The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-01-21
SAMOA.

Philadelphia Press"
Secretary Bayard's well-meaning
but ignorant apologists for his su-
pine indifference TO German en-
croachments at Samoa have insisted
that his duty ended with his dis
patch TO Prince Bismarck ten months
ago. The Chancellor has never
even taken the trouble to answer
this, and any further action, the
"Record" and its Washington cor
respondent have assured the Am
crican public must be taken by the
Republican Senate.
But if this is true at Samoa why |
is it not true at I1ayti now and why |
is 1t not true at Colon three years
ago? If dispatches limit the diplo-
matte action which the President
and his Secretary can take in deal
ing with Samoa, why is the Galena
ready to start for Port au Prince or
a squadron despatched to Colon,
which for the first time in years
landed an American force TO occupy
the territory of friendly power?
The despatch of feet to enforce
the policy, uphold the honor and
protect the interests of the Ameri-
can flag has been for q century
familiar incident of our diplomacy.
Commodore Perry negotiated his
treaty with Japan backed by the
moral force of the strongest Ameri-
can squadron ever sent into Asatic
waters. Once in dealing with the
Argentine Confederation, before the
late war, and again enforcing our
claims upon Paraguay, since the
war, feet has been used to give
weight to diplomatic action. The
Hawaiian Islands have been thrice
the scene of European aggression.
The work began in 1889, when the
French compelled the king, Kane
hamcha Ill, ID comply with certain
unwarrantablc demands. 1t was re-
sumed on behalf of Great Britain in
1912 by the British Consul, Richard
Charleton, and an unprincipled adj
venturcr, Alexander Simpson. Their
plot led TO the declaration by Daniel
Webster that the Islands ''should
not be interfered with by foreign
powers" declaration which has
governed our policy ever since. A
year later, after the representative
of the Hawaiian Islands passed
through Washington on his way to
London TO protest against the Brit
lsh usurpatiOn, Mr.. Legare instruct
ed Mr.. Edward Everett, then our
Minister in London, that the United
States would "trrI justified in inter
fering by force to prevent their fall
ing (by conQuest) into the hands of
one Of the great 'owcrs of Europe"
In 1919 the French representative at
Honolulu, backed by French adj
miral, began the same policy which
led to the annexation of Tahiti, and
first Mr.. Clayton, and later Mr..
Webster, again threatened war in
the veiled phrases of diplomatic in
tercourse, if the attempt at anneXa-
ton or protectsrate was persisted
in.
But a great deal more was done
than simply demonstrate In des-
patches. The Boston, Captain Long,
turned up opportunely at Honolulu
in 1912 land while its commander did
nothing, its presence gave the Ha-
waiian Government the support it
needed and which saved it from
captivating without struggle. In
1919, our fleet was on hand again
and our diplomatic remonstrances
were accompanied in both instances
by a judicious increase of our naval
force III the Pacific.
AT Samoa we have nothing ON
hand but the Nipsic. Even its COM
mander did not. until very recent
date, feel justified in landing force
to protect American interests. The
German Government has never yet
officially ratified the action of its
naval commander in replacing the
, German consular flag by the Ger
: man imperial standard; but he has
gone on in his work, secure in the
tacit approval of the home authority
, and enjoying on the ground the adj
; vantage of Il superior force. If
Secretary Bayard, instead of simply
sending dispatches to Berlin and
waiting Prince Bismarck's pleasure
for their answer, had gathered a
naval force at Samoa; if he had fol-
| lowed the example of his predeces-
sors and sent fleet where our in
terests were menaced; if the landing
: of German marines ''to preserve
, order,' had been accompanied by
: the landing of American sailors bent
z on doing their share to ''prcserve
ORDER" Prince Bismarck would have
found time TO answer Secretary Bay
: ards communication and would
. have answered it, just as the French
, and English foreign ministers
answered our effective diplomacy of
: thirty and forty years ago with re-
| ference to the Hawaiian Islands, by
2 agreeing to joint international
agreement to respect the neutrality
4 of Samoa in future, such as guaran
= tees The independence of the North
) ern group. Germany is not party
r tO thnt cOmDact and If her Dolic\