New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-01
THE DEBATE IN THE SENATE.


The debate on the Samoan question began to-day,
when the Senate resumed consideration of the Dplo
matte and Consular Appropriation bill, the pending
question being the amendment referring to Samoa
Mr. Reagan offered the amendment which he had I'm
dcated yesterday-to insert tho words and for the
protection OF the rights Of American citizens residing
in such islands, and TO preserve the neutrality and In
dependence thereokS
Mr Hale said he would not object to the first clause
OF the proposed amendment but he was not willing
to 20 further than that Ho not willing for tho
senate TO declare armatvely that IL wond preserve
the neutrality or maintain the Independence Of any
people, Tho matter might bs safely left to the Ex-
ecutve
Mr.. sherman agreed With the views expressed By
SIR Hale, and said that the COMMITTEES on Foreign
Relations bad agreed unanimously to the Two amend
ments reported. The words proposed TO be insarsed
BY Mr.. Reagans amendment, II they had any meaning
a. all onv tended 10 weaken the force Of the language
used I'm the committees amendments. Why tax
about protection to American ctZensf What act Oh
cruelty had been done in Samoa to any American cru
,en1 No American citizen had been killed thcro.
Why use Fourth Of July' language In a Dill oennins
tho purpose and objects OF the President In enforcing
and maintaining treaty oblIgationsf lie trusted 'nat
az the Democratic party was so strongly represehteo
in the Committee Foreign Relations Dy sucn uis-
tln0uished gentlemen as Senators Morgan, SALISBURY
10 stand as they wero reported.
Mr Frve did not agree with Mr.. Sherman that no
vronrs had been committed In Samoa against Amer
,can citizens He thought the evidence very con-
clusIye that wrongs had been committed on tnem'
Rut that was not at issue, and he hoped thas he
senator from Texas would not insist on his amend
mani now. Tho remarks Of the Senator yesterday
indicated that he and the speaker were in entire sc
cord on the matter OF Samoa The two amendments
r,ported from the Committee on Foreign Relations
were not in his Judgment, such as. the committee was
called upon 10 report. But, so far as they wens
they were right, ana ought to DO sustained they
dd not comprise all that Congress ought TO do The
remarks of tho Senator from Texas came very much
nearer 10 It than the report OF the committee. IL
WAS not Germany It was not Bismarck 10 was nothing
hut a German trading firm That firm had absolute
and supreme powor to-day the Samoan Islands,
and the German consul received his orders from IL
The speaker doubted whether Germany had any
understanding OF what had really been going on at
those islands for the last two or three years. The
King of samoa vas friendly to- tho United states' and
nine OF the chiefs out Of the ten friendly aud
tha sumity of the German trading firm against the
King and the chiefs entirely from the fact that
thew were friends of the United States The Germans
had without authority, and With one Of the grayest
insults ever committed against the United States de-
lberately els, ated to power and made King rebel
Tamasese who had not Samoan chief behind HIM
not one. Tamasese nothing but puppet In tho
hands OF the German trading firm. II he were per
mitted to be established and were recognized as King
one of his first acts under tho instructions OF the
German trading hrm would be TO give the necessary
notice for the abrogaton of the treaty with the
limited States and the harbor of Pago-Page would DO
utterly lost TO the United eIates.
Mr. salisbury remarked that IL the United States
dio not recognize Tamasese as King IL would not rec
ognizo any notice from him Of termination OF the
treaty.
had vested right In the harbor OF PagoPago of which
A. eould not be divested by abrogation OF the
treaty.
Mr. Frye disagreed with that view of Mr.. shetman
~ tho ten wears provided for In the treaty had run OUT
without the United states having avaled itself OF Its
rights under the treaty. 10 was entirely clear 10 MN
that the moment notice was given Of termination OF
the treaty the rights OF the United States ceased In
IIs Judgment the amendments reported by tho
committee on Foreign Relations did not bring up the
oaI Samoan question Tho real question at issue to-
dav between the United States and the Empire OF
Germany was not necessarily before the Senate for
a,scnsslon under these two Items Of appropriation,
nor In his Judgment the Senate ready to-day Tor
tho discussion He expected TO see the day come, and
Gro long when there would he q proposition before
The senate (rpported he hoped, from the Committee
ON Foreign Relatons) that would bring up the whole
question OF the differences at issue between the
Trntted States and Germany. Then he should be
verv hapuv indeed to enter into the discussion.
The testimony of oonsul-Generai sewau Ito whom
Mr. Frye paid high compliment for his intelligence
nd na,r,otIsm, was still secret document, and
until n was made public the real question could not
he properly discussed Neither was the report Of
Mr.. Bates he agent sent by the state Department to
gamoa) public document
,tr a,ewrt-wIa the Senator state what .ho
,h,rls ought to be done In the mattcr'
NJ Erve-There Is not fourthrate Power In
r,,rore which. II ~ had been party to 3 con-
ference with Germany as to the autonomy and IN
dcnendeuce Of Samoa, and II Germany pending that
eon,ernce and without notice, had deliberately or
dorsa her ships Of war TO violate that autonomy and
would not have rsked Its nic on The
CsntiHuea on second Page.