The record-union., 1899-04-13
Weather Forecast.
THE SAMOAN STORY.

There has been another conflict in
arms in Samoa, and this time two
American and one British officer have
been killed and decapitated by the fol-
lowers Of Mataafa, and the heads OF
the dead men carried in triumph upon
pixies The crime will surely be aveng-
ed. OF that there is no manner or
doubt to be entertained.
What surprises us exceedingly Is the
fact that the sentimentalists of the day
who love to be dubbed anti-expanslon-
lists have not plunged into the pubic
arena and prayed for and mourned; over
the poor untutored South Sea Islanders
who are butchered by the soldiers OF
the United States and England for dar-
ing to fight for their freedom and their
native land.
Really there is not much difference
between the aims of the Filipinos and
the Samoans. One is entitled to about
as many tears from the sentimental goo
COOS as the other. Neither, however,
are; fighting for freedom, and each order
of rebels must be and will be subdued
and taught by force and arms that
which they should have learned by
peaceful and harmless means that we
proposed to employ.
AS to the Samoans, to sum UP the
whole trouble covering a. period of fif-
teen years, these are the facts: The
islanders were found to be quarreling
and indulging in the pleasant pastime
of cutting each others throats to de-
ter1nine which factional chief should be
king. The thing went on for years un-
til foreign interests and people found
that they We're previously suffering in
consequence. Their home Governments
were then appealed to.
For a long time Germany insisted
upon being allowed to control the ma
rives alor.e, on the ground that her COM
mercial interests in the islands were
greater than those of any other ma
tion This claim engendered bad feel
ing, hut it was apparently dissipated
about twelve years ago by tripartite
treaty, under which Germany. the
United States and England guaranteed
the peace of the islands and the stabil-
ity of the government To that end
the rightfuI native ruler, Maleotoa,- was
recognized as King, brought out of ex-
lie into which an insurgent chief had
caused him to be sent through the con-
nivance, indeed by the active aid of
Germany; indeed, by the active aid of
Germany, a municipal government was
set up for Apia, the capital and chief
town. and a judicial system establish
ed the three Powers naming the Chief
Justice
Likewise there was established a
Council of State, and generally a sys-
tenn Of protectorate government set up
with the Samoan chief as stated ruling
as king under the protectorate and with
the participation Of the three Powers.
There never was complete harmony,
however, in this arrangement, because
of irritation constantly promoted on one
pretext or another by the local repre-
sentatives OF the German Empire. They
have always assumed authority not
given them under the tripartite treaty,
and have usurped functions that We're
offensive to the other Powers. By the
death of the old King the question of
succession arose, and the Chief Justice
in the due exercise of Judgment he was
lawfully authorized to pronounce, rec
ognized a nneal descendant of the de-
ceased King. denying the claims of Ma
taafa, pretender to the throne.
Indeed, under the treaty Mataafa was
expressly excluded from the throne But
despite the ruling-whether right or
wrong, wise or indiscreet it was by
duly constituted authority = Mataafa
arose. in rebellion He received aid and
countenance from the German Consul
and out of that incident grew the pres
war to Samoa, which assembling the
treaty expressly calls for, and the ac-
ton of Admiral Kautz in resisting the
insurrection of the pretender.
1t is conceded that the insurgents
outnumber the adherents of the reeog-
nized King very largely, but that cuts
no figure in the case, since the pre-
tender is incapable, under the treaty of
taking the scepter. Hence it is that
wei have now the news of another battle
and the death of three gallant officers
of American. and English warships.
What the outcome will be it is not
difficult to forecast The Mataafai party
Will be put down. If not, the treaty by
mutual consent must be abandoned, and
the Germans permitted to dominate
That is simply unthinkable.
There is however, a suggestion that
the three Governments have in mind;
that is for each to assume control over
one third Of the group. each third thus
set apart to be distinct from and in
dependent of the other. In that case
the Island having in it the safe harbor
OF Pago Pago, will fall to us; but that
we have already by treaty with the Sa-
moans, made prior. to the tripartite
agreement and conceded by all parties
to be unimpeachable.
In any event the islanders will not
be left to themselves to relapse into
barbarism worse than that. they now
indulge In In the main they are a
kindly people, but under the influence
OF such powerful spirits as the rebel
chieftain and the cunningly applied ir-