New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
SAMOAN ETHICS.

Admiral Kimberly makes q suggestion to
the Navy Department which should be acted
upon. This is, that there should be some suit
able recognition OF the services Of the natives
in saving the lives Of American sailors at Sa-
moa, and in aiding the officers and men In OBJ
tanning stores from the wrecked vessels. He
reports that Maletoa sent hundreds Of his fol-
lowers from camp and placed them at his dis
posal when there was everything to be done
and no time to lose. As for the brave Samoans
who breasted the fury Of the waves in desperate
but heroic attempts to save life, the Admiral
is confident that Americans will not be content
to allow their services TO pass unrewarded. We
doubt whether there is any fund under the con-
troll Of the Department that can be used for this
purpose. But Congress when IL meets will un-
doubtedly make a special appropriation, as was
done when the natives at the mouth OF the
Lena received recognition for heir kindness
and hospitality to the Jeannettessurvivors.
BY no means one Of the least remarkable in
cidents Of the terrible storm at Apia so power
fully and viyidly described in last Sundays
TRIBUNE was the behavior Of the Samoan ma
tives toward the Germans. When the forces Of
nature 50 .ruthlessIX ret at naught the devices
and constructions ofman, and the German war
ships were tessed and blown like shells about
The hssbor of Apia, only to be hurled. upon
reef or shore, and the natives had only to pre-
serve the attitude of passive spectators to wit
ness the destruction Of their enemies what did
these unciviized islanders, these members Of
an "inferior racer do? They did not hesitate
one moment, but plunged into the roaring surf
and at the imminent risk Of their liyes-and
with the sacrifice Of some life-they did all that
was humanity possible TO rescue the imperilled
seamen. They worked enthusiastically, IN
ceasingly, in this way until their object was
accomplishment il subsequently they asked
for any reward, the fact has certainly not been
reported.
Now it is worth while TO remember that 30
called civilized and Christian peoples have not
always exhibited q like devotion and Self-sacri-
fee even when the question was of rescuing
shipwrecked men with whose nations their own
was at peace. 1t is not SO very long ago that
EnRlishmen living on the coast OF Cornwall
made business OF wrecking, and IL has been
asserted that some of them were capable, not
only of plundering wrecks and numbering the
half drowned survivors, but of Turing vessels
ashore by displaying false lights. When, fur
Their back in history the Spanish Armada was
dispersed and scores of vessels driven ashore
in the British Islands. the case was akin to
that of the Samosns and the Germans-but the
results were very different Too often the
Spaniards were met, as they struggled on shore,
by fierce foes, who thought it their duty to
crush the enemies 80 delivered into their hands.
The poor samoans clearly entertained no such
ideas. They only saw human beings In sore
distress. They only felt the impulses Of COM
passion and humanity. II Is true that these
polynesians belong TO the noble Maori mce ;
the fairest, perhaps Of ali the uncivilixed peo-
| Pies, and one which has shown, In New
! Zealand, Che possssstcn Of virtues nsyer too