The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-04
A KING AT S4S.6O A MONTH.
ERoUREEs OF MALIEToA, LATE MON
ARCH OF SAMOA.

A Sovereign without Power or Much Pay
His Palace Built from the Sale of Junk
-Couidh't Get Credit at the shops-so-
cihbility In Private Life-His Ambitions.
Maliotoa Laupepa. although a monarch. was
most inconspicuous figure in Apia at every
period OF his troubled life, now ended. He was
aking. one OF tho small royalties OF the world,
moro inohensive than many rulers by right d.
vine that might be mentioned; certainly as
useful rs some pulssant lords; by no means
o1pensively ornamental.
In his later reign. under tho peaceful COM
HAct OF the Berlin General act OF 1889, it was
dlhlcult to discover just what the royal duties
o. Malietoa were supposed to be. He was the
1Ing, that much was certain and clear, for It
vas expressly so stipulated in the treaty. But
ehe treaty may be read from one end to the
osher without It's shedding any light on the i'm
pOrtant question of what the King was to do In
me Performance Of royal functions. He could
neither collect nor disburse the revenues Of his
realm the treaty devolved that duty on n for
eign oficial. to be nominated to the King bytF
three great power OF America, Great Britain.
Germany. He and his advisers could enact
almost any sort Of legislation not In conflict
with the treaty. but before II could go into
eject It had to be submitted to the board OF
Vhe three Consuls for the determination OF It's
accord with the treaty. There was no pro-
vision In that act that his subjects should obey
him, and the Consuls saw to It that he was
left without means to enforce obedience.
There was always rebellion simmerinR some
where. Twice it boiled over after the treaty
went into effect. just as 1t had done many times
before the passage OF that regenerating docu-
E1ent. Failing to find that he was authorized
or allowed to do anything. Malietoa settled
back and did nothing. 1t accorded with the
bent Of a disposition little fitted to bear the
Oroubles which had been his lot for years. After
his return from his grievous exile he laid aside
all claim to the throne. and was himself the
Foremost advocate Of his great rival. Matafa,
and brought his influence to bear to unite all
Samoa on that chief. Then came the treaty
which dragged him from his chosen retirement
ana set him against his will on a throne where
he had learned to expect nothing but trouble.
The treaty decided that he should be King Of
Samoa, but it neglected to state what the King
should do or what should be done to him be-
yond the payment Of a salary. So he settled
himself back and was King; he was old and
worn. ~listless. and without ambition; he was
Just plain King, and made up his mind to take
what came.
1t was q royalty devoid Of pomp and cere-
mony. To be sure a ceremonial courtesy OF his
people provided some expression Of reverence
for the kingly state. certain attitudes, certain
phrases to be spoken before him. 1t was a
monarchy without a visible throne; it had no
tangible sceptre. there was no orb OF power, no
flaming sword of justice. There would have
been no palace other than a grass hut had it
not been for the generosity OF a republic, which
gave tho King the wrecks of the Trenton and
Vandaiia as they lay in Apia harbor after the
hurricane. The money realized from the sale
of the co pper in these hulks was Just enough
TO pay Tor the building OF q cottage OF boards
ThhRH Nyara fimnQ In Maliotnn'p r0valfU pvhon
things were different. Those who, care to delve
among the old papers in which diplomacy re-
earlier rule may find the impression OF a broad
great seal Of the Kingdom and may read the
world Just who was who in that pretentious at
The dodgers. for they were nothing more. were
N Samoan for home consumption: in French.
wee were ls soE!s%RRfy nj @a fRsft t. All al bofsntasss Of Tf tss
globe, THOUGH this was years ago and great
stray S COPY Syou q t these ST haRndB 81 s'nq may sn0n yet
fagn lon mp af from an a6 1ims t so t 1t%s n SAMOAN apia;
wife or daughter or some other OF his women
d oi th shs w snRafs % Rrnetl Sm sae eG Sis ereSen ethds
and as a proof that, he was a trustworthy per-
son son he ne, pfodu Sifh a Ere French fh copy tpc of the lr6{ circular Gda
tained his name In the list Of the royal Cabinet:
0arde des sceaux > i" . sapolu.
Yet he was just as important a parsonage as
Sw~asherwoman's tout as when he figured in
Ff Hs q t Gq e SG %on slTsS'qMli alietoa made no at
tempt to revive such forms. To tell the truth
ne had not the money 70 be that kind Of King.
and set aside $4,000 for his yearly salary, which
had ,d tH BE- e. PAID fhd before before any MONEYS m became anne
nnSi,sSi Pr res Sae o and gave @oy him SS.66o a a y 1lsp
as q first charge on the municipal revenues.
iftisls sR %Se t RTSEyissfi91p , 6o R9y ye sRf IN SH q I tErs1ffP From on
a total revenue Of little more than $20;O0O. It
along on sTT. sSaJlpa! Year. EVEN that E was later lat TR Reid
ensstSird iR cash ii and twos Il in "a . book y
balance, in the royal treasury until such time
certain unpopular poll tax Of 81 a year on
eyefF * m siIow wSmsn 81 aR P{s infant iastI IN 5d STms e. s Tbis
month. Then a President made a discovery. a
financial flash OF genius. Accounts are kept IN
sSa ostn IN american caie 81 ao collars and nnd cents sixno While
called by the names Of the American coin they
SPSGrG soid ii P Pss sRops When the ihhlsfis are co R0d dSes
sTchangsd sterling. This sapient President is
tie poll tax s.A wShiiichf" hi there @O Is no e'' itlkaeifihoooodd
p thelF ever doing. they would R%y Il
d King in cd the m9n sans way Tib e I e T ,Ga La save ASK 8;
e asd Rif sdr'if e4 $5d e'SfS buy Rs got FyfEG5' sP %SPsR ns
the King had run into debt 1t would have been
hard to. tell what the result would be. That
possibility was forestalled. The King can do
no wrong in other monarchies; In Samoa the
King cannot become a debtor. A law was
to the monarch. and the forfeiture OF their lit
tie accounts Is only the first penalty of the vlo-
lAtion of the law.
Under such circumstances King Malietoa
preferred a retired life. as retired as was pos
S M,h1,c IN y 4 pia Ss II w II IN SAMOA SNery.hiFHE e was vs. sS q Ser ~
rare figure on the beach road Of Apia. The
chiefs from Mulinuu, members Of the Govern
ment, the clouted aristocracy OF the court, they
are forever to be seen swaggerlng along the
road, barefooted and larded with cocoanut Oil.
heavily scented ylang-ylang and fra1gipanni
which grow in every hedge. 1t is a frequent
ing along with his attendants dawdllng behind.
ownership OF the earth made manifest in every
Glence. Not so with the King: Hskept to him