Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-09
OUR SAMOAN POLICY.


sr. JouNsBURY, Feb. 3.-The Caleioni-
an prints this week an interview with Hon.
II. c. ide Of st. Johusbury, late United
States commissioner to Samoa. Mr., lde
said
"Thc petition that has Just been dispatch
ed to our government from the provisional
government at Honolulu is not the first one
that has been received in this country from
the islands OF the Pacific, asking annexa-
ton. During Gen. Grants second term as
president no manifested great interest in
the relation OF the United States to its
Island neighbors in the west, and in 1872
and 1878 authorized Col. A. b. Steinberger
to proceed to the Samoan islands and make
certain Investigations, which resulted in a
formal application to the president as fol-
lows:
I'VE, the chief and rulers Of Samoa,
deeming it necessary for our future well
being, and better establishment of Christi
anity, free institutions, fellowship of man
kind, protection of life and property, and
to secure the blessings of liberty and free
trade to ourselves and future generations,
do petition the president OF the United
States Of America to annex these, our is
lands, to the United States of America.
This petition was confirmed by another
tants, and by another on behalf of the Lon
don Missionary society, the prevailing mis-
sonory agency in the South seas.
'In n reply from Hamilton Fish, then
secretary of State, dated December ! L. 1874,
after commenting upon the fertility and re-
sources of the islands, and their command
ing position in the Pacific, and their partic-
ular Importance to us, he proceeds
1T is more than doubtful, however,
whether these considerations would he suf-
fitient to satisfy our people that the annexa-
ton Of the islands to the United Statos is
essential to our safety ard prosperity. 1t ia
deemed inexpeiient without q strong coll
from the public, to originate measure ad-
verse to the usual traditions of the govern
ment and which, therefore, probably would
not receive such attention as would DO like
~ to secure it success.
"This application on the part of the Sa-
m oans was voluntary and sincere. The ap-
plication on the part OF the Hawaiians does
not seem to have come in any senee from
the native people, but only from a portion
| Of the foreigners who represent numerically
probably not more than one sixth OF the
whole population. 1t would seem proba-
bic that tbs same considerations which
controlled our government in 1874 might
control it in 1893, but it would also
seem probable that helping hand and
moral influence in favor of the Independence
of the Hawaiian islands, and of some other
than monarchial government there, and
OF the most complete protection of the vast
American interests now existing in those
islands, would be given by our government.
he question Is not a party one. No one
| can forecast to certainty the policy of this
administration or the succeeding one in re-
gard to this most interesting application for
annexation. But it would be entirely in
line with our previou, history if annexation
did not occur; but our moral and business
influence in those island should continue to
preponderate, aud be largely increased by
such action as may now be taken"