Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-01-30
Te|egraphic Tidings
THE PACIFIC WATERS
Consul Sewell Tells of the Samoan
Troubles-Bayard's Weak
Policy.
Germany Brsting up and the Amer
lean Congress Talking
Fight.

correspondent telegraphs that he has seen
the secret testimony given by Consul.
General Sewell before the senate sub
committee that investigated the Samoan
question. There has probably never been
given an official of the government of the
United States testimony more condcm-
natory OF the head of the department OF
which he was an official. Throughout
the testimony there Is guarded but enl-
phatic condemnation OF the attitude OF
Secretary Bayard toward the Samoans.
Mr. Sewell constantly tells of appeals
made to the state department to support
him in the position which he took, under
instructions, he SAYS, from Secretary
Bayard, and he constantly suggests that
the Samoan people have been placed in
this present unpleasant predicament by
the failure of the state department to full
fill its promises made through hm.
Sewel gave history OF the negotiation OF
the treaty with Samoa and Of the diff
culties of the island
THE INTERPRETERS CAPTURE.
In answer to Il question by Mr.. Evarts
regarding the ambassador from Samoa
with whom the treaty was negotiated,
VI
pressed into the service OF the govern
ment which Germany put into power, as
an Interpreter, forced to serve by threats
at the peril of his life. lie is an intcIi-
gent man, and the fact that We sent him
on a vessel OF war was one OF the cVi-
dences of our attitude toward those proltp
that much impressed him.
Il sometimes think, as affairs have
gone on, it was quite unfortunate We eyer
had treaty with them and ever main
tanned the attitude toward them We have,
which has not been consistently main
tanned. They have been made to suffer
for this, and they are suffering now most
cruelty"
GERMANY AND ENGLAND.
Concerning the attack OF Germany upon
the Samoans, Mr.. SewelI said: II was
quickly made confident on my arrival in
Samoa, from what was suggested to me
with some positiveness from German
source, that this movement then contem-
plated by Germany was part of great
movement which would he gradually en-
forced, and think the course of recent
events has justified this conclusion.
1T was that Germany was to take
Samoa and England was to take Tonga
island, and it was suggested that the
Hawaiian islands would remain as they
were. But | was made to feel at that
time, and my impression has been
strengthened since, that if the Samoan
islands went to Germany and Tonga to
England, both of those powers combined
would, for the benefit of either, begin
onfiva onarofinnp IJ,u.n;;
BULLYING BUSINESS.
Consul Sewell related at length the
high-handed and bullying acts of the Ger
mans and particularly their very evident
animosity toward Americans, whom they
are evidently bent on driving out of the
country, that they may monopolize its
trade. Mataafa has refrained from active
operations against the insurgents under
Tamasese except in defense, because of
assurances given him by Secretary Bay
ard through Consul Sewell that the Unit
ed States would see that his government,
which is the only one, was maintained.
The state department has utterly failed
to do thing toward carrying out these
promises, and Mataafa is in very I'M
pleasant predicament
BAYARD's WEAKNESS.
Consul Sewell told the committee that
the sending of our war ships to Samoa
with the class of instructions Admiral
Kimberly had been given would be USE
less. The German commanders are fully
advised of the nature of these instructions
and know just how far they can go with
them. 'It is not question of actual pro-
lection of American prop erty there, "said
Mr.. Sewell, $50 much as the protection of
valuable and growing commerce, and the
fulfllment of absolute pledges made to
that people. This can be done only by
protecting the Samoans against spolia-
ton.
1t is not unlikely that Secretary Whit
ney will charter one of the Pacific mail
steamers in San Francisco for use in the
Samoan matter, and it is understood that
negotiations are now going on with Sup
erintendent Bullay in New York and the
secretary in regard to securing one of the
lerge steamers used in China trade.
SOUNDS wAR-LKE.
Capt. Thomas, of Illinois, will follow