Evening journal., 1889-01-30

stoned Review of Events.
WASHINGTON, Jan SO.-The senate CON !
tinued the consideration Of the consular and
diplomatic appropriation bill The Samoan ,
question was incidentally discussed
Consideration Of the diplomatic bin was !
resumed al the close of the morning hour, the
question being ON Mr. Gibson's amendment 70
make the title OF minister TO France, Ger
many, Great Britain and Russia "amhassa-
doisn After a long discussion the amendment
was adopted, and the senate Went into eNecu-
ton 70 decide whether the discussion Of the
Samoan question should be public II was So
decided by a close vote, but not party vote
When the doors We're reopened Mr.. Sherman
said the question involved was exciting
attention not only in this country, but in
ether countries, and il was due 90 the senate
and 70 the people of the United States that he
las he had reported the amendment from the
committee on foreign relations should state.
in rather a skeleton manner the facts in re-
gard 10 the matter lie would do 50 without
any feeling whatever, because he hoped that
the senate would be unanimous in the adop-
ton Of the amendment The Samoan Islands
formerly called the Navigators islands,
were, he said, almost midway between San
Francisco and Australia, and We're in the di-
rect line uf commercial intercourse These
islands eight OF ten comprised in extent some
thousand square miles, and contained popu-
lation of 334 600 innocent harmless, tTActa-
bic, good humored people Of the Polynesian
race and about 800 foreigners German, En-
glish and Amercan-with various CONNER.
cial establishments
Those islands had been first explored and /
surveyed by Admiral Wilkes, in his famous /
expedition, and the best maps of them wen /
those made by that expedition. The attention |
of the United States had been early called to |
these islands, and a special agent was sent
there, who afterward became minister 70 the
king Of Samoa, and who made a treaty he
tween the United States and Samoa. That
| treaty was made in 1878, and was signed by
Mr. Evarts and the king It's second article
gave TO the United States the privilege OF
entering and using the harbor of Pango
Pango and establishing there coaling and
naval supply station; and ts fifth section pro
vided that in ease OF differences with other
nations the United States would employ it.
good offices in adjusting such differences.
This was the basis Of the right Of the
United States to Dscupy and hold, and to es-
tablish in the harhor Of Pango Pango station
for coal and other naval supplies Within a
year or two afterward somewhat similar
treaties had been made with Germany aud
with Great Britain by which those govern
menfs obtained like privileges IN other por-
tions of the islands, 50 that each Of these
three great commercial nations secured by
treaty privileges somewhat similar in charac-
ter, but in different ocalities-each securing
a coaling station and haIbor
tfta of laV
arrangement made shortly afterward, and
) which was, he said, very important 1t had
heen entered into between Great Britain and
( the government of the Samoas but the Ger
& man and American governments were alsc
included in iU. by which the town and dis
: trict of Apia were constituted into munich
paity and were declared 20 be neutral terri
T tory, where each OF tine three nations might
{ establish their storehouses, their workshops.
and an other buildings necessary for carrying
on their traffic in those islands This territory
I of Apia wns now known as the capital 81 the
q Samoan Islands, and was set aside Tor com
: meicial purposes, the government Of Samoa
I being practically excluded from IT,
, The municipal board consisted OF the Ger
+ man, English and American consuls. Thi.
treaty OF agreement had ~ been Mhmittel
b 10 the senate, but had b6cn signed hy the
NJ ElEllNl fInrNl anu HN ANf NilfAAiN Rl Alt
r American ship of war Iackawanna. Il
I a. in the nature Of Sa ai,s1ement fol the Jos
session and occupancy Of that neutral terri
a tory. Mr. Sherman next referred 10 TIA,
e treaty Of April 6, 1856, between Germany ant
= Great Britain, by which sort Of dclmta
il ton was established for the jurisdiction d
s each government in the Polynssian group
e with disclaimer that this partition shoul.
le apply % the Samoan Islands That was th
legal status to-day, for no other arrange
Il meut or agreement had ever been made in
" formal way that effected in any degree th
p rights Of the several parties. He did not IN
~ tend 10 60 into detailed history Of events il
n Samoa Il was enough 20 say that there wa
always d sort Of quasi war existing there be
I, tween several branches Of the people Ii wa
N a strange government, controlled largely b,
At family ties, somewhat aristocratic, with con
it tentions always existing between the variou
chiefs. He would not dwell upon the painful
IL features Of that civil war; but it seemed &
.t be the general opiniol Of all the American
+. consular agents who had been sent there 1
ii examine into the nature Of their governmen
-e that the people were totally unfit 70 conduc
s. a regular formal government. But that civ
.h war had continued until, finally. in les;i, b.
q. the aid of the consuls, il was settled by a
agreement that Malietoa should he king an
N Tamasese vice king soon after that settl,
ment other difficulties had arisen. and
M movement had been made to annex HI
nj Samoan Islands 10 New Zealand Maleto
tn sending an humble appeal 10 Queen Nictori
ir asking for such annexation The Geima
a. government, however had demonstrated
a. the most vigorous manner against it, insis
n ing that it would be a violation Of the treat,
he He spoke Of the treaty made with Maliet,
be by the German consul ON Nov. 10, Is
e shortly after the kings piteous proposal
Id Queen NictoIial ana said that this treat
was at first approved 10y the German COVER
% ment, but afterwards repudiated ON the r
e. fuSal OF the American and English COVER
ue msnts 70 acquiesce in il, as IL practical
IL made Germany supreme over the islands al
ch established a German council or board OF CO
by troll to govern them. Finally Mr. Shelmi
ne brought the history Of events 10 the conft
he ence in Washington between Mr. Bayard al
ue the British and German minister and TO Z
III sending by each Of them of an agent 10 1
stc islands to obtain further information
alv said that it was manifest that the rebellion
,ns Tamasese had been organized by the Germ
at consul and by a German named Weber, w
lel was at the head OF a large commercial HON
The He mentioned the arrival of a German fe
at the islands sometime in May OF 1856, al
OF of an insulting letter from the vice admin
for 10 Malietoa in which he addressed him not
eft king bat a. head chief Il was after the
ms infuIts 90 Ole king THAT Unitea states Coiss
ffgnpl1 1rrrrtl ..n7...I fIa rtfHf f-tutC- fisiI