News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1899-02-15


possession, and with the Philippines
10 the Western Pacific under our con-
troll, our country will be in thestrong-
est position to take its fair and just
part in the stupendous development
now in progress in the Pacific Ocean,
its islands and encOmpassing lands.
Under the Berlin Treaty, Maletoa
Laupepa was brought back from
exile in 1887 and reinstated as King.
In 1898 a small rebellion occurred,
with Mataafa at its head. The lat
ter, having been defeated, was de-
ported to the Marshall Islands, where
he remained under German custu-
dams until 1898. He was there
treated with great kindness aud con-
sideration, and doubtless became at
tached to his new associates and
quite probably somewhat under Ger
man influence. A few months ago,
the Powers, whose prisoner he was
decided that his punishment had
been sufficient, and that he might
safely be allowed to return to Samoa,
upon his solemn and no doubt SER
ious promises to abstain from all dis
turbances and to yield obedience to
the Consuls. Unfortunately MaIietoa
LauDepa ended his troubled reign by
death near the time of Mataafa's re-
turn. Instantly, by common &C.
claim, Mataafa was put forward as
successor. 1t was not necessary for
him to take any action himself. He
bad the support of the Catholics, and
of the Tumua party, and of theg
mass of SamOans who admired his
character and standing and sympa-
thized with his long exile. He is a
man OF commanding presence, ruI-
er's qualities, gracious manners, and
fitted to be King of his people. One
of the rival candidates was Tamasese,
son of the old German puppet, King
Tamasese. He withdrew his claims,
so Tar as he had any, in favor of Mali
etOa Tanu, the remaining cOmpeti-
tor. The latter is the son of the de-
ceased King Maletoa Laupepa, and
is a mere boy, still in school, under
missionary control, utterly incapable
OF steering the native canoe of State
through the turbulent waters of Sa-
moan politics. The treaty provides
that in case of disputed election to
the throne, the Chief Justice shall de-
eide. He decided in favor Of Malietoa
Tanu, holding Mataafa to be dis
qualified under the treaty. AS the
treaty makes no such disquahfica-
ton, the decision was probably based
upon some remarks in the protocols
indicating that in 1889, when the ne
gotlatiOns were going on, Germany
objected to Mataata, and instead
consented to the return of Malietoa.
The Chief Justice, Hon. W. L. Cham
bers, who is an upright and tair man,
perhaps misapplied things said years
ago, not now applicable, and not in
the treaty. But there was the deci-
sion, rendered on the last dav of De-
CEN Der, and the Court had iurisd~e1
ton. But before New Years daV
was done, Malietoa Tanu was in hid
ing, Tamasese in boat, lying under
the sides Of the British warship" Por-
poise," and all the machinery of the
native government in the hands of
the adherent5 of Mataafa. The Chief
Justice retired to the PorpOise, and
then the German officials declared
his office vacant, apparently upon
the ground that he had deserted Sa-
moa and the three powers and gone
to England" They therefore installed
the German President as Chief JUS
ticP, he being authorized by the treaty
to act in case of a vacancy. These
latter proceedings were manif4stly
unlawful and will doubtless be dis
avowed by the German Government.
The treaty furnishes the full measure
of the rights of all, and is our com
plete safeguard in this episode. 1t
should, however, be remem bered that
there are almost always two sides t.
every controversy, and we have not
yet heard Consul Roses. He is a
man of large experience in the Ger
man Foreign Office and in impor-
tAnt stations abroad, and Of mature
age and ability. Judgment NAV we'll
hp suspe nded until W. have all the
facts, and we can rest assured that
President Mckinley, without haste
or discretion, will eventually cause
all our rights and those of the Sa-
moan people and of the Supreme
Court under the treaty to be made
secure. II German officials in Samoa
exceeded their rights, as now seems
quite clear, their acts will be dis
avowed and they will be recalled.
Let the treaty stand. Let us hold
fast to what so many years of diplo-
macy have secured. Amend it so as
to remedy defects which experience
has demonstrated, but hold on to it.
If the engine does not always work
smoothly this is no good reason in
maritime law for scut thing the ship or
throwing the cargo overheard.
ST. Johnsbury, vt.
In 1890 there were only 100 news
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