The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-05-21
RECOGNIZING SAMOAN SERVICES.

II some suitable way the services o
the Ssmosns In saving the lives O
American sailors, and assisting il
the recovery of property, both public
and private, from the wrecked war
ships The Admiral reports thai
Astsafs sent hundreds of his mer
and placed them at his disposal wher
time was the most precious, and the
work TO be done them urgent and
difficult. Il is the unanimous testi-
mony OF those present, not only that
the natives worked with the utmost
energy and enthusiasm, but that
they showed the highest courage and
skill In battling with the waves, and
rescuing life and property.
There should be no hesitation on
the part Of United States authorities
II carrying out the AdmiraI's recon-
1sendadon IN a liberal spirit Any
other course would be a disgrace to
me government and people. a great
nation cannot afford to appear at a
Disadvantage in the matter of liber-
zliry and humanity when compared
with native Polynesians. The Sa-
m0ans worked enthusiastically, un-
clringly, at the peril of life and the
actual loss Of some lives, in saving
the lives and property Of Americans,
and 50 far as has been reported, have
never asked for any reward. The
duty Of the American government
under these circumstances is too
plain to be neglected.
Il may be that the exigencies of
official red tape viii require the final
decision IN the matter to await the
assembling Of Congress and the
making Of a special appropriation.
II 50, the delay will be in some
measure compensated for by the
added dignity and Importance of a
testimonial ordered by the vote of
The direct representatives of the
whole American people. Such a
recognition would be truly national,
and IN q fuller sense than if proceed
ing from the independent action of |
the Executive alone.
The form which the testimonial |
should take Is combination of the
substantial and honorary; say an
0hcial acknowledgment Of services
rendered, conveyed with such form
and ceremony as would give it due
value IN the native mind, medals or
similar personal decorations, which
would undoubtedly be highly priced
and carefully treasured by the reci-
pients, and finally a liberal sum of
money to be distributed among the
families Of those who lost their lives,
Is well as those of the survivors who
especially distinguished themselves.
We cannot leave the subject
Of the conduct of the Samoans
Al the time of the hurricane
without some reference to their
msgnsnimity towards the Germans.
The action Of the natives on that
occasion affords as fine an example
as could be asked, of the kind of re-
venge which heaps Goals of fire on
the heads Of ones enemies by re
them good for evil. Had
they said, Now hath the Lord de-
hvered our enemies into our hands
let Us smite them even unto death"
they would have only been following
the example set by professedly I
Christian people on more than one
historical occasion. In an article
entitled Samoan Ethics" the New
York Tribune uses the following
language:
By no means one OF the least remark
able incidents Of the terrible storm at
Apia 50 powerfully and vividly des- 1
1rIbed IN last Sundays Tribune was the 6
of the Samoan natives toward
-he Germans. When the forces of ma
-ure 50 ruthlessly set st naught the de- C
noes and constructions Gilman, and the
.5erulan warShIps We're tossed and blown
ike shells about the harbor OF Apia, I
1nly to be hurled upon reef or shore, and I
he natives had only to preserve the :
attitude OF passive spectators 10 witness
.he destruction OF their enemies, what t
Id these uncivilized islanders, these 6
members OF an inferior race" do?
They did not hesitate one moment, but i
liunged into the roaring surf, and at the 4
imminent risk of their lives they did all !
hat was humanity possible to rescue the
mperilled seamen.
Now il Is worth while to remember n
hat so-called civilized and Christian
people have not always exhibited like
devotion and seli-sacrifce even when the V
question was ofrescuing gshipwrecked men ,
with whose nations their own was at !.
1eace It Is not so very long ago that 4
Snglishmen living on the coast OF Corn d
val made business of wrecking, and :,
! has been asserted that some OF them
Fere capable, not only OF plundering t.
Erecks and numbering the half-drowned r.
urvivors, but OF Turing vessels ashore by
Displaying false lights. When, further 81
,a-k IN history. the Spanish Armada | %