The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-01-26
THE SAMOAN q

THE SAMOAN TROUBLE.
In the Samoan trouble the position
of the United States to-day is contained
in the following instructions which
Secretary Whitney telegraphed TO Adj
miral Kimberly, at Panama, on January
IL: "You will at once proceed to
Samoa and extend full protection to
American interests, citizens and prop
erty. You will consult with the Amerl-
can vice-consul, examine his archives
and otherwise inform yourself as TO the
situation and all recent occurrences.
You will protest against the subjnga-
ton Of the native Samoan government
by Germany as in violation of positive
agreement and understanding between
treaty powers, but inform the repre-
sentatives Of the British and German
governments of your readiness to CO.
operate In causing all treaty rights to
be respected and in restoring peace
and order to the basis of a recognition
of Samoan rights to independence.
Endeavor to prevent extreme measures
against the Samoans and to bring
about a peaceful settlement"
The coprah trade of Samoa seems to
be the cause of all the present trouble.
Coprah, the dried Kernel of the CO.
coanut. is the staple commodity of the
Samoan Islands, as it is of all the is
lands of the Western Pacific. An esti-
mate of the yearly production of coprah
on the islands places the amount at
about $500 TONS. In 1885 the exports
of this article for German account
we're estimated at the value of 1922, 742.
The German interests in Samoa are
conferred in the German Commercial and
Plantation Society, aud, as already
stated, il is the successor of the
Samoan house of the Godefroys. The
| widespread nature of the Godefroys'
| enterprises and a costly management
brought disaster TO them in the winter
OF 1880, and receiving its properties
and buildings, the present German
firm was formed. In 1885 trouble
began. Competition of four large
American houses, together with the
same mismanagement that vas in
strulnental in bringing about the
downfall of the Godefroys affected the
German firm most disaStrously 1t
became evident that III open cOmpeti-
ton this firm must give way to its
more energetic rivals. 1t was then
that Mr.. Weber, the head of the firm,
failing to render King Malietoa sub
servient to his plans, induced Ia,
mesese to raise his flag at Luelumoe2a.
Thus 1t was sought 10 secure control Of
the government and through this q
monopoly of the coprah production
The friction between the Germans
and Americans and natives eliminated
on the night of December l6, When a
large party of German sailors, number
ing 1870. came ashore at Apia and
entered the stores, saloons and native
houses in search of Americans, Eli
glishmen and half-castes. They entered
the residence of George SCanlan,
United States marshal, i'll Apia. lie
was not in, but the sailors found him
and bis brother, Morris Snyder, also all
American citizen, further up the street,
and starting a quarrel stabbed both OF
the Americans in the back. Seaman
and others escaped TO a native church,
where their wounds were dressed and
found not to be fatal. The German
sailors ran through the streets attacking
ali persons they met except the Gci-
mans, and injured the adhercnts o.
Tamases. Among the number wcIe
native women n children. Some OF
Mataafa's soldiers came in from the
bush, aud were anxious TO begin
shooting. but were urged by Unit,d
States Consul Blackjack not 70
fire. On December II the United
States consul sent a protest 10 the
German consul asserting that tlIt
conduct of the Germans had been
outrageous, aud had placed the Amrri'
can lives and properly i'll great
jeopardy. Subsequently boating par
ties and German men Of war fired upon
and otherwise offered indigmirIcs to fhe
American flag, in one case burning. it.
These are grave matters. mach to, be
regretted, Is the policy of four country
is TO be at peace with all the world
but there Is only one thing Tor Dun
government to do, and that is at al,
hazards { maintain i~uviulate the rights
of American citizens wherever they
may be.