The sun., 1894-05-12
eamoa-Gresham Turns Against Bay
ard and Cleveland.

Secretary GREsHAM's mania for discred-
ting the performances OF his predecessors
In the Department Of State now impels him
20 attack aud denounce Mr.. BAYARD. In
the Hawaiian business his target was o
Republican Administration. Not satisfied
with his failure In the LILIUoKALANI en-
terprise. this extraordinary man, apparent
" with Mr.. CLEvELAND's consent and ap-
proval. selects q new victim in the person
OF the Secretary Of State under GROVER
CLEvELAsD's first Administration. In his
reply to the GRAY resolution OF inquiry
concerning the present condition Of Samoan
affairs. Mr.. GRESHAM begins an assault
upon the dploiA lacy OF Secretary BAYABD.
and practically recommends q reversal Of
the policy affirmed and prosecuted by Mr..
CLEVELAND himself.
Everybody remembers the first Samoan
episode; the attempt OF Germany. then
keen for colonial extension. to crowd us out
Of our treaty rights In the islands. and to
appropriate them as her own; the prompt
and impressive protest OF American senti-
made the colors OF the American flag seem
brighter aud more beautiful than for years
before: the presence OF the ships OF our
navy in Apia Bay. and the tragic incident
Of the great hurricane. filing the nations
heart with sorrow and with pride: the sue
cessful assertion Of the principle that the
American flag covers American rights and
American interests wherever on the globe
they exist: the preservation Of Samoan
autonomy and independence against the
designs OF Germany: the generous vote OF
money by Congress to enable our Execu-
two to establish and protect the American
naval post In Pago-Pago harbor. which was
ours by treaty and which German or Eng
lish possession OF the islands would have
rendered worthless. American diplomacy
was active for years. American money was
expended without stint. and heroic Amert-
can lives were sacrificed. all In order that
the American policy with regard to Samoa
might not be defeated by an encroachinR
foreign power.
Honor to the American Administration
which inaugurated this Samoan policy and
effected that much!
so long us the tripartite arrangement
remains In force under the provisions OF
the Berlin treaty. the autonomy and In
dependence OF Samoa are assured. II Mr..
GREsHAM's attack upon the policy which
resulted In that tripartite arrangement
means anything, 1t means that he and
Mr.. CLEVELAND have come to the con-
clus!on that the treaty Of Berlin should
lie abrogated on our part. allowing the Sa-
moan Islands to go to Great Britain. or to
> Germany. or to any foreign power willing
70 accept as gift the American interest
IN those islands.
Whose and what is the policy now de-
scribed by the Hou. WALTER Q. GRESHAM
as conceived In unwisdom and infirmity.
and resulting In utter failure? Whose and
what is the policy which in his opinion has
"borne no fruits beyond expenses. respon-
sibilities. and entanglements ~ Whose and
what Is the policy which he advises the
country to repudiate and discard. and
which he denounces In a communication ad-
dressed to Mr. CLEVELAND. and by Mr..
CLEVELAND forwarded to the Senate in re-
sponss to a resolution introduced by the
Administrations mouthpiece there?
The trlpartite control OF Samoa is the in
vention OF the Hon. THOMAS F. BAYARD.
Secretary OF State during Mr.. CLEvELAND's
first term. and now Mr.. CLEyELASD's Am
bassador to England. The scrupulous pre-
servation OF the autonomy and indepen-
dence OF Samoa is the policy prescribed by
MIR. CLEVELAND himself. and Insisted upon
by him over aud over again in phrases
which found a quick echo in American
patriotism. From the beginning to the end
OF Mr.. CLEvELAHD's first Administration.
the chief concern OF its diplomacy was to
enforce the declaration made TO the world
ny Mr. BAYARD on June 10. 1885. before
CLEVELAND had been four months In ofiee:
The moral Interests Of the United states With TO
spest to the islands OF the PAsIns necessarily dspsn
dsnt Ia greater or degree American system
sf somnOnusAlIhL you'd counsel us to look 9Th
soassra on GRy mOvsmsHt BY Which the iHdsPsndsHes
Of thOss Paeiae nAsnAtisS might be sEtinSSShsd bJ
IAsir passage under the d0niHAti0H OF fOrsisR SOW
sr,isn sad tbis would squAy true Of possible EaE
Lab. - WsI a. pOs,i6ls German pr0;ssti0R.'
This doctrine was repeated in numberless
forms by the President aud the Secretary
OF state curing the whole four years OF the
Administration; and it was finally re-
.uIYmsJ by Mr.. CLEVELAND In a special