The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-11


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A German and American samoa?
For twenty years one Of the main pur-
poses Of American diplomacy has been to
preserve the neutrality of Samoa: in other
and palmer words, To- prevent the acquis-
iton OF that group ri Pacific islands by
either Great Britain or Germany.
For two reasons the Samoan question
assumed and has maintained an Importance
out OF proportion with the mere magnitude
Of the territory concerned
First, up TO the time Of the war with
Spain. Samoa was almost our only point OF
dangerous contact with the expansionist
and colonizing policies Of European pow
ers. Once. at least. events In the islands
brought about in Apia Bay a situation but
one OF two moves distant from armed con-
firt with Germany: and public sentiment
in the United States at that time was such
that this Government would have fought,
II necessary. on the issue Of Samoan
independence. The clash was averted
by the expedient OF the Berlin treaty.
which established the unsatisfactory
condominium now apparently about to
terminate. For ten years we have
actually been In partnership with two
OF the foremost nations OF Europe in
a guarantee Of Samoan neutrality and a
guardianship over Samoan affairs. Thus
our steady purpose to prevent the absorb
ton Of these islands into either the British
or the German system led us into rela-
tons with foreign Governments OF a sort
unprecedented in our experience-rela-
tions, 1t may be added, OF a particularly
educational character.
Secondly, our interest in Samoa bred the
germ Of the new Americanism. 1t was the
first manifestation Of that spirit OF expan-
sion and outreaching national enterprise
which is the prime force in American public
sentiment as another century OF progress
is about to open. STEISBERGER preceded
DEWEY by just twenty-five years In the
islands OF the Pacific; and, grotesque as the
aspirations and efforts Of that early expan-
sionist seemed at the time, they marked
an epoch. Tho sending OF an American
squadron to Apia to support the American
Consul-Genera in his attitude Of resistance
TO German aggression was practically the
first notice the world had Of the fact that
the United States Government IL not en-
tirely indifferent and passive In tho face OF
foreign rivares when its own naval and
commercial interests are concerned The
Samoan policy Of successive Admnistra.
tions at Washington prepared the way for
Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Philippines.
with all that the presence OF the flag in
those islands may signify.
Let II he remembered that even the Cleve-
land Administration, supine as 1t was In
some respects, took at the start the proper
American attitude in regard to German and
British supremacy in Samoa. Secretary
BAYARD's general instructions to Mr..
GREEHEBAUM in June OF 1885 were neither
In spirit nor in language much different
from those which Mr.. BLAINE would have
written under similar circumstances. Mr..
BAYARD said to tho consular representative
of the United States at Apia
The moral interests Of the United State, with
respect to the Glands ~ the Pacific, nee, ssarily
dependent in greater nr less degree on our Amsri.
can system ~ commonwealth would counsel us 70
look with concern on any movement by VIII CHI the
Independence Of these Pacific natonalities might be
extnSuished nv tteir passage under the domination
ofatoreign sovereign; aud this world equally true
ofposSiblc EngliS a'we'laaros' |. German ltsc.
ton, 1t tn oughtthlt We have a II oral right
10 expect that NJ change ~ native rule shall CT.
,ncn cb.nao ~, 'ri,," nra,.h '.o NnHus Ahd II
Interference and with the Interior purposs q, r..,,
ottransferins the domination over tho samoan
group to asnrle foreign flag We shorld feel bound
""''en' 'ro" sven proceeding"
II is not our purros" to review the long
story "t IT." efforts OF Germany to establish
her own asc"ndency in Salmon. Her policy
has been consistent and persistent. From
the point Of view " German interests conn