The morning call., 1891-10-02
FROM SAMOA.
Trouble With the Chiefs and Cry
of "War!" "War!' Raised.
q Chief Justice Who Is Not Liked-He Does as
He Pleases and There Is No Remedy.
A Threat by Foreigners.
Special to the Associated Press.

APIA Samoa. Sept 16.-The natives on
the island of Monono have been trying for
some time to upset the present Govern
meDt, and few weeks ago some of the
chiefs who expressed their intention of 60
ing to Mulnuu to join the Government had
their houses pulled down and plantations
destroyed by order of the rest Of the chiefs.
AS soon as news of the outrage was received
here the President of the Municipal COun-
Gil, Baron Won Seuft, who is also adviser to
the King, together with United States Vice
Consul Blackjack, went down to Mon0no on
the United States steamship Iroquois and
ordered the chiefs to come up for trial.
They came up two days later, men, women
and children, the main body staying outside
the municipal boundary. The chiefs were
tried and found guilty of destroying the
houses and intimidating the other chiefs
and were sentenced to six months imprisOn-
ment. to be treated in a gentlenaDly man
ner.
A CRY OF WAR.
AS soon as the MoDonO people heard the
verdict they started back for their own
island crying war. war, and stated their
intention of getting their guns and coming
back to rescue their chiefs. To prevent
rescue the prisoners were guarded by fifty
men, and the MOnOnO people were told thai
if any such attempt was made the prisoners
would be blown up with dynamite.
OF course this was merely threat,
but it succeeded in having the desired
effect aud the malcontents returned to their
island, promising to obey the Government
No further trouble is feared from them, as
they are the greatest towards IN the Samoan
group. In order to frIStrate any furth er
attempt at rescue the prisoners we're taken
to the Union group, abont 800 miles from
here. The natives say this action savOrS
strongly of the methods OF eX-German Con-
sui Brandeis
AN ABSENT JUSTICE.
The Chief Justice is absent on a trip to
Sydney, leaving just before the trouble
started, against the wishes of the King and
Government and the dtSappr0yai of the
Consuls. 1t is considered extraordinary
that he should leave the Islands when he
knew trouble might be expected at any
time.
Mataafa is still at Malie with about 800
men, and is addressed and treated as a king.
He wrote to the COnsuls and President de-
mandiRg an explanation of the deportation
of the MonOnO chiefs, aud altogether is keep
ing the country in state OF unrest. a
story has been circulated that the United
States would help him in the event of
war, and this has had the effect of keeping
number of discOntented chiefs about
Mataafa. Consul Sewall wrote Mataafa
that he should not think of being king, and
that he would forfeit the good will Of the
United States if he persisted.
A SUPPRESSED LETTER.
This letter was suppressed by Mataafa,
but copies have now been circulated among
the natives with good effect. The Chief
Justice gives great dissatis faction here. He
has a very limited knowledge of the English
language and cannot conduct a Supreme
Court Case, or transact ordinary Government
business. He refuses to have anything to
do with governing, the country, and
although he has been nine months
in Samoa, he has not framed single law
for the guidance Of the Samoan magistrates,
as he was expressly directed to do by the
treaty. He refuses to pay any duty on
liquors, ETC.. which he imported for his
own use, and, as there is no appeal
from his decision, nobody can force
him. The German Land Commissioner and
the English Consul say that If the Chief
Justice does not pa duty, neither will they,
on the ground that they are representatives
of foreign powers. There is nothing 10 the
treaty to snow that Government officials
should be allowed this privilege.
LOST CONFIDENCE.
The President of the Council has lost the
confidence of the King and Government
Being a German, Malietoa naturally dis
trusted him from the beginning. Tie Pres
ident, not content with being adviser at
tempted to become dictator, which the King
would not allow. He attempted to force
the silver mark in at par after the Govern
ment had decided against it, after ordering
them to reconsider their judgment, and
threatening that Germany would be very
angry if her money was not accepted. The
President overlooked the fact that owing to
the geographical position of the Islands
American and English moneys are the only
ones of any use except at a heavy discount.
However, the Government would not be
coerced, so our money is now American gold
and silver par, sovereign at S4 Sc. German
gold 20 mark at S4 rs and Chile silver dol
lars at 70 cents. The last is to be dscon-
tinued in November.