New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-21
EX-CHIEF JUSTICE IDE's VIEWS.

FRIENDLY WORDS FOR MATAAFA-vALUE
! OF SAMOA TO AMERICA INCALCULABLE.
St Johnsbury VT, Jan. 20 Especial. Henry
Ide, formerly Chief Justice Of Samoa, says.
THE recent exciting events in Samoa are very
distressing to me. During my residence Of be-
tween four and five years there I became greatly
attached to the natives who are ordinarily a.
most hospitable polite and picturesque people
formed strong friendship with English, Ger
man and American officers and residents. I am
well acquainted with Chief Justice Chamber1
and the German Consul Rose, who are promi-
nent factors in the existing troubles, and with
Mataafa, Tamasese, Malietoa Tanus and Lue-
tele, prominent Samoans in the controversy.
"Chief Justice Chambers comes from Alabama
and is a just and upright Consul Rose
has had long experience under the German For
eign Office. and is a man Of ability. 1t is to
be regretted that the Chief Justice could not
have found 1t to be his duty to decide In favor
Of Mataafa, who Is the most distinguished Of
living Samoans Of fine presence and kindly
bearing, the choice Of large majority OF the
people. and entitled to sympathy by reason OF
his long exile
Some Incidents bearing upon the Kingship,
notably the expulsion of Luetele. one Of Ma
taafas adherents and one OF the highest chiefs
IN Samoa from the courtroom on the ground
that his bearing was considered disrespectful,
contributed. 1t seems. to inflame passions The
English missionary influence was strongly In
favor OF Malietoa Tanus, son Of the deceased
King who is a mere boy, still under missionary
instruction. Mataafa is Catholic, but has
large Protestant following.
"The division in the Consular Board, Of course.
rendered peace difficult The German Consul
strongly respected Mataafa- I am not aware
that the other two consuls became partisans.
Immediately after the Chief Justice decided In
favor of Malietoa Tanus civil war broke OUT
and Mataafas adherents. being far more
numerous, won victory. destroyed the native
port Of Apia, occupied Mulinuu, the seat Of gov
ernment, and became the de facto native Gov
eminent The Samoan character is such that
all the doubtful seek the winning side, and
Mataafa will apparently for some time have
the great mass of the people as his supporters
While the authority Of the court must be
maintained 1t is highly improbable that the
three Powers will undertake to maintain the
boy Malietoa Tanus in power IN face OF the
determined opposition of the people The action
Of the German Consul and the German presi-
dent Rafael. in selling the courthouse, Is Dased
upon the fact that the Berlin Treaty proVloes
that the president shall exercise the functions Is
of Chief Justice in case OF vacancy, and 1t is
probably claimed that the action OF Chlef JUS
tice Chambers, in going for protection on
BRUSH WaTSnlp, was d uepdii tutS I'm W - 90
to British soil, and application to one OF
the Powers and that thereby vacancy has
been created. It is safe to say that such
claim. under the circumstances. will not be
entertained. 1t is the manifest duty or our
Government to lend immediate aid TO maintain
the treaty That duty has been too long
neglected. No American warship has been IN
Samoan waters since 1892. The English squad
ron there will at once be strengthened from
the Pacific stations The whole atmosphere
there will be cleared without lighting as soon
az England and America appear In force upon
the scene and the hands of our officials Will be
upheld. The treaty is the result OF years or
diplomacy. 1t should be amended TO be mace
workable It's value as giving us our only hold
in the South Pacific is ncalculable. This is
not good year for letting things In the Pacinc
pass to our rivals"