New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-31
DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH.

nup,o Neyv-Y York WorldD comedies substan-
HaI and even brilliant triumph for the Admin
;strot;on in the Samoan treaty, convention
has been negotiated at Berlin and will receive
the SIGNATURES of the Commissioners as soon as
tho teTt has been submitted to and received the
sanction of the three Governments. This basis OF
settlement our Democratic contemporary frankly
admits will prove satisfactory in all respects 70
Americans. Nearly all points advanced by the
limited States Commissioners have been con-
oeded Malietoa is to be reinstated; absolute
native autonomy is guaranteed; scheme OF
constitutional government from which foreign
supremacy is excluded, is provided; the night
of each of the three Powers TO maintain coal
Ing. station is recognized and Sancdonedi ana
the German demand for an indemnity for loss
of life and property is reduced TO nomlnal
sum which will not impoverish the Samoans'
A treaty involving these concessions and con-
ditions can hardly be regarded as anything
but a signal victory Of American diplomacy
Everything which the United States Govern
ment was justified either by its treaty rights
or by its commercial interests in demanding has
been obtained. The Treaty is the first trophy
of the Harrison Administration. 1t marks
radical departure from the Democratic policy OF
compromising National rights and frltte1n8
away American interests.
While reserving comments upon the Treaty
until the text shall be furnished by the State
Department or from the German Foreign once
in an authoritative form, we are content TO &C
cept the judgment Of leading Democratic
journal respecting the brilliant success Of the
American Commissioners, acting under compre-
hensive instructions from Secretary Blaine.
The restoration of the depoSed King with the
privileges Of free election by the native chiefs, is
the fundamental condition Of the settlement,
and this illustrates at glance the contrast be-
tween Democratic and Republican diplomacy.
After the temporary adjournment Of the Wash
ington Conference in 1887 the German fleet
swooped down upon the islands and the King
was carried away a prisoner ON man Of-war.
In the circumstances this was an atfront to the
American Government. A feet should have
ben sent Immediately to Samoa, and the restor-
alton of the status quo inaexibly demanded.
Mr. Bayard ran through the whole gamut OF
remonstrance, but utterly neglected TO convey to
Great Britain and Germany positive impress
sion that the United States Government was
thoroughly in earnest and prepared to resent
the indigniGes TO which 1t had been subjected.
Only three months have passed since the in
auguration of Republican President, and the
status quo is the basis Of a treaty embOdying
every reasonable American demand.
Our Democratic friends will undoubtedly as
cribe TO MIR Bayard much Of the credit that
belongs lcgitmately to the Harrison Admins
tration for disposing Of the Samoan controversy.
They will assert that Secretary Blaine has fol-
| lowed in tho main his predecessors diplomatic
lines, and that the convention embOdieS many
of the points contended for by the previous Ad-
minstration. They will find it convenient to
forget that Mr.. Bayard never asked for the re-
| inStatement OF Malietoa, but merely recon-
mended the election Of new King and Vice
King. They will naturally omit all reference
to the farce of TamaseSes election by group Of
intimidated Samoan chiefs, which the Bis
marcks, father and son, considered an ample
answer to Mr.. Bayard's plea for native auton-
omy. They will vaguely raier to the general
| lines of discussion which Secretary blaine
found marked out for him by his predecessor.
| and vaingloriously assume that Democratic
diplomacy has been tiumphantly indicated.
| The country will not be deceived by such
| specious pleas. II knows that Mr.. Bayard left
! office after four years of faint hearted and in
| glorious negotiation and that there has been a
marked change in the conduct Of foreign affairs
since the restoration of the Republican party to
power The Democratic Administration habitu
ally made concessions TO all the great Powers
with which it came into contact. With the ad-
vent of a Republican Administration the Ma
ton witnesses the triumphs of self-respecting
and resolute American diplomacy worthy of a
progressive, pacific, and at the same time in
tensely proud Nation of sixty millions