The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-01
A BLIGHTING INFLUENCE.

An International Effort to Keep Rum
from the Islands OF the Pacific Ocean.
Another step in the worldwide cru
SADIE against rum has been taken. The
United States government has given
its final consent to a convention among
the various European governments
having colonies among the islands of
the Pacific ocean, collectively denomi-
mated Polynesia, to stop the sale of
liquor among the natives. The propo-
sition originated with Great Britain,
and was first preached in 1884. At
that time Secretary of State Freling-
huysen concurred in the general prop
osition brought to his attention by the
British minister at Washington. Since
then the project has been urged upon
all the governments having interests
in Polynesia. No definite plan was
submitted to the United States for
formal ratification until July last.
This plan, so framed by the govern
ment of Great Britain, was accepted
by Secretary of State John w. Foster,
in an official note to the British minis
ter, on October IL. The secretary's
note suggested certain minor modifica-
tions as to details, and then went on to
discuss the relations of this govern
ment to the matter as follows:
while the sentiments and convictions of this
government indorse the effective restriction OF
deleterious commerce with the Pacific island
ers the method of giving expression thereto is
necessarily influenced by the disparity OF policy
and interests between the United States and
the great European states in the Pacific ocean.
This disparity has become even greater since
the present proposal was first put forth in 1884.
Nearly all OF Polynesia has now passed under
European jurisdiction. Were the United States
a colonizing power, expanding Its jurisdiction
in the same way as the other great powers
among the Islands Of the western Pacific. qucs-
ton might legitimately arise us to the share of
responsibility that properly should fall TO US in
the public control OF these regions
"As IL IS, the government OF the United States
Ia without colonial interest Of any kind in that
quarter OF the globe, and its administrative re-
sponsibilities are remotely confined TO partici-
patton in the encouragement Of good govern
ment and autonomy in the Samoan group To
the colonizing or protecting powers the question
at issue becomes largely a matter of local
municipal government; TO the United States it
is one of moral influence and cordial cooperation
within the just limits of domestic and interna-
tional rights. Although its responsibilities in
the matter are not SO great, t!llS government IL
none the less interested in the humanitarian
purposes of the proposed convention, ana l am
happy to express, by direction OF the president,
his assent to its general scope"
The necessity for such action needs
no discussion. The inhabitants of these
scattered island groups are savages.
Morally they are not advanced beyond
the stage of childhood. They have not
the strong moral sense of civilized
races, and therefore give loose rein to
their appetites and passions. Where so
many yield in the same way, after CEN
turtles of civilization, one cannot Won
der that savage people become the in
veterat. slaves of the vices introduced
among them by white men. There is
nc way Of reachi9g them on the moral