Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-11-26
THE TROUBLE AT THE SOUTH SEAS

THE TROUBLE At THE SOUTH SEAS.
Affairs in Samoa are again in an en-
tangled condition, according TO news re-
ceived Saturday. A year ago and more
German aggression led to fears that Ameri-
can interests would permanently suffer, if
indeed the Americans were not expelled.
The rebel King Tennessee has been con-
stantlY under the German thumb; is a
creation of the German merchants Certain
classes of the natives have comported them
selves towards Americans and Englishmen
in an outrageous manner, because they be-
ieve the Germans will hold them harmless.
The Mataafa (Malietoa) men, who were in
resistance against Tennessee, the rebel
King, are reported TO have massed in large
numbers, and one account is that a battle
has taken place, in which Tennessee was
defeated and taken prisoner of war, and
that Mataafa Malietoa, the patriot King,
is, at least, captor Of his rival. If
this be true, we may expect the Ger
mans to change their policy and fully
recognize the conqHerers at last, but the
disposition to annoy Americans and Eng
ishmen in order to absorb the island
trade is not likely to be relaxed The re-
port is that the outrages have gone so far
as firing by German marines into masses
OF non-combatant Samoans and into the
houses of foreign residents. A meeting of
the latter was held at Apia October 9th,
when this resolution was passed:
That this meeting protests against the high
handed outrages committed last night by an
armed boat from the German man-of-war firing
upon defenseless Samoans and into the resi-,
dences of foreign residents within the neutral
territory.
That a committee be appointed to wait upon
the American aid Britt II CoDsuls, urging the
necessity OF immediate action being taken to
prevent recurrence of similar outrages.
American and English men-of-war are
at Apia, and are affording the Consuls and
their people protection.
1t is possible that this news is somewhat
exaggerated, and that the Germans are
acting under their treaty and commercial
compact with Samoa giving them power
to conserve peace, protect the local gov
eminent, ETC., and that in doing so excuses
may have been committed, and reckless or
careless German marines have fred upon
non-combatants without authority. But
that the German influence in Samoa de-
sires to monopolize Samoan commerce and
overthrow the legitimate Government is
clearly proven by the course of the Ger
man officials for several years.
The Samoan or Navigator group consists
of two large fertile islands, Savaii and
Upolu, with ten lesser ones. Though
American and English interests are large.
the chief commercial interest there is that
of the Deutsche Handles and Plantagen
Gesellschaft der Sudsee Inslem zu Ham
burg. OF the 100000 acres of cultivatable
land, the Hamburg Company owns $4,000,
and other German interests 10000, on
which are grown cotton, cocoanuts, tobacco,
cinnamon, etc. In 1879 Germany nego-
tiated treaty with the local Government,
and later England and the United States
negotiated similar treaties. In 1881 Ger
many proposed to annex the islands In
1884 she managed to form compact with
the Samoan King, giving Germany practi-
cally complete control. This King, later
on, petitioned England to extend a pro-
tectorate over him, alleging that he had
signed the compact under fear. The King
sought annexation with New Zealand in
1888, but was refused. The same year the
German Consul at Apia pulled down the
Samoan flag and raised the German colors.
The United States complained, and the
Berlin government rebuked the Consul.
Malietoa, then King-descended from
long line Of chiefs-tradition says that for
500 years the descent can be traced. Ger
many, because MaHetoa sought to free
himself, picked up Chief Tamesese-
a pretender-and preferred his claims
to the Crown, and the pulling
down of the flag was part of that
programme. In 1886 Germany sent three
war ships to Samoa, and an Admiral who
addressed the rebel Tamasese as King"
and gave him to understand, in an address
full of tenderness, that Germany was lis
friend. Malietoa thereupon appealed to
the United States Consul, praying that
Americans would not side against him.
The Consul issued an order assuring him
they would not, and that no American
warship would fire upon Samoans, and
commanding all people to keep the peace.
This proclamation was very bumptious
paper, and created much amusement, espe-
cially in California, where the Consul had
his home, but the spirit of the document
was right.
Our ConsuPs next act was to raise the
Samoan flag over the Consulate. The loyal
Samoans were greatly delighted at this
manifestation of friendship. The United
States gunboat Mohicau arrived soon after,
and its commander and the British Consul
sustained the American Consul in his pro-
NcSNihSo, out liiC NC1 AuaA
protested hotly.
King Malietoa now rallied his warriors
to assail the rebels, whereupon the Amer
lean Consul, the Captain of the United
States gunboat and the foreign Consuls Wis
tied the rebel camp at Fasetovtia in an
endeavor to prevent bloodshed. Tennessee
was incorrigible, and the King went on
with his war preparations. The Consuls
met again, and signed an order command
ing the people to remain at home, and
affirming that the Consuls had not
recognized Tennessee as King. This
document the German Consul was
Induced to sign. In May the for
eign Consuls acceded to Malietoa's re-
quest to address him as King. and to ask
Tennessee to surrender his fort and disband
mis- army, and this was successfully accom-
plished.