The Helena independent., 1889-07-30
WITH A GREAT BIG K.
AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC sNoss.
American Interests in Samoa Subor-
dinated % the Vanity OF kasson,
Phelps and Bates


treaty agreed On al Berlin regarding Ihe ls
lands OF Samoa should De rejected when Al
is considered By the senate. The demo
cratic senators, II the REPORTS b true which
are leaking out from the state department
and from the G. rman foreign oihee' viii
have much better reason for voting against
the treaty than their republican colleagues
had tor voting against The fisheries treaty
year ago.
Mr. Blaine's vaunted triumph in the Sa-
moan matter may prove in truth as great
q surrender of American rights as MI.
BAyard's action WAS charged with being.
The truth seem 10 be thEt Mr. Blaine him
self was not satisfied with the terms made
by our commissioners At Berlin. but he
finally yielded IN part rather than nave
the conference end in failure Ii was the
unfortunate condition Of cur commission
that al least two Of IFS mem bers had pei
sonal aims which made u mole important
that they should succeed Ia some negOtla-
uon than that they should resUlutely stand
for American rights even at The risk Of
breaking Up the conference.
Mr. KassOn and MT Phelps had their
eyes 10 is said, on the mission 20 the Ger
man court, and If they yielded American
rights which should have been maintained
IL would not be an unnatural criticism that
they were more ANXIOUS 10 cUnclliale the
court and the people with which each
hoped 10 deal than 70 srurdily defend
American interests even al the risk of
making themselves unpopular Ia Berlin
Even Mr.. Bates, It Is understood, " as 10
a. apolUgetic mood toward Germany, be-
cause he felt The necessity ui couuteract-
INK the effect OF his articles published IN
Tile Century.
Nr. Phelps was the brains Of the CON-
mission Aud il soon became known that he
had been promised before leaving America
that the prlze of the Ienlan mission should
Dee his II the negotiations succeeded. IL
Was some time before Mr., kasson learned
OF this. and vi "a he Cld II die not seem 70
Increase his interest ia maintaining the
American side OF the case. Mr. kassOn, lt
is alleged, Was lofty and BON OAstIc, Appar
emily more disposed to copy the customs OF
Europe than % distinguish himself by
sturdy AmericAnism-
me steamer which carried out the com
mission had not prUceeded far On It's voyage
when the cOlDred messenger sent by The
state departme.t appeared on deck In a
respleudrns coat Of blue, with brass but
tons. The other commissioners might have
thought this proper tribute 10 the dignity
OF their Office II they had not observed that
the buttons were emblaZdned with big X.
This pskzled them a little At tiTst, but they
f,fpsently discovered that lt was Mr. kas-
sons delicate way. IN the absence OF a coat
of arms Of raising himself tc level with
the effete arstocTacies VI the cid world.
IUFIE Is llLllr nttaUA III dA a lEuA pNAlll uu
the part of our commissioners would have
obtained ior this country everything it was
disposed 10 ask The German mcrcha anita
who have extensive relations with this
were very Testive under the posi-
bilIty that Germany might so 70 war with
the great republic over an Insignificant
group of Pacific islands, and delegation
of them waited on Prince Bismarck early
ln TIE negotiations and IntInIatec IN him al
most in terms that IL were better to throw
49, thing &AunA rat her than
permit strained relations with the United
States. But the Prusslan diplOmaUlst Ap-
parently knew with what material he had
10 deal ON the other side, and he was in no
yielding mood
As me government of the islands is left
In the hands of a tr1partite advisory board
England, Germany and the
United States, the decisive majority Will
always lie ia the hands OF the two European
powers voting together. That they vii! so
vote upon critical questions is reasonable
inference from the similarity of their inter
ests and their natural Jealousy OF the great
republic. Our representative Will, OF
course be strengthened by tie support OF
the native members of the government, but
be will not have halt the power he would
have u our commissioners had extended
more cordial greeting % the ontstretched
haud of Samoa In view OF the fact that
King MatRafa had written Admiral KIM
berly that ne desired the protection OF the |
United States and OF no other power, our |
would have been justified !
in Ia king an aggressive position
Great Britain retains As much power as |
the United States OF Germany, and through !
her alliance with German interests will ]
gain a deal more than the United states.
No attempt worthy of the name seems 70
have been made By our commissioners 10
secure 10 the natives me possession OF their /
land OF 10 check German aggreSsiOHs upon !
It. The German policy has been from the !
start 10 grab all the land that could be eX /
tOrted from the natives by fair means OF |
foul. The German Land company. in |
which Prince Bismarck is said TO be a |
stoc x holder. and the POlyneslAn Land |
company, an English organization, have |
been pursuing a system attic policy and |
have generally worked in harmony with |
each other.
The natives are mostly poor and very /
willing to dispose OF their land for hard |
cash. The deeds were drawn and signed /
by the natives in many cases with the /
boundaries OF the ceded land left blank. TO /
be- filled at the pleasure OF The purchasers. /
The result Is said 10 be that there are /
more than forty thousand acres OF land re- /
corded a. belouging 20 these two companies /
% excess If the entire domain Of samoa
The German recognition OF King Is /
nasse was due in a large measure 10 his /
willingness 10 lend himself TO the German /
and grabbing schemes. and IL was pro
posed 10 impose tax on land transfers oy 4
he natives which Wuuld compel them TO 4
-fCNEulLt AuE NtAltllk1 u AliF AHFIAhAu lhu0
Steps were also taken to get /
he land of the natives 10 these companies, /
With view To hanging over them the /
threat of foreclosure.
Although Messrs. kassOn and Bates /
we're thoroughly informed on these mat /
ers. they seem 10 have yielded nearly all \
hat the German ana English interests CON /
coded for. and Mr. Phelps did not seem To |
lppr eIag. gdF importance Of the matter
rte commission did not stand heartily 4
nj warn
personal ambitions, and the result Is re- \
,eived with any thing put enthusiasm by \
hose who understand samoan analrS. IL /
5 said that the object which Secretary /
ilaiue had IN sending Mr.. Sewell 20 Berlin /
Vas that his presence should be perpet- /
iXl irrifaat 20 the German officials. Tney /
appear to have readily and cordially recog- 4
li1-d Mr. Blaine's purpose and took every \
occasion To- insult Mr. SeWell. the mem bers 1
II the commission swallowing the anrOnt
without protest. IL being part OF the dip
Omstlc policy laid down for them By The
stale department
Those democratic senators and some re-
publican ones. too. who have learned some
hing of the treaty from Mr. Blaine and the
lther officials at the state department, do
rot hesitate 70 say that II Will meet with
persistent opposition when IL comes up in
he senate. Some uf Mr.. Blaine's friends
Ire already limiting that he will be reduced
% the weak argument that II We do GOT
axe this treaty, bad as IL Is. the question
will be lett open, with the chance that
ierman Aggressions Will deprive US of even
he paltry foOthOld which the treaty pur
'Orts to secure
To this resort probably will Mr.. Blaine
e driven that be will appeal to the senate
% save himsel. and the party from humil-
alton and 10 save 10 the country the
hadOw 81 least of the rights which Mr..
Iayard Insisted were hers The substance
Z the treaty Is that by tripsrtite sgree-
lent tf rmAny is confirmed ia her dOmi-
ant control IN Samoa. Without the treaty
he depended solely upon her own asSump-
ion OF authority. 10 this treaty should be
atihed. then the United states becomes a
,artner, by reason Of the condition of
hings, In support Of GermAny's claims
That distentiOn of the stomach which
na.ny people feel after eating. may be due
o improper msSticatiOn of the food: but, in
most cases, 1t indicates Q weakness of the
digestive organs. the best remedy for
which is one Of Ayers pills. to be taken
after dinner
1t Goes Everywhere