The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-07
sAmoA,s AMERICAN DEspoT.
Autocratic and Cranky Freaks of the United
States Consul at Appia.

Autocratic and Cranky Freaks of the United
States Consul at Appia.
WasbB gton Special.
Greenebaum, the American consul at the Sa-
moan islands, has been making great deal of
trouble during his brief term of Office He is as
yet unconhrmed. His last public act was to es-
tablish an American protectorats over the Sa-
moan islands This was done, it is charged, by
collision with the English consul The Ger
man government. which is also represented
in this island, it is understood. will protest
against the action Of Greenebaum. This estab-
lishment of a protectorate took place on the 22d
of last May. The news travelled from that coun-
try to this inside of seven days. Sail vessels
from the islands intercept steamers which go
the distance between the islands and Auckland
The steamers make the journey IN four days
Auckland is connected with Europe by cable
aud overland telegraph, so that news from that
point can be received in day.
At the State Department it is said that the
newspaper report of the declaring OF protec
torate over the Samoan islands BY the consul
has been confirmed by a dispatch from that Off
clal. The action was without precedent, and
was not authorized by this government The
department has not answered Mr.. Greene
baum's dispatch but it will not sustain him. 1t
will be some time before he can be heard from
fully, as the mail service is very irregular.
Capt. d. s. Parker an American resident at
the SamoaL islands, is in Washington Captain
Parker has been in the islands nearly twenty
years He is the leading merchant there. He
alone takes over half of the imports which go to
the islands. He says that Greenebaum, the con-
sul, is crazy, and that a jury of physicians
would order him into confinement He says
that he has proceeded in the most high-handed
way ever since he came there, and that he has
apparently done his best to drive out the Ameri-
can residents The English government. through
its New Zealand and Australian connections, Is
reaching out for the trade of these islands, which
now amounts to considerable. The coffee trade
amounts to nearly $2000000 the dry cocoanut
export is in the neighborhood of half million;
sotton and rice aggregate million more
Captain Parker says Mr.. Greenebaum has per-
ecnted nearly all the merchants, and has be-
rome involved in the most interminable fights
with them. He has used his power as consul to
We them arrested false charges, and, if
lowed 70 go undisturbed, will break up
heir business and drive them out of the islands.
Appia, the capital OF the Samoan islands. is
where the consulate is stationed This is town
of about thousand inhabitants. There were
eight hundred whites on the islands, and among
them about twenty Americans. The native pop.
ulatl0n is s., 900. They take large quantities OF
white CLOTH sent from San Francisco. They
also consumers, to a large extent, OF the regular
supplies known as merchandise. Captain Park
err has been here for some weeks. and has fled
charges before the State Department against
place. He thinks Greenebaums assumption of
the protectorate simply scheme to get control
of the islands and sell out to the English gov
eminent for So 600 or $l5, 900.
1t is probable that Greenebaum's name will be
Withdrawn from the Senate The State Depart
xnent certainly will not sustain the consuPs ac-
ton. He will, doubt be withdrawn. on this
ground alone, when all the facts have been gath
cred by the State Department. 1t is certain
that the Senate commerce committee will not re-
port him for confirmation
Captain Parker read TO the World correspond
ent the following extract from a recent letter re-
ceived from Appia, under date Of the 2Sth of
April Of this year The letter is from hOirm
of Fl. S. Morss & Bros. IL says:
II take this opportunity of letting you know
that things are red hot down here at present
Mr.. Greenehaum loudly boasts that you will be
arrested Immediately on yonr arrival In San
Francisco. He says he is going to make a hole
3n your property. He lays his damages at $50
O00 told him he should have gone in for $780,
900 at once. He has intimated that he is also
after me. In fact, after the departure of the
mail, have every reason to believe that he in
tends To have me arrested on some fictitious
charge-arson. rape. burglary. or highway rob
berry. In fact, nothing will surprise me. His
conduct OF late has been SO bad that he has lost
nearly all of his former supporters. 1t is the
general opinion that he is not in his right mind.
His absurd actions and rambling talk are more
and more observable every day"
Captain Parker says that Greenebaum can
now be at the head of only a small faction.
Tamases has been declared Vice-king of a ma
jority OF the natives. He has taken up po
sition upon oce side OF the island, and the
lptain says that he would not be at all sur
sed to learn of Greenebaum's melting dis
~bance which will lead to the massacre OF all
whites by the natives.