The sun., 1894-08-19

| was its history and description written BY In,
chiefs and Translated. This they cent TO Tn,
together with q letter RON the Tainus. in whici
1 they set out the facts aluiut their past hstorl
and the new order OF things. They gave Col
StPinberger unstinted praise. renewed the prayer
for annexation. and closed by ~ King that stein
| berger be sent beck among them. The record'
parties at the Islands. handed TO him just prioi
to his departure, and in them all credit Is giver
Of the internal samoan difficulties than ans
other man who had ever stepped upon the Islands
col Steinherger reached san rra-ci.ro In De.
ceinbeT and later forwarded his report to IN,
state Department. HE return was s!grd.. q
by one Of those bits of sudacity rlsrag g;er.tp Of
report and to friends that he he'd in his posse
sion live dodo, secured by him at the islends
after considerable labor and expense. and o; the
species supposed 10 be extinct. At;c. calling a..
tsntion in his report 70 the iact that about a.
that Is known OF TINS bird i derived from the
few remains preserved In Eurupeau museums
such rs a foot or head. together with pa;ntlug -
made Of IT in the seventeenth century. Col stein
- feel personal qualification in the fact tina;
the United States will enjoy the honor %; ro.tor.
ing this rare and remarkable bird to the atten.
ticn OF the scientists of tn. world. and will have
this new opportunity OF evinCine it> irtc-rs: in
the promotion Of scientific knowIpdge'
HIS wish came To full frlition. a h.s "doslo "
set the scientific world BY the ear, nd scl,nti Ec
periodicals teemed with articles a. 10 the b ri
being the "dUdO" OF past generations. The
sensation was f7siy laid low by an elaborate
article written by sir. Ril-way. tnen ara now
cident growing out o. thi- dodo ei,ispne was re-
lated recently Dy retired army Captain. At one
time curator OF tile National NJ Mussum. Tie late
WI. Florencc.t the actor. and Mrs flor,rcc visit
ed the museum one day and seemed 20 he In CORN Z
under considerable excitement. As they made
their way toward the once Of the Captain.
Florence was heard saying excitedly to his wife.
But tell you know they've got a dCdo mere.
and live one. too. Steinberger told M so: and
I've come over here to see the bird" Mrs. Flor
ence scoffe,i at the idea later. when the two
IN %ssh C1 'ss %h 5af dfGs Gh
died down To samoan pigeon, distant and
very diminutixe Teiatiye Of the old-time man;
most detected mien, while Mrs. Florence had
triumphant "l-to!d-you-so" ai~.
SteinbergeT's exhaustive reTDr' upon the char.
actcr Of the people Of samoa and the wonderful
commercial resources uf the islands. together
Of the United states this gem II the S5uth
Pacific. led ~ a very general discussion of the
subject OF snneIaii?1: congr,ISs t'ok the whole
action which led TO a refusal to take advantage
OF the offer.
Under date OF Dec. IL . 1874. Col Steinbc-ger
was again commissioned by Gen. Grant To pro-
coed TO samoa. He was provided with letter
from the President to the Taimua and Faipule.
He also took with him numerous presents to the
samoan people consisting Of guns, nags, cloth
ing, &c, furnished for the purpose hy the War
Francisco in February. $50 on board the l ;.
steamer Pensacola. and was landed at Apia
amid the booming OF the PensacOlas cannon
and with other huEors.
While he had been waiting for n decision a. to
wnetner ne was again To he sent 10 samoa DN
the Government. he took steps TO forttfy his po-
sition there by All alliance with one OF the most
powerful influences in Samoa. During his first
visit he learned that the house of GOddefroy
Co. OF Hamburg held almost exclusive control
of the valuable, export trade Of the ISLANDS, the
German Consul at Apia being member OI the
firm. and the house having branches at New
York, Baltimore, and san Francisco. Their ex-
millions OF dollars annually. He went TO Ham.
burg and entered into an agreement with GO6dC
froy & Co., which was later made the basis OF
htVN he
mics at Samoa. The agreement provided
that he was to set up fixed and
and was to receive the earnest cooperation OF
the firm in this regard ioddcfroy, d Co
man empire. after the United States had recos-
nized the samoan Government. to have Il
recognized by the German Government. There
10 be adopted by the samoan Government as to
all matters affecting the interests Of the firm in
trade and commerce. and it was agreed that all
taxes. fines. &c.. laid upon the Samosns. and TO
be paid to the samoan Government in the pro-
ducts OF the islands, should be sold exclusive
ly to Goddefroy & Co. at a stipulated sum.
Col. Steinberger was to exercise his in
fuence with the chiefs to settle all land claims
Goddefroy Il Co. with the Samoan people. and
the firm was to be rlnde the national banking
the money. lDe In return col % was s't To
receive share OF & the profits profits The rm ad-
a small schooner at San Francisco. called the
Peerless. At Samoa he mounted it with hOwit-
zers and small guns. presented by this Govern
ment to the Samoans, and used IL as u miniature
ship OF war in sailing about the islands while
Col Stelnberger made another agreement
with John II. Is. Latrobe, Sr., OF Baltimore; BY
u Latrobe was 10 proceed 10 Samoa and aid the
Colonel in his work there and was Ia have the
next best office at hand under the proposed new
Government, after the Colonel had been pro-
$4,000. the amount OF expense already y incurred
by steinberger, and was 10 share with him all
OF the venture. Latrobe afterward figured as
commander OF the military forces OF Samoa un-
Col Steinberger's return to Samoa was hailed
with joy by the natives. He at once, with char
aGteris,ic energy. began 70 put into effect he The
trst step was 10 effect the subjection OF certain
chiefs who had been Influenced TO hold of from
joining the confederation by some white men
who had begun to fear the power and influence
Of the American. A new Constitution was pro-
muIgsted snaHTging the ssGpe Of he si GoysTn- ,
lister. NalietOa, the most powerful chief OF the
islands, was selected as King, and SteinOerger
OF a dictator. With the absolute devotion
Of all the leading chiefs and OF the King
have now begun his reign. lie seems 10 have
been actuated by desire to do justice 10 the in
terests OF the samoans and protect them from
up to his advent at the islands had had things
pretty much their own way, save Tor the feeble
opposition the missionaries were able 10 offer.
He made strict laws regarding the sale and USE
of liquor, put a stop to many open immoral
practices, and instituted courts for the trial OF
offenders, he being Chic: Justice OF the country
In addition 10 Prime Minister. He stood between
the Samoans and the white residents in the
efforts made by the latter 10 have illegal land
sales ratified, and brought about condition Of
peace and order which has since received the
unstinted praise OF more than one impartial
writer of the events OF that time
But there soon began tO be signs OF a coming
storm, and Influences were already at work tO
put a stop 10 his further power over the Samoan
people. The United states Consul was one ;. ;.
Poster. He made series Of petty attack; on
Steinberger. He was seconded by the English
Consul, who was alarmed at the growing power
OF Steinberger. and saw the power OF England
and her chances for some day gaining control Of
this valuable group slipping away. SteinbsTger
had also aroused missionary opposition. Then.
too, soon after becoming Prime Minister, he
found that his views as 10 the administration
OF affairs and those of Goddefroy q Go. did not
agree, which led practically 10 an abrogatiOn OF
the contract above referred To. Thereafter he
had only the lukewarm support Of the German
Consul. the large interests Of the firm leaving
them In "A position where they feared 10 oppose
him openly. All these influences were combined
against him.
Under date OF Oct. 30, 1872, S;einberger, as
Premier, notified Secretary Fish that the Sa-
moan Government had sent To the United