Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-02-09
A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS


WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l.-The President
transmitted to Congress late Wednesday
afternoon q message on Samoan affairs,
accompanied by number Of documents.
In his message the President says:
10 the COnJrtss--I had the honor on tho
18th inst. TO communicate 10 your honorable
body certain correspondence and documents IN
relation to afIairs IN the Samoan islands, and
hay ng since received further dispatches from
the Vice Consul at Apa and the commander
OF the United States naval vessel Nipsio
In those waters. ! lose no time IN
laying them before you. also trans.
nit herewith the fun text OF instruction from
Prince Won b smarct TO the German Minister
at this capital, which was communicated on
the afternoon Of tho S8th inst This appears TO
be an amplifcation OF prior telegraphic In
s,ructoa on the same subject communicated
through the same channel and which, being
set forth in the note OF the 18th inst of the SEQ.
retary OF State 10 Count Won Arco Valley,
the German NJ mister, was duly laid before
Congress with my last message in relation
10 Samoan AFFAIRS II is also proper 10 inform
you that on Monday the 2Sth inst. the oeca-
sion of the communication OF tho note OF
the Prince Chancellor, the Secretary o! State
was given 10 understand by the German Minis
ter that propos ton from his Government 70
that OF the United States for conference on
the Samoan subject was on It's way by mail
having left Berlin on the goth inst: SO that its
arrival here in due course OF mall con be
looked FOR IN very short time. In reply to an
inquiry from the Secretary Of Statc wLether
the proposition referred to was for renewal
OF the joint conference between the United
States, Germany and Great Britain, which
was suspended n july 1887, or for the consid.
Grafton OF Samoan affairs ab novo. The Ger.
man Minister stated his inability 10 answer
until the proposition which left Berlin on the
20th inst. should have been received shall
heIe.fter communicate 10 the Congress all In.
formation before me II rt latiop 10 the Samoan
status. GROVER CLEvELASD"
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3I.-At the conclusion Of
the morning bus ness Wednesday the Senate
took up the Consular and Diplomatic Appro-
priation bill, and Senator Dolph tOre.) took
the noor He said the views he would express
would be his individual views and should
neither compromise the Government nor re-
cegve undue attention elsewhere. Senator
Dolph then went Into long history OF the ISL
snds and the political relations OF the United
States and Germany. He said that II tho
treaty OF November. 1884, between Samoa and
Germany had been executed it would have
substantially secured 10 the German Govern
Senator Mctgan (Als.l said that the conven.
tion contained evidence absolutely convincing
OF the deterfn nation OF Germany 10 acquire
1urisd iction and power in Samon.
Senator Dolph said that he did not desire to
erltlcise the action OF the German Govern
nent which was in accordance with the
European policy OF acquisition. He thought
that Congress in the present circumstances
should direct the President to insist upon
restoration by the German Government OF the
status auo-,at the me OF the Washington
conference and 70 notify the German Govern
ment that lsho independent autonomy OF tho
Samoan islbnds must be maintained. He saw
no good reason why II necessary and If re-
quested by the Samoan people, an American
proteo,orate should not be established over
them, and tha. would be an entirely different
thing from Intervention as prac,iced by Eu-
ropean powers on the continent OF Europe.
Senator Gray lDel) asked Senator Dolph
whether he seriously contended that the set
ting up OF half civilized monarchy IN Samos
and snnointing OF half savage with oil OF
consecration was an assertion Of the Monroe
doctrine. Senator Dolph replied that he was
not asIing the United States to do that. That
was what had been done by Germany.
Senator Reagan (Tex.) reviewed the entire
situation. He said that the President under
etoou tnat ne nuu exhausted MS autnorty
under the constitution, and IN reply to his ap-
peal Congress proposed to appropriate 100000
"for the execution OF the obi cations and the
protection OF the interests OF the United
States" Senator Reagan declared that no
American citizen could read the CORE
spondence without feeling humiliation 10 see
tho rights OF the United States brutaliy over
ridden and trodden down by German subal.
kerns, while the German Prime Mn ster was
protesting friendship and desire TO maintain
proper relations with the Government Of the
United States. II Congress was possessed OF
BIsmarck's force OF Will the trouble would be
qu okly settled and without war; but II wo
hesitate. II we vaccs,e II We show that We
have rights but VIII not vindcaie them,
We will certainly lose what rights VIC have in
6amon. Tho humiliation OF great Nation In
che face OF an arrogant power, he SAID, was
worse than war. He, suggested TO add TO the
pending amendment the words "and for the
protection OF the rights OF American ci, izens
residing in sad Islands and to preserve the
neutrality and independence Of their people,"