Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1889 — THE TROUBLE AT SAMOA. [ARTICLE]

THE TROUBLE AT SAMOA.

WHITNEY’S INSTRUCTIONS TO ADMIRAL KIMBERLY AT PANAMA. WiU Protest Against the Su'Jugation of the Native Somoan Government by Germany— History of Germany’s Scheme to Gain the Islands. [Washington (D. C.) special.] The account of the outrages upon Americans in Samoa and the insults offered the American flag by the Germans hns been read here with aosobing interest, and the strongest indignation is expressed against the course of the German Government iu suffering the outrages to be perpetrated without an instunt effort to punish their authors. The outcome is likely to be some tree expression of the sense of both houses of Congress. A. San Francisco telegram states that the United States men-of-war Vandalia and the Trenton have started for the islands. It is believed that six weeks will be occupied by the Trenton and Vandalia in making the run to Samoa, Thus the Nipslo will be the only vessel representing the United States Government at those islands from this time until after the 4th ot next March. The Trenton sailed from Panama about a week ago, but the Vandalia is a faster vessel and will take a more direct route than the Trenton and will probably reach Samoa übout ns soon as the latter ship. Troubles have existed among the Samoans since 1860. In that year the German Commercial and Plantation Society at Apia, or. rather, its predecessor, the firm of Godefroy. of Hamburg, stood on the side of Malietoa. a chiet belonging to one of the most distinguished families of Samoa. Throughout the succeeding twenty years the foreigners who settled in Samoa— Americans, English and Germans—sought, by taking sides with or against Malietoa, to strengthen respect for their respective nations, and thereby increase thelc commerce. In 1878 the United States, whichi had previously obtained a concession of a magnificent harbor in the Samoan Islands and established a coaling station there, made a treaty with Samoa. The local government In 1879 being in a state of great confusion. Sir Arthur Gordon, as Queen Victoria’s Commissioner in the Western Pacific, established King Malietoa firmly on the throne and issued a proclamation. This proclamation was followed by a treaty with Malietoa, dated Aug. 18, 1879. In the same year Germany also made u treaty with Malietoa. The treaties entered Into between the United States, Great Britain. Germany, and Samoa were treaties of friendship and reciprocity, agreed to for the purpose of promoting the trade*which American, English, and German merchants hud gone to the remote Samoan islands to establish. It was understood and agreed upon among the treaty powers that the independence and neutrality ot these islands should, be forever preserved. While America and England have remained consistent to the treaty obligations, and have recognized Malietoa as the legitimate ruler, the policy of the Germans has been a wavering one In the autumn of 1886 a German named Brandeis appeared in Apia. The public was given to understand that ho was in the service of the German Commercial and Plantation Society. Among the employes of this firm, however. It was known that he had been selected to be the Minister ot Mulletoa’s rival, Tainasese. Brandeis nt once begun to study local conditions, and worked at times at the German consulate, mode himself familiar with the business and social relations of Apla, and then went to the home of Tamasese, in the immediate vicinity of the great cotton and cocoa plantation ot the German Commercial and Plantation Society. There a house was built and furnished by this society for Brandeis, and there he stayed, without it being publicly known, as the adviser of Tamaseso, and perfecting himself in the Samoan language. Tainasese and his adherents were then amply supplied with arms and munitions. At the beginning of 1887, within a brief period, hundreds of muskets were sent through the German Commercial and Plantation Society and through Brandeis to Tamasese’s party. A little later a German fleet of four or five ships was at anchor In the harbor ot Apia. Four days later the German Consul wrote to Malietoa complaining that German settlers had been attacked by the natives on March 22 of that year, and that from time to time -UlirjjJg. 4.1)9 previous four years the Germ An plantations*" had been damaged to the amount of thousands ot dollars a year. A heavy demand for compensation was made , for the damage to the plantations, without a single item of particulars being given to the Samoan King. The monstrous demand was made that the sum claimed for compensation should be paid the next day— a demand which, in such a country It was practically impossible to meet. The King wrote, promising an answer in three days, and the reply given by the German commander was the landing on the next day of 700 troops from his squadron, and the issuing of a proclamation in the name of the Government of Germany, declaring Tamasese King of Samoa. At the same time Malietoa was deported, first to Hamburg, then to Bremerhaven, was lodged and boarded under police supervision at Lehr, a suburb of Bremerhaven, and then was taken to Australia on board the steamship Neckar, by a German naval officer. The native opposition to Tainasese, or to tließrandeis-Tamasese Government, as it is called, reached its climax on Sept. 9,1888, on which date they crowned Mataafa, a legitimate successor of Malietoa. King of Samoa, with the title of Malietoa, Tooa Mataafa. Notices of this event were nt once sent to the American, English, and German consuls, the French priest, and to Tamusese. Mataafa is still at the head ot the Government, and is doing all in his power to keep it out ot the hands of Tamasese and his German allies. The position of the United States to-day is contained in the following instructions which Secretary Whitney telegraphed to Admiral Kimberly at Panama on Jan. 11: “You will at once proceed to Samoa and extend full protection to American interests, citizens, and property. You will consult with the American Vice Consul, examine his archives, and otherwise inform yourself as to the situation and all recent occurrences. You will protest against the subjugation of the native Samoan Government by Germany as in violation of positive agreement and understanding between the treaty powers, but inform the representatives of the British and German Governments of your readiness to co-operate in causing all treaty rights to be respected, and in restoring peace and order on the basis of a recognition of Samoan rights to Independence; endeavor to prevent extreme measures against the Samoans.” The coprah trade of Samoa seems to be the cause of all the present trouble. Coprah, the dried kernel of the cocoanut, is the staple commodity of the Samoan Islands, as it is of all the islands of the Western Pacific. In 1885 the exports of this article for German account were estimated at the value of $222,742. The competition of four American houses has greatly irritated the German traders, their profits being thereby much decreased.