Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-28

ter signed by the late King Malietoa
affecting the right to export coal. The
letter was the property Of the English
man, and had been RETAINED unlaw-
fully by Raifel, the court decided. After
vain protest II was returned. The
death Of the king followed. and the silt
uation II partially explained IN the
following extract from one OF my
brothers letters
In matters Of judicial affaira my
Jurisdiction goes 20 the extent OF set
thing political differences between the
chiefs OF the different districts. and
even to deciding WIN shall be chief
among them. and the treaty requires
that In matters Of this character ! am
To lie guided by samoan customs. which
are about ms different aud inscrutiblc
10 the ordinary humnn from American
ns Egyptian hicroglyphics. I've often
thought what Kind of q Job would
have on my hands " the King should
,,c. for the treaty requires that the
chief Justice shall determine by these
same customs who his successor should
he. Heretofore the natives have al
ways determined the successor by war.
and In ancient days, tradition tells W..
to successful nAplrant made feast OF
his defeated rival. Fortunately. the
treaty binds the three foreign govern
mcnts to uphold and enforce the dccis-
ion NJ the chief court
when the matter OF succession came
before the court the hand of Dcrmany
was shown In the conduct of certain
Of the district chiefs belonging 20 Ma.
taafa's band one Of them was elected
from the court. and followed his already
hostile action with threats upon the
life ~ the chief Justice. That occurred
on December 2sid. and that nien'
Hnnii band 81 Maiietoa Tanus men
surrounded the house Of the chief JUS
tice with n volunteer guard, which re-
manned there until the next day. when
the English and United states govern-
mentr holsted their fngs over the judi
ciai residence and Issued proclamationH
to the effect that the chief Justice was
under their protection.
infnntion. but, merely sent to the chief
Justice German mar. accompanied by
a note saying that he might raise the
iiag " he wanted to. but Germany
would issue no proclamation. Justice
Chambers returned the nag without
displaying II. and with " sent n note TO
the Bcrmnn consul saving That u"
would complain Ca Berlin unless Ger
many give him tho protection TO which
he was entitled. The proclamation was
not issued ny Germany. ana that gov.
eminent proved that. TO say the least
Of a. she was not with the peace party.
My brother has led me to believe that
the moral support thus given to Ma
tanfa prccipitnt.d u war that might. by
n united effort ON the part ~ the Tor
ciRn powers. have been aNcfted.
This fnct that all three ~ the for
oign powers have issued proclnmationn
confirming tho right Of Mntanfa 90 the
throne. now that he has defeated Malic-
toa Tnnu. his only rival. l take TO be
only q peace measure. The victorious
eomhntant was on the throne prior To
the rather brief reign Of the late King,
but was dethroncd and hani-hed Go one
Of the German islands In the South
Seas. lie was released. however, and
was returning 60 samoa ON German
war vessel when the late Mnlictoa died.
"uniesr the three powers sustain the
decision of the chief Justice they VIII
b" violating the provisions OF the
treaty, hut na u temporary measure
whereby peace can he established TO
max. way Tor the enthroning OF the
righ,fui sovereign, the last proclama-
tons are lawful.
'srhe customs by which the right of
succearion N decided are not told def
nitely In the chief justices letters. but
he has said that hereditary right have
q good deal 10 do with II. nnd that be-
fore the king can rule he must be elect
ed The candidate before he can be
elected must have certain representa-.
tlon from AMONG the district tribes. aud
this fact accounts for wars that have
always preceded the election OF every
king that their history tells OF.
"Gcrmnny seeks by any means ut NIL
Ia get control 81 the commerce OF the
Islands. and II seeking N confinc Amer
lean interests to thu Island of pago
raEo. which we now hold a. n naval
conlfng station. Chr would retain AplR
for herself and rrl.gnte England to n
third island. which N larger but not NO
rich aa that on which Apia N located.
NY that means Germany would AT
all tunes, N successful In carrying out
this plan. he In direct touch with the
government. which would be located At
Aria. and, no matter Of what form IL
might be, would undoubtedly control H.
The commercial interests. being cen-
tered there also, would Just as certain
IS be controlled by her. 10 the detrl-
mcnt OF her English and American COM
pctitorH The other two powers dis
ccrncd the sohem" ipng aEo and would
not accedc Ia u. The protective gov
eminent will be- maintained as long as
n necessary, and the result. as Ear ~
concerns tho samoanH. cannot be fore
told.
''Thc suit IL which the chief Justice
rendered the decision against RafIel
wnn nm Instance OF the means which
the German residents Of Apin employ
60 gain their coveted supremacy. The
owner OF the gfunt from Mallctoa was
H. ~. Gurr n trader The paper had
been approved by the three foreign
conruls, whom Rnffei. according 10 a
statement published Ia the samoan
Weekly Herald. asked TO sec the orlgl-
nal In order that he might compare n
with "a copy OF II that he already had.
He kept the original and was getting
ready To ururp the grant contained IN
II when tho decision was rendered
against him.
IL II openly said In Apia that the
Germans made "a plot To restore Ma
tanfa. and that they exert strong IN
nuence over him. Every act of theirs
since the war for the throne began has
tended to prove that belief
THE last 0fficlm act OF MIR. Cleveland
.U Nlu..A A Ikug s.ls. tH. ..t.N.su..Nl. s.