Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-09-05


remote from this hemisphere, that the At
tack is chiefly based and upon which the
changes are rung in all reference to our re-
lations with Samoa.
This is deceptive and a dishonest cry
This act is no departure from the policy we
nave pursued in regions where we have
extra territorial jurisdiction, from the agree
ment under which Apia was previously gov
erned, or III which We have participated In
China and Japan. Nor is it a departur.
from the proposal of Mr.. Bayard, himself
It the first conference. 1t is not an zen
| angling alliance" in the sense Washington
Used the term. for it has no ralstion to the
politics of Europe, but with affairs in which
We have natural and proper concern. \.
Finally, the distinguished secretary OF
state must be corrected in his geography.
Samoa is not remote from this hemls-
| phere, ? but within and part of it. And \
| is therefore within that declaration with
which the names of Adams and Monroe are
| mperishably linked and which to ev-rv
| other secretary of state has meant so much
but which to him apparently means so little.
In the wars of European powers we nav
never taken any part" with the move
| ments in this hemisphere we are of necess
ity more Immediately connected" ave
| ,we it therefore, to candor and to the annie
| ible relations existing bstween the United
States and those powers, to declare that we
should consider any attempt on their part
70 exit nd their system to any portion o.
this hemisphere as dangerous TO our peace
| ind safety"
| We are told in history that in order to
crafty the vanity ofthe Emperor Augustus
to make the month that bears his name
equal, to that named for the great Caesar
the calendar itself was changed.
My friends, can it be possible that we
have among US, in the person of the secre-
tary of state, new Augustus who by rear
ranging the meridians on the charts seeks to
eliminate this immortal declaration from
our policy in the Pacific, and thus to crafty
his own vanity by detracting from the famp
Of that distinguished citizen of Indiana and
the country which has so far and so long
since eclipsed his own that he has been
wiling to bargain away the principles of
life time to gain the temporary eminence
from which he now seeks to attack him by
robbing his countrymen of the benefits
Benjamin Harrison secured us?
But need not invoke that wise doctrine
the observance of which has done so much
to raise the prestige of the American name
throughout the world. l need not argue
the merits of the Berlin Act. The question
Of our right and duty to participate in Sa-
moan affairs to the extent at least of pre-
serving the neutrality of those Islands is nc
longer an open question.
We are already established in this con.
nection.
We are bound by that peculiar relation
ship towards those people, first assumed
when Wilkes, over fifty years ago, framed
laws for them, and since consistently main
tanned a sort of ''moral suzerainty," as it
| has been called in Hawaii. We are bound
by advantages received as well as by recip-
rocal responsibilities assumed, by interest
as well as by honor. We are bound by OUT
right to the magnificent harbor there which
We cannot permit to be imperilled by the
transfer of Samoan sovereignty to unfriend.
~ hands.
We are bound by our citizens established
there, who cannot be abandoned to the dis
| eliminating laws of our commercial rivals
We are bound by the memory of the ships
that were lost of the lives that went out in
death on the reefs of Apia as gloriously as
any ever offered up in battle for their coun-
Il
what we owe to the Samoans themselves fol-
whose present condition we are chic fly re-
sponsible.
And in this connection, assuming the full
responsibility for what l say, l wish to
make statement of personal experience
| shall betray no condolences for the facts
have long since been in the possession OF
the Senate, and are to be found in pub lie
documents.
This statement will show how it is that
Samoa has figured so largely in my life and
why, now, and always it will be with me
matter of personal honor to plead her Cause.
1t will show why our connection with Sa-
moa is to Mr.. Cleveland an irritating re-
sponsibility which he fain would bring to an
end, and sickening memory which he
fain would have forgotten.
Seven years ago first went to Samoa,
Mr.. Bayard's conference at Washington
was then about to assemble, but Germany
had arranged for action in the event of her
not securing there what she wished. She
was to take possession of the Islands under
the guise of recognizing a rebel king and
government she had organized declaring
war at the same time on the legitimate SOW
ereign. ! had no sooner arrived in Samoa
than was instructed by Mr.. Bayard to keep
the Samoans from fighting, on the assur-
ance that the conference would arrange
Samoan affairs for the best interest of the
Ssmoans. l obeyed; went at once to the
King whom | found at his camp with his
armed followers ready and eager to proceed
against those in rebellion about him, and
crash them as he was able to do. ...
In the name of my government delivered
my message, and pleaded with the King to
maintain peace. He replied that he believed
the Germans were coming to make war up
on him with the rebels, and he wished to
dispense these before the ships could arrive.
told him to dismiss his fears, that my
government would not allow him to suffer
through obedience to its wishes.
Finally, at my earnest entreaty, he YIELD
ed and promised that he would fight only if
attacked and then in defence of the women
and children. He promised this, he said,
out of his great respect and love for the
government of the United States, and he
KEEP. his word. And now comes the hame full
story. In exactly one month all that the
King had foretold of German action came
true. Six German war ships arrived
at Apia; in the name of the Ger.
man Emperor war was declared on the no.