The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-01
Lively Discussion ON Samoan
Matters.
WAITING FOB DEFINITE NEWS.
The Sunday Rest Bnl-OsIahoma
Land Questton-Other Telegraphic
News Items.
SENATE.

and Corea, presented in the House yes
terday, was read and referred 10 the
committee on foreign relations.
The House amendments to the bill to
increase the pensions of those who lost
both hands was reported back favorably
and concurred in.
The Senate then resumed considera
ton of the diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill, the pending question
being on the amendment referring to
same.
Reagan offered an amendment to in
sert the words land for the protection
of the rights of American citizens resid-
ing on said islands ana to preserve the
neutrality and Independence thereof. "
Hale objected to the last clause. The
Senate should not declare its intention
to preserve the neutrality or maintain
the independence of any nation; that
was for the executive.
Sherman agreed with Hale, saying
the words proposed 10 DO inserted
weakened rather than strengthened the
statement of the matter. IL was
Fourth of July" language. No Amer
lean has been hurt so far.
After long and exciting debate, in
which Senators Frye and Reagan took
strong ground in favor nf protecting
the independence of Samoa and secur-
ing q harbor there for American ships,
and in which it was minated by them
and by Hale that the debate would
in md
more serious form (perhaps involving
States and Germany Reagan's pro
posed modification was Withdrawn, and
the amendment, as reported from the
committee on foreign relations, was
agreed to.
FRYE DID NOT AGREE
with Sherman that no wrong had been
committed in Samoa against American
citizens. He thought the evidence very
conclusive that wrongs had been COM
mitted upon them, but that was not
the issue, and he hoped the Senator
from Texas would not insist upon the
amendment. The remarks from the
Senator from Texas came very much
nearer to it than the report of the oom-
mittee 1t was not Germany or Bis
marck; it was nothing but German
trading firm. That firm had absolute
power to- day over the Samoan Islands,
and the German Consul IT C ived his or
ders from it. The Germans had, with
out any authority, and with one of the
greatest insults ever committed against
the United States, deliberately elevated
to power and made the rebel King
Tamasese. Tamase e was nothing but
puppet in the hands of the German
trading firm. If he were permitted to
be established and recognized rs king,
one of his first acts, under instructions
from the German trading firm, would
be to give necessary notice of the
ABRoGATIoN OF THE TREATY
to the United States and the harbor of
Papago would be entirely lost to the
United States. In his judgment the
amendments reported by the committee
on foreign relations did not bring up
the real Samoan question. The real
question at issue between the United
States and Germany was not necessarily
before the Senate for discussion under
these two items of appropriation, nor
in his Judgment was the Senate ready
to-day for the discussion. He ex-
pected settlement ere long, wAen
there would be proposition before the
Senate that would bring up the full
question of difference between the
United States and Germany. The
testimony of Oonsul-Genersl Sewall
was still secret, and until it is mace
public the question could not be prop
erly discussed. There is not a fourth
rate power in Europe which, if it had
been party to the conference as to the
autonomy and independence of Samoa,
and had Germany without notice de-
liberately ordered ships to vitlate that
autonomy and independence, would
not risk its life for the Immediate res
toration Of the statu quo.
REAGAN ARGUED
with Frye's sentiment. He was sorry
to see a disposition to shrink from
meeting the duty of the government.
The consular agent at Samoa, the crews
of American ships there and United
States citizens residing there, could not
fail to be Inundated by the fact thai
their government permitted Germany
of treaty stipulations and understand
ings. Instead of trying to cover them
up, wisdom, prudence and the interests
of the country required that the facts
be met. If the government of the
United States had assumed obligations,
it should execute them. If it owed
duties to its citizens there, it should
perform those duties. If the flag of
the United States has been insulted, if
the property of United States citizens
in Samoa has been placed at the mercy
of German traders through the action
of the German government. the fact
ought to be recognized and one of two
things be done. If the rights of the
United States were to be abruptly aban-
doned, the American conspl and COM
manders of American ships ought to be
called home and not be
SUBJECT TO INSULT
and degration, and whatever rights the
United States had there ought to be
abandoned or else the rights which be-
long to this country ought to be as
serted squarely and manfully.
Frye added some further remarks as
to the Importance of the harbor of Pa