The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-13

| strife, tbs United States, dep arting
from its policy consecrated by GEN.
tury of observance, entered four years
ago into the treaty of Berlin, thereby
becoming jointly bound with England
and Germany to establish and main
tain Malietoa Louhepa as king Of
Samoa. The treaty provided for for
eign court Of justice; municipal coun-
Gil for the district OF Apia, with for
eign president thereof, authorized to
advise the king; a tribunal for the set
tlement of native foreign titles and
revenue system for the kingdom. 1t
entailed upon the three powers that
part OF the cost of the new government
| not met by the revenue of the islands.
Early in the life of this triple protec-
| torate, the native dissensions it was
designed to quell, revived. Revalo de-
fed the authority of the new king, re-
fusing to pay taxes and demanding the
election of ruler by native suffrage.
Mstaafa, an asplrant to the throne, and
q large number of his native adherents,
we're in open rebellion on one of the is.
lands. Quite lately, at the request of
| the other powers and In ful6llment of
the treaty obligation, this government
agreed to unite in joint military
movement Of such dimensions as would
| probably secure the surrender Of the
| Insurgents without bloodshed. The
war ship Philadelphia was accordingly
put under orders for Samoa, but before
she arrived the threatened conflict was
precipitated by King Malletoa's attack
| upon the insurgent camp. Mataafa
was defeated and number of his men
killed. The British and German naval
vessels present subsequently secured
the surrender Of Mataafa and his ad-
herents. The defeated chief and ten of
his principal supporters were deported
to German island Of the Marshall
group, where they are held as prisoners
under the jeint responsibility and cost
of the three powers. This incident
and the events leading up to 1t signal
| ly illustrate the lmpolicy Of entang-
Hing alliances with foreign powers.
More than fifteen years ago this gov
ernment preferred claim against
Spain in behalf of one of our citizens
| for property seized and con6scated in
Cuba. In 1886 the claim was adjusted,
Spain agreeing to pay Internationally
as fair indemnity 91,sOO,00O. A
respectful but earnest note was recent
ly addressed to the Spanish Govern
ment insisting upon prompt ful6llment
of its long neglected obligation. Other
claims preferred by the United States
against Spain IN behalf of American
citizens for property coniscated in
Cuba have been pending for many
years.
at the time Spain's title to the Caro-
line Islands was confirmed by arbitra.
ton, that government agreed that the
rights which had been acquired there
Dy American missionaries should be re-
cognized and respected. 1t is sincerely
hoped that this pledge will be observed
by allowing our missionaries who were
removed from Parape to a place OF
safety by United States war ship dur
ing the late troubles between the Span.
ish garrison and the natives to return
to their field of usefulness.
The reproduced Csravel, Santa Maria,
built by Spain and sent to the Colum-
bian Exposition, has been presented to
the United States In token of amity and
In commemoration of the event it was
designed to celebrate. recommend
that in accepting this gift, Congress
make grateful recognition OF the SIN
cere friendship which prompted 1t.
Important matters have demanded
attention In our relations with the Ot.
toman Porte. The firing and partial
destruction by an unrestrained mob OF
one of the school buildings of Anatolia.
college established by citizens OF the
United States at Marsoran, and the ap'
parent indifference of the Turkish Gov
erpment to the outrage, notWithstand-
ing the completely of some of It's Off
cials called for earnest remonstrance,
which was followed by promises of re
paration and punishment of the offen-
ders. Indemnity for the injury to the
buildings has already been paid, per-
mission to rebull1 given, registration
Of the school property In the naTe OF
the American owners secured and ELL
cient protection guaranteed.
Information received Of maltreat-
ment suffered by an inoffens1ve Amer
ican woman engaged in missionary
work In Turkish Koordlstan was fol.
lowed by such representations to the
Porte as resulted In the issuance OF or
ders for the punishment Of her assall-
ers, the removal of delinquent officials
and the adoption Of measures for the
protection of our citizens engaged in
mission and other lawful work In that
quarter. Turkey complains that her
Armenian subjects obtain citizenship
in this country, not to Identity them.
selves In good faith with our people,
bu5 with the intention of returning to
the land OF their birth and there en-.
gaging in sedition.
The complaint is not wholly without
foundation. A journal published in
this country In the Armenian language
openly counsels its readers to arm, Or
ganizs and participate in movements
for the subversion of Turkish author
ity In the Asiatic provinces. The Otto
man government has announced its in
tention to expel from its dominions
Armenians who have obtained natu
ralizstion in the United States since
1858. The right to exclude any or all
ereignty. 1t Is right asserted and to
limited extend enforced by the Uni
ted States with the sanction of our
highest court.
There being no naturaliZ alton treaty
between the United States and Turkey,
our minister at Constantinop!e has
been instructed that, while recognizing
the right of that Government to en-
force Its declared policy against natu-
ralized Armenians, he Is expected to
protect them from unnecessary harsh
| ness Of treatment.
In view of the impaired fiaancial re-
sources of Venezuela, consequent upon
the recent revolution there, a modified
| arrannanant for the satisfaction of