The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-29


German man-of-war aud is now pris-
oner on distant island under the I'M
renting watchiulneSs OF German
officials, who hate him for having so
strongly opposed them in 1855 and 1859,
and yet he lives.
1t was believed by many here that
when he was deported he would next
be heard OF as having been shot on the
German ship on the excuse that he mad
ATTEMPTED to escape" thus ehectual!y
disposing OF hated Toe.
The truth of the matter is that the
Germans never hated Mataats as deep
IL as they did MaIetoa, and to-day they
have more regard for the former than
they have ior the latter. They strongly
hoped that by reason OF Mataaias sense
less and suicidal opposition 10 Ma!letoa
Samoa would be forced TO abandon ma
tive government, and that possibly Ger
many might obtain control oil the coun-
try.
Visions OF the same results which
followed the attempted establishment
Of the Tamassee puppet government,
with the assistance oil the German al.
venturer Brandeis, in lSSS ana 1883, led
them to hope that Malietoa's govern
nent would crumble away in the same
manner.
The German government was anxious
10 DO able TO say 10 the government OF
the United States that the only way to
govern Samoa was by annexlng II 10
one OF the three treaty powers.
England, which, it is well believed,
has a secret understanding With Ger
many, would have conceded with the
latter government. The United States
would, Of course, have refused to annex
the islands, and the final result would
have been that Germany would have
done the annexing.
A CLEVER DIPLOMATIC OFFICIAL.
The events OF the last few months in
Samoa have forced Germauy's hand,
and its plans. at least for the present,
have been blocked. To Acting Consul
General William Blackjack this diplo-
matte advantage is entirely due. Since
1883 he has been i'll complete charge oil
the United States governments affairs
here, and has on countless occasions
shown his excellent judgment and abil-
ity TO meet the diplomatic representa-
tiyes OF other governments hero on their
own ground and obtain advantages for
his own government.
Americans here are not only aston
ished, but mortified at the continued
absence oil a United States war ship III
these waters and their governments
failure to thus assist in the support OF
government which, while practically
unImportant, the United States IS
chiefly responsible for. Thus again the
Hsrdids long continued advice to keep
the navy at sea, and order our ships to
visit distant ports where their services
are urgently needed, instead OF passing
their time at navy yards or Junketing at
fashionable harbors, is shown TO be
sensible and timely. The Philadelphia
in harbor at Honolulu does not aid the
situation in Samoa.
AN AMERICAN WAR SHIP WANTED.
The trouble in Samoa has been byino
means ended with the defeat and de-
portation of AIataafa. The turbulent
natives on the islands OF Savai! and
Tutuila have vet to be dealt with, and
in view OF their numbers and determine
alton they are not to be regarded
lightly.
The Samoan government has re-
ouested the assistance OF the three
treaty powers to effect general dis
armament OF all Samoans, and there
was never better opportunity to ac-
complish this than the present time ii
the United States government had an
imposing war vessel Join the English
and German war ships in the under
taking.
A general disarmament OF the ma
tives, itnay be said with the utmost
certainty, is the only practical solution
OF ending the continual upriangs and
bloodshed in Samoa, but with the fail
ure OF the United States to send man
of-war here the German and British
governments will become disguised, or
at least convex such an impression,
with the apparent intention OF the
United States not to do its share oil the
work, and recall their war vessels,
when another uprising will follow and
give Germany an excuse for interfering
forcibly.
All the white residents Of Samoa are
firmly impressed with the belief that
the disarmament OF the natives Is not
only advisable, but actually necessary to
the preservation Of peace and order in
this country. Firearms arc no longer
required for the purposes for which
they were purchased, and their uni
yersal surrender to the government
would be the best possible guarantee OF
security from molestation. The arms
could be taken at a fair valuation by the
government or held in reserve and re-
turned 10 the owners il danger arose
from q foreign enemy.
The government cannot effect gen
eral disarmament unaided, because TO
send native forces to attempt it would
certainly result in strenuous opposition
and probably bloodshed. War ships,
also, cannot do it unaided, because the
crews would find seaching for concealed
arms in the hauntS OF the Samoans q
hopeless task. The cooperation OF the
native government is necessary.
MORE TROUBLE MAY RESULT.
The moral effect OF Mautaaia's defeat
is rapidly fading away, and unless the
action taken by the treaty powers is
speedily followed by vigorous policy
moro trouble must soon result. 1t was
firmly believed that tine suppression OF
the last rebellion would be followed by
A substantial influx Of native tax money
as it was known that large sums were
in the hands OF some native officials
hut these anticipatiehs have not been
realized.