New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-07-11
Our New Annexation.


Here, right in the midst Of Il Presidential
campaign, and with the ewes of the Demo-
Gratis and Liberals" upon him, President
Grant has gone and annexed, and taken pos
session of, and run up our flag over, and put
our fleet in care Of, and started to build fort
and naval station in, a distant foreign coun-
try, being one OF. the islands far of in the
Pacific known as the Samoan group, covering
an area of sixty square miles, and having a
population of twenty-five thousand souls.
This island is named Upolu. 1t lies between
the Fejee and Society groups, in the South
Pacific, latitude II south longitude III
west. The people have been Christianized
for many years, and there are many Ameri-
cans and Englishmen residing there. The
island was taken possession of by the United
States sloop-of-war Narragansett, Com
mander Meade. The way this annexation
was brought about is thus related by letter
from an officer of the Narrangansetf:
H"Eor the past ten years war has been
raging between the son and heir of the for
mer king of the group and his uncle, who.
during his fathers life, was chief of one OF
the lesser islands. The struggle was one for
supremacy, and the young king was driven,
step by step, to the eastern portion of the
island, where he maintained his position for
and during its continuance, some time in
April last, the President of the Polynesian
Land Company arrived from San Francisco.
Taking advantage of the condition of things,
he called meeting of the chiefs of both
parties, and represented to them that if the
strife went on, in q short time the native race
would be destroyed, The chiefs unanimously
agreed that the conclusion was a highly pro-
bable one, and were willing to listen to any
suggestions which would bring about an hon
orable peace. 1t was finally agreed to hand
over the island to the United States, and in
accordance with this resolution treaty was
drawn up, one clause of which reads as fol-
lows i'' go .'' ..'.
We do acknowledge the absolute author
ity of the United States of America with re-
gard TO all matters whatsoever, and bind
ourselves. to adopt the common laws Of
America ............ SD. -
This agreement was signed by the two
kings and one hundred and twenty chiefs,
and the British and American consuls at
tached their signatures and seals. AT the
same time the Narragansett, Commander
Meade, was in the harbor of PangO- Pango,
island of Tutuila, the five chiefs of which had
just formed league Of mutual protection and
benefit. With these chiefs Commander Meade
a treaty which will prove of the
utmost Importance to the American govern
ment. AS matter of curiosity, we give an
outline Of this treaty, which, we may pre-
mise, was the entire work of the native chiefs,
who are generally supposed to be little higher
in the social scale than cannibals. -[l
9 After arranging for the safety and pro-
lection of all foreigners, wrecked on settling
upon the island, it provided for the appoint
ment of pilots, the charges of the port sally
age, etc. In regard to the observance of the
Sabbath, 1T expressly declares that no work
shall be done on shore, nor shall any natives
be employed on board vessels on Sunday,
under 4 penalty Of ten dollars, except under
circumstances of absolute necessity, such as
aid in the case of wreck Of vessel, or the
cOaling of the steamship to proceed on time
on her voyage. On the temperance question
the chiefs of the island are sound. The
treaty provides that there shall be no trading
in spirituous or intoxicating liquors under
penalty of one hundred dollars, and all such
liquors found on shore, and kept for sale or
barter in any way, shall be seized and de.
stroyed. If any native be found intoxicated,
the individual who has furnished the drink
which has caused tho mtoxication is to pay
fine of ten dollars, and if any foreigner be in
toxicatcd and riotous, he shall pay fine of
ten dollars. Prostitution is prohibited under
heavy penalties; all fines of whatever Of
lenses having to BIO paid in specie or worked
out upon the roads," ara. ~. HI. .....
aJ The entire. Samoan group contains an area
Of nearly three thousand square miles, thick
ly populated. The United States Will annex
them all, probably. The climate is tropical,
cooled by the trade winds. The,
correspondent says the soil is wonderfully
fertile. The very rocks seem to bring forth
the eye cannot discover anything
not covered with beautiful tropical ver1ure.
The valleys abound with nutlnegs, ginger,
curri the sands with pineapples; the hills
with spices the table-lands with bread
fruit and guava. These islands are directly
in the track Of the American, New Zealand,
and Australian steamers, and our new pos
session will soon become the center of a
great commerce, where all the productions of
the South Pacific islands will center, and flow
into American commerce. The coalng depot
of the steamers Is to be Immediately located
at Samoa city, in the harbor of Pango- Pango,
and our Government has already taken pos
session of the splendid land-locked bay for
naval station. .'.-'.' b." '." '... q
All this under Grant, without a word of
comment from any quarter, or even the
of tho general public. Now let
the opposition open their batteries Of abuse,
and swear that they will not take this SPLEEN
did gilt, free of cost, because it is one of
President Grants arrangements. Let us
have the old lies about lots staked OIL for the
President and others in a ring" as was
said about San Domingo. Lot Summer pre-
pare another laundering Grafton abusing the
- Detroit Post. I-. ID -,... ..-.