The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
Our Interest in Samoa.

We learn by cable that q Berlin news
paper advocates the annexation of Samoa
by Germany. and assumes that we could
not object to such o step In view of the
position lately taken by Mr.. MCKINLEY in
regard to Hawaii. 1t is a curious logic
that would have us abandon our interests
in one quarter because we are promoting
them elsewhere. That we have substan-
tial interests in Samoa, both present and
prospective. Is we'll known to the
readers Of THE Sun, and they will
find further proof of the fact set
forth in the August number of the North
American Reriep on thoroughly competent
authority, that. namely, Of the Hon. HENRY
c.. IDE, late Chief Justice Of Samoa. 1t
may be well to mention that Mr.. IDE re.
sided in Samoa during the greater portion
Of the year 1891 as United States Land
Commissioner, and from 1898 to 1897 was
Chief Justice under the treaty concluded In
June. 1889, between the United States,
Great Britain, and the German empire.
1t Is true that during CLEvELAND's Sec
ond Administration, he and Secretary
GRESHAM repeatedly recommended that the
United States should withdraw from the
international compact whereby the islands
OF Samoa were made neutral territory, and
whereby 1t was agreed that neither Great
Britain, the German empire, nor the United
States should exercise any separate control
over the islands or the Government thereof.
Messrs. CLEVELAND and GRESHAM averred
that the islands are unsuited In climate
for the residence Of white people,; that
commercially they are worthless; that
thA tnhnI,tto nfa ~ trtrnntIIz tL-k
the new Government Is expensive to our
State Department.; that it falls to secure
the results hoped for, and that II involves
a foreign alliance alien to our traditions
and best interests. We ought, therefore,
Messrs. CLEVELAND and GRESHAM said, to
denounce the international compact above
named and to leave the islands to their
fate, which would be, OF course, absorption
either by Germany OF England.
Mr.. IDE takes up these assertions point
by point and refutes them, but, before mark.
Ing what he says. 1t may be we'll TO recall
the fact that the treaty objected to was the
outcome OF negotiations begun and carried
on during C~LEvELAND's first Administra-
tion. In a conference held In 1887 at Wash.
lngton between the authorized representa-
tives OF the three powers concerned, Mr..
BAYARD declared that these islands lie In
the pathway OF a commerce that Is Just being
developed. There is something beyond the
mere material present value OF the land or
the products" In the instructions given
to Mr.. GEORGE II. BATES, who was
sent as n special agent to Samoa,
Mr.. BAYARD said "Tbe Samoan isl.
ands are to-day almost the sole remaining
neutral territory In Oceanica. The princi.
pie Of naturalization Is of special i'm.
portance to the United States, for In no
other part of Polynesia Is a right of this
nature possessed by them" One article
proposed by Secretary BAYARD at the con.
ference was: Each Of the treaty powers
shall alternately keep four months In each
year a man-of.war in Samoan waters to
assist In maintaining the Government 80
to be established and to preserve peace and
order" which shows that 1t was not then
contemplated that a new Government
should be established, and then left
to its fate without either physical or
moral support. 1t Is also evident
that. II we have departed from our
traditional policy In our action in re.
gard to Samoa, that departure was widest
under CLEvELAHD's first Administration.
How Is 1t possible to reconcile the position
ultimately taken by Messrs. CLEVELAND
l ana GRESHAM With that originally assumed