St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-27
DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF.
President Cleveland's Cabinet H as
SnIit on the Samoan Question.

President Cleveland's Cabinet II as
Split on the Samoan Question.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The position
assumed and the arguments used by
Secretary Bayard in the negotiations
with England and Germany on the sub
ject of Samoa during the preliminary
period of diplomacy, and before German
gunboats were brought into play for the
destruction of property belonging to Sa-
means and Americans in Samoa,
had the entire approval of those
who are now severely critIclslng
the secretary for his inaction
since : the Germans have shown
a disposition to throw all treaties and
agreements to the wind. The position
he took in the conference with the rep
resentatives of England and Germany is
admitted to be nnassailable and his ar
guments unanswerable. But the fact
that the state department acted so ac-
ceptably then only accentuates the dis
appointment felt at the slowness OF the
department now. 1t is stated by one
who is in position to know, that the
cabinet is far from harmonious in this
matter. Some insist upon prompt ac-
ton, while others prefer policy of
caution. Secretary Whitney and Post
master General Dickinson, it is said,
would serve an immediate warning
upon Germany that further interference
in the internal affairs of Samoa would
be regarded as violation of rights
under our treaty with Samoa and our
agreements with Germany herself, and
that it would be resented by the United
States. Their policy would be to say to
Germany, in the most unmistakeable
terms, s'Hands off, and to send to
Samoa force sufficient to enforce the
decree. But from the other members Of
the cabinet Messrs. Whitney and Dick
inson are said to receive little encour-
agement. Secretary Fairchild inclines
to Secretary Bayard's policy of
caution. and so does Secretary
Endicott. Attorney General Gar
lands position Is with the secre-
tary of state. Secretary Villas, too, to
the surprise and disappointment of
some OF his friends and admirers, is a
man of patience and long suffering, and
wants peace at almost any price. The
president is said to be more in accord
with Whitney and Dickinson than with
the others, and when he throws his
weight entirely on that side. as is be-
lieved he will before long, numbers will
not prevail. The last two cabinet meet
ing days are said to have been regular
field days in the cabinet room. Yester-
day the council lasted much shorter
time than usual, and the reason as
signed is that some members OF the cab
met had almost lost their tempers,
and their patience, with the others.
1t was suggested by a leading member
of the diplomatic corps that Prince Bis
marck would probably be in no hurry
to bring about termination of the pres
ent difficulty. Bismarck" said he,
'srealizes that the German government
has navy that is by no means COM
mensurate with its position among the
great powers of Europe. A war cloud
like this will not only furnish ample
justification for keeping up the great
army Germany now has, but it will be
used as an argument for the building
of enough great vessels of war to put
the German empire into the front rank
as maritime power. Bismarck is
great schemer."