St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-08-20
"Our interests in Samoa"


This is the title of an interesting and
valuable article in the North American
Review for August from the pen of Hon.
Henry c. lde, late chief justice OF Samoa.
Many Vermonters take an especial inter-
est in Samoan affairs, owing to the fact
that some Vermont men have had a good
deal to do with the preservation OF the
native government OF Samoa; with the
vastly improved condition of things on
those islands; with the settlement Of
land titles; and with the promotion OF
American interests, in that far away but
important group in the South Pacific.
The important treaty of 1889 which es-
tablished the independence ofSamoa, was
negotiated on the part Of the United
States by three pleniDotentiaries, OF
whom Hon. John A. Kasson, native
Vermontcr, was one and the leading one
Ex-Gov. Ormsbee Of this state was the
first American land commissioner in
Samoa and did good work there in the
settlement of land controversies and
titles and in other ways. Mr. lde served
for nearly year as land commissioner.
and for over three years as chief justice
OF the supreme court OF Samoa, retiring
few weeks ago, to the great regret Of
the king and people, who bear strong
testimony to the high value of his service
in that important office. Few men,
probably, are better informed than Mr..
lde in regard to the affairs OF Samoa, and
American interests there; and his concu-
sions on the subject should command the
attention of our national administration
and of Congress.
Judge Ide describes the opposing claims
OF England Germany and the United
States, which was settled by the treaty
of 1889, between those powers. This
treaty prevented the absorption of Samoa
by either England or Germany, and Sc
cured the neutrality OF the Samoan
Islands, the contracting powers agreeing
that neither OF them should exercise any
separate control over the islands, or the
government thereof. AS results of the
treaty, the United States has secured the
harbor of Page Page tor a coaling sta
ton; Americans are protected against
the aggressions of the Germans and
English; the government OF Samoa is
successfully administered; and more
roads and bridges have been built in the
six years during which the treaty has
been in force thanin sixty years previous;
laws prohibiting the sale of liquor to the
natives are well enforced; solid titles to
lands can be and are obtained; contro-
versies with the natives are largely ended;
and other valuable results secured. Some
disturbances" says Judge Ide, care to
be expected in country like Samoa
Even in our own country we read of
more lynchings than legal executions
our Indian territory is filled with murder
and violence; railway trains are wrecked
and robbed and the commerce OF half
continent paralyzed by unrestrained
mobs Surely we may excuse poor Samoa
If she does not leap at bound in the
blessings of perfect order" He adds that
the life of any decent white man is as
secure there as in the quietest New Eng
land hamlet.
Judge lde maintains that it would be
very unwisc for us to withdraw from the
treaty Of 80, as President Cleveland
recommended. Everything in the Pacific,
except Hawaii and Samoa, has been
appropriated by other powers. Having
acquired there one of the best harbors
in the whole Pacific, shall we now relin-
quish it? Having secured the autonomy
and neutrality of Samoa, shall we now
permit the islands to be appropriated by
Germany or England? Having valuable
foothold in the center OF a vast commerce
shall we release it for the benefit of other
nations These questions, Mr.. Ide thinks,
answer themselves. - Burlington Free
Press.