New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-23
TUE SAMOAN SETTLEMENT.

Tho 6nol outcome OF the International Oonh
missions work in Samoa is still probiemauc.
Tho most serious parts of the question are 'e'
=, no lpalt with. But the partial settiein'"'
,hus for effected or thus far announced hus|
no REGARDED with large measure OF sa''si"'
ton First of all the representatives OF Tue 'n,e'
,ot,ons are working together harmohiousH'
That "a a most important and most gratifying
feature of the case though by no means "neA
pected except TO those sensation-ioVlng so"''
GOO a war cloud in every shadow. All action 'nuS
far taken seems TO have been agreeu upon UNA"
,mous,v and there IS not even report OF an! coh'
siderable discussion over II. Evidently the three
commissioners are animated by sweet reasoh-
ah,eness and the case, which AT thls uis'ah''
has appeared so involved. is really much SIM
rler than II appeared 10 he. at least 10 'he eA'eh'
n which II has already been settled
In the next place the American pOic! mas
heen snlendldlv vindcated. The decision OF the
Samoan Chief Justice. who Ia an American
though Amounted by oil the Powers, mas peeh
unanimously confirmed by the COMMISSIONER
and the actions of the American Consui anu
Roar. Admiral In execution Of that decision are
I'm consequence similarly approved. THIS Is espe-
cial,y gratifying in view OF the abuse ana san
Americans in question. even by some VINO pro
fess to call themselves Americans. 1t ""'
charged only the other day that the 'n'ei Jus
tjce had made his decision In the hlhgsup eie'
ton under the influence OF the London MiSS'oii'
arv Society and the British Consul, anu 'n"'
he had sacrificed our National honor 10 io'N'
"puppet on the throne who was not even vi '"e
"royal race OF course. every lntelhgen' iiia'
knew such stuff was without SHADOW Vi Io"'''
dalton In truth: that the Chief Justice was ho
moro under the influence named than he was
under that of the Akho0nd OF Swat, ana that tue
candidate whose title to the throne lie cohIiriileu
was most emphatcally of the royal race peihs
I'm fact the son of the preceding hing IL
none the less pleasing 10 have the "rt'cneu
twaddle 80 completely repudiated by au'horIH
so indisputable as that OF the Comhilssloh' roi
we do not suppose the most malignant vi iiloS'
crednlous critic will venture TO say tha' 'he "er
man Commissioner has been likewise hypho'iHeu
by the London Missionary Society
The third agreeable result Of the Comnls-
sIon's work is the total disarmlng OF the natives
a step which has all along been urged lh THESE
columns-and the abolition of the half-pitiaDle'
half-farccal Kingship. This last IL the most
striking thing accomplished. or recommended
by the Commission. 1t had not been geheral!
eypected though II had now and then been
limited at as desirable II practicable. Mainten-
ance Of the empty honor could serve no goou
purpose. except to amuse ana huihor the Ma
tves If the latter consent TO the abolition OF II,
then the abolition Of it becomes practical
oues,Ion. There is reason to suppose that the
natives have consented. or will consent since
the King himself has practically proposed II
through his own abdlcation In favor or the
Commissioners. But such change raises In an
ocute form the other and most serious parts OF
the whole general question If the klngship Is
abolished. what is TO take its place as the nomi-
nal head of Government? How Is non-parti-
san Chief of State, acceptable to all three
Powers. to be secured? The question VIII not
be answered lightly. We suppose the Commits
sion will answer It. and we sincerely trust the
answer may he as satisfactory as the progress
which is now reported.