The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-01-28
THE SAMOAN TROUBLES.


not German, my knowledge of the
leading circumstances surrounding
the Samoan troubles lead me to en-
dorse the letter of "a German" which
appeared in your issue of Saturday
last.
| happened to be one of the crew
of trading schooner from Sydney
in the year 1856, and in that year
visited Samoa as trader and re-
manned several weeks at the group
touching at several points, one of
which WAS Apia. In those early
times, and in such limited areas as
those of the Samoan Islands, it did
not require much time to become
fully acquainted with the social and
commercial conditions of the popu-
lation, and of the natural resources
for trade OF the entire group. At the
time of my visit the enterprising
German firm of Godefroy & Co. was
established ut Apia, and carrying on
business similar to that carried on
by Hackfeld & Co, of Honolulu, at
present; only, of course, more limit
td III bulh. llC NCilbll ttlit ChUCi
prise OF the whole group was center
ed in Godefroy & Co., who were the
importers and exporters of nearly all
the commodities then exchanged.
The white population, all told, did
not exceed fifty individuals, and the
exports We're limited to certain pro-
ducts of the cocoanut-chieily oil
,r,l,; L. Il
were Germans from Germany direct,
all working in various capacities for
Godefroy d Co. The remaining third
or about 19 or 20individuals as nearly
as | could guess, were what was then
called "beachcOmbers" and were of
mixed nationality. Nearly Il dozen
OF these were deserters from Ameri-
can whaleships, and claimed Ameri-
can citizenship; but among them all
could not discover any native-born
American. Those beachcombers lived
among the natives, adopting their
habits, sometimes their costume
and, in all cases, leading an aban-
doned and prohigate life. In the
meanwhile, the, Germans were quiet
ly extending cocoanut culture and
increasing the areas devoted to that
valuable palm. They were the first
to export the kernel of the nut as
"copra," and from that period to the
present the Germans have had COM
mercial ascendency over Samoa, with
their claims duly recognized by all
British and Australian traders.
The beachcombers, however, who
are highly dangerous class at all
the groups in the South Seas, from
their closer intercourse with the ma
tive population, have been able to
foment discord between the latter and
the more respectable German mer-
chants and planters. Both classes
have increased proportionately since
1856, and the half-whites being
chiefly descended from the beach
conber class, naturally assisted the
latter in bringing the present
troubles to crisis.
During a visit to the Friendly Is
lands, 8 years ago, received corrob-
orative evidence of the above facts
and, rs that group is one OF the near
est to Samoa, and having regular
weekly communication herewith
the information obtained at the
Friendlies was of much value. 1t is
also significant fact that the Ameri-
can tilibusters Stienberger of Is years
ago, and Klein of the present time,
bear German names, as showing that
it is advisable in that German group
to be able to speal; tie German Ian
guage.
Outside OF the United States and
the Hawaiian Islands, / feel certain
that the predominant sentiment is
that the Germans will be able, ulti-
mately, to form strong and Just
government at Samoa, and put an
end to the miserable state of anarchy
that has prevailed there during the
past 10 or 20 years. The policy of
the German Empire, like the United
States and Russia, is to extend the
national domain by aggregation ON
its frontier rather than having de-
tached and distant dependencies /;
and, with the exception of n portion
OF New Guinea, Germany has no pos
sessions abroad. At the same time
it is the duty of the fatherland to
protect Germans and legitimate Ger
man commerce in any part of the
world; and the right to do so will be
conceded by all diplomatists, so long
as international law is observed in
relation to the rights of other civil
lied nations.
Samoa has been practically a Ger
man dependency and trading post
for more than a generation; and, al
though nominal natiye-rule was toler-
ated as bearable, the time has arrived
fora German protectorate. This new
condition would bring security for life