The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-22

scontinued from First Page.)
withdrew from Mulimnd. and on the
14th of November Mataafa was eject
ed King, and Faalata was chosen as
his successor.
at this point the Chief Justice de-
clares that the Consuls should nave
acted. and have recognized Malaria as
the lawful King of the islands, as there
was then no known opposition Tor some
four or five days, when the lawyers
protested in the Supreme Court that the
election had net taken place according
to Sam oan custom, and that their can
didate was the lawful successor to his
father ETC., etc
AT this time, and in fact much
earlier, il is said that some OF the
members of the London. Mission Society
undertook a quiet but vigorous cam
paign against Mataafa, because OF the
fact that he is 4 Catholic, about 900
OF the $4,000 of these people being OF
that faith.
Section g. Article III. of the Berlin
General Act reads as follows: IN
case any question shall hereafter arise
in Samoa respecting the rightful elec-
ton or appointment of King or of any
other chief claiming authority over the
islands, or respecting the validity 81
the Powers which the King or any
chief may claim in the exercise of this
Office such question shall not lead to
war. but shall be presented for decis-
ion to the Chief Justice of Samoa, who
shall decide it in writing, conformably
to the provisions of this Act, and to the
laws and customs of Samoa not in con-
flict Herewith and the signatory Gov
ernments will accept and abide by such
decision
The protest of the TanuTamasese
party was accepted, and the Mataafa
party notified Every effort was made
by the latter to show their strength and
the weakness of the other side to the
Chief Justice. so that he would see how
hopelessly beaten the weaker side was.
A number of the foreign residents en-
deavored to point out how trifling the
opposition was, and how it was only
kept together by the lawyers. The
Mataafa people, who occupied Mulimni
(the capitaD gave a feast and paraded
past the Chief Justice $500 armed
warriors. whom they had gathered in
few day. They challenged the Tanu-
Tamasese party to show anything like
this force but though they were doing
all they could to muster men in Apia,
they were unable to make even a re-
spectacle showing.
Shortly after this Mataafa was
anointed and proclaimed King in the
public square at Mulimni, in the pres
ence of very large gathering of peo-
pie. Replying to the compliment ary
speeches that We're made to him, he
stated that he accepted the Office Only
to please the people, he personally
had no ambition to be King of Samoa. As
they had freely chosen him. he would
take up the reins of Government as soon
as the treaty Powers had confirmed their
choice, and he should always do his best
10 bring about that harmony and good
feeling between the whites and his own
people that always ought to exist.
A few days later, in native house not
invested with a number of titles and
anointed by some inferior chiefs of his
following.
Justice Chambers. against the advice of
people whose opinions should have had
weight with him. decided to have trial
in open court instead of making careful
Inquiries from all sides. and deciding
after the result of these had fixed hi:;
conclusions. Before proceeding with the
trial he drew up an agreement, which he
wanted both sides to sign binding them
to abide by his decision when rendered;
and at the same time he 1ntliIlatc1 That
the lawyers might be introduced into the
case.
riie Mataafa party. it appears, had no
objection TO fair trial of matter in
which all parties concerned were Sa-
means. but. they did not believe in
having lawyers NEEDLE with their affairs
and as they should not employ one, they
objected to the other side having any.
The Mataafa party thought they had
good reasons to suspect that the Chief
Justice would favor the opinions of the
Mission party If it were possible, and
the agreement was declined. The Tanu-
Tamasese party were ready to accept
anything, and signed without hesitation.
AT this point in the dispute the Chief
that both sides count their forces in his
presence. and thus settle in one day
which was the larger party, for the Tanu-
TamaSese kept claiming to have fully. as
large following as Mataafa. This prop
osition was accepted by the Mataafaites
but declined by the lawyers.
Finally the Chief Justice ordered both
parties to appear in his court the
18th of December, and declared that on
the Goth he would render his decision. On
the opening of the court he again de-
manded that poth parties sign his agree
ment. but met with a firm refusal from
the Mataafa chiefs. among whom were
the late King Malietoa- On the one
side the whole of Samoa was repre-
scented by the highest chiefs in the land
on the other a few lesser chiefs mostly
from the district surrounding Apia.
At the last moment the Mataafa chiefs
has been a number of years in Samoa
and who had taken great pains to find
out the true situation. to accept of the
services of a Mr.. Won Bulow. who knew