The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1877-07-21

THE REPORT that the Samoan Islands have been
annexed to the United States is interesting and
rather amusing Withsl so far, as it appears to have
been altogether a one-sided affair, consisting of
the ceremony of hosting the ''Star ~Spangled
Banner y at the Kings house, at Point Molinu, on
the west side Of Apia harbour, on May 24th,
which by the way was the Queens Birth Day. A
short time previously. a deputation of the Samoan
Chiefs had gone to the Fills to offer the SOW
ereignty Of their Islands to the British Queen /;
but were advised by Sir Arthur Gordon to recon-
slider the proposal, and be more explicit in stating
what was the exact nature of their application.
It would appear that they feel some irritation at
Sir Arthur's reply, and now the next we hear of
the Samoans is, that they want to become Republi-
cans under the agis of Columbia. 1t remains to
be seen what course the United States Government
will follow under the circumstances. Hitherto,
that government has declined to annex territory
extraneous to the North American Continent. The
case of San Domingo, occurs to the mind, as a
precedent of the United States policy in this res
pect. In 1858. King Kamehameba III, made a
formal offer of these Islands to the Government
of the United States, which the Secretary of that
day, Daniel Webster, formally declined, on the
general principle of remuneration of foreign non
American territory. At the same time, Mr.. Webster
declared the OulUeQ states OOFeT0m6QG was us
posed to uphold the independence of the Hawaiian
Islands. 1t is probable that some such reply will
now be made by President Hayes Government to
the Samoans. The conduct of the English Consul,
Mr.. Liardet, at the Kings feast on the occasion,
was ridiculous. and probably Lord Derby will
give him g Wigging for it. With these remarks
we append the following extract from the Sydney
Morning Herald
SAMOA ANNEXED TO AMERIcA.-The FIJI Times
of June 18th says that news has been received
that the American flag has been hoisted at Samoa
and allegiance formally rendered to the United
States. Some strange rumours are current with
respect to this movement but we forbear, for the
present at least, from giving them publicity. The
Lurline, the arrival of which may be daily ex-
peeted, will, no doubt. bring ample and authentic
Intelligence. The n. 2. Herald says = The
American flag has been hoisted at Samoa, and
unless the action of the Consul is repudiated by
the authorities at Washington. the islands of the
NavigatoIs; Group will henceforward have to be
accounted as in the possession of the American
Government. 4 short time ago we gave the par
ticuIars connected with the visit OF several
Samoan chiefs to Fiji. whittier they had gone to
endeaVour to persuade Governor Sir Arthur Cor
don to take possession OF samoa LOT Great Britain.
Apparently, the Samoan chiefs had not got any
announcement, for on their return home, the
American Consul Mr.. Grifin) commenced nego-
tiations to have the American flag hoisted. All
the preIiminaries were completed on the night of
the 23rd OF May, a number of documents having
been signed, and on the morning of the oath the
American flag was hoisted at the Kings house,
at Point Molinu, on the west side of the Apia har-
bour. A salute of twenty-one guns was fired from
the other side of the harbour. The American
clipper barque MenshiLof was lying at Apia at
the time. and an American man-of-war is expected
shortly. A grand feast was given at the Kings
house. and all the white Inhabitants were invited
10 90. T~hakombau's son, from Fiji, and the Eng
Consul. Mr.. Liardet, went to where the feast
was being held. and said they would join them If
they would haul down the American flag while
they we're there. The natives. however, declined
TO haul down the flag. even temporarily, and
Prince Timothy and the English Consul left. Mr..
Griffin. the American Consul has recently visited
Washington; but it was not stated that he had
been commissioned to accept the cession OF the
islands.