The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-02-16
THE SAMOAN QUESTION.
The Story OF the Troubles and
Their Origin.
location ana Resources OF tho Isiands-
The Treaty with samoa--A German
Plot That Has Jovoived This
Country.


Country.
samsn Is a small country, but the possibility
that tho United States and Germany may go to
war about It, with perhaps England on one s.do
or the other among the combatants, gives II an
fr.erest ludicrously disproportonate to its area,
population and commercial Importance.
Where and what is Samoa, and what is the
cause OF the controversy about II in which thrco
of the leading nations OF the world are en-
gagged just nowf These arc tho questions which
are being asked with considerable interest
throughout the world to-day.
Take up map showing the Pacific Ocean and
trace out the point between the 18th and 18th
parallel of south latitude and the 16oth and 172d
meridian OF longitude west from Greenwich.
II the map be good one IL will show num-
Der OF dots scattered at the spot indicated, the
group forming a short, irregular line running
northwest and southeast. The chances are that
the map consulted will call the spot referred TO
the Navigators' Islands. They were given that
name by n Frenchman named Bougainville,
who visited them 100 years ago, and that was
the name they were known by until recently.
Only comparatively new maps give them the
name of Samoa, by which they are now known.
The Samoan Islands are In the South Pacific
Ocean, below the equatorial line. They are far
from the American continent, and farther from
that part OF the continent on which the United
they are as near to Asia as they are to the
United States, and nearer Australia than to any
other section of the world which occupies an
important place on the map.
Samoa consists of nine inhabited islands and
several islets or smaller tracts or land. The
names OF the islands are Manua, Olosinga, ofu,
Anuu, Iutuila, Upolu. Manona, Apolmn and
Savi The best harbor in any OF the Pacific is
lands is Pago-Pago, which is In Tutuia. Upolu
is the most important island in the Samoa
group and Apia. which Is its chief port, is the
leading city OF Samoa. The area Of Samoa is
about 1900 square miles and Its population
about $4,000. The Samoan Islands, taken to-
gether, therefore, are fraction smaller than
the smallest State OF the American Union
Rhode Island-and they contain but little
more inhabitants than Springfield, ILL.,, or To-
Although Samoa is small territorially and
socially 1t holds share OF natures favor. Its
thing which can be grown within 70 degrees or
30 degrees OF the equator on either side. All
the tropical vegetables, fruits and plants thrive
there In profusion Sugar, n sort of bread, two
or three varieties Of cotton, together with an
abundance OF cocoanuts, bananas, oranges md
lemons grow wild. All these articles and to-
bacco and coffee IN addition, excepting the
bread plant, are cultivated on the islands. One
of the principal products OF Samoa is coppra,
which is the dried meat of the cocoanut. This
article, which enters largely into the exports of
the islands, was the thing which first excited
the cupidity OF the Germans, and led to the at
tempt which Bismarck is making to bring the
island under German control.
The natives Of Samoa are allied to the Malay
race, although their noses are not tiattened like
those belonging to persons OF the pure Malay
type. Their compilations are olive, their hair
black, and in stature they are equal to the
European or American. Nomnally they
Christians, nearly all the denominations being
represented among the people, while there are
churches and schools in every village.
This win answer the question as TO what and
where Samoa is, and give an idea OF its physical
characteristics and population.
HOW THE TROUBLE ORIGINATED
The story Us to the troubles which have made
IN nj N Mt
large is not SO easily told 1t is not easy to tell,
simply because the Americans. British and Ger
mans who have been telling II differ as to essen
tial points, while the Samoans' own side OF the
question, except as IL has come through Ameri-
can sources, has not been told The story which
will be given here is that which has either been
established in some degree or which appears to
be most worthy OF trust.
About one-third of n century ago white set.
tiers first began to locate in the Samoan Islands.
Tho Germans took the lead in these enterprises,
and have retained it over since. The United
States and Great Britain are also represented
in Samoa in this way. but not to the extent that
Germany is. Outside the three countries
named, no other nation has important business
interests in that locality.
Up to about twenty years ago nearly all the
trade OF Samoa was controlled by the CONNER
-ciai corporations Of Godeifroy & Co., whose
headquarters were at Hamburg, Germany. This
firm had many important buildings and ware
houses in Apia, and cotton plantations in the
vicinity. AT about the time referred to this firm
met with business disaster, and was succeeded
by q concern called the German Commercial and
Plantation Society. which is still in existence.
This corporation controls the largest share OF
The trade OF the islands, but for the last fiye or
Elk years, 1t has been losing ground, owing to
the competition OF American houses. II is the
fact that large portion OF the coppra trade is
falling into American hands which impeled the
Germans q few years ago to supplant the King
of Samoa and put German tool named Tam
asese in his place, with the object of securing
especial favors for the Germans in the business
affairs OF the islands.
1t was the business concerns of Germany and
Qrtf al m ~ a ugh tnt HrEt
attracted tho attention OF those countries
toward that region England has other pos
sessions in the vicinity, including Australia and
New Zealand, and this fact makes Samoa of
considerable Importance. even If only for sort
of coaling station, to that country For the
past sixteen or eighteen years. or ever since
the close OF the Franco German war; the colon
riZaiion craze has been acute in Germany, and
in the pursuit OF this policy OF picking up all
islands and sections OF continents not appro-
priated by any OF the other big powers IL is at
tempting to annex Samoa.
The principal interest which the United
Stases has in Samoa is due to the fact that 1t is
near the course which vessels take in passing
to and from New Zealand and Australia in ply
ing between % those M R places and the the ports Of the
United States with Australia Is on the increase,
and the holding of Samoa by hostile nation
might work injury TO this country in case OF
war The Nicaragua Canal, which will probably
ibe completed within five or six years, when Sa-
moa will be on direct line OF communication
between Australia and New Zealand on the one
hand and Europe on the other, will add i'm
menseiy TO the Importance Of the Samoan Isl
ands. The United States Is not q colonizing
nation. 1t does not desire 10 add TO its posses
sions, even on the continent, either by conquest
or purchase. Consequently 1t is particularly
interested in keeping Samoa independent of
all foreign control and neutral. Neither does
Great Britain show any wish to get control of
the islands, All the powers concerned. except
Germany. desire that the Samoans shall select
their own rulers and direct their own affairs.
AS early as 1874 the Samoan people expressed
wish that the Uuited States would assume
protectorate over the islands This intelligence
was communicated to this country by A. B.
Stenberger. o special agent, selected by Presi-
dent Grant to visit Samoa. UP 10 that time each
of the islands had d separate government, under
the head OF q chief. In 1875. however, these
chiefs chose one Of their number rs a King, who
was to rule the whole group. This King was
!Malietoa. Steipbcrger became his Prime Min
lister. Malietoa remained in undisturbed pos
session OF his rights and prerogatives until he
was deposed, through the influence OF Germany,
about two years ago. and Tamasese put in his
place.
The events which occurred in the islands be-
tween the accession and deposition OF Maietoa
must be told, In order that the happenings OF
the past few years at Samoa, and the present
situation In that region, may be Ineligible.
The most important OF these events will be told
here briefly.
In 1879 the United States entered into treaty
with Samoa, which was the first compact ever
by the provisions OF that treaty the United
States secured desirable commercial privileges
In the islands. In return for these privileges
the limited States promised 10 use its good