The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-30

Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister PEN
ipoteniiary TO the United Stales'
REASONS FOR THE COMMISSION.
jealousy of German Mercantile Ascend
ancy in the Islands.

Mr. George W. Griln, United states topsui ~ oahoa'
arrived IN Washington GU saturday aud had an au-
dience to.da: with the secretary oil state, 10 whom
Mr. Grniu, in his capacity OF Minister rcnipotentary
nom the government of Samoa, made known the
mission with which been intrustcd by that gov
crnment--a mission concerning which considerable
curiosity has been excited BY the knowledge OF Mr.
Grn's this country ever since that fact was
telcgrnphcd few weeks since from San Francisco
upon his arrival that port IL was then said that he
was empowered 10 negotiate treaty with the United
States with view formal recognition OF the ma
tive government OF Samoa by this country, and the
cultivation of closer commercial and general rela-
nons MI. Griffin accepted tho commission subject
10 tho approval OF the State Department at
Washington. Concerning the state OF affairs in
Samoa he said that the German house OF
Godcfrroy Co., member OF which nrm Is the Ger
man Consul there, had been carrying on affairs with
high hand virtually Ignoring native authority and levy
Ing arbitrary fines tho people In Satisfaction OF o.
lcnccs committed by natives against Ger nan residents.
In many instances the charges had been trumped up.
In enforcing the payment OF fines Godcfroy Co. had
boon backed by German war vessel. and they had
pursued generally oppressive and yrannica course,
which prompted the native government to seek tho
moral support Of the United States
GIFT IsLAND.
In tho course OF an interview with MI Grimm on tho
subject OF his mission, he admitted that In default OF
succeeding negotiating treaty Of amity and rccpro-
city With u.s. securing United States protcctorate
no empowered to make gift OF the Islands to the
United States. Tho natives simply cnamored OF US
and must be OF at the cost OF even surrender
Of their territory, whoius boius.
While there features more or less udicrous
about this Samoa matter, Mr.. Grin's mission reveals
such a sincerity the part of these people to- Join
thor fortunes with those OF the United States that
his visit to Washington will not fail Of arousing fresh
interest subject which Colonel Scinbcrgcr's vain
glorious ambition tended make farce The people
OF the islands number about So COO and according to
Mr. Grifn's statement bright and intelligent with
power for sclf-government which is only restrained
Of development by the covctousness Of European
lions greedy Of securing trading advantages and priv
ilcgcs
GOVERNMENT ISLANDS.
They have Parliament made up OF House Of
Lords comprising sixteen hereditary mobiles, and a
House OF Commons, composed OF sixteen members
elected every years The two houses sit in joint
SESSION, with one Speaker as presiding officer, who
happens ut present tho acting King for the
that since King Mactoa dcthroned In 1874
has boon elected in HIS place. Mnctoa do
throncd because he signed a document de-
uouncing Stenbcrgcr and thereby incurred the
Indignation OF the people, who firm adhcrents of
President Grants commissioner. While II Is ruo that
che King signcd this document aud thereby lost his
crown he Is said been innocent OF any III will
TO Stenberger and attached his signature to the royal
edict on board English man-of-war in the harbor,
ON board OF which he had been invited and whcrcon he
was rendered in order that he might be
iuced by the British lion commit this fragrant
rage the American eagle But TINS is ancient his
Tory.
VALUE OF ISLANDS.
Mr.. Grifln's mission TO either q pro.
tectorate for the islands acceptance Of gilt of
them by the United States. They lie In the direct track
of the steamers sailing from San Francisco to Austria
liza the counterpart south OF tho Equator OF the
Sandwich Islands north OF the Equator Not only
would thoy DO valuable coaling station, but their
products would he valuable item to the foreign
merce the United States the chief article COBRA the
dried OF the cocoanut afording fine oil, which
the German traders most probably III tho manu-
facture SOAP hair oil and the like. Indeed, u
the greed Of the Germans for this trade Tint Induced
their Consul alleged, seek TO control the govern
ment OF the islands IN order that he might secure a
monopoly OF their products Tor his fellow country,
domination OF some kind that induced the Samoans To
send Mr. Griffin to negotiate with the United Statcs
for protection annexation. He informed them that
when he came Consul he had been instructed not to
interfere their domestic affairs, and he could only
accept this mission subject the of his gov
eminent, which. II they insisted, he was willing TO
try 10 procure. Accordingly they invested him with
extraordinary ministerial powers, and commissioned
him with the following document which he will lay
before Mr.. Fish,
MR.. cRrrrrN's coMxIssros.
Ia lie pule matou toha al mel lie alu O. W.
nn ms !" ona .s aa una ma maauo
tala ma matou manao luna lie Mao 10 Unate
ia lava lie pue maai al tautaa
la una iau lie Malo samoa ieai fo so tns ma to
., 1si mson lin. is f.a%su fssiog: sss
scfuu ma lie ua Novemai e tausaga 10 t"ou ali tasi
10 afe vaiu sion ntu sefun mn 10 ono
Ole aalo Samoa
:s..ssi. E Ss.s!s