The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-22
New Light on Events Leading to Ma
taafa's Successful Attempt to
Seize the Throne.
QUEER CAPERS OF WARRIORS
BEFORE THE BATTLE BETWEEN
FACTIONS ON NEW YEARS DAY.
Nearly 5000 White-Turbaned Ma
Tanu Men Wearing Red Hendgear.

DAN IkAINClOOO, Gu. Gl.-AH OCCdSlOIldl
correspondent of the Associated Press, now
in Apia, sends the following account of the
trouble growing out of the election of a
King: For some considerable time after the
death of Malietoa the vacant kingship gave
little concern to the people of Samoa, for
the office had been shorn of so much of it's
Importance during the lifetime of the late
ruler that during the past few years he was
scarcely in evidence at all. Since 1888 Ma
taafa had apparently been the popular idol,
and though since 1893 he had been in exile,
his fame had suffered nothing in the eyes
of the Samoans, who eagerly awaited his re-
turn. Had Malietoa lived, these people would
probably have risen and overthrow him
without a single word or suggestion from
Mataafa, who possibly could not have
stopped such a movement had he tried, so
tired were the people seemingly Of the late
King and so anxious were they to do honor
to Mataafa who, they considered, had been
unjustly eXiled and denied his rights. No
district in all Samoa failed to send in1uen-
tial delegations to express to Mataafa their
joy at his safe return, and with each party
came liberal supplies of needed food and
property. During the short time that elapsed
until the election took place, it is estimate
that not less than $500 cooked pigs were
presented to Mataafa and his fellow-exiles.
On the arrival here of Mataafa and the
other exiles, they were received by the diff
ferent consuls with considerable
but they demanded of him that he and his
friends should promise that, until relieved
of their parole. they should remain on
Mulimni, a small peninsula on which is
located. the capital. Such a restriction after
so long an absence angered the Samoans,
whom the powers sought to please by re-
turning their friends.
When the subject of the vacant kingship
began to be discussed, though there were
several candidates in the field, none had any
considerable following but Mataafa. Early
in October Mr.. Fl. ]. Moore, an American
who has constantly espoused the cause of
Mataafa, and who was closely connected
with the late R. L. Stevenson in this matter.
applied to the chief justice and to the Presi-
dent that the restrictions placed on this
chief should be somewhat ameliorated-that
instead of being confined TO Mulimni he
should only be required to reside there; that
during the day time he should be per tnitted
to freely visit Apia and other points within
the Apia municipal boundaries. The Presi-
dent, DR.. Raffel, replied that he had not the
slightest objection to such an arrangement,
but that the matter rested with the consuls
entirely.
Chief Justice Chamber said in his reply:
II am much occupied in telling people that 1
have nothing to do with the chief Mataafa,
he having the same right to aspire to the
kingship as any other Samoan, and if the
people elect him as Malietoa's successor in
a rightful manner and according to the laws
and customs of Samoa, why shouldn't he
have the office? AS to his movements, l can
say nothing; that is a matter absolutely
with the consuls."
Mr.. Moore then applied to the consular
representatives, who granted Mataafa's re-
quest.
TANU CHOSEN AS A CANDIDATE.
Shortly after this young Tamasese came
to Apia and announced himself q candidate
for the kingship, employing a local barris-
ter to press his claims. OF course the friends
and relatives of the late King sought among
their following a successor to the head OF
their family, although 1t was very we'll
known that the late King was accepted
many years ago only on the understanding
that he was to be succeeded by a member of
the Tupua family, of which Mataafa is the
head. Finally Tanu, the -ffteen-year-old
son of Malietoa, was chosen to represent
their party, and an attorney named Gurr
was employed to back him up. In Samoa
it is very seldom indeed that the son sue
ceeds to his fathers titles and the rule of
the tribal lands. These titles and response
bilitieS must be awarded to a full-groWn
physical blemish. The late Malietoa him
self succeeded his uncle, who at the time
of his death had a son ten years of age
named Faalata.
On the invitation from the Faipules, or
representatives of the late government of
.Malietoa, every important chief in Samoa
was summoned to Mulimni early i'm October
a rule should be established and who should
be King in case they decided on having a
monarchy. Finding themselves with a very
trifing support, Tamasese and Tanu, at the
q coalition, putting Tanu forward as the
kingly candidate, with Tamasese to be rec
ognlZed as regent during Tanu's minority.
These two candidates were able to delay
matters on Mulimni for weeks, using one
spretext after another In the vain hope that
they would tire out the large party who
came there in the interests of Mataafa, and
they had this advantage, that their own sup
porters nearly all came from the neighbour
hood of .Apia and their supplies were handy,
while the others had to draw their supplies |
and even their frewood from districts in
some instances sixty miles away. Finally,
when delays you'd no longer suffice, and
finding themselves totally ~outnumbered, the
h hnnq-i ann amaSe o1 pt the Nth MtfnoF of fEon mer
Mataafa was elected King and Faalata was
chosen as his successor.
At this point the chief Justice declares |
that the consuls should have acted and have
recognized Mataafa as the lawful King of
the Islands, as there was then no known
opposition for some four or five days, when
the lawyers protested in the Supreme Court
that the election had not taken place ac-
cord1ng TO Samoan custom, and their cam
didate was the lawful successor to his
father, etc. At this time, and in fact much
earlier, it is said that some of the members
of the London Missionary Society undertook
a quiet but vigorous campaign against Ma
taafa because of the fact that he is a Cath
olic. about 5000 of the IS, 600 of these people
being of that faith.
Section 6, Article 8, of the Berlin general
act, reads as follows: I'm case any ques-
ton shall hereafter arise in Samoa respect
ing the rightfuf election or appointment of
King, or OF any other chief claiming author
ly over the islands, or respecting the valid
ity Of the powers which the King or any
CHER may claim in the exercise of this Of
flee, such question shall not lead to war, but
shall be presented for decision to the chief
ing, comformably to the provisions of this
act and to the laws and customs of Samoa
not in conflict herewith; and the signatory
governments will accept and abide by such
decision"
The protest of the Tanu-Tamasese party
was accepted, and the Mataafa party noti-
fed. Every effort was made by the latter |
to show their strength and the weakness of
the other side to the chief justice. so that
no would see how hopeiessly beaten the
weaker side was. A number of the foreign
residents endeaVored TO point out how
trlfing the opposition was, and how ii was
only kept together by the lawyers.
The Mataafa people who occupied MuIim- !
nj, the capital. gave a feast and paraded
past the chief justice $500 armed warriors,
whom they had gathered in a few days.
They challenged the Tanu-TamaSese party |