The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-08
THEDOWNFALL OF MATAAFA
COMPLETE oTERrHRoH OF THE "a
NOES SAMOAN LEADER.

Man Who Saved HIS Country Now
stripped OF All Honorable Wa. Oh.
Choice OF the samonus for Kine. bu,
German Hatred Set Him Aside-A state.
rpent OF the Causes that LED 10 the
Two Years Conaiet-Matanfa and
HE Victorious Rival Contra.ted-
Germany Likely to Pat the Faiieu
Chisf to Death II He Falls Into Her
H.uds-The Present Situation In Samoa
skx Francisco. Aug 1.-THE triumph oil
Malictoa and the complete rout OF Mataafa
will rank in Samoan annals with the famous
victory which four years ago Mataafa hlms of
won over the forces OF the German en- miro.
By that victory Mataafa saved his race from
the determination which threatened It under
German oppression. md won for him the
gratitude Of the people and the admiration Of
patriots everywhere throughout the civilized
world. But by his attitude toward the Gov
eminent he had made possible. and through
which alone can be preserved tho fruits OF his
victory and the independence OF Samoa. for
which he so nobly fought ending in his COM
plete and humiliating downfall. bis proud
position Is gone. and within forty eight hours
he has become an object OF pity III not OF re-
proach even among his former admirers
For a man whose personal courage is I'M
doubted. who has had ardent faith in the JUS
tice OF his cause and the fighting ability OF his
followers. who led a successful and arduous
campaign. not only against q native contin-
cency but also against the most powerful mil
itery nation In the world his retreat before
the Government forces was surprising. weak.
and ridiculous. Though protected in the
brief encounter by defences which wero not
taken by the enemy. not even charged upon.
he waited only for nghtfall to get at his cap
itoI a few miles away. where not the slightest
attempt at fertilization had been made.
At daybreak. although none OF the Kings
forces were in sight. and few OF them nearer
than Apia. he continued the retreat for twenty
miles down the island without a thought APP
parently OF making a stand. although the
people o. the district through which he passed
offered him no opposition. The people. In
deed. though hostile to him. displayed every
where the most respectful Difference to his
rank. He even crossed the broad strait to
Sayaii. whence. returning to Manono. he
fastened to deliver himself up to the Ka-
toomba. even before the Consuls had landed
with the demand for his surrender.
This Is the man who only q few years before
drove the German invaders before him. and
for months atterward. until the hurricane
providentially interviewed defed q feet Of tho
finest cruisers in the I'm perial navy.
To estimate truly what has been Mataata's
fall 1t must be understood that he is OF the
highest Samoan birth. scarcely inferior to
Malieton himself. to whom he is related:
that for quarter OF q century he has
been a commanding figure In Samoan poll
tics and that he had received already ma
jorty OF the titles which. according to Sam oan
custom are linked with the assumption Of
the royal prerogative. He was TUT" which
is 4 title equal to king Of the districts Of Atua
h,tt- H. 4 IL.
him the name OF Malietoa. which. dur
ing the exile of Malietoa. he bore
honorably. and rightfuly. Besides Ma
mono. which still claims him as OF its
household; gave him its strenuous and noisy
support. Moreover. for two years his silent
disafection has completely blocked the wheels
OF the samoa government. more than once
parayzinG with fear its officials. The Govern
ment has been unable to collect taxes. even
from its loyal supporters. because as long as
Mataafa held out they doubted the Govern
ment's stability.
The writs OF the Supreme Court were sneered
at. not only by the partisans OF Mataafa, but
generally throughout the land. There was
virtually no Government save in the munlci-
Pal district Of Apa. where respect Tor the
treaty powers and tho necessity for the preser-
walton VI order made the execution OF the Ber-
lin act AN easy matter.
The Berlin act AS construed by the Supreme
Court which construction has since been
modified however. made the ga moan Govern
ment deuehdent almost entirely upon n capi-
taton tax levied upon the S0moans-men. wo-
men and children. The import duties. con-
stltuting heretofore the chief revenue. were
allotted 10 the municipality oil Apla. a section
OF the natives gladly forwarded their quota OF
taxes. but the great maIoritY even OF the loyal
natives. withheld them through lie influence Of
Mataala action and the doubt it east upon the
stability al the Government. Threatened
with pankrnptcy. its officials laughed at its
Nlng LIVING In n hovel for want of FUNDS, the
Government appealed and appealed i'll vain
10 me treaty powers 10 restore order IN Samoa
had brought into existence. and Tor which they
were responsible.
FOR tao Government. bankrupt rs it was and
unAid-d in the critical encounter. TO have de-
s!:nclly and cru-hingy defeated Mataafa and
have driven hun to Aianonu. where its forces
could nave made MIN surrender. if the ships
achievement. 1t must increase It's rres-
tige ut home and abroad. 10 the treaty
powers It yindlcates the spirit Of the
scheme OF the Berlin act. that is. the pre- s.
ervatlon Of the neutrality OF the Islands.
ION me ShInoahs II l.HuTesscd Tor the first
time IN their history The idea OF tho united
sovereignty Of the group.
MS idea - natural neither to the Samoans
nor 10 other i"IYnesiit!ls IT Is not the folyae-
san I.ra. -! he lo%hesicns are democrats,
and naturally defenders oi state rights.
Their recognition Of au huri,y seldom goes
beyond me town or district. Male gives the
thus is mace ur the royal title. Mainafa. as
has been explained, had large number OF
these titles. although THAT OF llal.etoa could. !
81 course honesty be disputed. Yet despite
tn TACT that Alataa!Rs gathering Was the
nucleus ioi all the disniicctrd throu shOut the .
land, for al those angry at iOrelgn inter- /.
Terence. desl lite the tiXeu Fo!yncsian prejudice ,
AGAINST Capitalization. Malietoa has asserted i
Hie authority. ty the defeat and surrender of F
a throGEhout the g;oup. MA!ietoa has /!
Sohe Tor samoa WHAT hallchGElena did for /.
maWaIi WEi.t hinE George did Tor ouga and /
ihAk"hl,hr. with me aid vi sir John THurstUn. |
ana IN" Blliish Government for Fill. Samoa |
Is Inc last Sronp in the lacinc To- pass un- !
ger one supTen!e and acknowledged head. /
Although The royal right Is not in sa- !
i9oa hereditary even in he case Of rulers
OF districts. WHO according to custom are
STYLED kings, yet. Of course, it adds to the
prestige ana power Of hing MalietOa Laupepa
MEat ne Is directly descendrd from the llrst
"Ma, nii Nv, WI" teevlyeh the name which means
Sa!n"ans in expYlllng the Tongau invaders.
- y was another Malietoa. the Grandfather OF I
t tPe nr.ssnt hing who welcomed Wiliams.
hrsl ohs 10 VISIT samoa nifty years ago
whether MAtaaia WAS ever loyal and in his
nrart true 10 his professions Of friendship 10
Pa ma'Ie aoi; ana the treaty powers who framed
It may DO doubted whether equality as we
unuerstand II. can stand together with the fc-
kle. iorgetful. and chiilis nature OF the uiens-
ure-ioNing. i've fora day samoan
Mataaln has proved faith ess. unyrateiuI and
traitorous- The part lie played when the (Iar- /
mans epOrteQ MalletOa was molly and here