Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-12-08
SAMOA Asp ITS eovrRsMrSr.
Combined Military Force Necessary Q,
Preserve Peace.

Combined Military Force Necessary TO
Preserve Peace.
In my last annual message, referred
briefly 10 the unsatisfactory state Of
affairs i'm Samoa under the operation
OF the Berlin treaty as signally Illus
trating the impollcy OF entangiine al
liances with foreign powers. and on
May .. 1894. in response to resolution
of the senate. l sent a special message
and document 10 that body on the same
subject. which emphasized my previous
~ expressed opinions Later occur
rences and correspondence in regard to
them, which will be laid before con-
gress, further demonstrates that the
government which was devised by the
three powers and forced upon them
against their inveterate hostility, can
be maintained only by the continued
presence OF military force and at no
small sacrifice of life and treasure. The
suppression OF the Mataafa insurrec-
ton by the powers and subsequent
banishment of the leader and IL other
chiefs as recited In my last message
did not bring lasting peace to the
islands. Formidable uprisings con-
tinued and finally a rebellion broke out
In the capital island, Upolula. headed by
Aana. In the western district by the
younger Tamasese and inatua, in the
eastern district by other leaders. The
insurgents ravaged the country ant
fought the government troops up 10
the very doors of Apia The king again
appealed to the powers for help and
the combined British and German ma
val forces reduced the Atuans TO an
qtihfaaffAfr NJ hA.
out considerable loss to the natives
A few days later. Tamasese and his
aGherents, fearing the ships and the
marines. professed submission. The re.
ports received from our agent at Apia
do not Justify the belief that the peace
thus brought about will be of long du-
ration IL Is their conviction that the
natives are at heart hostile 10 the pres
ent government: that such OF them as
profess loyalty TO IL do so from fear Of
the powers and that II would speedily
go TO pieces IL the warships were with
drawn.
In reporting 10 this government on
the unsatisfactory situation since the
suppression of the late revolt by foreign
armed forces. the German consul al
Apia stated that the idea that peace
viii be lasting In hardly TO be presumed.
The lesson given by the firing on the
Atua was not sufficiently sharp and
incisive TO leave a lasting impression
on the forgetful Samoan temperament,
IN fact conditions are existing which
show that peace win not last and If
not seriously intended. Malietoa, the
king. and his chiefs are convinced that
the departure of the warships win be a
signal for renewal of the war. Tho
that the representatives
OF the villages of all the districts which |
were opposed to the government have
withdrawn TO Atua TO hold
and that both Atua and
Aana have forbidden the inhabitants |
of those districts which fought on the |
side OF the government TO return TO |
their villages and have already partly |
burned down the latter, Indicates |
that a real Cancellation OF the parties Ia |
sim far OF. In note OF the 10th ulti- |
mo, enclosing copy of that report for |
the information of this government. |
the German ambassador said: .The |
of the report awakened In |
the imperial government apprehension |
that under the existing circumstances |
the peace concluded with the rebels |
will AFFORD no assurance OF a lasting
restoration Of tranquility In the ISL |
ands."
The present government has utterly |
failed to correct. II indeed 1t has not |
aggravated. the very evils II was in |
tended TO prevent. IL has not stimulat- |
ed our commerce with the islands. Our
In it's establishment |
against the wishes or the natives was |
In plain defiance Of the conservative |
teachings and warnings of the wise |
and patriotic men who laid the foun- |
dations Of our free institutions, and i |
invite an expression of the Judgment |
OF congress on the propriety of steps |
being taken by the government look |
ing 20 the withdrawal from its engage |
ments with the other powers on some |
terms. not prejudiciai 20 any
OF our existing rights.