Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-06-19
THE SAMOAN TROUBLE.

american Rene 1O on the 1mDrOglIO In
Samoa, from which it is easy to see
that, while he writes in an impartial
spirit, he is disposed to believe that
the interests of the archipelago would
be better served by recognizing the
sovereignty of Mataafa than by de-
priying that chief of the honor which
has now come to him on three differ
emf occasions. He says that nearly
every American who has passed any
time in Samoa since Mataafa be-
came a factor in it's politics has enter
tanned great admiration for his per-
sonal qualities, and however much
his action is to be deprecated in the
controversies that have arisen, the
personal sympathies of those who
have known him have nearly all been
in his favor. To this Mr.. Ide adds
the comment that, if his successor,
the present chief justice, had rendered
a decision according to Mataafar the
right to the kingship, the act would
have been received with strong feel
ings of satisfaction. sJ
1t is curious phase in this Samoan
trouble that, twelve years ago, after
the enforced exile of Malietoa, the
Germans opposed the sovereignty of
Mataafa, and although he ruled for
number of years, it was their opposi-
ton that brought his sovereignty to
an end. Again, in 1898, when Malietoa
was brought back from exile and
again declared King, Mataafa was
captured and exiled to the the Mar
shall island as malcontent who could
not properly be accorded his freedom,
as the outcome of German opposition
to him. Last year Malietoa died, and
Mataafa, returning 50 Samoa, unques-
tionably received the support of the
great majority of the Samoan people,
and in this instance was supported by
the Germans, who had previously OPP
posed him, and was opposed by the
Americans and English, who on past
occasions had been to quite degree
in his favor. The kingship was ac-
corded to Malietoa Tauus, so called,
the son of the lately deceased king, a
boy of seventeen. But if the aid of
American and British war ships and
marines had not been given the young
king, he could not by any possibility
have established his sovereignty. He
was held in Office by force of foreign
arms, passing quite part of his time
OH A PriI
ish war ship.
All this makes it apparent that what
we have done in recentyea in Samoa
has been not so much to give the ma
tives a government of their own
Oh DOSING as to play politics, those
representing the three great powers
taking part in the game. If the Ger
mans, whose interests in Samoa, Mr..
Ide assures US, are larger than those
of any other nation, have wished
certain policy pursued in the control
of the islands, the English and Amer
leans have joined in opposing it. On
the other hand, the Germans have
resolutely resisted any line of policy
have favored. Between these inter-
national contentious, the poor people
of Samoa have been led into bloody
battles, with great loss of life.
Mr.. Ide assures us that they are not
naturally warlike people, but dis
tinctly the reverse. According to
South Pacific standards, they are
highly civilized. While they are tat
tooed and wear but little clothing,
because their climate calls for little,
they are courtly, polite, are Christians
and builders and supporters of
they read and write and
conduct family worship every day,
have their books printed in London
and play cricket, polo and games of
cards. Left to themselves, they
would probably have little difficulty
in establishing a satisfactory govern
ment, and what is more, govern
ment that, in all probability. would
maintain order and the observance
of international treaties. Interfered
with by outsiders, instigated to take
part in conspiracies, they have trans
formed their island archipelago into
a species of cockpit for the slaughter
of each other.
Mr.. Ide is greatly in hopes that the |
commission that has been sent to
Samoa for the purpose of straighten-
ing out these difficulties will arrive at |
Just and honorable conclusions. He
believes that the members Of the com
mission have only the best interests
IF all at heart, but he refers to one |
weak point in the composition of |