Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-08

"Were my regrets" said Mr.. Sewell, cat
the loss of my prestige in the Pacific by
our submission in Samoa the measure
of my humiliating experince
there, could wait patiently
the publication of my testimony and the
certain results of an aroused and intelll-
gent public opinion. But such is not the
case To my lasting chagrin and sorrow,
misled by Mr.. Bayard and acting under
his instructions, | mlsled the weak ana
suffering Samoans into fresh mlstortunes.
Upon Mr.. Bayard and myself as an limo
cent instrument obeying his Instructions,
must rest, in large measure. the grievous
responsibility for the distresses winch now
threaten the very existence OF the Samoan
people. When / arrived in Samoa the H.
surrection of Tamasese, fostered by Ter
man officials for purposes now mace
plain, was on the point OF dlslntegfat1on;
Malietoa, who had been repeatedly held
back by our representatives from asserting
bis authority, had determined to tolerate
this no longer. At this juncture, the day
after arrived, received instructions OF
which the purport was that l should re-
strain Malietoa. did SO, giving him TO
understand as Mr.. Bayard gave me to I'M
derstand that neither he nor his people
would be allowed to suffer from following
the advice | gave him in the name OF our
government. Malitoa yielded at my sollc-
ed that as a treaty power we would insist
upon our treaty right to the independent
existence of Samoa. AS events have shown
[ could not better have served the
German purpose than by this mission OF
mine to Malietoa. As matter or tact the
public documents before congress snow
that the instructions in obedience TO when
| scted on the occasion were sent me al
j, stance of the German and British MINIS
ters In less than q month the German
ships arrived, Malietoa and his chief were
deposed, the man whose life had saved
by my intervention was installed IN MS
place, pitiless persecution began against
Samoans suspected of friendship
for our flag and German control
as effectualIy established as IN
der open annexation Having
restrained Samoans when they could have
DESTROYED Tennessee and with his destruc-
ton the basis for German interference
during the remainder of my service. L
urged their submission to the inevitable,
trusting that finally when the truth was
known our promises 10 them would be
fulfilled and our own honor saved by the
restoration of the status before the con-
ference when [ gave Malietoa such fatal
advice In justice to myself IN the hope
of securing it for the wretched people, l
speak as L do"
"A great deal has been said about the
instructions of the department OF state
to our representatives in Samoa.
VIII you give me some light
on this point as shown in instructions
given you by the department when you
were about to sail for Samoa, but were re.
called by the foreign relations committee
Before leaving" said Mr.. Sewell, Il
had been about the department and with
the president at odd intervals for months,
explaining the situation, pointing out the
inevitable result of the German proceed
incs and warning them that that would
happen which has come to pass. When
the rising Of Mataafa became known and
the German feet was ordered to return TO
Samoa / asserted positively to Mr..
Bavard there could be but one no.
tive in this and that was to actively
assist Tennessee in fighting Mataafa.
Mr.. Bayard repeated to me fresh assur-
ances from Bismarck that Germany did
not care who was king But Immediately
on the arrival OF German ships with a
German consul on board Or Knappe) we
find them siding with Tennessee and pre-
ciDitating the conflict for which the So
means viii be forced to pay heavily. Re-
aiiZing as did the unfortunate predica-
,nent of our own people, bitterly conscious
of our legations to the Samoans sought
to get from Mr. Bayard instructions that
would enable me in some measure to as
sert our proper position there, but all
the instructions | received when
was sfnally despatched to Samoa
was a copy of an apologize
note to the German consul on account OF
an alleged newspaper interview with me
and these fresh assurances from Germany.
"Would you please make statement OF
YOUR views in regard to action OF the state
| department accepting Bismarck PROPOSE
| ton for a conference at Beriin?"
IF am out of accord with the conduct
of the department heretofore in Samoan
| affairs / am much more in accord with il
now. / concur with every one who has
studied the question that the restoration
of the status quo should be pre-
| liminary to any negotiation, anC
that this conference shall be re
newed under conditions at leas
as favorable to US as when it wa:
rudely interrupted by Germany's
| action. Bismarck proposes TO renew The
conference now on German ground. rms
| means much. Mr.. Pendleton, our minis
ter, is sick and whoever represents us is &c
be removed from American public feelins
! and. moreover he is not likely to be wei
acquainted with the subject. Weber, TO
wears German consul IN Samoa, anC
| Becker, the late German consul there, TO
gether with host of other officials wht
| know Samoan politics, are IN Berlin an(
| will aid Bismarck. Without Weber Bis
marck would be unable to negotiate at all
! It. IS known positively that Weber wa
in Washington during the conference
held here coaching the German minister
In the present state of feeling German,
would hardly dare send hin over here
again Besides the history of our negotia
tons with Germany in regard to Samoan
rs pointed out by Mr.. Bates should eau
ton us and make us reluctant to accep
any assurances from Germany, for they
have been made most freely on the eve Q
her most important movements there"
Secretary Bayard was asked toda
about MIR Sewalls resignation, but de
cIinad IN say anyrhinp on the subject