New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-31
THE SAMOAN CRISIS.

There is no cause for any enc TO cry havoc
and let slip tho dogs Of war" The lombard
ment Of few samoan villages was not an act
OF war. nor one that is likely 10 make for war.
II was regrctable incident. But the regret
is for the necessity that compelled II. Suppress
sion of crime and maintenance of law and order
are always necessary for civilization. but they
often involve the use Of measures which seem
harsh II is ptifIl to have to use the eDginery
OF our most advanced civilization 10 NOW down
haf-naked half-Savagcs. But there are cases
where the alternative would he 10 let the half
savages. or whole savages, drive out civiliza-
ton from lands where il had obtained benei-
cent foOthod And in the present case this
stern intervention il really merclful. The Brit
ish and American forces are acting In the
interest of humanity. And they are maintain
ing law which the SamcanS themselves long
ago promised 10 respect That should not he
forgotten. The Samoans agreed 10 the provision
Of the Berlin Treaty which makes the chief
Justice the sole and supreme arhiter in disputed
election cases. They accepted the system Of
trlpa-tite suzerainty over the stands The fact
that they are weak and ignorant does not re
lease them from their obligations Weakness
does not constitute right. any more than might
does
The bOmbardment. then. was merely police
work. Nor will the judicious deem It a men
ace OF war between or among the Treaty
Powers. There is the usual crop Of halfripencd
rumOrs. without ground or root. The fact is. II
we NAV Judge from recent and current indica-
tons that the three Powers are AT the point OF
an amicsble settlement Of all disputes among
them concerning Samoa. and that agreement Is
not TO be baked by any such incident this
On the contrary. the incident is only another
argument for Fastening the final settlement II
would be idle TO attempt any forecast OF the
nature of the agreement that is 10 he made
Nor. indeed does the exact nature Of IL in all its
details greatly matter. What does matter Is
that the Powers should DC agreed and should
act tremendously. Not one Of them regards the
questions AT issue as involved or serious
as 10 be insOlublc or even difficult Of solution,
by peaceful ard friendly means. 1t * reported
that +. tine action of the warshipS the British
and American forces fought side by side. That
is highly agreeable as an earnest Of the sym
patty. the unity Of purpose and the spirit OF
fraternal cooperation that prevail, and which
IS we trust. always to prevail between the two
great branches OF the EngliSh-spcaking race. II
Is also reported that the German forces held al
together aOof That il 10 be regretted. But
that does not signify that therc j. the slightest
ground FOR hostility between the two and the
one In standing together the British and
Americans are simply striving for peace ana
law ard order. and for the welfar' Of all col
onists In Samoa. the German settlers as well
as the British and American. They are not Op-
posed 10 Germany or 10 German interests, but
10 the disorder and anarchy which would i'm
peril German interests every whit ~ much as
their own. II y said that some blame the Ger
man Consul for all The trouble What later
dispatches may reveal on that score we do not
know. But we have no doubt that If he has
acted improperly bis conduct will he disavOwcd
by the German Government. Exactly that has
occurred before this in the history Of Samoa.
II is not the consuls al Apa who have the issues
Of peace and war in hand. but the Governments
- London and Berlin and Washington. Not