The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-04-04

ton, although they are of little poll
teal Importance.
During the civil war of 1877, the
King, Laupepa, embarrassed by re-
belIion and foreign counsel, was led
into appealing to the British Gov
ernOr of Fiji for annexation to Great
Britain. The deputation which he
had sent in April returned on the
23d of May, and apparently with
favorable report. The next day was
the Queens birthday, fitting OPP
portunity to proclaim protection for
Samoa; but when the smoke of the
sunrise salutes had cleared away, the
Stars and Stripes" were revealed
floating over the city. Yankee
shrewdness had circumvented the
British.
Our acting Consul, Mr. Colmesnil,
at the solicitation Of Mr.. Weber,
German Consul, had hoisted our flag
at daylight. The crisis was over II
a day; the English were not pre-
| pared for annexation and the Sa
moan Government went on undls-
turbed.
The second occasion was also on
birthday-that OF Washington, the
following year. Sir Arthur Gordon
had arrived from FIJI in a man-of
war, to perfect, perhaps, the work
solicited previously by the deputa
ton of natives. He met rather a
cool reception, and, by the arbitrary
seizure of a Samoan gun-schOOner,
he greatly alarmed the King and his
chiefs, who fed to the American
Consulate for protection, which was
accorded by Mr.. Griffin and the
American flag.
Following these events came the
notifications in 1873 and 70 Of the
Convention between Samoa and the
three great Powers - the United
States, Great Britain, and Germany
events that should have guaran-
teed to the little nation an ample
and self-sustaining government, but
which have only removed the settling
Of disputes from Apia to Washing
ton and the courts of Europe.
Scarcely had the native flag been
saluted and the recognition of Nal.
Laupepa made complete by the three
consuIs, when fighting among the
natives began, and before the year
was out a new government was
formed with Nal. Pea as King and
Nal. Laupepa as vice-King. During
this trouble the neutrality of the
district of Apia was effected by the
three consuls, the result Of which
was to make life and property safe
within the municipality.
In 1880, another change was made,
by which Nal Talavou, who had
never relinquished his claims, was
anointed King according to the Sa-
moan custom at Mulinuu; and, to
preclude further trouble, the Con
sular body always the controlling
| influence when united), formally
recognized him for life, while to Sc
cure their influence they appointed
! his advisers. This King died the
same year, and the succession de
facto of Nal. Laupepa (whO had been
ce-King) was proclaimed. With
out a rival and with the moral sup
port of the white residents and the
official recognition of the consuls, he
gained complete control of the ISL
ands, but unfortunately soon fell
under the displeasure of the German
officials and traders, as he was not
favorable to their schemes for land
purchases. :s
From this time the Germans were
bent upon his overthrow, and to Sc
cure it commenced a series of high
handed measures, which began by
fostering dissension and rebellion,
were continued by a course of intim-
idatiOn, and at the end of seven years
ended in his capture and Punishment.
Within a month after assisting at
the amounting ceremonies of Nal
Laupepa, Mr. Weber brought for
ward the native chief Tamasese,
leader of the maIcontents, and had
him installed as vice-King; thus, for
the year 1882, German interests were
made paramount.
(TO he COntinuedD