The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-25

Awarded
Highest Honors, Worlds Fair
Gold Medal. Midwinter Fair
flag. At this even the followers of Tam
asese deserted the &c aians, declaring that
if the islands were to be nder the protec-
ton of any power it shold be under that of
the United States.
The German fleet was engaged in visit
ing the towns along the islands and plum
dering them and reducing them TO ashes
when Consul General Sewall, President
Cleveland's appointee, arrived on the scene.
Mr.. Sewall who had had some experience
in diplomacy, was alarmed at the state of
affairs, which he fond different from what
Secretary Eaysrd had told him, and he
protested 20 Washington. Mr.. Cleveland
ignored his protests and Sewall threatened
to resign Eless some attention was PAID
to Nim and efforts were made to protect
American interests The Germans est5b-
lished Tamasese as king and then dem3cd-
ed that he pay an impossible indemnity
for the part they had played, this being
but ruse to secure the islands as Sc
made prisoner and taken to Hamburg.
Then England virtually declined to intt>
fere, having made, it is said, some deal
by which Germany was not to interfere
with her AFRICAN plans. Phe Germans
in Apia subjected the Americans to many
injustices and restrictions that hammered
their trade.
Sewall continued 70 appeal to Cleveland
for support, but none coming. ne left the
islands and went home in a rage to protest
in person against the repeated insults
which had been offered TO the United
States flag during the German conquest Of
the island.
As soon as Sewall had left the Germans
assumed complete control, and during the
next month burned and destroyed eighteen
more native villages. Mataafa, a near
relative of Malietoa. took up arms and
waged war, with John c. Klein, San
Francisco newspaper man, as his military
adviser. The Germans suppressed the Eng
lish newspaper published at Apia and
went ahead with their work Of Germaniz-
ing the islands. Kiein's strategy was not
sufficient to avail against the force of Ger
vice. Mataafa took to the interior, where
the ships could not follow him, and there
he was Joined by an increasing number
of former followers of Tamasese who had
deserted the usurper now that he had
gone completely over to the Germans.
This was the state Of affairs when Ger
many, the United States and Eengland
held a conference at erin 20 agree upon
government for the Islands and an agree
ment in regard to the rights of citizens c.
the various countries. President Harrison
approved the treaty, wnich was negotiated
June "A, 1889 and afterward ratified by the
United States senate
1t was at first pr opo ,ed that the consuls
of the three countries s3ould choose Il mar
representing the nation with a DreuOn- .
deIance Of commercial interests to ac: as
governor This was objected TO by the
United States as it would mean German
domination. 1t was then agreed that
King Ma!ietoa should he restored to the
throne and that thereafter the natives
should be allowed to choose their own king. (
But the real ruler should be a supreme
judge chosen by the powers, or, in case
erland Denmark or Brazil.
The first choice fell upon a Swede, who /
because of his lack of knowledge Of Eng /
lish, was unable TO administer affairs prep
erly. He was succeeded by an American. /
England and Germany having drifted .
apart, and an American has been supreme .
Judge ever since, with charge of all suits .
of ay kind between foreigners or between /
natives and foreigners American coin has ,
been made the standard of exchange al |
though British and German gold are &C
cepted at their face value
Since then things have worked smoothly
for the foreigners. The trade. however
has fallen chiefly into the hands of the
British and the Germans, and the latter
have not ceased TO endeavor TO secure
control OF the islands. American trade
has been hampered by the lack of interest
taken by the United States in the islands.
For President Cleveland did not favor
the tripartite protectorate negotiated by
President Harrison and tried 10 avoid the
as much as possible. As
soon as he came back into office he tried
10 get rid of it and asked the senate 10
but the senate refused Since President
has baen in Office the United
States has shown itself more alive to tho
trade advantages in the Pacific, and the
war with Spain has increased the import
ance of Samoa.
There are fourteen Islands OF which
nine. within an area Of /. 200 square miles.
about the area Of Delaware are inhabited
the total population being about 1900
The islands are OF volcanic origin. and
are gradually disappearing. but. as geoIo-
glsts say that that time Is distant some
SIX or eight million years. there is no cause
for immediate worry OF that score. The
people are pure Polynesiaus. OF clear olive
color. black hair and eyes. bright. expires
sive countenances. and n disposition indo-
lent. plessure-Eoving and disposed 20 make
the most OF their span OF life on ;he;r
little dots OF islands in the center OF the
greatest ocean in the world
Their few wants are easily supplied
There is no spring. summer. autumn, or
winter. and bananas. coo0snuts and other (
tropical fruits grow in abundance. while
fish are plentiful. Clothes are not cause
Ct much voTry. the villagers being airiIv
yir5le, although II the cities more clothing
Is worn The principal article 81 exDorc "a
5ried cocoanut Of which about la.ss .sls
annually are sent abroad
Non.nalIy. the peop,s are Carissisus.
Sh-ewd and superst-.lous. most = them .