The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1891-07-21
SPANISH SEIZURE OF THE CAROLINE
ISLANDS.
rHE UNITED STATES VS.. SPAIN.

across nearly thirty degrees OF
longitude, in from So to I07 \.
latitude.
1t is universally conceded that
they. or some of them, were dis
covered by Spaniards, though diff
ferent authorities vary by moro
than Z century as to the date.
" Discovered by Lopez de Villa
lobos in 1913, and named after
Charles V, but NEVER SETTLED BY
THE SPANIARDs," says one authority.
Discovered in the 10th century,
but NEVER EFFECTIVELY OCCUPIED,
says another. "They belong nomIn-
ally to Spain, but contain no Span
ish settlements, says third, and
Keith Johnston's Royal" Atlas,
1877, places the Carolines outside
the Spanish boundary-line which is
drawn around the Philippines and
thence eastward to include the
Mariana or Ladrones, leaving Pelew
and the Carollnes to the south.
So much for Spanish proprietor
ship up to a few years ago, when a
claim made by Germany was sub
mitted to the arbitration Of the
Pope. who allowed the claim of
Spain. and Spain then, for the first
time since discovery, became con-
scious OF proprietorship, and. to
confirm her position, began to send
vessels and officials from Manila TO
constitute an actual occupation.
1t is an axiom in international
law that mere nominal possession,
by priority Of discovery Of 4 terri
tory. OF otherwise, if unattended
by or not followed up by some
positive acts of occupancy must
lapse in course Of time. Spain had
taken no notice of, had not occu-
ped these her nominal possessions
for three centuries, when, ike Por-
tugal in South Africa, the proba-
bility of q genuine occupancy and
colonization by another power puts
her on the defensive, and she starts
up in her manger and prOclaims
herself the ancient proprietor.
Meanwhile, as far back as 1852,
the American Board of Missions
had peaceably established mission
at Ponape, one of the easternmost
islands of the group, and thence on
westwards to Kusaie and Ruk,
without arousing any notice of the
dormant claims OF SPAN, until their
re-suscitatlon by the advent on the
scene of the German flag, which
caused Spain to assert these claims,
which she did by establishing a
mission and garrison at Ponape, the
headquarters for so many years of
the American mission.
Neither priests nor soldiers were
welcomed by the Ponape-men and
fighting soon began, which the
Spaniards unjustiiably and with
out shadow CT proof attributed to
the instigation of the American
missionaries, whose station was
occupied, their property destroyed
and themselves driven from their
old homes, and yet forbidden per
mission to leave the island.
Whilst this was the state of
affairs, the U. S. S. Alliance, Capt.
Taylor, arrived and began an in
quiry which led to his making u
report OF which we give the follow
ing heads, somewhat abbreviated.
LIST. {" American missionaries in
fuence is complete and successful in
Ponape. Voluntary submission of
natives as to religion and civiliza-
ton, but complete independence of
any political authority, being ruled
only by native Kings and Chiefs.
I'd. 1.-The Spanish feeling COM
PEELED, after trouble with Germany.
to assert sovereignty, chose Ponape
as seat of Government, finding the
natives did not willingly submit to
Spanish authority or religion. &C
cused the American missionaries of
melting the..natives against Spain.
Sd. I" The bitterness begun thus
three years ago, was intensified by
the late rising of several tribes, in
which the Spaniards lost at least
forty men killed and sixty
wounded.
4th. Though the Governor says
that he has good evidence against
the missionaries, has brought none
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