The New York herald., 1877-10-04
THE EX-PRENIER on Samoa.
Steinberger, the Ambitious, Returns to
His Native Soil.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER
How He Made a Constitution
and a King.

Havre His dark hazel eye full OF speculation as
ever, and he cherish tho prospect OF being
able day yet to dispose Of the fortunes OF tho
Samoan Islands he is young man, short and slight
in STATURE OF dark complexion and jet black hair and
mustachc. His address Is such might expect
to lind in spry person, who livcd SO long
and did so much lobbying in Washington, whero
faco and polished tongue, pretty general
, kuow ledge OF everything and unboundcd ''chcek"
contribute prime requisites to successful career
Seinpcrger did very largo lobbying stroke once Tor
Pacific mail steamship company and in tho course
oil the operation read up extensively on coaling sta
lions in the Pacific He particularly struck with
tho report Of Commodore Meade tho availability Of
the Samoan Islands as provisioning stations for Amer
vessels crossing the Pacific Secretary Fish wanted
seinberger thow he happened to become so ,nt-
matey acquainted with him) to make trip to Australia
and examine into the workings, of which thore were
many complaints the time, of the United Statcs
consuatcs. Steinperger asked Tor icw days consid
GRAFTON, ana then suggested that a moro congeniai
Geld for particular talents would be in invcstsat
>ing the resources Of the Samoan Islands, much
did he interest the Secretary that no forthwith
commissioned an agent OF the government, and
alter departed for San Francisco whore he hired
pilot boat. and started for the South Pacific, dis
lance Of nearly i've thousand miles, IN May, lS7a
He made good use OF his time. and being full OF his
mission and full Of energy along with having faculty
or shrewd observation and ready fluent statement,
ae furnished on his return most interesting report
the Islands, that was copied universally, besides
bringing back two freight car loads Of curoses and
products Of the SOIL after he interested Prcsi-
Grant, finally, in the spring Of 1873, he was
sent TO the islands a second time commissioner,
with many imposing accompaniments. a man of war,
the scurora for his conveyance, $780, 600 worth OF
prcson for the chcitans beside steam launches and
l-nf1 Ha hnFn kgtfh him. rlaI
letters from President Grant and Secre e.ary fish,
and the object of his mission was 10 cultivate
nmicabie commercial relations between tho
islands and the United States to point out TO tho
chiefs that America among The great nations was
ucarcr and dearor them than any other; 10 dwell
upon the conyeniences ior trade with San Francisco
and to make the people Of these islands feel
that they had great friend in the United States
which would SEQ that they were not molcsted aud
might tac;y extend over thcm sort OF proectoratc
Sieinbergcr made u tremendous spiuree The let's
md natives took tim Tor something equal TO The Prcs
dent They nnng their lives, liberties and sacred honor
~ his feet and improving his opportunity, he became
their Premier aud reegatcd their lawful Sovereign 10
pbscurity and mpoency. The latter part OF His pro-
yramme was not IN the contemplation Of aithcr the
presucnt Secretary Fish, and they elt greatly dis
iurbcd when they heard of Steinbcrger's premiership
In the the other foreigners, particularly the
English grew terribly inccnscd especially the agents OF
he London Missionary Independent Presbyterian So
nety who converted twothirds oi the natives 10
Professionalism and felt they had superior claims
.n the islands, while Stcinbergcr INSISTED upon giving
Tho French Catholic missionaries an equal showing
THE
The agents the society oil word 10 Fiji about
,he dongs OF the adventurous Yankee. whom they
painted pretty dark coors, and soon after the Barra
eonta British man-ow war, under command OF Captain
Stevens arrived the scene and by series OF dipo
matte interviews with the chiefs and insults 10 The
stcnberger began ecl his position Ono
day the English sailors dismanlled his pleas
of the rnan-owar ordered hts arrest, had
him brought aboard, put him into 4 little
house on deck threatened him with irons II he
seived any communications, and with being shot II he
attempted to send any letters ashore. he was kept
weeks on board the ol-war, and his iriond,
the King was dcposod and dissraccd. Sleinbergcr
was carried the fU Islands, from thence he made
his way to Auckland, New Zealand, then TO Londen,
where hc wrote letters to Earl Derby about
the outrage committed on him. After that
he 10 Paris aud represented TO the French
government how necessary Tor their interests would
be 10 consul in the Samoan Islands Now he has
returned his native sod and tie rst week Congress
meets hc viii 20 before the Commute Foreign
Relations OF tho lay mass OF documents
before ;ncm, which expects to up Secretary
Fish IN an unenviablc and unpatriolic light.
THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF sTElNBERGEI.
He declared last evening IN conversation that he had
been very bady dealt with. my report about these
Islands, y said he the only that aid any
prc,ensious giving clear and accurate account Of
Inc natives the soil and productions the capacity and
value of tho Samoa group My first trip was a pre-
limlnary survey, but the second ahsoluieiy
peaceful conquest" The Colonel here entered INTO
very interesting sketch OF tins peaceful conquest,
After landing ne saw all the chiefs assembled
geher They wanted uni1cation oil the people OF all
the Islands, They accepted Colonel Steinberscrs
dirt and he went TO work and created pariian.n MT.
.From The two rival factions, said he, "A selected
king accepted by the whOle native govern
meut. Out OF a population of $4,000 there
10 900 on hand receive this occasion, and tho
United States ship luscarora was proysioned gratis
during her stay by supplies from the native
ruic,s next drafted constitution and a
government Then was Inausuracd system Of
roaa building, oil SCHOOLS, oil harDor deienccs anu oil
.How did YOU lind them in regard 20 clothingfn
..When | nrst landed at Samoa tho natives wore
haraly any clothing except the lava lava, sort OF
white that covers Ouy portion Of their bodies.
Ny REFORM soon spread and became the fashion and
tnpA n nTns
london. whe government was sort OF constitutional
monarchy but dual government and tue sp,rit OF
.,sc along with The religious prejudiccs among the
NO contondng nign families of tho island rendered u
impossible tnat any other Kind o government would
, ,u The ninc islands were divided inio eight DIS
ricts with eight Governors nominated by my
relf and all existing to-day as they existed then
NoMNATEs A KING.
.Tbe king nominated, Malietoa, had term pre-
,crpcd for him four years He to be succeeded
By the Tupai family Tor term OF Tour and ths
was to 20 on alternating indefinitely. After the lapse
OF seyca years tue people were TO decide
whether the monarchy should be continued or a re-
public be established IN its stead The primary object,
however, was after the two contend.ng families were
wiped out OF existence to leave 10 the people tho
decis ION as 10 what form OF government and under
whose rule they iivo thereafter" The Colonel
then related many Of the details OF the new plan Of
government aud went on TO cay :-"fhe first trouble
That happened the new govern nent which had been
established few years and under which tho country
had grown prosperous ana lnlerneeine % ieuds ga and
lights had been cxfinguishcd was IN December, 1870
.pror 10 that time how was your standing in tho
,slandy'
ut was always the same. Ny influence throughout
thc island stiii strong. Tnc people lovc,.me |
could 40 wnat pleased but always tried to deal
Justly whenever wns called upon IN my capacity as
Premier. was OF greater impor tancc than the King,
anu that demonstrated day after day. 20
constructed the constitution that the inherent spirit Of
should be respected anu yet The constitution bo
ms nearly republican possible. But IN trying 10
deal alrly with all erceds aud classes provoked
Protestant missionaries, aud they brought IN an Eng
ish man.oi-war. ana tho rest you know alt about.
There never sucn outrage. The captain OF that
vessel refused TO receive the kings barge, and he
ordered the king 10 provide him tthc capinn)
with guard OF he went
ashore. HIS sailors alter my arrest plundcrcd
my house and destroyed my property,
but glad to lind that lis return England bc
was tried By court martial aud dismissed the service.
IL said that had remedy because ! had Tor
fcitcd the protection of INV government and cxpat-
rated myself In becoming thc premier oil Samoa, but
on question have the best authority that 1t
NO act OF expatratton."
WHAT CALEB CUSHING DEcLAnEp.
.1 mat Caleb Cusnlng ~ PARIS and that SUBJECT
asked hm his opinion rs TO the point whethrr | had
expatriacd mvsclf oy taking an Official position under