The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-12
THE PONAPE AFFAIR.
We Shall Have No Consul on tho Island TO
Look After American Interests.


WASHINGTON. April 11.-Although the refusal
OF Spain to consent to the establishment OF an
American consulate ut Ponape has been ac-
copied without protest as tho end Of the mat
ter. the question remains whether mistake
may not have been made in appointing Mr..
II. L. Rand to the proposed Office.
Every country has right to say whether 1t
will permit the establishment of proposed
consulate within its domains and II it decides
not to recognize representative sent to that
point, tho foreign nation cannot make this re-
fusal q legitimate grievance. When. there
fore. Spain declined to grant an exeruatur to
Mr. Rand at Ponnpe. she did not exceed her
authority. and the President had no other
course before him than to withdraw Mr., Rand
and accept the decision OF the Madrid Gov
eminent.
But that fact does not settle tho question
whether this particular appointment was n
wise one. 1t may not be possible now to assert
whether II another appointco had been named
he would hive been acceptable. But 1t should
have been obvious ut the outset that Mr. Rand
could scarcely have been persona V,a'd. since
he is brother of tho Missionary Rand who
was tho leading figure in the Ionape riots.
which eliminated in the removal OF tho mis-
sonarics and q claim for damages 1t was
hardly. therefore. triumph of tact to put him
forward rs our representative II the Govern
ment really wanted to establish n now con-
sulate in the Caroline Islands. II Spain
doubted the wisdom OF such step she would
naturally seize tho occasion Of such IN mp
pointment to decline taking 1t. II she was in
different on the subject and would otherwise
have yielded in courtesy to tho desire Of our
been likely to repel her. Apnrt from any feel
ing of resentment against Missionary Rand.
tGnpes w nacse s nusy of srrns
NJ hostility among tho natives against thcm.
Spain might suspect that brother of the
tunty to help out the claim for Indemnity.
A, Nor is 1t u sufficient answer to say That II
to to s nG o
to, the establishment OF tho, consulate. The
latter was the shorter and less troublesome
tentative. It avoided raising any personal
questions. Besides. Spain may have felt 1t to
for damages. brother Of one OF the chiei
claimants should be accredited to her at the
very. place OF the alleged o!,trages. or course.
ment. The President selected Mr.. Rand. It is
believed. at the instance Of the Board of For;
thst this recomme ; o however we'll
meant. was q mistake. and that there Is even a
possibility Of its having defeated the purpose
Of the Board in securing the establishment by
after l Ameriean interests there It IS perhaps
more proGap!e tnnt Spain Woulu HaNe opJs,TTieu
was hardly worth while to risk giving offence
while desiring to secure a favor.
But the principal question ut issue is tho de-
sionariss ut pona pe. IT is, admitted that the
Spanish gunboats, shelled and burned the
American mission houses at Qua about half q
dozen miles from the Spanish colony in Po-
to tho 6y
peman ana "pGs% s M1 ' Rsnds
house. and, in fact. all tho mission buildings.
which had already bcen shattered The Span
iards defend their net on the ground that the
buildings. their defensive works extending up
to or around them. This is o question OF
fact. and. assuming il. to, be the case.
property. But when. as reason for not in
Identifying the missionaries or rebuilding
their houses. it is asserted that they instigated
hs y tho the Il 2%ep
leans. Indeed. while they admit that some
Of the native Christians took part in the rebel
lion. they. show that their own excrtions, were
some Of tho Spaniards are under obligations to
them on this account. There Is direct evil
dence that on one. occasion. when the Span
fully urged the natives not to follow UP their
victory by attacking the storeship. and that
many lives were thereby saved.
on the Americans who have been forty years
among them. and all that time have been try
ing to educate and help them. than on tho
Spaniards who went there five years ago: and
upon them is natural B But this r preference
cannot be, assumed as evidence Of encouraG:
ing armed rebellion. The present action Of
consent to o prompt return Of the nissiona-
res whom one Of our war ships took away.
for safety. from Ponape.