The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-12
GREsHAMs MUD-THROWING.

The cuckoo organs are applaudinq
Gresham's Samoan policy, and the local
cuckoo declares its belief that there is d
great deal of good, hard common sense
In the letter with which Gresham replies
TO Senator Quay's resolution of inquiry
regarding Samoan affairs, by saying: 1T
is difficult TO see that we have gained
anything at all by mixing ourselves IN
in the government of those islands. y
We have have got nothing out of
our share in the affair except troubles
and complications. The idea undoubt-
edly was ut the outset that if we only
kept our flag floating in Samoa we could
build mp trade there by that means
alone. The idea is not an uncommon
one, but 1t is always fallacious."
The anipus of Gresham is of course
his hatred of Harrison, and he never
loses an opportunity to throw mud at
the last administration, even if he
covers himself from head to foot with
slime in order to do it as he did in
the case of the Hawaiian infamy.
bis letter to the Senate declaring that
"Soberly surveying the history of our
relations with Samoa, we well may in
quire what we have gained by our de-
parture from orr established policy,
beyond the expenses, responsibilities
and entanglements that so Gar have been
its only fruits. One of the greatest diff
culties in dealing with matters that lie
at distance is the fact that tn e imagi-
nation is no longer restrained by the
contemplation Of objects in their real
proportions
de later aff:rms that the Berlin settle
ment "has utterly failed to correct the
evils it was designed to prevent" and
has instead aggravated them and he
attributes the whole trouble to Presi- |
dent Harrisea,s- alleged unwise depart I
ure from traditional policy.
The Gresham way of settling a yexed |
international question Is to leave it
alone, or let England have the benefit.
Let us see what the United States in
terest in these island is, and what the
interests of the other parties are to this
tri-partite agreement.
Geographically considered these islands
lie in the path of trade between Austria
ia and our Western coast, and accord
ngly are valuable both commercially
md from strategic standpoint. Uncle
sans trade with the islands was not
arge, but we had naval and coal
ng station at Pago-Pago that is
Il the utmost Importance to us, STRAIT
gically. considered. England had quite
trade established there and so had
Germany. The islands were indepen-
eat of any power until Germany, fol-
owing UP the advantages gained by
herman trading company, undertook to
AXE possession Of the islands and replace
he native king by German, thus
sopardizing our concession at Pago-
ago.
Uncle Sam resented this unwarranted
ct OF Germany's and called her to ac-
punt, and the outcome was the tri-
artitc agreement by which Samoa
as to be protected by these powers.
This agreement in brief was that the
lree nations should name chief Justice
no would have jurisdiction over the
lands, while the natives could choose
eir own sovereigns. The deposed
ng was restored, and except recent
prising instigated nnquestienably
ON German sources, and which
IS been settled promptly, the plan has
ven more stable government than
e islands ever had, and our interests
Q guarded by Chief Justice Ide. a
and an American with blood
It water in his veins.
Commercially the islands are not
'rth struggle, but politically and b
'ategically the United States cannot %
ord to surrender lis. valuable con- II
ssion, especially to any European j,
wer, but Gresham s.w a chance 10 T,
in his dirty work slurring the pre- r,
'us Republican administration. and NJ
did it. :,