The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-09-08

land endeaV0red perslstently 10 uprOoI
the fruit he had planted in Samoa
during his first administration, and
which President Harrison had reared
and protected with patriotic care. In
Samoa he pursued a course only less
malign than was his policy in the his
toric group in the North Pacific, the
Hawaiian Islands. 1t is gratifying to
know that President Mckinley has
given instructions to the new consul at
Apia which shall form the basis for the
restoration of the lost influence of the
United States in the Samoan Islands.
On this subject Hon. Henry G. Ide Of
st. Johnsbury, but recently Chief JUS
tice of Samoa, publishes.an illuminative
article in the August number of the
North american RevieU. Mr.. Ide has
resided in Samoa as United States land
commissioner in 1891, and from 1893 to
1897 as Chief Justice, under the treaty
between the United States, England
and Germany. A man of sound judg-
ment, an acute and intelligent OBJ
server, occupying a station in the
islands affording every advantage for
obtaining accurate information and
forming correct conclusions, what Mr..
Ide has to say on the subject must have
all the force of high judicial opinion.
He sets forth the condition Of the
islands prior to June IA, 1889, when
the three powers named above agreed
upon a treaty mutually guaranteeing
the neutrality of the islands of Samoa
and declaring that neither Of the treaty
powers should exercise any separate
control over the islands or their gov
eminent. incidentally the objects of
the treaty were to quiet internal dis
sensions, give security to foreigners,
and, as far as possible" promote the
welfare of the Samoan people. This
treaty was, on the part of the United
States at least, a deliberate and nom
partisan act. 1t signalized the end of
some twenty-five years of inquiry
and investigation on the part of
this government, of negotiations with
native chiefs for harbor and other
privileges, and fnally-after Germany
had attempted, in 1887 and 1888, to
seize the islands and peace between
that nation and the United States had
been imperiled by the incident and its
consequences-the completion of the
triple alliance of 1889. The treaty was
non-partisan. The preliminary steps
were taken, after long elaboration, by
President Cleveland, during his first
administration, and completed by
President Harrison with his hearty sup
port. Reviewing the history of affairs
down to the time of the signing of the
treaty, Mr.. Ide shows conclusively that
the compact was a deliberate act of
national policy, entered into with sufl.
cient knowledge of the subject in all
its phases, and a knowledge far more
reliable, considering the different
sources from which it came and the
length of time given for the correction
of all errors, than any since acquired"
But what interest can the United
States have in the far away islands of
the South Pacific, and what advantage
is secured to this country by the treaty?
The islands lie in the pathway of the
developing commerce of the Pacific.
They are the only un%appropriated ter
ritory south of the equator in those
waters. They afford a convenient and
necessary stopping place, for coal or
repairs, of the naval vessels of the
United States in their missions for the
defense of the rights of American citi-
zens or the protection of American in
terests in those remote regions. On the
shores of Pago Pago bay, a safe and
spacious harbor, this government has
purchased land for a coaling station
and naval supplies. The Pacific is a
region of magnificent distances, in
traversing which the modern war ves-
sci, with its Limitation of storage room,
must have known and convenient sup
ply stations. Hence the interest of the
United States in Samoa. The advan-
tage of the treaty to the United States
is that, while it secures the independ-
ency of Samoa, under it this nation has
equal rights in the island, politically,
commercially, to acquire and own prop
erty and in all other respects. The
treaties made with the Samoan
chiefs before the triple alliance are rec
ognized and confirmed. There is no
other unappropriated land in the South
Pacific. The nations of Europe have
seized everything else in sight, as they
have also in the North Pacific, except
the Hawaiian Islands. 1t is not pro-
posed to annex Samoa to the United
States. The proposition is simply that
the United States shall carry out,
in good faith, her obligations under
the treaty of 1889, which secures the