Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-13
The Ceueation OF samoa.


The treaty for the adjustment of the
samoan question has been published, and
It confirms the statement made last sam
mer, when it WAS negotiated that, how
ever excellent in certain ways, it pro-
Sides for an entanSling alliance Of the
United States with foreign powers. That
our interest in the Samoan Islands is
slight and unimportgnt is shown by the
fact that although by grant from the
natives in 1873 we acquired right to a
hsrbor and o coaling station, we hay3
never thought II worth while 10 avail our
selves OF the grant and establish our.
selves there, and when some months ago
we were sid to DO in dispute about our
rights in samoa, there was q general in
quiry where is Samoa, and what rights
have we there which can endanHer our
relations with GeTmany2
Nevertheless q case was admitted by onr
government and q settlement attempted
under the late administration, which
failed, and the first success of the Harri-
son administration was the Berlin treaty,
by which we Sgreo with Germany and
England to govern the Samoan Islands
apparently to prevent Germany from
governing them alone. The treaty is
we'll drawn for its purpose. It settles
certain disputes sbout land. 1t saves,
probably, an immense diplomatic cores
pondenoe over quaIrels that wore sure to
arise between the three powers that have
been claiming rights upon the ialands.
Perhaps it saves actual trouble with Gers
many; and the real Samoan question for
US may be considered TO be an hlterns-
tiye-au alliance with Germany, or 80
about vary unimportant interest. But
why have We put ourse.yas In such o
position?
The treaty effec.s nn alliance by wh!2'.
England, Germany and tEs ni.od StRtaH
practically take pDsseision 0. The govern
mont Of Samoa, az RuaEia, GerL7sny ana
Austria took actual possession OF Poland.
In case Q; difference of opinion, we sgree
to acquiesce in the decision OF the
majority Of tho three powers. The Ger
man press admits that the treaty prevents
German dominance, and complains Of il
because two-thirda OF tho foreigners in
Samoa are Germans and four fifths of the
trade, both foreign and domestic, are In
German hgndB. The pTetonce Of q nAtivI
king and Of Samoan independence is
transparent and futile. The very first
words Of the treaty are o declaration o!
the neutrality of the island5, and OF the
Hubjects of the three powers in Residence
trade and protection.
These are declarations in regard to |
country which con be made only by it,
government, which in Samoa is described
as Independent. But this independence
is secured by chief justice to be named
by the three powers, and removed by
majority of them. The Rituaticn j
simple and Ineligible, and, We repeat
the treaty may be the wisest pracLcahl
solution OF the situation. Bat ii has nc
bsen shown why, under the grant of
harbor and coAling station, we did no
proceed to take the necessary ateps, an
hold any power responsible that inter
fered, nor has it been shown why "
could not protect American citizens 1
Samoa precisely az we protect them elst
where, without an abandonment of ou
ancient policy of avoiding just such
foreign alliance "a is made by the treat
BY what right hRVs Germany, Eng
land, and the United States praoticail
taken possession OF the Samoan Islands
Nobody supposes or says that the peopl
OF the islands, or their king, or his gol
eminent, will be permitted to do AZ.
thing that the three powers do not 81
prove, or that any other power Can entt
into important relations with the islAnt
without the consent of the three. N
question reours, therefore, whether en-
advantage gained by ua compgnsatsa 4
course SO unprecedented in OF
diplomacy. The treaty probably will
ratified as an administration measut
should II be rejected, the rejeGtion won
be an abandonment Of further negoti
lion. Germany would resume its pr
dominance in Samoa. The alleged &c
man treatment Of American citi el
would LEAH to sharp questions. Shat
questions are the beginning of intern
tional trouble. Ia not the treaty prere
ablai This is the argument. But
does not answer the questions how mu'
more foreign alliance must we make
protect American trade and oitizenn ole
where, and does the advantage of joinii
Germany aud England in goyCrnii
Samoa compensate for abandoning Q
traditional and wise policy OF avoidii
entangling foreign al!iances2