Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-22
THE TWO AMERICANS N ana.
Mr. Robert Louis Sisvsnssn's Rather Serious
Charges Against Them.

about recent occurrences in Samoa are un-
satisfactory in many respects. The accu-
sations brought by Mr.. Robert Louis Stew
enson, the popular novelist, against the
American vice consul general, who he de-
scribes as a member of the "Consular Tri.
umvirate" which, he says, governs Samoa,
and Chief Justice Ide, the Anne rican, who
is supposed to exercise plenipotentiary au-
thority there, are of serious kind.
| He accuses the former of sharing in the
responsibility for the horrible barbarities,
including those Of the dead hunters,
which were practiced during the rebellion
that has been suppressed, but may break
out sgain at any time, and which we're per-
petrated by native troops in the service of
the King, who is the nominal ruler OF
Samoa under the treaty powers. Accord
ing to the latest missive of Mr.. Stevenson,
"the three consuls" who are the object of
his attack, and who repre- sent England,
Germany and the United States, constantly
act together in the execution of schemes
that are disgraceful to civilization. He de-
clares that the consuls, who are the Kings
keepers, employed barbarous hands in the
war upon the rebels, and ''the three consuls
winked."
He declares that when the head hunters
presented to the King the heads of the girls
whom they had slain, ''the three consuls
unanimously winked" at the ceremony. In
his arraignment of "the three consuls" he
txhausts the language of vituperation and
scorn, and after giving lurid account of
| the deeds perpetrated at Manono, he ex-
consular triumvirate!"
Dat - .k.A l.
partment do not coincide with the account
given by Mr.. Stevenson. In so far as
American influence has existed al Apia, it
has been exercised for the prevention of the
revolving practices which prevail in Samoan
warfare. 1t has naturally been the desire
of the American representative there to CO.
operate with the representatives of the
other two civilized powers and, in the
carrying out of his instructions, the vice
consul general frequently rendered humane
services which were regarded by the Eng
lish and Germans as Improbable or even.
undesirable.
1t never has been in the power of any
officer of the American government there
to issue public orders upon his own respon-
sibility; and any purpose he might enter
tain as liable to be overruled at any time
by the other two members of the so-called
consular triumvirate. Besides in the event
of war some of the natives are sure to in
dulge in many savage practice, including
that of head hunting, despite all orders of
the powers to the contrary.
As for Chief Justice Ide, it must be re-
membered that, while he is an American
he does not act under the exclusive jurisdic-
tion of the United States, and that he can
exercise only such measure of authority as
has been granted to him by the three treaty
powers of which he is the agent. 1t must
be said that for nearly year past he has
striven with all his energy to establish
order in Samoa. When hostlites were
about to begin this year, he secured the
passage of an ordnance through the
House of Faipule prohibiting the
practice of head hunting in the field and in
flicting severe penalties upon any one guilty
of it. He also issued an address to the
chiefs on the subject, solemnly warning
them against the violation Of the new ordi-
nance.
When, at the close of the fighting, he as
certained that there had been head hunting
during its progress, he made very brave
effort to carry out his purpose of Furnishing
the offenders; but that purpose was
thwarted by the English and German con-
suls. They denied that, under the treaty,
he possessed the power to enforce an ordi-
nance of the kind and he was finally COM
PEELED to accept the terms of the treaty un-
der which his authority is defined and lin
tied. But the chief justice has set out to
gain an object, and he will surely succeed
in gaining it if he shall remain in office.
1t is very unfair of Mr.. Stevenson to
speak as he has spoken of Chief Justice
Ide. 1t is very unfair of him to say that
any American functionary in Samoa has
ever joined the two European consuls in
winking at practices which can be sup
pressed only through the united action of
the treaty powers.
The recent report from Samoa that Mr..
Stevenson has secured a supply of arms
and ammunition for self-defence is anus
ing. 1t may be that he intends to Join the
followers of his old friend ex King Mataafa,
now in exile. This would certainly be an
incident more romantic than any in his
novels, especially if he should become the
leader Of another revolt in the interest of
the discrowned monarch, old Mataafa, who,
bent with grief, sits in solitude upon the
"coral reef sunk to the gunwale in the
ocean" to which he has been banished by