The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-26


native rebellion, next a German usurpa-
ton, and finally a regular reign of terror,
in which the Germans and the chief of
one party are opposed to the English and
Americans, the legitimate king and the
mass of the people. Successive consuls
have reported and American men-of-war
have been stationed there, and yet there
is no settlement, and now Senator Frye
in the United States Senate makes a We
hement attack on the State Department
charges that the United States is dis
graced, and insists on action. SO the case
excites popular curiosity.
The Navigator's Islands are nine in
number, collectively known as Samoa,
and these 200 square miles contain but
10000 people. The soil, however, is of
extraordinary fertility, the climate de-
lightful beyond language to describe, and
there is room for great development in
the line of tropical products. AT present
the natives live almost without labor on
natures bounties they are a tall and
splendidly formed race, clearly and
peaceful, and profess sort Of Christian
ity.
As the islands are on the direct line
from San Francisco to New Zealand and
Australia, the United States sixteen years
ago by treaty obtained q coaling station,
and in return agreed to help the Samoans
if they became involved with any foreign
power. When Chancellor Bismarck had
settled his troubles with the Pope and
the Russians and got his army large
enough to "stand OFF, the French, he
concluded to acquire some island terri
tory and thought to begin by taking in
Samoa.
Accordingly the German Consul at
Apia, the capital, assumed extraordinary
powers, which other consuls resisted.
Then the Germans, many of whom are
traders resident in the islands, stirred up
rebellion against King Malietoa, and
drove him into the interior, placing
Chief Tamasesee on the throne. The
King kept up desultory warfare in the
dense forests and wild passes of the in
terror until he was captured and taken to
Germany. The people were in fair
way to submit, when the German Consul
placed his flag above that of Samoa, pro-
claimed himself guardian, and conferred
on the rebel chief the title Of Malietoa.
which means to the Samoans quite as
much as Victoria to the British or Caesar
to the ancient Romans.
Then the mass of the people rebelled
anu az iutCCb uINOulllo u Sutl
rilla war was raging through all tho
islands. AS the American consul,
Greenebaum, himself a German by
birth, had raised the American flag over
the public buildings and proclaimed
himself the protector of MaIietoa, matters
began to look serious, but the Washing
ton Government disavowed Greene
baum's action and soon sent another
consul.
GERMAN VESSELS APPEAR.
In August, 1887, four German men.of-
war anchored in front of Apia, and the
consul then demanded the payment of
indemnity for alleged wrongs to German
traders and failing to obtain it, practi-
cally took possession. There was an in
terval of peace, during which the Ger
mans sent Malietoa back to the islands;
but the last summer found all in con-
fusion again. Mr. Harold M. Sewall, the
last American Consul, reported tn at the
Germans compelled all Americans to
haul down their flags, except, of course,
the one floating over the consu late; and
three American men.of-war having ar
rived-the British fleet being also repre-
sented-the British and American co F.
sulates were regularly fortified and
manned by detachments from the fleet.
to serve as points of retreat and defense
for the traders of the two nations in case
of trouble. The Germans continue to
police the town, and with their puppet
king to rule such parts of the islands as
are not dominated by the so.caled
''rebels" really adherents of the legiti-
mate king.
In the past summer several new and
unpleasant features We're added. Secre-
tary Bayard conferred at length with the
German and British ministers at Wash
ington, and was Disguised by learning
that the British had come to full under
standing with the Germans and were to
allow the latter full sway in the islands.
on the ground that they had the largest
commercial interests there. But soon
after came the information that the Ma
lieota party were carrying all before
them and had practically annihilated
the Tamasesee Government, setting up
that of Mataafa (adherent of Maieota)
in its stead. In the last battle they drove
the surviving soldiers of Tamasesee on to
the German vessels, and in firing killed
German and wounded an Englishman.
Secretary Bayard tn en- suggested Joint
occupation, with one war.ship of each of
the three nations to protect their respec-
tive citizens; but the Germans insist on
complete control and the English do not
now oppose them.
THE DANGER TO AMERICANS,
Each successive steamer from the
Islands reports the condition as growing
more complicated. and the danger to
Americans greater; but by the very latest
1t is learned that the English are once
more involved, and English and Ameri-
can residents nave combined for pro-
lection. High breastworks surround
each consulate, guns from the respective
nations war vessels are planted on them
protected by sand bags, and marines
mount guard regularly. Thus there are
three distinct military governments. To
complete the mise EN- scene of that tragi-
comedy, Tamasesee, with the'remans of
his "army," occupies stronghold near
the capital, where the German Consul,
Brandeis, keeps him supplied with arms
and ammunition, while the "rebels" un-
der Mataafa are on the other side Of the
town, ruling the interior, and only de-
TERED from massacrng the Tanaseseo
force by fear Of the German vessels and
marines.
The Germans, however. patrol the
city, and Brandeis is virtually monarch,
and out of this grows the most serious
complication, as his German guards in
suit ana browbeat Englishmen as well as