St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-27
MATAAFA Is KING.
MalietOa Concludes He Is Too Old
to kule Samoa,

to kule Samoa.
APIA, Samoa, Oct. lO.-Per steamer
MaripOsa to San Francisco Chiefs of
the various districts in Samoa held a
meeting here Oct. for the purpose of
electing king to govern the islands.
pending ratification by the respecti We
powers of tile report Of the
Berlin conference. The meet
ing was attended by representa-
tives of nearly all the districts. and
about 1000 persons were present. Ma
taafa was elected king. Old King Mai
ietoa. who was recently brought back
from Marshall iSlanus, was present, and
was III very leeble condition. tie ad-
dressed the people, and thanked Ma
taafa Tor all ne had done for tile Samo-
ans during his own baDishment. lie
| closed his speech by saying: 1--WE all
have full faith in Mataafa, and under
his guidance you will now BECOME
prosperous people and permanent peace
will be secured To Samoa. | HOW retire
in favor of Mataaia. whom you will
still follow as you did during my all
sehce." MalietOa tnen retired, and Was
50 weak he had to he conducted to his
private quarters. Mataafa then ad
dressed the people, saying: II accept
the position of king, and with Gou's
assistance we Will save Samoa for
our people. MalletOa and myself
are one in our feelings for the
good of our people. We should all work
for Samoa. We should not forget what
the United States and Great Britain
have done for us. We have to thank
these nations for our independence.
They will advise Us right, ana if we
follow their advice it VIII be tur our
good. Germany has only tried TO
frighten us. 1t is now more than
ever our duty to support our new
government" Tamasese'S followers
have not yet sIgntied their as
sent TO the election OF Mataafa as king.
The three consulS here have received
Instructions from their governments to
rec. gniZe MalietOa as king. but it is
stated he does not desire toefule, and
that his physical condition is hot such
as to warrant him in undertaking the
responsibility. The impression prevails
here, at least among the Americans and
British residents as well, and great
majority of the natives that Mataafa
is the only man capable of filling the
position. According to the determina-
ton of the recent meeting of the ma
tives, Mataafa Is now king and Malietoa
vice king, but this state OF affairs may
only continue until the result of the
Berlin conference is announced. Some
excitement exists here, on account of
fears of impending trouble on the
island Of Savaii. Some of Tana-
sese's followers have been giving
trouble there, and the latest in
formation is that they attacked and in
jured a chief belonging to Mataafa's
party. When this news was received
Mataafa sent word to his people at the
place where the trouble occurred to
demand that the guilty parties be de-
lvered to them. The excitement
has been increased here by the
fact that 100 of Mataafa'S followers
are now leaving Apia for Savaii, where
they will be joined by others, and their
intention is to burn the houses of
Tamase's men, ii the. parties who at
tackled the chief are not given up peace
able. 1t Is not improbable that the ex-
pedition may result in an open conflict
between the forces of Mataafa and
TamaSeSe at Savaii.