Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-02-01
THE SAMOAN COMPLICATION.


TIE SAMOAN COMPLICATION.
The United States of America and the
Empire OF Germany have so badly arranged
International matters that one country or
the other must recede from its position.
So much danger TO the people of both
sections has not confronted them since 1870,
when Germany was compelled To beat
France and Blaine was DESTROYS of whip.
ping England. 1t is possible that America
by itself has not been so near to war against
foreigners since the Trent affair with Mason
and Slideli.
Prince Bsmark is still hot tempered
statesman. Age has not cooled his indigna-
tion that he feels to people who boast Of
their freedom. IL does not fail to DO his belief
that we are conglomeration of theorists,
whose government will not be able to cope
with hereditary revolutionists.
1t is claimed that over two millions of
our inhabitants were born 10 German states.
What degree of sympathy they would feel
with fatherland during German American
war must be left To actual proof
No other international trouble was ever
precipitated in a manner 30 profitless to
both contestants. Yet the gravity Of the
cause is of such a character as TO make it
necessary for the United States to enforce
it's rights, but in doing SO ii should not be
done with precipitate haste nor without pre-
meditation and careful survey Of the field.
The enEity shown against the American
flag on the part Of the German sailors and
their native allies we did not suppose ex
listed in any part of the world. According
to the accounts, the Germans took pleasure
in tearing down the American flags, and
making bontires of them, while their Samoan
friends, known as "Tamasese's men," &c
tually broke open houses in order to find
American flags for the purpose of cutting
them in pieces. An outrage of this kind, rs
we learn, was sternly rebukei by the com
mander Of the American man OF war Adams,
who shortly afterwards sailed To Honolulu,
doubtless to make his report and cali for re-
Inducements. 1t would be well, We think,
while digesting these exciting Incidents, TO
reflect that the German government has
passed the stage Of barbarisni, and is pre-
sumably no more inclined to insult the
United States gratuitously than we should
be to insult her.
A recent dispatch represents that Score.
tary Bayard has stated that Germany has
given this country no casus 6elli, that the re-
port that the American flag has been in
suited and American property has been
destroyed is without foundation, and that
the whole question Is shall this country as.
scrt the independence of Somoa by force
OF arms il need be against German aggres.
sion. As this involves the question Of peace
or war, the determination of which resides
with Congress, the whole subject has been
referred to that body
We notice that those Republican papers
that were beratlng the government for not
taking Germany by the ear and kicking il out
OF Samoa without stopping 10 inquire how
far such treatment would be justified by the
circumstances. sze. now undertaking their
wrath. The intimation by the administra.
ton that the war making power rests In
Congress aud not the Executive, was passed
by without notice, but when the Secretary
Of the Navy called the attention Of the
House to the prepriety Of doing something,
and the Senate voted an appropriation that
Indicated n purpose to do something, the
attractive brilliancy OF "a vigorous foreign
l,olicy" suddenly fs,i.,d
The New York Tribune, which is of the
jugo class Of Republicans and firm ad
hercnt vi Chief lingo Blaine, was taken
back ty the Introduction Of the Sherman
motion 10 appropriate 100000 for immedi.
ale use in Samoan affairs |; sees that the
consequences OF this action will fall upon a
Republican administration aud it docs not
like the prospect. IL was good party policy
to accuse u Democratic administration of
not doing anything and then stand re adv 10
ind fault with any thing ii might do 1t be.
comes another matter when the Republican
party makes Itself responsible Tor the action
taken.
such is the picture rs we see il ut this
writing. AT the same time, il Premier Bis
mark dlsires TO die defeated tyraut. let
him come over aud see what he can on this
side Of the water