Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-17
SAMOA AGAIN.

to Samoa from Jaluit by the Germans, he
desire of the people to have him resume
the reins of power and become the princi-
pal chief Latest advices are to the effect,
however, that he preferred that Mataafa
should reign, and accordingly that chief
has been chosen, and Malietoa elected to
be Vice-King. 1t is said that this action
causes disappointment to Germany, and
will possibly reopen the whole Samoa diff
iculty. Yet, if we can trust the reports
concerning the conclusion reached by the
Samoan Commission, there was to be an
election for King, and the three foreign
powers bound themselves to abide by the
result. There are some reasons, however,
for believing the outcome of the delibera-
tons of the Samoan Commission were not
satisfactory to the Administration, and
that so soon as Congress assemblies we will
learn that it is the desire of the President
that there be made material notifications
TO the memorandum agreed upon as the
basis Of a compact. The revival of interest
< the Samoan question" is certain, for
TIE questions involved are of profound in
te; est and remain to be settled. The
correspondent of the London Times, writ
ing under the date of August 18th, gives
grapic and interesting account of the re-
turn of Malietoa. 1t was accomplished by
tfd king, and to prevent demonstrations
in his honor, ON the part of his people.
He was landed on Sunday, a day the
Samoaus keep with profounder respect
than any other people. He was not put
ashore until night, and was landed alone,
and with not a soul to welcome him. He
went to the house of the Chief Justice,
where he had hearty greeting. There
the correspondent saw HIM. and his account
is so interesting that we transcribe portions
of it:
Sitting in an armchair was the Samoan King.
whose name has been for two years lannon's
throughout the civilized world-a man dressed
in sober black, altogether European in his
looks as in his habit, who but for his dark com
plexion would be type of a high-class English
dissenting minister. Malietoa mas q panied ex-
preston, as of one who has suffered in the past
and is mol now sure of lie in the future. He is
evidently man of thought, with more magma
ton tnan the average Samoan.
Soon native chiefs dropped in, crouching down
kissing the Kings hand Other whites follow
us, some in sympathy, some in curiosity. Malie-
toa began TO brighten, but broke down when
his three sisters came in The meeting was
one which made some Of US also feel weak
eyed.
The reception went on till Mataafa came in.
The camp of the warrior chief, who until now
has called himself "King of Samoa" is not
more than half a mile from where Malietoa
took shelter, and messenger had been sent to
advise him of the landing. The two Kings en-
braeed and stood face to face a striking con.
trast-the man in black who had been exiled
for his country's cause, and the man in white,
kilt and jacket, with bare brown legs and feet,
and demeauor as noble and commanding as
that of any white prince in the world, who had
fought and conquered the puppet King Tama-
sese aud won the independence OF Samoa.
the whole moral atmosphere. Everything
seemed brighter, of a higher tone, by the mere
presence of this great ehief-a King among
men, whose charm of manner 1mpresses every
one. The poor exiled King. crushed and dis
pirited. seemed to cb ange with the hearty greet
lug Of Mataafa. Then they were let alone
with their two talking chefs, Their personal
advisers. But the conversation was not long.
MAietoa and his three companions in exile had
been Put ashore supperless, and in the bert
native houses now there is scarcity of food.
Mr.. Fletcher had sent a hurried note to Mr..
Nuunett to get dinner for the party at Near
thurs mess and we soon started back along the
beach. A simple hospitable thought of Mr.
Fletcher's became a stroke OF policy. There
could be nothing more impressive than this
march, with the moon light as day shining on
the fixed bayonets of Mataafa's guard, who
were in advance, the two Kings following hand
in hand, white and black garments contrasting
strongly; behind them long procession OF
chiefs. Samoans do not cheer; there was
solemn silence as ola religious ceremony.
Had Mataafa chosen he need not have
submitted to an election. But he had no
ambitions to crafty superior to the good
of his countrymen, and he was therefore
the FIRST to agree to the proposition of the
resident Consuls that an election should
BE- held. Tamasese, the usurPer, dared
not commit himself until he had consulted
with his German advisers, and when he
hai done so, gave it to be understood that
he would consent to the election, but there
was a between-the-lines proviso-if he
was chosen. Stripped of its sophistry,
that was what his reply amounted to. He
has now, therefore, the opportunity to
continue the rebellion, if the Germans
wish it, with something of a seeming of
excuse. We look upon it as not at all
improbable, therefore, that the whole
Samoan difficulty may be re-opened. If it
is, the policy of the United States Govern
ment will not likely be doubtful. We
have learned by experience that in such
matters the way to deal with European
chicane is to make no effort to conciliate,
but to stand from the first upon the unde-
piable right of these islanders to choose
their own ruler and to remain an indie
pendent PEOPLE regardless of the CONNER
cial schemes of any foreign power.