The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-22
CAUSE Of THE TROUBLE
: Mataafa's Candidacy for the
Samoan Kingship.
WAS PREPARED FOR WAR
The Great Majority OF the Samoans We're
for Mataafa, Who Was the Friend
of Stevenson, but Who Was
Also Catholic

San Francisco, Feb. 21.--An OCCASION
al correspondent of the associated press,
now in Apia, sends the following ac-
count 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 Sa-
moa. 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 Mataafa 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 return. Had Malietoa liv-
ed, these people would probably have
risen and overthrow him without sin
gle word of suggestion from Mataafa,
who probably could not have stopped
such movement had he tried, so tired
We're 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 influential delegations to ex-
press to Mataafa their Joy at his safe
return, and with each party came lib
eral supplies of needed food and prop
erty. During the short time that elapsed
until the election took place. it is esti-
mated that not less than $500 cooked
pigs were presented to Mataafa and his
felloW-eNiles. On the arrival here of
nd l.;e fo11
received by the different consuls with
considerable ceremony but they de-
manded Of him that he and his friends
should promise that, until relieved of
their parole, they should remain on Mu-
limni, small peninsula on which is To-
Gated the capital. Such a restriction
after so long an absence angered the
Samoans, whom the powers sought to
please by returning their friends.
When the subject Of the vacant king
ship began to be discussed, though
there were several candidates in the
Held. none had any considerable follow
ing except Mataafa. Early in October
II. ]. Moore, an American, who has
constantly espoused the cause of Ma
taafa and who was closely connected
with the late r. l.. Stevenson in this
matter, applied to the chief justice and
to the president that the restrictions
placed on this chief should be somewhat
northumberland instead of being. con
fined ITO Mulimni he should only be re-
quired to reside there; that during the
day time he should be permitted to
freely visit Apia and other points with
in the Apia municipal boundaries. The
president, 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 Chambers said in his reply:
Il am much occupied in telling peo-
pie that I 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 right
full manner and according to the laws
and customs of Samoa why shouldn't
he have the office? AS to his move
ments, can say nothing; that is mat
ter absolutely with the consuls.''
Mr.. Moore then applied to the con-
sular representatives, who granted Ma
taafa'S request.
Shortly after this young Tamasese
came to Apia and announced himself
a candidate for the kingship, employ
ing local barrister to press his claims
OF course the friends and relatives of
the late king sought among their fol-
lowing a successor, to the head of their
family, although it was very well
known that the late king was accepted
many years ago only on. the under
standing that he was to be succeeded
by member of the Tupua family, of
which Mataafa is the head Finally
Tanu, the 15-year-old son of Malietoa,
was chosen to represent their party,
and an attorney named Gurr was en-
ployed to back him up.
In Samoa it is very seldom indeed
that the son succeeds to his fathers
titles and the rule of the tribal lands
These titles and responsibilities must
be awarded to full-grown man, who
blemish. The late Malietoa himself
succeeded his uncle, who at the time
of his death, had a son 10 years of
age named Faalata.
On the invitation from the Faipules,
or representatives of the late govern
ment of Malietoa, every important
chief in Samoa was summoned to Null
imni early in October for the purpose
of deciding on what sort of a rule
should be established and who should
be king in case they decided on having
monarchy
Finding themselves with very
stirling support Tamasese and Tanu,
at the instance of their lawyers, con-
cluded to form coalition, putting Tanu
forward as the kingly candidate, with
Tamasese to be recognized as regent
during Tanu's minority.
IHeSe Two candidates were able TO
delay matters on Mulmni for weeks
using one pretext after another in the
vain hope that they would tire out the
large party who came there in the in
terests of Mataafa, and they had this
advantage, that their own supporters
nearly all came from the neighborhood
of Apia. and their supplies were handy,
while the others had to draw their sup
plies, and even their fire wood, from
districts in some instances 60 miles
away.
Finally, when delays would no longer
suffice, and finding themselves totally
outnumbered. the Tanu Tamasese party
withdrew from Muimni, and on the
14th of November Mataafa was elected
king. and Faalata was chosen as his
successor
AT this point the chief justice de-
clares 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
i