Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-30
THE SAMOAN INCIDENT.
It is Discussed in the Senate.
SOME STIRRING SPEECHES MADE
The Oklahoma Bill Debated in
the House.
The Senate.

Mr.. Mitchell offered a resolution (Which was
agreed to) calling ON the Secretary of the
Treasury for statement of the amounts in the
sinking fund to the credit of the Union and Gen.
tral Pacific railroad companies, respectively, on
the lst of February, 1889, under the Thur
man act, with the amount of each invested in
bonds; the market value of such bonds. and
the amount which would have been in the sink
ing fund if no investment in bonds had been
made.
THE DIPLOMATIC BILL RESUMED.
The Senate resumed consideration Of the
diplomatic and consular appropriation bill
the question being on the amendments affect
ing the Samoan Islands,
Mr.. Dolph said that the question was one of
special and local interest to the people of the
Pacific coast, and that whatever might be
thought as to the propriety Of a general dis
cusslon OF American rights and interests in the
Samoan Islands, and of the relations of the
government of the United States to the Ger
man government, the discussion had proceeded
SO far as to render further discussion desir-
able
his own individual views, and should neither
compromise the government nor receive undue
attention elsewhere.
After general description of the islands,
their products, inhabitants and commercial i'm
portance, Mr.. Dolph reviewed the history of
took an interest in the Samoan Islands and the
recent occurrences, which Che said) had in
volved the United States in some controversy
with the German government
He spoke OF Col. Steinberger's mission to the
islands as United States consular agent and of
the petition which he brought to the United
States signed by the principal chiefs-Malietoa
Ga predecessor of the late king among others
asking for annexation and showing their belief
that the United States government had ex-
tended protectorate over them Steinberger
(he sald) had been sent back with presents
from the United States government with
letter from President Grant, expressing the
most lively interest in the people of the
islands and hope that their independent au-
tonomy would be preserved. Stenberger had
soon afterward left the service of the
United States government and became premier
OF King Malietoa's government-this being the
first stable government established there; and
this autonomous Cor rather individually gov
ernment of Steinberger continued till Febru-
ary, 1878, when he was arrested by the officers
and men of q British man-ot-war, deported
taken to one of the Fiji islands, and there re-
leased. He spoke of the treaty or convention of
November. 1884, between Samoa and Germany
as one which, if it had been executed, would
have substantially secured to the German gov
ernment the entire control of the islands.
Mr.. Morgan remarked that that convention
contained evidence absolutely convincing of
the determination of Germany to acquire juris-
diction and power in Samoa, and that Germany
would not have abandoned it but for the pres
sure brought to bear by other interested
powers.
Mr.. Dolph said that the extensive provisions
of that treaty and the powers conferred by it on
Germany were entirely incompatible with the
independence and autonomy of the native gov
ernment and were inconsistent with American
treaty rights there, but that as soon as the
German feet sailed away the treaty had been
repudiated by Mahetoa as having been signed
under protest.
Mr.. Morgan agreed as to its being necessarily
implied; but said that, if it had not been re-
duced to writing and made erof positive
agreement, then the violation of the status quo
by Germany was not a breach Of faith, but
discourtesy. That the point which he
wanted to get at-whether there was a duty
resting on the United States government to
vIND1cATE ITS RIGHTS AND CHARACTER.
Mr.. Dolph-Our interests, and our rights,
and our duty, as nation, in reference to the
Samoan Islands, rests Gin my judgment) on a
broader principle than anything arising out of
the conference, or out of the treaty with the
Samoan Islands, or out of the treaties of other
European governments with them. As l pro-
ceed | shall develop the grounds on which
think the United States should interest itself
in Samoan affairs. 1 do not propose, at this
time, to criticise the action of the German gov
ernment. 1t Is in accordance with the policy
sition-which has prevailed until almost all the
islands of the Pacific ocean have been par
titioned between them.
Coming down to the specific amendments Mr.
Dolph said ne could hardly conceive why the
government should spend 500 600 in establish
ing coaling station at Pago-Pago unless the
government should insist that all it's rights
were to continue. II Congress were to inter-
fere in the matter, something very different
from the pending amendments would be re-
L. n 4
he should say that Congress should direct
the President to insist upon a restoration, bv
the German government of the status quo, at
the time of the Washington conference, and to
notify the German government that the United
States would not permit the Samson Islands to
pass under the control of any foreign nation. and
that their independent autonomy must be MAIN
tanned. he saw no good reason why if neces-
sary and if requested by the Samoan people,
an American protectorate should not be estab-
lished over them; and, that he said. would be
an entirely different thing from Intervention
as practiced by European powers on the conti-
nent of Europe.
While discussing the Monroe doctrine Mr..
Dolph received telegram, which lie sent to
the clerks desk and had read 1t was signed
by John c. Henderson. of los west 40th street,
New York, and described the great Importance
to the defense of the Pacific coast OF having
the Samoan Islands
CONTROLLED ENTIRELY BY THE UNITED States
MIR. Gray asked Mr.. Dolph whether he
seriously contended that the setting up of a
half-civilized monarchy in Samoa, and the
amounting half-savage with the oil of conse-
Grafton, was an assertion of the Monroe doc
trine.
Mr. Dolph-No. / am not asking that the
United States shall do that. / do not under
stand that the United States propose to do
that. That is what has been done by Ger
many. That is forcible interference with
the internal affairs of the Samoan Islands
by foreign power. 1t that which was
declared against by President Monroe. l say
that the Monroe doctrine should be asserted in
reference 10 the Samoan Islands, as they come
within It's terms
Mr.. Blair asked Mr.. Dolph whether it was
a fact (as he had been informed) that the Sa-
moan "savages" were Presbyterians. and were
quite as exemplary as the average people of
the United States.
Mr.. Dolph replied that the people Of the
Samoan Islands were all nominally Christians,
but he did not understand that they were all
Presbyterians. Consul-General Sewall had in
formed the committee that, morning aud eve-
ming. the incense of divine worship arose in
every Samoan household.
Mr. Eustis asked Mr. Dolph whether the
same reasons that applied to the extension Of
the Monroe doctrine to the Sandwich Islands
applied equally as strong to its extension to the
Samoan Islands.
Mr.. Dolph replied in the affirmative. There
was no distinction between both cases. The
Samoan Islands bore the same relation to
Southeru California that the Sandvich Ialands