Consul and by
German named Weber, who was at the
head Of a large commercial house. He
mentioned the arrival Of German fleet
at the Islands some time in May, 1885,
and spoke OF an insulting letter from the
Vice Admiral to Malietoa, in which he
addressed him not as king, but as head
chiet.
1t was after these insults TO the king
that United States Consul Greenbaum
raised the United States flag at the re-
quest OF Malietba over the public build.
ings IN Apia. For a time, he said, the
practical effect Of that action, unauthor-
lied as II was, was a check TO the action
OF the German local authorities. After
the German fleet had sailed away the
German and American ConsulS
had again Joined In declaration that
Tanasese never had been recognized
by either OF them as King and that
Malietoa was King. This act had been
wholly without authority and Mr.. Green
baums part In 1t had very properly been
disavowed blythe American Government.
He had no more right TO assert protec.
torate there than the German or English
consul had. 1t was whilst the agents Of
the three conferees (Mr. Bayard and the
English and German minlsters) were en-
gagged In obtaining information that the
German Government deposed Malietoa
and set up Tamasese.
ENdLAND's HAND IN IT.
This was the worst feature Of the case,
because at this very time the negotla-
tions were going on on sound, Just and
honest basis for the restoration Of the
status quo. There were indications, he
; thought, that tho English government
was coinCidlng with the German poll
cy. He,was not stating the facts for the
purp6be Of saying who was wrong or
who was right, or whether Germany
was justified In tho course which she
pursued. Ho could not say, however,
that he found In tho papers any
juBtication for Germany. Prince
Bismarck, whose strong and i'm.
perial will was shown In all bis
communications, asserted the equal
rights OF each Of these governments, but
insisted as a matter Of policy that II
, would DO better 10 place the custody Of
The Islands under tho control Of one Of
the powers, and as Germany had the
largest property interests there, that II
would 10 best 10 place II under German
control and power. Summing up bis
long speech, Mr.. Sherman said that the
frat thing 10 be donewW for the United
States 10 assert lts power 10 the occu'
= panuy and possession Of the bay Of Pam
/, go.Pango. That ought 10 DO done linz
nedlalely, 1tdld not need war 10 pro-
teCt nations rights, The mere Rgser'
= ton Of those rights, the due regard for
them, the expenditure Of money there,
. all Of these things were assertions oil
! power far more Influential than the
7 t,enlInnln aaI Ilntnt,.altn NneeaathfiHa