The record-union., 1895-08-13
THE WALLER "INCIDENT.o

II it be true that another of our ships in
Madagascar waters has refused to- salute
the French flag we are glad of it, The
French Government has been so radi-
callv wrong in this whole Madagascar
business that the United States cannot
afford to recognize it as right, as would
be done by salute of the flag in the
waters of State with which we are at
peace and to which we send accredited
agents.
The Waller case is a shameful one, and
part of the shame rests upon the United
States that it has not interfered more
vigorously than it has. With Madagas-
car papers in hand some months, and
with fairly authoritative accounts of the
Waller affair from other sources, we have
been driven to the conclusion that the
man has been much sinned against, and
is deserving of the sympathy and assist
ance he claims from the United States.
He has been condemned by French
prison, but under such oircum-
stances mot possible to here explain in
detail. but to which extended reference
was some time ago made in these col
umns) that the Government Of the United
States would be fully justified in de-
manding Immediate explanation from
the French Government.
True, the matter has been made the
subject Of diplomatic correspondence,
and has become an incident that is not
yet closed; but there has been but little
vigor in movement on our part. The
present refusal of the gunboat Castine to
salute the tri-color, however, may indi-
cate that the authorities at Washington
wish to give the French to understand
that their claims in the Madagascar terri
tory are not conceded in all fullness By
us. There has never been any question
about the charge that the hatred of the
of the representations he made to our
Government while Consul more than be-
cause of his aid to the Queen of the
Hovas, and because of his enjoyment OF
valuable concessions from the Malagasy
Government. Nor can it be denied that
other American citizens have been as
saulted and insulted in Madagascar by
French soldiery, as for instance in the
case OF John Dublin at Tamatave. It is
gratifying to know that the United States
has not at any time given to the assump-
ton by France of protectorate over
Madagascar any recognition.
Some years ago an American msn-of-
war in Madagascar waters refused to ss-
Lutte the French flag. The French Off
cials called upon Commander Harrington
to know why he had refused the courtesy.
when he plainly informed them that his
instructions were to do nothing that
would be even seeming of recognition
of the protectorate. That was under the
Harrison Administration, when it was
held that we had by express act recog-
nized the independence Of Madagascar,
and that we had no reason to recede
from that recognition.
1t may not be generally known but it
is true that American commercial inter-
ests are far larger and more valuable in
Madagascar than those OF any other
country. The French are jealous of this
fact. and are solicitous to discourage
Americans and induce them to leave the
country. But aside from this considera-
ton, it is enough to know that al Ameri-
can citizen has been seized in Madagas-
car by the French, and after sham trial
has been imprisoned on terms that mean
practically a life sentence for him. This
American citizen is recognized by the
Queen of Madagascar and the Malsgasy
Government. and his acts, which consist
mainly in accepting valuable rubber
forest concessions. approved and com.
mended.
The pretense under which Waller is
now imprisoned is that in October last,
long before the French issued their ulti-
matum to the Queen, Waller wrote let
ter for Hova lad, in which reference