Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-31
SAMOANA

vaudaIa left Mare Island Navy Yard san
Frantlseo JaR. 20. a heavy fog prevailed
and Captain Schoonmaker decided TO anchor In
the bay for the night She sailed that morning
at $3.50 Some OF her officers were recently de-
tached BY orders from the Navy department In
consequence Of the expiration of their term OF
service, but 10 view Of the prospect OF active
service Ia Samoan waters they asked 10 be al
lowed to remain with their ship. and al their
urgent request the orders detaching them we're
revoked Gun carriages for the new rided bat
terry OF the steamer Mohican. which Is also under
orders TO get ready for sea have arrived Al Mare
Island Navy Yard. They have been en- route
from place Of shipment in the East about three
months. II is believed that six weeks will be
occupied by the Trenton and yandalia IN max.
ing the run to Samoa. Thus the Nipsic will be
the only vessel representing the United States
Government at those islands from this time
until alter The 4th OF next March. The Trenton
sailed from Panama about a week ago but the
Vandalia is faster vessel aud will take more
direct route than the Trenton and will probably
rsach Sanoa about soon as the latter ship.
Troubles have existed among the samoans
since 1860. In that year the German CONNER
cal and Plantation society at Apia, or, rather,
burg, stood on the side OF Malietoa, a chief be-
longing to one OF the most distinguished families
CT Samoa. Throughout the succeeding twenty
years the foreigners who settled Ia Samoa
Americans, Eughshmen aud Germans--sought,
BY taking sides with or against Mslietoa, to
strengthen respect for their respective nations.
and thereby increase their commerce. In 1875
the United states, wnicn had previously obtained
concession Of magnificent harbor in the
Samoan lsIands and established q cosling sta
ton there, made a treaty with Samoa The
local government In 1919 being in a state Of
great confusion, Sir Arthur Gordon, as Queen
yictora's commissioner in the Western Pacific.
established King Malietoa firmly on the throne
aud issued proclamation. This proclamation
was followed BY a treaty with Malietoa, dated
Aug. IS, 1879. In the same year Germany also
maze treaty with Mahetoa. The treaties
entered into between the Unitei Statas, Great
Britain. Germany, and Samoa were treaties OF
friendship and reciprocity, agreed IL for the
purpose Of promoting the trade which AmerI-
can, English and German merchants had gone
to tho remote Samoan islands to establish. IL
was understood and agreed upon among the
treaty powers that the Independence and neu-
trality OF these islands should be forever pre-
served. While America and England have re-
NAMED consistent 10 the treaty Obligations and
have recognized Mslietoa as the legitimate ruler,
the policy OF the Germans has been q watering
one. At one time they would recognize Mali
etoa as king, ut another they would take sides
with the opposing King. In 1884 King Malietoa
was coerced into an agreement with the German
Government and sent protest about 1t to the
German Emperor. Following the protest there
was sent petition to the English Queen, signed
by nearly all the Samoan chiefs, praying for
annexation to Great Britain on the ground
among others, that they were afraid OF being
forcibly annexed by the Germans. In 1885, and
again in 1885, further attempts were made by
Germany to seize the sovereignty OF the Samoan
Islands, but each time the attempt was SUCCESS
fully resisted BY the British and American rep.
resentatiyes.
In the autumn OF 1885 German named
Brandels appeared in Apis. The public was
given 10 understand that be was in the service
of the German Commercial aud Plantation
Society. Among the employees OF this firm,
however, il wac known that be had been selected
to be the minister OF Malietoas rival, Tanssese.
Braudels at once began to study local conditions
and worked at times at the German consulate
made himself familiar with the business and
social relations OF Apa, and then went to the
home OF Tamasese, In the immediate vicinity Of
thesgreat cotton aud cocoa plantation Of the
German Commercial and Plantation Society.
There house was bnit and furnished by this
society for Brandes, and there he stayed, with.
out it being known, as the adviser Of Tamasese
and perfecting himself in the Samoan language.
Tamasese and his adherents were then amply
supplied with arms and munitions. At the be.
ginning Of 1887, within brief period, hundreds
of muskets we're sent through the German Com.
mercial and Plan alton Society aud through
Braudes to Tamssese's party. A little later
a German ileet Of four or Ave chips was at
anchor ia the harbor OF Apla. Foar days later
the German Consul wrote to Mslietoa complain
ing that German setters had been attacked by
the natives on Aarch - OF that year, and that
from time TO time during the previous four years
the German plantations had been damaged to
the amopnt ostLogsaEds Of dollars year. A
heavy demand for compensation was made for
the damage to the plantations, withoa. a single
item OF particulars being givol to the samoan
King. The monstrOas demand was made that
the sum claimed for compensation should be
paid the next day-a demand which, In such
country, it was practically impossible to meet.
This king wrote, promising an answer In three
days, and the reply given by the German com
mander was the landing on the next day OF 700
troops from his squadron, and the Issuing Of a
proclamatonIn the name OF the government Of
Germany, declaring Tamssese King Of Samoa
Al the same time Malietoa was deported. first
to Hamburg and then to Bremerhayen, was
lodged aud boarded under police supervision at
Il n
taken to Australia on board the steamship
Neckar, bya German naval officer.
The native opposition to Tamasesc, or to the
Braneeis-Tamasese Government ss Il Is called
reached ita climax on Sept. o. 1893, on which
date they crowned Mstaafa, legitimate sac-
cessor to Malietoa King OF Samoa, with the title
of Malietoa, Tooa Mataafa. Notices OF the event
were at once sent to the American English and
German consuls, the French priest, aud to
Tamasese. Matasfa is still at the head Of the
government. and is doing all he can to keen IL
out oftbo hands Of Tamssesc and his German
allies. The position Of the United States TO.
day is contained in the following Instructions
which Secretary Whitney telegraphed to Admiral
Kimbere at Panama on Jan. H.
You win st once proceed to samoa and extend
fun protection to American interests. citieene
and property. You viii consult with the Amcri.
can vice consul examine his archives and other.
wise inform yourself as to the situation and ali
recent occurrences. You will protest aRainst the
subingation OF the native Samoan Government
by Germany as In violation of positive agree.
ment and understanding between the treaty
powers, but inform the representatives Of the
British and German governments of your readi-
ness 10 cooperate in causing all treaty rights TO
be respected and in restoring peace and order
ON the basis OF q recognition Of Samoan rights
t. independence endoayor to prevent extreme
measures against the Samoans.
The coprah trade Of Samoa seems to be the
cause Of all the present trouble. CopTah, the
dried kernel 81 the cocoanut is the staple com
modify Of the Samoan Islands, as 1t Is OF all the
islands of the Western Pacific. In 1885 the ex-
ports Of this article for German account were
estimated at the value OF $292,7 42. The COM
petition OF four American housss has greatiy
irritsted the German traders. their proats being
thereby much decreased.