Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-31
CLEVELAND'SM MESSAGE
HB SUBMITS THB SAMOAN CORRESPOND
BNCB TO THE SENATE.
Blsmarck's Letter to Count Won Arco yallsy-Sen-
atOrs Discuss the Subject in Open Session
Captain Lsarys Man-Of- War Cleared
for Action.

] patches lIOm tne vice consul az Apla arC
from the commander of the Nipsic.
The President also transmits the full
text Of instructions from Prince
Bismarck to the Count Won Arco Valley,
in which he repeats the charge that the
natives were led by an American named
Klein and expressed the hope, of co-opsrs-
tion Of the United States in the punish
ment of muTderOus crimes"
The correspondence gives an amplified
account ofreoent events in Samoa, an out
line Of which has already been published.
WASHINGTON, January 80. The Senate
resumed the consideration of the Diplo-
matte and Consular Appropriation bill
the question being on the amendments
affecting the Samoan Islands.
Mr.. Dolph ssid that the question was
one OF special local interest to the people
of the Pacific Coast, and that whatever
might be thought as to the propriety of q
general discussion Of American rights and
interests OF the Samoan Islands and OF the
relations Of the Government of the United
lOfSNNo ~ NLN lllt ulkCu5flun
bad proceeded so far as to render further
! discussion desirable. The views which he
would express would be his own individual
views, and should neither compromise the
Government nor receive undue attention
elsewhere. After general description
of the islands, their products, inhabitants
and commercial importance, Mr.. DOlph
reviewed the history of affairs since the
United States Government first took an in
terest In the Samoan islands and the recent
occurrences which, he said, had involved
the United States in some controversy with
the German government.
He spoke OF Col Steinberger's mission
to the islands as U. S. Consul Agent, and
of the petition which be brought to the
Uoited States signed by the principal
chiefs-Malie.Oa Ga predecessor Of
the late King among others-ask-
ing for annexation and showing their
belief that the United States Government
had extended a protectorate over them
Sie;nberger, he said, had been sent back
with presents from the United States Gov
ernment and letter from President Grant
expressing a most lively iItereat in the
people Of the Islande and hope that their
independent autonomy would be preserved.
Steinberger had, soon afterwards, left the
service of the United States Government
and become premier Of King Malietoa's
Government, this being the first stable
Government established there. And this
autonomous Tor rather individually
Government of SteinbergeT's con-
tinued till February Is, when
he was arrested by the officers and
men OF British man of.war, reported
taken to o1e of the Fiji Islands, and there
released. He spoke Of the treaty or con-
venEon of November, 1884, between Samoa
and Germany, ss one which, if it had been
executed, would have substantially secured
to the German Government the entire con-
troll of the Islands.
Mr.. Morgan remarked that convention
contained evidence absolutely convincing
of the determination OF Germany to &C.
quire jurisdiction and power in Samoa
and that Germany would not have aban-
doned it but for the pre-, sure brought to
bear by OTHER interested powers. Mr.. DOlph
said that the extensive provisions Of thRt
treaty and the powers conferred by it on
Germany were entirely incompatible with
the independence and autonomy of the ma
tive government and were inconsistent
with American treaty rights there; but
that as soon as the German fleet sailed
away, the treaty had been repudiated by
Malietoa as having been signed under pro-
test.
In the couIse of his review Mr. DOlph
came to where U. s. Consul Greenbaum
had raised the American flag over the Sa-
moan flag in the harbor of Apia-Gn act
which had been, he said, promptly repu-
dated by Mr.. Bayard, and the repudiation
notified the German and English govern
mente, with suggestion as to protec-
torate.
Mr. Morgan stated that Mr.. Bayard had
never committed the United States govern
ment to the position that there should be
either separate or joint protectorate
over the islands, not believing that pro-
tectorate WAS entirely consistent with au-
tonomy.
Coming down to the conference at
Washington in July, 1857, Mr.. D0lph
spoke of an agreement that, pending that
conference, the status quO should be OBJ
served, and Mr.. Morgan asked him for his
authority for the statement that the Ger
man government bad agreed 10 observe the
status quo. Mr.. Dolph replish that there
may have been no such special agreement,
but that the observance of the status quo
was necessarily implied.
Mr.. Morgan agreed ss to its being neces-
ssrlly implied, but said that if it had not
L a.. II
ter of positive agreement, then the viola
ton of the status quo was not breach OF
faith, but discourtesy. That was the
point which he wanted 10 get at-whether
there was duty resting on the United
States Government TO vindicate is rights
and character.
Mr.. Dolph-"Our interests, and our
rights, and our duty, as a nation in refer
ence TO the Samoan Islands, rest in my
Judgment, on a broader principle than
ANYTHING arising out Of the conference or
out of tie treaty with the Samoan islands
or ont Of the treaties of other European
governments with them. If Congress we're
TO interfere in the matter something very
different from the pending amendments
would be required" He saw no good
reason why, If necessary, and if requested
by the Samoan people, an American pro-
tectorate should not be established over
them.
Mr.. Reagan referred to the documents
that have been published on tie subject,
and declared that no American citizen
could read the correspondence without
feeling humiliation 10 see the rights OF the
United States brutally overridden end
trodden down By German subaltsrns while
the German Prime Minister was profess
ing friendship and desire TO maintain
propsr relations with the Government
of the United States. He said that
the proposed amendment was too fee
ble 10 vindicate the rights Of the
American people in the matter. He had
been sorry to hear the Senator from Ohio
(Mr. Sherman) say yesterday that his
proposition was limited TO the extension
ofthe good offices of the United States.
"Good oficee" Mr. Reagan exclaimed.
"to a people already conquered and sub
irgated by Germany. If we mean any
thing. let us signify it by our action: we
should not pretend to apologize for the
f,ct that we have assumed relations 10
samoa If Congress was possessed OF BIS
marck's force of will the trouble Would De
ouiekly settled, and that without war. II
am NOT in favor of war. know TOO wen wen
The calamities of war, bat the humiliatloa
of a great nation in the face OF an arfOg'"'
mower. is worse than war .b the
P'I At the close of Mr.. Resgan's sPeech' rhe .he
S.na,s a. 90 on motion of Mr.. Riddlebergef' wno
cenaos y" - ,-;sbad an executive sesslon
Su s:tor great purpose" presumably an5Sd 'Ie ,e
Rritish extradition treaty, PfoIeeuSSr 49,