The Forrest City times., 1900-01-19
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The samoan Treaty Ratified After Two
Hours Debate In Executive
S0salou.

Hours Debate In Executive
ssssiou.
Washington, Jan. 17.-Thc senate
yesterday ratified the Samoan treaty,
without division. The ratification oc.
Cured in executive session, after two
hours of debate, which was participat.
ed in by number of senators.
Messrs. Davis, Foraker and Spooner
advocated, and Senators Bacon, Money
and Tillnan, opposed ratification.
Senator Bacon made the leading
speech in opposition. He based his OBJ.
lection upon the general ground that Il
was contrary to the spirit of our insti-
tutions to attempt to govern any peo-
pie in opposition to their wishes. He
said that he was not opposed to the
new convention because of any partial
ity felt for the old tripartite agree
ment, which was quite as repugnant to
Linn as the new. He thought, how
ever, a means might be found to that
end without resorting to subterfuge
which was repulsive to all American
ideas of liberty and independence.
There was no doubt of the intention to
annex and exercise sovereignty in
place of the protectorate, which was the
distinguishing feature of the tripartite
agreement of 1890. To this proposed
change of policy he objected most
strenuously. He compared the provi-
sions of the two agreements at some
length, showing that the old one made
express provision for the approval of
the Samoan government; whereas the
pending instrument annuls all sover-
eighty of the Samoan government and
partitions the islands between the
United States and Germany.
Mr.. Bacon said that the friends of
the treaty supported it upon the two
grounds that 1T simply divides author
ity heretofore exercised jointly, and
that the Samoan people, being 'only
savages." there is no reason why they
should not be despoiled of their coun-
try. He contended that it was not true
that the old arrangement was simply
to be continued under division of au-
thority, and asserted that the declara.
ton that the Samoan people were saw
| ages was untenable. The United States
had in many ways recognized the Sa-
moan government, guaranteeing its in.
dependence and making treaty of
amity and friendship with its govern
ment. 1--WE don't" he continued,
make treaties of friendship with saw
ages" He claimed that the proposed
change should not be made without the
consent of the natives.
In conclusion, Mr.. Bacon said he was
willing that the United States should
acquire the Island of Tutuila, with its
Pago Pago harbor, if that could be
done in the proper manner, and with
out violating all of our principles in Sc
curing control of it.
Senators Money and Tillman spoke
in practically the same line.
The friends of the treaty repudiated
the assertion that the old treaty provi-
sions were annulled. They claimed that
this country, by the new arrangement,
retains all the old advantages and
avoids the complications liable to grow
out of the tripartite agreement. They
urged that the opportunity should not
be lost, both to get out Of IN awkward
predicnment and to control, in our own
right, the harbor of Pago Pago.
DANISH WEST INDIA ISLANDS.
posed to be On.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE arrival at
New York OF ON accredited agent of the
Danish government charged with the
| sale to the United States of the Danish
West India islands, has not been noti-
fed to the state department, as yet, ex-
cept through the newspapers. There is
visible reluctance to discuss the SUBJ
ject, leading to an intimation that
free discussion at this moment might
very seriously prejudice any attempt
the administration may have in con-
temptation to secure the assent of con-
gress to the acquisition of the islands.
1t is not admitted that the matter
has progressed to the point that de-
termination has been reached to adopt
the project, for such an admission
might lead to disagreeable inquiries
from other nations, but there is reason
to believe that the administration has
given much thought to the advisability
of buying the islands. The presence
in the United States of an authorized
agent of the Danish government, if he
correctly represents himself, is un.
doubtedly significant.
As AN ACT OF EQUITY AND Comfy.
Pay for Cutting the Cable Between
Manila and Hong Kong.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE president