The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-17
The Troubles OF Tonga.

The recent tldings from Nukualofa excite
an Interest not only because our country
has treaty with the Tonga Islands, and
because OF their proximity TO Samoa, but
also and more particularly because thcy are
one VI the very few groups in the Pacific
that have thus far been preserved from the
absorption which European powers have
applied to most OF them.
The return OF tho Rev. SHIRLEY WAL
DEMAR BAKER to power and place in the
islands Is an important event TO the archi-
pelago. 1t has been accompanied also by
an interesting incident. King GEORGE II.
having deposed TUKUAHo. who had been
Premier under both him and his grand
father. one OF the irate dismissed Ministers
fired three shots at the monarch as the
latter passed him in boat; but the
next day, on cooler reflection, he called upon
the King at his palace and made an apol
ogy for this breach OF etiquette, which his
Majesty Rraclously and amiably accepted.
thus closing the incident. This indicates
high-water mark in South Sea magnauimity
and polteness.
Premier BAKERS exits and entrances
seem fated to DO sensational. About the
time our BAKER-BATEs treaty with Tonga
was submitted to the Senate for ratl fication,
he also was fired upon. while driving out
with his son and his daughter. and the latter
was wounded. The Premier attributed the
attack to the Vaccinations OF a certain mis-
sionary. who retorted that IL was due rather
to BAKERS tyranny. Old King GEORGE /.
stood by his Premier and condemned some
OF his enemies to death, and had others
fioggcd. The result was that BAKER had to
barrlcade himself in the palace to escape
from the Infatuated natives. and that Brit
ish gunboat. hurrying to Nukualofa, re-
moved him from office under orders from Sir
JOHN THURsToN. the Governor OF Fiji.
What Is chiefly suggested, therefore. by
the recent news. is not SO much the resort
once more to the shotgun in Tonga, with
view to expressing dissatisfaction at
the ruling powers. nor even the anna
bility Of the young King, who Is not yet
twenty years old. but the possibility OF
mcFe trouble upon the return OF Mr..
BAKER to power. He dsplaces native
as Premier. and must also have many other
enemies. Originally sent out from England
by the Missionary Society. lie threw Off its
control to found the Free and Independent
Church OF Tonga. after having worked him.
BOIL inlo tuo pOolIlOh VI tdNisct W tHo Olu
King. who aided him in this enterprise.
Hence bitter dissensions arose In the islands.
But the old sources Of controversy may
since have disappeared. Mr.. BAKER. no
doubt. has many friends among the intluen-
tial natives. and, indeed. the King would
otherwise hardly venture to call him again
to office. Tonga has its Legislature. COM
posed half OF hereditary nobility and half
Of members chosen by the people. so that
the popular will has at least n chance to
make itself known. What chiefly interests
us in its welfare is, as We have said.
that 1t Is ono OF the few remaining autono-
nous groups In the Pacific. The Germans
secured treaty OF trade and friendship
with 1t in 1876; Great Britain's followed
in 1879. and ours in 1888. We never have
had a consular officer at Nukualofa, for our
commerce there is trivial compared with
that OF Great Britain VI Germany. and
even less than that OF France. But on gen.
eral principles we desire that Tonga should
remain independent OF European control.
and that 1t should not go through an ex-
perience like that OF Samoa.