The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-04-29
SEATTLE, MONDAY, APRIL 90.
ONLY AN AMERICAN.

Il seems probable that the attention OF
the United States government viii before
long be diverted from Nicaragua and the
British vice consul 10 Madagascar and an
American citizen. While very much hys-
terical excitement is spnttering around
Corinto, one Of our own people Is being
taken TO jail by the French without
civil trial. and in defiance OF treaty stip-
ulations with this government. Had he
been a British subject. British man-of-
war would have sped 10 the isle of NADIA
gascar as fast as steam could carry her.
But Waller is only an American citizen,
and the United States warshIp San Fran
cisco. leaving the Asiatic shore OF the
Mediterranean. where she had been look
Ing after the interests OF Armenians.
calmly returns to Naples instead Of go
ing through the Suez canal and holsting
the Stars and Stripes before the Mala-
gasy and the French. and demanding that
her dignity be respected.
John l.. Waller. once United States con-
sui at Tamatave. Madagascar. has been
for several years resident OF the ISL
and. lie was granted by the Maiagasy
government a concession OF 225 square
miles OF valuable rubber land. which he
was developing and which promised to
yield him a fortune. There had beeen
some friction between French spectators
and Waller on account of this grant. and
suspicion Is therefore entertained that
the chief motive for endeayoring TO get
Waller out of the way was TO secure this
land.
SO far as can he learned for the
astounding statement Is made at Wash
ington city that the government has only
meager and unofficial advioes. the French
had planned to attack Hova town at
night. that Waller learned OF the fact
and by timely warning to his friends they
were prepared. and met the invader
with effective resistance. II Is impossible
10 say whether Wal er gave the lnforma-
ton or not; but n he did. Is it so serious
crime for a man TO warn his friends
Of danger that he shall be forthwith
arrested. his property eonflscated and he
be sentenced 20 twenty years lmprison-
mentf There Is no doubt that. under
some circumstances he might place him
saf beyond the pale OF United States pro-
tsc,ion. a man who. tn a foreign coun-
try. embroils himself In internecine ar
fairs. must take the consequences. But
this government ought 20 be IN a posi-
ton 20 know how far he was cuipahle.
aud be assured that his punishment was
less for the warning than for the posses.
sion OF the coveted property.
The United States has never recor-
mixed the French protectorate over NADIA
gascar beyond the right to dlrect its for
eign affairs There Is trvaty with this
government which requires that all ac-
cused Americans shall Sc tried ~ civil
tribunals. Il Is true thai WALTERS offense
was one which would properly come be-
fore a court-martlal but the fact that he
was an American citizen should have en-
,itlei him 60 representation AZ The milf
tary trial which was given him. n only
informally. by an American diploma n,
Official
a very singular feature 81 the whole
affair II that Consul wetter. WHO Vas
known to he uafrIsndly 70 Waller. has
sent such unsatisfactory reports that he
has been asked fer an explanation BY the
secretary - state.
Waller VIII - IN Paris today. where his
sentence Will pa reviewed We may have
had an inefficient consul IN far~or MAaa.
gsscAr. bus AZ the French capital We
have a Southern g~nstcrnan a. minister.
ard II will he interesting 10 observe VIVA,
course the uRitoA States government wnl
taxa