Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02
Native AND NOE.

II
| great-grandfather was born in Germany and
he had therefore but little of the Teuton in
| him, his mothers ancestors being among
| the original settlers of South Carolina. Stein
| berger lost no time in fulfilling his mission,
| and incidentally he made things pleasant as
| possible for Steinberger. He saw. or thought
he saw,a great future for the islands and he pro-
ceeded to make himself solid with the people.
He found the islanders governed, or rather. mis-
| governed. by two factions-headed respectively
| by Malietoa and Tupua. Both were fighting
in a mild but determined kind of way for the
| sovereignty. Steinberger talked peace to both
| parties and it was finally agreed to allow the
American to formulate plan of government
| and TO frame a constitution after the American
fashion.
| THE RESULT.
In this the American succeeded admirably.
He provided for the establishment of two
branch legislature and for ruler with term
of Office. This would give each principal chief
chance; each in turn would occupy the throne.
Nothing could have been more satisfactory,
| and no one was more thoroughly satisfied than
Steinberger. for he was prime minister. No
provision had been made in the constitution
for rotation in that Office and that lack of con-
stltutional safeguard was due, of course, to
the thoughtful Observation-Disclosures of Stein
berger. BY March, 1874 the Samoan govern
| ment was in good working order, and, after
leaving number of instructions as to how
things should be run in his absence, the pre-
| mier returned to the United States to make his
report. 1t was very able document and it re-
ceived from Hamilton Fish. then Secretary of
State, the highest possible cncomiums.
sTEINBERGER's RETURN
| created good deal OF sensation and there was
for time Samoan ''boom." In this city the
premier was always surrounded by number
n had ha ba
could have recruited a regiment of ambitious
young men to go to Samoa. Steinberger had
not been home any great length of time when
he was summoned TO Hamburg. Germany, where
he entered into some sort of contract with
the well-known firm of j. Caesar GodeffrOy Il
Son. by which he was to advance their in
terests in Samoa. and subsequent events
show that he did not go back ON his agree
ment, for the Godeffroys secured the
greater portion of the business of the islands
When Steinberger returned from Germany he
commenced active preparations for a trip to
Samoa, and in these he was assisted by John
II. Latrobe. young Baltimorean. who had de-
cided to visit the South Pacific. Steinberger
was again commissioned special agent of the
United States, and was entrusted with the con-
yeyance and delivery to the Samoans of pres
ents from this government. Among the gifts
were 100 muskets. several small cannon a good
supply of ammunition, a number of musical
instruments and quantity of clothing Pres
a
petition. The night before Steinberger left
for his island kingdom the President went over
TO Baltimore. and at the house of Mr.. Thomas
Poultney the chief executive took dinner in
company with the two adventures and Mr.
Poutney. and Mr.. Trimble Steinberger was
loaded down with kind messages from the ad-
ministration, and President Grant sent by him
letter in which he expressed his sincere hope
that the independence and autonomy of the
islands would be fully preserved.
THE EXPEDITION.
The great collection of gifts and large
quantity of merchandise, contributed princi-
pally by Baltimore and Philadelphia merchants
was placed on board the Peerless. schooner
yacht, which was believed to have been the
property of the Godeffroys, and in that vessel
the goods were carried to Samoa. Nothing
more enthusiastic than the reception accorded
the Americans could be imagined. Samoa was
overjoyed. The prime minister who had been
lost was found; the dead was alive again. Ev-
cry Samoan was delighted to see him. and
although the climate made unnecessary any
modern devices for heating, they were never
theless glad to meet the Latrobe he had
brought back with him. When Steinberger
left the islands he left them in charge of
a temporary ruler, but when he returned
he was somewhat saddened to discover two
men on the throne. In his absence the people
had tired of the proposition which gave them a
temporary king; they wanted king who would
be king all the year round for as many years
as he could stand it. The selection of a perma-
nent monarch was no small matter. Some of
the people continued to hope that the United
States would yet take possession of the islands
so they counseled little more delay. They
were soon in a minority and then the matter of
electing ruler was taken up. There was dis
agreement from the start, and the political
fight ended with an agreement which gave the
kingdom two kings, the principal one being
MnIFTOA TAIAyOU.
This arrangement did not strike Steinberger
very favorably, and it did not take him very
long to make public some vigorous criticisms
on the governing system which had been
adopted. He acknowledged that there were
times and places where two kings might con-
duce to the happiness of one individual, but
two kings divided up among so many people
did not amount to much. Through his in
fiuence the dual monarchy scheme was recon-
sidered. another election was held, he counted
the votes and Malietoa declared duly
elected king OF Samoa. Steinberger was at
once placed at the helm of the government.
The Samoans were satisfied and so were a great
many of the foreign residents, by whom Stein
berger was regarded as an honest and
thoroughly capable man-just the person to
bring Samoa to the front.
LEGISLATURE.
While Steinberger was reformer of the
purest type he was careful enough and diplo-
matte enough to refrain from shocking the con-
servatism which existed among the older
Samoans. Before his advent the two bodies of
chiefs-denominated the Taimua and Faipule-
had been all powerful. These the prime min
lister made happy by forming them into a legis-
lature-a rude Samoan imitation of the Ameri-
can COngress-with a set of rules of procedure
by which they could do about as they pleased
provided that he also was pleased.
In the meantime Mr. Latrobe was appointed
chief justice of the Supreme Court of Samoa,
and he dispensed law with a liberal hand until
he became weary of judicial labors and wanted
change. He was then made commander in
chief OF the forces-naval and military-with
! the title of captain-general
Under Steinberger's rule the country pros
pered exceedingly. The exports increased i'm
mensely, and as the people accumulated means
the market for imports was also considerably
| extended The Godeffroy firm continued to
| wax fatter and fatter, the great bulk of the
business being in their hands The Samoans.
however. knew little of this and cared less: thew
were getting along swimmingly.
THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE
| There was one man In Samoa who was watch
| ing Premier Steinberger with a watchfulness
that would not cease its vigil. That man was
Consul Foster. He thought Steinberger was
treacherous and was only smoothing matters
down so that Samoa might. as soon as possible.
| become an addition to German territory The
prime minister was also doing some watching.
| and the individual on whom his gaze WAS ixed
i was Consul Foster. Then came trophla Tha-a