Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1894-05-31
IS SAMOA TO BE SURREN.
DERED.

OF three cool propositions: first
to turn the whole control of the
islands over to Germany, Eng
land taking the Tonga Islands,
which don't belong to her, by
way of compensation, and the
United States being given leave
to withdraw.
That is the German PROPOSE
ton. The London Pail Nall Go
zette offers as a substitute arrange
ment, that England establish a
protectorate over the country
without paying heed to German
or American interests.
Sir George Gray, formerly
Prime Minister of New Zealand,
suggests as a third solution of
the difficulty that the Islands be
annexed to New Zealand; mot
from any motives of ambition (of
course notD but simply for the
welfare of the Samoans. AS he
judiciously remarks:-
''Although the United States
have not single arsenal on their
West coast, they are absolutely
secure, but they would not be if
the Germans controlled Samoa.
The mere frown of the United
States was sufficient to prevent
the German nominee from super
seding King Malietoa.
If we have not a single arsenal
on our Western coast, while
Great Britain is completing one
Of the strongest fortresses in the
world, at Esquimault, command
ing our whole Pacific border,
perhaps it would be as we'll for
us to look out for enemies nearer
home than Samoa; but, there is
no good reason why our Govern
ment should be indifferent to
possible danger in Samoa Hawaii,
orV Vancouver. Secretary Gresham
is said to regard our interests in
Samoa as of little value. That
we can hardly believe. They
were deemed important enough
a few years ago to warrant a
sharp interposition by Secretary
Bayard, and his successor
thought them worth the cost of
dispatching a feet of war vessels
for their protection. The tragic
sequal of that expedition may
have been partly the result of
bad judgement; but if the send
ing of our feet to Samoa was
wrong, it's destruction was not a
blunder but a crime, the respon-
sibility of which would rest
equally upon Mr.. Bayard and Mr..
/! Blaine.
The country was sufficiently
Disguised by the way in which
the naval authorities stitied all
inquiry into the cause of that
shocking disaster; but if we make
the American sailor abroad ut
terly ashamed of his country we
need only adopt the policy OF
scuttling out of Samoa and let
ting the Pacific islands in gener-
al be looted by England, Ger
many, or any other freebooter
who may covet them.
| Already the London Chronicle
nominates Robert Louis Steven
son, the novelist, for paramount
commissioner of Samoa under 6
British protectorate. Mr.. Ste
venson used to hate the Yankees
in his early days but of late he
| has been more kindly disposed
and his book on the Samoan
| question, barring a little sloI
j about the American Admiral who
lost his own fleet with serene for
titude, but rejoiced with grea
Joy that the English ship had es
capped, is a fair and just story OF
!, recent events in that region. 1
Z Mr.. Stevenson should become
!, first chief potentate of Samoa
RI Americans would probably re
, ceive gentle liberation there; bu
why the United States shoul'
submit to being deprived alto
gether of rights guaranteed b.
solemn treaty within five year
is mystery for diplomats to un
ravel. It passes the compre
e hension of the ordinary patriot
citizen.
3 Sanford Erpress:-Near Fay