The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-02
MORE aROUT SAMOA.


The little affair between the United
States and Germany about Samoa, instead
of abatlng, rather grows in interest, and
although everybody pooh. poohs at the
idea Of war over so small a matter, there Is
yet a possibility of its leading to serious
complications.
So far as Germany is concerned, the
case Is plain enough. That power is am
bilious, in imitation of England and France
to have foreign colonies. One of her
most pretentious efforts in that direction is
on the Mozambique coast In East Africa,
where she has got herself into muss very
like the one she has stirred up in Samoa
Other efforts in the same line are to gobole
in imitation Of England and France, some
of the still ungobbled Of the more valuable
South Pacific islands, making beginning
with the Samoa group.
The islands, as stated in our last, are val
liable for their production of copra, the
dried kernel of the cocoanut Some thirty
years ago wealthy German firm, the
Godeifroys of Hamburg, established a
plantation there to raise this article. The
business proved profitable and was
extended until the GodefIroys owned most
of the arabic lands in reach, importing not
only Germans, but natives of neighboring
islands, to thu number of six or seven
thousand, as lsborers. This led to trouble
with the natives, whose ruler, being unable
to cope with the Germans, appealed TO the
United States, conveying To our govern
ment the valuable harbOr of Pango. pango,
In consideration Of an agreement to exert
our good offices TO lust the differences be-
tween the Germans and natives. A harbor
having been conveyed to the United states,
England and Germany demanded like
favors, and each in return received har.
Dor for coaling station Then the three
in about lSSO-united in treaty declar.
ing the town and district of Apia, the cap
ital, neutral territory, in which all should |
enjoy equal rights, ut the same time, as a
result of the good Offices" of the United
States, recognizing Malietoa as king. About
1882 the Colonizing fever selling Germany
ii was then that the Goieirroys conveyed |
their possessions to a Company, in which
the German Government, IL Is affirmed,
owned u leading interest.
Al
trouble between the Germans and the |
natives rapidly increased, evincing an I'M
mistakable purpose on the part of the
former to get full control of the govern
ment of the Islands, AS is shown by their |
deposition of Malietoa as king and setting
up Tamasese, creature of their own, in
his stead, thus leading TO the collision with |
the natives, In which twenty Germans were
killed ana thirty wounded.
And this is apparently just what Germany
excuse to cverturn tie native |
government and take power in their own
hands. In a writing from Bismarck re.
ceived at Washington AS late as Tuesday,
he scorns concealment on this point. "Of |
course" he says, tive shall punish the MUIR
lerers of our soldiers, and as they are at
war with Tamasese, our interference will
assume the character of his assistance"
YEA verify. And that of course means,
we shall set up tool of our own as king,
whip out his enemies, AMI run the govern
nent to suit ourselves. Meantime, how
ever, Bismarck is gracious enough to say,
We shall, in doing all this, pay all due
respect to whatever treaty rights England
and the United States may have in those
Islands. As to England, she claims no
lights treaty or otherwise, In Samoa that |
IAN come In conflict with Germany Bis
narck says truly: "As to Samoa, England