The times., 1899-06-23
FRIDAY, JUNE %, 1899.
Our Position in samoa.

II is noticeable that our state Depart
ment is pleased with the news from Sa-
moa We are glad of that, because it is
not often that any of our great admins
tratiye agencies have occasion to be
pleased with anything. But Mr.. Hay is
represented in newspaper interviews as
suspecting that a great American triumph
has been achieved, in the endorsement of
Judge Chambers decision. deposing Ma
taafa and enthroning Malietoa Tanu, and
other things in that line.
We are not as able as the Secretary of
State TO deduce material advantages from
the news from Apia- One of the Amer
lean functionaries in the isIands-Judge
Chambers. Chief Justice-decided that the
kingship of the archipelago belonged to
Malietoa Tanu, and not to Mataafa There
upon the latter raised rebellion. which
was supported by all the German repre-
sentatives On the ground. Otherwise it
would have fallen nat. The British and
American Consuls backed Malistoa. but
owing to their be ief in German support, tire
Mataafans went TO war, killed and cut the
heads of Of English and American officers.
marines. and sailors. and brought about a
condition Of anarchy.
We have a great deal Of confidence in
Col. John Hay. beth as patriot and an able
diplomatist, but we are unable to see why
he should be particularly enthused by the
Samoan information ne received from the
press yesterday. his delegate at Apia hav-
ing been careful not to tell him anything
in the mean tfrpo W. ,,o-az -. I'll.
that omission. 1t is the regular practice
of people abroad. connected with executive
departments, to save themselves the trou
bic Of imparting information to the Gov
ernment, knowing that It will always be
transmitted by the press correspondents.
On the strength, therefore. of what the
State Department has learned from the
newspapers. we are assured that the Ad-
ministration IS more than pleased with the
results. The special point of satisfaction
is contained in the statement that Ma
taafa has surrendered and that Malietca
having been recognized, promptly abdi-
Gated to the Tripartite Commission. So.
the Commission. being free of kings and
very much in the way of compromises,
throne and decided to replace it with a
chrome representative Government. As
We understand the proposition. there is to
be an executive. called a governor, who Is
to be endowed with fairly full autocratic
powers. .ie is to be named and supported
by the powers in the condominium. Then
there is to be a legislative council of three
ale to h
the international interests. The governor
Is TO exercise an absolute veto power. As
an academic. not to say humorous. prop
osition. the natives are to elect legisla-
ture. Do not let us waste time or laughter
over this last feature of the solution.
1t may be very possible that it is a good
thing to abolish the kingship OF Samoa.
The question is. will the natives think SO?
There are other things that the Joint Com
mission appears to have done, that may
be open 10 criticism. Reverting to the
decision of Chief Justice Chambers. we dc
not see that there is any great American
victory in its endorsement II seems thai
It was only perfunctory, and made depend
ent upon the immediate abdication OF
Malietoa in favor OF the Commission
Then the international representatives es.
tablished a provincial Government without
king. The permanent organization for
the control and administration of the ISL
and must, of course, be submitted TO the
nations interested, but the tendency Of the
news is to suggest that the permanent
governor may be German, which would
be very bad.
Under some circumstances that might
not be obnoxious to our views and
interests. Under existing conditions il
probably would be. The samoans would
assume that the German influence, having
taken the majority native side against th,
Americans and English, had achieved q
triumph over them. and the effect of thi:
upon non-German interests in the archi-
pelago would be not favorable.