The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-19
FAIR SAMOA RECALLED
PRESENT CONDITIONS A REMINDER
OF OCCURRENCES IN 1894.
The Natives n Gentle People, Who
Would Be Peaceful If Permitted-A
Trustworthy American on Guard.

The present crisis in Samoa recalls various
events which occurred prior to and at the
time of my first visit to those islands in the
month of April, 1894.
There had been an incipient Instruction
a few weeks before, if it can be said that
there ever is or has been time when in
surrection was not pending. in progress or
just suppressed. The people were divided
into two strong factions. Malietoa Lampepa,
the King. had been deposed and Tamasese,
a powerful native chief, was declared King
in his stead No matter what faults MaIie-
toa possessed, and he had his share-he
could muster a multitude Of followers and
supporters, an army of relatives and
friends. The real leader however, was
Mataafa, chief who had been converted
to Catholicism, and the Germans, who ad-
vised and expected the elevation of Male
toa had first to reckon with him before their
plans could be carried into effect. He,
too, had loyal and considerable following
and, as time progressed, it became apparent
that his consent to MaIetoa's elevation had
been mere form, and he began conspiring
and intriguing with able assistants of his
own race until it became necessary to ban
ish him to the more remote and inaccessi-
present in body, he seemed to exercise some
sort of telepathic power or managed to keep
up actual communication with his support
ers in some less mysterious manner so that
there was no time during Maletoa's lifetime
when he was not planning his overthrow
doubtless to prepare for his own accession.
The Germans who were Malietoa's ardent
champions, have always been source of
n fh0 icI0 0f
marks of German capital have been already
invested in the plantations back of Apia,
which are owned and operated by German
capitalists. The chief industry is the pur-
chase and shipment of copra. This is the
cocoanut, which is dried and exported to
Germany, there to be manufactured into oil
and all the various products derived from
it. The English and the Americans affiliate
cordially, both endeavoring to do well by
the natives and see that justice is melted out
to them under the tri-partite government
ordained by the Berlin treaty of 1889 The
United States, standing by its part of the
compact honorably and fairly, has not sent
out as its representative any sort of a hap
hazard, ofticeholder who had to be rewarded
for political service, but fortunately choos-
ing the Hon. Henry M Ide, of Vermont Mr.
lde did his utmost to assure the other DOW
t ers that the authority of the United States
nad Deen placed in diSintereSted hands and
whatever share he might take In the settle
ment Of affairs among the Samoans. would
prove the act of a disinterested friend.
SATISFACTORY AMERICAN.
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Ide was
chosen chief justice and that he was re-
tanned in office at the express desire of both
England and Germany-naving the decisive
vote in the event of disagreement on the
part Of his coadjutors But, with all the
fairness Of his dealings with the natives
and with the Germans themselves. even he
could not please the latter or satisfy their
Unsuitable demands; they have more and
more encroached upon the authority legally
exercised by the English and Americans
through virtue Of their Office OF course
the motive behind all this is undoubtedly
the desire of absolute possession. The inn
Retus of trade in the direction of the mid
racine and the far east has brought Samoa
not only into passing notice but within the
scope or something more than ordinary
knowledge. Robert Louis Stevenson, years
ago, perceived the manifold attractions of
the group-far more Verdant and fertile
than Hawaii, with an enchanting climate
and almost every condition that promised
rlch returns for ordinary labor. In addition
to the almost exhaustless groves of cocoa
PAINS, there are now extensive plantations
OF plneappleS which, from the first filling of
the virgin SOIL yield the ripened harvest
within the space Of ten weeks 1t is this
land of plenty which the German planter
coVetS for his own, not only with entire
sovereignty over the natives but relieved
from any interference on the part of the
two other forces which are at present upon
Formerly holding the balance of power from
naval standpoint the Americans have
never backed up their representative with
any show Of armed force, but for ten years
there has been scarcely a time when both
the English and Germans have not had
war ship lying at anchor in the harbor of
If Chi inc
bred, highy-educated men have contributed
much to the social life of the Samoan capt
tai, but none the less, does their presence
there stand for something more than the
formal exchange of mere amenities.
Apla Is q struggling village of some six
hundred Inhabitants, made up of the bunga-
lows of Europeans and Americans, mission
SCHOOLS, general stores interspersed with
native huts. The strongest religious ele-
and many services are held daily in the
large church. There is a large parochiaI
school for boys and a convent filled with
native nuns, presided over by European
superior. Between the intervals of worship
one may see swarthy-skinned novices in
Golf and habit telling their beads before the
altar or gliding about the altar with flowers
or setting the furniture of the chancel to
rights In April, 1894, one of the perennial
revolutions was on foot, and the loyal adher-
ents of the intriguing Mataafa were MAX
ing 1t particularly uncomfortable for the
long-suffering Malietoa.
COMIC OPERA KING.
He was occupying a bungalow adjoining
the beach, one mile or more beyond the
town, with a retinue Of female favorites
like a king in opera bouffe on a salary
of $50 month. Kingly state, of a modest
sort, was not incompatible with salary of
$50 month in a climate where shoes and
clothing may be dispensed with, where
light diet serves the year round, where the
larder can be abundantly supplied from the
adjoining forests and the adjacent sea.
where there is no intellectual activity to
speak OF, where political influence is less
costly than with us, and the two chief ex-
penoltureS are for cigarettes and to meet
the demands OF the successful contestant at
poker. but with the King even these last
demands were minimized, as he was lavish
ly supplied with cigarettes gratis by his ad-
mlrers, AND his prudent creditors never
pressed their claims
one of the greatest difficulties which con-
fronted Judge Ide when he took his office
was TO abolish the old savage, hereditary
practice or collecting heads. The Samoan
method or warfare five years ago was
unique, and 1T still may be SO where the ma
tives are not interfered with. Except during
the prevalence of actual hostiities they
were on the most polite and amicable terms
sitting down to eat together like brothers
loung1ng away, and shooting to kill. Their
belligerent spirit was not satisfied with
even the death Of the enemy, but decapi-
tation followed, with more or less mutila-
ton, and the heads were piled in a CHASTITY
bleeding mound at the feet of the victor
ious chief. 1t finally became necessary to
impose fine of $500. with Imprisonment