New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-05
GERMANY IN SAMOA.
IMPORTANCE OF THE ISLANDS TO HER
SELF ESTEEM-A QUESTION OF IN
TERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

TERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: As an American who has beel resident
In Germany for more than thirty years and has
had occasion to know all classes Of the German
people. permit me to make a few observations
upon the report Of the Samoan Commission.
The most important conclusion which the
Commission has reached is that the only per-
manent cure for the evils which prevail in the
islands is to abolish the tripartite administra-
ton and place the government in the hands OF
one Power.
II this opinion is accepted by the Powers in
terested. the question arises, which OF them is
to bear this responsibility?
America and Great Britain are already so es-
tablished in the Pacific to have little need
Of this distracted archipelago and probably
there are not many people in either or these
countries to whom its fate is not matter OF
indifference.
In Germany, however there Is deep senti-
mental interest in this question which renders
q one Of great Importance to the imperial Gov
eminent: for strong and masterful as that Gov
ernrent IL Il must reckon considerably with
such widely spread sentiment
To the German people partly, no doubt oe-
cause they have suspected that In this case
there had been an ungenerous attempt 70
thwart their natural desire for colonial expan-
sion 4. has come TO represent something lar
| greater than the simple acquisition OF niue
| territory 1t means the sign and symool OF
| entrance into the ranks Of the world powers
such as Great Britain, France and Russia are
and America has so recently become.
GERMANY's AMBITIONS.
| Latest born of all great Powers. possessed OF
| n superabundant population of Intelligent IN
| dustrious and frugal people. honorably elated
| M the brilliant victories which made union
| possible and possessing in superlative degree
| the virtues Of loyalty and patriotism Germany
found herself come Of age too late to extend her
| borders by colonial expansion after the fashioh
| of the other Powers We kept her out OIL
| America and England and France had ABSORBED
| the most desirable parts Of Africa During 'he
| time OF Bismarck, who, great as he was seefheu
| to confne his vision to Europe and 70 hoIo 'ne
| rest Of the world in slight regard. colonial eN-
| mansion was also in little favor with the mass
| of the nation, but. under the stimulus OF the
active and IMAGINATIVE mind Of the young En-
| peror and through the great increase OF com
merce and manufactures for so many pros
| porous years OF peace expansion came 10 DC
| desired for reasons Of trade. as well as through
| sentiments Of national pride and regard TOT the
| national dignity.
To any foreigner who knows Germany we'll
this movement toward larger life, ana espe-
cially her acquisition OF territory in CHINA sue
| gests many important reflections
America has suddenly and unexpectedly en-
| larged her borders, and stands upon the thresh-
| old of the Far East Her family quarrel
| with England has been forgotten. and the two
AnRlo-Saxon Powers see before them new
| Eastern Question. before which the old Eastern
Question fades into insignihcance Shall AsIa
| awake from her century long sleep ana WelcoiHe
| the dawn Of the only civilization which touches
| the lethargic soul Of hereditary bondsmen with
| celestial fire, and makes them the children OF
| commercial political and spiritual freedom, or
| shall she fall under the domination OF des-
potism whose triumph means only the exchange
| Of set of chains for another? 49,
We have seen the Latin CIVILIZATION IN tne
Western Hemisphere go down in ruin before the
higher Germanio civilization which our fore
| fathers established upon The North American
| Continent and our children may see n yet
| greater triumph Of this civilization upon the
continent Of Asia But, whether we believe this
| or not we have entered upon contest from
| which we cannot escape THE moving finger
| has written. Together with Great Britain. we
| must labor to keep the "open door in CHINA
| md to this end, among all the other Powers, we
| can look for the countenance and support or
| Germany alone. Her interests promise TO be
| come Identical with ours, and, should common
| purpose and genuine sympathy unite the policy
| OF the three Germanc Powers In the Far East,
| then that which threatens to be the most fear
| full war the world has ever known may ne
| ayerted. Should we not, therefore, promote
| wherever possible the colonial expansion or
| Germany and adopt every self-respecting means
| TO make her our friend?
| GERMANY's NEUTRALITY.
| There seems to be great misunderstanding
| In America as to the attitude OF Germany dur
| ing the Spanish war AS our Ambassador. Mr.
| White, has repeatedly told us, the Emperor
| Government has been absolutely neutral, and
| given him no occasion OF complaint If any
| German officials have been indiscreet In either
| word or action, they have had no monopoly or
| indiscretion and have embarrassed their own
| Government more than they have ours. very
| natural doubt as to the dslnterestedness OF the
| United States at the outbreak or the war
caused many Germans to sympathize with spain
| without question but the issue was better
understood those sympathies were modified and
| OF the German people, such as could be found
| in no other Continental nation, whose sympa-
| thies and wishes were all for America
| Having, as do, business relations with
| Germany second In Importance only 10 those
| with Great Britain and since we number among
! our fellow citizens millions OF Germans who are
| examples OF loyalty and devotion even TO the
| native born American, and since there exists
| between US, through our Anglo Saxon ancestry,
| the mighty bond Of blood relationship IL seems
plain that we should do what we can TO cult
| vate sincere friendship with that great and
| powerful nation which seems destined, through
the march Of events. to become our natural and
| perhaps our indispensable ally.
NEWELL SILL JENKINS
Niagara Falls, N. Y. Aug. ]. 1899.
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