The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-17

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,Andss>s III rsrnsttanccs 70 YosT-fsTELisr
u1n1cEn Co. eeAtt&e
rnE SAMOAN QUESTION
The rasnnan question i beginning
8 receive marked attention AZ WASH
inxtoss. and II Is not improbable that
~ Harrison administration viii in
Merit 4 Diplomatic quarrel which viii
& once place the new sszretAfy Oh
rtafx. whoever he may be. upon his
neftie. The Investigations Of the
rrtate committee on foreign relations
md The documents laid before con
erets by the president, make The his
TRY Of recent cvssnts IN sbs Pacific
fnlasz,se much more familiar 20 the
people thar Il has sssthests been. u
must be admitted thss this history y
not pIeasaIst one for American
readefs. fsr 1t Il an almost usl5roken
recital of betrayal Of American inter
ssts and disregard for the rishts Of
Amerlcsn citizens
What in3esexs has the United states
n Gannaa, and b6w do the troubles Of
IL Iit.!e kiaedom concern the Wash
ipRisn government This isapersi-
pent question ard one that IL not In
erpoufufly asked. In order 20 answer
Il properly one must go back about
seventeen ysars. In is72 the United
States first entered into relations With
Samoa, and under the profession sfd
ls5sndslIp Of this country tbs samoan
eovernmcnt was established The ma
fIses Of the islands we're generally
h favor Of annexation TO
fha United States. hE;t
chr government would not listen to
ptoposals Of this nature, pTsferrlng 10
establish an Independent government
which should be friendly to American
Iuterests. Malietoa. native chief,
ms accordingly raised 70 she dignity
q king 81 Samoa. two American xar
vessels having gone 10 the islands to
toke part In his coronation, and the
Samoan government entered upon its
career with an American citizen as
prime minister. A few years later
Germany. Great britain and the
{ United Ststes entered into a treaty
pledging themselves 70 respect and
main4ain the Independence OF samoa.
King Maiietoa was steHdfast in his
Friendship e.. the United States. His
eovernmentee ded to the United States
for naval station one Of the best bar
hors aud MAlietoa did everything with
n hia power to foster trade with our
country. II does not appear that he
arted IL an nnfriendly manner toward
mercantile houses established by esii-
sens Of ether countries, and he con-
stAntly refused 10 grant to German or
British traders any privileges not en-.
jnycd by Americans. bat the friendii-
ness felt by bis government toward
our government AMI people was mani
tested In various wayz. Under this
wise government the islands were
peaceful aud prosperous aud Malie-
toa's subjects had every reason 10
revere and honor him.
When Prince bismarck decided that
Germany should have colonial policy
and began to cast about for little king
d0nts and unclaimed Islands which
the tsermaa empire might safely esther
ii, hts attention was speedily drawn
10 the fruitful and prosperous islands
of SANTA. Several German trading
hoasea had already been established
there and these, IL was clear, might he
made .hs.s presext for the Inauguration
Of Samoan policy entirely 10 Bis
marck's liking. All at once the Ger
man merchants began IL grumhle at q
condition OF affairs which they had
previously deemed highly satisfactory.
Malietoa could do nothing 10 please
them and they werssoon in a condition
Of chronic dissatisfaction with his
government. The German consul as.
stunned diciatcrial airs and German
war vessel MAS sent to Samoa Ito pro.
tect German interests"
The Germans soon unaarthed rival
claim. To Maiietoa's throne. ia the
person Of Tamaacsc. the representative
al family Of chiefs who had formerly
beer powerful ON the islands. They
diligently fomented dissatisfaction
Among the natives. and In short time
Taniasese openly rebellesi against the
eeyernment of Malietoa. II vas gen
orally understood thai he haa the
sympathy ana secret support VI eet-
many, hut in spite If this his party
was Insignificant in sise aud character.
Malietoa eonid easily have dispersed
the Insurgents, but he was persuaded
by the british and American easlstis
not 10 send an expedition against
them, being assured that be wenid he
protected and his government main.
tanned. The American consul was.
doubtless. sincere in giving this Asnr-
anee. but, "a afterwards havams
known. the british government was
acting In accordance with secret un,
Outstanding with Germany and had nc
Intention other than to hetray Nalie,
ioa.
Matters went from hsd e. worse
As Maliesea offered no opposition to
TamaSese be soon became holder ans
thc instruction grew formidable. The
German merchants became asore and
more insoleat and avcrhearsng. The
English government, Of coarse. re-
nainsd passive. ana the American
government was wheedlea and pleved
With a. she Germans pleased The
German government wunld xalemnly
protest 10 Secretary Hazard that il
had ne intention az losSe things
which II had sifeaay dose, as3 the
arniahle secretary Of state would sx.
press his satisfaction a. tbs hanaTstsls
and pacific lnteatiaas es the German
government The apslo. af the whole
matter IVES shat ene srasarsslsssz. fs7es
Of German soldier Mss landed in 81.
iaoa, Malietea Wa esrFisa - board 4
German war vessel IS a prisoner. and