The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-22
WAR OF THE RIVAL KINGS.
Continued from Seventh Page.)

endangered, this statement was hardly
apropOs. The President replied that by
an unforeseen revolution, the people of
Samoa had deposed the chief justice for
rendering an illegal decision. Under the
treaty. when that high office became va
can't from any cause whatsoever, he (the
PresidenD was the authorized successor.
AS matters stood he was the real acting
chief justice and he had a right to refuse
to give up the keys of the court to any
one. If the British consul chose he might
use force 10 open the building. The cap
tain of the Fake, who was also present,
counseled moderation. The American con-
sui said nothing. but, in reply to a question
from the President, Mr.. Maxse, declared
that his colleague was acting with him.
Mr.. Osborn did not deny nor did he affirm
this in tones loud enough to be heard by
people within fifteen feet of him.
The Court Re-Opened.
A great show was made of protecting
American interests. After which the ma
rines were called and the door was forced
Mr. Maxse called on those assembled to
give three cheers for the chief justice
The response was feeble. The whole party
then, entered the buildings Mr.. Chambers
emerged directly and called out "Sauia
Sauia," Come here, Come here the court
is now i'll session. He entered the build
ing again. formally opened the court, and
formally closed it after thanking Consul
Maxse for his gallant action.
Dr. Raffel, from the veranda of the
building, declared that he was at present
the only chief justice in Samoa. The
German consul general said that he coin
cided with everything that DIR. Raffel had
said-that provisional government had
been established by all of them only a
few days ago, for the purpose of bringing
some sort of order out of the present con-
fusion; that the provisional government
first act was TO officially close the court
and protect its records. He saw nothing
strange in this. II was very evident that
Mr.. Chambers was no longer chief justice
of Samoa. the people of which country hav-
ing overthrown his decision and his court
at the same time; therefore, DR.. Ra1fel
had Tightfully under the treaty
succeeded to the office. There was
no occasion for the present demonstration
of force, or denial of the Presidents re-
quest for a conference first. In fact 1t
had been for many years understood that
force was never to be applied in Samoa
unless all the representatives of the Pow
ers were UNANIMOUSLY agreed on the mat
ter, and in this case he entirely disagreed.
He thought that the provisional govern
ment should have much better treatment,
help it could get. The German consul,
after declaring that no amount of oratory
on either side would settle the matter,
called for three cheers for President Raffel,
which were given.
Both factions dispersed, and MIR. Cham
bers was again escorted aboard the war
ship by the marines, Consul Osborn going
with him.
During the discussion on the veranda of
the court house the British consul had
claimed that the provisional government
had grossly insulted the British flag, for
which it should be held responsible. The
President replied that when the provision
al government took possession no flag was
flying, and, in fact, the British flag had
been withdrawn two days before.
Since The Sth inst, joint proclamation
has been issued by the British and Ameri-
can consuls and another by Mr. Cham
bers affirming their positions, and on the
10th the German consul also issued his
pronunciamento taking opposite grounds.
Since then the town has assumed a very
quiet aspect. many of it's Inhabitants be-
ing at present distributed in different
parts of the group. No further trouble is
anticipated.