Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-21

porary protection over Samoa, according
to the terms of treaty expressly stipulat-
ing that the Samoan King might apply
for such protection. The President re-
moved the Consul for the act and the
United States Senate was not consulted
in the matter That action is the seat,
heart and pith OF the trouble. 1t was
the source and spring of all that fol-
lowed No sooner was the Consul rebuked
than Malietoa was seized by an armed
German force and exiled, and pretender,
suhservient to German purposes, was
seated upon the throne and maintained
there by German arms despite the pro-
tests of the American, French and English
consulates. The following extract from
the Presidents message of 1886 will prove
the error of the Altos position and show
that the Administration neither gave def
mite information to nor sought or asked
the advice of the Senate. We quote from
the Presidents message of December 6,
1886, the only communication of any value
whatever sent to Congress on the subject,
until the Senate in January, 1888, de-
manded inspection of all the correspond
ence and papers in the State Department
relating to Samoa:
Civil perturbations in the Samoan Islands nave
during the past few years been source of con-
siderable annoyance to the three Governments
Germany, Great Britain and the United States
whose relations and extra territorial rights in
that important group of islands are guaranteed
by treaties The weakness of the native ad-
ministraton and the conflict of opposing inter-
ests in the Islands have led King Malietoa to
seek Il l ance or protection in some one quarter
regardless of the distinct engagements whereby
no one OF the three treaty powers may acquire
any paramount or exclusive interest In May
last Maheioa oiiered 70 place Samoa under the
protection of the United States, and the late
consul, without auth Jrity, assumed to grant it.
The proceeding was promptly disavowed, and
the over-zealous official recalled Special
agents Of the three Governments have been
deputed TO examine the situation on the
Islands. With a change in the representation
OF all three Powers. and harmonious under
standing between them,th peace, prosperity,
autonomous administration and neutrality OF
Samoa can hardly fail to be secured.
But it did fail. The commission of
special agents did not agree, because
Germany demanded seizure of the Islands
and their division among the Powers, Ger
many taking the lions share From that
hour the Imperial Government has been
successfully destroying the autonomous
administration and neutrality of Samoa,
and successfully preventing harmonious
understanding, peace and prosperity in
Samoa" Our contemporary should read
the message of December 6, 1886, in con-
trast with the special message of January,
1888, and note how widely at variance
they are, and then should search the rec
ords from "A to q" for any instance of the
Administration having laid the facts be-
fore Congress. 1t has never done so; it
has stated its own conclusions, but has at
no time fully or even partially informed
the Senate of the facts now in its possession
and known to all people who read, but
which facts were wrung from the State
Department by an imperative and sharp
resolution in aid of an investigation or
dered under the auspices of the Foreign
Relations Committee.