The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-20

N~N-cA2 -<CNA W iiltEt III TIE 1Ot-
lowing autumn. There was an express
understanding that nothing would be
zone In the meantime Twenty-nine
Gays later King Malietoa was seized
on charge of lese majestic, a most
ridiculous procedure, taken on board a
German warshiD and deported to the
Cameroons on the coast of Africa Be
lore giving himself up to Germany,
Malietoa. abdicated in favor of Aataa-
ia, near relative, and the titular chief
OF the eastern district of Upolu.
Here is where the rights of Mataafa
began. When old Malietoa was exiled
ne conferred his authority on Mataafa.
But the German officials refused to
have anything to do with Mataafa at
that time. They proclaimed Tamasese
king of Samoa, but behind Tamasese
was the German ex-artillery officer,
Brandeis, and behind Brandeis the
German consul
In spite of tits arrogance and often
siveness to other subjects of the ex-
king, the Tamasese- Brandeis govern
ment entered on its reign under the
most favorable auspices. The Malietoa
party, acting under the good advice of
Mataafa, quietly acquiesced in the
change of government and resolved to
support it for the general good.
But it was an epoch Of plundering and
laundering, corruption and tyranny.
The natives were mistreated and irri-
tated, while their chiefs were degrad-
ed and virtually outlawed, robbed of
their ranks and titles, lands, and all
that was dear to the Samoan heart
The crisis was reached when a large
number of young chiefs who had been
imprisoned under circumstances of
sross injustice, attended with much
brutality, conceived the idea of es-
Gaping. They overpowered their jail
ers and took to the bush, taking with
them their jailers' arms and ammuni-
ton They were Joined by many
friends and sympathizers, and, in one
month, 1000 warriors had taken up
arms against German oppression. Ma
taafa, the only recognized head of the
government, who had been appointed
king by Malietoa, was summoned TO
command them.
mand and, in three months, he had
completely routed the Tamasese-Bran-
deis party. although it was backed up
by Germany and three German war
ships whose share in the conflict was
confined chiefly to bombarding and
burning villages whence the warriors
had deDarted for the field. In Deceln-
Der two companies of German seamen
and marines We're landed at Fangalii
to take part in the hostilities. They
engaged the Samoans, and, after losing
in killed and wounded ifty-six, re-
treated to their ships and remained on
board during the rest of the war.
Tamasese, deserted by his German
friends in the hour of his distress. went /
home to his native village, where he !.
died peacefully few years later. His /
followers gave in their allegiance to /
Mataafa, who was crowned king of
all Samoa. Thus the present rebel |
leader was the second time made king, |
and as such he was recognized by the |
three powers concerned. His reign was
one OF peace and prosperity for the |
islands. and not a single instance of |
vengeance against the German colon /
lists was recorded in the period.
He was a very wise and influential !
ruler. was Mataafa: and while he for |
gave his enemies, they never forgave !
him A punitive expedition was fitted |
out at Hamburg and sent against the |
Samoans. Before this reached its des-
tination the now historical hurricane Of |
March IS. 1889, changed many plans. |
The part played in this tragedy Of The |
elements by Mataafa is thus described: /
When six huge warshiDs, represent
ing Germany and the United States of |
America, were wrecked, and when Ma
taafa and his warriors, against whom
the emperor CT Germany had declared |
war. and with whom he as far as he
was concerned, was still at war, these
so-called barbarian rebels and outlaws
risked their lives, and in many cases
lost their lives, in endeavoring to save
from a frightful death-by being torn
to pieces on the jagged coral reefs of
Apia in the fury of the hurricane-those
same German seamen who but four
months before had been bombarding
and pillaging their villages of HELPLESS
and children.
Strange and inexplicable as it may
seem, when Germany demanded the de-
of Mataafa, the United
States and Great Britain consented. So
the exile Malietoa was reinstated, con-
-rary to his own wishes and those of
his people. In due course Of time the
Germans had their revenge on Mataafa.
He was accused of reasonable conduct
and deported to the German possessions
n the Marshall islands, near the
equator. Old MaHetoa lived in a little
nut on the ADian beach, king with
)ut a Kingdom, until he died last
August. Malietoa Tanu applied for the
hrone by right of succession. To be
contrary, the Germans brought Ma
aafa back and endorsed him.
SO it VIII be seen that. while Mataafa
5 being used by his enemies and the
enemies of his people, his claims on the
,rown are not without color of right.